Launch Lineup Preparations (4)
Takuya keenly noticed the changes in everyone's emotions, but he knew that a key question was inevitably on everyone's mind.
His tone calmed down, and he took the initiative to speak.
"I know that integrating so many robot animation IPs belonging to different animation production companies and copyright holders into a single game will be extremely complex, even fraught with difficulties, in terms of copyright negotiations."
The atmosphere in the meeting room momentarily froze, becoming slightly quieter.
Indeed, this is a huge and unavoidable problem.
"Please don't worry too much about this."
Takuya flashed a confident smile.
"I will personally lead my colleagues in the Marketing Department to actively communicate and negotiate with various copyright holders."
"I believe that with Sega's sincerity, and the enormous potential and innovative concepts inherent in this game, we will definitely be able to secure their authorization and support."
His proactive attitude in taking responsibility reassured the developers present.
Takuya had barely finished speaking.
In a corner of the conference room, the leader of Development Group 8, who had been relatively quiet until now, suddenly stood up from his seat.
His face flushed slightly with excitement, and his voice trembled a little with joy.
"Special Secretary Nakayama!"
He practically yelled it out.
"This Super Robot Wars project, please! Please make sure it's assigned to Development Group 8!"
The leader of Group Eight's eyes shone brightly, filled with an undeniable desire.
"In our group, from myself to every member below me, it's fair to say that the vast majority of us grew up watching these robot anime! These robot anime are deeply etched in our memories of youth!"
"We have an indescribable love and passion for these works and these robots!"
"We have absolute confidence and 200% enthusiasm to make ' The First Super Robot Wars I' a true masterpiece that will go down in gaming history!"
The other members of Group Eight behind him also stood up, nodding vigorously in agreement, their eyes filled with the same fervor and anticipation.
The atmosphere in the conference room was instantly ignited by this sudden burst of enthusiasm.
Takuya smiled and nodded slowly.
This is exactly what he hoped to see: heartfelt passion and proactive volunteering.
Only a team that truly loves these works can perfectly integrate that deep-seated emotion into every detail of the game.
However, amidst this enthusiastic atmosphere...
In another corner of the conference room, the members of the Ninth Development Group seemed somewhat out of place.
Their faces didn't show much excitement; instead, they carried an undisguised sense of loneliness and bitterness.
Group Nine has always felt somewhat awkward within the company.
They were previously primarily responsible for game development for the SG-1000 platform, as well as several early Sega home consoles.
However, as is well known, Sega's initial foray into the home video game console market was not smooth.
With console sales disappointing, game sales naturally suffered as well.
Over time, the members of the Ninth Development Group accumulated a lot of frustration.
The team's morale has never been very high.
At this moment, other development teams, especially those star teams that have repeatedly achieved great success in the arcade market, are receiving exciting new console launch projects.
Compared to their own still uncertain future, the members of Group Nine felt increasingly heavy-hearted.
It was a sense of loss, of being marginalized, or even forgotten.
Nakayama Takuya's sharp eyes had already detected the subtle atmosphere on the Ninth Development Group's side.
A subtle, complex expression flickered in his deep eyes.
He did not immediately point out the predicament of Group Nine.
Instead, they waited until the excitement of Development Group 8 subsided somewhat.
He turned to his briefcase again and took out a brand new business plan with an extremely simple, even somewhat plain, cover design.
Takuya's face once again displayed that signature gentle smile, tinged with mystery.
His gaze swept across the conference table and landed precisely on the leader of the Ninth Development Group, who sat in the corner with a slightly gloomy expression.
"Alright."
Takuya's voice was clear and gentle, carrying a calming power.
"Now, next, we have prepared a small gift for everyone in Group Nine."
Upon hearing this statement...
Not only did the members of the Ninth Development Group suddenly raise their heads, their eyes flashing with astonishment and disbelief.
All eyes in the meeting room, including those of Yu Suzuki and Yuji Naka who had just been excited about Super Robot Wars, were once again focused on the brand-new, yet-to-be-revealed, project proposal in Takuya's hand.
Another surprise?
Just how many groundbreaking ideas has this young executive director prepared for today?
The air in the conference room became tense and expectant once again, with every pair of eyes fixed on the proposal in Nakayama Takuya's hand.
Especially the members of the Ninth Development Group.
Their eyes, previously dimmed with disappointment, now erupted with an incredulous astonishment, mixed with a tense anticipation they dared not even dare to hope for.
Nakayama Takuya still wore his signature gentle smile.
His gaze, carrying a hint of barely perceptible encouragement, slowly swept over the anxious face of the leader of the Ninth Development Group.
He paused deliberately for a moment.
Let that curiosity and tension permeate and ferment in every corner of the conference room until it reaches its peak.
Then, he raised his hand and projected the name of the proposal onto the screen.
Ace Attorney.
Below the four simple Chinese characters is a young lawyer wearing a blue suit with a unique hairstyle that is unforgettable.
He stood with one hand on his hip and the other pointing firmly forward, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, as if trying to pierce through all lies and fog.
It's completely different from the overwhelming metallic feel and adrenaline-pumping excitement of "The First Super Robot Wars".
My initial impression of Ace Attorney was that it possessed a unique calm and thoughtful quality.
The members of the Ninth Development Group looked at each other, their eyes filled with surprise and, more than anything, an indescribable confusion.
Other development team leaders, accustomed to gunfire and sword fights, also wore thoughtful expressions.
Is this... really a title that can stand alongside Fatal Fury and Shinobi as part of the new console launch lineup?
A complex expression flashed across the face of the leader of the Ninth Development Group.
There was gratitude stemming from being personally chosen by Nakayama Takuya to take care of him.
It also carried a hint of deep uncertainty about the future of this brand-new project.
After all, this type of game is considered too "alternative" by Sega, and even by the entire gaming industry.
"Gentlemen, please look."
Nakayama Takuya's voice broke the brief silence, drawing everyone's attention back.
He began to explain in detail the core appeal of Ace Attorney.
Players will take on the role of a novice lawyer filled with a strong sense of justice.
The game is mainly divided into two core parts: the "detective part" and the "courtroom part."
In the "Detective" section, players need to carefully collect evidence at various crime scenes, talk to relevant people, and look for clues in the case.
"And the real climax is in the 'courtroom portion'."
Players will engage in fierce verbal battles with experienced prosecutors in court.
"You need to listen carefully to the witnesses' testimonies, find the contradictions, and then, at the most crucial moment, produce the decisive evidence and shout out that sentence—"
He deliberately emphasized his words, mimicking a classic scene from the game.
""Objection! (Objection!)""
"Or," wait!"
The mere rehearsal of these two lines seemed to possess a peculiar magic, instantly invigorating the atmosphere in the conference room.
"Through continuous questioning, challenging, and rebuttal, the truth of the matter was finally revealed, and an acquittal was secured for the wrongly accused client."
"The twists and turns of the plot, and the immense sense of accomplishment and tension release when the truth is finally revealed, will be the core enjoyment of this game."
The members of Group Nine nodded thoughtfully, seemingly agreeing with Takuya's description of the gameplay, but also appearing somewhat skeptical about whether this new game genre could be a bestseller.