Launch Lineup Preparations (5)
Nakayama Takuya keenly noticed the lingering doubts on the faces of the Ninth Development Group.
He then shifted his focus, beginning to explain the deeper considerations behind choosing Ace Attorney.
"I know that everyone in Group Nine has accumulated a wealth of experience in developing home console games."
"You understand the operating habits and preferences of home console users better than many other teams that focus on arcade games."
He first gave his approval, which was like a warm current flowing into the hearts of the Ninth Development Group.
"Visual novel games like Ace Attorney, which focus on compelling storylines and textual presentation, have significantly lower development costs compared to AAA titles that prioritize top-tier graphics."
"The development cycle is also relatively more controllable."
"More importantly," Nakayama Takuya's voice carried an undeniable confidence, "The development difficulty of this type of game, especially in terms of pushing hardware performance to its limits, isn't actually that high."
"By launching such a cleverly conceived, uniquely playable, and highly successful example, we are sending a clear signal to the entire industry."
"That means that even small and medium-sized third-party developers who don't possess top-tier 3D graphics technology or vast development resources are fully capable of creating excellent games that are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful on our new Sega console platform."
"This will greatly encourage them and attract them to join our new console more actively, thereby rapidly enriching our platform's game library and creating a thriving ecosystem."
The developers in the conference room, especially the experienced team leaders, all had a knowing look in their eyes when they heard this.
I see.
This is not just a game, but also a "stepping stone" to attract third-party developers, and a "showcase" to demonstrate the inclusivity of the new console.
"Secondly," Nakayama Takuya held up a second finger, his tone revealing a precise grasp of the market's pulse, "Just think about it, how many loyal readers of mystery novels are there in all of Japan?"
"And how many people are fans of those prime-time suspense and mystery dramas?"
"This is an enormous potential market that has not yet been fully explored by existing console games!"
His voice was highly inflammatory.
Currently, most home console games on the market are concentrated in traditional genres such as action, shooting, and role-playing.
"The emergence of <Ace Attorney> precisely targets this niche market, attracting those who enjoy mystery and suspense stories but may not be traditional hardcore gamers."
What we need to do is expand our user base beyond our initial circle.
"We can't just focus on those familiar core players."
"Home users, casual gamers, female gamers, and even those who don't usually play games but are drawn in by compelling courtroom dramas could all be potential users of our new console."
He changed the subject, adding with a slightly mocking smile.
"As for why we don't prioritize games that involve dating girls..."
"That's because I believe that manufacturers who excel at 'the kind of products that can't be advertised' always have an exceptionally keen sense of opportunity."
"This kind of subject matter gives them more room to express themselves freely and can better inspire their creative enthusiasm."
"What we at Sega want to do is to open up entirely new battlefields, create differentiated advantages, and lead new trends."
A knowing laugh rang out in the conference room.
Nakayama's humorous yet insightful analysis only deepened everyone's admiration for his business acumen and strategic vision.
The members of the Ninth Development Group no longer showed any of their previous confusion or disappointment.
Instead, a raging fire was lit.
They finally understood.
This seemingly "niche" and "alternative" game, Ace Attorney, actually carries Grand Strategy importance in attracting third-party developers and expanding the user base of console platforms.
From a nearly forgotten corner of the world, they have risen to become a key team wielding "secret weapons".
This huge shift in identity swept away all the frustration they had previously accumulated.
A sense of excitement at being entrusted with an important task and a strong sense of mission filled everyone's hearts.
The leader of the Ninth Development Group stood up excitedly, his voice trembling slightly with emotion.
"Please rest assured, Mr. Nakayama!"
"We, the Ninth Development Group, will certainly live up to your expectations and make this Ace Attorney game a masterpiece that will amaze everyone!"
Yu Suzuki, who had not been directly assigned a specific original major project, looked at Takuya seemed to have completed the explanation of all the important projects, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He cleared his throat and asked with a stubbornness typical of tech geeks.
"Special Secretary Nakayama, what about me and my Second Development Group?"
"Are we just supposed to keep an eye on those transplant projects?"
Upon hearing Nakayama Takuya chuckled and looked at this Sega technical giant with a hint of amusement.
"Mr. Suzuki, you are one of Sega's top game development masters, no, you are one of the best in all of Japan."
"With your abilities and creativity, do you really need me to feed you projects step by step?"
"I look forward to you drawing fresh inspiration from the powerful performance of our new console and conceiving original masterpieces that can once again lead the era."
Yu Suzuki's eyes flickered behind his glasses, and a challenging smile appeared on his lips.
"Hmph, you said it yourself."
"I, Yu Suzuki, will definitely come up with a game that surpasses all your ideas today, and will truly amaze you!"
I'll wait and see.
Nakayama Takuya's smile remained unchanged, his eyes filled with trust and expectation for this legendary producer.
He turned his head and looked at the Ninth Development Group again, his tone becoming serious and focused.
"There are several key points regarding the development of Ace Attorney, and I hope you will keep them firmly in mind."
"First, the plot is the soul. Every case must be meticulously crafted, logically sound, full of suspense, and thrilling plot twists."
"Second, the characters must be vividly portrayed. Whether it's the main legal team, the highly individualistic prosecutor, or even the witnesses and criminals in each case, they must all have memorable characteristics."
"Third, the exhilaration of courtroom debates. The sense of accomplishment from getting closer to the truth step by step and ultimately crushing the opponent with evidence is the core of the game experience."
"Therefore, the script is of paramount importance. If you need the support of a mystery screenwriter, you can make a request to me!"
The members of the Ninth Development Group listened intently, memorizing every word.
With this, the lineup of launch titles for Sega's new console, as well as several key arcade ported games, has been finalized.
The meeting room was filled with an unprecedentedly high level of morale.
Each development team received a heavy responsibility and felt the company's huge investment and high expectations for the new mainframe.
The meeting has just been adjourned.
With boundless enthusiasm and a variety of project proposals, the developers quickly dispersed like soldiers heading to battle, ready to plunge into the intense development work.
Nakayama Takuya didn't even give himself a moment to catch his breath.
Nakayama Takuya strode towards the Marketing Department's office area.
Upon arriving at the Marketing Department, he immediately found Masao Suzuki, the head of the Marketing Department responsible for the company's external authorization and legal affairs.
His smile faded, and his expression became serious and focused.
"Mr. Suzuki, time is of the essence."
"We have a game that requires licensing rights to a lot of animations, and we need to get started immediately."
"I knew you guys were planning something big during the meeting, I've been waiting for this." Mr. Suzuki downed his lukewarm coffee in one gulp, picked up his notebook, and walked into the small conference room next door with Takuya.