Prelude to the Copyright Offensive

The atmosphere in the office of Masao Suzuki, head of the Marketing Department, was somewhat somber.

In stark contrast to the heated atmosphere in the conference room, this place felt more like the core staff headquarters on the eve of a major battle.

On the wall, a whiteboard that had just been hung up was now densely covered with writing.

Those were all the robot anime IP names mentioned in the "The First Super Robot Wars" project proposal, along with the renowned copyright holders behind them.

Sunrise, Toei, Tohokushinsha... each name represents a mountain that is not easily shaken.

Nakayama Takuya and Masao Suzuki stood side by side in front of the whiteboard, discussing how to begin negotiations for these copyright licenses.

Masao Suzuki, a veteran who had spent many years in the marketing and legal fields, took a deep breath as he looked at the names on the whiteboard, especially those of animation industry veterans like "Sunrise" and film industry giants like "Toei." His eyes behind his glasses revealed an unprecedented seriousness.

"Executive Director Nakayama. This practically encompasses half of the Japan robot anime industry."

Integrating them into a single game would be no less difficult than launching a real "war."

Takuya nodded, his gaze sweeping over each name on the whiteboard.

"That's why, if successful, the energy it will unleash will be unprecedented."

"Mr. Suzuki, this is more than just a game."

"It is also a strategic weapon for our new console to be a hit and attract a broad user base."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination.

Masao Suzuki nodded slightly and summarized the copyright holders on the whiteboard. "The main copyright holders are Sunrise Inc., Toei Animation, Voyager Holdings, and Tohokushinsha."

Takuya nodded and continued his analysis, "Sunrise Inc. has Aura Battler Dunbine, L-GAIM, Blue Comet SPT Layzner, and even early classics like Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3, Heavy Metal L-Gaim Gundam."

"They own numerous IPs, and their management is relatively centralized. We can try negotiating a package deal."

"But as is well known, Sunrise has always been extremely strict in maintaining the image and worldview of its IPs."

Masao Suzuki added from the side, "The person in charge at Sunrise is notoriously old-fashioned and stubborn, and they have a close relationship with Bandai. There's no guarantee that Bandai won't interfere."

"Let's give it a try first. If Bandai causes trouble, I'll mention it when I visit my grandfather. After all, I'm Mitsui's grandson."

Takuya agrees with Mr. Suzuki's view on Sunrise, and then turns to the Toei IP on the other side.

"Toei Animation holds the rights to Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, and other Super Electromagnetic Robot Combattler V and Lightspeed Electroid Albegas."

"They are established animation giants with extensive experience in IP licensing and more mature commercial operations."

"The key to negotiating with Toei lies in the distribution of profits and how we can respect the original status of their classic works, making them see the enormous commercial value and brand effect that cooperation will bring."

"Toei values tangible profits and market influence more," Masao Suzuki reiterated his insight. "They're open to commercializing intellectual property, but their ambitions are considerable. I'll consult with Director Tada. He has connections at TV Asahi; he can help us connect with Toei as a sign of respect and to showcase our network."

Takuya's attention then fell on a relatively unique IP.

"Space Battleship Yamato."

"The copyright ownership of this work is rather unique, as it is jointly held by Voyager Holdings and Tohokushinsha."

"This means we need to communicate with both parties simultaneously, which will be more difficult."

"But the Yamato holds a place in the hearts of players no less than any robot anime. Incorporating it into our game would be a huge boost to its epic scale and appeal."

Masao Suzuki listened to Takuya and logical analysis, the pressure in his heart eased slightly, but his brows remained furrowed.

He looked at Takuya, waiting for the young executive director to provide a more concrete action plan.

Takuya took a deep breath and began to explain the negotiation strategy he had been developing in his mind.

"Mr. Suzuki, the core principle behind our negotiations with the various copyright holders this time is not simply 'purchasing licenses.'"

"We want to send them a message— Sega, through the powerful capabilities of our new console and the innovative gameplay of ' The First Super Robot Wars I,' will work with them to elevate the value of these classic IPs to new heights."

"This is not just a business collaboration, but also a 'shared cultural symbol enhancement project.'"

"We want them to believe that this is a 're-creation' and 're-promotion' of classic culture, capable of bringing new fans across generations to their IP and giving it a fresh new vitality."

A glint of light flashed in Masao Suzuki's eyes. This approach was indeed far more sophisticated than simple business negotiations.

"I have a preliminary idea for a specific strategy."

"A sincere commitment to 'shared benefits and win-win cooperation'."

"We need to prepare a tiered, sufficiently attractive licensing fee and sales commission scheme."

"For core IPs like Gundam, Mazinger, and Getter Robo, we can offer even greater sincerity and even break with conventional conditions."

"At the same time, we promise to give each IP full exposure and respect in the game's promotion and marketing, and actively explore the possibility of joint promotion to achieve a win-win situation. In this regard, we want to emphasize that our game will feature core combat scenes from the animation, which will help to evoke players' nostalgia, especially for classic titles that haven't had a new release for a long time. Our game can actually provide valuable exposure opportunities for their earlier works. This point can even be used as leverage in our negotiations to lower the price."

After hearing Takuya's idea, Masao Suzuki's tense nerves relaxed slightly, but as the one who would actually implement it, he quickly calmed down from his excitement and raised practical concerns.

"General Manager Nakayama, your idea is very feasible and convincing."

"However, such large-scale, multi-party negotiations are extremely time-sensitive. The release date of the new console won't wait for us."

"Moreover, the demands of each copyright holder are likely to be enormous, making budget control a huge challenge. If negotiations with a few key parties fail, the entire project could be affected."

Takuya patted Masao Suzuki on the shoulder, a confident smile on his face.

"Mr. Suzuki, I had anticipated these difficulties."

"What Sega has in abundance right now is the determination and drive to create miracles."

"Regarding the budget, the company will provide maximum support, so please rest assured. As I mentioned before, please don't hesitate to use the company's network of contacts if negotiations encounter obstacles."

"Mr. Suzuki, the Marketing Department will have a tough time ahead. For this battle, we need our most elite team and the most efficient execution. Each copyright holder needs a dedicated team to follow up, study their preferences, and develop the most suitable negotiation strategy."

Inspired by Takuya's confidence and meticulous planning, Masao Suzuki's initial seriousness gradually gave way to an excitement that seemed ready to face the challenge.

He nodded vigorously, his voice becoming firm and powerful.

"Don't worry, sir!"

"I immediately organized a team to prepare materials and draft a preliminary contact plan, in accordance with your strategic direction."

"In this 'battle,' our Marketing Department will definitely be at the forefront and will not let you down!"

Takuya smiled with satisfaction.

Subsequently, the two engaged in a more in-depth and specific discussion and division of labor regarding the negotiation priorities for each IP, the initial contacts, the details of the documents to be prepared, and the specific content of the presentation materials.

Masao Suzuki acted almost immediately.

He strode out of the office and summoned all the core members of the Marketing Department.

Nakayama Takuya's instructions and determination, like a military order, quickly reached everyone's ears.

The entire Marketing Department, like the gears of a sophisticated war machine, instantly began to operate at high speed.