Lin Lixin built Tetris and 1942 into a successful arcade business, then sought the hardware and talent to develop Contra. After Schwarzenegger agreed to discuss endorsing it, Lin arranged production and sales plans for the new game.
Lin Lixin expanded GAMENOVA’s arcade business with Contra, Metal Gear, and Street Fighter while building the technology and partnerships for the NovaBox home console. John Carmack’s 3D demonstration led Lin Lixin to develop Wolfenstein 3D as Minoru Arakawa prepared NES trial sales in New York.
Lin Lixin revived NovaBox with major games, recruited third-party developers, and began preparing GAMENOVA’s next handheld and Pokémon. The arc left the NovaPocket nearing launch as GAMENOVA built Pokémon Centers and promoted the device with Schwarzenegger and Brandon Lee.
Lin Lixin grew GAMENOVA beyond Pokémon by launching new games, peripherals, and a televised fighting-game tournament. After The King of Fighters and its expansion packs became a hit, he began planning the next console and recruiting SGI founder Jim Clark to develop its graphics technology.
Lin Lixin expanded GAMENOVA’s reach through Fire Emblem, sports games, and new hardware while drawing Will Wright and his SimCity project into the company. The stretch ended with Will joining GAMENOVA as Vivian demonstrated SGI’s graphics-card prototype.
Lin Lixin built GAMENOVA’s partnerships and game lineup while developing Tycoon and recruiting Sid Meier and Kojima. The arc ended with Miyazaki discovering Castlevania’s vast, interconnected world and learning how its combat and ability gates worked.
Lin Lixin developed the NovaXeno and Civilization, then launched both to eager players as GAMENOVA expanded into memory chips, modding, and online play. Frank and his friends discovered the game’s depth and its mod tools, while Lin prepared a broader platform for user-created content and competitive events.
Lin Lixin expanded GAMENOVA by acquiring Activision, recruiting key developers, and unveiling Quake’s true 3D technology. He then launched Temple Run and GAMENOVA-PASS, ending with arcade players embracing cloud-saved progress and cross-platform potential.
Lin Lixin turned Rocksmith into a major arcade and console hit, then expanded GAMENOVA’s technology and recruited Blizzard and Westwood to build ambitious new games. The stretch left Blizzard rebuilding its Star Wars RTS around Lin Lixin’s technical direction as Rocksmith sales continued to rise.
GAMENOVA expanded into display manufacturing and online services while launching Command & Conquer and developing The Sims: Urbz. The new game drew women and teenage girls to NovaXeno and NEXUS as Christmas approached.
Lin Lixin launched Zork Idle, NOVA Kart, and Hill Climb Racing as GAMENOVA expanded its consoles and games. He helped bring the World Wide Web to NeXT computers and began addressing the W3C as Jobs and Sculley argued over Apple and Microsoft.
Lin Lixin developed Cut the Rope into a hit through its characters, level design, and partnerships, then turned a mansion into the basis for Biohazard. The game launched with costly enhanced graphics and left Hawk frightened after his first encounter with a zombie.
Lin Lixin expanded GAMENOVA’s projects with a truck-driving simulator and an online guessing game while developing the ATHENA processor and a new Sega console. After Irem developers formed Nazca Studio to work on Metal Slug, Masahiro Sakurai tried the game and decided he wanted to develop for the Genesis-NEO.
Lin Lixin helped Sega create Sonic and launch the Genesis NEO, while GAMENOVA expanded into arcade games, touchscreens, comics, and Pokémon services. The arc left Pokémon fans anticipating a sequel and a new internet-linked trading network as development awaited new hardware.
Marc explored the renovated Pokémon Center while Lin Lixin built new ventures around Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker and the 3D flight game Ace Combat. As 3D0 emerged as a rival, Lin Lixin began planning to recruit online developers with a free programming-based strategy game.
Lin Lixin expanded GameNova’s games and hardware projects, recruiting Mark Cerny and Bullfrog while pursuing new approaches to portable computers. The stretch ended with Lin asking Blizzard to build a dark Gothic RPG setting.
Lin Lixin expanded GAMENOVA’s PC and music ambitions through Theme Hospital and Pirates!, while preparing a cross-platform Pokémon sequel and launching its anime. The arc leaves Mike exploring Pokémon Gold at night, just as he discovers that its features and locations hold surprises.
Lin Lixin developed Hotline Miami’s rapid-retry arcade design and pushed Blizzard to rebuild Diablo around randomized gear, rewarding progression, and dark atmosphere. He demonstrated Diablo’s time-based arcade model to Stephen Wynn, who became engrossed in the game before encountering The Butcher.
Lin Lixin launched Patapon and NovaMail, while Stars! drew Simon into a tense multiplayer campaign that continued after Alice’s death. He also advanced internet and music technology, recruited Yu Suzuki, and began positioning GameNova to challenge Sony and the major record labels.
Lin Lixin turned Beat Hazard’s safety issue into a broader push for music, batteries, and Tokimeki Memorial, while GameNova’s virtual idols outpaced Sony’s rival project. He then shifted toward PC graphics hardware, securing General Motors as an early customer and seeking its help with a realistic Corvette in a new racing game.