Recaps

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 created Tetris, repaired a Pac-Man cabinet, and opened GAMENOVA with Sam after negotiating for an arcade space and machines.
• Lin Lixin developed 1942, whose new upgrades and co-op play impressed Sam, Vivian, and arcade customers.
• Lin Lixin recruited Vivian to help with graphics and arranged a contract-manufacturing deal with Meyer to sell Tetris cabinets.
• Lin Lixin visited Gerald Lawson for help with hardware limitations, and Gerald regained his interest in games after seeing Tetris and 1942.
• Gerald brought Lin Lixin a dual-processor board, and Lin completed Contra’s initial development before attending the Conan the Destroyer premiere with Sam.
• Lin Lixin demonstrated Contra to Schwarzenegger, who played it, praised it, and decided to discuss an endorsement despite Dave’s earlier objections.
• Distributors began seeking Contra, and Lin Lixin quoted Meyer a $4,000 wholesale price per machine while Sam prepared documents for GAMENOVA Entertainment.

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 added password saves to Contra after Meyer raised concerns about its length, and Schwarzenegger’s endorsement drew crowds to arcades.
• Lin Lixin recruited Ho Kwok Yuen and introduced modular arcade hardware, inexpensive graphics chips, and a tile-map editor for Metal Gear.
• Metal Gear attracted customers with stealth gameplay and cheaper machines, while Lin Lixin unveiled NovaBox and secured Zilog’s cooperation on its processor.
• Lin Lixin developed Street Fighter with Brandon Lee’s martial arts guidance, Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Guile, recorded voice effects, and a new joystick.
• Brandon Lee brought Linda Emery and Shannon Lee to see Street Fighter, and Linda praised Fei Long’s resemblance to Bruce Lee.
• Street Fighter overcame slow initial sales and overtook Kung-Fu Master, prompting Konami’s vice president to stop production.
• Lin Lixin challenged Carmack to render 3D graphics on GAMENOVA’s arcade hardware and insisted that NovaBox include a floppy disk drive.
• John Carmack demonstrated a movable 3D room, prompting Lin Lixin to develop Wolfenstein 3D, while Minoru Arakawa approved NES trial sales bundled with Super Mario.

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 launched Wolfenstein 3D on NovaBox and used its striking 3D gameplay to improve the console’s prospects despite NES competition.
• Lin Lixin developed The Legend of Zelda and Story of Seasons, whose sales and player appeal helped offset NovaBox losses and draw new audiences.
• Lin Lixin recruited Howard Warshaw, Jon Van Caneghem, and Richard Garriott as third-party developers, while also approaching Sir-Tech.
• Lin Lixin ordered development of the NovaPocket and proposed battery-backed saving, with Pokémon planned as its launch title.
• Lin Lixin apologized for ElectronicGames’ mistaken Story of Seasons review, then partnered with its editor Steve to publicize hidden game secrets and reward players who found them.
• Lin Lixin recruited Game Freak to create Pokémon illustrations and established it as GAMENOVA’s Japanese office, with Satoshi Tajiri joining the plan.
• Lin Lixin and Meyer planned Pokémon Centers and themed Gyms, prompting stores to renovate and GAMENOVA to acquire eight buildings.
• Lin Lixin brought Schwarzenegger and Brandon Lee to film a NovaPocket promotional video, and Schwarzenegger played its preinstalled Tetris between scenes.

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.

• Mike and John bought NovaPockets on launch day, and GAMENOVA sold its first million units before opening a Pokémon Center with merchandise, new cartridges, and trading machines.
• Mike and John began Pokémon Red and Green, discovered their version-exclusive Pokémon, and joined players trading at game stores as Sam began opening the real-world Gyms.
• Mike defeated Blaine and earned the Volcano Badge, while Lin Lixin launched The Legend of Clefairy and encouraged fans to search for the rumored Pokémon Mew.
• Lin Lixin introduced Might and Magic to NovaBox, commissioned NWC to make a strategy game, and developed The King of Fighters around fast combos, input buffering, and new controllers.
• Lin Lixin arranged the televised Evolution Championship Series, secured Channel 29’s broadcast, and prepared The King of Fighters with floppy-disk character expansions and Yuzo Koshiro’s music.
• At the inaugural EVO, Schwarzenegger and Brandon Lee demonstrated The King of Fighters and its expansion packs, while Yui Asaka and Mai Shiranui promoted their teams and the tournament drew growing ratings.
• The King of Fighters sold more than 500,000 copies, its expansion drive sold 100,000 units, and Hitbo sales rose as Lin Lixin considered organized esports and began planning new games including Fire Emblem.
• Lin Lixin outlined the NovaXeno next-generation console, sought funding, and approached Jim Clark about building an affordable graphics accelerator for GAMENOVA’s consumer hardware.