Ajal.

Chapter 129.3: Mega Drive Stockpiling

The global fervor of the DDR city championships added a hefty bargaining chip to Sega’s negotiations with Toshiba.

The deal was sealed.

Directors Terai and Hatano personally brought the news back to Sega’s headquarters. Toshiba, swayed by the irresistible million-unit order and DDR’s undeniable cultural phenomenon, dropped their final reservations. They agreed to supply MC68000 chips at under 2,000 yen and Z80 chips at under 800 yen, promising prioritized produ...

Chapter 129.2: Unexpected Ratings

On competition day, the Los Angeles downtown sports arena buzzed with a raucous crowd.

CBS’s broadcast van was already in place.

Mark Thompson sat at the anchor desk, adjusting his tie with practiced precision, his calm demeanor masking deep reluctance for this “lowly” assignment.

“Good afternoon, viewers. Welcome to CBS’s coverage of the Los Angeles DDR City Championship qualifiers. We now go to our field reporter, Sarah Chen, for a live updat...

Chapter 129.1: Channels

DDR’s resounding success held a mirror to Sega’s glaring weakness in home console distribution channels.

“The Mega Drive is our next-gen hope, carrying Sega’s future. We cannot repeat past mistakes in channel-building,” a director declared.

All eyes turned to Takuya Nakayama, the young visionary behind DDR’s commercial miracle, now expected to chart the Mega Drive’s path.

Feeling the weight of their gazes, Takuya cleared his throat, his voi...

Chapter 129: DDR Fever

In just two weeks, Sony and Sega’s promotional tidal wave crashed across the globe like a boulder dropped into a still lake, propelling *Dance Dancer Revolution* (DDR) to the forefront of major cities.

TV ad bombardments, full-page fashion magazine spreads, celebrity playtest videos, and bustling pre-launch events fueled the game’s ascent.

All built toward DDR’s release day.

On the eve of Thanksgiving, DDR officially launched.

As dawn ...

Chapter 128: Sony’s Offensive

While the PC Engine’s initial sales were strong, it barely made ripples beyond gaming circles, remaining a “rich kid’s toy” among players.

The spotlight swung back to Sony.

Sony’s global advertising blitz for *Dance Dancer Revolution* (DDR) hit like a meticulously planned lightning strike, capturing the world’s major cities in an instant.

Rapidly cut montages showcased DDR machines’ dazzling lights, illuminating players’ vibrant dance mov...

Chapter 127: The Tightening Noose

The PC Engine’s first-week sales of 500,000 units reached Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters like wildfire.

Hiroshi Yamauchi promptly summoned his executives for an urgent meeting.

His face remained stern, but a rare gravity flickered in his eyes.

His fingers tapped the table rhythmically, each *tap-tap* like a hammer striking the hearts of those present, without the usual thunderous outburst.

“Five hundred thousand units,” an executive e...

Chapter 126: PC Engine Launch

On October 30, the PC Engine, a joint venture by Hudson and NEC, hit the market after two weeks of intense promotion. Despite launching with only two games—Sunsoft’s *Shanghai* and Toei Animation’s *Sengoku Mahjong*—and a bold price tag of 24,800 yen, the console made waves.

Fueled by *Sengoku Mahjong*’s potent IP tie-in, the PC Engine’s first-week sales figures swept the industry like a storm.

Five hundred thousand units.

The number landed h...

Chapter 125: Launch Lineup Demonstration

The Hong Kong and Taiwan inspection trip concluded, and Directors Terai and Hatano returned to Japan, their weary faces unable to conceal a glint of triumph, hinting at a fruitful journey.

Yet, under Takuya Nakayama’s probing gaze at the airport, they remained tight-lipped, exchanging a knowing silence.

“The results will be reported at the board meeting,” Director Terai said flatly, his tone carrying an unyielding weight.

Director Hatano, with a sl...

Chapter 124: Reskinning

Amid the clamor of media and public fascination with the Sega-Sony alliance, another undercurrent was quietly gathering in the shadows.

The robot-themed fighting game, *Super Robot Rumble*, a collaboration between Sega and Bandai, had completed its development cycle and was poised for release, awaiting its moment to shine.

In Nintendo’s headquarters, Hiroshi Yamauchi sat at the head of the conference table, reports detailing Sega’s recent moves spread before him....

Chapter 123: Momentum

The fervor from the Sega-Sony executive meeting lingered, and both sides moved swiftly, forming the joint organizing committee for the “Second Esports Tournament and DDR Global City Showdown” with lightning speed.

Elite teams from Sega and Sony meshed seamlessly, diving into intense negotiations over collaboration details.

Meanwhile, Sony Music President Shigeo Maruyama’s promises materialized at breakneck pace.

In Sony Music’s headquarters, reco...

Chapter 122: Planning the Second Esports Tournament

The discussion on content direction stirred waves, but when the topic shifted to market launch, Takuya Nakayama dropped another bombshell.

Director Yoshikawa, still musing, said, “Such a stunning product demands an equally stunning debut—a launch that ignites the market.”

Takuya’s eyes gleamed, seizing the moment with unshakable confidence. “I propose we build on the success of Sega’s first esports tournament.”

He scanned the room, voice cl...

Chapter 121: Dance Dancer Revolution

As Smith’s electrifying performance concluded, the pulsating music cut off abruptly, leaving only the faint hum of cooling fans and the heavy breathing of the captivated audience. Smith leapt off the arcade machine, his face alight with exhilaration, flashing a triumphant gesture toward the control room.

Young staff clustered in twos and threes, cheeks flushed with excitement, animatedly mimicking Smith’s signature moves, sparking bursts of good-natured laughter.

Chapter 120: A Great Success

Just then, LaVelle Smith Jr. walked forward with a smile.

"It seems it's time for a real professional to take the stage."

He took off his jacket and casually handed it to a young Sega employee standing nearby. Beneath the jacket was the chiseled body of a dancer, every muscle radiating a sense of power.

Smith casually warmed up his wrists and ankles, producing a series of faint cracking sounds from his joints. Then, he raised his eyes and scanned the crowd. His gaze reste...

Chapter 119: "Bad" Demo Test

On a sweltering summer afternoon, the kind of heat that felt like it could melt a person enveloped all of Tokyo.
Inside Sony Headquarters, however, a specially modified laboratory was as cool as autumn.
Director Yoshikawa from Sega had just arrived, accompanied by Nakayama Takuya and Suzuki Masao.
On the Sony side, Mitsui Chuta, Sony Music President Maruyama Shigeo, and Kutaragi Ken were already waiting.
The style of this laboratory was the epitome of a mixed-and-matched aesthetic...

Chapter 118: Handheld Console Preliminary Research

"A handheld console?"
In the current year of 1987, although Nintendo had already tested the waters with its Game & Watch series, the market for a true handheld console—one with interchangeable cartridges and powerful gaming capabilities—had yet to be fully ignited.
"Yes. A handheld that can swap game cartridges just like a home console."
Nakayama Takuya nodded with certainty, clearly and fluently listing a series of key performance indicators.
"For the CPU, I am considerin...

Chapter 117: Memory Management Program

Watching the taillights of Director Terai and Director Hatano’s cars merge into the traffic and vanish at the horizon, Takuya Nakayama finally withdrew his gaze and returned to the headquarters building.

Their trip was packed: first, Hong Kong to deeply assess the electronics factories already loosely partnered with Sega—evaluating production capacity, cost control, and critical yield rates to finalize outsourcing for the new console’s peripheral components.

Then, Taiwan t...

Chapter 116: Chip Procurement

The discussion circled back to the immediate matter of chip procurement.

“So, for the current MC68000 and Z80 sourcing, Takuya-kun, what are your specific thoughts?”

Director Terai inquired.

Takuya analyzed with evident preparation.

“There are several licensed Z80 producers.”

“NEC—they’re collaborating with Hudson on the PC Engine, direct competitors. Even ignoring that NEC supplied Z80s for our SG-1000, a sudden surge in orders—especially MC...

Chapter 115: Cost Control

Takuya Nakayama soon convened a meeting in the headquarters’ executive conference room with Director Terai and Director Hatano.

He placed a neatly printed cost analysis report gently before the two directors.

“Director Terai, Director Hatano.”

Takuya’s voice was even, without undue inflection.

“This is the latest estimated per-unit production cost for our new console: 26,000 yen.”

Director Terai picked up the report, his gaze behind his glasses s...

Chapter 114: Hidden Concerns About Costs

When Hideo Kojima followed Takuya into Sega’s heavily guarded hardware development department, he was instantly captivated by the scene. The air carried a unique blend of solder fumes, circuit boards, and coffee, laced with an electric tension and excitement. Technicians swarmed around several oddly shaped machines, screens flickering with complex data and graphics, punctuated by keyboard clacks and murmured discussions.
“This is—” Kojima’s eyes locked onto a machine running a de...

Chapter 113: Hideo Kojima

In the executive director’s office at Sega.
Takuya Nakayama smiled, extending a hand to gesture Hideo Kojima toward the opposite sofa. Kojima bowed slightly, a touch stiff in contrast to Takuya’s easy demeanor.
The office was simpler than Kojima had imagined—no ostentatious decor, just a practical air.
“Kojima-san, I’ve heard so much about you. Mr. Suzuki hasn’t stopped singing your praises,” Takuya said, his voice clear and youthful yet carrying a maturity beyond his y...

Chapter 112: The Butterfly's Wings

The new liaison, surnamed Nishida, always wore a professional smile—a stark contrast to Kazuo Okada’s bombast. He never slammed tables or raised his voice; his words were polite, yet they stifled more than shouts.
“Kojima-kun, your idea is creative, very… unique,” Nishida would say over a sip of tea, drawling leisurely. “But from a market perspective, shouldn’t we consider something more… accessible? After all, players need guidance, but even more, they need to be catered t...

Chapter 111: Hidden Moves

The PC Engine’s promotional blitz had barely begun when Nintendo’s counterstrike unleashed a tidal wave.
Under Hiroshi Yamauchi’s iron fist, an invisible pressure swiftly enveloped Japan’s entire gaming industry.
In the offices of major third-party developers, the atmosphere turned abruptly tense.
Under the guise of development assistance and quality assurance, Nintendo dispatched “liaisons” to nearly every third-party signed to royalty agreements.
Assistance in name, ...

Chapter 110: Sony's Overbearing Move

In the sweltering summer afternoon, Tokyo’s sky hung low under heavy clouds, the cicadas’ shrill cries nearly tearing the thin air apart, stirring restlessness. Inside Sony’s electronic development lab, the air conditioning hummed just right, shielding the room from the outdoor heat.
Takuya Nakayama had just wrapped up a phase review on the LD (LaserDisc) arcade game’s assembly and debugging. Sony’s engineers were deeply passionate about this fusion of cutting-edge video tech, fi...

Chapter 109: Nintendo's Fury

Kyoto, Nintendo headquarters.
In the sweltering afternoon, the air in the conference room felt stifled, as if frozen in oppressive silence.
A detailed report on the PC Engine lay splayed on the central table, its pages creased from rough handling.
Hiroshi Yamauchi’s face was ashen, a vein throbbing faintly at his temple from barely contained rage.
His fingers drummed sharply on the table, clinging to the last shreds of composure befitting a president.
“Hudson!”
Yamauch...

Chapter 108: The First 16-Bit Home Console

“Mr. Suzuki, I’ve recently received some unverified intelligence.”
“What news?” Masao Suzuki instinctively straightened up.
Takuya spoke slowly: “Hudson and NEC seem to have unusually close interactions lately. There are indications they may be secretly collaborating on a brand-new game console.”
The words landed like a boulder in a still pond, jolting Suzuki’s heart and catching his breath. Hudson? NEC? A new console? The combination sent a wave of unease through him...

Chapter 107: Bringing in Toei

With Makoto Yamashina nearly convinced, the scales tipping in his favor, Takuya played his final, most tantalizing card.
“Additionally, if I may presume to mention one more thing…”
“Word has it that your company recently acquired Imai Science’s Shizuoka model factory, poised for a massive leap in model production technology and capacity.”
Takuya’s gaze swept over Bandai’s executives, who betrayed a flicker of pride.
“Once your technical integration and production...

Chapter 106: Securing Bandai

Wednesday arrived swiftly. Two black Crown sedans from Sega pulled smoothly into the parking lot of Bandai’s headquarters in Tokyo’s Taito district.
They were ushered into a spacious meeting room. Moments later, the door opened gently.
A middle-aged man of medium build, impeccably suited with neatly combed hair, entered, flanked by a cluster of equally solemn executives. This was Bandai’s current president, Makoto Yamashina.
Yamashina’s gaze was calm yet carried the scrutiniz...

Chapter 105: Signing with Sony

In Chuta Mitsui’s private office at Sony’s headquarters, the tense atmosphere of the meeting room had dissipated, leaving only the delicate fragrance of premium gyokuro tea. Gone were the cold metal and glass; instead, the room was furnished with stately wooden furniture and adorned with serene ink-wash paintings. A corner antique vase held a few elegant white plum blossoms, reflecting the refined taste of its occupant and a sense of ease after shedding a heavy burden.
Chuta Mitsui per...

Chapter 104: Collaboration Achieved

The rustling of pages in the meeting room finally ceased.
Ken Kutaragi abruptly raised his head, his eyes behind his glasses glinting with near-obsessive fervor.
Without even glancing at Takuya, he turned directly to Shigeo Maruyama, his voice trembling with suppressed excitement.
“Mr. Maruyama, Mr. Mitsui, I request… we need to discuss this internally immediately.”
His sudden request tightened the room’s atmosphere further.
Shigeo Maruyama’s brow furrowed almost impe...

Chapter 103: Ken Kutaragi

Night had fallen over the Setagaya apartment’s study. Outside, Tokyo’s skyline began to sparkle with vibrant neon lights.
Takuya reclined on the sofa.
An empty, high-end bento box was casually pushed to the corner of the table.
Leaning back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the solitary blinking cursor on his computer screen.
The blank document was like an unplayed chessboard, each move tugging at countless nerves.
For the sake of Super Robot Wars, he had, in a sense, committ...