Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Second Party

Tokyo's summer evening air was thick with heat and humidity. Takuya Nakayama drove his RX7 back from Osaka, his mind swirling with thoughts. While his meeting with Konami hadn't yielded an immediate commitment, he knew he had planted a seed in Kagemasa Ueyama's mind.The scenery outside the car window shifted from the monotony of the highway to Tokyo's familiar sea of neon lights. Takuya loosened his tie, feeling the cool breeze from the air conditioning. Over the next few days, he needed to visit more third-party game developers to pave the way for Sega's new console launch.Back at his apartment, Takuya wasted no time resting. He opened his laptop and began planning his upcoming visits. The screen's blue glow illuminated his focused face as his fingers typed out a list of names: COMPILE, Game Arts, Technosoft… these were his next targets."Let's start with the loyal allies," Takuya murmured to himself, marking a star next to COMPILE's name.Founded in 1982, COMPILE was renowned for its puzzle games, particularly the Puyo Puyo series, which enjoyed global popularity. More importantly, COMPILE had maintained a close partnership with Sega, making them a steadfast ally.Takuya closed his laptop, lay on his bed, and shut his eyes. Tomorrow, the campaign would continue.The next morning, Takuya rose early, donning a sharp navy-blue suit and tying his tie. In the mirror, he looked vibrant, showing no signs of fatigue from his relentless schedule.COMPILE's office was located in a modest building in downtown Tokyo. Unlike Konami's gleaming headquarters, this place was unassuming, yet it buzzed with creative energy.As the elevator doors opened, Takuya stepped into COMPILE's office. The walls were plastered with colorful puzzle game posters, and a group of young programmers huddled together, discussing something animatedly. They cast curious glances as Takuya entered."Executive Director Nakayama! Welcome!" Masamitsu Niitani greeted him warmly. As COMPILE's president, Niitani was a man in his early forties, wearing round-framed glasses and a perpetually friendly smile.After brief pleasantries, they moved to the meeting room. Unlike Konami's formal conference space, this room felt like a creative workshop, with walls covered in game concept art and character designs, and development documents scattered across the table."Sega's been making big moves lately, I hear. Word is you've been visiting game companies left and right," Niitani said, pouring Takuya a cup of coffee with a teasing tone.Takuya took a sip of the coffee. "Indeed. We're preparing for the launch of our next-generation 16-bit console and hoping for strong support from exceptional third-party developers.""A new console?" Niitani's eyes lit up. "16-bit?"Takuya nodded, pulling a document from his briefcase. "These are the technical specifications and our third-party developer policies."Niitani took the document and skimmed through it quickly. As a long-time ally, Takuya didn't need to be as guarded as he was with Konami."These specs are impressive," Niitani remarked, flipping through the pages. "The color rendering and processing speed are leaps and bounds ahead of current 8-bit consoles."Takuya set down his coffee cup and leaned forward slightly. "That's why I'm hoping COMPILE can develop a flagship title for our new console."Niitani looked up, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "Do you have any specific ideas in mind?"Takuya stood and walked to the whiteboard. "Given COMPILE's expertise in puzzle games, I have a bold concept." He picked up a marker and wrote "Party Game" in large characters."Party game?" Niitani repeated, his brow furrowing slightly."Exactly," Takuya said, sketching out his idea on the whiteboard. "A collection of easy-to-pick-up mini-games designed for adults and female players, integrated into a single game with a strong living-room party vibe. It would support multiple players, with simple yet varied rules to spark laughter and interaction."Niitani nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds interesting, but the market already has similar games."Takuya smiled and wrote "Sega All-Stars" on the whiteboard."That's our ace in the hole. This party game won't just feature COMPILE's IPs—it will bring together iconic characters from all of Sega's well-known games."Niitani's eyes widened. "You mean…""Yes," Takuya said, his voice brimming with passion. "Characters from Pokémon, Fatal Fury, and other Sega classics, with the potential to collaborate with third parties to include even more recognizable characters. Imagine players choosing their favorite characters to compete in various mini-games."Niitani stood and joined Takuya at the whiteboard. "This idea is brilliant! We could design a variety of mini-games, offering different gameplay styles. It would appeal not only to core gamers but also to casual family members."Takuya smiled inwardly, seeing Niitani's excitement. He knew his proposal had hit the mark. COMPILE excelled at crafting simple yet rich games, and the "Sega All-Stars" concept added boundless appeal."We can immediately assemble a dedicated team for this project," Niitani said, setting down the marker, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "This could be a groundbreaking title!"Takuya extended his hand, and Niitani shook it firmly. "I look forward to COMPILE's masterpiece."The first stop was a success. Next up was Game Arts.Founded in 1985, Game Arts was known for its visually stunning games and intricate storytelling. In Takuya's past life, their Grandia and Lunar series were highly acclaimed among RPG fans. Crucially, Game Arts had an investment relationship with Sega, fostering a close partnership.Game Arts' office was located in a modern high-rise in central Tokyo. Unlike COMPILE's creative studio vibe, this space was professional and refined, with exquisite game artwork on the walls, each piece resembling a work of art."Executive Director Nakayama, sorry to keep you waiting," Yoichi Miyaji greeted him. As Game Arts' president, Miyaji was a refined middle-aged man with a gentle yet authoritative demeanor.They moved to a meeting room with a view of Tokyo's bustling streets, sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, brightening the space."I assume you've heard about Sega's new console," Takuya said, getting straight to the point.Miyaji smiled and nodded. "Indeed. A 16-bit console with impressive performance, right?""Correct." Takuya handed him the technical specifications. "Here are the detailed specs. I believe Game Arts' technical prowess can fully unlock this console's potential."Miyaji reviewed the documents carefully, nodding occasionally. "Color rendering, processing speed, memory capacity… these specs are quite substantial.""That's why," Takuya said, meeting Miyaji's gaze, "I hope Game Arts can develop an RPG or visual novel game for the new console."Miyaji set down the documents, thoughtful. "RPGs with intricate storytelling are our strength, but you know a high-quality RPG demands significant time and resources.""Sega is prepared to provide comprehensive technical support," Takuya said firmly. "We can send engineers to help you master the new console's development environment, ensuring you can fully leverage its performance advantages."Miyaji's eyes brightened. "If we can break through the limitations of current consoles, we have many ideas we could bring to life—grander worldbuilding, more nuanced character development, smoother combat systems…"Takuya smiled, adding, "And more stunning visuals and sound. I know Game Arts has always prioritized audiovisual excellence.""Exactly," Miyaji said, standing and walking to the window. "We've always wanted to create a truly immersive fantasy world where players can explore, adventure, and grow. Current hardware has always constrained our imagination."Takuya joined him at the window. "Those constraints will now be lifted. Sega's new console will provide a stage for you to showcase your talent."Miyaji turned, his eyes alight with a creator's passion. "We've been conceptualizing a project for a while—a fantasy RPG blending Eastern and Western mythological elements. If we can realize it on the new console, it would be a groundbreaking endeavor.""Sounds incredibly compelling," Takuya said sincerely. "I'm confident Game Arts will create something astonishing."They shook hands, sealing the partnership intent. Takuya felt another surge of satisfaction—the second stop was a success.