"This will require significant optimization of the underlying protocols," Frank analyzed.
"Then we'll hire people and acquire companies," Takuya Nakayama said, pointing to the list they'd just reviewed. "Those small teams specializing in communication protocols are perfect for this. Maintaining a seamless user experience isn't about slogans; it's about these overlooked details."
"Also, in areas with large player populations, like the main city square or taverns, we can borrow from Neverwinter Nights. We'll display only simple scenes and character portraits of the player's party, with interactions still managed through a list of area options. This will significantly reduce server load," Takuya Nakayama added. "Apply this approach to other areas as well, prioritizing the team's experience."
Tom lit a cigarette and exhaled a plume of smoke. "What about billing? How do you plan to charge?"
Takuya Nakayama leaned back in his chair. "That's your mission. Frank, recruit a few guys who are experts in Internet user behavior analysis, plus some actuaries. We need to calculate our break-even point, factoring in server costs, bandwidth, and R&D amortization. The Card & Board Hall is profitable, but it's small money with transparent profit margins."
"RPGs are different. There are so many monetization opportunities in them."
He turned to Tom. "Entrust the core development of the game to Sega of North America. You already have the art assets and design parameters on hand, which will be much faster than building a team from scratch. Let's leverage our strengths and turn this into Silicon Valley Online's killer app."
Tom stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. "I'll head back to the office tomorrow and pull in those veteran RPG developers. To be honest, they'll be thrilled to work on a game that doesn't have to worry about cartridge capacity or shipping costs."
Takuya Nakayama reminded him, "Make sure they consider the performance level of mid-range PCs that will be available within four years. If it's too demanding, users won't be able to play it even if they want to buy it."
Frank also stood up and closed his laptop. "I'll handle the licensing with TSR. They're desperate for cash right now, so we should be able to secure the rights if our offer is reasonable. I'm more excited about that so-called Passport System." If we can fully integrate ICQ, WeBlog, and this game, Silicon Valley Online will become more than just a social website."
"It will become a virtual world," Takuya Nakayama corrected.
The office fell silent.
The distant noise from downstairs was still faintly audible, but the three people in the room had already turned their gaze to something far beyond.
"By the way, Takuya," Tom said, turning back at the doorway. "What are you planning to name this game?"
"..."
Takuya Nakayama remained silent for a few seconds, gazing out the window toward Manhattan.
"We can worry about the name later. For now, let's use 'D' as the project codename. The scale of the project will depend on your team's assessment of the development scope. The content doesn't need to be exhaustive, but the experience must feel revolutionary. After all, as computer performance improves, we can update the client and add more content later. But the core design—gameplay and graphics—should remain largely unchanged."
"Understood. I'll emphasize that point to them," Tom said and left.
In the temporary office space on the second floor of Silicon Valley Online, Takuya Nakayama bypassed several analysts hunched over their data and found Hoshino and Sugiura at the window-side casual bar.
The two senior members of Sega's Investment Department wore impeccably tailored dark suits, their ties knotted to perfection.
To downplay their Japanese origins, they had avoided the bell-ringing ceremony and left the celebration party early.
"Director Hoshino, Director Sugiura," Takuya Nakayama said, walking over and settling into an armchair beside them.
"Managing Director," they replied in unison, bowing slightly.
Nakayama gestured toward the green numbers still flickering on the computer screen in the distance. "Silicon Valley Online's momentum is even stronger than we anticipated. This level of frenzy is rare on Wall Street. What's your take?"
Director Hoshino adjusted the folder in his hands. "This kind of growth has detached from traditional valuation logic. The internet sector isn't just running anymore; it's flying. At this pace, any asset related to network infrastructure will be repriced."
"Director Hoshino is right," Sugiura added. "We've been observing the reactions of fund managers on Nasdaq. They don't care about price-to-earnings ratios; they only care about who can seize more bandwidth and users."
"Now that we've identified the trend," Takuya Nakayama nodded, "have we adjusted our investment list?"
Hoshino pulled a printed spreadsheet from his briefcase and handed it to Nakayama.
"These are the targets we've re-screened over the past few days," Hoshino said, pointing to the name at the top. "Cisco.
Their performance has been remarkably stable since their IPO last year. The logic is simple: whether the Internet is used for social media or gaming, all traffic ultimately passes through their routers and switches. They represent the most fundamental infrastructure."
"Beyond hardware, we're also looking at several leading ISPs," Hoshino continued. "With the surge in dial-up users, the demand for access services is inelastic."
Sugiura interjected, "I have reservations about America Online on our list."
Hoshino turned to him. "Why?"
Sugiura analyzed, "I've reviewed their recent expansion data on the East Coast. To gain market share, they're spending excessively on marketing. Moreover, their strategy of acquiring users through free optical discs could lead to retention problems once competition intensifies. By contrast, Cisco, which provides the underlying equipment, is a safer bet."
Hoshino pondered for a moment, then circled an operator on the list with his pen. "That's reasonable. Let's put this operator on the observation list for now. We'll decide after their next quarterly report."
Watching their back-and-forth discussion, Takuya Nakayama praised their approach. "Your prudent investment strategy gives Sega great confidence. Maintaining and growing our cash flow relies entirely on your careful oversight."
"You're too kind, Managing Director," Hoshino said modestly, waving his hand. "If you hadn't warned us about the Japanese bubble burst years ago, we'd still be stuck with those bad debts and wouldn't have had the chance to stand here and watch the Nasdaq bell-ringing ceremony."
Sugiura smiled. "That's true. From investing in Square and Blizzard to injecting capital into Sunrise Animation and recently pushing for the Bandai merger, these moves seemed ambitious at the time. But looking back, they all hit the exact right moment in the entertainment industry's transformation."
Takuya Nakayama waved his hand. "These moves were all about building Sega's ecosystem and creating barriers to entry in the industry."
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