The discussion about content direction stirred up a huge wave, and when the topic shifted to how to market this game, Takuya Nakayama once again made a surprising statement.
Director Yoshikawa pondered, "Such a groundbreaking product must be launched in an equally groundbreaking way, to become an instant hit and ignite the entire market."
Takuya Nakayama's eyes flashed as he took over, his tone filled with undeniable confidence.
"I believe we can learn from the successful experience of Sega's First E-Sports Convention."
He scanned the room, his voice clear and firm.
"Sega and Sony will jointly host the 'Second E-Sports Convention and DanceDancerRevolution Global City Championship'!"
These words, once spoken, were like a bombshell dropped into a calm lake.
Director Yoshikawa's spirit was greatly invigorated. Although Sega's foray into e-sports had just begun, the first convention's results far exceeded expectations, earning Sega immense prestige.
"Global City Championship!"
He almost blurted it out, his eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.
"With DDR as the core event, this will definitely attract the attention of all young people!"
Sony's executives, including Mitsui Chuta and Maruyama Shigeo, after a brief moment of surprise, quickly grasped the immense value of this proposal.
Maruyama Shigeo clapped his hands in praise:
"Excellent! Not only will this quickly raise DDR's profile, but it will also perfectly showcase Sony's hardware advantages—Trinitron TVs, professional audio equipment, and our music content—to players worldwide!"
Mitsui Chuta also nodded repeatedly; he had already begun to outline the blueprint for this grand event in his mind, and even started to plan which of his own industries to involve in the competition.
"Through city qualifiers, national representative competitions, and finally the global finals, the progression will be layered and full of talking points, with incalculable promotional effects.
We can even consider adding some exhibition matches, such as inviting artists from Sony Records to participate, to further expand influence. The female idol group and pokémon mascots Nakayama-san just mentioned would be very suitable for performances interspersed during the competition." He added, clearly having moved into the realm of practical operational thinking.
"Sony Records' resources," Takuya Nakayama interjected at the right moment, a meaningful smile on his face. Maruyama Shigeo immediately understood and burst into laughter: "Exactly! Our resources are their resources, and their stage is our stage!"
The executives from both sides almost instantly agreed.
"Immediately establish a joint organizing committee!"
Director Yoshikawa made a decisive move, his gaze intently fixed on Mitsui Chuta.
Mitsui Chuta also did not hesitate, his tone firm: "Sony will fully cooperate, dispatching the most elite teams to participate in the preparations!
Marketing Department, technical support, legal—not one can be missing!"
The conference room instantly transformed into a highly efficient strategic command center.
From competition rules design, city selection criteria, referee training, and promotional strategies, to the venue concept for the global finals,
the preliminary framework began to rapidly take shape in this laboratory full of ingenious ideas, amidst the clash of thoughts from several industry giants.
Some even began to quietly discuss the direction for the creation of the event's theme song.
A global dance storm was already brewing.
The atmosphere in the laboratory gradually shifted from initial amazement and euphoria to an infinite yearning for the future and down-to-earth planning.
Technical and marketing personnel from both Sega and Sony had spontaneously gathered, disregarding their positions, to engage in enthusiastic preliminary discussions on specific issues such as DDR's technical detail optimization, content update scheduling, and initial market promotion strategies.
Those young employees who had previously only been observers now flocked around, their eyes gleaming with the excitement of participating in the creation of history, eager to throw themselves into it immediately.
LaVele Smith Jr. was also surrounded by people from Sony Records and Sega's game development department.
He wore his characteristic smile, patiently listening to everyone's myriad questions, occasionally demonstrating a few dance moves to explain technical terms, which drew gasps of admiration from the crowd.
He smiled and expressed his great willingness to deeply participate in subsequent dance content creation, dancer training, and global promotion activities, and could even help contact some internationally renowned dancers to participate in performances or judging.
This world-class dance master was clearly attracted by the immense charm of this project, and he also deeply understood how rare such an opportunity for social class advancement was for someone like him.
The meeting was nearing its end, but everyone showed no signs of fatigue; instead, they were invigorated, as if they had just drunk the strongest coffee.
Director Yoshikawa and Mitsui Chuta, representing Sega and Sony respectively, expressed high affirmation and sincere satisfaction with the complete success of the prototype demonstration and the deep cooperation intentions reached by both parties. When shaking hands, the two magnates gripped each other's hands with exceptional firmness.
Takuya Nakayama's and Ken Kutaragi's gazes met once more.
This time, their eyes were filled with firm confidence in this project and anticipation for even broader cooperation in the future.
When Sega's delegation walked out of the Sony Headquarters building, sent off by the enthusiastic, even somewhat reluctant, Sony executives, night had long fallen, and Tokyo's Japan lights had already illuminated the sleepless city.
Sitting in the car returning to Sega Headquarters, the atmosphere inside remained lively. Director Yoshikawa could not hide his excitement; he heavily patted Takuya Nakayama's shoulder, a hint of emotion in his voice.
"Takuya, you have once again put Sega ahead of its time! I... I truly don't know how to describe my feelings! Do you know, Mr. Maruyama just told me privately that he felt Sony had found a treasure. I said, it's us, Sega, who found the treasure!"
Takuya Nakayama displayed his usual humble smile, yet with a hint of youthful triumph.
"Mr. Yoshikawa, you flatter me. This is the result of the collective efforts of the entire team, including Sony's team. Without Sony's technology and content support, our ideas would just be castles in the air."
He paused, gazing out at the fleeting Tokyo nightscape through the window, his tone unusually clear.
"Sony's powerful strength in audiovisual technology and content resources is the key to our success this time. Therefore, Sega must also seize this opportunity from Sony to propel DDR, and ourselves, to a new height. And," he smiled slightly, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes, "this opportunity isn't free; they also have to show their sincerity, don't they?"
Director Yoshikawa was taken aback, then burst into laughter, filling the car with cheerful air. This Takuya Nakayama, not only had foresight but also a clear-headedness and shrewdness unbefitting his age; he was truly Sega's prodigy.