Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Starting Lineup Preparation (2)

Following this, Takuya's gaze shifted to another corner of the meeting room.Seated there were team members responsible for Pokémon-related peripheral products, along with a few core members of the arcade development team who were currently not tasked with arcade porting projects."Regarding the Pokémon IP," Takuya began.The moment he spoke, the slightly relaxed atmosphere in the meeting room froze once again, and everyone's ears perked up. After all, the staggering sales momentum of Pokémon merchandise and the substantial profits that followed were well-known throughout the company. Even the arcade development team members, who typically focused solely on hardcore arcade experiences, could not ignore the immense commercial potential behind the Pokémon name.With his signature smile, those familiar with Takuya knew that another promising idea was likely about to emerge."We need a game that can quickly attract a broader audience, particularly capturing the hearts of female players and casual gamers," he said.At these words, the eyes of the peripheral product team members lit up, nodding enthusiastically. Meanwhile, a few veteran arcade developers remained composed, one of them subconsciously stroking their chin with a subtle expression. For them, terms like "casual players" and "female players" seemed to exist on the other side of an invisible wall, far removed from the intense, hardcore arcade games they had developed in the past."We must fully utilize the inherently adorable designs of Pokémon and their unique charm and abilities," Takuya continued, snapping his fingers with a crisp sound. "I envision a game featuring numerous cute Pokémon as protagonists, cleverly blending simple yet engaging puzzle elements with low-to-medium difficulty action-adventure components." He paused briefly before adding, "It should be easy to pick up, full of fun, but with enough depth to keep players coming back for more. That's the Sega hallmark.""As for the game's setting…"Takuya's lips curled into a slight smile as his gaze swept across the room, carrying a hint of mystery. "It will be set in the fantastical 'Pokémon Land' from Episode 17 of the anime, The Island of Giant Pokémon!"The proposal sparked an immediate reaction, especially among the younger developers, whose eyes brightened."Pokémon Land! The island filled with giant mechanical Pokémon?" a young planner exclaimed, clearly a devoted fan of the anime. "That setting has so much potential!"The island from the anime, brimming with massive mechanical Pokémon, offered both striking visuals and vast explorable spaces—a perfect stage for a game filled with imagination and development potential."Players will control several iconic Pokémon from the anime's protagonist team," Takuya explained. "They'll form an adventure squad, and players can switch between different Pokémon as needed across various scenes and levels.""Each Pokémon's unique traits and abilities will be key. For example, Pikachu's electric shock can activate certain mechanisms or temporarily paralyze mechanical enemies; Bulbasaur's Vine Whip can create temporary bridges or pull distant switches; Squirtle's Water Gun can extinguish flames blocking the path or clear sticky obstacles; and Onix can dig through cave entrances, and so on.""These abilities will help players overcome various traps and mechanisms on their adventure, ultimately defeating the giant mechanical Pokémon guardians.""To further enhance the game's fun and deepen its connection to the anime's storyline," Takuya continued, his eyes gleaming with an enigmatic spark. He deliberately paused, and the meeting room fell silent, with even breathing hushed as everyone sensed that the real "big reveal" was coming."We'll also design a hidden final boss," he said, enunciating each word clearly. "It's the Gym Leader of Viridian City, the mysterious and powerful Giovanni, with his iconic anime team: Machamp, Rhydon, and Kingler!""Whoa!" one arcade developer couldn't help but whistle, their face lighting up with excitement. This twist caught everyone off guard. Giovanni! The early anime's major antagonist! With his name dropped, the game's tone instantly shifted from "light and casual" to "brimming with challenge.""After defeating them," Takuya's smile deepened, "we can have the enigmatic and immensely powerful Armored Mewtwo make a brief appearance as a surprise Easter egg for players.""Armored Mewtwo?!" even Yuji Naka couldn't help but push up his glasses, his eyes gleaming behind the lenses. Though not part of the Pokémon project team, he had heard bits and pieces about Pokémon internally, but "Armored Mewtwo" was entirely new to him."This way," Takuya concluded, "we can cleverly tie into the classic Viridian Gym storyline from the anime while planting a small but highly topical seed for Sega's future investment in the theatrical film Mewtwo Strikes Back."The meeting room erupted in barely contained gasps and murmurs of excitement. Transforming a game seemingly aimed at younger and casual players into one that connected with core fans through hidden elements, beloved characters, and a tie-in to the upcoming movie was nothing short of brilliant.Takuya, satisfied with the team's reactions, knew that this Pokémon game plan—blending cuteness, puzzles, action, and deep fan-oriented Easter eggs—had successfully ignited the team's passion. This wasn't just a game; it was a significant step for Sega to showcase its IP management capabilities and commitment to diverse content creation on a new console."This new game will be officially titled Pokémon Great Adventure: Pokémon Land," Takuya declared with finality."It will be developed collaboratively by an arcade team currently free from porting tasks and an experienced console development team—Team 4 and Team 5, to be precise. One excels in action combat, the other in casual puzzle design, making them the perfect fit. To ensure the game's core themes of cuteness, fun, light challenge, and IP synergy remain on track, I will personally oversee the project as its producer, guiding its direction and ensuring its final quality."The team leaders nodded in agreement, with the leaders of Teams 4 and 5 visibly thrilled to receive the assignment, while others who hadn't been tasked were eager to contribute.Takuya raised a hand to quiet the room and continued, "Next, we'll develop another new type of game, one that showcases vibrant visuals and rich audio effects while incorporating complex gameplay mechanics."With that, he pulled a proposal document from his briefcase.