On the first workday after the DDR Global Finals concluded, in Kyoto, at Nintendo Headquarters, Hiroshi Yamauchi silently watched the TV screen from behind a large, black lacquer desk.
The screen showed a replay of the DDR Finals, with the Los Angeles brothers holding up the trophy against a backdrop of the enormous Sega and Sony logos.
The fervent cheers from the venue, like a mountain and a tsunami, still conveyed their scorching heat through the screen.
All the executives looked grave; the grandeur of the DDR Finals, comparable to the Olympics, weighed like a massive stone on everyone's hearts.
The terrifying energy displayed by Sega and Sony, powerful enough to sway young people worldwide and even influence national cultural and tourism policies, sent a chilling shiver down the spine of the giant entrenched on the throne of the gaming empire.
"We must shift the market's focus back to Nintendo."
A Marketing Department director broke the silence.
"I suggest that, according to the plan set at the end of last year, we immediately release news to all media that super mario bros. 3's development has entered its final stage. Include a few photos that best demonstrate the game's evolution. We need to let everyone know who the true protagonist of this industry is."
This proposal received everyone's approval.
In Nintendo's empire, Mario was the absolute trump card, the ultimate weapon to silence all dissenting voices.
Hours later, this bombshell news exploded like a depth charge in major Japanese gaming media.
Famitsu even printed an emergency extra edition for it.
The carefully selected game screenshots, the new form of Tanooki Mario, and the imaginative level designs instantly captivated all players' attention.
The player community, which had just been immersed in the global DDR carnival, immediately had their attention diverted by the news of the new game.
Mario is getting a new sequel!
Many players called various game magazines, asking for more news about the new Mario game.
The editors excitedly revised the headlines for the upcoming print.
The red-capped, bearded plumber, with just a few game screenshots, easily pulled players' attention back into Nintendo's orbit.
The head of the public relations department let out a long sigh, the oppressive atmosphere in the office having just eased slightly.
However, the good mood didn't even last until afternoon tea ended.
That afternoon, Sega launched an even fiercer lightning counterattack.
A well-produced promotional video, without any warning, bombarded TV screens across Japan during prime-time slots on various TV stations.
The promotional video began with a highly impactful electronic synthesized sound.
"Mega Drive."
Sega officially announced its next-generation 16-bit console.
At the beginning of the promotional video, two large characters appeared on a black screen in a highly impactful font.
"True 16-bit."
This was a mockery of the "quasi-16-bit" console that used an 8-bit chip as its CPU.
Immediately after, the screen cut wildly at an unprecedented speed.
In fatal fury, Terry Bogard's dazzling light and shadow effects when he unleashed his "Power Geyser."
In space harrier, the protagonist traversed a highly three-dimensional checkerboard scene, confronting a deluge of enemies.
There was also a completely new game that had never been announced before.
On the screen was a yellow electric mouse with two red dots on its cheeks. It was Pikachu!
Then, Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur gathered around Pikachu.
They were traveling through a vibrant grassland and forest.
The game's title was clearly displayed in a corner of the screen.
pokémon adventure: pokémon land.
These fluid and gorgeous real-time gameplay demonstrations, far exceeding the limits of the FC's capabilities, were like a visual storm that instantly captivated all players' minds.
The young people who had just been excited by super mario bros. 3 instantly calmed down.
They looked at the New Year's money they had just received in their pockets and made the same decision.
To hold their money and wait.
Nintendo Headquarters, President's Office.
Inside Hiroshi Yamauchi's office, the TV was repeatedly playing the Mega Drive promotional video.
President Hiroshi Yamauchi's face had turned from gloomy to ashen.
Behind him, Shigeru Miyamoto stared intently at the screen showing pokémon adventure: pokémon land, his heart a mix of emotions.
It was a blend of an artist's appreciation upon seeing an excellent work and the immense sense of crisis as a competitor.
"Investigate."
Hiroshi Yamauchi squeezed out a single word through clenched teeth.
"At all costs, I want to know everything about this console."
The next day, a detailed report was placed on his desk.
A year of secret research and development.
The million-unit chip order agreement with Toshiba.
The luxurious lineup of launch titles, secretly developed in parallel, under the guise of the DDR project and various arcade games.
Every word in the report silently declared that this was not a opportunistic sneak attack.
This was a premeditated, well-prepared, full-scale war aimed at overthrowing the entire dynasty.
The conference room was deathly silent; only the sound of executives turning the pages of the report could be heard.
Hiroshi Yamauchi leaned back slightly in his chair.
In his eyes, the initial shock and anger were rapidly transforming into a cold and ruthless gleam. His gaze seemed to penetrate the walls, seeing his triumphant opponent in another building.
"You've truly outdone yourself, Hayao Nakayama."
He said in a low voice, devoid of any emotion.
Then, he slammed his hand down on the table.
The teacup on the table jumped, making a crisp sound.
The hearts of all the executives present also fiercely trembled.
"They want to seize the future with a new console?"
Hiroshi Yamauchi slowly scanned everyone present, his gaze as sharp as a knife.
"I will use our strongest present to completely shatter their future!"
His gaze finally settled on Shigeru Miyamoto.
"Miyamoto-kun."
Shigeru Miyamoto instinctively straightened up.
"Set the release date of super mario bros. 3 to be the same day as the Mega Drive."
The air solidified at that moment, and several executives exchanged disbelieving glances.
Shigeru Miyamoto's heart tightened abruptly.
To pit a peak software masterpiece against the launch of a brand-new console.
This was tantamount to using a kamikaze attack to strike the enemy's aircraft carrier.
Regardless of the outcome, it would be an irreparable and immense damage to super mario bros. 3, a work into which he had poured countless efforts.
"President—"
He instinctively wanted to speak up, to argue, to seek a more stable future for his 'child' with reasons like "the game still needs more time for refinement."
But he only managed two words before he saw Hiroshi Yamauchi's gaze.
It was an absolute will that tolerated no challenge, no questioning.
All his words were stuck in his throat.
Shigeru Miyamoto understood.
This was no longer just a business competition, nor even a war. This was a high-stakes gamble on the fate of the Nintendo empire, and he, along with his most perfect work, was the core trump card personally pushed onto the gambling table by the president.
He slowly lowered his head, burying all his concerns and reluctance deep within his heart.
"Yes."
A heavy syllable, representing unconditional obedience.
Nintendo's war machine then entered a strange state of silence.
They maintained a sufficiently high-profile promotion for super mario bros. 3 but kept the release date a secret, like a patient tiger quietly waiting for its prey to expose its throat.
After nearly two weeks of standoff, Sega finally revealed its hand.
January 20, 1988.
Sega officially announced: its next-generation console, Mega Drive, would be officially released on February 13, 1988, the day before Valentine's Day, priced at 20,980 yen.
This price was slightly lower than the 21,000 yen it had been in the previous timeline when it was released on October 29, 1988, thanks to Sega's early integration of electronic manufacturing capacity in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and cost reductions from large-scale procurement.
However, this price was still below the comprehensive cost of around 22,000 yen, but the difference was not significant, and costs would be pushed below the selling price within a few months, avoiding excessive loss pressure.
The moment the news reached Kyoto, Nintendo Headquarters' war machine, already wound up, immediately began to emit a deep, powerful hum, operating at full speed.
Within hours, major Japanese gaming media and core retail channels received an official announcement from Nintendo.
super mario bros. 3 would also be released on February 13, 1988.
The entire Japanese gaming industry was in an uproar.
Everyone realized that an unprecedented century-long battle, pitting a flagship software against a next-generation console, had already begun.