On the TV screen, Shigeru Miyamoto bowed deeply, and flashlights interwove into a dazzling white light on his face.
Takuya Nakayama let out a long breath, and the cold air instantly condensed into white mist.
Cold sweat had already soaked the back collar of his shirt.
Fortunately.
Fortunately, Hiroshi Yamauchi's impatience led him to choose to release dragon quest 3 on a weekday.
What should have been a desperate situation with two masterpieces attacking simultaneously was inexplicably turned into a public relations disaster by Nintendo itself, giving Sega a chance to breathe.
If it hadn't been for this, with two masterpieces arriving at the same time, even if Sega had pokémon as its trump card, it would likely have ended up in a tragic situation of killing a thousand enemies but losing eight hundred of its own.
The setback of the vanguard meant that the subsequent offensive would certainly not be as unstoppable as a bamboo splitting.
It had been more than two years since he transmigrated, and the memories from his previous life in his mind had long become blurred due to the flapping of his butterfly wings.
Timelines and the sequence of events could only be roughly reminded by a small notebook he recorded in a special way.
However, the feeling of dread only lasted for a moment.
Takuya Nakayama quickly shook these distracting thoughts out of his mind.
Ultimately, external factors were all superficial.
Having a rich and fun game lineup in his hands was the true king's way.
As long as the foundation was solid, supplemented by the proven marketing methods of later generations, the results would never be too bad.
He extinguished the last trace of lucky in his heart and turned to walk towards the battlefield where the clamor was about to arrive.
On the last night before the release, Takuya Nakayama once again walked on the streets of Akihabara.
He was like the most demanding director, scrutinizing every scene he had set up.
From the hanging angle of the giant inflatable models on both sides of the buildings along Chuo-dori to the size and clarity of the fonts on every sign.
From the emergency plans of the on-site staff to the security arrangements along Akihabara and around the Shinobazu Pond Open-Air Plaza.
He checked again and again, ensuring everything was foolproof.
Amidst the tense preparations and last-minute checks, February 13th finally arrived.
The cold wind of dawn poured into his collar, and he took a deep breath, his chest filled with icy air, mixed with tension and excitement.
Ultimately, all emotions settled into absolute confidence in his crazy 'brainchild'.
On the south bank of Shinobazu Pond, on the observation deck of a luxury hotel, Hayao Nakayama and other Sega executives were already in place.
His expression was as steady as ever, like a rock sculpture.
Only his sharp eyes, through the binoculars, were tightly fixed on the converging crowd below and the faint, gigantic outlines in the sky above Akihabara.
Deep within that gaze, there was a hint of anticipation that even he hadn't noticed.
Takuya Nakayama completed the final on-site coordination and jogged to the observation deck.
He stood beside his father, and they exchanged glances without saying a word.
All the pressure, all the expectations, were silently conveyed in this wordless collision.
Eight in the morning.
Like a floodgate opening, crowds surged out from every exit of Akihabara Station.
When they looked up and saw the unprecedented magnificent sight stretching from Akihabara Station West Exit Plaza all the way to Electric Town, and then extending along the buildings on both sides of Chuo-dori, the air on the entire street seemed to freeze for a second.
Immediately following was an exclamation that pierced the sky.
Giant Bulbasaur, Charizard, Blastoise—those strange creatures that had 'invaded' Tokyo a few days ago were now overlooking the entire street in a highly impactful way.
From Bulbasaur, No. 1, to Dragonite, No. 149.
These giant inflatable models, arranged in Pokedex order, formed a two-kilometer-long, fantastical corridor leading to an unknown paradise.
The crowd walked along this overhead spectacle, as if pulled by an invisible force, unconsciously surging in the same direction.
Countless people raised their cameras, frantically pressing the shutter towards the sky. Excited discussions rose and fell.
On the roadside wall, the huge poster of super mario bros. 3 was still vibrant.
Some store entrances also had Mario demo stations, with a few players stopping to try them out.
However, all the attention was completely stolen by the 'pokémon Avenue' that spanned the sky.
Many players who had a clear destination and were heading straight for Mario were caught by this irresistible curiosity, and their steps involuntarily turned towards that dragon-like queue.
On the observation deck, when Takuya Nakayama saw this scene, the huge stone hanging in his heart finally dropped by half.
Ten in the morning.
Shinobazu Pond Open-Air Plaza.
When the vanguard of the crowd turned from Chuo-dori into Shinobazu-dori and reached their destination, they were greeted by a 'pokémon land'-themed stage.
Around the stage were various cosplays of famous Sega game characters, and even the salespeople were dressed in elaborate cosplay costumes.
In the central stage area of the plaza, several actors in clumsy mascot costumes were performing a silent stage play.
A yellow electric mouse, a big clumsy fat guy, and a goofy blue Squirtle.
They relied solely on simple onomatopoeia and exaggerated movements, accompanied by lively music, to make countless children and young women in the audience laugh uncontrollably.
The laughter and applause were crisp and pure.
This relaxed and joyful atmosphere formed an incredibly stark contrast to the tense, oppressive, and even violent scenes in the news about the 'DQ Riot' a few days ago.
Even people walking in Ueno Park in the morning and those along the banks of Shinobazu Pond were attracted by this peculiar spectacle and lively atmosphere.
And on the other side, the demo area was already packed to the brim.
Sixty brand-new MD consoles were lined up with long queues. Here, not only was pokémon adventures available for demo, but other games released in the first batch were also available for trial.
Sega staff patiently guided them nearby and loudly promoted the upcoming hourly events to the players in line, constantly fueling the carnival.
The most exaggerated part was the console and game purchase area.
That queue had already filled the plaza and extended to the roadside, then stretched along the roadside from where they came, with no end in sight.
The MD console bundles, printed with "pokémon adventures Special Edition", became the most sought-after prey in everyone's eyes.
In addition, the exit passages for the demo and purchase crowds were lined with preview animations and posters of other games not scheduled for the first batch, raising even more anticipation among players.
And near the outer perimeter of the plaza, free hot coffee was provided for players and passing spectators to warm themselves, encouraging everyone to wait for the subsequent hourly programs.
Anti-riot vehicles from the Metropolitan Police Department were parked at both ends of the plaza.
Hayao Nakayama put down his binoculars, and the fist that had been tightly clenched finally slowly relaxed.
A genuine and hearty smile, without warning, climbed onto his stern lips.
Less than an hour after launch.
The sales manager on the front line put down the walkie-talkie he had just ended a call on, and rushed onto the observation deck with a look of ecstasy.
"President! Everyone!"
"All major stores in Akihabara, the first batch of Pikachu limited bundles, are completely sold out! The phones for restock are ringing off the hook! Our nearest temporary warehouse is already dispatching goods, and restocking for all Akihabara stores can be completed within half an hour!"
"The Pikachu limited bundles at the open-air plaza have also sold over 1,000 sets, and including the regular version of the MD, a total of 3,000 units have been sold."
Media reporters, like sharks smelling blood, excitedly moved through the crowd.
Their cameras faithfully recorded this unique and grand launch spectacle.
"DQ Riot" versus "pokémon Carnival," black versus white, suppression versus joy.
There was no more dramatic or eye-catching reporting material than this.
Just then, a Marketing Department staff member walked over quickly, his expression somewhat serious.
He handed over a newly compiled intelligence report,
"President, Nintendo's side—the sales of super mario bros. 3 are also exceptionally hot."
"Although they don't have the concentrated spectacle effect we have, relying on Mario's brand appeal and their pervasive distribution channels, they have also sparked a terrifying buying craze in stores across the country."
The intelligence showed that Nintendo's base remained frighteningly stable.
Hayao Nakayama's smile receded slightly, and he turned to look at his son.
"Takuya, well done."
"However, it's too early to celebrate now."
"Hiroshi Yamauchi won't sit idly by. The real battle has just begun."
Takuya Nakayama nodded heavily, his eyes incredibly firm.
"Father, I understand."
He looked at the players on the plaza who were cheering with joy after getting their games, having already planned his next move in his mind.
"Our pokémon still has more surprises to reveal. And Nintendo isn't without weaknesses."