Across the Pacific, in San Mateo, California, Trip Hawkins, the founder and CEO of EA, a man exuding the aura of a Silicon Valley elite, received David Rosen, the Chairman of Sega of America, in his office.
"David, congratulations," Hawkins said, pointing to a fax on his desk, which was the first-week sales report for North America. "Two hundred and fifty thousand units. A very impressive number."
On his desk, besides the report, lay a half-disassembled Genesis console. Several chips and circuit board components were neatly arranged, like an unfinished surgery.
David Rosen glanced at the console, unsurprised. "It seems you've already done our quality inspection for us."
"Just a habit," Hawkins leaned back in his chair, hands clasped. "The Motorola 68000, a great CPU. Our engineers really like it. Tell me, David, you're not here to talk to me about hardware."
"I'm here to offer a market broader than the Amiga computer," Rosen sat up straight, his tone steady and forceful. "We've sold two hundred and fifty thousand consoles. If you include Japan and Europe, that number reaches nearly nine hundred thousand units, which means nearly nine hundred thousand households, and what they most desire in their living rooms right now are new games. And the sports games Nintendo can offer them are far more rudimentary than EA's."
Hawkins raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing the number nine hundred thousand, remaining silent, signaling him to continue.
"I know you've talked to Nintendo, and I know the outcome. High royalties, strict censorship, even not allowing you to produce your own cartridges," Rosen's words hit the mark. "In Nintendo's eyes, you're just content providers. But at Sega, you are partners."
"Partners?" Hawkins repeated the word, a playful curve on his lips. "Tell me, how much sincerity is there in this 'partnership'?"
"No mandatory content censorship, as long as it doesn't violate the law. Lower royalties, more flexible cartridge production agreements," Rosen paused, then threw out the bait tailored for EA. "This year is the Seoul Olympics. The whole world is focused on sports. And who is the best sports game company in America? It's EA. Imagine, an Olympic game with the EASports brand, promoted across America and Japan as a flagship title for the Genesis platform, and we can jointly become the official video game sponsor for the Olympics. Think about Los Angeles four years ago, GG plastered on the TV screens of global audiences. How much visibility and sales would that bring us?"
The smile on Hawkins' face disappeared, replaced by a businessman's calm and calculation. He naturally understood what this meant. A brand new, powerful platform, an already established user base, a cooperative partner willing to delegate authority, and a perfect timing to enter the market.
Porting EA's PC sports game advantages to the Genesis would require almost no high cost. The architectural commonality between Amiga and Genesis could significantly shorten the development cycle.
"More platforms are naturally good for us," Hawkins finally spoke, his tone shifting from probing to negotiating. "However, we need the full support of the Sega Marketing Department. What I mean is, top priority."
"Of course," Rosen immediately responded. "EA Olympics, or whatever you want to call it, will be placed in the same promotional position as our pokémon."
Hawkins stood up and walked to the window, looking at the California sunshine outside. He didn't think for too long. This multiple-choice question was too simple; refusing it would be foolish.
He turned around and extended his hand to David Rosen.
"It seems our engineers will have to work overtime. David, it's a pleasure to work with you."
Rosen gripped his hand, firm and strong.
"Welcome aboard, Trip."
Tokyo, Japan, Bandai Headquarters.
Yamashina Makoto pushed the report in his hand to the center of the table. The paper slid across the smooth surface, stopping in front of Mitsui Chuta. The sales report for the Sega MD and its games—everyone present, more or less, already knew its contents through various channels. But seeing this detailed internal document with their own eyes had a completely different impact.
"Let's talk," Yamashina Makoto said, breaking the silence. He leaned back in his chair, hands clasped over his abdomen, his gaze sweeping over each executive.
Mitsui Chuta picked up the report and looked at the number again: "Global first-week total sales, nearly nine hundred thousand units." His Adam's apple bobbed.
"Konami has already confirmed it," Mitsui-san said. "Hayao Nakayama went there himself. The terms—they're very generous."
"Generous?" The Development Department Head, a middle-aged man with thinning hair, said with a bitter expression, "President, Mitsui Vice President, we know our own situation best. We're still figuring out FC development. What was the player feedback like for that Saint Seiya game last year? It almost blew up the company's phones. Now you want us to jump directly onto the MD? That's not developing games; that's burning money."
A Marketing Department manager next to him immediately retorted, "Burning money? There's a gold mine out there right now! Nine hundred thousand consoles! And still growing rapidly! That number is almost catching up to PCEngine's cumulative sales over half a year. Are we going to hesitate now and let Nintendo exploit the profits from the games we develop?"
"What do we bring to the table?" The Development Department Head spread his hands, his voice full of helplessness. "Just that super robot assembly Sega delivered to us half a year ago? Everyone, can that even be called a game we developed ourselves? Sega did the framework, the engine, the core code; all that was left was to fill in the robot and Gundam models. What our team did, to put it bluntly, was just a reskinning job. The money earned from that project, rather than development profit, was more like a service fee from Sega!"
These overly frank words caused a series of suppressed coughs and awkward shifts in the meeting room.
Mitsui Chuta, however, tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention back. "You're right, it was a reskinning job. But," he picked up another financial document, "this'service fee,' after deducting copyright expenses, had a higher profit margin than any game we released on Nintendo last year. Sega's cut and OEM fees aren't high, and they even help amortize some copyright costs. What about Nintendo? Everyone still has the collar around their necks from President Yamauchi's temper."
He paused, his tone becoming somewhat subtle: "Moreover, why would Sega deliver such a mature framework to us? Isn't it because they value the anime IPs held by Sunrise and Toei, who have close ties with us? They have the technology; we have the 'robots.' Now that the MD platform has risen, should we just hold onto these golden rice bowls of 'Tokusatsu,' 'Robots,' and 'Gundam,' and continue to drink a little soup in Nintendo's small pot?"
His words stirred the thoughts of everyone present. Yes, Bandai's core competence had never been game development technology, but rather the large collection of anime and Tokusatsu IPs that drove teenagers across Japan wild. Sticking with FC meant enduring Nintendo's exploitation and functional limitations, producing games that even their own people found frustrating.
Yamashina Makoto had remained silent, just listening quietly. He finally sat up straight, his gaze falling on the Development Department Head.
"Who was the person from Sega who came to discuss the 'robot' project last time?"
"It was President Nakayama's son, Takuya Nakayama," the Development Department Head immediately replied.
"Did he mention at the time, besides 'reskinning,' what else they could offer?"
The Development Department Head paused, trying to recall: "He... he said Sega has mature development kits and technical support teams that can assist us at any time to solve problems. He also said that if we want to do original work, they can even send engineers over to form a project team with us..."
The meeting room fell silent again. Everyone understood the weight behind that statement. This was no longer simple third-party cooperation; it was almost like teaching you to walk hand in hand.
Yamashina Makoto gently tapped the table with his knuckles, making soft thudding sounds.
"Mitsui-san."
"Here."
"Arrange a meeting with President Nakayama. No, arrange a meeting with Takuya Nakayama," Yamashina Makoto decided. "Tell him that Bandai is very interested in the MD platform. And by the way, ask if Bandai has any possibility of participating in their limited edition console."