Takuya's gaze turned to the Development Department Head, a knowing smile on his face: "Development Department Head, I remember our pleasant collaboration on the last 'super robot assembly.' While the workload wasn't heavy, the profit was considerable, wasn't it?"
The Development Department Head's mouth twitched, but he remained silent. It was more than just a light workload; it was practically a fill-in-the-blanks exercise, but the profit was indeed very satisfying.
"What's next then? Can Sega once again support Bandai in developing new games, helping Bandai improve its game development capabilities, and thus expand the MD's game lineup more quickly?" Yamashina Makoto asked.
"I have a two-step suggestion." Takuya pondered for a moment, then extended two fingers. "First, fully port the arcade version of 'super robot assembly' to the MD platform. Utilize the MD's capabilities to completely revamp the graphics, music, and combat effects. Let players see what this game should look like on a 16-bit home console. This will serve as both a technical exercise and a quick-win product."
Everyone nodded in agreement; this suggestion was very sound.
"As for the second step—" Takuya deliberately paused, and everyone in the conference room pricked up their ears. "I heard that your company's original game development on the FC wasn't going smoothly?"
An awkward atmosphere immediately permeated the room, and the Development Department Head almost wanted to crawl into a hole. The scene of players calling the company to complain after the release of 'saint seiya' last year was still vivid in his mind.
Takuya seemed completely oblivious to the awkwardness and continued, "We will provide a framework of a game that has already been developed. Sega can assist your company in 'referencing' this game to develop a new game entirely based on Bandai's IP."
The conference room was silent at first, then a suppressed commotion broke out. After all, making money as easily and pleasantly as with the previous 'super robot assembly' was simply too good to pass up.
Yamashina Makoto leaned forward slightly. "Which game?"
Takuya smiled, took another black cartridge from his briefcase, and placed it on the table. The label on the cartridge read: "first super robot wars."
The appearance of this cartridge instantly solidified the air in the conference room. Everyone knew about Sega's efforts to obtain licenses from Sunrise, Toei, and other companies for this game. Now, the finished product was right before their eyes.
When the MD was connected to the TV, and the Development Department Head personally inserted the cartridge and started the game, the eyes of all the Bandai executives were firmly glued to the screen.
"Amuro, sortie!"
Accompanied by the familiar line, the original Gundam launched from the mothership, and the trajectory of its beam rifle drew dazzling light across the screen. Immediately after, Mazinger Z appeared with majestic music, and a "Rocket Punch" cleanly destroyed the enemy. The spectacular combat performances and passionate lines filled the Bandai development team with yearning.
This was what robots were meant to be! This was what they, despite holding top-tier IPs, couldn't create!
The Development Department Head's lips were dry as he tentatively spoke, "If… if we refer to this game, are we to make 'Kamen Rider Wars'? But the Kamen Riders aren't like robots; their skills and character richness might be a bit thin."
"That's right." Takuya gave him an approving look. "So, it's not just about simply replacing characters; we need to add other game elements to enrich the gameplay."
"What gameplay should we add then?" The Development Department Head blurted out, leaning forward, his eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.
Takuya, however, did not answer immediately. He simply picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and calmly directed his gaze towards Yamashina Makoto at the head of the table.
The conference room fell silent once again. Everyone understood that the discussion of technical details had to wait for the boss's approval first.
The muscles on Yamashina Makoto's face twitched, then he let out a dry laugh, breaking the brief standoff. "Haha, Executive Director Takayama is right. Of course, we are one hundred percent sincere about cooperation." He made the final decision. "We'll go with your plan."
Upon receiving the affirmative reply, Takuya put down his teacup, a smile on his face. "Since the President has decided, we can now discuss the specific projects. Regarding the second step, I have prepared two proposals: one is Gundam, and the other is Dragon Ball. Of course, there can also be Kamen Rider in the future."
He paused, then added, "Of course, we have to do them one by one. We choose one first, and only after its success can we start the next."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the conference room, which had just eased, instantly ignited. If watching the game demo earlier had been envy, jealousy, and hatred, now it was naked ecstasy. The Development Department Head looked at Takuya Nakayama, sighing inwardly, "Why don't I have such talent?" And Mitsui Chuta's gaze towards Yamashina Makoto was even filled with the meaning of "Choose quickly! Choose quickly!"
Yamashina Makoto raised his hand and gently pressed it down. The fervent discussions in the conference room instantly subsided, but the flames burning in everyone's eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
"Everyone, let's take a ten-minute break." Yamashina Makoto's voice remained steady. He stood up and bowed slightly to Takuya Nakayama. "We need to discuss internally. Please take a short rest."
Takuya smiled and nodded, making a "please make yourselves comfortable" gesture, and calmly remained in his seat, even having the leisure to pour himself another cup of tea. This composure further elevated him in the eyes of the Bandai executives.
In the small conference room next door, as soon as the door closed, several people couldn't suppress their thoughts.
"President, of course, it's Dragon Ball!" The Marketing Department Head excitedly waved his hand. "Goku just defeated Demon King Piccolo, and the manga's popularity is at its peak! Strike while the iron is hot, and it will definitely sell like crazy!"
"Sell like crazy, and then what?" The Development Department Head uncharacteristically stood up to retort. He stood ramrod straight, his face no longer troubled but showing a unique persistence characteristic of a technical professional. "Dragon Ball is a combat-adventure game. The framework Executive Director Takayama presented is clearly a strategy game! Forcing Dragon Ball into it? Wouldn't that be doing what we're worst at again? Repeating past mistakes!"
"That's not a problem either; Sega isn't without action-adventure games," the Marketing Department Head countered.
The Development Department Head shook his head. "But aren't we being given a ready-made framework now? Besides, Gundam is different! 'Mobile Suit Gundam,' 'Z,' 'ZZ'—we have the accumulation of three anime series, countless mobile suit designs, and named pilots! The stories we can provide for the game are much richer. If we just slap on a common arcade game skin, wouldn't that make it too easy for Sega?"
These words stunned everyone.
Mitsui Chuta looked at Yamashina Makoto and said in a deep voice, "The Development Department Head is right. Furthermore, while Dragon Ball is good, Akira Toriyama's creative work is still ongoing, and it's not good for us to create additional content that deviates from the original work. This could easily offend Akira Toriyama, and players might not buy into it. Also, if the project is too simple, Sega might just gloss over it. The Gundam series' story is already well-established, rich in content, and sufficient for us to create a deep, heavyweight title that fans can repeatedly study. This is not just a game; it is a banner for Bandai to showcase our IP operational capabilities."
Yamashina Makoto was silent for a moment, then finally made a definitive decision: "It's settled. We choose Gundam."
Ten minutes later, everyone returned to the conference room.
Yamashina Makoto solemnly announced to Takuya, "Executive Director Takayama, we have decided. The first project will be Gundam."
"A wise choice." Takuya seemed to have anticipated this outcome. He took out several documents from his briefcase and distributed them to everyone present. "So, before discussing the specific creative ideas, please sign this non-disclosure agreement."
Looking at the clear and rigorous agreement handed to him, the Development Department Head's heart skipped a beat, and the slight thought of "learning a bit more, seeing a bit more" that had just arisen instantly vanished.
It seemed this young master of the Nakayama Family family had been prepared all along; his mind was terrifyingly meticulous.
After everyone signed, Takuya stood up and walked to the whiteboard in the conference room, uncapping a marker.
"Everyone, the Gundam game we are going to make is not an ordinary strategy game. Its core selling points are three."
He directly drew a simplified, star-map-like framework on the whiteboard.
"First, battlefield narration. Players don't play as Amuro or Char, but as a fleet commander, commanding their warships and mobile suits, participating in various Gundam stories."
"Second, collection and development." Takuya drew a branch line. "Every series of Mobile Suits can be developed and evolved from related series models of Mobile Suits. Zaku I can be developed into Zaku II, then to the high-mobility Zaku from the A Baoa Qu battle, and even the Hizack from the Gryps Conflict. GM can also be gradually developed into GM II, GM III. What we want to make is a playable 'Mobile Suit Encyclopedia.' We want players to willingly invest hundreds of hours to fill this encyclopedia."
"As for the third point—" Takuya turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, a confident arc on his lips. "Free customization. Your unit is your responsibility; you manage resources, allocate mobile suits, and decide tactics."
Such a game, allowing players to control their own special unit and participate in various Gundam stories, captivated everyone present.
The Development Department Head's eyes were already full of stars, wishing he could start making this game tomorrow.
Mitsui Chuta and Yamashina Makoto exchanged glances, both seeing undisguised shock and joy in each other's eyes.
Takuya capped the marker, put it back in its place, and calmly concluded his brilliant solo performance: "The specific cooperation framework will follow what we discussed before. For subsequent technical support and details, our Sega team will follow up. Does anyone have any comments?"
Yamashina Makoto slowly stood up, walked personally to Takuya, and extended his hand, his voice filled with solemnity and expectation.
"Executive Director Takayama, we entrust Bandai's games to yo