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Chapter 42 - Ripples and Momentum
Tokyo, Ota Ward, Namco headquarters.Masaya Nakamura stood before the president’s office’s large floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling streets below.Reports of Fatal Fury’s anime premiere and its “second wave” arcade frenzy reached his desk first thing.The “unprecedented” ga...
Chapter 41 - Eruption
The anime ended, credits barely rolling.Countless homes echoed with chairs shoved back.“Mom, I’m heading out!”“Hey, Ken, you see that? To the arcade!”“No dinner—I’m practicing specials!”Quiet residential streets suddenly buzzed with teens, their target clear: the nearest arcade.The...
Chapter 40 - Launch Day
Three days later, January 11.The cold wind couldn’t dampen the teens’ fervor.Long lines formed early at Sega arcade halls across Japan’s major cities.As arcade doors slowly opened, crowds surged in like a tide.Their target: the shiny new machines adorned with Fatal Fury posters.“It’s here!...
Chapter 39 - Cannon Fodder
Almost simultaneous with Nintendo’s high-level meeting.Tokyo, Ota Ward, Namco headquarters.The atmosphere in Masaya Nakamura’s office grew heavier.He had just received official notice from Nintendo.The Famicom version of Pac-Man must follow Nintendo’s schedule, launching full-scale marketing a...
Chapter 38 - “Marketing Bubble”?
Takuya found Group Leader Shimizu and Yuji Suzuki. “Help me hook up the test machine for video recording.”Shimizu, wiring the setup, asked puzzledly, “What’s this for? The animation PV is out, and the game PV clips were sent to Tatsunoko.”Takuya grinned slyly. “Remember the joystick and ...
Chapter 37 - Animation Trailer
Late November, the Thanksgiving shopping frenzy had just subsided.At Nintendo of America’s Redmond headquarters, the office buzzed with near-boiling joy.Minoru Arakawa gripped the transoceanic phone, his face twitching with barely contained excitement, trying to steady his voice.On the other end, ...
Chapter 36 - Balance
Early November at Sega’s Third Development Department, the air’s intensity didn’t fade with the demo’s completion—it surged, fueled anew.The office was no longer just a realm of keyboard clacks.Instead, escalating debates filled the space, mixed with endless arcade cabinet sound effects—...
Chapter 35 - Demo Completed
A light punch connected, followed by a command input—Terry spun into a shoulder charge: Power Charge.Then, a ferocious Crack Shoot slammed the airborne Geese to the screen’s edge.A combo etched into Takuya’s soul from a past life, executed fluidly and efficiently.Onscreen, Geese’s health bar...
Chapter 34 - Interview Aftermath
The buzz around Fatal Fury surged to unprecedented heights.Gamers marveled at Sega’s bold investment and the “game + animation” synergy.Anime and manga fans were captivated by the Shutaro Oba and Masami Kurumada duo, especially intrigued by Kurumada’s hinted “new work.”Takuya’s media b...
Chapter 33 - Next-Gen Plan?
“I propose the company immediately and secretly start developing a next-generation, 16-bit home console!”The statement detonated the boardroom like a bomb.“A 16-bit console? Now?!”A gray-haired conservative director immediately objected.“We’ve poured so much into 8-bit consoles with litt...
Chapter 32 - Steady Progress
Sega’s Third Development Department was as sweltering as a midsummer asphalt road, buzzing with fervent activity. The office echoed with keyboard clacks, heated discussions, and occasional bursts of test sound effects.Takuya Nakayama hunched over his desk, eyes glued to scrolling code, fingers dan...
Chapter 31 - Head-to-Head
Deep autumn in Kyoto brought a crisp chill to the air.At Nintendo’s headquarters, the Q4 game release schedule meeting was underway.“The initial success in North America deserves recognition,” Hiroshi Yamauchi began, his voice low but commanding. “The popularity of Super Mario Bros. proves o...
Chapter 30 - Handheld Storm
Late July’s sunlight blazed, almost scorching. Cicadas’ cries, baked by the heat, grew louder. Tokyo’s streets pulsed with summer vacation’s vibrant energy. Students in groups spilled out of cram schools, arcades, or ice drink shops, faces beaming with carefree smiles.Alongside this heatwave...
Chapter 29 - Fatal Fury Development
Sega’s Third Development Department buzzed with a mix of fervor and tension.The handheld version of Tetris had passed final testing and was sent to production for a summer release, aiming to capture students’ pocket money during vacation.Takuya Nakayama stood at the center of the workspace, his ...
Chapter 28 - Anticipation! Saint Seiya, PLUS!!
Kurumada carefully pulled another stack of sketches from his bag, the edges curled from frequent handling.Takuya leaned in, curious.The sketches depicted teenagers in exotic armor, some covering their entire bodies with intricate, ornate designs tied to constellations; others struck dynamic fighting...
Chapter 27 - Animation Plot Discussions
Late summer’s heat was fading, autumn creeping onto Musashino’s branches.At Sega’s headquarters, Team 3’s office erupted in barely contained cheers, quickly hushed into high-fives and stifled laughter.“OK! The console version of Tetris is finalized!”“It’s so addictive—yesterday, te...
Chapter 26 - North American Storm
“Excellent.”David Rosen looked up at his subordinate.“Contact our friendly media outlets.”“It’s time to wake up consumers and investors.”He paused, his tone laced with mockery.“Remember the ‘Atari graveyard’ in Alamogordo, New Mexico?”His subordinate caught on immediately.“Yo...
Chapter 25 - Clash of Inspirations
Oba broke the meeting room’s silence, addressing Takuya. “Takuya-san, what style do you envision for this animation?”“Is it a realistic fighting style or leaning toward exaggerated supernatural expressions?” he pressed, his gaze sharp.Takuya answered without hesitation. “I want the anima...
Chapter 24 - Fatal Fury
Suzuki distributed the story script to Shutaro Oba and Masami Kurumada, handing the floor to Takuya. “The story is set in a fictional American city called South Town, a chaotic place where wealth and crime intertwine, beyond the reach of official law.”“The city’s true ruler is Geese Howard,...
Chapter 23 - The First ACG Collision
In the afternoon, Takuya and Suzuki stood outside Tatsunoko Studio, sunlight filtering through tall buildings, casting dappled shadows on them.Suzuki dabbed his forehead, his meticulously ironed suit unable to mask his nerves.“Relax, Suzuki-san,” Takuya said, patting his shoulder with a chuckle....
Chapter 22 - Invitation Secured
Nintendo Headquarters, Kyoto.Hiroshi Yamauchi sat behind his wide desk, fingers absently tapping the surface, his gaze fixed on the window. The courtyard’s bamboo swayed in the breeze, rustling softly, shadows dancing. The office was steeped in quiet, broken only by the faint sound of flipping pap...
Chapter 21 - Considerations
“Hello, everyone. I hope I’m not interrupting?” Takuya’s face bore a warm smile as his gaze swept over faces brimming with excitement, curiosity, or nervous energy.“Takuya-san!”“Greetings, Takuya-san!”The office fell silent instantly, all work halting as everyone stood to greet him, ...
Chapter 20 - Animation Collaboration Invitation
Outside the meeting room, the fervent atmosphere lingered.In the corridor, employees huddled in small groups, their hushed conversations charged with excitement, all centered on the groundbreaking meeting that had just concluded.“Fighting games… just the name makes my fists clench,” a planner ...
Chapter 19 - Grand Plan
“Everyone,” Takuya’s gaze swept the room, his tone brimming with passion, “I believe fighting games hold immeasurable market potential.”“First, from a direct commercial perspective, their fast-paced, intense competition will drive sky-high coin-in rates—an irresistible lure for our arc...
Chapter 18 - Outclassing Kung-Fu
On the screen, a nimble figure dodged and weaved, fists and feet moving like the wind—swift, precise, and rhythmic.Takuya didn’t play the full fight scene but highlighted key moments of attack and defense through freeze-frames, slow motion, and close-ups, presenting them vividly.These dissected,...
Chapter 17 - Fighting Game
On Monday, Sega’s headquarters buzzed with an unusual atmosphere.The corridor to the executive meeting room echoed with denser, hastier footsteps than usual, as polished shoes clicked against the floor.The upcoming “team leader-level game development seminar” was clearly a cut above the norm. ...
Chapter 16 - New Project Preparation
On a weekend in Akihabara, the streets pulsed with the heat of bustling crowds.At the entrance of Sega’s Arcade Hall No. 1, the scene was strikingly different from usual.Gone was the sea of male faces. Among the throng, young women in groups stood out, their chatter lively as they headed straight ...
Chapter 15 - Strategy (Part 2)
The air in the study grew heavier with Hayao Nakayama’s direct question.Light spilled from the green banker’s lamp, casting shadows across his composed face.Takuya met his father’s probing gaze, the earlier fervor from outlining his grand strategy settling into calm resolve.His posture remaine...
Chapter 14 - Strategy (Part 1)
Takuya straightened his back, the relaxed warmth he showed with family fading, replaced by a sharp, focused intensity, his eyes bright like a honed lens.“Father, Katsuya,” he began, his voice clear and steady, resonating in the quiet study. “The multi-platform development and release of Tetris...
Chapter 13 - Family Dinner
In the evening, the Nakayama family’s dining room glowed warmly.Crystal chandeliers cast soft light over a long table laden with dishes—glistening sashimi platters, golden-crisp tempura, and steaming sukiyaki.Hayao Nakayama sat at the head, his wife Miyuki Nakayama to his left, and his eldest so...
