Lying in Nao Tsuda's bed that night, Aoki Haruhi tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
President Nakayama's words today were too unusual.
This old man had always been very tough; in Aoki Haruhi's mind, Nakayama Hayao and Nintendo's Hiroshi Yamauchi were the same type of person.
Stubborn, tenacious, with endless energy, and a powerful aura, both were essentially tyrants.
But today, during the sauna, President Nakayama gave him a feeling of sadness and weakness.
This was very unusual.
Aoki Haruhi suddenly opened his eyes.
He suddenly realized something—
It was possible that Nakayama Hayao's health was truly in trouble.
And Sega itself was also in trouble.
Such serious problems would lead him to speak such sorrowful words.
It's truly difficult to make a once-dominant figure bow his head.
Unless Sega encountered an exceptionally major difficulty, Nakayama Hayao would not have said, "borrow Aoki Haruhi's strength."
Moreover, to that extent, Nakayama seemed to genuinely recognize Aoki Haruhi and Pokeni from the bottom of his heart.
Another person might not have exposed such a vulnerable side to him.
However, Aoki Haruhi wasn't sure if the old man was truly failing or just pretending to gain sympathy, hoping Pokeni could help Sega.
Two years ago, Sega, no, even a year ago, Sega was still at its peak, subtly showing signs of wanting to unseat Nintendo.
Why was it failing now?
Or was Nakayama's own health truly declining, and he had a premonition, wanting to establish a stable foundation for Sega's future while his health was still good?
Aoki Haruhi didn't know, but there was always an unexplainable ominous feeling lingering in his heart.
...
Two days later, it was Sony's President Norio Ohga and Sony Entertainment's head, Ken Kutaragi, who invited Aoki Haruhi to dinner.
Unlike the decline shown by Sega's Nakayama Hayao, the two Sony executives were now full of vigor.
Sony PS had been released for less than a month, and its sales had already exceeded 600,000 units, which was quite astonishing.
Especially for a "new" company that had just entered the console field, achieving such a brilliant victory in its first battle and deeply frustrating Sega Saturn and other competitors was truly remarkable.
Previously, the console wars were just historical texts to Aoki Haruhi, at most a video introduction.
But truly immersing himself in this era, and getting to know these people, made him feel a heartfelt admiration.
Sony's ability to pass the baton to Norio Ohga and Ken Kutaragi was truly destiny.
While Akio Morita could be said to have great foresight, luck also played a significant role.
First, there was Ken Kutaragi, an engineer with immense creativity and a keen market sense, who dared to propose developing a game console without ever having entered the game market, and then single-handedly pushed for its realization.
From initially seeking cooperation with Nintendo, to the eventual collapse and then partnering with Sega and Pokeni for handhelds, to finally ditching Sega and going solo...
This truly required strategic vision and courage.
Especially, it required a strong heart to withstand pressure from all sides, and to persist even when Sony's internal outlook was overwhelmingly pessimistic, which was extremely difficult.
Most crucially, such a Ken Kutaragi met such a Norio Ohga.
Norio Ohga was able to overcome all objections, steadfastly supporting Ken Kutaragi amidst an almost unanimous tide of opposition within the company, and establishing Sony Entertainment, giving Ken Kutaragi free rein. This courage was truly remarkable.
Such a ruler and minister, possessing such pioneering spirit and a strong heart, was Sony's blessing.
It would be difficult for them not to succeed.
Aoki Haruhi greatly admired them.
Norio Ohga and Ken Kutaragi, these two were indispensable; without either one, the current Sony would not exist.
Even more remarkably, Ken Kutaragi was particularly willing to listen to Aoki Haruhi's suggestions, which was no small feat.
"For future matters, we will have to rely heavily on President Aoki's side."
Norio Ohga, Sony's current president, raised his glass and toasted Aoki Haruhi.
Aoki Haruhi himself didn't hesitate, downing it with them.
"No, no, I'm just riding on Sony's big ship. When Sony PS sells well, our games also benefit."
This round was all commercial flattery.
Norio Ohga and Ken Kutaragi smiled happily, but their hearts were bitter.
Oh, you, Aoki Haruhi, when we cooperated and signed the agreement, everything was agreed upon: after the console is released, your games must also be launched quickly.
Without Pokeni's 3D games, our PS's true potential cannot be demonstrated.
Now, players are even complaining that it's a 'chicken rib' (useless). If it weren't for our console's cheap price, it might have already failed.
"One person's strength is always limited."
Norio Ohga sighed and said, "The same goes for a company."
Hmm?
Aoki Haruhi frowned, feeling like he had heard these two sentences somewhere before.
"Console sales are never just about the hardware and the cost-effectiveness of the price," Norio Ohga said half-seriously. "So, President Aoki, don't look at our first month's sales as seemingly good; these are all superficial.
The key is whether there will be enough developers and enough games to continuously attract players to the PS platform later on."
This was indeed the truth.
Otherwise, based on console hardware levels, Sega should have defeated Nintendo countless Times by now.
The reason Nintendo is strong is primarily because most major game developers are on its side, isn't it?
Moreover, Nintendo itself is the largest game developer, which is very important.
Currently, Sony's hardware level is absolutely impeccable, but the game selection is still very scarce.
Therefore, Norio Ohga had to seize Pokeni, this rising star in gaming, no matter what.
"We will do it as quickly as possible, as quickly as possible," Aoki Haruhi said, somewhat abashedly, raising his glass and toasting Norio Ohga in return.
After finishing, he smacked his lips.
"Ah, we also really hope the games can be released soon, so we can ride on Sony's big ship earlier."
The few of them continued with commercial flattery at the dinner table, all very happy.
"By the way, Aoki-san."
Norio Ohga lifted his flushed face, a large mole on his lip looking as if it had swollen from the alcohol, seemingly larger than before.
He looked at Aoki Haruhi with hazy eyes and smiled, saying, "There's a very important matter we'd like to invite Pokeni to."
"Oh?" Aoki Haruhi was slightly startled. "What important matter?"
"We want to organize major game manufacturers to establish a Japanese Electronic Entertainment Industry Association."
"Eh?"
Aoki Haruhi blinked, sobering up quite a bit.
"Japanese Electronic Entertainment Industry Association?"
"Yes," Norio Ohga nodded, explaining seriously, "Look, the United States holds the Chicago Electronic Consumer Exhibition every year, and next year, they're even holding a dedicated Electronic Entertainment Exhibition."
Aoki Haruhi had also received an invitation for this electronic entertainment exhibition, which was scheduled to be held in 1995. It was rumored to be the world's largest and most famous interactive entertainment exhibition, abbreviated as E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo.
Its main purpose was to provide a professional platform for showcasing all kinds of games and game-related products.
Such exhibitions have the advantage of concentrated exposure, creating a grand gaming spectacle, and providing excellent promotion for various games.
But what did this have to do with Sony's association?
"We're thinking this way," Norio Ohga said frankly, "The United States previously had the Chicago Electronic Consumer Exhibition, and in the future, it will have the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo. These are actually major events that benefit games, but it's quite regrettable that Japan itself doesn't have one.
Up until now, we only have a Tokyo Toy Show.
Every year, if we want to exhibit, we have to display games and game consoles alongside a bunch of figures, Ultraman, Transformer, and so on, which dilutes the promotional effect."
Yes, up until now, there was no dedicated stage for exhibiting games in all of Japan.
Because the Tokyo Game Show (TGS), which in the previous life was one of the three major game exhibitions alongside the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo in the United States and Gamescom in Germany, was also initiated by Sony.
Aoki Haruhi couldn't quite remember, but it was roughly around these two years.
Looking at it this way, Time truly has a convergent nature.
Major events seem to be arriving right on schedule.
Exhibiting alongside a bunch of toys no longer met the demands of existing electronic game manufacturers and players.
Electronic games had developed to the point where they transcended the simple category of "toys."
It was Time for them to have their own unique stage.
"To put it bluntly, we are a scattered mess," Norio Ohga said. "Japanese game developers are basically each doing their own thing, seeing each other as competitors, as enemies. They've never considered that games can also be about cooperation and win-win.
So, up until now, there hasn't been a decent game exhibition that benefits everyone.
But in reality, we can work together to make the pie bigger."
Norio Ohga said, "Our first step is to establish this Japanese Electronic Entertainment Products Association, to gather everyone together first, and then through this association, organize various joint activities. In the future, many disputes, profit sharing, cooperation... and industry standards for games, etc., we can all formulate through this common association.
Instead of different manufacturers having different standards.
Doing this is like engaging in unnecessary internal friction, which instead puts our Japanese games at risk of falling behind Europe and America and America."
Getting excited, Norio Ohga didn't mind Aoki Haruhi and took a sip for himself. "Nintendo has one standard, Sega has one standard, and we also have one standard, but ultimately, no single manufacturer's standard can be used, which makes it very difficult to achieve results, and for game developers, it's also very difficult to make choices."
Norio Ohga finished his eloquent speech, seven parts truth and three parts falsehood.
Just looking at his heartbroken, world-caring expression, Aoki Haruhi had to give him full marks.
Look at his mind.
His vision.
What was Nintendo's Hiroshi Yamauchi thinking?
Can you, a Dong Zhuo, truly be the boss just because you have a strong army?
Sony, with such a magnanimous Cao Cao-like demeanor and such a statement, is what truly wins over the world.
Aoki Haruhi was even a little stirred by his words.
Norio Ohga was not only an excellent entrepreneur.
He was also an excellent social activist.
According to reports from Japanese media such as Yomiuri Shimbun, Ohga once served as a key leader in important social and economic organizations such as the Japanese Electronic Machinery Industry Association, the Japan Business Federation, and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, contributing to the development of Japan's economic industry.
Ohga facilitated the successful signing of the Japan-US Semiconductor Agreement in 1996 and has always been committed to promoting reform and innovation in the Japanese corporate world.
Look at that vision.
This is a person who can achieve great things.
To benefit the entire Japanese electronics industry, what a grand vision.
Who wouldn't want to follow him?
"But will Nintendo and Sega agree?" Aoki Haruhi posed a fatal question, frowning as he asked, "Given President Yamauchi's and President Nakayama's personalities, they probably won't join this entertainment industry association, right?"
Sony's ulterior motives, others might not know, but Aoki Haruhi was perfectly clear.
Historically, establishing so-called business associations and setting standards were actually attempts to become the "decision-maker."
Because the name sounds grand, and at the same Time, through the association's system, it puts shackles on the younger brothers. Once you become the boss, the power to distribute profits is in your hands; who would dare not listen to you?
Forming a group is like raising a big banner.
It's just that, as Norio Ohga said before, everyone was a scattered mess, and no one had such vision and wisdom.
After Hiroshi Yamauchi became dominant, his subordinates naturally became loyal.
Those who didn't want to follow him started to resist.
In fact, such heavy-handed tactics are not smart at all. The smart approach should be like Sony's: establish an association, occupy the high ground of public opinion and morality, and then radiate out.
But as Aoki Haruhi said, Hiroshi Yamauchi and Nakayama Hayao were used to being the boss. How could they agree to join your association and become your subordinates?
You can't expect Sony to lead and then let Hiroshi Yamauchi or Nakayama Hayao be the association's president, can you?
Then what would Sony gain?
Norio Ohga wasn't the kind of fool who would do all the work for others.
"This..." Norio Ohga was clearly a bit troubled.
He also knew this was impossible.
Putting everything else aside, just the matter of Sony and Nintendo's past CD-ROM project meant the two companies were still at loggerheads.
In terms of hatred, Aoki Haruhi could only rank third on Hiroshi Yamauchi's hatred list.
First was Sega.
Second was Sony.
In the past, when Sony held the Tokyo Game Show, Nintendo didn't participate for many years. Think about why.
Now Sony is making PS, beating Sega black and blue. Would Nakayama Hayao still be willing to join your Electronic Entertainment Products Association?
Impossible.
"President Yamauchi's side is a bit difficult," Norio Ohga said with a frown. "However, Konami, Square, SNK, Koei... Sega, we've actually discussed it pretty thoroughly with them."
"Being able to establish an association that everyone can participate in is truly what everyone wants, and it's something that benefits the majority."
"But this matter is still undecided, so please keep it strictly confidential."
Aoki Haruhi smiled.
He saw through it but didn't say anything.
If I hadn't had dinner with President Nakayama first, I would have actually believed this.
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