Chapter 81. Kiyoshi Yuuma is a Complete Madman!
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When Mermaid's Heart, developed on the MD, was presented, everyone couldn't help but be impressed by the game's exquisite graphics quality.
To achieve such effects on such hardware products—besides having a very capable hardware engineer, the team's abilities also had to be extremely strong.
This has almost squeezed the MD's graphics performance to its limit, hasn't it?
No, it's even more excessive than that.
Seeing this, everyone gained a certain understanding of Pokeni's [graphics capabilities].
"Onmyoji 1's total sales achievement is now 285,000 copies."
Kiyoshi Yuuma displayed the materials in his hand.
Previously, he demonstrated capabilities through video recordings; now came the data.
He had to make Sony's people fully recognize Pokeni's value, and most importantly, let them see Pokeni's future potential.
This was crucial.
If competing based on current achievements and reputation, Pokeni was just a small fry.
"Onmyoji 2's sales achievement is 265,000 copies."
"Next is Mermaid's Heart, which just broke through 200,000 copies yesterday." Kiyoshi Yuuma displayed the materials in his hand.
Although 200,000 copies was a lot, even legendary in the galgame world—
Compared to Nintendo's sales that often reached millions of copies, it was still too weak.
More critically, Pokeni as a company had almost no reputation.
"Next is a new game we're about to develop. It's called Pokémon, or you could also call it Pocket Monsters." Kiyoshi Yuuma guided everyone to turn to the Pokémon page in their materials.
It featured a color illustration of Pikachu.
In terms of color and image, it was very cute, with eyes that also revealed an unyielding spirit.
"We hope to leverage Sony's power to make Pokeni's games shine brilliantly." Kiyoshi Yuuma said without reservation. "Sony is what I consider to be the only company in the console—no, in the game console field—that can defeat Nintendo."
Tsk tsk.
He really can talk.
Several Sony executives mentally assessed the content Kiyoshi Yuuma described.
"So what are Pokeni's requirements for Sony, and how should we collaborate?" Morita Akio asked.
"We hope to collaborate with Sony on R&D, starting with handhelds, launching a color-screen handheld with strong battery life and infrared transmission functionality to enter the gaming market.
On Pokeni's side, the newly produced Pokémon game will provide unique online battle functionality."
Online battles?!
Everyone exchanged glances, their eyes revealing deep shock.
Implementing online functionality on a handheld?
They wouldn't even dare to think about it.
After Nintendo made the Game Boy, having online functionality would have to wait several years, and would require connection through data cables.
The current time was 1991.
In the computer field, they were indeed developing networking, but it hadn't yet become popularized for civilian use.
"Why handhelds?" Kutaragi Ken was very curious.
After all, handhelds' application prospects and performance were actually inferior to TV game consoles.
This was also why major manufacturers' competition basically took place in TV game consoles, the so-called home console domain.
"The best handheld on the market right now performs worse than the FC from '83." Kutaragi Ken said.
"Precisely because of this, I believe we should first breakthrough with handhelds." Kiyoshi Yuuma smiled. "Nintendo's Game Boy has very limited performance and is also black and white screen.
But handhelds have one major advantage—portability.
Anytime, anywhere, as long as there's power, you can play without being too constrained by location.
The Pokémon we're developing is actually most suitable for running on handhelds.
With Sony's R&D capabilities, you can completely defeat the current Game Boy in handhelds."
"Regarding this point... we're not sure we can do it." Morita Akio pondered. "And..."
He blinked, truly unable to make a decision.
"We're not entirely certain now whether entering the gaming market is a wise decision."
Clearly, Nintendo's unilateral breach of contract had dealt Sony a very heavy blow.
"Handhelds are just the first step." Kiyoshi Yuuma continued pushing forward. "In the future, Sony can develop new TV console types."
"And new games developed by Pokeni in the future will become exclusive games on Sony game consoles."
"Although saying this today is a bit too arrogant, I believe you've all already seen Pokeni's R&D capabilities. We can not only provide products that surpass the times in game graphics, plot, gameplay, game quality, and all game content—
But we can also do all these things to perfection.
With the goal of squeezing out game console performance, letting players fully experience an unprecedented gaming feast."
Kiyoshi Yuuma raised his volume somewhat, his entire person appearing full of passion.
If he didn't leverage Sony now, Pokeni might lose this opportunity.
...
Several Sony bigwigs furrowed their brows, momentarily unsure how to respond to him.
"However, President Kiyoshi."
Morita Akio raised his head and gazed into Kiyoshi Yuuma's eyes. "Do you know what the consequences will be if you do this? If you collaborate with Sony."
This guy isn't just a bit arrogant—he's absolutely lawless, with tremendous guts.
Openly proposing to Sony to oppose Nintendo—isn't he afraid of retaliation?
Kiyoshi Yuuma nodded seriously, then smiled. "Of course I know. If Nintendo is the giant dragon of this era, then Pokeni and Sony are the dragon slayers!"
"If Nintendo is a massive gaming empire, then Pokeni and Sony are the future rebels."
"If Nintendo is a demon king conquering the world, then Pokeni and Sony are the sword-bearing heroes maintaining justice."
This...
Holy shit—even Mika Ishino and Asakura Hiroki beside him were stunned.
Where did the President learn all these lines?
His verbal firepower is maxed out!
...
After Kiyoshi Yuuma finished his impassioned speech, the entire conference room fell silent.
This determination and courage had extremely strong infectious power.
Honestly, if this weren't a business negotiation but some form of speech, Morita Akio would almost want to give him enthusiastic applause.
Even wave flags and cheer.
Morita Akio was almost won over by Kiyoshi Yuuma's momentum, frankness, and courage.
He sighed heavily and asked seriously, "Pokeni will completely offend Nintendo. Perhaps in the future, all of your game products won't be able to be released on Nintendo's entertainment platform.
Even so, does your company still want to submit this proposal?"
"Yes."
Kiyoshi Yuuma responded with a calm face, even somewhat joyfully, "Pokeni is willing to bet its own life."
Eh?!
Asakura Hiroki beside him was so startled he almost bounced out of his chair.
President, you didn't mention any of this when we came!
Damn it, Kiyoshi Yuuma is a complete madman!
...
Although these were pretty words, Kiyoshi Yuuma actually didn't have many choices.
After all, he had already offended Yamauchi Hiroshi long ago.
Whether or not Pokeni's games could go on Nintendo didn't matter—the key was whether someone who could replace Nintendo could emerge.
Of course, it would be best if that person was Pokeni.