At first, both of them were a bit reserved, and their operations were slightly unskillful. But with the appearance of the first "garbage line," the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
The meeting room was no longer quiet or filled with whispers, but instead, it was filled with a tense atmosphere of spectators. Everyone was drawn to the rapidly changing situation on the screen.
Both sides tried their best to speed up their operations, hoping to eliminate a few more lines and cause more trouble for their opponent.
Finally, a long block could not fall and piled up to the top.
"Game Over!"
Takuya Nakayama looked at the enthusiastic scene before him, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Just a few minutes of demonstration had completely changed the atmosphere of the meeting room.
Looking at the glimmer in everyone's eyes, Takuya Nakayama knew the time was ripe.
He paused the game demonstration, straightened his body, and his gaze swept over every Sega executive present.
"Gentlemen, this is the first gift I have prepared for Sega—'Tetris,' and I want to add a more recognizable subtitle to it—'Russian Blocks,' using the name of an exotic game from behind the Iron Curtain to attract players' interest, as well as its 'Sega Versus Edition.'"
"However, having just a good game is not enough."
His tone became serious and solemn.
"First, copyright."
He looked at the head of the Legal Department.
"The prototype of this game comes from the Soviet Union, and we must act immediately, with the company taking the lead, to negotiate with the Soviet side through official channels. As is well known, communist countries like the Soviet Union do not have intellectual property rights, but our game is to be sold in Japan and the Western world, and the core business rule is still intellectual property. So we need to contact the Soviet Foreign Trade Committee and purchase the copyright from them."
He specifically mentioned the "Soviet Foreign Trade Committee" (ELORG), showing that he was not unprepared.
"What we want is not authorization for a certain platform, but exclusive authorization for this game globally, on all known and future possible platforms! We want indisputable rights to clear all legal obstacles for subsequent global promotion!"
Emphasizing the importance of copyright and the pursuit of "all-platform" and "exclusive" made some experienced individuals in the audience nod in agreement.
"Secondly, platform strategy."
He switched the projection screen, displaying a simple planning diagram.
"The arcade platform will be our first stop."
"The arcade version has a faster pace and stronger competitiveness. It can quickly verify gameplay, build reputation, and bring direct cash flow."
"But this is just the beginning."
His finger pointed to the next part of the planning diagram.
"We need to simultaneously plan the development of the console version. I know our existing console performance and market performance face challenges, but support for our own platform is a necessary attitude, and the game itself is not complex. The technical difficulty and resource investment for porting 'tetris' are relatively controllable."
Finally, his finger landed at the end of the planning diagram, an area that many people might not have paid much attention to yet.
"In the long run, I believe the true breakout point for 'tetris' may be on future handheld gaming console platforms!"
Handheld console?
This concept made some people frown slightly.
Everyone should have seen Nintendo's Game & Watch. The content and scope of 'tetris' are very suitable for development on this level of platform. We need to cover all platforms comprehensively to maximize profits for the company.
"Previously, when I was developing, my sister also participated in the trial play. She herself wasn't really interested in our other Sega games, but she could play 'tetris' for an entire afternoon. To some extent, this indicates that 'tetris' has a certain appeal to women, similar to chess and card games. Currently, the gaming audience is predominantly male, and 'tetris' can attract women, which is a blue ocean market. Moreover, when women participate in games, it will attract more men to join, further expanding the audience."
"Imagine," Takuya Nakayama's voice carried a contagious quality as he described the future, "future players, regardless of gender, age, or youth, can take out portable gaming devices, connect via data cables, and engage in 'tetris' battles anytime, anywhere. Human-versus-human combat is much more varied than human-versus-pre-programmed combat, which will further enhance the game's replayability."
"This is not just a game; this will be a brand new social experience! A phenomenal popular culture!"
The meeting room was silent.
Everyone was drawn to the blueprint he described, contemplating this possibility.
From a primitive Soviet mini-program to a massive plan encompassing arcades, consoles, and even future handheld consoles, emphasizing global exclusive copyright and social attributes.
This newly appointed "Deputy Group Leader" brought far more than just a simple game.
Hayao Nakayama had been listening quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.
At this moment, he finally raised his eyes, his gaze sharply falling on his son, and in the depths of his eyes, something seemed to be stirring.
He did not immediately express his opinion, but slowly spoke, his voice carrying an undeniable authority, echoing in the quiet meeting room.
"Regarding copyright negotiations," Hayao Nakayama's gaze first turned to the head of the International Business Department, a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses and a serious expression, "the International Business Department will follow up immediately. Takuya," he turned to Takuya, "will provide initial information and direction. Regarding the Soviet matter, come up with a feasible plan as soon as possible. I want to see results."
The head of the International Business Department immediately bowed: "Yes! President. We will immediately form a special task force." Then, he said to Takuya: "Vice Team Leader Nakayama, please hand over the collected information and channels to us after the meeting." Takuya Nakayama nodded noncommittally.
Then, Hayao Nakayama continued: "The Legal Department is responsible for reviewing and vetting to prevent the Soviets or anyone else from exploiting loopholes. We must ensure that we obtain all global copyrights."
"Yes! President." The head of the Legal Department also bowed in agreement.
"Regarding development," he looked at the head of the Development Department, "Third Development Group, based on Takuya Nakayama's proposal, immediately form a 'tetris' project team and prioritize the development of the arcade version. For technical support, coordinate with the Hardware Development Department to resolve it."
"Yes! President!" The head of the Third Development Group quickly agreed.
"Also! I don't need to say much about basic confidentiality, do I? I don't want a simple copyright acquisition to become complicated and cause unnecessary trouble and costs." Hayao Nakayama added the last sentence.
"Yes!" Everyone present nodded in agreement.
A few brief sentences set the tone for this grand plan.
The atmosphere in the meeting room quietly shifted.
The scrutiny and suspicion towards Takuya Nakayama began to be replaced by a mix of surprise, curiosity, and even a hint of anticipation.
This young man seemed to really have something. And, standing behind him was Hayao Nakayama himself.
Takuya Nakayama felt a slight calm in his heart, but he knew this was just the admission ticket.