It was a sweltering summer afternoon, with thick clouds pressing low over Tokyo, and the cicadas chirped so shrilly they almost tore through the thin air, making everyone feel irritable. Inside the electronics development laboratory at Sony Headquarters, the air conditioning was set just right, keeping the outdoor heat at bay.
Takuya Nakayama had just finished a phase-based discussion on the final assembly and debugging of the LD (LaserDisc) arcade game project. Sony's engineers were extremely enthusiastic about this project, which incorporated the latest imaging technology, and the conference table was covered with professional jargon and data charts during the discussion. Although Takuya was young, he was meticulous in grasping technical details, conversing fluently with Sony's engineers, and occasionally offering insightful opinions that made the Sony technical staff present nod in approval.
Towards the end of the meeting, the atmosphere relaxed slightly. Ken Kutaragi, a highly respected technical backbone within Sony, personally refilled Takuya's coffee cup. He looked at Takuya, this young man who was considerably younger than himself but already held the high position of Managing Director at Sega, with a look of inquiry typical of engineers. Takuya's professionalism and composure displayed during the LD project discussion had left a deep impression on him.
He put down the coffee pot, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the cup handle, seemingly deliberating his words.
"Managing Director Takayama."
Takuya, without turning his head, replied, "What is it?" while still looking at the final assembly and debugging work in front of him.
Ken Kutaragi leaned forward slightly: "The gaming world has really been turbulent lately. Hudson and NEC's PC Engine is making such a big splash it's almost overturning all of Akihabara. On Nintendo's side, President Hiroshi Yamauchi's reaction has been thunderous; I hear many manufacturers are keeping quiet."
He paused, his sharp gaze fixed on Takuya, as if trying to find something beneath his calm expression.
"But it's you, Sega, who are strangely quiet at a time like this. New arcade games are coming out one after another, and the quality is indeed impeccable, but the home console market… it's as if it's none of your business at all."
Ken Kutaragi picked up his own coffee cup, took a sip, his eyes filled with undisguised curiosity, and even a hint of objective scrutiny.
"Honestly, Managing Director Takayama, you Sega… do you really have no thoughts at all about this new console war? Or do you have other plans that we don't know about?"
This series of questions, seemingly casual small talk, in fact carried an unavoidable probing. The air in the reception room seemed to subtly freeze for a moment due to this sudden topic.
Upon hearing this, Takuya understood. He turned away from the final assembly and debugging work in front of him, a nonchalant smile spreading across his face as he let out a soft chuckle.
"Kutaragi-san, the arcade market is so lucrative!"
He walked over and sat next to Ken Kutaragi, leaning back on the sofa in a relaxed posture.
"You see, arcade owners don't have any loyalty to specific manufacturers."
"As long as a new game is fun and profitable, they will actively purchase it, and they're very enthusiastic."
"Our Sega arcade business has always been far ahead, and our reputation and channels are as solid as a rock."
He paused, picked up the coffee on the table, took a sip, and continued.
"Unlike the home console market, whether players buy in or spend money is still an unknown."
"With such a stable cash cow business, why should we easily give it up and insist on entering the red ocean of home consoles to fight to the death with them?"
Takuya spoke casually, but in his heart, he mused: The deeply entrenched arcade faction within Sega was simply too powerful.
Especially after the SG-1000's setback in the home console market, the status of those veterans had risen even higher, and their influence was extremely significant.
If it weren't for the new home console's technical platform being in the same vein as the new arcade board System 16, ensuring that a large number of arcade games could be easily and quickly ported, who knows how much internal obstruction and questioning it would have faced.
Ken Kutaragi gazed at Takuya, seeing him appear confident in his own arcade business and seemingly genuinely unconcerned about the home console market for the time being. A hint of contemplation flashed in his deep eyes.
He nodded, no longer pressing the issue, and turned the conversation back to the current collaborative project.
"Managing Director Takayama, take a look."
Ken Kutaragi pointed to a nascent LD arcade game prototype not far away, its metal casing gleaming with a cold luster under the lights.
"Our hardware assembly and debugging here are almost complete, and the core system has also been set up."
"When can we see the finished product of your Sega game content, especially the core interactive video part?"
His tone indicated his concern for the project's progress.
Takuya spread his hands, a perfectly appropriate expression of helplessness and anticipation on his face.
"We've been waiting for good news from Sony Records, haven't we?"
He said with a laugh, with a hint of teasing.
"I specifically mentioned before that we need the hottest songs, or the blockbuster hits that Sony is preparing to launch with great fanfare."
"Also, I specifically emphasized, where is the top choreography expert?"
Upon hearing this, Ken Kutaragi's face broke into an undisguised smile of triumph, clearly prepared for this and confident.
"Don't worry, Managing Director Takayama, today is the day for you to inspect the goods."
Ken Kutaragi turned sideways and made an introducing gesture towards a dark-skinned, lean man who had been standing quietly behind him.
"This is Mr. LaVelle Smith Jr."
He paused briefly, observing Takuya's reaction, and then continued: "He is precisely the expert who choreographed the lead single for Michael Jackson's groundbreaking album 'Bad', which is set to be released this year."
Ken Kutaragi's voice rose slightly, every word ringing out clearly, his tone filled with uncontrollable pride and anticipation.
"Furthermore, Sony Records has already obtained a recently completed master tape of the lead song 'Bad'." He deliberately slowed his speech, enunciating each word, "Today, you can have a sneak peek!"
Finally, he spread his arms slightly, as if displaying a rare treasure: "This, I believe, is enough to prove Sony's sincerity and strength, isn't it?"
Michael Jackson!
"Bad"!
Master tape!
Choreographer in person!
Takuya's eyes trembled instantly. In his previous life, who didn't know that Michael Jackson was the King of Pop! It had to be said, Sony's move was truly grand, truly extravagant.
Takuya suppressed the excitement in his heart and stepped forward, gripping LaVelle Smith Jr.'s hand tightly, with such force that the robust black dancer's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Mr. Smith, I've heard so much about you! It's an honor to collaborate with you!" Takuya suppressed the excitement in his voice as he conversed with Smith.
After shaking hands, Takuya was almost impatient, not even bothering with pleasantries. He immediately pulled Smith and enthusiastically discussed the design concept of the dance portion in the LD game in English. After all, in his previous life, he was Chinese, and his Chinglish, untainted by a Japanese accent, was sufficient for Smith to understand, eliminating the need for an interpreter. He kept his speaking pace slow, carefully explaining the requirements for the dance design to Smith, while also incorporating the connection between the game and the dance itself, and some potential interactive features.
Smith was clearly an expert as well. Initially, he was slightly surprised by the combination of games and dance, but he quickly grasped Takuya's core requirements for the dance needed in the game. He didn't even sit down; he simply exchanged a few words with his assistant, opened his portable recorder, played a short rhythm, and then began to gesture in the air. A few improvised movements already captured the essence of "Bad," making Takuya nod repeatedly, his eyes shining even brighter.
During a break in the discussion, Takuya suddenly slapped his thigh and turned to Ken Kutaragi.
"Kutaragi-san, costumes!"
"Costumes and props must also keep up!" He seemed to have just remembered.
"It would be best to perfectly replicate Michael Jackson's classic outfit from the 'Bad' music video: the leather jacket, metal buckles, zippers, and even MJ's characteristic gestures must be perfectly reproduced!"
"No detail can be overlooked! Only then can we achieve the best audio-visual effects and immersion! Once 'Bad' becomes a global sensation, our game will be the most dazzling stage in arcades."