Game Development Giant

Jester was very worried about "Iron Formation", very worried. He knew very well what kind of sensation this game had caused and how much impact it had.

This is the best-selling shooting game on FC. It has sold more copies than Contra, which is known as the textbook for clearing the board. Moreover, the performance of this game in the arcade is simply monster-level. After the game was released, The world is on fire, to what extent is it so popular?

Dominate 70% of the world’s arcade market!

It was the great success of this game that established Namco as the leader of the six giants under Nintendo. And just relying on the profit of this game, Namco built a brand new office building.

In the gaming industry, this building is also jokingly called the Iron Plate Formation Building by players.

Faced with such a dominant game, it is impossible for you to say that Jester is not worried. The classic "American Cube" is good, but the most suitable platform for this game is not an arcade. Due to the limitations of the subject matter, the still picture The performance of games in arcades is far inferior to scroll games.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will definitely lose. Puzzle games will always have a lot of players, and to be honest, players can’t always play the same game. No matter how classic and fun “American Cube” is, There will be a day when you get bored, and the same goes for "Iron Plate". And in terms of playability, who will "American Cube" be afraid of?

Jester was observing Yu Suzuki who was trying out "Bejeweled" from one side. After listening to the introduction of these three games, Suzuki Yu immediately chose "Bejeweled" as his first try. Play with objects.

He was not interested in the arc-shaped mouse that many players were interested in. Instead, he was very focused on the game. Jester could see that Suzuki Yuzai kept replaying the game again and again, which lasted more than a dozen times. , he reluctantly left and went to the arcade with two other games.

These two games obviously gave Suzuki Yu a lot of surprises, as can be seen from his excited expression. However, it is obvious that he is not as interested in the remaining two games as the first "Gem" "Maze" is so big. He only tried it a few times and then stopped trying it. His face didn't have the solemn and serious expression before. After he finished playing, he whispered a few questions to the staff next to him and waited for the answer. After that, Suzuki Yu looked at Jester in disbelief.

Then Jester saw Yu Suzuki walking quickly to his side and making another ninety-degree bend.

"President Li's talent for game design is simply unparalleled. Bejeweled and American Cube are perfect in tapping into players' psychology. I have learned a lot from them and have updated my knowledge on how to make excellent games." The idea, so I think, I should call you a teacher to express my gratitude."

Suzuki Yu spoke with sincerity and respect.

"That's too much. It's just that I have some experience in designing a certain type of game." Jester helped Suzuki Yu up again, then avoided the topic and said, "I don't know, Mr. Suzuki." What do you think of these three games, and is Sega interested in representing them?"

Suzuki Yu calmed down his mood. Obviously, the three games just now shocked him greatly. When he heard Jester's question, he hesitated for a moment, then sighed and said truthfully: "I originally I want to answer that I am not interested, but I feel that this answer is not fair enough for a designer, but I really can’t give you a definite explanation - even in Sega headquarters, it is not the case for the introduction of "American Cube" One voice, if not for the pressure of President Zhongshan, it would be difficult to pass, and this time three more models will be introduced at once..."

Then Jester only saw Suzuki Yu grit his teeth, and then nodded heavily, as if he had made up his mind.

"President Li, I take back what I said before. These three games are excellent enough. I will take them back to President Zhongshan to review. From his perspective, it must not be too difficult to get approval. And I can't sit back and watch Sega continue to decline like this. As long as we can Hold on to this period, and next year, wait..." Suzuki Yu suddenly stopped talking, as if he was talking about some Sega internal secrets, and did not continue.

Jester knew what the other party was talking about. In order to deal with Nintendo's FC, Sega had devoted all its efforts to launch the MS, which will be released next year. Sega has high hopes for this console, which is as powerful as FC. In the eyes of current Sega people, , as soon as ms comes out, fc can become a thing of the past.

But Sega never dreamed that Nintendo would complete distribution throughout Japan in just two and a half years, and use a creative royalty system to win over six of Japan's most powerful third-party developers.

When the MS that Sega had high hopes for failed miserably in the hands of the FC, which was far inferior to its performance, they realized the importance of a third party.

Jester also knows that Nintendo is now collecting royalties, but he has nothing to do about it, because this is the general trend. Nintendo FC is selling like crazy in Japan, unless he can release the console now and add Super Horse, and sell Nintendo to the world. Hell's market share of home consoles continues, otherwise, there is nothing he can do to stop it, and any strategy will be useless in the face of this panic.

But by the time its own home console is released, Nintendo's royalty plan has already been completed. At that time, it can only rely on its own fight against Nintendo and the others.

Fortunately, I remember a lot of good games from this period, which are enough to win in the early stage. As long as my territory is stable, Nintendo's harsh royalty system will naturally arouse the dissatisfaction of those third parties, and their internal alliances will naturally be different. The attack breaks itself.

In the heyday of Nintendo, Namco, and Hudson dared to secretly make games for NEC's PC-E because of the harsh royalty system, let alone now adding themselves?

The royalty system is only binding when the share of Nintendo is high enough. Once the share is not high, Nintendo will end up betraying everyone.

Isn’t the example of the rise of Sony PS not obvious enough?

Nintendo's future failure is doomed by their current greed for royalties.

However, Jester did not explain this to Suzuki Yu, and in his eyes, Sega was only a temporary partner, and in the future, they would also become one of the competitors.

"In that case, let's continue the previous topic about the licensing of "American Cube"." Jester said while making a gesture of invitation, and Suzuki Yuya followed Jester back to the previous office.

Because both parties had no objections to the content of the agreement, Jester asked his company's legal consultant to review the contract and found no problems, so he signed the contract with Yugusa Suzuki. Because the amount of the contract was too huge, it was too late. In a few days, Sega's head, Hayao Nakayama, will go to the United States in person to complete a formal contract with Jester.

Moreover, in the agreement, at Jester's suggestion, Suzuki Yu also added a clause, that is, regardless of whether the three "Bejeweled" games can be represented by Sega, Sega will also agree to undertake the OEM of these three arcade machines. Regarding the contract, as for the specific quantity and price, we will discuss it after the game is officially completed.

This also allowed Jester to let go of one thing for the time being. He has not been worried about whether these three games will be popular these days. What he is most worried about is that his game arcade machine cannot be produced.

Now that Sega has agreed to OEM, everything will be fine.

Suzuki Yu rejected Jester's request to stay for a casual meal. He wanted to return to Japan as soon as possible to report his experiences and the details of this negotiation to Nakayama Hayao.

Of course, when he left, he also took three base boards for the three games "Bejeweled", "Bubble Bobble" and "Zuma".

"I'm looking forward to meeting President Hayao Nakayama in a few days. Mr. Suzuki, please take me to say hello to him." Jester said goodbye to Yu Suzuki.

"I will definitely bring it." Suzuki Yu shook hands with Jester and walked away with satisfaction with the initialed agreement.

For him, this trip to the United States finally fulfilled his mission.

Jester looked at Yu Suzuki's back, looking forward to meeting the man who would later be known as the greatest president in Sega history, the man who never gave up, never backed down, and had a firm fighter's heart. The old man met.

I just don’t know if he will be against me in this life?

"I live just to make Nintendo's life uncomfortable." This famous saying of Nakayama Hayao, even now when Jester thinks about it, he has a loud and passionate feeling.

What a respectable and admirable old man.

"Oh? Someone wants to see me?" After sending off Suzuki Yu, Jester received a report from his employee, saying that a person who had played all three games wanted to see him, and he also claimed to be a businessman. , I have a big deal to discuss with myself about three new games.

After thinking for a moment, Jester nodded and told the employee: "Then let him come in."

Jester is a little curious. I really want to know what the other party means by big business.

"Adam Edgar, nice to meet you." Adam Edgar is a little fat, so he looks a little old. In fact, he is not old, he is just twenty-five years old, and his speaking speed is a little... Quickly, "At least I didn't expect you to be so young."

Jester looked at the other party curiously, holding the other party's business card in his hand, but he didn't look at it, he just turned it around on his fingertips and put it aside.

"So, what is your so-called big business?" Jester has no time to talk nonsense with the other party. He only wants to see the other party on a temporary basis. If the other party's answer does not satisfy him, he does not mind kicking the other party out.

"Ahem..."

Adam Edgar was very confident. He coughed first, blinked his shrewd eyes, and said at a slightly faster pace: "Your game is very good, but your business talent... …Tsk tsk…”

As he spoke, he clicked his lips with some disdain, and then used a disdainful tone to complete what he had not finished before, "Basically zero."

"Oh." Jester just nodded expressionlessly, and then showed a flat smile, "Sir, if you are just here to show off and say such nonsense, then I can only ask the security to arrest you. Boomed out."

Then, Jester looked down at the watch he was wearing, and muttered as if to himself: "One minute left..."

Hearing Jester's words, Adam Edgar's face turned pale, but he returned to normal in the next moment.

He wiped his forehead where some coldness had appeared unknowingly, and said loudly: "Don't think I am alarmist. I have carefully studied your previous sales plan. In fact, this sales plan is outdated. Well, why should you let those sellers share your profits? You should establish your own distribution channels..."

"You still have ten seconds." Jester looked at his watch and said calmly.

"...You should establish logistics centers in various states, flagship stores in central cities, and cooperative retailers in small and medium-sized cities..." Adam Edgar was obviously a little anxious. He spoke faster and faster, and his expression changed. It rose bright red.

Jester didn't really listen, he just got a general idea, but he still looked at the obese man with a look of surprise on his face.

The other party's proposal was so similar to the plan he had discussed with Carly Terry on the phone for many days.