Horrible! Actually playing this kind of game!

Chapter 497 401. What false propaganda? ! This is obviously expectation management!

Sega's new game console DC was unveiled at E3. After the relevant news was released, everyone in the world turned their attention to Sony.

Mainly because this time Sega is really aggressive. The performance of the entire game console, the displayed graphics, the scalable networking functions, etc., all completely crush the current PS.

On the second day of the DC game console display, Sony Group's stock price plummeted.

Although it is not entirely due to the new game consoles, it may be a comprehensive effect, such as the impact of the Asian financial crisis, coupled with the poor operating results of Sony in North America, frequent thunderstorms, Sony's deep debt...etc. The stock price fell due to a combination of factors.

However, many good people often do not analyze that much in depth, nor can they see it so comprehensively. People tend to grasp the most intuitive factors at the moment and make a rough judgment.

For example——

Sega's DC game console not only spread the dream, but also hit Sony's dream.

It is precisely because of the excellent functions of the DC machine that Sony's stock price fell.

At this time, Sony Group's Nobuyuki Dei is simply one head and two big.

The company was already unstable, but something like this happened again. What’s more important is——

This wave of Qing Zhiyuan's actions were too fast. According to his original idea, even after pokeni acquired Sega, it would take a year and a half to develop the new game console.

However, judging from the results, it still shows that their intelligence work is not enough. Sega has not leaked any news at all, including the development of the game console, what the game console will look like, and which important hardware manufacturers are cooperating. …

There is no such news at all.

Although PS still occupies a major market share and can even be described as a monopoly, both players and business partners are actually waiting for Sony to respond.

Because Sega's DC performance is really good.

It's so good that people can no longer ignore its aura.

This special number is like another scorching sun suddenly popping up in the sky, and it is bigger, rounder and brighter than the original one.

There are no two days in the sky, everyone knows this truth.

So Sony's response becomes crucial.

However, surprisingly, Ken Kutaragi behaved extremely calmly when being interviewed by the media.

"Although Sega has very good R\u0026D technology, and the DC machine performed quite well at the electronics show, but please don't ignore one point -

The current mainstream market is still dominated by PS.

Moreover, the key to game consoles is whether there are enough good games on them, and how many good games there are. This is the most important thing.

Performance can only determine the foundation. What can really impress players depends on the game software itself.

The work is what matters.

What's more, our PS2 is already under development, and please rest assured that the performance of PS2 in the future will definitely be better. "

Although Ken Kutaragi just wrote a blank check, after this round of responses, Sony's stock price has temporarily stabilized.

…

But in fact, Kutaragi was panicking. The E3 electronics show was not completely over yet. He just entrusted Sony's follow-up tasks to the staff in the United States. Kutaragi hurried to the Neon Company headquarters.

After finding President Nobuyuki Idei, Kutaragi talked about what happened at E3 and the content of media reports in the past two days.

In fact, without Kutaragi Ken's description, Dei Nobunoto has already learned the relevant news, and all kinds of emails are flying all over the place.

Don’t keep an eye on Ken Kutaragi’s internal staff too much.

Many people said that Ken Kutaragi should be held accountable for his delay in promoting the development of PS2.

And there was no precaution at all, and Sega was caught off guard.

This is all Kutaragi Ken's fault.

However, Ken Kutaragi felt bitter. I immediately approached President Norio Ohga. It was President Norio Ohga who told us not to rush to develop the next generation of game consoles.

Of course, there were circumstances at that time, but the world was indeed changing too fast.

From a company level, it is not a wise choice to iterate and eliminate a PS that has not been in service for long enough and has not made enough money.

Now it is equivalent to Sega pushing Sony from the outside and having to deal with it.

"So what are you going to do now?" Nobuyuki Idei asked.

Kutaragi Ken was stunned for a moment, I was originally here to seek help from you, the president, but now I am asking myself, right?

However, Kutaragi Ken really thought about it a lot.

After all, he will be more familiar with the game console business. Nobuyuki Idei is a person who controls the overall situation and may not necessarily be able to see so many details.

"My idea is to put the development of PS2 on the agenda earlier, even if it means making a prototype first."

"Yeah." Nobuyuki Idei nodded, "How long will it take?"

"Well... we have actually started designing and researching it before, but it has not yet reached the stage of concrete production. If we want to make a prototype, I estimate it will take at least half a year."

"Is it possible to completely defeat DC in terms of game console effects?" Nobuyuki Idei asked.

"Well..." Kutaragi Ken was a bit confused, "If you want to completely defeat it, you may need to iterate another generation of products. But we can guarantee that the effect will be similar to theirs."

This is crazy...

Nobuyuki Idei's eyes were crossed, and he had the urge to beat Kutaragi Ken to death.

Are you trying so hard to make the next-generation PS game console that it can reach the level of DC?

In other words, Sony was suppressed to death before its advantages could be fully utilized?

No matter how you look at it, Sega also has a first-mover advantage of at least half a year.

This is very troublesome.

"If we want to design and develop with effects that surpass DC's performance, it will take at least more than a year." Kutaragi said cautiously.

After hearing this, Nobuyuki Idei couldn't help but pinch his eyebrows with his hands, feeling a terrible headache.

There has been no good news since he took office.

Was it his bad luck, or was Qing Zhiyuan just here for him?

Or maybe both?

Chairman Norio Ohga gave up the position of CEO just after seeing this situation, right?

This is no longer the hell difficulty, it is even scarier than the hell difficulty.

Nobuyuki Idei has a strong sense of crisis. If this continues, he will have to step down from the position of CEO in two years.

It hurts. It hurts.

It’s so damn uncomfortable!

It's so abominable, whether it's Qing Zhiyuan, Sega, or Sony North America, they are all disgusting.

Even Nobuyuki Idei was so disgusted that his heart was churning, and he had an urge to have sex.

"Is there any way we can buy more than a year?" Nobuyuki Idei raised his head and asked with cloudy and bloodshot eyes.

Time is really important to him.

As long as there is time, Nobuyuki Idei feels that it is still possible.

"What do you mean?" Kutaragi Ken was startled by President Dei's sharp eyes.

"In the vacuum period of more than a year, no new products have entered the game console market. Unless you can count on Rentiantian to have a new and good enough game console, the market share will definitely be taken away by Sega."

Takeru Kutaragi said.

I think Sony's PS was like this back then. It caught Rentendo and Sega off guard. When they were still using the old MD and SFC, Sony's PS turned out to be completely overwhelming.

But now, the situation is completely reversed.

"Kutaragi-san, do you know there is a word called [expectation management]?" Nobuyuki Idei asked.

"Huh? Expectation management?" Kutaragi Ken looked at him doubtfully.

"Have you heard the story about the boy who cried wolf?"

"Uh-huh."

"The wolf doesn't have to come, but crying wolf can scare everyone away. This is expectation management." Nobuyuki Idei said, "We don't necessarily need to actually make the PS2.

It can be divided into two steps. The first step is to continue to develop the PS2 that can beat DC.

But this matter must be kept secret no matter what. All participants must sign a strict confidentiality agreement and cannot let the outside world know that our PS2 has not yet been designed.

Then what?

We do expectation management. "

"Okay." Kutaragi Ken nodded stiffly, but what about expectation management?

"You find Square Enix and ask them to make a promotional video for Final Fantasy 8. Of course, you have to sign an exclusivity agreement with them on PS2 before that, so that they can't backstab us and turn to DC.

Then, this promotional video can be as good as it can be, even if it is beyond this era and surpasses many of the Shenmue shown by DC, there will be no problem.

Because who can say for sure what will happen in the future? right? "

"Huh?" Kutaragi Ken's eyes widened and he was stunned.

This is crazy...

Isn't this just false propaganda?

However, he quickly reacted and was trembling in his heart.

"In other words, we can position the PS2 two years later, but before that we have to release news that the PS2 has more powerful performance, and use the promotional video of "Final Fantasy 8" to manage expectations, right? "

When making videos, you don’t need to consider the running conditions on the actual machine, which means that the video effects can be perfect and exceed players’ expectations.

This is the cry of wolf.

You can even make a fake wolf that is realistic enough to scare people.

"Yes, that's what I mean." Nobuyuki Idei said with a smile.

“If this is the case, the PS2 will be released in two years, so why don’t players wait two more years before buying a PS2, instead of buying a DC game console with [little future] and a lifespan of only two years? "

"When the promotional video for Final Fantasy 8 came out, players were already looking forward to the launch of PS2. As for the future implementation, it is reasonable for the game content to deviate from the promotional video.

After all, everyone knows that CG looks better than the actual effect of the game, so this paragraph cannot be completely called false propaganda.

As long as Square Enix implements video into the game by then. "Kutaragi Ken concluded.

“Actually, it’s no problem even if it’s not applied to the actual game. Changes and redesigns are common during the game, and ticket delays are nothing new in the history of games.

However, as long as players maintain their confidence in Sony, there will be no problem. "

This Crying Wolf has two very important prerequisites:

The first is that Sony has a good reputation in the field of game consoles and has proven this with its strength, so the market has full confidence in it.

PS2 Sony can vigorously promote PS2 without developing a real machine. The premise is that players have deep faith in Sony's technology.

The second thing is that players have full confidence in Square Enix. This is also due to the good quality of Square's game products over the years.

One hot product after another has built up its credibility.

Only when these two large companies endorse each other with their own credibility can the so-called wolf-crying effect be achieved.

"I totally get it."

Kutaragi Ken took a deep breath and felt that the big stone that had been pressing on his chest suddenly disappeared, and a smile appeared on his face.

"President Dei, you are amazing. I have learned a lot."

…

"What?! Isn't this just false propaganda?!"

The problem is given to Miyamoto Masashi.

Square's president Masashi Miyamoto, after hearing about Kutaragi Ken's plan, his first reaction was——

This guy is absolutely crazy.

Why is Sony so shameless?

"Isn't this ruining the credibility of Sony and Square?" Masashi Miyamoto said with some embarrassment, "If the PS2 comes out by then and the in-game effects cannot live up to the content shown in the video, we will be scolded to death by the players. of.

So do you.

At that time, who will be willing to buy Square's games, and who will be willing to buy Sony's game consoles? "

"Mr. Miyamoto Masashi, you don't understand." Kutaragi said with a smile, "This is called expectation management of players. Please don't use such strange words as [false propaganda], okay?"

Miyamoto Masashi stared at him with suspicion.

Who do you think you can deceive with this?

"Who can say what's going to happen in the future?"

Ken Kutaragi persuaded with earnest words, “Even if we all know that it is impossible to achieve now, maybe we can do it in another two years?

As long as you can realize it, who will say that you are making false propaganda?

Technology is constantly improving.

I can guarantee that the performance of PS2 is definitely more powerful than the DC you see now. "

“Assuming that the PS2 was not released until 2001, when the PS2 appeared, even players found that Sony’s boast was exaggerated.

But it was too late, because DC was already dead before then. "

Kutaragi Ken said, "We have investigated the operating conditions of Pokeni and Sega. They have actually reached the end of their strength and are counting on DC to come back.

As long as the DC game console fails, players will turn to PS2, and Pokeni and Sega will be in financial crisis.

There is no possibility of turning around in the future.

President Miyamoto, do you understand what I mean? "

Hiss...

Miyamoto Masashi took a deep breath.

I just felt that the man in front of me was so bad, like a poisonous snake.

However, in this way, after the demise of pokeni and Sega, the market becomes Sony's, and Square will take advantage of the trend to become Sony's largest third party. This is actually good news for them.

"So can Sony give us more preferential terms?" Miyamoto Masashi asked.

"Here! Whatever conditions you want, just mention them and I will definitely satisfy you. President Miyamoto!"

Kutaragi Ken burst out laughing.

…

After Kutaragi Ken left, Miyamoto Masashi sat alone on a chair. The setting sun outside cast light on one side of his body, illuminating half of his body golden and shiny.

On the other side, it was plunged into shadow.

The shadow stretched and fell on the ground, like a strange ghost with a strange smile.

Miyamoto Masashi was overwhelmed with emotion.

On one side is Sony’s devilish whisper, and on the other is Qing Zhiyuan’s devilish whisper.

One is to defeat DC, seize the market, and then take over Square.

Another one recruited Square to become the largest third party, and at the same time gave many preferential conditions, plus pokeni's unique martial arts...

Both sides seemed to have great temptation, putting him in a dilemma.

Miyamoto Masashi covered his face and felt a terrible headache.

It seems that this time I can no longer play both sides and be his little sweetheart.

Having to take sides was what frightened him the most.

The key is that until now, Miyamoto Masashi still cannot make a judgment on who will win.

How can we avoid offending both sides, and how can we take advantage of both sides?

Miyamoto Masashi's eyes widened, and he was about to go crazy.

…

In short, under the bright surface, there is an undercurrent.

War is about to break out.

In other words, the war has actually already started.

It's just that the point of exchange between the two sides is not clearly stated.

Oh, by the way, the current point of conflict is Square.

Miyamoto Masashi is the unlucky guy.

…

However, no one can predict these things and can only continue to advance through the power of time.

No one knows what will happen in the future.

However, there are some things that are certain, such as——

pokeni's "Mushishi" will be released soon.

Sega released the console, but pokeni's new game "Mushishi" is still released on PS.

It's strange no matter how you look at it.

However, neither Qing Zhiyuan nor Sony revealed the matter, and everyone seemed to be in harmony on the surface.

But everyone knows very well that Mushishi will probably be pokeni's last game on PS and above.

…

So on July 31st, long queues formed at the entrances of major game sales points. Players came one after another just to get a copy of Mushishi, or maybe more than one.

Because everyone subconsciously believes that this will be P Club's swan song on PS.

In fact, it is of great historical significance.

Many years later, when you tell the story to the next generation of children, take out the CD of "Mushishi" and play it in front of the children. Look, this is the evidence to witness history.

in those days……

How interesting and meaningful it would be.

Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.

Anything that is associated with out-of-print or swan songs will immediately become a little different. Just like when Pokeni's Tsubaki Furuhara said he was retiring, the sales of his swan song "Your Name" that year were quite hot. It even refreshed the ceiling of galgame for a time.

This time, the insect master more or less has a similar taste.

What's more, Mushishi has indeed done quite well. In the past month, Mushishi's promotional videos and advertisements have been overwhelming.

Especially after being highlighted by the E3 electronics show, players all over the world have remembered this word——

""Mushi Master" was developed by pokeni. It is the world's first 3D open world game, and it is also seamlessly connected to the large map."

This gimmick alone is worth buying for players.

…

In the evening, after buying three copies of "Mushishi" discs at a game store, Furukawa Hirose took Yukitake Junna's hand and hurried home.

Seeing the three game discs he held in his hand, Yukitake Junna smiled strangely.

"Why did you buy so much at once?"

"Um?"

Furukawa Hirose glanced down and explained with some embarrassment, "Well, I always have a hunch that the game "Mushishi" may become pokeni's last game on the PS platform."

Yukitake Junna was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "It seems that you are very confident in pokeni."

"Huh?" Furukawa Hirose asked in confusion, "Why do you say that?"

Yukitake Junna said with a smile, "If DC fails to win the console war, then pokeni will be in the arms of Sony."

Looking at her eyes that curved into crescent moons when she smiled, Furukawa Haoze's heart was filled with sweetness.

"Oh, that's true."

Furukawa Hirose nodded, not because he had confidence in Sega, but because he had confidence in pokeni.

From the establishment of pokeni to now, it has been rising steadily and steadily.

There is nothing to worry about, this is Furukawa Hirose's judgment on pokeni.

"But, even if that's the case, there's no need to buy so much, right?" Yukitake Junna laughed, thinking this guy was silly and cute, "Are you supporting pokeni or Sony?

Any game purchased on PS is contributing to Sony. "

"Ah...I didn't think too much about this. It's purely a personal preference."

Furukawa Hirose carefully took out the discs one by one, "I bought three copies. The first one is for playing by myself, and the other one is for collection. After all, it has historical significance."

"Is there another one?" Xuezhu Chunna asked with a smile.

"For missionary use."

"ha?"

"Just give the game CD to people who don't know pokeni and have never played the game."

"Oh I got it."

Yukitake Junna nodded her head lightly and smiled even happier.

"Sure enough, Mr. Haoze is really an interesting person."

"Um?"

This time it was Furukawa Hirose's turn to blush.

…

…

————————————————————————————

There is another chapter in the afternoon

This story of expectation management actually happened in history.

In 1999, just a few months after DC was launched, Sony also held a press conference to showcase the technical details of the PS2 console.

The "Final Fantasy 8" screen displayed at the press conference made players begin to feel that DC was nothing more than that, and Sega was once again abandoned by players.

Although "knowledgeable" players know that this picture is by no means the level that the actual PS2 can achieve, Sony is once again using their best marketing tactics.

But ordinary players don't care about this. In their eyes, the performance of the PS2, which has not yet been released, will far exceed that of DC. Therefore, many players who originally planned to buy DC are holding on to their coins and waiting.

At the time, Peter Moore, the president of Sega America, hated Sony for its false propaganda. After DC was delisted, Sega fans hated Sony far more than Nintendo.