Traveling Through the Tokyo Bubble Era

Chapter 365 Badge System and Price Announcement

The Tokyo Electronic Entertainment Expo enters its second day.

More people came to the exhibition today than on the first day of the opening.

Many players even brought tents and waited outside the exhibition gate all night, waiting for the exhibition hall to open the next day.

And the moment the doors opened, these players who had lined up early rushed into the exhibition hall.

Their destination is not any booth, but the main booth hall located at the deepest part of the exhibition hall.

The players were so crazy, not for anything else but to grab a spot in front of the main booth.

Due to today's technical limitations, the main booth has been a closed exhibition hall since the first session in order to achieve better projection display effects.

Except for the media seats, the audience seats are not sold to the public. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis. The on-site staff will release tickets according to the situation until the seats are full.

Today, the first press conference at the main booth will be held by Elf Entertainment.

As the most successful and popular club in the video game industry today, it is natural that Elf Entertainment is welcomed by players.

But aside from the love that die-hard players have for Elf Entertainment.

There is another reason why they are so enthusiastic about attending Elf Entertainment’s press conference at the Tokyo Electric Power Show.

That is Elf Entertainment’s badge system.

Just by looking at the name, you can tell that it was created by Hideki Hanyu.

As a time traveler, Hideki Hanyu knows how important it is for a company to create a mature fan culture.

Later generations of companies that have done well in this regard, their loyal consumers sometimes don't care about the product at all, they only care about whether it is the product of this company.

That's why he came up with such a badge system.

For example, the first number of pre-orders, or the number of fixed consumers who purchase electronic pets at the Elf SHOW.

You can get a 'First Generation Electronic Pet Keeper Achievement Badge' when you get the electronic pet body.

This mode is called the 'Pokémon Trainer Achievement Badge' on the electronic Pokemon Ball.

When buying Pokeball 2 handheld consoles, PS consoles, and game cartridges developed by Genie Entertainment.

As long as certain conditions are triggered or you participate in official activities, you can get relevant achievement badges or commemorative badges.

Badges are simple ones that can be pinned on the chest, printed with exclusive patterns, made of plastic or metal.

Although the badges are beautifully designed and all have different numbers.

But in the beginning, players didn’t really care much about it and just regarded it as an ordinary peripheral.

But as the influence of Elf Entertainment grows, it becomes more and more popular among players.

These badges are also increasingly valued by players.

In particular, some of the rare badges that were given to players in the early days and now have few remaining ones have been fetched extremely high prices in the secondary market.

Now, as long as it is an activity that can obtain the Elf Entertainment Badge, it will be enthusiastically sought after by players.

Participating in the Elf Entertainment press conference at the Tokyo Electric Power Exhibition is one way to obtain the Elf Entertainment badge.

During the first Tokyo Electric Power Exhibition, the staff of Elf Entertainment presented the "Elf Entertainment First Generation Tokyo Electric Power Exhibition Witness Badge" to the audience.

Then at the second and third Tokyo Electric Power Show, Elf Entertainment also presented witness badges of different designs.

In addition, rarer "Elf Entertainment Tokyo Electric Power Exhibition Companion Badges" will be given away randomly at the main booth or through lottery at the booth.

At last year's America E3 exhibition, due to the release of the PS console, there was also the "Elf Entertainment First Generation E3 Witness Badge".

These badges will only be given away at the corresponding exhibitions.

Therefore, for fans of Elf Entertainment who want to own the badge, it is equivalent to missing out and out of print.

Unlike other purchased products or event badges, you can also get them by returning to the event in subsequent events.

Although the hall of the main exhibition stand is large, it can only accommodate 300 people.

A badge that is so rare and will go out of print if you miss it.

It’s understandable why everyone is so fanatical.

Yesterday, Hideki Hanyu attended Nintendo's main booth press conference. He was a little late and still had a seat.

But today, Elf Entertainment held a press conference at the main booth. Don’t tell me you were late, or just ran a little slower when the exhibition hall opened.

Not far outside the exhibition hall, Hanyu Hideki, who witnessed all this with his own eyes, was somewhat shocked.

Even though the badge system idea was his suggestion.

But he didn't expect that this suggestion would take effect so quickly.

He thought it might take a few more years before players would pay attention to these badges.

He looked at Koji Takita, the editor-in-chief of Game Base, standing next to him, "When did this situation start?"

Takita Koji quickly answered.

"It only appeared last year, because badges were really taken seriously. Just last year, Game Base did a special report on this, listing the rarity of all badges."

"President, when you first proposed this suggestion, we all thought it was meaningless. Now it seems that it is actually us short-sighted guys who cannot understand your far-sightedness."

Hanyu Hideki's No. [-] "dog leg" at Elf Entertainment, Kusamura Juntada, flattered him at the right time.

Maemoto Shino, who always liked to argue with Kusamura Juntada, rarely refuted, but said in agreement.

“President Hanyu’s vision is always farther than what we can see. Just such a small badge has helped our sales department so much. Now as long as the promotional activities are related to the commemorative badge, consumers will not have to worry about paying the bill. .”

After listening to what a few people said, Hanyu Hideki quickly emphasized, "The reason why badges are sought after is because they are rare. If they are distributed indiscriminately, no one will take them seriously."

"I understand, I will pay attention to this." Qian Yuanzhensheng said seriously.

"In fact, one kind of badge cannot be issued indiscriminately, but it does not mean that we cannot issue multiple kinds of badges, and the role of badges can not only be used as a souvenir."

Hideki Hanyu gave some advice.

When Qian Yuan Zhensheng heard this, he immediately acted like he was listening and said, "Please teach me, President."

“We can release a variety of different badges, but each one has a limited quantity. For example, next year when the club celebrates its fifth anniversary, we can launch a fifth-anniversary badge event.

At that time, the third generation of electronic pets was already on the market. Players who got the badge could use the unique code of the badge to redeem a unique out-of-print elf card or evolution card at the elf show. "

Qian Yuan Zhensheng said. "I see."

Hideki Hanyu said, "These are just suggestions. Your sales department should develop its own ideas."

"Yes, President." Qian Yuanzhensheng replied.

Hanyu Hideki looked at his watch and found that it was almost time, "Let's go, the audience has entered the venue, it's time for us to go in."

He did not forget to smile and said, "And I also want to see how prepared Iwata-san is."

Inside the backstage of the main exhibition stand.

When Hideki Hanyu arrived with a group of Elf Entertainment executives, he found Satoru Iwata holding a piece of paper and reading.

Seeing Hanyu Hideki and others arriving, Iwata immediately came up to say hello.

Hanyu Hideki looked at the paper in the other person's hand curiously, "What is Iwata-san looking at?"

"It's a speech." Iwata replied.

Today, Hanyu Hideki was going to announce in public that he was the president of Elf Entertainment. He was somewhat nervous and decided to prepare what he wanted to say in advance.

Hanyu Hideki nodded, "It's time to be well prepared. Our opponents have already made moves, so we can't be too polite."

"Can't you be too polite?"

Iwata thought to himself, we are holding a press conference at an exhibition, not a debate with colleagues, so what do you mean by not being too polite?

But before Hanyu Hideki could explain to him, the staff at the main booth had already come to remind him that it was time to go on stage.

Hearing this, Hanyu Hideki adjusted his specially matched plaid shirt and jeans, as well as the pair of black-framed glasses on his face that made his appearance much more understated.

Then he said to Satoru Iwata, "I'm going in first," and strode towards the main booth.

slam-la-

Amid warm applause, Hideki Hanyu walked briskly onto the main booth.

Both players and the media are familiar with Hideki Hanyu, but no one expected that he would host the press conference today.

After all, Hideki Hanyu has not made a public appearance at the Tokyo Electric Power Show since the first Tokyo Electronics Entertainment Expo.

Raising the microphone, Hideki Hanyu spoke the first sentence. "I haven't met you at the Tokyo Electric Power Exhibition for two years. It seems that I am still very popular."

As soon as the words fell, the audience immediately burst into cheers from the players.

The way Hideki Hanyu is dressed today, coupled with his status as a top game producer, undoubtedly makes players get closer to him.

But then, Hideki Hanyu said, "But even I can't give you more badges."

It also caused a lot of laughter in the audience.

Hanyu Hideki, "Actually, I miss everyone too..."

The audience immediately interrupted his words with cheers.

Hanyu Hideki stretched out his hand to grab it and said with a smile, "I have received everyone's enthusiasm. But I am here this time to tell all the members of the Elf Entertainment family one thing.

As everyone knows, the position of president of Elf Entertainment has been vacant since Ms. Eri Kitahara resigned.

Today, Elf Entertainment will confirm a new parent. I believe that under his leadership, Elf Entertainment will continue to bring happiness to everyone. "

Having said this, Hideki Hanyu pointed to the backstage, "Please join me in welcoming the new president of Elf Entertainment, Mr. Satoru Iwata."

After Hanyu Hideki finished speaking, Iwata Satoru, who had been waiting for a long time, walked out of the backstage amidst the applause of Hanyu Hideki and all the audience.

For Satoru Iwata, in fact, after he was transferred back to Neon, he exercised the rights of the president with the support of Eri Kitahara and Hideki Hanyu.

But at this moment, when Hanyu Hideki officially announced that he was appointed president.

Still on such a grand occasion.

Iwata Satoru was still unavoidably excited in his heart.

At a young age, he has become the helmsman of a company with an annual turnover of RMB [-] trillion.

This kind of thing, which can be called a miracle in Neon, can only happen in a young club like Elf Entertainment.

He was deeply moved by Hanyu Hideki's kindness and unreserved trust.

And what he can do, just like Hideki Hanyu said, is to serve the club wholeheartedly and continue to bring happiness to everyone.

Compared with Hanyu Hideki who deliberately kept a low profile and imitated the dressing of some big guys in later generations.

Satoru Iwata in a suit and leather shoes undoubtedly looks more stable and mature.

After taking the stage, he first thanked Hideki Hanyu for his cultivation and trust.

Then he began to deliver his acceptance speech to all the players and media in the audience.

Every word Iwata speaks comes from the heart.

He really enjoys working at Elf Entertainment after all.

Especially with Hideki Hanyu, a far-sighted boss who is willing to share profits.

All employees of Elf Entertainment have extraordinary enthusiasm for work and an unprecedented sense of belonging, creating a pleasant atmosphere of healthy competition.

This young club has a corporate culture that is completely different from other clubs in Neon.

"Now that everyone has gotten to know President Iwata, let's talk about what should be said at the exhibition. People in the province think that we treat this as a club promotion press conference."

Hanyu Hideki asked Iwata, "President Iwata, which of our products are you going to introduce to you next?"

Iwata answered with a smile.

"Originally, Elf Entertainment's main product at this exhibition was an interactive shooting arcade machine developed based on the EGP arcade system. But after watching the press conference of a friend yesterday, I felt it was necessary to introduce the upgraded version of the Pokeball 2 handheld machine first. .”

When Satoru Iwata was speaking, a staff member had already delivered a handheld computer to him.

Iwata picked up the handheld device and showed it to everyone.

From the outside, this is no different from the original Pokeball 2.

But next, through Satoru Iwata’s introduction and the data projected on the big screen.

Everyone understood that this turned out to be a Pokeball 2 with upgraded body performance, display, battery life, and a switchable backlight.

According to Satoru Iwata, this Pokeball 2 can be used for eight to ten hours even when using the backlight.

When Satoru Iwata introduced this upgraded model of Pokeball 2, several people under the main booth breathed a sigh of relief.

They are the people sent by Bandai, Nintendo, and Sega to find out information.

After all, Hideki Hanyu cares about his colleagues.

It is normal for business partners to care about Elf Entertainment.

After all, the WS handheld console only brings pressure to Elf Entertainment.

But for Nintendo and Bandai, the Pokeball 2 handheld console is a huge mountain lying in front of them.

If the WS handheld console wants to succeed, it must climb this mountain.

Now they see that the so-called upgrade of Pokeball 2 is just the addition of a backlight.

Next, as long as the price announced by Satoru Iwata is not too outrageous.

Then they have nothing to fear.

But at this moment, after Satoru Iwata introduced the backlit Pokeball 2, he did not announce the price immediately.

Instead, he took over another Pokeball 2 handheld machine from the staff.

Compared with the backlit model just now, although the appearance of this Pokeball 2 is the same, the outer shell has become a transparent plastic style.

In fact, long before the WS handheld console, Pokeball 2 had launched a derivative model with a transparent case.

After all, in this era, a transparent case that reveals the circuit board can be equated with high technology to a certain extent.

"At this exhibition, in addition to the backlit Pokeball 2, Elf Entertainment also has a brand-new Pokeball C model to introduce."

While speaking, Satoru Iwata turned on the handheld device in his hand.

At the same time, a video of the startup screen also lit up on the big screen in the main booth.

There was an exclamation of exclamation from the players in the audience.

Because they have seen that this is actually a color version of Pokeball 2.

After Nintendo and Bandai jointly launched a new model, Poke Entertainment also announced its own color-upgraded Pokeball 2 handheld console the next day.

Pokeball C.

That is Pokeball Color.

"Some friends say that they are the world's first color handheld console, but I would rather say that who is first is not determined by who launches the press conference first. Genie Entertainment's research and development of Pokeball C can be traced back to... …”

As soon as Satoru Iwata said this, Hideki Hanyu, who silently gave up the middle seat in the corner of the booth, thought to himself, this is not very rude of you, why were you pretending to "don't understand" just now.

But while Hanyu Hideki was complaining in his heart, Iwata was still beating up his friends.

Whether it is handheld performance or screen color, especially the battery life issue that WS handheld avoids talking about, Satoru Iwata talked about it.

He readily admitted that this color handheld machine was good at everything.

The biggest problem is that the battery life is not ideal enough. Even if it has been optimized, it can only support four hours of gaming.

We also sincerely warn everyone that if you have requirements for battery life, please think carefully before purchasing.

In the audience, representatives from Nintendo and Bandai already felt bad the moment they saw Pokeball C appear.

After all, they launched the WS handheld console with the intention of competing differentiatedly from Pokeball 2.

Now that Pokeball C comes out, the differentiation is completely gone.

When they heard that Pokeball C could last up to four hours, beads of sweat suddenly appeared on their heads.

You must know that the WS handheld device can only last for two hours when using batteries.

The rechargeable model cannot even reach two hours of battery life.

Tight development time, insufficient optimization, and technical limitations are all reasons for the short battery life.

In fact, at the beginning of the research and development, Gunpei Yokoi, who was in charge of the research and development, warned that the use of immature color screens was destined to sacrifice battery life.

Yokoi Gunpei suggested that instead of making a color version at the beginning, you can start with a monochrome long-lasting version.

But Gunpei Yokoi's idea was rejected by Bandai and Nintendo executives without hesitation.

In their view, monochrome screens are nothing gimmicky at all.

Without widening the gap with Pokeball 2, how can we defeat Genie Entertainment, which already has a huge handheld market share.

The ambition to defeat Elf Entertainment's handheld console overwhelms everyone's rationality.

This is exactly the same as in another time and space, Sega launched the Sega Nomad handheld console that could not be used without AC power supply.

However, the two of them could no longer think about decision-making issues at this time.

Because after Satoru Iwata on the stage introduced the two handheld consoles, he was already preparing to announce the prices of the two handheld consoles.

"Dear players who support Elf Entertainment, please count down with me to reveal the retail prices of these two handheld consoles..."

10
9
8
……

Under the leadership of Satoru Iwata, everyone at the scene counted down together, and the Arabic numerals on the big projection screen changed together.

Finally, when the countdown ended, the prices of the two handheld consoles were projected on the screen.

Throughout the main exhibition hall, the players’ cheers and screams rang out like a mountain roaring and a tsunami.

Pokeball 2 backlit version retails for 9999 yen.

Pokeball C, retail price 12999 yen.

　I originally wanted to write about Hideki Hanyu and Satoru Iwata talking about cross talk on stage, and it felt like a DS friend, but after writing a lot of it, I found that it didn't fit the character of the protagonist, so I had no choice but to delete it all, which was a huge delay. Little time, sorry, so that’s all.

　　I haven’t looked at the backend for a long time. After posting this chapter, I found out that it was limited to free. Oh my god, it’s my fault. I didn’t get enough benefits for everyone. I promise to update more tomorrow, and more updates will start!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)