game trailblazer

Chapter 293 The Business War at the End of the Century ([-])
It is not Nintendo's "Dolphin", Sega's new Dreamcast console or Sony's PS12 that kicked off the business war at the end of December. This game is very simple, very ordinary, and can even be said to have no technical hotspots. The DB2 version of the pure love game (GAL) "Heartbeat Memories 128" triggered the beginning of the commercial war at the end of the year.

The development of "Heartbeat Memories 2" Konami claims to have been planning for four years. As soon as it landed on the market, many players queued up to buy it in Akihabara. Braving the winter rain and waiting in front of the game store is to have "Heartbeat Memories 2" one step earlier. On the one hand, I want to experience the different love feelings of the new heroines, and on the other hand, because "Heartbeat Memories 2" adds an innovation The EVS (Emotional Voice) system, the girls in the game will greet the players with a sweet voice, which is a completely irresistible temptation for otaku. Their only regret is that the content of the game is too short. Part is gone.

Not long after the launch of "Heartbeat Memories 2", Nintendo also made a move. They took out a new host, but this is not the legendary "Dolphin" host that was launched in advance, but it is used to match the N64 game console. The gadget, a disk drive named 64DD, of course, does not use the 1.44MB 3-inch disk commonly used in computers, but a special 64MB single-sided disk.Disks with read and write capabilities still have certain advantages over CDs that can only be read, especially when they are cleverly used in games, but Nintendo has made a stupid move at this time.

I don’t know if it’s because the delay was too long (almost three years later than the original plan), or it cost Nintendo too much money to study the 64DD disk drive. The price of 64DD was actually set at 30000 yen. on a high price.As an accessory of an outdated N64 game console, it is actually sold more expensive than the main body, that is, it is cheaper than the price of DreamBox128 and PS2. At this time, according to the estimated date of release of the Nintendo "Dolphin" console, it is only one year. Time, it is estimated that apart from fanatic Renfan, few fools will spend 30000 yen to buy such a thing that does not know how many games it can launch.However, Nintendo still wants to sell 64DD as a treasure. Fortunately, they are a little bit self-aware, and introduced the method of purchasing 64DD disk drives by installment payment, without forcing others to shell out 30000 yen in one go.

Nintendo's dizzy move was immediately warmly welcomed by other competitors.Sony Computer Entertainment specially launched several games including the first-party "Legend of the Dragon Knight", and then once again showed off the upcoming PS2. On the one hand, as a PS game console, the global sales exceeded 7000 million units To celebrate, on the other hand, it is to snipe the DreamBox128 game console, and disgust Nintendo by the way. As for Sega, it has been gorgeously ignored.

Sony Computer Entertainment's move still has some effect, but it is not only his opponents who are affected. In the first and middle of December, except for Nintendo's portable handheld GBC, the sales of the other four popular game consoles are generally Even some games launched during this period have been dragged down. For example, "Chocobo's Mysterious Labyrinth 12" launched by Square Enix, which has an extraordinary appeal, barely sold 2 sets because of this.The reason may be that the PS game console is too successful and the influence of Sony Computer Entertainment is too strong. It just so happens that the legendary PS60 game console is about to be launched. As a result, many players are holding coins to buy, even buying games Momentum dropped drastically.

Ordinarily, this situation should be regarded as a good thing for Sony Computer Entertainment, but Kutaragi Ken is a little bit dumbfounded that not only the sales of PS game consoles have declined, but even the well-prepared "Legend of the Dragon Knight" has been well received in the market. It made him feel like he was shooting himself in the foot, and what's worse, it was the perfect laughing stock for their competitors.But until now, everything has been progressing according to the plan, and he is no longer allowed to make any adjustments.

On December 12, the battle curtain officially opened...

At 400 o'clock in the morning, Kenji Iino, who had been up all night, appeared in front of the Chiba video game store in Akihabara. Looking at the buying team of more than 2 people waiting at the door, he showed a happy smile.Four full years have passed. As the main creator of "D Food Zhuo 3", Kenji Iino, the president of Warp Corporation, has spent quite ups and downs for four years. From the blockbuster on [-]DO to the silence on the Saturn game console, now he Finally came back again.

As a private producer who does not pay attention to the number of games, but specializes in the originality and "spirit" of games, Kenji Iino despises the development companies of those "mass-produced" games, so he has a lot of respect for himself. The hard-working "D Food Zhuo 2" still has great expectations.In order to thank those players who might line up for their own games, Kenji Iino was busy last night signing the special limited editions of "D of Food Zhuo 2", in order to be able to bring a copy to the players. surprise.

Haneda is a fanatical Sega fan. He has been a long time ago. Originally, he mainly liked the hardcore games produced by Sega, but now it is no longer the time to be picky. Who told him to live next door called Hidaka Harano The guy is so proud, he talks about how good the DreamBox128 console is and how wonderful the games on the console are all day long, making people want to beat him up when they see it.

It's a pity that the Dreamcast host is too disappointing, not to mention the performance, and even the games can't guarantee a sufficient number, which makes Haneda feel powerless. He wants to refute Hidaka Genno, but he can't come up with too many convincing words. thing.Fortunately, Dreamcast games have finally picked up this month. Not only is there "D Zhi Zhuo 2", but even the masterpiece "Shenmue" has been released this month ahead of schedule. This may be the best news for Sega fans.

In order to be able to get the new Dreamcast game earlier, and to make Hidaka Genno not too arrogant, Haneda went out very early. It is very advanced.Waiting and waiting, finally made it to nine o'clock in the morning on the 26rd, the whole body of Haneda Wuren was almost numb. If the belief in his heart was not still there, he might not be able to support it long ago.

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion in the team. Haneda thought the video game store was already open, but he looked up and saw the door was still closed.He looked around suspiciously, and found that most of the people in line were looking in one direction. There was a fat man with long hair over there, with a wretched smile on his face. There is also a familiar look.

"Is this strange uncle also here to buy games? The smile looks so cold!" A sweet female voice came from behind, with a bit of a lolita taste, Haneda couldn't help but look back, it turned out The person who spoke just now was a young girl in line behind him.

The girl looks beautiful, and her eyes seem to be looking sideways at the long-haired fat man. Haneda took the opportunity to take a few more glances, but unexpectedly, he was spotted by the girl, and he turned his head quickly in fright. He said something that made him almost vomit blood, "Uncle, you have something to do!"

Haneda couldn't help sighing, he was considered a promising young man anyway, although he stayed at home a little longer, although the sunshine was a little less, although the exercise seemed to be a little less, although the queuing time was a little longer, but he didn't As for being at the level of Uncle Weird, "I'm so old!" He couldn't help sighing in his heart.

After mourning and complaining for a while, Haneda slowly raised his head, and a fat head with long flowing hair appeared in front of his eyes. He was stunned and almost kicked up reflexively. There was a fat hand in front of him, and he was holding a special limited edition box of "D Zhizhuo 2". At this moment, a flash of light flashed in his mind, and he remembered who the long-haired fat man in front of him was. .

"Thank you for your support!" Kenji Iino stretched out his hand to shake the hand of the player in front of him who was a little dazed because of "excitement", and then held the signed special limited edition "D no Shi Zhuo 2" in the other hand. "Handed it over.After the player reacted and took the game over, he reached out and shook hands with the other player, and said with a smile, "I wish you a special gaming experience!"

After finishing speaking, Iino Kenji continued to walk towards the next player, this time it was a beautiful female player, and she looked very young, like a girl.

Handing over the banknotes to the shopkeeper who came to collect the money, Haneda had already forgotten the long-haired fat man and the loli-sound girl standing behind him who called him uncle. He hugged him tightly. With the special limited edition "D's Food Zhuo 2" in his arms, there is only one thought left in his mind, "When you go back, you must turn up the volume of the TV, or simply find an excuse to let the guy next door come over, so that he can watch it. Look at the strength of the Dreamcast console..."

A little earlier, in Shibuya, known as the street of youth, Sony Computer Entertainment Nagakutaragi took to the street to personally greet those fanatical gamers who were waiting to buy PS2 game consoles in the cold wind, and thanked them for their support. Supporting the generation of magic machine PS2 in my heart and queuing up all night.

"...Five years ago, when Sony Computer Entertainment launched the PS game console, many people laughed at us, thinking that we were humiliating ourselves by joining in the battle between the two powerhouses, but with the PS game With the most powerful performance of the console at that time and the support of many excellent games, we finally succeeded and realized the original promise, "All excellent games are assembled here", and everyone has enjoyed it. Now five years have passed, PS Games Consoles have achieved the ambitious goal of global sales of more than 7000 million units, and they are still spreading rapidly, but a new round of competition for game consoles has begun again.

Just like back then, Sega was at the forefront, launching the Dreamcast console, followed by a new rival, the DreamBox128.We at Sony Computer Entertainment seem to be behind for the time being, but that's okay, now that PS2 is here, our victory is not far away! "

As he talked, Kutaragi Ken became more excited, and even the players became more excited.While listening to Ken Kutaragi's speech, they put out the PS2 game consoles at the scene as if they didn't want money.

Watching the players snapping up PS2 game consoles in full swing, Kutaragi Ken’s mood is not as happy as he appears on the surface. Unlike these heartless ordinary players, he still has many things to worry about, and the most urgent one right now is The thing is the availability of memory sticks.Some time ago, there was a problem in a memory stick production factory. Although it was resolved quickly, the stocking of memory sticks was delayed. As a result, the supply of memory sticks lags behind PS2 game consoles seriously. This thing is an indispensable accessory for playing games, and the sales of PS2 game consoles have also been affected. It's not that it's out of stock, but that it can't be sold without a memory stick.

Yesterday Ken Kutaragi personally called and asked the supervisor of the production factory, and the normal supply of memory sticks will be restored in 10 days. By then, the sales of PS2 game consoles will no longer need to be restricted, but for now, we have to play for a while. Means, try to delay this period of time, and hope that it will not have an adverse impact on the final sales of the PS2 game console.

Mito Heisuke adjusted his glasses, looked at President Kutaragi Ken who was talking on the stage, his mood also became excited, and he couldn't help but raised a set of PS2 game console he just bought with both hands and waved it , and even yelled "Long live Sony, PS2 will win!"

Mito Hirasuke is an old player. Of course, he can’t compare with those players who came from the era of Nintendo’s red and white machines. The first time he bought a game console was five years ago, which happened to be the PS game console at the beginning of its launch. He has gradually become a loyal Sony game controller. Basically, he has bought all the games released on PS, such as "Resident Evil", "Final Fantasy 7", etc., which have brought him a long time. hapiness.

But as Ken Kutaragi said, the current PS game console has been old for a long time. Although there are still many new games coming out every year, it is obvious that it is a bit close to being eliminated.Hirasuke Mito actually thought about getting a new machine, but as a Sony controller, he still has his own bottom line. When Sega launched the Dreamcast console, there were many attractive games, but he didn’t waver at all, because he knew that Sony Computer Entertainment There will be new ones coming out soon.But when DreamBox128 came out in the middle of this year, he couldn't hold back, because the games on it were so tempting, such as "Resident Evil", "Final Fantasy", "Dragon Quest", "The Legend of Zelda" and so on. ", "GT Racing", "Silent Hill" and so on, all of them are mouth-watering masterpieces, and it is a bit overwhelming to take out one alone, let alone put it in front of him together, so as to His Sony-controlled concentration failed in the end.

However, Mito Hirasuke still has his own bottom line. Although he has already bought DreamBox128, he has made up his mind since then. When PS2 comes out, even if the games on it are not attractive enough, he must buy one. Now he Finally did it.There is still a small wish in his heart, hoping that the PS2 game console can also catch up with those pioneers like its predecessors, and finally create a more brilliant game than the PS game console.

"We must win!" Mito Heisuke shouted hoarsely holding the PS2 game console in his arms...

(End of this chapter)