The God of Coding, Becoming an IT Conglomerate

50. inside

Kim Joo-jung thought that the sound of her spitting was too loud.

In fact, he deliberately provoked Shigeru a moment ago.

Currently, there is a gap of nearly 15 times between Nintendo and Sega in terms of market capitalization alone.

In fact, a head-to-head match is nonsense.

‘Will I really fall for this level of provocation?’

If you think about it coldly, the current Nintendo didn’t have to sign with H&H.

It was already the best game company in the world, and it is an established fact that it sells well no matter what system it is equipped with.

However, Jujeong judged that the reason why Shigeru came this far was because he saw tremendous potential in the Chronos and PC market.

“My answer is difficult to say. It’s a refusal if you insist.”

“yes?”

“Should I say some rejection?”

Kim Joo-jung tilted her head.

When Shigeru looked at Kim Joo-jung, he smiled slightly and continued.

“I want to partner with H&H. So, I agree to pay the 0.2% fee. However, unifying cartridge specifications is half acceptance. I would like the cartridge standards to be unified, but each other’s representative works to be exclusive.”

“Is it an exclusive?”

“yes. It wouldn’t be a job to insert specific code into the software so it wouldn’t run on other platforms.”

Joo-jeong nodded.

Shigeru’s words seemed quite feasible.

“Cross-platform will have the effect of further increasing sales of game software. However, when all software becomes interoperable, they will lose each other’s identity. That’s why we make something called an exclusive.”

“Then, the battleground where the two games eventually collide will be the PC market.”

“That’s right.”

After pondering for a while, Kim Joo-jung opened her mouth.

“I don’t think this is something I can decide on my own.”

“Anyway, Sega’s opinion is important.”

“I will try to contact Sega now. If the answer is okay, would you like to meet again tomorrow?”

Shigeru immediately nodded and replied.

“good idea. After all, Sega and we will have a lot to say about this negotiation.”

“yes. Then wait a moment.”

Kim Joo-jung asked the restaurant manager if he could use a phone call.

The manager readily agreed, and Kim Joo-jung called Yoichi.

After a while, Kim Joo-jung returned to the table where Shigeru was sitting with a bright face.

“I want to see you tomorrow afternoon. If you’re in Tokyo anyway, I’ve been asked how you like the meeting room at Sega Games?”

“I’m fine anywhere. I will be here, so please feel free to contact me if the appointment time and place change or if anything happens.”

“yes. I will contact you.”

Jujeong and Shigeru broke up after receiving a note with the address and phone number of Shigeru’s accommodation.

‘Tomorrow’s flag fight will be worth seeing.’

Joo-jung knew that Yoichi and Shigeru were both men united by pride, so he was already looking forward to the scene where the two meet.

.

next day.

In addition to Yoichi, Shigeru, and Kim Joo-jung, who were originally supposed to meet, there was one more person in the Sega Games conference room.

“As a developer of Kronos, even if the operating system used in the console is the same, it is possible to prevent other companies’ games from running through software modification. It’s not even that difficult.”

That person was Hoyoung.

Hoyoung, who came to Japan on business in Tokyo, contacted Jujeong.

Joo-jeong asked me to go with him to the meeting today, and Ho-young said he would go because he was curious about what kind of people Yoichi and Shigeru were.

Fortunately, Yoichi and Shigeru readily agreed.

“ruler. To sum up, right now Sega wants all games to be cross-platform, and Nintendo wants the cartridge format to be unified, but not to run games on each other’s devices, right?”

When Kim Joo-jung arranged each other’s requests, the two nodded.

“In fact, our internal position is that we have something to regret. Do I really have to sign a contract with H&H while changing the cartridge specifications?”

At Shigeru’s words, Yoichi said with a fishy smile.

“When we opened up the platform, weren’t you afraid that the Nintendo consoles would be taken over by Sonic, which we are going to release?”

“scary? ha ha ha. Are we?”

Yoichi’s attitude toward Shigeru was strangely hostile, and Shigeru’s expression was relaxed throughout.

‘Sega considers Nintendo a rival, but Nintendo doesn’t care.’

Hoyoung, who looked at the situation from a distance, found this situation interesting.

He looked at Shigeru carefully before opening his mouth.

“Shigeru-sama. I have one question. If Nintendo thinks that even if they sign a contract with us, it will be hard to get tangible benefits right now, why are they trying to sign a contract with us even at a loss?”

Shigeru’s expression changed for the first time since he came to this conference room.

He thought Hoyoung was correctly judging the situation.

“To be honest, it would not be unprofitable for us to contract with H&H to the extent of accepting these terms, it would be detrimental. We have to change all the cartridge technology and factory facilities that we have developed so far. Nevertheless, the reason I think I have to sign a contract right now is because I have decided that it is now or never to advance into the PC market.”

“You mean to enter the PC market?”

“yes. Nintendo is doing well right now. But in the future, I think people will avoid machines with only one function.”

Shigeru quenched his throat with water as if his words were going to drag on, and continued.

“The possibilities of the PC are endless. PCs can be used for gaming, office use, and even graphics and music work these days. If we miss this opportunity and are prevented from entering the PC game market, console game consoles will surely be treated as a hobby that only those who play them will do in the future.”

Hoyoung didn’t show it, but he was deeply impressed by Shigeru’s words.

The future he predicted was almost identical.

Nintendo did well with the new Famicom until the late 90s, but after that it went through a period of stagnation.

After more than 10 years of stagnation, it will succeed in recovering to some extent, but it is not enough to have the same status as in the 90s.

It was a different look from Segawa, which actively jumped into PC game development and established itself in the PC market.

“And shall I be honest with you?”

Shigeru continued in a low voice.

“If we put our mind to it, we can start the PC game market from scratch. Not to mention the time, because we have enough funds. The reason why I come all the way from Kyoto and accept various conditions and agree to work together is because I think we can coexist without exerting too much effort. Now, other Nintendo executives and shareholders will be very angry with my decision. I’m trying to make a decision that is no different from my own right now ‘for the sake of coexistence’. Now, Yoichi-san, do you seriously think that you can defeat us with only Sonic?”

Shigeru’s mood changed as he spoke.

If a little while ago he had a gentle and mischievous tone, now he was exuding the aura of a master.

“Isn’t it a matter of knowing long and short?”

However, Yoichi also radiated momentum equal to him.

He was the one who sublimated the complex of always being in second place (with a big difference) into passion.

“ha ha ha! I can’t stand this. Anyway, I’m not here to fight, to promote the power of Nintendo. I’m here to discuss how the game world can grow and develop in the future. So please don’t think of me as an enemy too much.”

Shigeru looked at Yoichi and said with a smile.

When he smiled, it felt like the atmosphere had returned.

“Kuhmm… I know what you mean.”

Yoichi’s face blushed a little, perhaps because he was ashamed of showing his hostility so openly.

“Then how about something like this?”

Kim Joo-jung, who was watching the conversation with interest, opened her mouth.

“For third-party games, ask the game company and open the company you want as a cross-platform. Then sales of third party games will increase even more. And among the first party games, how about unlocking only one of the most representative games from each game company?”

At Kim Joo-jung’s suggestion, Shigeru nodded.

“Hmm… that sounds like a good idea. I think it’s a way to keep each other’s identity while bringing the advantages of unifying each other’s platforms.

Yoichi also agreed with Kim Joo-jung.

“you’re right. If that happens, we will have Sonic. Nintendo is… of course Mario?”

“There is a good chance it will, but it’s hard to say right now. It’s something I can’t decide on my own. And I will ask for one more thing. As for the specifications of the cartridge, the Mega Drive has already been released, so we have no choice but to follow the Sega cartridge. Then let us use Sega’s cartridge patent at no cost.”

“All right. I will try my best.”

After long discussions, they finally managed to come to an agreement.

“You have suffered a lot. Would you like to go somewhere to have a meal together?”

“good. Then please wait a moment. I will quickly deliver only the contents of this meeting.”

“yes. Please go.”

“Can I go with you too? Then I will also deliver this information to H&H in Korea.”

After Yoichi and Kim Joo-jeong finished their discussions, they left their seats for a while to notify the relevant department of the agreement, leaving only Ho-yeong and Shigeru in the conference room.

Hoyeong looked at Shigeru.

Watching this meeting, I was able to feel that Shigeru was not an ordinary person.

‘Why did Nintendo go through a period of stagnation when there are people like this?’

No matter how much I searched through Gaia, I couldn’t find a specific reason.

Shigeru was also conscious of Hoyoung’s gaze, and when he met Hoyoung’s eyes, he grinned.

“I always wanted to meet Hoyeong at least once.”

“Is that so?”

“yes. I heard several times from Joo-jeong that it was Ho-young who actually planned the Cronos operating system. And it was Hoyoung who first came up with the idea of porting console games to PC.”

“haha. We did it all together. In fact, senior Joo Jeong did almost all the work related to Japan.”

Shigeru smiled as he liked Hoyoung’s humble words.

“If I had to meet you in person, I really wanted to say thank you.”

“What kind of thanks is that? In fact, I think we should say thank you. Thank you for agreeing to sign a contract with us.”

“haha. no. The part I am grateful for is not the part related to the contract.”

“Then what is it?”

Hoyoung tilted her head.

“I found the passion I had lost at some point thanks to Hoyoung.”

“A passion?”

“yes. It has already been 13 years since I joined the company. In the meantime, fortunately, people liked the games I designed, and Nintendo was able to achieve great success.”

“It’s not just luck.”

“haha. thank you I really enjoy making games. Create new worlds, explore new markets, meet new gamers…”

Shigeru’s face hardened so slightly that it was difficult to recognize.

“But lately, the fun has gone. Should I say the passion is gone? I feel like every day is a repetition of the same thing, and there is no more challenge…”

Hoyoung seemed to know what Shigeru wanted to say.

He was feeling bored and lonely at the top.

When a person who has been growing at an extremely fast pace stands at the top, he has the illusion that his growth has stopped.

And that illusion brings about mannerism.

‘This is why Nintendo fell into a slump.’

Hoyoung finally realized why Nintendo would enter a slump in the next few years.

Shigeru’s psychological change like this was something that could not be known unless he directly listened to him like now.

“In the midst of that, I happened to look at the Kronos made by H&H. And I heard that you are trying to break into the game market with Sega. That’s when I realized. This is my next challenge.”

Hoyeong suddenly had the illusion that Shigeru’s eyes were on fire.

“Right now, we’re only going to be able to port console games to PC. But I intend to make PC original games for a few years now. We are not satisfied with the current Nintendo name, and there is infinite room for further development. If we do not enter the timing right now, we will not be able to challenge the PC market later due to self-contradiction. Putting out a PC title as a latecomer will result in losing sales on consoles.”

“That’s why Nintendo wants to join us even at a loss.”

Shigeru didn’t hesitate to answer Hoyoung’s words, but smiled.

Hoyeong looked at Shigeru and thought it was unexpected.

‘I thought that Nintendo would be arrogant and self-righteous, so I wouldn’t be able to communicate with them, but this person is really surprising.’

Shigeru had a slightly spleen expression.

‘Old people at the company must be persuaded at all costs.’

All of Nintendo’s notoriety was the result of bad habits of the past.

Even now, other executives at Nintendo took it for granted to squeeze third parties and beat production costs.

Until now, Shigeru had actually been watching the scene, but had been ignoring it.

Until now, he had the idea that all he had to do was make good games, and he hadn’t looked into the distant future.

But not now.

‘Even if it takes a few years, Nintendo’s constitution will be tampered with.’

Passion was burning in Shigeru’s eyes as he had a new firm goal in mind.

Hoyoung had the feeling that he knew what he was thinking by the change in his expression.

Even if he couldn’t know exactly what Shigeru was thinking, he could only know one thing.

‘There is no such thing as a period of stagnation for Nintendo in this life.’

Hoyoung was confident that Nintendo would do better in the future.

‘Should I buy this Nintendo stock?’

Hoyeong thought to herself and smiled.

“By the way, Hoyeong-nim, what is going on in Tokyo?”

Hoyoung’s eyes twinkled at Shigeru’s question.

For a moment, he thought that if he was with Shigeru, he would be able to accomplish his purpose of coming to Japan more easily.

“I came to acquire or invest in a game company in Tokyo.”

“Investment? It’s probably not Sega… Are there any promising game companies in Tokyo? Capcom is in Osaka… Are you by any chance a square from Final Fantasy?”

At Shigeru’s words, Hoyoung stopped laughing.

“haha. Not that great gamer. Do you know Game Freak?”

“Game Freak?”

“You are hearing it for the first time. It is a new game company in Setagaya, Tokyo.”

Shigeru looked puzzled when he heard that he was interested in a game company he had never heard of.

Game Freak.

Although it is insignificant now, it was a company that produced ‘Pokémon’, which was evaluated as the world’s best IP several years later.

And only Ho-young knew the future of the company.