Chapter 185: Longing for the Wind
Pentagon and Phoenix Soft were perceived as rivals in the Japanese gaming industry, each holding a significant presence.
Indeed, during an interview with Famitsu when the popularity of Final Frontier 1 was soaring, Kawaguchi made a statement.
"Playing the Dragon Warrior series made me realize the shortcomings in my own games. For the next project, I'll strive to create a game surpassing Dragon Warrior."
This statement acknowledged the influence of Dragon Warrior on Final Frontier but also subtly declared Phoenix Soft as a rival to be reckoned with.
While some Dragon Warrior enthusiasts felt uneasy about his statement, Final Frontier, with its unique gameplay distinct from Dragon Warrior, continued to grow and develop with each installment.
It wasn't merely about defeating a world-ending demon; even the antagonists had their own stories, providing depth and contrasting the protagonist, prompting players to question what the right choices were. This cinematic storytelling appealed not just to kids but also seamlessly to adults with its smooth storyline.
As the cumulative sales figures of Dragon Warrior and Final Frontier were neck and neck, claiming superiority for either wasn't straightforward.
During such times, Yuji's statement was remarkably fresh: the top two directors in the industry collaborating on a new RPG.
It was a collaboration that would undoubtedly shake the industry just by its announcement.
---
The next day.
The second day of public attendance at CES, the tech expo's final day. With all announcements made on the first day, Mintendo, NEGA, and others were demonstrating their content based on yesterday's reveals.
NEGA, particularly, recovering from the harsh blows of the war-like conference, was struggling. Despite being among the fastest to release the next-gen console, they lacked compelling games for display, disappointing the users.
On the other hand, companies like Sensony garnered great responses for their upcoming 3D fighting game 'Toushin Sen.'
The character graphics of Toushin Sen, crafted with full polygons, were impressive, rivaling NEGA's 'Real Fighter' in a home console, drawing attention.
"It feels completely different when you actually play it."
"The graphics seem outstanding, but the movements feel too light compared to Real Fighter..."
"I found it speedy. The commands are easy, and executing moves is smooth. Real Fighter felt too cumbersome with its commands."
I agreed with that sentiment. Remembering the stiff fingers from trying the 'Double Dragon Soaring Dragon Twin Strikes' on the Saturn pad in Real Fighter 2, the commands weren't easy. It brought a chuckle thinking about those old memories.
Glancing towards the Pentagon booth, I noticed a considerable crowd gathering around.
They were all fixated on Miyuki's 3D modeling.
Unlike 2D illustrations, adding costumes to 3D models wasn't that challenging once the modeling was set. In the remake of the game on the distant horizon, bonus costumes could be earned as clear rewards, allowing her to wear different outfits released seasonally in the bonus mode.
If someone were to ask what's so special about changing outfits, there might not be a strong argument. However, game companies found significant profits by releasing character outfits separately for each season. It was quite the lucrative business. I might be a capitalist in that regard...
Monetizing a single content in this way wasn't common now, but it could be a substantial business in the future.
What if, during Christmas, Miyuki's bonus costume of a Santa outfit was sold for 100 yen?
"Would anyone resist buying that?"
People would willingly pay 100 yen for a few kilobytes of data. Especially in a game that takes such a cute hostage...
---
The afternoon of the second day's conference at CES.
As the global event neared its end, gamers gathered at console booths to appease their disappointment.
Despite various electronics showcased, gamers, solely interested in gaming content, made the CEOs quite happy today as well.
Between 2 PM and 4 PM, the time when the most visitors crowded in, Pentagon hinted at another presentation.
"What? Didn't the new releases finish yesterday?"
"Maybe they kept something hidden for the second day attendees..."
The unexpected announcement elevated users' expectations.
Even the camps of Sensony and NEGA, previously apathetic, began to feel a strange tension with Pentagon's sudden new release.
Eventually, spotlights on Pentagon's stage illuminated, and cautiously, I stepped onto the platform once more.
"As to why I'm back here today, it's due to a sudden decision made last evening about a new project."
The word 'new project' sparked murmurs among the audience.
"Before introducing the project, let me say that this work is unprecedented and the best collaboration ever seen. It's an honor for Pentagon to be able to release such a significant work as Laon. First, let me introduce the main director of Phoenix Soft, Yuji Horii, responsible for the scenario of the new RPG."
Upon hearing his name, some attendees were shocked.
"Yuji Horii is making a game for Laon!?"
"Are they moving Dragon Warrior to Laon?"
"What's the relationship between Phoenix Soft and Mintendo?"
"Since they said 'new project,' could it be a game other than Dragon Warrior?"
The main directors from rival companies participating in the Pentagon Conference left even industry insiders bewildered.
Among them, the Mintendo employees seemed the most composed.
Some hurriedly left, feeling like a pillar supporting them was crumbling.
"Man... We haven't even introduced the really surprising person yet, and they're already nervous..."
I quietly swallowed a laugh and returned to the mic.
"Yuuji, famous for the Dragon Warrior series, will handle the scenario for this project. And overseeing the system for the new game will be Kawaguchi, the main director of the Final Frontier series."
"What!?"
"No way!"
For gaming, it was shocking news that the main directors from these two 'water and oil' companies were teaming up for a new project.
As the two stepped onto the stage, holding hands for the new game, screams erupted from the audience.
"Whoa! Seriously?"
"Even though I see it, it doesn't feel real..."
"But if both main directors are on board, will the game turn out well?"
"Well, they say too many cooks spoil the broth..."
Some worried murmurs surfaced, but mostly, the audience cheered for this unexpected collaboration.
I waited for the cheers to die down before smiling softly.
"Now, before introducing the person responsible for the character design of the new game, let's first unveil the protagonist they've drawn. You'll probably guess who's behind the character design once you see the main character's appearance, so please watch the screen."
Pointing to the screen, a red-haired man holding a sword appeared.
And at that moment, gasps mixed with screams erupted from the audience watching the screen.
"Dr... Dragon Ball!?"
"Toriyama!"
"Wow!!!"
Currently, Dragon Ball was undoubtedly the most popular manga globally. Translated into almost every language, it was an absolute hit among all ages, from kids to adults.
The design of the protagonist, reminiscent of a Super Saiyan from his series, elicited screams louder than expected.
As the curtain behind the stage opened in response to the cheers, he stepped forward with a mic in hand.
"Hello, I'm Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball."
"Wow!"
"Toriyama handling character design, this is indeed a perfect match."
Amidst the lavish praises, someone unfamiliar with games asked their friend nearby.
"Are those people really that amazing?"
"In the fields of scenario, game system, and character design, they're the absolute best."
"Ah, I see. Well, I know Dragon Ball too."
Dragon Ball, breaking sales records with every release, was famously known as the world's highest-selling manga. With over 20 million copies officially distributed, including pirated ones, it was arguably the most famous manga globally.
Even though not much had been revealed about the game, the artwork was universally recognized.
Despite not having properly announced the game yet, these three collaborating already meant a significant page in history was being written.
The name of their new creation was 'Chronos Trigger.' Surprisingly, even before consulting us, Yuuji had already completed the scenario and character design with Toriyama, waiting only for Kawaguchi's approval.
Kawaguchi readily agreed to collaborate with Yuuji, whom he'd always admired. Toriyama also had a good relationship with Amano, who worked on the illustrations for Final Frontier, thus eagerly anticipating their joint work.
But why wasn't I included among them?
I knew that 'Chronos Trigger,' created by them, would mark a pivotal work in history. However, not wanting to hitch my name to such a project, I politely declined their request.
Finishing almost the development of 'Divine Gift' and 'Tomb of the Dragon,' I couldn't plunge into another project now. Especially with Yuki due soon, it wouldn't sit right...
Moreover, lately, I've been considering a new genre fitting the next-gen capabilities.
If you ask what I plan to nurture this time...
Well... Should I say an idol?
>
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