"Electrolife?"

Michael Katz looked confused, completely confused by what Hideki Hanyu was talking about.

They're obviously a game development company?

But what Hanyu Hideki has in his hand doesn't look like a game no matter how you look at it.

It doesn't even feel like a handheld console.

After all, before joining his current company, he served as the marketing director of Mattel's handheld division.

And under his leadership, the turnover of Mattel's handheld division reached 500 million US dollars.

Therefore, he knows the game handheld on the market well.

"It can also be called an electronic pet, and no matter how much I explain, it is not as good as Mr. Katz's own experience."

Hanyu said, handing the Pokéball-like electronic pet to Michael Katz.

At the same time, Tetsuya Aragaki and Satoshi Iwata, who were still waiting outside, called in.

"How do I turn it on?" Michael Katz asked.

Satoshi Iwata, who had just come in, stepped forward and instructed, "Long press the button on the far right." ”

Although Satoshi Iwata's English also has a slight accent, it is much better than that of ordinary neon people.

At least Michael Katz doesn't have much trouble to understand.

When Michael Katz turned on the machine, Satoshi Iwata handed over another English manual.

The instructions are thick and a little sloppy, and at first glance they are improvised and made.

Following Satoshi Iwata's guidance, Michael Katz activates the electronic pet.

The logo of Elf Entertainment flashed on the screen, and then a ball similar to LOGG appeared.

Michael Katz didn't ask what to do, but went through the somewhat scribbled manual.

Michael Katz, who has been in the retail industry for many years, understands.

If the e-pet is the company's upcoming product, then he, as the CEO, must experience it from the perspective of consumers.

In this way, you can know what the selling point of the product is and how to develop a marketing strategy.

"This thing is called Poké Ball, and when you open it, you can randomly get Wonderful Frog Seeds, Little Fire Dragons, Jenny Turtles, and Pikachu...... One of them. ”

When Michael Katz read the manual, Satoshi Iwata explained.

"This animatronic pet is just a prototype, so you can only get Pikachu."

"I see."

Michael Katz followed the instructions and opened the Poké Ball.

Immediately, a pixel made up of something appeared on the screen.

Michael Katz looks at a blurry mass of pixels on the screen.

Look at the cute yellow-skinned electric rat on the manual.

He smiled wryly and said, "Mr. Hideki, I really can't connect them without looking at the names." ”

Then he emphasized, "Mr. Hideki should really look at our image processing technology, which will definitely make this little mouse more realistic." ”

"That's why I bought Automated Simulations, and there's a lot more to improve on this prototype, and we'll talk about it after Mr. Katz sees it." ”

Michael Katz continued to look at the instructions and get started.

Although this animatronic pet is the second generation in Hideki Hanyu's mouth, it is actually an improvement on the first generation.

The core gameplay is still to take care of the pet and let it grow.

However, unlike Tuoma Uchiko, Pokémon will level up in care, and after reaching a certain level, evolution will occur.

Different Pokémon can evolve differently.

For example, Pikachu in Michael Katz's hand can only evolve into Raichu in the first generation.

The three core gameplay of Pokémon in the past life are role-playing, collecting, and fighting.

In order to ensure the fairness of the battle and the balance of the game's ecological chain, Pokémon designers have been trying their best to control the game values, and have not made the kind of matryoshka data that evolves infinitely.

For this, Hanyu Hideki still agrees.

The kind of constant evolution and continuous amplification of values looks cool, but it is actually overdrawing the life of the game.

Of course, these are all afterwords, with the current performance of electronic pets, it is already very good to be able to make the level.

As for what attributes, values, skills, etc., I don't care about it at all.

And Hideki Hanyu could also feel that other game designers at Genie Entertainment, other than himself, obviously couldn't understand his thoughts.

Eighteen-year-old Tajiri should already be studying at university in Tokyo.

Hanyu Hideki felt that he had to find a way to find the father of Pokémon.

Otherwise, it's up to him to design an electronic pet on his own, but the more complex game data will definitely not be busy.

Minami Mengkong's iron plate array has been released, and it should be taken care of by Koji Takida in the publishing world.

Keep an eye out for a niche game magazine called "GAME FREAK" that sells it, and it seems that Tajiri started this magazine when he first went to college.

Just as Hideki Hanyu was thinking to himself, Michael Katz knocked down the table in annoyance.

"What's wrong?" Hideki Hanyu asked.

Before Michael Katz could answer, Satoshi Iwata explained with an embarrassed expression.

"Mr. Katz is experimenting with the combat system."

"What happened to the combat system?"

The combat system was specially requested by Hideki Hanyu to be added to the second generation of electronic pets.

In addition to daily care, Pokémon Spirits can be upgraded, and they can also be leveled up through battles.

"The combat system is not done yet, the level of the combat object is fixed, and it cannot automatically match the pet level, at least after completing the evolution before it can be defeated."

Hearing Satoshi Iwata's words, Hideki Hanyu got up and looked at the screen of the electronic pet.

It was discovered that Michael Katz had just chosen to fight, and then a blurry ball of Pikachu was matched with a cloud of pixels.

Obviously, the prototype didn't even do a good job of fighting the image of the opponent.

The animatronic pet battle is automatic, and according to the plan, you will match opponents of the same level as the pet.

As long as the pet's satiety, mood value, and intimacy are normal, it will definitely be able to defeat.

Then gain experience to level up.

But at present, the combat objects in the prototype are not only of a fixed level, but also set a very high level.

As soon as Michael Katz's pet Pikachu image moved, a thin pixel line connected to the opponent.

Hanyu Hideki thought to himself, could this be the legendary lightning?

But after Pikachu slapped his opponent and the opponent also connected a thin line, the screen showed that the challenge had failed.

Followed by the pet's satiety, mood value, and intimacy all decreased.

After this challenge, Michael Katz also seemed to realize that this battle could not be won, and put down the animatronic pet in his hand.

"I think I already know what it is, it's very thoughtful, it's interesting, but it's a half-finished product."

"Mr. Katz, in fact, you are playing with the second generation of electronic pets now, which is still under development, and the mature first generation of electronic pets has been launched on Neon."

Satoshi Iwata explained.

"You can talk about it." Michael Katz was intrigued.

"The first generation of electronic pets is called Takuma Gezi, and it has been on the market in Neon for almost three weeks, and this is our sales report for the first two weeks."

Satoshi Iwata said as he handed Michael Katz a sales report.

This report was the one that Hideki Hanyu asked Eiri Kitahara to fax.

Michael Katz looked incredulous when he saw the report, which showed a horrific 5.7 million units sold in just two weeks.

"Mr. Hideki, how did you do it?"

Without Hanyu Hideki opening, Satoshi Iwata took the initiative to answer for the boss.

From comic book serialization, the plot of the advent of virtual life, questionnaire lottery, game magazine tracking report hyping electronic life, advertising combining animation and live-action, and finally the electronic entertainment exhibition.

When Michael Katz hears that everything from the comic story, to the marketing maneuvers, and the advertising production is all made by Hideki Hanyu.

Looking at Hideki Hanyu's eyes, it was indescribable with shock.

"Mr. Katz, President Hanyu is actually one of Neon's best-selling authors today, and a world-renowned picture book author, whose work has been nominated for the second phase of this year's Kate Greenway Awards."

Satoshi Iwata followed up with words that shocked Michael Katz even more.

Hearing this, Hideki Hanyu glanced at Satoshi Iwata.

Such a sensible subordinate must be promoted and raised.

"Mr. Hideki is such a genius."

Michael Katz really doesn't know how to describe Hideki Hanyu.

To be talented, to have business means.

Not to mention the field of writers he is not proficient in.

Just look at Hideki Hanyu's series of combinations in the first generation of electronic pet marketing, the long-term layout, the comprehensive plan, and the close connection, even he can't do it.

Previously, he had always felt that the new boss was too young, too good-looking, and not very reliable.

But after listening to Iwata's words, Michael Katz couldn't help but be a little embarrassed when he recalled his impression of Hideki Hanyu.

The other party's means of business operation made him a little admired.

In the face of Michael Katz's compliment, Hideki Hanyu smiled slightly and gladly accepted it.

In a country like America, there is no need to play modesty at all.

"Mr. Katz, what do you think about electronic pets right now?" Hideki Hanyu asked.

"Mr. Hideki, can I take a look at the first generation of your electronic pets that have been put on sale?"

After Michael Katz finished speaking, Tetsuya Aragaki on the side took out a Takuma Geko and handed it to the other party.

Due to the relationship between the previous operation of Pokémon electronic pets, Michael Katz quickly got started with Takuma Geko.

This Tuoma Gezi is also a prototype for testing, and you can use all the functions.

But after just a while, Michael Katz put it down, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Although the first generation is a finished product, it is not as rich in functions as the second generation, the style is too naïve, and it also lacks a combat system, and I am not optimistic about its commercial performance in America."

Michael Katz continued, "And a lot of Mr. Hideki's neon marketing methods can't be realized in America. ”

As he spoke, Michael Katz pointed to the manual for the Pokémon animatronic pet.

"I saw that there is also a manga about Pokémon in the manual, has it been made?"

Hideki Hanyu nodded, "Neon HQ is already in production. ”

"Be sure to make an English version, and you can also use comics to promote it in the early stage.

Even if the effect is average, it doesn't matter, as long as there is an image, we can talk to toy manufacturers about peripheral licensing, and use their channels to expand the scale of publicity.

There are also advertisements that combine animation and live-action, which are also very good selling points, but you have to wait for the product to be launched.

The most important thing is the gimmick of electronic life, which must be used.

I don't know how Mr. Hideki promoted this in Neon, but in America, publicity doesn't need to keep the bottom line, the more exaggerated the better.

There are a lot of idiots in America who are easily attracted to exaggerated news that also promotes our cooperation with the media, and ......"

It's clear that Michael Katz has stepped into the role.

He began to refer to Hideki Hanyu's marketing tactics in Neon.

Combined with his own experience in America, he developed a marketing and promotion strategy for electronic pet Pokémon in America.

Hideki Hanyu listened quietly and didn't interject halfway.

He was pleased with the attitude and experience of Michael Katz, a sales veteran.

At the end, Michael Katz showed a slightly embarrassed expression.

"Mr. Hideki, if you follow my strategy for upfront marketing, I believe the effect will not be too bad, but it will cost a lot of marketing expenses."

"How much does it cost?" Hideki Hanyu asked.

"The exact number needs to be produced in a marketing plan, but in my experience, the initial investment will require at least 10 million US dollars."

"Ten million dollars."

Hideki Hanyu thought to himself, it was indeed not a small number.

And that's just the initial investment.

"Mr. Hideki, this is an electronic product that has never appeared in America, and if you want people to know about it and be interested in it, you must increase your publicity efforts."

Michael Katz patiently explained.

"Mr. Katz's understanding of the consumer electronics market in America is definitely stronger than ours, so I trust Mr. Katz's judgment, and I just want to say that Mr. Katz will hear what my purpose is in America before formulating marketing tools."

"Purpose?" Michael Katz didn't understand what Hanyu meant.

Didn't the introduction of half-day electronic pets be for the purpose of selling electronic pets?

Hanyu Hideki seemed to see Katz's confusion, and he walked over to Katz's desk and picked up the electronic pet Pokémon that was placed on the table.

He pointed to the animatronic pet Pokémon and said, "Mr. Katz should have found out, this animatronic pet is still unfinished." ”

Michael Katz nodded, "yes, I can sense it's still a lot of work to do." ”

Hideki Hanyu turned the electronic pet in his hand with his hand and said with a smile.

"Now, the only thing that meets my design requirements is the appearance, and the hardware and software are just a rough framework."

Michael Katz asked, "Mr. Hideki, did you buy the company and recruit R&D personnel to continue to improve it?" ”

"Yes, but not all."

Hideki Hanyu's words made Michael Katz very confused.

"Although the hardware research and development capabilities of the Neon headquarters are weak, it can still be done by spending more time to improve the second generation of electronic pets to the design requirements.

But what I'm missing most now is time, because the second generation of animatronic pets is just the beginning for my goals at Amerika. ”

After Hanyu Hideki's words were finished, Michael Katz asked curiously, "Mr. Hideki has been talking about the purpose of coming to America, what is the purpose?" ”

Facing the question of Michael Katz.

Hideki Hanyu said lightly and gave an answer that shocked the other party.

"I'm going to restart the home gaming market in America."

"What!" Michael Katz stood up in some surprise.

In today's period when the game market is in a depression, companies are bankrupt and layoffs, and capital is fleeing rapidly.

Everyone felt that America's gaming market was coming to an end.

But Hideki Hanyu has made bold promises to restart Americaka's home game market.

It's hard not to feel like he's talking in his sleep.

"I remember when we first met, I said that the depression of the American game market is only temporary, it will recover sooner or later, I just want to speed up its recovery a little bit."

Hideki Hanyu spoke confidently.

"What is Hideki-san going to do?"

Even with his doubts, Michael Katz wanted to hear about Hideki Hanyu's plans.

"Iwata-san, Aragaki-san, please." Hideki Hanyu said to the two men.

After the two heard Hanyu's words, Satoshi Iwata pulled out several large-sized drawings from his carry-on backpack.

Tetsuya Aragaki walked outside the office and commanded someone to bring in a work display board.

After the person carrying the display board left, Hideki Hanyu clipped the drawing that Satoshi Iwata had taken out to the display board.

These are all hand-drawn by Hideki Hanyu in the past two days.

In the era when there is no PPT, you have to draw your own work plan to introduce it.

"Restarting the America home gaming market is a long-term strategy, and I plan to implement it in three phases, starting with the first phase, which is to use e-pets to open up the market and attract consumers."

Hideki Hanyu said and pointed to the first drawing.

Michael Katz saw that the picture that Hanyu was pointing to was drawing two animatronic pet Pokémon that he had just tried to play.

However, the difference is that these two animatronic pet Pokémon have different main colors, one red and one green.

And there seems to be a black data cable between the two bodies.

Just as Michael Katz wondered what it was, Hideki Hanyu's introduction rang out.

"Mr. Katz just tried out the unfinished prototype, which is the full version I really wanted.

Its official name is Poké Ball (Red/Green). ”

"Is Mr. Hideki preparing to launch two different animatronic pets?" Michael Katz asked.

"That's right, the two Poké Balls aren't just different colors, they each have twelve different Pokémon Pokémon Spirits that can be obtained randomly."

Hideki Hanyu explained simply, and Michael Katz, a sales veteran, immediately understood what Hideki Hanyu meant.

Different pet random pools can not only form differences, but also stimulate players' desire to buy.

He remembered again that he had just seen that the first generation of electronic pets had different versions of sales records in the sales report of Neon.

"What about the cable that connects them?" Michael Katz asked another question of concern.

"The purpose of the data cable is to allow players to take care of their pets and make individual battle upgrades, and they can also connect through the data cable to play against other electronic pet owners.

In fact, on the prototype machine used by Mr. Katz, the software design of this part of the function has been completed, but it cannot be used due to hardware limitations. ”

Hearing Hanyu Hideki's explanation, Michael Katz's eyes lit up and he said excitedly.

"Mr. Hideki, this is really a genius idea!"

The mechanism of online battle is equivalent to turning an electronic product that can only be entertained alone into an electronic entertainment product that can be interactive.

Even if it is limited by hardware performance, the battle is estimated to be a simple level comparison.

But the emergence of this kind of interaction has made the entertainment of electronic pets more exponential.

Michael Katz seems to have seen the scene of countless owners of electronic pets happily fighting together.

After accepting Michael Katz's praise, Hideki Hanyu began to arrange for the follow-up hardware improvement and research and development.

In the coming time, Tetsu Aragaki will also lead the hardware R&D personnel of the Neon headquarters and North America branch to improve the hardware requirements of electronic pets.

In particular, the technical support of the North American branch is required for the presentation of the picture.

And all of this needs to be done by June.

In addition to finalizing the official prototype and starting production.

I hope to take our electronic pets to the America Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in June.

And all of this needs to be done by Mr. Katz, because while the hardware is being perfected, the marketing and communication work has to be carried out at the same time. ”

Michael Katz, who was still excited about Hideki Hanyu's online idea, nodded approvingly when he heard Hideki Hanyu's final arrangement.

"It's really a good opportunity to release products at the Consumer Electronics Show, and this year's game market is sluggish, and everyone will not invest heavily in research and development.

Michael Katz's tone was a little excited, "Seeing this official version of the electronic pet, my previous marketing plan also needs to be revised." ”

But after the excitement, Michael Katz remembered.

This animatronic pet that excites him is just the first stage of Hideki Hanyu's reboot of the Amerika gaming market.

The first stage had given him such a surprise that he was already looking forward to what the second phase would be.

Hideki Hanyu didn't let Michael Katzdo wait, and opened the second large image on the display board.

"The second stage is to use the third generation of electronic pets to intervene in the game market."

"Mr. Hideki, are you sure you didn't misplace the picture, how do I feel that it is more like a handheld game console."

No wonder Michael Katz asked.

Because in the picture shown by Hideki Hanyu, it is a handheld that is displayed from all angles.

On the front side, the upper part is an LCD screen, and the lower part is a control area with several buttons.

Includes the round D-pad on the left and the AB button on the right.

There's also the select and OK buttons below, as well as a grille like a speaker.

On the lower side, there is a headphone jack marked 3.5mm, and on the side there is a power on button, as well as a data cable jack.

The most important thing is that in the back, there is obviously a card slot for inserting cards.

The whole machine, except for the elf entertainment logo that resembles a poke ball, is painted on the back.

I don't see anything to do with the animatronic pet Pokémon.

Since Mr. Katz served as the marketing director of Mattel's handheld division, he could naturally see that this was a handheld.

It is a handheld that can be connected with a data cable that can be replaced with a game cartridge, and I will submit the specific design parameters to the hardware department.

After the hardware research and development of the electronic pet is completed in June, the hardware department needs to invest in the research and development of this handheld computer.

I hope it will be unveiled at next year's Consumer Electronics Show.

If we want to restart the game market in America, we can't rely on electronic pets alone.

The third generation of animatronic pet Pokémon will come in the form of in-game cartridges.

At that time, the original electronic pet players could enter the game world of Pokémon through this handheld.

In the game, they will play as a Pokémon trainer, collect different Pokémon sprites, complete adventures, take on challenges, and even play online against other players.

At that time, it will not be just a simple level judgment of victory or defeat, they can match Pokémon elves with different attributes and use various skills. ”

Listen to Hideki Hanyu say this.

Michael Katz looked abruptly surprised, yet incredulous.

Because he finally realized what Hideki Hanyu was planning.

The electronic Pokeball that amazed him turned out to be just a pawn of Hideki Hanyu in order to attract users

"Mr. Hideki, you spend a lot of money on R&D and marketing to promote electronic pets, but you just use electronic pets as advertisements to guide users to buy this handheld?"

Michael Katz was a little puzzled, "But this kind of handheld that can change cartridges can't be supported by Pokémon alone." ”

"Although I plan to use the electronic pet as an advertisement for the handheld, I still hope that it will make money, and as for the game, Mr. Katz don't worry, I'm prepared."

As for Michael Katz's concerns, Hideki Hanyu is confident.

Tetris, which once helped Nintendo's Game Boy sell millions of units, has already completed worldwide patent registrations.

And the rights to the Mario brothers are already in his hands, and it is only a matter of time before Super Mario is born.

What's more, he still has so many game reserves in his head.

"Does this handheld have a name?" Michael Katz asked.

"Not yet, but I want to call him Game Boy."

ANYWAY, FROM THE STYLING TO THE DESIGN PARAMETERS, THIS HANDHELD IS ALL 'REFERENCED' TO NINTENDO'S GAME BOY.

I've already gotten so much that it's not a big deal to get the name over again.

"Mr. Hideki, to restart the America home video game market, one handheld is not enough, what is the last stage?"

Michael Katz asked curiously.

Hearing this, Hideki Hanyu opened the last picture on the display board.

Michael Katz saw a blue and white body with the Genie Entertainment logo painted on the picture.

The center of the body is marked with the plugging and unplugging position of the game card slot, and two handles similar to the operation buttons of the Game Boy handheld are connected to the side.

"Mr. Katz, if the electronic Poké Ball is my ad for the Game Boy console, then the Game Boy console is my springboard for the TV game console."

Thank you for the tip

(End of chapter)