167 PC Expo
In Shin's new mansion, he gently caressed Mira's hair and said, "You should rest; I've already informed your university, so you shouldn't push yourself too hard." He observed Mira still studying in the study room.
Mira nodded but replied, "It doesn't matter; it's said that it's healthy for women to stay active during pregnancy."
Shin nodded and added, "But it's not healthy to be stressed."
While discussing with Mira, Shin's latest Suzuki phone beeped.
Before leaving for the garden, Shin kissed Mira on the forehead and answered the call. He said, "Mr. Chandler, how are you doing?"
The person calling Shin was Albert Chandler, the CEO of Rebolt Technology.
Shin and Albert discussed the release of their joint mobile phone product, the KiShin Rebolt Series 1, which had a design similar to the Nokia 2110.
Though it might not have looked very impressive, compared to the bulky phones from Tora, Suzuki, or Motorola, it was already quite slim and stylish for its time.
While discussing the exhibition of the product at the upcoming PC Expo, Albert concluded the call.
Shin examined his current Suzuki phone more closely. It was bulky, the keyboard was relatively hard, although it was considered comfortable for a cell phone at this time. The size, while already considered small for the era, would still create a noticeable bulge when placed in a pocket, especially with the antenna protruding.
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On June 16, 1992, in the USA, both at KiShin physical stores and retail locations partnered with KiShin, long lines had already formed in front of these establishments, extending down the sidewalk.
Some dedicated customers, like the Japanese, had even set up tents to secure their spot in line for the latest KiShin products.
Media outlets covered this remarkable scene for their viewers. A reporter approached a chubby man who was sipping coffee while proudly surveying the long line behind him. The BBC news reporter greeted the man and inquired, "How are you doing, sir? We noticed that you are the first in line at the KiShin store and have even set up a tent. Can you share your enthusiasm for KiShin?"
The chubby man, sipping his coffee while seated, responded while gazing at the reporter, "I'm here to get my Pokémon!"
The reporter was momentarily speechless and asked again, "Uh... Sir, is there more to your story?"
The chubby man scratched the back of his long, curly hair, "And I also can't wait to dive into 'The Legend of Zelda'..."
The reporter continued holding the microphone, seemingly waiting for additional insights, but the chubby man simply looked back and said, "That's about it. What more do you want me to say? Isn't my reason enough?"
The BBC reporter found no rebuttal and turned to interview the man behind the chubby man, who was second in line and equally prepared with a tent, even cooking some eggs.
"Why are you so enthusiastic about waiting for two more days for KiShin's latest products to be released?" the reporter inquired.
The man cooking the eggs responded, "I just want to play the new KiShin video games, that's all."
The BBC news reporters couldn't help but feel somewhat baffled by these gamers, but they refrained from expressing their opinions. One of the reporters stated, "As you can see, KiShin video games have sparked quite a craze in several states across the United States. One of the reasons for this phenomenon is the KiShin Gameboy, along with their immensely popular Pokémon animation, which has been adapted into Gameboy video games." He paused before adding, "Additionally, KiShin's Entertainment Music artists have already gained popularity in the music industry with their catchy and otherworldly songs..."
Reporters from other media outlets reached similar conclusions. As KiShin's popularity continued to soar and the demand for their products increased, Shin made the decision to secure additional loans from banks to meet market demands. However, he opted to borrow more from Japanese banks and reduced his borrowing from US banks, adhering to the agreement between Shin and the government's financial sector.
Finally, on June 18, 1992, SKES and Gameboy, along with their lineup of video games, made their debut in the US market.
The first customers to purchase KiShin's latest products at each respective KiShin physical store were rewarded with complimentary accessories or free video games.
With the release of KiShin's latest products, within a matter of days, KiShin's sales reached an all-time high in the video game sector in the USA.
Retailers such as Target, Kmart, and several of KiShin's partners, who initially had doubts about KiShin, now breathed a sigh of relief as they witnessed the surge in KiShin's sales. Meanwhile, WalMark, which exclusively sold Tora and Suzuki video game consoles and games, experienced an all-time low in sales.
Seeing the decline of Tora and Suzuki, the CEO of WalMark reached out to KiShin with the intent of distributing their popular products as well.
Slowly but surely, Tora and Suzuki were being sidelined in the video game industry. Many of their devoted fans began to worry about the future of these two companies. Despite discovering that Tora and Suzuki had wrongly taken credit for being the saviors of the video game industry, their consoles and games still held cherished memories for their loyal users.
Simultaneously, on June 22, 1992, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, the PC Expo unfolded. Esteemed brands like IBM, Apple, Oracle, Dell, Intel, Cisco Systems, Tora, Suzuki, and Motorola were all present to showcase their upcoming products.
Even renowned CEOs such as Will Gates, Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, and others graced this tech exhibition. These individuals were the contemporary counterparts to the famous and wealthy CEOs in Shin's previous life.
The convention center buzzed with people eagerly exploring the latest tech products from their favorite companies.
In contrast, at Rebolt Technologies' modest booth space, there wasn't an overwhelming amount of attention. Albert Chandler remained patient as his team set up their newest products for visitors to explore later.
Media outlets diligently surveyed the venue, highlighting the most intriguing and cutting-edge offerings from various companies. Albert Chandler held out hope that his booth space would catch the media's attention, as it would greatly benefit their marketing efforts and reduce the need for extensive promotional spending through the exhibition and media coverage.
