The behemoths

The sales of the KiShin FamiCom took a hit after the release of the Tora 16-Bit VG Console.

[Inside the Suzuki Chairman's Office]

Chairman Shiro sat with his sons, watching the TV news unfold. "I never expected Tora Corporation to launch their console independently. Weren't they in partnership with KiShin?" Shiro mused.

Shiko and Seki nodded in agreement. Shiko added, "Father, I believe this is an opportune moment to consider acquiring KiShin."

Seki chimed in, "Indeed. It seems KiShin is facing a crisis with others encroaching on their video game market."

Shiro remained contemplative. "If KiShin doesn't cooperate, we can always develop our own console like Tora did. Let's see if a smaller company can withstand the might of giants," he chuckled.

Shiko and Seki exchanged glances.

---

Just a day after the release of the Tora VG Entertainment System, they managed to sell at least 13,000 units in Japan, thanks to their Tora Department Store and various other retail locations.

During a Tora board of directors meeting, Asahi occupied the head seat. One of the directors voiced concern, "Now that we've entered this unfamiliar market, we must dominate it thoroughly to withstand any potential counterattack from the Suzuki Group."

Another director agreed cautiously, "Yes, but let's not drop our guard. It's the Suzuki Group, after all."

Asahi listened attentively to the directors' discussions and then calmly remarked, "I believe there's no need to fret over the Suzuki Group for the time being." He wore a knowing smile as he tapped his fingers on the table.

Curiosity piqued, the vice chairman Jin inquired, "What do you mean by that?"

Others chimed in, "Why shouldn't we worry?"

Asahi's smile widened as he shared, "I received information from my source within the Suzuki Group. While they are indeed interested in entering the video game market, they are lagging behind us in preparations. In essence, they haven't made any significant strides yet."

Vice Chairman Jin frowned and inquired, "Do you genuinely believe that? What if it's merely a facade put on by the Suzuki Group?"

Other directors also voiced their concerns, saying, "Yes, how can we place full trust in your informant?"

"Indeed, even if it's 90% accurate, we should remain vigilant about their actions."

Chairman Asahi regarded them with a serene smile. "You're absolutely correct in saying that we should remain vigilant, but we shouldn't allow excessive worry to limit our actions. We must strike a balance, for excessive caution may lead to defeat. And regarding the reliability of my informant, rest assured, they can be trusted. As for the 'why,' I must keep that as my secret."

The board of directors exchanged uneasy glances.

Chairman Asahi continued, "We've developed a 16-bit system that can outperform the KiShin FamiCom in numerous aspects, but we're still behind in sales compared to them..."

Other directors reassured him, "Hehe, that's to be expected on the first day of release."

"Just wait for a few weeks—no, a few days, and we'll push KiShin to the brink of despair!"

"There's no doubt about that."

Vice Chairman Jin added, "Indeed, we must release as many games as KiShin, or even more!"

The directors nodded in agreement.

However, Chairman Asahi shook his head and explained, "No, you're mistaken. Video games are one of the reasons why KiShin is successful, and flooding the market with too many games isn't the solution."

Vice Chairman Jin wore a puzzled expression as he asked, "Then why am I mistaken? Isn't releasing numerous game cartridges a way to profit from them?"

Other directors chimed in, "That's a valid point!"

"Game cartridges can be surprisingly profitable."

Chairman Asahi shook his head again and revealed, "Do you know why the arcade industry eventually failed?"

Seeing the directors' attentive expressions, Chairman Asahi continued, "It was because there were too many games! Most of these video games were unplayable trash, and this contributed to the decline of the entire arcade industry."

A hushed silence followed his words.

Chairman Asahi emphasized, "Quality is just as crucial as quantity. Before we release any game cartridges, we must ensure they are at least playable."

The board of directors nodded in agreement.

Following this, Chairman Asahi signaled to the individual responsible for data analysis to present their findings.

"Our most beloved game, according to our survey, is 'Happy,'" the employee reported to the directors.

Meanwhile, Chairman Asahi discreetly cast a cold look in Vice Chairman Jin's direction.

"You think you're clever, don't you? Planting a covert operative by my side? I must admit, it's half smart, half foolish. Little do you know that your spy became mine. Let's see what you're up to," Chairman Asahi thought, harboring a sense of intrigue.

---

The Tora Electronics supply contract with KiShin is set to expire on January 1, 1991. Consequently, Shin is racing against the clock to establish his own factory for producing the components required by his company.

Shin, armed with his knowledge, lent a helping hand to Mira and her team in reverse-engineering the Tora 16-bit system.

While his understanding of computer systems was limited, Shin managed to grasp the intricacies of the Tora Console's PCB board, though the CPU remained the most challenging component.

Nevertheless, Shin found that his knowledge from his previous life proved invaluable as he methodically examined the 16-bit system.

"Seems like we need to recruit more professionals," Shin murmured, gazing at a page filled with notes about the 16-bit console.