Late March arrived. Sega MD's buying frenzy, after its initial surge, settled to a steady hum. Nintendo's FC shelves, stripped of heavyweight third-party Konami, looked desolate. This brief lull was brewing a storm beyond anyone's imagination.
At Hudson's headquarters, President Yuji Kudo's desk was buried under market reports, their cold data and charts laying bare the industry's state. His finger lingered on a weekly report of Sega MD software sales. The numbers, as expected, peaked spectacularly but now showed signs of fatigue.
"President, Sega's momentum is cooling, but it's still strong. If we release *Star Soldier* on PC Engine now, won't it clash with their second wave?" Marketing head Tanaka asked, brow sweaty with worry. The past two months had felt like tightrope-walking, with Hudson's bets riding on this game.
Kudo didn't answer immediately. He stood, gazing out the window at Tokyo's bustling streets, as if seeing Akihabara's crowded Sega counters and Nintendo's barren ones. "Tanaka, you're only seeing the surface," he said, tapping the report on his desk. "Sega's next month is all arcade ports—decent earners, but far less impactful than their launch lineup. Players' excitement is fading; they're hungry wolves, done with the bone, sniffing for the next meal. They need a blockbuster."
He pointed to another report. "Nintendo's Yamauchi is still reeling from Konami's defection, too distracted to act. The market looks like a two-way fight, but one's exhausted, the other's crippled."
The room's air stilled, all eyes on Kudo. They realized his delays weren't cowardice but a calculated wait for the perfect strike. A cold smile curved his lips, calming his team. "When do fishermen sail?" he asked abruptly.
The team exchanged puzzled glances. "When two currents meet," Kudo answered. "It's dangerous, but the fish are plentiful. Now, Nintendo's cold current and Sega's warm one have collided, creating a vortex no one dares enter. We're the only boat."
He leaned forward, eyes sharp. "PR, unleash the *Star Soldier* campaign we've held for three months. I want every train station and game magazine plastered with it. Sales, tell all distributors the game to flip our fortunes is here. Double PC Engine's first-week stock!"
"Yes!" Tanaka's voice trembled with excitement.
Kudo leaned back, hands clasped. "Nintendo and Sega's farce ends now. It's our stage."
*Star Soldier*'s PC Engine cartridges hit stores swiftly. Developed alongside its axed FC version, it was polished to perfection. Coupled with media buzz about Nintendo's unfair ban, it fueled player curiosity and sympathy. Defiance of Nintendo's tyranny pushed the game to the spotlight. Its smooth action and stunning visuals showcased PC Engine's power and Hudson's skill, exceeding sales expectations.
Hudson didn't pause, announcing a quirky April action game, *Kato-chan and Ken-chan*, signaling PC Engine's diverse, sustained content. The ripple effect hit fast. IREM, an early PC Engine ally, launched their arcade hit *R-TYPE*—another Nintendo-canceled title—on PC Engine. Its near-perfect arcade fidelity sparked core gamer buzz, proving PC Engine's underestimated potential.
The tide was turning. At Namco's headquarters, President Masaya Nakamura reviewed PC Engine's sales data and *R-TYPE*'s success report. Namco's final FC games had fulfilled their Nintendo contracts, freeing them. He closed the folder with a soft but firm snap. "Release *Yokai Dochuki* on PC Engine immediately." The action RPG, already complete, sold 60,000 copies in its first week—a resounding slap to Nintendo, proving top third parties could thrive without FC.
PC Engine's sales surged, securing its place behind MD. At Konami, Kagemasa Kozuki studied PC Engine's rise, his eyes a mix of shock, envy, and fierce excitement. He'd planned to bet all on MD, a direct clash with Yamauchi. Hudson and Namco's success revealed a bolder strategy: not just fighting Nintendo but plunging it into chaos.
Kozuki's mindset shifted from a single breakthrough to all-out war. Why back one rival when he could make Nintendo face enemies on all sides? His gambler's instinct flared, his goal now to "stir the world and seize revenge." An emergency meeting convened, his resolve palpable. He made a soul-shaking call: "Konami's ace IPs, *Gradius* and its spinoff *Salamander*, previously banned by Nintendo, will be fully ported to PC Engine!"
The news, sent via fax and phone, ignited the industry like a spark in a powder keg. Kozuki wasn't joining PC Engine's camp—he was diving in to muddy the waters, showing third parties that MD wasn't the only path from Nintendo's grip. PC Engine was viable, and more might follow.
In a small third-party developer's office, the president slammed a newspaper on the desk, its headline blaring Konami's *Gradius* and *Salamander* PC Engine ports. His fear of Nintendo's bans vanished, replaced by greedy ambition. Nintendo's oppressive exclusivity clauses were now worthless paper. An industry-wide melee had begun.
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