Arthur sat at his desk, surrounded by notebooks filled with scribbles and formulas. The lamp's light illuminated words and drawings reminiscent of games he had seen in his past life. His golden finger allowed him to recall mechanics, combinations, and strategies with a clarity that left him exhausted but determined.
"If I want to start with something simple, I need something anyone can understand and enjoy… something that doesn't require a big team or complicated machinery," he murmured to himself. He remembered falling blocks in arcade games and how pieces could fit together in a simple way while offering an increasing challenge.
Arthur opened his notebook and drew the first piece: a square, then a line, an L-shape, and other shapes that could rotate. "Pieces should fall from the top… and when you fill a row, it disappears. Easy to understand, but hard to master," he wrote, underlining every word.
He didn't need complex colors or elaborate graphics. Just blocks that fit together, a line counter, and gradually increasing speed. Arthur smiled: "This could be done on a home computer or a small arcade machine. I just need to code the logic, the controls, and the score."
As he wrote, he visualized the screen: the falling blocks, the simple sound when they fit, and the constant challenge that would keep players engaged. "If this works… ATOM will have its first game, and it will be just the beginning," he thought, picking up a pencil to adjust the rotation rules of the pieces.
Excitement consumed him. It wasn't magic, nor instant wealth. It was strategy, memory, and patience. In a couple of weeks, he could have a functional prototype. The dream of making a name in the entertainment industry had just begun, and Tetris would be his first step.
After all that, Arthur prepared to sleep.
Sunday, April 6, 1980
Arthur looked at the calendar and got ready to get up. Upon reaching the dining room, he saw his uncle chatting with his mother. Noticing him, they both welcomed him. His mother brought him some cereal, and as Arthur poured milk into it, his uncle began recounting the day's achievements.
"Everything is ready, Arthur. The Sumiyoshi-kai clan will support us, but we have full control of the company. They'll only receive a share of the profits. They'll provide us with locations for arcades and whatever we need to create them."
Arthur, surprised, looked at his uncle. "How did you accomplish all that in a single day?"
"The clan I belonged to was the Sumiyoshi-kai. Even though I retired, we remain on good terms," Masato replied. Arthur simply nodded.
"Now, I'll give you the idea for the first game." Arthur went to his room, grabbed the notebook with the Tetris concept, and handed it to his uncle, who looked at it with interest.
"TETRIS… what an interesting name," Masato said. Arthur only smiled. "I came up with it last night. Can you do it, uncle?"
Masato patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry. We have everything. We just need your ideas."
"Right, uncle. Put everything under the name of Capcom so the copyrights are in Capcom's name. ATOM will handle distribution. If the Sumiyoshi-kai clan questions it, tell them it's a foreign company. I'll talk to my father about it, and he'll register everything in the United States."
Masato nodded. "Good to know you already have it planned, Arthur. I'm going to handle all that. Do you want to come with me?"
Arthur shook his head. "I want to keep creating more ideas."
"Alright, then I'll go," Masato said, leaving the house and getting into his car with the notebook.
"Do you think your father will help, son?" his mother asked, leaving Arthur stunned.
"Well, Mom, I suppose… if I tell him my ideas, it's possible."
Yumi simply pointed to the phone. "Don't talk too much. Long-distance calls are expensive."
Arthur approached the phone, clutching the paper with his father's number. As he dialed, he felt nervous and began to sweat. He didn't understand why he felt this way. With each dial tone, he grew more anxious, until someone finally answered.
"Hello?"
Arthur froze. He didn't know what to say.
"Hello?" the voice repeated.
"Yumi, if this is one of your jokes… you're a bit old for these," the voice added.
Arthur had no choice but to speak. "Hi… Dad? It's me. Sorry for not calling sooner. I… I need your help."
The man paused. "What do you need from me, son?"
Arthur explained his plan to create a company called CAPCOM so that all ideas could be secured legally under its name. Silence followed for a few seconds.
"Are you sure about this, son?"
"Yes, Dad. I know it sounds crazy, but I want to try."
"Alright, Arthur. I'll help. Pass me to your mother. She wants to talk to you."
Yumi approached the phone and spoke in Japanese. The man sounded frustrated, and she did too. Arthur understood a few words but decided to leave for his room.
Once there, he looked at a sheet with scribbles listing series, movies, songs, and video games. Arthur smiled bitterly, wanting to remember everything in case he ever lost his golden finger, and began writing.
Half an hour later, someone knocked at his door. Arthur saw his mother entering.
"Well, son, I talked to your father. He'll help, though he's not fully convinced of your ideas. Show him you can do it."
Yumi hugged her son and left his room. Arthur said nothing, simply staring at the scribbles on his page.
"Well… as a student, I could try a low-budget movie next," he thought.