Chapter 19
Chapter 19 : Sponsor Game (2)
The morning of the release of The Legend of Karin, December 17th, 1985 . Mr . Shigeru and I arrived in Akihabara, Tokyo . President Yamauchi and Mr . Gunpei said they would come after browsing around the event, so they should be on their way now… To my side was Mr . Shigeru, who was continuously yawning due to the lack of sleep .
“Kang-kun . I hope everything goes as planned . We’ve prepared for the past several days for the release, but I always find it difficult to sleep the night before . ”
“The public’s reception of the article about The Legend of Karin from the FamiTong Magazine seemed to be well received two months ago . Should we go?”
As I smiled and moved my footsteps, Mr . Shigeru followed closely behind me with a slightly worried expression . We purposefully planned for Saturday to be the release date . We came out of the subway, and then we headed to the place of the event .
“Why is it so empty even though it’s a Saturday? Shouldn’t it be bustling with people?”
“Mr . Shige… It’s 7 AM on a Saturday . Why would people be out this early?”
“Ah, is that right? That must be the case then, right? Haha~”
This man had completely let go of his rope of consciousness . I stared at Mr . Shige for awhile with a scrunched up expression before I turned my footsteps towards the event .
It has been a long time since I’ve visited Akihabara again . Specialty game stores were slowly popping up . The place that we were heading to was, of course, the largest gaming specialty store in Akihabara . Owing to the quality of games like Super Marigee and Dragon Warriors, the game industry was flourishing to the point that there were no traces of the Atari Shock to be found .
I proudly grinned as if I was feeling the movements of a baby inside the womb and was busily looking around . [1] Time passed by just like that… By the time I nearly arrived at the place of the event, I was met with a strange scene . 9 AM on Saturday . A street that should’ve been almost devoid of any human presence was accommodated by a number of young men sitting on the street .
If it was Shinjuku city’s Kabukicho or Shibuya, the scene would’ve been more understandable; however, these people, who were sitting in the middle of the streets, came together, and they were discussing something .
“Do you think we could even receive a copy? The release quantity is only 500 I checked the time with my wrist watch, and I flashed a smile . If you looked around, there were notices all over the place of the event said ‘A special announcement will start at 3:33 PM . ’
Speculations from the buyers were circulating about how the number ‘3’ was related to the three crystals that showed up in The Legend of Karin, and that a sequel to the title might be released very quickly .
The buyers that had already bought a copy of The Legend of Karin were hesitant to leave the store because of their curiosity about the 3:33 PM announcement . It was a relief that we reserved a large place for this event…
To the customers that had waited for 28 hours, and that also included the very first customer . We gifted him a copy of a title with Mr . Shigeru’s signature as well as small souvenirs like Marigee dolls, etc… Then, we finished taking the commemoration picture .
And now, the awaited 3:33 PM .
Mr . Gunpei, who was at the event moments ago, melted off to somewhere, and the lights dimmed inside the store; a spotlight was directed towards a small stage that was prepared beforehand .
“Huh? What is that!?”
The customers who were buying the games murmured, and they turned their gaze towards the stage as Mr . Gunpei stepped on and grabbed the mike .
“Hmm… First, we would like to thank all of you who came here to purchase our The Legend of Karin . Along with that, I’m here to announce the birth of a new mobile device . ”
In response to Mr . Gunpei’s announcement, the crowd immediately flared up into a clamor . A player in front of Mr . Gunpei shouted out .
“A mobile device? Are you announcing a new Game & Watch model?”
“Oh~ You have a great perception? That’s exactly right . ”
Mr . Gunpei took out the jade-green Game & Watch from inside the pocket of his suit . It was precisely a device with The Legend of Karin as its theme . President Yamauchi, who was watching beside me, spoke:
“What? That device is the one I approved . How is this a world-shocking news for me? Of course, it seems to be shocking news for the people here . The reception isn’t bad~”
“Heh, just wait a little more . ”
I gave off a mysterious smile and looked at the stage again . On top of the stage, Mr . Gunpei was opening up the Game & Watch, and he was explaining it to the players . Because this was a period with no projectors, he let the people in the front touch and experience the device . before explaining that the FamiTong magazine would be publishing a specific article on it tomorrow, he took the Game & Watch back .
And then…
“I have one more shocking announcement to make . ”
Mr . Gunpei took out a bulky device out of his pocket, with an enigmatic smile, and he shouted:
“This is the first mobile device that implements the cartridge system: the GAMBOY . ”
“WooWeaahohwoah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“This is just a prototype model in the process of development . Although it’s a mobile device, there is an insertable cartridge slot on the back of the device . This is so you can enjoy a countless number of games with this one device . In addition, it features both speakers and headphones, so you can enjoy the gameplay and listen to the music by plugging in earphones, in a public setting, without disturbing others .
“WooWeaahoh!!!!!!!!”
“It has a black and white display, but the graphics are displayed in an organic and unique way . I will demonstrate it playing a game by inserting this cartridge . ”
Mr . Gunpei inserted the pre-made demo-purpose cartridge into the device, and he showed it to one boy standing in the front .
[1] MC made the analogy of being happy to the fetal movement of a baby because there is a big culture in Korea from parents about testing the ‘vigorousness’ of a baby from its movement inside the womb lol