To call it "research" was generous. In reality, they were playing the games nonstop while picking them apart with a critical eye.
Sam's shipment was the real deal. He had somehow managed to bring back even the cartridges that had only been released a few days earlier.
The entire group ended up spending the whole day inside VideoSoft, completely immersed in the Famicom.
Only after night had fallen did Ethan finally set down the controller, albeit reluctantly. To be honest, before transmigrating, he had never actually touched an original first generation Famicom.
As for Sam, there was no need to mention him. This was the same guy who had bought multiple copies of E.T.. Faced with the Famicom, he was just as addicted as everyone else.
Yet the person who reacted the most was Gerard.
He sat there quietly, staring at Donkey Kong on the screen, unsure how to put his emotions into words.
At last, he understood why Ethan was so determined to enter the home console market instead of staying comfortably in the arcade business and continuing to rake in money.
"Haaa..."
Gerard let out a long breath before slowly asking, "Have American games lost their confidence?"
He shook his head with a self-deprecating smile, finally realizing how shortsighted his previous thinking had been. His eyes immediately lit up.
"We have to make the NB! We absolutely have to make the NB!"
Vivian set down her controller. She too was surprised by the Famicom's performance.
She had always noticed how seriously Ethan treated this machine, as though he were facing an incredibly formidable rival.
Now she finally understood why.
Nintendo's approach was completely different from GAMENOVA's.
Their games weren't particularly impressive visually. They couldn't attract players through flashy graphics alone.
But when it came to gameplay, they were nearly flawless.
Especially Super Mario Bros... Even viewing it through the biased lens of someone working for GAMENOVA, Vivian had to admit it was an astonishing masterpiece.
Still, when she thought about Ethan's absurd technical skills, some of her anxiety faded.
It would be hard for them to lose. She looked toward Ethan, who was currently digging through a stack of cartridges, and asked curiously.
"What are you planning for the next game?"
Ethan thought for a moment.
The next title would serve as the flagship launch game for their home console, so it needed careful consideration.
"The next game will be developed simultaneously for both arcades and home consoles."
Arcades were still their financial safety net. There was no reason to abandon them, especially now that their new manufacturing process had driven profits even higher.
Stolen from NovelPhoenix, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Still, that requirement temporarily stalled his train of thought.
He needed a game that would offer completely different experiences on arcade and home console while remaining equally fun on both.
Suddenly, his gaze landed on a cartridge. His eyes lit up and he immediately pulled it from the pile.
"This game only came out recently, didn't it?" Ethan asked in surprise. "You managed to get this too?"
After taking a closer look, he confirmed it was indeed Konami's Yie Ar Kung-Fu, also simply called Kung-Fu.
Hearing that, Sam leaned over with a grin.
"A buddy of mine got it for me. Why? You like this game?"
Then, as if realizing something, he nodded.
"I heard the protagonist was modeled after Bruce Lee."
At that moment, an idea for their next game suddenly formed in Ethan's mind.
"What do you think about making a fighting game?"
Street Fighter was undoubtedly the true foundation upon which the genre of fighting games was built.
Many of the defining mechanics of modern fighting games were established during the Street Fighter era.
"Like Kung-Fu?" Sam asked. He had already played the game and knew exactly how it worked.
"Wouldn't that mean going head to head with Konami?"
"Fuck Konami."
Ethan immediately fired back.
….
The Next Day, Hollywood
Arnold Schwarzenegger had just finished filming a scene and was sitting off to the side taking a break.
The enormous success of The Terminator, combined with the popularity he had gained through Contra, had transformed him into one of Hollywood's hottest stars.
"Arnold, someone's looking for you."
A crew member waved him over.
"It's Ethan on the phone."
Arnold's eyes immediately brightened.
The explosive success of Metal Gear had not escaped his notice. Naturally, he was more than a little envious.
Unfortunately, Snake's style didn't really fit his image, and since Ethan had never contacted him about the project, Arnold had felt awkward bringing it up himself.
Now that Ethan was calling, could it finally be about a collaboration?
"Ethan, long time no see..."
"...Brandon Lee? Sure, I'll help arrange it."
After hanging up, Arnold couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed.
He had been excited to receive a call from Ethan, only to discover that Ethan wanted help contacting a young Hollywood actor who had only recently entered the industry.
Still, it was a favor worth doing. Arnold quickly dialed his agent's number.
….
"Hello, Mr. Ethan." Brandon said.
"You just look like your father."
"...Uh?"
Brandon blinked.
"Thank you."
Well, for someone who had no idea what Ethan was thinking, that was admittedly a rather strange opening line.
"Brandon, I'm not sure whether Mr. Schwarzenegger explained everything, but I'm the founder and CEO of GAMENOVA."
Ethan continued.
"I'd like to invite you to assist with the development of our next game."
"A video game?"
Brandon looked genuinely confused. He couldn't figure out what connection he could possibly have with that field.
Just a few days earlier, he had received an invitation to join a film, where he would serve as a stand-in for his father and officially begin his acting career.
But video games? He knew absolutely nothing about them.
"That's right."
Ethan smiled.
"I'd like to hire you as the martial arts consultant for Street Fighter."
He paused briefly before adding:
"And as the motion designer for the fighter, Fei Long."