Tokyo Video Game Tycoon.

Chapter 43 Dark History

Early spring is almost over, and the time to enjoy the cherry blossoms is not far away.

With only three days left until the official release of the game console, the official launch date is approaching.

For the last three days, Ota Masashi's entertainment hall also temporarily closed and was no longer open to the public.

But this doesn't stop people who want to play games. People often stop at the door, craning their necks to look into the shop, their eyes filled with longing.

They all really want to play games now.

The sudden appearance of several other game demos in the last two days has made them even more anxious.

"Hey, why is the store closed today? I haven't finished my Bomberman game yet!"

"Yeah, Contra is so difficult, it should have been kept running so we could play it all the time. Why did you shut it down? Don't you want to make money anymore?"

"I'm just a quiet, handsome man. I just want to play a game of Tetris in peace and quiet, and hopefully the door will open."

In front of the shop, a shop assistant kept bowing to people.

"Smimasai, I'm very sorry, we are currently making final preparations for the release of the game console. We will be very busy in the coming days, but you only need to wait three days for the official release of the game console. At that time, all customers can buy the game console and take it home to experience and play."

Adults and children, they were all standing at the door.

This was originally supposed to be a game for children.

That was true at first.

Super Mario is fun, but not necessarily something that will particularly interest all adults.

However, other trial games appeared one after another within a month, each of different types, and there was bound to be one that you would like, whether you are an adult or a child, and this is gradually changing their opinions.

Adults also have entertainment needs; games are not just for children.

At this point, children still made up the majority, but adults had already gained some experience and seemed to be hardcore gamers.

Now, they feel uneasy if they don't play games for a day.

However, when they heard that the game console would be officially released in three days and they could take it home to play, their dissatisfaction indeed diminished considerably.

It's only three days, just wait.

Some people then gradually prepared to go home, planning to come back when the official release date arrived.

However, some people had a change of heart. Although they left quickly, they returned again in less than half a day.

This time, they carried their luggage and a simple tent, set it up right in front of the shop, and crawled inside, deciding to stay there.

The shop assistants at the entrance were dumbfounded.

Wait, there are still three days until the release. Are you planning to just wait for three days?

What shocked the shop assistant even more was that there was more than one person doing this.

A day and a night passed, and when the next morning arrived, at least twenty tents had been set up at the entrance, causing passersby to frequently look over, wondering what had happened.

Some people are willing to do anything for what they love.

The tents at the main entrance were bustling with activity, and behind the shops, trucks were entering the backyard one after another.

The employees were busy unloading the goods and then carrying the game consoles into the arcade.

At this time, most of the entertainment facilities in the arcade had already been moved to the warehouse in advance, because Ota felt that they were taking up too much space, and that if the game consoles were officially released, these other things would somewhat affect the visual experience.

Zhu Youxing also made a special trip here today, wanting to see for himself how things are being prepared.

Currently, this is the only channel for releasing game consoles.

The Daejeon Casino is expected to become the most important sales venue in the future, which is of great significance.

Airi Hayazawa had originally planned to come, but she suddenly had an inspiration in the morning, seemingly thinking of some optimization method for game consoles, so she went to work again, leaving Yusei Take to come alone.

He stood at the unloading site, watching the workers busily moving the game consoles.

At that moment, Ota walked over and subconsciously offered Takeyusei a cigarette.

"I don't smoke, thank you."

"Take a puff to ease your tension."

Takeyusei turned his head and glanced at Ota Masashi, noticing that the other man's hands were trembling slightly.

Who's actually nervous?

Zhu Youxing simply smiled and shook his head again: "I'm fine, but you seem a little nervous?"

"Me...me? I guess so."

Masashi Ota is a man who has experienced many ups and downs.

But sometimes, certain things can make people tense.

This is especially evident when venturing into a completely new industry.

So to relieve his tension, he had to take a few puffs.

Even though he had quit smoking two or three years ago.

At this point, we had no choice but to pick it up again.

I got this pack of cigarettes from the deliveryman.

I need to clean it up properly before I get home tonight, otherwise my wife will start nagging again if she smells it.

Ota took a deep drag, then exhaled a long plume of smoke towards the empty air. The tension in his heart seemed to gradually subside as the smoke escaped from his nose.

"Zhuyou, do you think this will sell well?"

Zhu Youxing said, "As you've seen, your place has been packed every day lately, with a constant stream of people playing games. I don't think you need to worry too much about this, right?"

“I know it’s very popular, but that’s only a few hundred or a few thousand people. After all, my shop is only so big, and there’s a limit to the number of people it can hold. But now we have a full 120,000 game consoles.”

"You're worried you won't be able to sell them all, right?"

"Ah."

Yesterday, 120,000 game consoles were officially delivered, and they have been gradually transported here.

As for the quality of the game and the fun of the game console itself, Ota no longer has much doubt.

You can tell from the guests' excited expressions that they genuinely enjoy it.

They will definitely buy the game as soon as possible.

But who else will buy it besides these enthusiastic customers?

The number of enthusiastic guests is probably only one or two hundred at most.

Add to that those who are interested and have spare money, and the number will probably reach a thousand.

Whether all 120,000 units can be sold is truly an unknown.

In fact, even Takeyusei himself was not entirely sure.

So he set a goal for himself.

Selling within a month, or even within six months, is acceptable.

If he can sell 120,000 units within six months, it will mean that his plan is successful, and then he can expand the scale.

However, if it takes more than six months to sell all 120,000 units, it means that this form of entertainment may not be as popular as imagined.

He needs to think of other ways to make the world welcome games.

Advertising is the most effective way to promote something, but for a completely new product that is unfamiliar to most people, even if it is the latest product category, it is a mystery whether it can attract the interest of most people.

Ota Masashi seemed to realize that his words sounded somewhat heavy, so he smiled and said, "Forget it, Takeyu, let's not think about these things anymore. Anyway, we've done what we had to do. Let's find a place to have a drink tonight. We haven't had a meal in so long."

"Alright."

Zhu Youxing felt that he also needed to calm down, but he wasn't nervous.

If he fails, he can simply try again from a different direction; he has plenty of opportunities.

But the frustration of failure can still be painful.

Having a couple of drinks beforehand is indeed a good suggestion.

"After we finish drinking, we'll go sing karaoke, then I'll take you to the place men love to have some fun, and then, we'll leave it to fate."

Zhu Youxing's expression froze.

"Uh, that won't be necessary."

"I didn't expect you to be so serious, Zhuyou."

It's not a serious or improper matter.

Given his identity in this world of Zhu Youxing, he doesn't need to worry about such things at all, and there's no need for him to waste his time here. Besides, he genuinely has absolutely no interest in it.

Perhaps the grueling 996 work schedule in his past life made him lose interest in many things.

He didn't even want to participate in singing.

Zhu Youxing himself declared that he was absolutely not off-key.

I just don't like noisy singing atmospheres.

"A little drink is enough, then I'll conserve my energy for the most crucial moment to come."

“Alright.” Zhu Youxing refused, and he didn’t insist any further.

The moving of goods didn't finish until after 9 p.m. Takeyusei, Ota Masashi, and several shop assistants went to the nearest sake shop, the kind of shop with a bit of a bourgeois atmosphere.

After ordering some dishes, the group clinked glasses, wishing the game console great success.

Around 11 p.m., Zhu Youxing, her face slightly flushed, was driven home.

Airi Hayazawa had been waiting at the door the whole time.

She was puzzled as to why Zhu Youxing hadn't returned.

Normally, Zhu Youxing isn't someone who likes to come home late; he prefers to finish his work and go home immediately to play games. Today was an exception.

"I'm sorry, Miss Zhuyou, I'm leaving Zhuyou-san in your care. I didn't expect him to be such a good drinker. I should have known better than to give him that strong liquor."