Traveling through the Tokyo bubble era

Chapter 831: The Expert in the Testing Department

After sending a wave of benefits to Divine Vision and showing some "warmth" to the yellow-skinned man, thus bringing him closer to his opponent, Hideki Hanyu did not rest on his laurels.

After all, he knew very well that Lao Huang seemed to be a technical worker at this time.

But judging from the other person's life trajectory in another time and space, this person is actually a pure businessman.

After traveling through so many years and now being in a high position, Hanyu Hideki naturally would not be naive enough to think that he could control everything by relying on friendship when getting along with people like Lao Huang.

So after appointing Lao Huang as CEO, he also immediately made other personnel appointments and organizational changes to Shenling Vision.

The most important of these is that Luke Kane, who was the head of Elf Vision before Huang joined, was promoted to the board of directors and served concurrently as the company's president.

In this regard, Hideki Hanyu communicated with Huang Renxun without any hesitation.

Old Huang had no objection, at least on the surface.

After all, Luke Kane has too much experience in Spirit Vision. When Spirit Entertainment first set foot in North America, acquired Automated Simulations, and separated the graphics processing chip research and development department from it, Luke Kane was already in the company.

Of course, Hideki Hanyu doesn’t really care what Lao Huang thinks.

After all, he had never considered pursuing divine vision as a lifelong career.

For Shenling Vision, his position from the beginning to the end was only an "investor" rather than a "founder".

The most important thing is to be able to replicate Nvidia's development path in another time and space, benefit from it, and take the opportunity to nurture a capital interest group.

In fact, it's not just Divine Vision. For most of the companies under his control, his purpose in developing them is not because he likes the company or has any belief in the industry.

He just needs the money, profits, power, and influence that the company will gain after it grows and develops in its industry.

After the meeting, Hideki Hanyu did not leave immediately.

Instead, together with many employees of Shenling Vision, he held a celebration party in the company that looked like a family gathering.

It has to be said that although Silicon Valley is also pursuing the "American Dream" of wealth today, Hideki Hanyu still likes this engineering-style corporate atmosphere very much.

This place has not yet been completely corrupted by the money of Wall Street.

Many technicians even hold the "pure" ideal that technology can change the world and the lives of ordinary people.

At the party, people discuss technology, sports, weather, movies...

There is no need to be afraid that something you say accidentally might offend a multicultural group.

Looking back at later generations, what this place pursues is no longer technology or the ideal of changing the world, but the money numbers jumping in the stock market.

……

"Aren't you going to a meeting today? Why are you drinking?"

At Moon Lake Manor, Zhou Huimin greeted Hanyu Hideki who had just returned home. She took off her lover's coat and asked him with concern.

"There was a party after the meeting. This is very popular here. I just drank a little."

While answering, Hanyu Hideki did not forget to wink and tease his son who was held by the maid in the distance.

Zhou Huimin asked again, "Do you still eat at night?"

Hanyu Hideki replied, "Of course, I don't like any of the pizza and cakes at the party. I asked the kitchen to prepare beef hot pot for me."

Just like that, Hideki Hanyu soon enjoyed southern Chinese hotpot in his mansion in America.

Zhou Huimin held her child and looked at her lover, enjoying this quiet and ordinary happy time.

Even though she knew it was unrealistic, she couldn't help but hope that this kind of life could last longer.

……

January 20th.

Two days after arriving in San Jose, Hideki Hanyu finally arrived at the North American headquarters of Genie Entertainment.

Compared to the headquarters buildings, one tall and one short, which are nondescript and located in the Shinagawa district of Neon.

The North American headquarters has been completed and is half buried underground. It has a fantastic shape, a transparent dome can be vaguely seen, and flowers and green plants are everywhere. Different buildings are connected by either underground passages or aerial pipes. It is like the headquarters of The Wizard of Oz and can be called a "work of art."

(The AI ​​image of the interior of the headquarters main building is not quite accurate, but it is roughly in this style.)
When Hideki Hanyu drove into here, it was as if he had really entered a magnificent and dreamy fantasy world.

Everything about the North American headquarters is completely consistent with the outside world's imagination of a gaming company.

Sitting in the car, he could see a large number of tourists and Elf Entertainment supporters visiting, touring, taking photos, etc. in the areas open to the public.

It can be seen that the North American headquarters of Elf Entertainment has become a tourist attraction in Silicon Valley.

I heard from Michael Katz before that the North American headquarters was featured in many well-known architectural magazines and reported by the media because of its design, and even won a lot of miscellaneous awards.

As the car drove into the underground parking lot, the scene in front of him disappeared. Hanyu Hideki then withdrew his gaze from outside the car and let his mind return to the business.

When the car stopped and Hideki Hanyu got out, he saw Michael Katz, President of Elf Entertainment North America, waiting for him not far away.

Seeing him appear, the other party immediately came forward impatiently.

"Oh my God, Hanyu, you're finally here. You don't know how anxiously I've been waiting for you. You arrived in San Jose two days ago."

"I didn't expect Michael to care about me so much," Hanyu Hideki joked.

"Don't be ridiculous. The testing department hasn't had a holiday for a month. We urgently need your advice. Come with me to see them."

After Michael Katz finished speaking, he took Hideki Hanyu and went straight to the testing department.

It was only then that Hideki Hanyu discovered that the North American headquarters, which looked very dreamy from the outside, was even more magnificent and fantastic on the inside, giving people an indescribable feeling of novelty.

The only drawback is that the parking lot is a bit far from the testing department's office building, and it's really a bit tiring to walk there.

This made Hideki Hanyu couldn't help but smile bitterly at Michael Katz when he walked to a transparent passage.

"I think it would be troublesome if the headquarters was too big."

Michael Katz understood what Hanyu Hideki was talking about and immediately replied with a smile, "We have invited a design company to help us design a conveyor belt, similar to the one used in airports."

"It sounds good," said Hanyu Hideki. "I originally wanted to take a good look at this place, but now I have to wait until the conveyor belt is installed."

Michael Katz said, "I don't think you'd have time to visit this place lately, even without the conveyor belt."

Hideki Hanyu asked, "Why?"

Michael Katz pointed ahead and said, "Because you're needed here."

Hideki Hanyu looked in the direction Michael Katz pointed and found that at the end of the transparent passage in the air, there was a sign hanging that said "Test Department".

At this moment, Hideki Hanyu actually doesn't quite understand why Michael Katz is so eager.

Pokémon Entertainment has grown and prospered in North America, whether it is the original electronic pet, the Pokémon handheld game console that stole the show, the first generation of PlayStation console, or the popular Pokémon Fight.

Most of the basic ideas, design framework, technical direction, market planning, marketing positioning, and publicity strategy were created by Hideki Hanyu.

Of course, it also includes two and a half years of design and research and development for the market. Now, the second-generation PS console is being tested in full swing, which was also decided by Hideki Hanyu.

Today, this next-generation product, which is highly anticipated by Elf Entertainment, attempts to completely widen the gap with its peers and consolidate its market position.

Even though the test had already begun, no one had a clear idea of ​​whether the design and manufacturing of this console was successful, regardless of the test results. Everyone became more and more nervous the more they tested, and everyone from top to bottom was under tremendous pressure.

Because they know very well that for Elf Entertainment, the second-generation PS console must not fail.

After a long period of research and development, Elf Entertainment has placed its entire future bet on this product.

Once the second-generation PS console fails, the huge losses invested in the past two years will be secondary. What is important is that it will give competitors time to catch up.

In that case, the leading advantage that Elf Entertainment has built up over the years may be lost overnight.

Faced with this situation where we can only succeed and not fail.

The biggest source of confidence that everyone can think of is Hideki Hanyu.

The founder of Elf Entertainment, a god-level game producer in the eyes of players, and the creator of various functional indicators of the second-generation PS console.

Even the several games being tested on the second-generation PS console were developed by Hideki Hanyu.

In everyone's mind, no one except Hideki Hanyu can judge whether the second-generation PS console will be successful or not.

It was in this mood of expectation that Hideki Hanyu, led by Michael Katz, walked into the testing department.

Everyone in the testing department immediately looked at Hideki Hanyu.

Facing everyone's gaze, Hideki Hanyu walked to a console that was running the second-generation PS test console.

Originally, there were two young white people sitting in front of the running console, playing games.

But after Hideki Hanyu appeared, the two stopped the game.

When Hanyu Hideki approached, they immediately stood up, looking at him with excitement and admiration.

Obviously, these are two of Hideki Hanyu's admirers in the gaming circle.

Hideki Hanyu glanced at the TV screen. The game running on the screen was Mario Kart 3D, which he had entrusted to Mythology Studios to develop.

The two Mario cars that were originally racing have stopped moving because they have lost control of their owners.

But judging from the current pictures alone, this game developed based on the Sprite engine is quite complete.

Even in terms of modeling, resolution, or visual effects, it is far from later 3D games.

But it is indeed a 3D game.

This is the first 3D home console game that Hideki Hanyu has seen in this time and space.

"Hanyu-san! It's such an honor to meet you, I love all the games you make!"

"Me too, but I like Sonic best!"

When Hanyu Hideki was watching the game screen, two young white men who were playing the game greeted Hanyu Hideki in excited tones and expressed their admiration for him.

"I'm also very happy that you like it. I see you playing this Mario Kart 3D. How do you feel about it?" asked Hideki Hanyu.

“The gameplay is great. The effect of Mario Kart 3D is of course amazing, but more importantly, the injection of new game content makes the 3D graphics work best, which is a qualitative leap compared to previous games.”

The answer came from one of the two white young men who were trying it out.

It was only then that Hideki Hanyu realized that the young man who answered him had a tough and handsome appearance, and looked like a Hollywood star.

The other player who played the game with him had a bright smile but a relatively ordinary appearance.

Seeing that the former answered so seriously, Hideki Hanyu asked casually without giving him mindless compliments out of admiration for him.

"I haven't seen you before in the testing department. Are you a new employee?"

As soon as Hanyu Hideki finished speaking, the two young men who were trying out the game in front of him had not yet answered, but someone next to them introduced them to him first.

“Mr. Hanyu, they are not employees of Elf Entertainment.

They were recommended by Mr. Trip Hawkins of EA to help us complete the testing.”

Hanyu Hideki looked at the person who introduced him.

He was also a young white man who looked less than 30 years old, but Hideki Hanyu knew him.

Mark Cerny.

A legendary figure in the history of American video games that cannot be ignored.

Mark Cerny is two years younger than Hideki Hanyu, but he graduated from the University of California at the age of seventeen. He is a true genius.

After graduation, Mark Cerny joined Atari, the dominant company in the gaming industry at the time, and participated in the production of the famous arcade game "Havoc". He completed the development of a best-selling game alone at the age of eighteen.

In the original time and space, after the collapse of Atari, Mark Cerny should have joined Sega, then shined on the MD console, and finally reached a higher level on Sony's PS platform.

"Sonic 2", "Crash Bandicoot", "Spyro the Dragon", "Jack and Daxter", "Ratchet and Clank", "Resistance 2", "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves", and "God of War 3" are all projects he has participated in.

And what this person is best at is not just game design and development.

As the chief designer and chief architect of the PS5 console, it is enough to prove that Mark Cerny is a super expert who combines software and hardware technology.

At the same time, Mark Cerny also has excellent management and integration skills.

He is fluent in Japanese, familiar with Eastern and Western cultures, understands technology and management, and is a jack of all trades, making him a real all-rounder.

It is no wonder that Joseph Olin, president of the American Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences in another time and space, praised Mark Cerny, saying, "He is the person who is most like Leonardo da Vinci in the entire gaming industry."

So in this time and space, after the collapse of Atari, Hideki Hanyu naturally would not let such a talent go to work for Sega, and naturally poached him to Pokemon Entertainment.

However, when Genie Entertainment first entered America, it started with electronic pets and handheld game consoles, and Mark Cerny was an avid fan of arcade games.

So after joining Elf Entertainment, he applied to go to the headquarters to join in the development of EGP arcade machines and became Tetsuya Aragaki's most important right-hand man.

When the development of the second-generation PS console entered the mid-stage, Mark Cerny participated in the development together with Tetsuya Aragaki.

However, Tetsu Aragaki later returned to Japan, but Mark Cerny stayed at the North American headquarters and was responsible for the integration architecture of the second-generation PS console.

Now, as the second-generation PS console enters the testing phase, Mark Cerny has been appointed as the general manager of the later testing.

Hideki Hanyu is well aware that both Michael Katz and Satoru Iwata have high hopes for Mark Cerny and are training him as a future core senior executive.

While Hanyu Hideki was recalling information about Mark Cerny, Mark Cerny's introduction to the two white youths who were trying out the game did not actually stop.

Mark Cerny first pointed at the ordinary-looking white young man, and then pointed at the white young man who looked like a Hollywood star.

“This is Andy Gavin, this is Jason Rubin.

They are actually the founders of a game design company, Jam Software... No, now it has been renamed Naughty Dog."

(The founder of Naughty Dog, and the company's front and back logos.)
When Hideki Hanyu heard this, he looked at the two of them with some surprise. He never expected that the people who would help him test the host would be two future greats.

You may still be unfamiliar with these two names and Naughty Dog.

But when it comes to the Crash Bandicoot series of games, the Uncharted series, and the Last of Us, I think everyone has heard of them to some extent.

These games were all produced by Naughty Dog, a company founded by the two.

(End of this chapter)