Traveling through the Tokyo bubble era

Chapter 832 Testing and Assurance

It was natural for Hideki Hanyu to feel surprised when two future big names in the gaming industry came to test the console for him.

But thinking about what the test director Mark Cerny said, it seems natural that these two people were introduced by Trip Hawkins of EA.

The reason why the Jam Software founded by the two was renamed Naughty Dog was because it was appreciated by EA.

Before being acquired by Sony in the new millennium, Naughty Dog had always been with EA and was once mentored by Mark Cerny, who is now at Genie Entertainment.

But those are all things from another time and space. Hideki Hanyu has no idea how Naughty Dog develops in this time and space.

After all, due to the emergence of Elf Entertainment, the world's electronic game market has been affected beyond recognition.

"Andy, Jason, thank you for your contribution to the second-generation PS console testing."

Mark Cerny finished his introduction and Hideki Hanyu thanked both of them again.

The two said in unison, "It is our honor to be able to participate in the testing of such an epoch-making console."

Hanyu Hideki smiled slightly and said, "Then go ahead. Let me see how the new console performs."

After Hanyu Hideki finished speaking, he sat directly in the seat that the two people had vacated and reached out to pick up the handle of the second-generation PS console.

Although it is an engineering machine for testing, the handle style is already the official version for mass production.

It still retains the avant-garde sci-fi design of the first-generation PS console controller. The barrel is white and the buttons are black. On the left is the iconic circular convex direction key of Elf Entertainment, in the middle is the menu function key, and on the right is the X○□△ button.

But unlike the first-generation PS console controller, in order to adapt to the needs of 3D games, L/R function keys appeared on the top of the controller, and a 3D game joystick for controlling direction was added in the lower convex part of the middle of the controller.

This joystick design has never appeared on the Sony PS1 in another time and space.

The reason why it appears on the handle in front of you is, of course, because of Hideki Hanyu's request.

In the past, Sony added a joystick controller to the PS1 handle because it was under pressure from Nintendo's "NINTENDO64" console.

Of course, Nintendo was not the first to use joystick control on home consoles, but it was the best in its application, and the results achieved also amazed the gaming industry.

Knowing the development trend of subsequent game controllers being equipped with joysticks as standard, Hideki Hanyu made the decision to add joysticks to the second-generation PS console.

Although this decision was opposed by many senior executives of Elf Entertainment, who gave reasons such as R&D difficulties, increased failure rate of the handle, or increased design and production costs, etc.

But Hideki Hanyu still pushed forward forcefully.

Seeing the finished product at this moment, a joystick that at least improves the technological sense of the handle by half, Hideki Hanyu still feels quite a sense of accomplishment.

If you want to be a leader in the industry, you must dare to be the first, strive for excellence, and stay at the forefront of the times.

And he also believes in the power of facts.

His choice must not be wrong if it can become a standard accessory for future controllers.

After picking up the handle, Hideki Hanyu did not rush to operate it and try it out immediately, but instead turned his attention to the second-generation PS console connected to the TV.

The color of the body is consistent with the handle, presenting a sci-fi white color. The material used is also quite textured. Whether it is the visual effect or the touch, it does not look cheap at all.

As for the shape of the machine, it is actually similar to the previous PS1 console. It has a square body compressed to the maximum size and a round game disc compartment cover.

Of course, it's only roughly similar.

In terms of details and design concepts, it is completely in the style of this space-time elf entertainment.

For example, I like to use arc shapes in details.

For example, the button for opening the game disk hatch is designed as a half-buckled flat Poké Ball.

What caught Hanyu Hideki's eye the most was the circular game disc compartment cover, which was actually divided into two parts.

The lower part is made of the same white plastic as the body, with the PS console's unique "PS" logo printed on it.

The upper part is based on the design of the first-generation PS console and uses a piece of completely transparent plastic.

At this time, Hideki Hanyu could clearly see through the hatch and see the EMD game disc dedicated to the PS console being used inside.

Such a traditional design of the PS console is like the finishing touch, directly giving the body a sci-fi feel unique to the PS console.

Seeing this, at least in terms of the appearance design of the second-generation PS console and controller, Hideki Hanyu has no dissatisfaction for the time being.

Next, Hanyu Hideki said to Mark Cerny beside him, "Mark, play with me."

"Okay, sir."

Mark Cerny responded and sat next to Hideki Hanyu, picked up another controller, and started playing Mario Kart 3D with Hideki Hanyu.

After a few rounds, Hideki Hanyu couldn't help but put down the controller.

In fact, he didn't know much about Mario Kart 3D in his previous life, and he hadn't played it very often.

Among similar games, the one he plays more is actually the South Korean KartRider prop mode.

Therefore, when he was planning Mario Kart 3D, he made extensive use of KartRider's settings.

Now it seems that given the limited performance of the console, the game he planned is still very good.

In terms of gameplay alone, this 3D racing game alone is enough to crush all current home console games.

Even the best games on its own PS1 console pale in comparison to true 3D games.

The entertainment value of the game is not discussed here.

It is simply a subversion in terms of technology and sensory stimulation.

This one game alone is enough to convince Hideki Hanyu that the second-generation PS console has a great chance of success.

But even so, after finishing the trial of Mario Kart 3D, Hideki Hanyu said to Mark Cerny, "Switch the game and let's continue."

"Ok."

As Mark Cerny spoke, he stood up and pressed the flat Poké Ball on the console body, opened the disc compartment cover, took out the Mario Kart 3D game disc inside, and then picked up an EMD game disc from the side and put it in.

As the game screen started, Hideki Hanyu knew that this was another 3D game that he had planned and developed, "3D Contra" which was in charge of the fourth development team.

Unlike the previous Mario Kart 3D, "Contra 3D" uses more new technologies and also registered a large number of 3D game patents during the game development.

When playing "3D Contra", the joystick on the controller begins to show its advantages, and it is obviously more convenient to control than the direction keys on the controller.

For "3D Contra", Hideki Hanyu played the game for about forty minutes.

What was different from the trial of Mario Kart 3D was that during the process he made a lot of comments on the controller, the console, and the game itself.

After the Elf Entertainment staff next to him carefully recorded everything, Hideki Hanyu began to try out the third game.

It was still a game he planned and developed, "Tekken" developed by Sacred Studios.

This is also the first 3D fighting game on a home console.

As for why we need to emphasize that it is a home console.

Because before, after completing the development of "Tekken", Takashi Nishiyama arranged to promote this game on a small scale on the second-generation EGP arcade machine.

In this day and age, it is a well-known fact that arcade games are more powerful than consoles.

However, due to the different gaming environments, many games are only suitable for consoles. However, fighting games are naturally more suitable for arcade machines.

In his previous life, Hideki Hanyu didn't like Tekken very much, so this time he just tried it out briefly, made some suggestions and then ended it quickly.

Up to now, although the trial of the three 3D games planned and developed by Hideki Hanyu himself has ended, the trial and testing of the console have not ended.

After all, there are thousands of employees in the global game development department of Elf Entertainment nowadays. They don't keep so many people just to make a living. The development of 3D games still requires Hideki Hanyu to help them plan one by one.

Besides, although the second-generation PS console supports 3D games, it does not mean that it can only play 3D games.

Its excellent body performance and large game disc capacity are enough to bring about a revolutionary upgrade in the graphics and content of 2D games.

At the same time, Elf Entertainment will also optimize some excellent games for the PS1 console and port them to dedicated game discs, allowing players to enjoy a smoother and better gaming experience on the second-generation PS console.

All in all, at this time in the testing department, there are more than 40 games that can be used to try out the second-generation PS console, enough for Hideki Hanyu to play for a month or two without sleep.

Of course, the testing department has more than just this one console for trial play, and the testing content includes more than just trial games.

And it is impossible for Hideki Hanyu to really play for that long.

After Hideki Hanyu arrived at Elf Entertainment in the morning, he played the game until noon, then had a quick takeout meal with Michael Katz and the staff of the testing department, and then hurriedly devoted himself to other aspects of the test.

During this period, he expressed his ideas and made suggestions based on his previous life experience, helping to advance the testing work of the second-generation PS console.

Here we have to say that the mature experience of later generations possessed by the time travelers has a power beyond imagination at this time.

Many later game companies had to pay a heavy price and only discovered their flaws and mistakes after suffering heavy losses in the market, but Hideki Hanyu could avoid them with just one glance.

So with the help of Hideki Hanyu, everyone in the testing department found that the problems Hideki Hanyu solved for the testing department in one day were more than what they solved in half a month.

With the help of Hideki Hanyu, the progress bar of the testing work increased significantly in just one day at a speed almost visible to the naked eye.

In this way, Hideki Hanyu stayed in the testing department until dark.

In addition to Michael Katz, president of Genie Entertainment, Mark Cerny, head of testing, and the two founders of Naughty Dog, Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin, left with him in the end.

"If you don't mind, how about we all have a drink together?"

In the parking lot, Michael Katz extended an invitation.

As soon as these words were spoken, the people around them all looked at Hanyu Hideki unconsciously, wanting to see Hanyu Hideki's opinion.

Even though they had only been together for a day, Hideki Hanyu's identity was still there: a company owner, a young rich man, a famous writer, and a top game designer.

Because of these titles, people inevitably distinguish Hideki Hanyu from themselves.

But compared to others, Michael Katz, who made the invitation, did not have such an idea.

The president of the North American branch of Elf Entertainment has worked with Hideki Hanyu for many years and is very familiar with Hanyu's character.

Although he is a young wealthy man with a successful career, he never puts on airs like a rich boss, nor is he as introverted and reserved as traditional Asians.

Enthusiastic, cheerful, approachable, humorous...

All in all, he had no worries that Hanyu Hideki would refuse.

Sure enough, the next moment, Hanyu Hideki's voice sounded, "What a good idea. I remember that bar you invited me to last time, Michael, was very good."

"Let's go there then, will you guys come with us?" Michael Katz looked at the others.

Mark Cerny, Andy Gavin, and Jason Rubin answered in unison, “Of course together.”

Then, the few of them went to the bar that Hanyu Hideki mentioned.

As one of the favorite bars for Silicon Valley technicians, it is not as "tawdry" as other nightclubs in America, nor is it very noisy.

A few people found a table and sat down. After Michael Katz took the menu and talked to the waiter, the table was soon filled with various drinks and food.

They ate and drank and chatted.

At the beginning, everyone was a little hesitant because Hideki Hanyu was there.

But as the conversation progressed, others soon discovered that although Hideki Hanyu had a special identity, he was no different from other young people in their twenties in terms of getting along with others.

So as they chatted, everyone lost their initial reservations and started to speak freely.

Moreover, the young people became more and more interested in each other as they talked, and left Michael Katz, who had invited them to drink, aside.

Of course, for confidentiality reasons, they couldn't talk about anything related to the test.

I don't know who started it, but soon these guys became concerned about the gossip about Hideki Hanyu in the media.

"Is your relationship with Brooke Shields really as the newspapers say?"

The person asking the questions was Jason Rubin, one of the founders of Naughty Dog.

This guy obviously has a face that looks like a Hollywood star, but after getting to know him, you'll find that he has a typical introverted and reserved personality, and he loves to gossip.

Hanyu Hideki, holding a beer in his hand, asked in confusion, "What kind of relationship do you mean?"

"Like...?" Jason Rubin raised his hands and clapped.

Hanyu Hideki lowered his voice and deliberately said mysteriously, "Of course, and it was her first time."

After these words were spoken, Jason Rubin and Mark Cerny exclaimed in surprise.

Andy Gavin covered his chest and said sadly, "My heart is broken. She is my goddess."

Hanyu Hideki patted the other person's shoulder and comforted him, "Don't be sad, I will introduce you to more beautiful ones in the future."

Jason Rubin next to him ignored his friend's sadness and continued to ask excitedly, "So what the news said is true."

Hanyu Hideki spread his hands and said helplessly, "I still don't know what the North American media reported. In fact, I haven't seen her for a long time."

"God! That's Brooke Shields, how could you hold back?" Andy Gavin said in an exaggerated tone.

Hideki Hanyu touched his nose and wanted to say something about beautiful celebrities. They were indeed very attractive when viewed from afar before they were in his hands, but after he got them and got tired of playing with them, they were actually just that-so.

Especially European and American female stars, many of whom look stunning on the screen, will often have their beautiful imaginations shattered after close contact.

Although he didn't answer, he couldn't stop talking about this topic once he started.

Jason Rubin continued to ask curiously, "Since Brooke Shields is true, what about the other reports, Sherilyn Fenn, Nicole Kidman..."

The names of the beauties popped out of Jason Rubin's mouth one after another.

Hideki Hanyu never expected that this guy would be so concerned about his gossip.

He never expected that the American gossip tabloids, through their fabricated speculations, would actually guess so many of his secrets.

Next, Hideki Hanyu did not hide anything and began to satisfy the curiosity of these people one by one.

By the way, he promised that as long as the second generation of PS console was successful, he would hold a celebration party full of Hollywood beauties.

This made several young people very excited, and they wanted to go back to Elf Entertainment to work overtime all night.

(End of this chapter)