253 Comeback
"TSX Fusion, huh..." muttered Shin as he gazed at the Tora-Suzuki console displayed on the TV screen.
The console boasts a sleek black and gray color scheme with a compact size and curved edges.
Its controller features two analog sticks, buttons, a directional pad, shoulder and bumper buttons, along with triggers. Surprisingly, the features and functions, as well as the buttons, appear to be similar to the KS1 controller...
However, the design is distinct, with the controller embracing a comforting ergonomic grip.
Tora and Suzuki appear determined to surpass the comforting design of the KS1, but their attempt only results in a shape similar to KS1 controllers, reminiscent of the Xbox controller from Shin's previous life.
Following the TSX Fusion announcement, Tora-Suzuki also showcased their games for a TSX Fusion preview.
Gamers were intrigued and somewhat excited as they observed the gameplay of TSX Fusion video games. Among them, a game from Tora's 'Happy' series took the spotlight.
The 'Happy' series was already a popular franchise for Tora, with profitable sequels. In this particular game, Happy, the in-game character, embarks on an adventure on a mythical island inhabited by monsters and legendary creatures.
As the main character, Happy, is composed of the element of fire, his rival and initial enemy named 'Gloomy' is made of the element of water. However, as the 'Happy' video game sequels were released, Gloomy evolves into a troublesome antagonist, gaining the power of the element of ice due to his persistent gloominess and depression stemming from repeated defeats to Happy.
Gloomy subsequently seized control of the once-peaceful mythical island, transforming it into a realm of wrath and depression. The island's inhabitants, influenced by Gloomy's instigation, began causing trouble in the world, prompting Happy to step in and save the day.
The gameplay involved solving puzzles, engaging in combat, and outsmarting enemies, all of which were previewed for eager gamers. The excitement among players was palpable, fueled not only by the captivating gameplay but also by the well-crafted graphics reminiscent of the third-person perspective seen in KiShin's 'Resident Evil.'
However, Tora-Suzuki's development of such a visually impressive video game took a significant investment of time— a year and a half, to be exact. It's worth noting that even before KiShin released the KS1 and its accompanying video games, Tora-Suzuki had been gradually advancing their video game technology since KiShin introduced the SKES and Gameboy in 1992.
During that period, prior to the release of SKES and Gameboy, Tora and Suzuki, who had not yet formed an alliance, believed KiShin was on the brink of obsolescence due to their outdated 8-bit video game console. Seizing the opportunity, Tora and Suzuki decided to focus on their rivalry in the video game competition.
Upon KiShin's release of SKES and Gameboy, Tora and Suzuki's video game sector realized the folly of assuming KiShin's demise. Consequently, they were compelled to form an alliance and began collaborative efforts in advancing video game technology. Their joint ventures included developing third-person perspective games and experimenting with the emerging 2.5D technology.
However, KiShin outpaced them by releasing Doom for the PC platform, and the surprise launch of KS1, featuring a competitive low price, caught Tora and Suzuki off guard.
Despite the setbacks, the early release of KS1 provided Tora and Suzuki with valuable insights. They swiftly incorporated these ideas into their own console development, accelerating the process. Three games emerged from this endeavor: 'Happy: Mythical Island,' 'Thriller V,' and 'Mech-O-Battle: Season of Legends.'
Attempting the first-person shooter genre, 'Thriller V' plunged players into a world of shooting zombies, showcasing Tora and Suzuki's ambition to explore new gaming experiences.
'Mech-O-Battle: Season of Legends' featured a third-person perspective, immersing players in duels with mechs opposing the kingdom of the in-game character.
Despite the collaborative efforts of Tora-Suzuki, the development of all three games spanned several years, highlighting the time-intensive nature of game development, comparable to the intricacies of console research.
The previewed advertisements for these video games on TV channels around Tokyo generated considerable excitement within the video game community.
It became the most discussed topic among the Japanese gaming community on the KiShin website.
'ImAPokèmonMasterInSeclusion': Even as a dedicated KiShin fan, I found myself growing intrigued by the TSX Fusion video games...
'ItadoriKeji128': Same here. They seem really captivating. Plus, we haven't seen as many new games released for KS1 lately, so trying out TSX Fusion and its games might be worth it...
'IAmNotOda': And the fact that its price is lower than KS1 makes it even more appealing. It's bound to gain popularity.
'ToraAndSuzuki': Absolutely! Considering KiShin hasn't reduced the price of their KS1, it's possible they might be compelled to do so soon in response to the TSX Fusion's competitive pricing.
'BadEgg': It's only about a thousand yen difference in price... I doubt it will make much of a difference.
'ToraAndSuzuki': Still cheaper...
---
The KS1, with an initial price of 29,800 yen in Japan, is already operating at a loss due to the low pricing strategy. Tora and Suzuki recognized that KiShin's intention was to generate profits from video games later, a strategy they had successfully employed before.
In response, Tora-Suzuki lowered the price of their TSX Fusion to $280, while KiShin's price remained around $290. The KS1's initial price was $299, indicating minimal reduction over the past few months.
With competitive video games in their arsenal, Tora-Suzuki aimed to challenge KiShin. After Tora-Suzuki's announcement, the release of their latest console and video games drew lengthy queues at stores and malls, reminiscent of the hype surrounding SKES or KS1.
This surge in demand demonstrated that KiShin's competitors in the video games sector were gradually gaining ground.
Slowly but surely, on the very first day of TSX Fusion's release, KiShin found itself no longer dominating the video game market, at least in Japan.
In response, Tora and Suzuki swiftly took action, promoting their latest product, TSX Fusion, in the USA market just a few days after its Japanese release.
While the USA release was still months away, the generated hype and anticipation proved to be advantageous for their business.
