Text-based game and KiShin's broader plan

In the headquarters of the Suzuki Group, Chairman Shiro found himself in a discussion with his two sons who had successfully persuaded him to consider entering into a partnership with Tora. Although he was initially reluctant to agree, he couldn't deny the validity of their argument, especially given that his youngest son's company, KiShin, was a direct competitor to Suzuki Group.

Reluctantly, Chairman Shiro conveyed his decision to his sons, clasping his hands with a stern expression, "I will take your suggestion into account. You may both leave now."

Shiro and Seki exchanged glances upon hearing his words, and after a brief pause, they exited the office.

As Chairman Shiro watched his two sons depart, he couldn't help but ponder the complex situation. While these two sons of his shared blood ties with his brother, the Vice Chairman of the Suzuki Group, he had never anticipated that they would align themselves with his brother's interests within the company.

Meanwhile, Chairman Shiro genuinely considered his two sons' suggestions but couldn't shake the feeling that his father, Sazama, who held shares in the Suzuki Group, should be consulted for his opinion. Not only that, Sazama Suzuki, Chairman Shiro's father, was the founder and former Chairman of the Suzuki Group, making his perspective highly significant.

The remarkable success of KiShin became evident across various industries, from anime and music to merchandise, the cellular phone industry, and even the film industry. While it was commonplace for KiShin to thrive in KiShin Merchandise due to their intellectual property from video games being sold there, the film industry posed a unique challenge. Most expected KiShin to falter if they attempted to adapt their anime or video game intellectual property into films. However, KiShin took a different approach, crafting a story that proved to be a remarkable commercial success in the film industry, with their creation, 'Jurassic Park,' eventually transitioning to the video game industry, mirroring the strategy KiShin employed with Pokémon.

Due to the incredible success of KiShin, it garnered the attention of renowned companies like IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and Intel.

IBM, in particular, was contemplating the showcase of their revolutionary Simon Personal Communicator, which outperformed contemporary cellular phones on multiple fronts.

Meanwhile, Microsoft witnessed a gradual rise in sales for its operating system, Windows 3.1. Its impeccable usability and a wide array of applications and software made it exceptionally valuable, especially in a contemporary workspace. Windows for Workgroups 3.11 gained immense popularity in corporate environments.

Will Gates, the Founder and CEO of Microsoft, was currently engaged in a meeting with the board of directors to strategize and discuss the company's future and its potential for significant success. After exploring the practical applications they could incorporate into their ongoing operating system project, Will Gates broke the silence with a suggestion, "Esteemed members of the board, as the CEO of Microsoft, I have a long-cherished idea I'd like to propose."

The board of directors were taken aback by the formal tone adopted by the Founder and CEO, Will Gates.

Phil Allen, a childhood friend of Will Gates, regarded him with a touch of surprise. He knew that Will tended to adopt this tone when he had an exceptional idea brewing.

Serving as a member of the board of directors, Phil Allen addressed Will Gates, stating, "I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts, Mr. Gates," his words and demeanor equally formal.

The rest of the board of directors nodded in agreement, indicating their eagerness to hear and consider Will Gates' forthcoming suggestions.

With that, Will Gates reached into his pocket, retrieving the KRS 1 phone. He held it up, capturing the attention of the board of directors, and explained, "I've drawn inspiration from this device in my hand."

Upon hearing this, the board of directors exhibited a mixture of surprise and curiosity. Notably, they all possessed a KRS 1 phone, recognizing it as a standout product within the cellular phone industry.

Phil Allen, echoing the collective curiosity, inquired, "A cellular phone as your source of inspiration, you say?" — a question shared by others present.

Will Gates nodded affirmatively, remarking, "This phone has truly sparked some great ideas for me." He paused briefly, activating his KRS 1 phone, and continued, "Despite being products of smaller companies like KiShin and Rebolt Technology, the KRS 1 undeniably represents innovation not only in the realm of cellular phones but also exerts a subtle influence on other industries." Observing the board of directors nod in agreement, Will Gates broke into a smile and added, "As you might be aware, the KRS 1 phone boasts a catalog of games, and that's what inspired me. What if we were to incorporate a selection of games into our operating software?"

Upon hearing Will Gates' suggestion, the board of directors displayed a mild surprise, though they weren't entirely shocked. After all, Will Gates wasn't the first to propose such an idea, and while he might be the one receiving sole credit for initiating it, they recognized the value of the concept. Their astonishment resurfaced when Will Gates smiled and stated, "However, the notion of embedding games in an operating system for computer use isn't groundbreaking. Others before me have made similar suggestions, and it's possible that even Apple is contemplating the same idea. But that's not the core concept I wish to share."

As the board of directors absorbed Will Gates' words, they exchanged puzzled glances. They had initially assumed that Will's "idea" merely involved integrating a list of games into the operating system, but it was clear they had misjudged.

Will Gates couldn't help but smile upon seeing the collective surprise on the faces of the board of directors, including that of his childhood friend, Phil Allen.

With a sense of anticipation in the room, Will Gates continued, "I would like Microsoft to develop a 'Text-based game'." He noted the bewildered expressions on the faces of the board of directors, prompting him to clarify, "To illustrate, it would be a game displayed solely as lines of text on the computer screen, interacting with the player. The game would rely on the player's imagination because it would consist of nothing but text, and the player could respond by typing on their computer's keyboard."

Upon hearing Will Gates' idea, the board of directors couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment, as their initial expectations waned.

Sensing the disappointment in the room, Will Gates sought to address their concerns, saying, "Programmers could also develop their 'Text-based games' using the software we'll provide for creating these kinds of games." He paused briefly before continuing, "By doing so, not only would our team have the opportunity, but other programmers could also create their 'Text-based games'..."

Recognizing the need to support his friend in this slightly awkward moment, Phil Allen decided to engage in the conversation, asking, "Where did you come up with this idea, Will?"

Will Gates smiled and explained, "You know how much I enjoy reading books and novels. It struck me: what if we could interact with a story within a book? It would put your imagination to the test, and for book enthusiasts, this could become an immersive gaming experience."

As the board of directors contemplated Will Gates' words, they began to see his suggestion in a more favorable light. While it might not measure up to KiShin's video games, in the realm of computer-based games, it appeared to hold promise. However, their expectations remained somewhat reserved.

Little did they know that someone had beaten Will Gates to the punch.

Indeed, it was KiShin. While the massive success of the film 'Jurassic Park' had garnered widespread attention, people seemed so captivated by its popularity that they failed to notice KiShin Electronics, led by Shin, quietly orchestrating a collaboration with Apple.

Considering that Apple at this time possessed a net worth of 3.1 billion dollars, most assumed Apple was the more valuable of the two, given that KiShin's net worth remained a well-guarded secret, as it was not a publicly traded company. Yet, within the business world, industry leaders possessed unofficial estimates of KiShin's net worth, ranging from 6 to 9 billion dollars, including its subsidiaries.

This implies that KiShin was indeed a larger company compared to Apple. Steve Jobs found it astonishing that a company established as recently as 1990 could hold such significant worth. Yet, he couldn't overlook the potential benefits of a collaboration with KiShin.

Steve Jobs was unaware of KiShin's specific plans for initiating this partnership, but one thing was certain: this was an opportunity.

Consequently, in July, KiShin engaged in negotiations and discussions with Apple regarding their potential collaboration.

As Steve Jobs perused the plans put forth by KiShin, these proposals were attributed to the young founder and CEO of KiShin, the renowned Shinro Suzuki.

Upon reading about the inclusion of 'Text-based games' for the Apple operating system, as well as other intriguing KiShin proposals that piqued his interest, Steve Jobs became immediately captivated.

While Steve Jobs was undeniably interested in the potential collaboration, the ultimate decision rested with the board of directors. For Steve, this opportunity held the promise of challenging Microsoft's OS dominance, but he knew he would need to persuade the board of directors to agree.

As he continued to read, a particularly enticing detail caught his attention: KiShin's willingness to invest in Apple. The prospect of KiShin purchasing Apple shares at a slightly higher price than the stock exchange value nearly swayed Steve to agree immediately.

However, Steve Jobs quickly composed himself. He had contemplated selling some of his Apple shares to diversify his investment portfolio, manage personal debts, and support his philanthropic pursuits without entirely divesting his holdings. He was genuinely committed to giving to charitable causes.

But now, KiShin was genuinely extending an offer to purchase shares, and Steve Jobs was indeed intrigued.

Simultaneously, a few Apple shareholders were contemplating the sale of their shares, and KiShin had discreetly reached out to them, a fact unbeknownst to Steve Jobs.