Progress in Semiconductor technologies

On May 7th, 2000, the F1 circus arrived at the Circuit de Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix, marking the fifth race of the season. KiShin, with their strategic sponsorship of the Ferrari team and rising star Michael Schumacher, had their eyes firmly fixed on the outcome.

Michael, fresh off a strong performance in the previous race, continued his momentum and secured a position within the top 5. While not a podium finish, it was a commendable result, particularly considering the fiercely competitive nature of F1.

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Launched in December 1999, the KS2 console achieved impressive sales figures early on, reaching 8.9 million units by May 2000.

For loyal KS1 owners, the backward compatibility was a siren song. Their beloved classics wouldn't be gathering dust in the attic anymore – they'd be reborn with a fresh coat of graphical polish on the KS2.

KiShin newly released title, "NBA 2K1," garnered significant attention and emerged as a strong competitor to the established "NBA LIVE" series. Basketball fans were particularly drawn to its innovative gameplay and engaging features, propelling it towards becoming a new favorite.

Recognizing the shifting market landscape, KiShin strategically handed over the development of the "NBA LIVE" series to Electronic Arts, a subsidiary video game studio. This allowed KiShin to focus its resources on its rising star, "NBA 2K1," and capitalize on its potential.

Furthermore, KiShin was already a dominant player in the soccer gaming scene with its "FIFA" series on the KS2.

Suzuki, with its 128-bit console, aimed to capture market share with refreshed versions of their popular video games. Their RPG, "Two Realms," and sports game, "Soccer 2000," offered familiar experiences with updated graphics and features. Notably, "Soccer 2000" garnered some popularity in the US, potentially due to the sport's growing fanbase there.

Meanwhile, Tora, a company that initially struggled in the console market, transitioned into a solely video game development studio. This strategic shift allowed them to focus on creating titles for other successful platforms like KiShin's KS2 and Suzuki's SP128. Interestingly, their established "Happy" series found continued success on these platforms, demonstrating the value of strong intellectual property. This shift proved profitable for Tora...

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In 2000, KiShin Pictures continued to leverage the power of established intellectual property (IP) with the release of "Jurassic Park III," the third installment in the popular dinosaur franchise. The film opened successfully, generating $70 million in its first week at the domestic box office. While domestic sales declined after the initial surge, the film's performance was bolstered by international distribution.

Beyond domestic audiences, KiShin Pictures' international distribution efforts played a significant role in the film's overall success. Partnering with distributors in other countries allowed "Jurassic Park III" to reach a global audience, expanding its reach and potential for revenue. This strategy resulted in the film's total box office reaching $180 million and continuing to slowly increase over time.

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In the year 2000, KiShin Semiconductor was actively involved in the development of 0.18-micron technology, a significant advancement in chip manufacturing. This technology allowed for the creation of denser and faster chips compared to previous generations.

Looking ahead, industry experts predicted a gradual transition to even smaller and more powerful 0.13-micron technology by 2001. Recognizing this trend, KiShin sought strategic partnerships to accelerate its own progress in this area.

One such partnership was established with SamStar, a major semiconductor company. Through this collaboration, both KiShin and SamStar aimed to leverage their combined resources and expertise to jointly research and develop 0.13-micron technology. This joint effort, however, required significant financial investment, with estimates suggesting billions of dollars would be needed for the transition.

Additionally, KiShin explored collaboration with another Japanese company, Fujitsu. Fujitsu possessed extensive experience in semiconductor technologies, and partnering with them offered KiShin valuable insights and expertise to complement their own efforts.

This led them to forge a strategic alliance with Fujitsu, a Japanese company with extensive experience in semiconductor technologies. Fujitsu's involvement brought valuable technical knowledge and a complementary skillset to the table, enriching the collaborative effort. Notably, this partnership took place after Fujitsu's ties with TSMC ended, opening the door for a new collaboration.

While the ultimate goal was 0.13-micron technology, KiShin's existing expertise in 0.18-micron technology (180nm process) offered immediate benefits. This enabled the development of essential components like CPUs and communication chips, including internet interface controllers for WorldCOM ISP modems, a KiShin subsidiary in the US. This internal production capability streamlined operations and potentially reduced costs for KiShin's various businesses.

Beyond immediate applications, KiShin recognized the potential of its semiconductor expertise in the burgeoning automotive industry. The company saw the possibility of leveraging its technological know-how to develop chips specifically for automotive applications, paving the way for future entry into this lucrative market.