Chapter 26: The Legend of Karin
Incredible! The line of people extended all the way to the venue, and you couldn't even see the end of it. Even though the Japanese are known for their patience, I never expected it to be this long. The sale of "The Legend of Karin" starts at 2 PM!!
"K-Kang. I suddenly find it hard to breathe. Can you please support me?"
"Get a grip and hurry. The event staff might be waiting for Ms. Shige too."
As I made my way through the long line and approached the sales booth, I asked the guy waiting at the front of the line, my fellow gamer:
"Thank you for braving the cold to come here. I'm MinTen employee Kang Junhyuk. How long have you been waiting?"
"I've been waiting since yesterday at 10 AM. Haha... I saw the FamiTelecom article and I really wanted that limited edition of 'The Legend of Karin'."
Wait, he waited for 24 hours in the December cold?! Unbelievable.
"Thank you for your enthusiasm. I'll make sure to inform our CEO separately. Can I take a commemorative photo with you later if that's okay?"
"Oh, sure! By the way, is the person next to you Mr. Kumamoto Shige? I've been a fan since the Dong King Com days. I'm looking forward to 'The Legend of Karin' too!"
Upon hearing this, Shige awkwardly smiled and replied, "Thank you. I hope you'll enjoy 'The Legend of Karin' this time."
&
As time passed, the line kept growing longer, and as the afternoon approached, the area in front of the venue was filled with a sea of people. It was an awe-inspiring sight to see all these gamers here to purchase "The Legend of Karin."
This phenomenon even made its way to the broadcasting station, where a journalist who had come to cover the event was interviewing Shige.
To prevent chaos in front of the venue, a few event helpers placed signs all over the place, and soon after, Mr. Kamauichi and Gunpei arrived at the venue.
"Hey, young man! Kang-buchang!"
Mr. Kamauichi, who looked ecstatic, came running towards me, dancing almost.
"What on earth is going on? Huh?! I just received a call, and they say 'The Legend of Karin' sales in Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka are no joke. They're planning to sell all 30,000 units we prepared today alone!!"
Wow, I had high expectations, but this is beyond imagination. For a typical title, especially if it's a new release, the initial cartridge production quantity is usually around 5,000.
And it usually takes about a week to sell all of them in stores. But for "The Legend of Karin," we decided to go all-in with limited edition gold cartridges, coupled with an aggressive marketing campaign.
With Kumamoto Shige already a gaming superstar, thanks to titles like "Mariji Brothers" and "Super Mariji," the gamers' anticipation was amplified. Plus, FamiTelecom, being the first magazine to introduce gaming trends, increased its print run to publish an extravagant feature article.
With all three elements in place, "The Legend of Karin" had generated significant buzz even before its release and seized the opportunity during the slight decline in "Dragon Warrior" popularity.
Then came the highly anticipated 2 PM.
The opening theme of "The Legend of Karin" echoed through the venue, and people started coming forward with their queue numbers to purchase the game. The 150 golden cartridges prepared for the event were all gone within 15 minutes of the event's start.
Of course, there was no major confusion as we had informed everyone beforehand. However, some people were left disappointed. Mr. Kamauichi, who was observing the checkout counter, also had a regretful expression along with the gamers.
"Hey, I told you to prepare around 10,000 units."
"No. If we had prepared 10,000, we wouldn't have achieved this kind of impact. With limited quantities, the value is recognized, and it attracts people. That's why it's called limited edition."
"Kang... Are you some kind of all-around player? At first, I thought you were just a console hardware planner, but now you're making games, handling business in the U.S., and even doing marketing. Oh, by the way, what's this about Gunpei making an announcement here at the event? What's the secret project you and Gunpei are working on?"
Mr. Kamauichi, wearing a curious expression that could drive me insane, asked. However, I had no choice but to shrug, pretending not to know. In reality, this was a joint project involving Gunpei, Shige, and me. It was one of my meticulously planned strategies, anticipating that some people would gather for "The Legend of Karin."
"We'll be making an announcement in about an hour. Please wait a little longer~"
I checked the time on my wristwatch and smiled warmly. Inside the venue, there were phrases like 'First Reveal at 3:33 PM' posted all over. Gamers were speculating that the number 3 hinted at the three gems in "The Legend of Karin, and there were even rumors of a sequel.
Even those who had already purchased "The Legend of Karin" couldn't easily leave the venue due to their curiosity about 3:33 PM. Thankfully, we had booked a large venue.
Starting yesterday morning, we waited for a full 28 hours. We awarded the first customer, who had waited for such a long time, a game title with Shige's autograph, as well as some special gifts like Mariji character dolls, and we took commemorative photos together.
And finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived at 3:33 PM. Gunpei, who had been at the event venue, disappeared, and the interior of the venue darkened momentarily before spotlights illuminated a small stage that had been prepared.
"What's this? What's happening!?"
As people purchasing the game gazed in confusion, Gunpei climbed onto the stage and grabbed the microphone.
"Well... First of all, I'd like to express our deep gratitude to all of you from MinTen for coming here to purchase 'The Legend of Karin.' I'm here to announce the birth of a new portable device."
With Gunpei's announcement, the venue erupted in cheers. In the midst of it, one gamer in front shouted, "A portable device? Could it be a new Game & Watch?"
"Oh, you catch on quickly! You guessed it right."
Gunpei reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a green Game & Watch device. It was themed after "The Legend of Karin." Kamauichi, who was standing by my side, said, "Wait a minute, I already approved this. Is this some kind of surprise announcement, even for me? Of course, for the people gathered here, it seems to be a big news. The reaction is not bad at all."
"Well, just wait a little longer."
I smiled faintly and gazed at the stage. On the stage, Gunpei briefly explained the device to the users and encouraged them to wait for more detailed information in next month's FamiTelecom. After that, he placed the Game & Watch back in his pocket.
And then...
"One more surprise announcement remains for you all."
With a confident smile, Gunpei took out a bulky device from his back pocket and shouted, "The world's first portable console, Game Boy, featuring cartridge exchange system!"
"Wowwww!"
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