“I wonder if it is right to put out such a frivolous game under the Capcom name.” Please read the proposal more carefully!” Two years earlier, Capcom had released “Onimusha”, a survival-action game based on a Warring States Period motif. “Don’t we already have a feudal warlord game?” If we only play it safe, we will keep sliding downhill.” countered Kobayashi. “This is a game for the casual user segment unlike anything we have done before. That’s the theory, right?” said another director. Rather than new titles, we are focusing on sequels to hit titles that are expected to provide stable earnings. “I do understand that, which is why I am proposing this as a project to increase earnings!” asserted Kobayashi as he stared intently at the director. Kobayashi had expected there would be a certain amount of pushback from management. The tremendous amount of time and budget required to develop a new game posed a significant risk to the company. “You understand the situation we’re facing right now, don’t you?” asked a director.Īt this time, Capcom’s business was in dire straits, having plunged into the red for two consecutive fiscal periods and posted a 45 billion yen extraordinary loss. Before him stood a barrier more impenetrable than he had ever imagined.
As Kobayashi proceeded with the presentation, he felt his heart becoming heavier.Īn enterprising, young producer, Kobayashi was in a marketing meeting focused on his proposal for a new game.
This scene made it feel as if everyone sitting there was an enemy character.
The directors, general managers and head of R&D looked over the proposal Hiroyuki Kobayashi had handed out with silent, stern looks on their faces. The deafening silence of the meeting room was difficult to describe. “Hmm… A new kind of action game featuring a main character based on a real-life feudal warlord…” muttered one corporate director.
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