In November 1994, Joanne Kathleen submitted her manuscript to Ruki Bookstore. Prior to Ruki Bookstore's establishment in the UK, her manuscript had been rejected by several other publishers. This time, Joanne felt a sense of worry as she approached Ruki Bookstore, uncertain about whether they would accept her work.
Upon entering the bookstore, Joanne faced the female manager, who appeared to be Asian, possibly Japanese due to her accent. The manager meticulously scrutinized Joanne's manuscripts.
"Wow, this is truly interesting," the Japanese woman exclaimed. "From these scripts alone, I can tell that it's wonderful."
"Really?" Joanne was pleasantly surprised by the manager's reaction, feeling relieved that her work had been well-received. However, unbeknownst to Joanne, the Japanese woman had received instructions from the higher-ups not to reject any books related to magic unless they were exceptionally poor.
The Japanese woman found herself perplexed about the situation, not fully understanding the reasons behind it. However, it was Shin who had orchestrated these instructions.
This directive wasn't exclusive to her; managers in the UK had also received identical instructions. Shin had specifically established several bookstores in the UK with the hope of discovering the author of the renowned work from his previous life, "Harry Potter."
Despite the financial risks and the decline in sales for his publishing company due to the policy of not rejecting any books related to magic and fantasy unless they were exceptionally poor, Shin believed it was worthwhile. Most of these books sold modestly, but with Shin's current financial strength, he felt confident in managing the situation.
The Japanese woman, engrossed in reading the Harry Potter manuscript, found the story captivating and willingly accepted it.
During the discussion of the contract and royalties, Joanne was pleased with Ruki Bookstore, as they offered more favorable terms compared to other publishers.
Despite her disapproval of the terms offered by other book publishers, the majority rejected her manuscript.
--
On November 12, 1994, KS1 and video games made their debut in the USA market. Excited console gamers flocked to KiShin stores and other distributors in malls.
Console gamers gradually purchased KS1 and video games, including popular titles like Resident Evil, KiShin All-Stars Racing!, and Mortal Kombat. Within a few days, these games resonated in the console gaming communities.
Particularly, Resident Evil (RE1) sparked discussions among gamers, prompting them to delve deeper into the game's story and gameplay. The CD cover directed them to the KiShin website's discussion forum for Resident Evil.
Upon visiting the website, they found a plethora of discussions in the 'Resident Evil' community, primarily in Japanese. When Americans selected their country as the USA, the discussions switched to English. Although the English discussions were still limited compared to the Japanese ones, Americans were beginning to explore the website and its communities.
--
Andrea, a young woman who had just played Resident Evil, sat in front of her family computer. She registered on the KiShin website and searched for the Resident Evil community in the forum. Upon reaching the Resident Evil community, she noticed a few discussions had already been posted.
She chose the most popular post with dozens of likes, authored by a user named 'IAmJohnnyCage.' The post's title intrigued her: "What if Resident Evil was an inspiration for real life?"
"Inspiration for real life? What's this supposed to mean?" Andrea couldn't help but wonder. Having recently played the Resident Evil game, the image of the zombie turning its head lingered in her memory.
As Andrea read the post, she realized it was a theory suggesting that Resident Evil mirrored real-world events. In just a few days of the Resident Evil game's presence in the USA, there was already a theory circulating about its potential real-world connections.
"I just finished playing Resident Evil, and I must say it was such a good experience. Before diving into that, I'd like to share my opinion in this first post of mine on how the T-Virus and the events in Resident Evil might actually be inspired by real-life events...
First of all, I'm not claiming absolute correctness for this theory, acknowledging that the events in Resident Evil are entirely fictional. My theory proposes that the game's events could be based on real-world occurrences.
For instance, the Tyrant Virus in the game is portrayed as a creation of the nefarious pharmaceutical company, Umbrella Corporation, seemingly developed for biowarfare purposes.
Though I may not possess extensive knowledge in biology, it's conceivable that there could be a real-world pharmaceutical company engaging in unethical practices—conducting experiments on viruses, bacteria, or cells. Such a corporation might parallel the fictional Umbrella Company, exhibiting a disregard for human life and prioritizing profit over public safety.
As we're aware, KiShin has expanded its business into various sectors, including games, toys, films, cable channels, and even phones. It's indeed a rapidly growing company, suggesting they might be privy to societal secrets unbeknownst to the common folk.
Imagine if KiShin uncovers an unethical pharmaceutical company conducting experiments on biological weapons for the government. The virus they're experimenting with could have effects similar to the T-Virus in the game Resident Evil. Being an upright company, KiShin might have decided to alert the public through their new game.
It just struck me that the setting of the Resident Evil game resembles a suburban area in the USA. This implies that the mentioned pharmaceutical company might be conducting its experiments in an unassuming location within the United States.
I reached this conclusion due to the potential existence of a T-Virus in reality. We need to be cautious, and the disturbing fact that certain pharmaceutical companies are overcharging for drugs, prioritizing profits over humanity, is deeply unsettling."
As Andrea reads the post, a chill runs down her spine. At 16, the thought of a Resident Evil scenario being plausible shakes her to the core. With her right hand on the mouse, she feels it gradually turning cold.
"I must warn my family about this," Andrea mutters, trembling.
After 'IAmJohnnyCage' posted a theory about Resident Evil (RE1) in the discussion forum, fellow fans began sharing similar theories. While these discussions were not widely popular among console gamers initially, only gaining traction within the KiShin website community, the buzz gradually spread through word of mouth to friends and families of console gamers.
Even though some of these friends or family members hadn't played Resident Evil, their curiosity led them to experience the game. After playing and encountering the theories, they too started feeling a sense of unease.
While Resident Evil theories were gaining popularity within the console gaming and Resident Evil player community, it's worth noting that theories about other games existed before Resident Evil. However, these earlier theories didn't delve into real-life implications or pose potential dangers, unlike Resident Evil's theory, which touches on public safety. Consequently, this particular theory slowly but surely gained momentum.
As a few weeks passed, the situation became more serious than 'IAmJohnnyCage' initially anticipated before making the post.
--
Meanwhile, Shin found himself at home engrossed in a game of Super Mario with his child, blissfully unaware that his company, KiShin, was slowly becoming entangled in a conspiracy theory involving bio-weapons, biowarfare, and virus experimentation by a pharmaceutical company similar to the T-Virus of Resident Evil. Ironically, KiShin emerged as a societal hero for issuing a warning through their game Resident Evil.
"Oops... Game Over..." Shin chuckled as his child's palm landed on his cheek.
"I guess you've won the milk this time," Shin conceded, handing over a bottle to Shinichi in a playful sign of defeat.
While enjoying this moment with his child, Shin's phone interrupted the scene. Without much thought, he answered, "Hello? What do you want?" Recognizing it was Orio Masayoshi, he spoke informally, having grown accustomed to Orio Masayoshi, much like with Han Lee.
"Mr. Suzuki, I'm not sure if you're aware, but we might be facing some trouble at the moment..." Orio Masayoshi's voice conveyed concern.
Shin frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
--
Orio Masayoshi, situated in the USA, occupied his office while glancing at the newspaper spread across his desk.
The headline read: Zombie Outbreak?
"After the release of the KS1 by KiShin in the USA, it quickly became a hot topic among video game enthusiasts. While the KS1 video games gained significant attention, the most controversial one, just a few weeks post-release, was undoubtedly Resident Evil... What stirred the controversy? It originated in the community forum of the KiShin website, concerning a virus element reminiscent of Resident Evil..." Below the headline, a series of words explained the situation.
"What do you mean?" Shin inquired over Orio Masayoshi's phone.
"Mr. Suzuki, it's about our video game, Resident Evil..." Orio Masayoshi began, proceeding to outline the unfolding circumstances to Shin.
--
As Shin held the phone to his right ear, he absorbed Orio Masayoshi's explanation, unable to suppress a furrowed brow.
"How did it come to this situation? How did it escalate to the point where even newspaper companies are covering it? Don't they have more pressing stories to attend to?" Shin inquired with a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"It's connected to KiShin, Mr. Suzuki. As you're aware, our company holds a high profile, engaging in various ventures. Other media outlets and newspapers find it hard to overlook anything that casts us in a negative light," Orio Masayoshi explained, pausing for emphasis.
He continued, "Furthermore, news involving a virus capable of turning people into zombies sells well among the general public."
Shin acknowledged the validity of Orio Masayoshi's words, stating, "That's quite reasonable. Human instincts gravitate toward intriguing topics like that."
Indeed, negative news tends to spread faster and wider than positive news. It's unsurprising that newspaper publishers seized the opportunity to disseminate information about the supposed zombie outbreak.
They could have merely expressed their opinions on the matter without confirming its truth, allowing readers to decide for themselves. However, this approach fueled the rapid growth in popularity.
One of the tactics employed by these newspaper publishers was to refrain from completely debunking the matter. This strategy aimed to prolong the discussion, and as the topic reached more people, it ensured longer profitability for the publishers, with readers eagerly anticipating updates on the latest news.
While expressing a neutral opinion would have sufficed, some newspapers subtly placed blame on KiShin. They insinuated that KiShin was behind the plan to cause public unrest, negatively impacting the company.
"Sigh... I guess it's happened. We'll just handle it according to the situation. I never thought people would entertain such thoughts about a game," Shin sighed.
"Mr. Suzuki, it could have a negative impact on our KS1 and video game sales. Not only that, our reputation might suffer due to the perception that we somehow caused public unrest," Orio Masayoshi hurriedly reminded Shin.
Shin, upon hearing this, smiled and remarked, "You have a point." He paused to gently place his sleeping child, who had fallen asleep while drinking from a bottle, on the soft sofa. Sitting beside his peacefully sleeping child, he continued speaking into the phone, "It could indeed have a negative impact on our product sales and reputation. However, how it affects us depends on KiShin's reactions."
Shin noticed Orio Masayoshi's silence, briefly thinking the call had ended. Upon realizing it was still connected, he continued, "As you know, this 'Zombie Outbreak' topic is spreading because of these newspaper companies. We're not the cause of this unrest. Moreover, if you're interviewed by the media, don't overly defend yourself; it might raise suspicion. Just speak naturally and avoid showing too much concern. Instead of worrying, let's view this problem as an opportunity and capitalize on the free promotion these newspapers are giving us." Shin chuckled as he spoke.
Orio Masayoshi, hearing this, sighed and eased up. He replied, "I understand."
The Resident Evil theory has gained widespread attention since its publication in the newspaper. American reactions vary—some feel scared, some find it amusing, others think it's foolish, and some remain indifferent. Nonetheless, it has instigated a significant amount of panic, particularly concerning the T-Virus. This virus, capable of transforming people into carriers, raises concerns about potential experiments by pharmaceutical companies for biological weapons. This fear extends to those unfamiliar with Resident Evil, especially among non-console gamers.
"We should urge the government to take action for public safety," remarked a thin elderly man reading the newspaper during a family outing.
"Oh, come on, Dad. That news is two days old; it's probably outdated," the man in his thirties interjected.
"Even if it's from two days ago, the possibility of a pharmaceutical company experimenting with such a virus, disregarding human life, is still a cause for concern at this very moment!" the old man insisted, dismissing the newspaper issue.
Shaking his head, the man in his thirties turned to his wife and children, preparing to set up the barbecue.
The old man approached them and cautioned, "I warned you this outing could be dangerous. Zombies might be roaming around out there."
The man in his thirties and his wife exchanged glances, shaking their heads. "You're being paranoid, Dad," he sighed.
"That's right, Dad. I don't think there's any need to worry," the man's wife reassured.
"I'm telling you, these are usually the words of people before they get hunted down by zombies!" the old man insisted seriously. He added, "I couldn't leave you alone, so I joined this outing and brought some weapons we could use later."
"Zombies!?" the three children exclaimed, two excitedly while the other showed fear.
"You're scaring the children, Dad," the man in his thirties shook his head.
"Let's hunt zombies, Grandpa!"
"Let's go!"
"I'm so scared..."
--
Meanwhile, after profiting from the zombie-related news, the newspaper publishers released more updates on the Resident Evil T-Virus, KiShin, and pharmaceutical companies.
It triggered a minor public alarm, and the Resident Evil theory found its way to several media outlets.
"Zombie outbreak? Is it truly plausible?" questioned an anchor in front of the camera. He continued, "Should you prepare a shelter to ensure your safety and possibly your family's against this crisis? Let's find out with the coverage from Andrew Arc."
The scene shifted to Andrew Arc, standing in front of the camera, who explained, "There's news circulating about a virus possibly being developed by pharmaceutical companies that could turn people into zombies. It originated from a horror-themed video game centered around zombies." The coverage on Resident Evil unfolded.
--
As media outlets continued to cover the Resident Evil theory featured by newspaper publishers...
With the news spreading, more and more people gradually became aware of the theory, sparking curiosity, fear, or paranoia.
KiShin also came into the public eye due to this situation, as their video game initiated theories surrounding the zombie outbreak news.
Some individuals became increasingly wary of pharmaceutical companies possibly experimenting with such a virus.
Subsequently, certain media outlets approached KiShin regarding the situation.
KiShin's representative, Orio Masayoshi, responded, "We never anticipated that our fictional video game, Resident Evil, would lead to such a situation in this country. Our video game is intended solely for the entertainment and joy of those who enjoy gaming. The fear generated by a theory about our video game, covered by newspapers and media outlets, is not our intention..."
This response from KiShin emphasizes that their video games are meant for entertainment, disclaiming any intent to harm the public. They attribute the panic among the masses to the actions of newspapers publishers and media outlets.
Many people aligned with KiShin's response, believing that the company bears no responsibility for the situation.
Due to KiShin's response, media coverage faintly pointed blame at the company in their discussion of the zombie outbreak. There was a subtle suggestion that KiShin, a Japanese company, intentionally caused panic in the USA through the storyline of their video game Resident Evil, set in USA suburban areas. However, this insinuation didn't significantly impact KiShin, as some viewers believed the company was merely issuing a warning and delivering a message to the public.
Interestingly, the media's accusations had little adverse effect on KiShin; in fact, it bolstered their sales of KS1 and other video games. Particularly, Resident Evil, the focal point of attention, gained immense popularity, even reaching individuals not typically interested in video games.
Although Resident Evil was the catalyst for theories about viruses and zombies, it was the newspapers publishers and media outlets that ultimately propagated the news. This unintentionally led to increased recognition and sales for KiShin in the USA.
As a consequence, within a few days, newspaper publishers and media outlets ceased coverage of topics related to Resident Evil and zombie theories.
Recognizing that it would remain a hot topic, they refrained from spreading such news. They understood that not only would KiShin be implicated, but the company would also profit from the situation—an outcome the publishers and outlets were keen to avoid, especially after KiShin plainly stated that it was the newspapers publishers and media outlets themselves who spread panic through these theories...
--
Meanwhile, Shin examined the IBM Simon Personal Communicator.
Shin couldn't deny that IBM's attempt at a touchscreen and portable device was commendable, but its exorbitant price destined it for a swift failure – roughly a thousand dollars.
"It's quite good, but who would spend a grand on this when they could buy a cellular phone?" Shin mused while toying with the IBM Simon Personal Communicator.
As he explored the device, Shin received the sales report for KiShin in the USA following the coverage of Resident Evil and zombie outbreak theories by newspapers and media outlets.
Upon hearing the report from Orio Masayoshi on the phone, Shin smiled and remarked, "Hehe, we can't thank the media enough for their inadvertent assistance." Orio Masayoshi responded with a moment of silence.