In the USA, New York, the video game awards ceremony that has been preparing by Electronic Gaming was announced in February 1996, and currently now in September, they were reaching out to video games entertainment companies.

Many video game entertainment companies were reached out by Electronic Gaming and GameFan to participate in the event, and most of the video game entertainment companies were more than willing to participate in the event. After all, if their video games received awards, it could help promote those video games.

A few video game entertainment companies aren't really willing to participate in the event, but it seems like the company backing Electronic Gaming and GameFan were powerful enough, as the game awards ceremony event was even going to be aired on some TV channels.

Some TV channels, such as ABC and CBS, actually provided Electronic Gaming a time slot to air the video game ceremony.

These two channels were major TV channels in the USA. So, even though some video game entertainment companies were unwilling to join the video game awards ceremony, especially if their video games would not receive any awards, they decided to participate.

Electronic Gaming and GameFan also extended invitations to two major video game companies, Tora and Suzuki.

Tora and Suzuki accepted the offer without much hesitation, confident that their video games would be awarded in at least one or more categories.

Electronic Gaming and GameFan also reached out to Japanese video game production companies. These companies had a branch in the USA and were participating in the game awards ceremony scheduled for October 3, 1996.

Meanwhile, the "Quake" video game has only been in the market for several months, yet it has already sold about 1.4 million copies.

This incredible sales figure was truly admired in the computer industry, and hundreds of thousands of "Quake" players were from the USA.

With the outstanding sales of the video game "Quake," the KiShin Plays software CDs, used as third-party software for online gameplay, also experienced an incredible surge in sales.

Now, about 230 thousand people were using KiShin Plays software, and what does this mean? It means that many more people were gradually getting accustomed to the idea of online gaming.

A significant portion of these users were playing "Doom," "Doom II," "Quake," and "Warcraft II."

It seems like the era of the first-person shooter online gaming was already making itself known. Although it may not have appeared as huge at the time, KiShin was already making a significant contribution to developing the video game industry.

With an increasing number of KiShin Plays Software users, KiShin had to update and expand their servers to accommodate the growing traffic and load of the user base.

The server technology of 1996 was evolving rapidly, and limitations in bandwidth and processing power could quickly bottleneck online gaming experiences. KiShin was swift in its actions, implementing scaling strategies and adding more physical servers to handle increased traffic.

Furthermore, KiShin optimized their software over time, focusing on improving efficiency and reducing its resource footprint. This involved optimizing network communication protocols, employing data compression techniques, and refining server-side game logic.

Despite the expensive nature of scaling infrastructure, requiring ongoing investment, and the need for a dedicated team to maintain software stability and address technical issues with a growing user base, KiShin navigated through these challenges in pursuit of innovations, even if it meant incurring losses with KiShin Plays Software.

Because KiShin knew that a successful online gaming platform could attract more partnerships with game developers, expand advertising revenue streams, and solidify KiShin's position as a pioneer in the online gaming space.

In fact, KiShin Plays Software already had many partnerships with video game companies, and the revenue was starting to pick up slightly.

While KiShin was experiencing some success with KiShin Plays Software, competition started to emerge.

Netscape Online software, another third-party software offering video games support for online gaming, was developed by Netscape Communication.

Additionally, Retis Software, developed by Microsoft, also provided online gaming support for video games.

Although the two competitors were still somewhat inferior compared to KiShin Plays Software, Netscape Communication and Microsoft excelled in software development. They could certainly pose a threat to the position of KiShin Plays Software if KiShin were not careful.

In fact, Netscape Online and Retis Software had some advantages in certain functions that KiShin Plays Software lacked. However, KiShin Plays Software also possessed more advantages that Netscape Online and Retis Software clearly lacked. Even then, it can be observed that despite the great progress of KiShin Plays Software, it still lacked something that the new competitors had. Therefore, KiShin can learn from the competitors' software and fill in the gap that they are lacking.

--

In the country of Japan, specifically in Tokyo, anime fan communities were gradually starting to miss the Dragon Ball anime.

Dragon Ball recently concluded its airing a few months ago, ending with 153 episodes. While the anime fans were not overly depressed with the One Piece anime being shown on television, they still felt a sense of lacking without the Dragon Ball anime.

A few months prior, they were actually more disheartened by the conclusion of Dragon Ball in the manga. However, the depression among anime fans was lifted when the author of the Dragon Ball series continued to produce a Dragon Ball manga, titled "Dragon Ball Z," which already has about 27 chapters. Anime fans were eagerly anticipating an anime adaptation and couldn't wait any longer.

Then, around mid-September 1996, KiShin announced that they were about to air a new anime. Naturally, anime fans were anticipating the return of Dragon Ball, and their excitement was palpable, expectations brewing in the air.

Even some salarymen were quite thrilled, discussing Dragon Ball with their friends in the office. Topics ranged from Goku being an alien to various other elements. Clearly, the men were genuinely excited, while most of the women observed, amused by the enthusiasm of the muscle-headed men.

However, after KiShin and its anime productions revealed that the anime set to air around October 1996 was named "Sailor Moon," specifically an anime targeted towards girls, many men in Japan started to playfully curse KiShin...

The KiShin announcement of anime releasing a girly anime "Sailor Moon" was criticized by many anime fans.

The anime fans, viewers at home, cursed after watching the KiShin and its anime productions press conference.

"What is this!? I'm waiting and expecting for Dragon Ball, yet KiShin is releasing a girl anime!? Sh1t!" A chubby young man tossed the remote to the television after having his expectations dampened.

The same can be said for the other viewers that are Dragon Ball fans.

"What is KiShin actually thinking? It's well known that anime about girls is not well-received! Yet they even produce an anime for girls! This is unacceptable! We need Dragon Ball Z!"

Many anime fans, mostly men, criticized KiShin and its anime studios, such as MadRanch Animations, MAPPA Studios, and more, for even considering the production of anime for girls.

However, many women and girls also started to defend KiShin against the boys criticizing it.

For instance, in a certain high school in Tokyo, Japan, a young man was discussing his issues with KiShin with his friends. "Damn KiShin! Let's not watch that anime! Let's not support that 'Sailor Moon'! Boycott KiSh—" Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a pretty young woman.

"Criticizing KiShin just because they didn't release an anime you were expecting and instead announced an anime for girls?" The young woman snorted with a smirk and said, "Seriously, what shallow and narrow-minded boys you are..."

The young man and his friends were a bit stunned, not because they were being interrupted by the opposite gender, but because they were noticed by the most popular and pretty young woman in the class.

They exchanged glances, then, without even talking, they understood each other. The young man talked back to the pretty young woman, seemingly angry, but in reality, they only acted offended to extend their conversation with the beauty.

--

KiShin's announcement of an anime for girls, "Sailor Moon," drew the attention of competitors in the anime industry, and those competitors felt exhilarated seeing KiShin make a mistake.

One such competitor, Nippon TV, was quite happy with the development of KiShin's anime.

Although it was considered only a minor mistake for KiShin, Nippon TV CEO Akimitsu Ishizawa was still happy and in a good mood.

At the same time, he couldn't help but be curious. Akimitsu looked at his secretary and said, "It's quite interesting, isn't it? KiShin should have already known that girls' themed anime is quite unpopular. KiShin should have known that already, right?"

His secretary, a man wearing a sleek and formal black suit, adjusted his glasses and replied, "I think KiShin knows this. From what we've heard, the Chairman of KiShin led the anime production himself. From my perspective, the Chairman of KiShin might think he has too much money in his hands and decided to waste it away on making a girl-themed anime. At the same time, he might want to test whether it'll be well-received. I am certainly sure, and everyone was already sure, that the anime will not even be watched by the anime fans, let alone receive a positive response."

Akimitsu Ishizawa nodded and agreed with his secretary's perspective, but at the same time, he felt something amiss. However, he ignored it without much thought.

--

While the anime "Sailor Moon" has not yet aired, its teasers have graced the television on the TV Asahi channel.

The scene resembled a commercial: a boy sat in the living room, fixated on the television where an anime scene played. The camera zoomed in on the television, perfectly capturing the anime scene the boy was watching.

A lone figure, adorned in a sailor fuku fashioned from shimmering moonlight, drifted gracefully amidst the ethereal cityscape. Her long golden hair flowed like a river of moonlight, capturing the celestial glow in every strand. A crescent moon tiara adorned her brow, mirroring the city's luminescent crown.

"Who is she?" The boy muttered, his eyes glued to the screen.

The figure had blonde hair, and her hand, held aloft, clutched a silver wand etched with intricate constellations. As she raised it, the city skyline responded. Lights pulsed within the buildings, their rhythm echoing the heartbeat of a sleeping giant. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the entire cityscape erupted in a dazzling symphony of neon. Colors swirled, buildings danced, and the moonlit metropolis pulsed with an energy both alien and thrilling.

"This is a dream," breathed a woman, her hands clasped at her chest.

Yet, the girl on the screen was no dream. Her sapphire eyes, burning with determination, met the gaze of every viewer, her voice strong and clear, ringing through the boy's living room:

"In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"

The screen dissolved into a single image: the silhouette of the moonlit warrior against the backdrop of the pulsating city. Below, stark white text announced: "Sailor Moon. Coming soon to TV Asahi."

As viewers, many of whom were Dragon Ball fans, watched this teaser that felt more like a commercial, they snorted, "This is the anime that KiShin spent so much money on? What a waste."

"Ridiculous. Just from this scene, I can tell it's an anime that will never see success."

"A pity. If it were Dragon Ball Z, I might have been more excited by now..."

While the predominantly male anime fans were complaining, a few female anime fans who saw the teaser felt intrigued.

In a certain household, a young man with his three sisters just watched the "Sailor Moon" teaser, and he overheard his sisters talking.

"KiShin's use of visual effects in commercials has really improved."

"It was a teaser for an anime, though."

"Just a teaser, but I already see potential in it."

The young man, hearing his older sisters seemingly interested in the anime, immediately quipped, "Hey, it's just another bad anime."

"How can you know it's bad if we haven't watched it? I suggest we at least watch the first episode to see if it's good, right?"

Upon hearing that, the young man quickly responded, "But didn't we already agree on watching Mechanical Boy on Nippon TV?"

Mechanical Boy was going to be aired on television at the same time as "Sailor Moon."

"Just watch it at your friend's house, alright? Don't you get tired of dozens of robot series in anime?"

Upon hearing that from his second older sister, he muttered, "Damn it..."