Chapter 12: The Internet Takeover Begins
📅 Date: March 1992
📍 Location: NexTech Studios, Seoul, South Korea
The air inside NexTech Studios was buzzing with excitement.
After months of battles, betrayals, and strategic moves, Jin Hoshino had won the first phase of the console war.
✔ NexBox pre-orders had passed 500,000 units worldwide.
✔ GameSphere was struggling to recover from their failed prototype reveal.
✔ Investors were pouring money into NexTech, believing it was the future of gaming.
But Jin wasn't just thinking about gaming anymore.
He was preparing to dominate the next frontier—The Internet.
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The Birth of GigaSearch
📅 Date: March 5, 1992
📍 NexTech Research Lab, Seoul
Jin stood before his elite team of engineers and software developers.
Behind him, written on a massive whiteboard, were two words:
📌 GigaSearch
"The internet is the future," Jin began, his tone calm but filled with conviction. "Right now, most people don't even understand its potential. But in the next decade, it will be the foundation of every business, every industry, every government."
The engineers listened closely.
"GigaSearch will be the first true search engine in the world," Jin continued. "And once we control the flow of information, we control the future."
The team nodded in excitement.
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What Made GigaSearch Different?
At the time, the internet was still primitive.
✔ No one had a proper search engine.
✔ Websites were scattered across directories, impossible to navigate.
✔ Other companies were years away from creating search algorithms.
📌 GigaSearch's Planned Features (1992 Prototype):
✔ Instant keyword-based searches (Unlike slow, manual directories).
✔ A ranking system based on relevance (Years ahead of real-world search engines).
✔ A clean, minimalist design focused only on speed.
Jin turned to his team.
"If we launch GigaSearch before the world realizes its importance, we become the gateway to the internet."
His developers got to work immediately.
NexTech wasn't just a gaming company anymore.
It was becoming a tech empire.
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GameSphere's Counterattack: Buying Out Developers
📅 Date: March 12, 1992
📍 GameSphere Korea Headquarters
GameSphere had been bleeding since their failed console reveal.
✔ Investors had lost confidence.
✔ Developers were losing faith in their leadership.
✔ NexTech was pulling further ahead every day.
CEO Park Jae-woo was furious.
📌 His New Strategy?
🔻 Buy out the best gaming studios before Jin could.
🔻 Offer game developers double their current salaries.
🔻 Block NexBox from getting exclusive titles.
Within a week, GameSphere had spent ₩10 billion securing multiple game studios.
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Jin's Response: The Ultimate Power Move
📅 Date: March 20, 1992
📍 NexTech Studios
Jin received a report.
✔ Three major studios had signed exclusivity deals with GameSphere.
✔ Some developers were hesitant about joining NexTech.
✔ GameSphere was planning their own "Eternal Blade killer" RPG.
Jin calmly placed the report on his desk.
He had expected this move.
📌 His Counterattack?
✔ Buy out GameSphere's best remaining studios—before they could react.
✔ Offer game developers something no other company could.
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Jin's Offer: Developer Freedom
📅 Date: March 25, 1992
📍 A Private Hotel, Tokyo, Japan
Jin sat across from Shigeru Kubo, the CEO of Kaizen Interactive, one of Japan's most respected RPG studios.
GameSphere had already offered Kaizen a ₩5 billion contract.
Jin simply smiled.
"I'm not here to offer you money, Kubo-san."
Kubo raised an eyebrow. "Then what are you offering?"
Jin leaned forward. "Freedom."
The room fell silent.
Jin continued. "GameSphere will throw money at you, but they'll control every aspect of your game. At NexTech, you'll have complete creative freedom—no deadlines you can't meet, no corporate interference."
Kubo's expression shifted. He was a developer first, a businessman second.
After a long pause, he extended his hand.
"I'll join you."
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Jin's Counterattack Was a Success
📌 Within a week:
✔ NexTech secured five new game studios, including Kaizen Interactive.
✔ Developers started preferring NexTech over GameSphere.
✔ GameSphere was forced to delay their RPG project due to losing talent.
GameSphere's attempt to buy out the industry had failed.
Jin had won without even spending as much money.
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Finalizing NexBox's Launch Strategy
📅 Date: April 1992
✔ NexBox pre-orders had now passed 800,000 units.
✔ The first TV commercials were airing globally.
✔ NexTech was becoming a household name.
And in the background?
GigaSearch was quietly being built—ready to launch before the world knew they needed it.
Jin wasn't just winning in gaming.
He was about to control the internet itself.
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End of Chapter 12