In truth, even the original Excitebike already had rudimentary enemy AI. Players would notice the blue bike occasionally initiating attacks or interfering with one's driving.
However, due to development constraints, that system was never fully implemented.
Even so, the player experience back then already felt very different.
Naturally, this new Excitebike brought further improvements. Thanks to the continuously revised program inherited from Kojima's team, every enemy racer now possessed simple but effective intelligence.
Though each of the four bikes on screen moved with lifelike agility, they were all driven by carefully constructed behaviors. This chunk of code took so much space that they had to cut down on audio resources to make room.
But, regardless—
Excitebike was now officially completed. Kobayashi Tetsu had practically done nothing; it was mostly Nakayuji and the others who built it themselves. HAL joined in the latter half to help with testing, balancing, and creating the track editor mode.
Kobayashi Tetsu set down the controller and stepped into the middle of the group.
"Everyone, the development work is done. Now, please enjoy a proper break!"
He glanced at his watch.
"Let's have dinner together tonight—everyone comes."
Then he turned to Iwata Satoru.
"Iwata-kun, you too."
Iwata hurriedly bowed.
"Yes, I'll be there on time."
One look from Kobayashi, and Nakayuji instantly understood—he threw an arm around Iwata's shoulder and joked,
"We've worked together for almost a month. Don't be so stiff! This isn't some formal company dinner—it's just a normal meal."
Since it was a dinner gathering, Kobayashi certainly wouldn't ruin the mood by talking shop. Nothing kills appetite faster than work talk.
"As for Excitebike, I'll be handling publishing soon. It should hit the shelves around October."
He sat next to Iwata.
"Iwata-kun, would you consider joining Atlas? This month of collaboration has been wonderful—I'm reluctant to let you go."
Iwata forced a smile, then immediately declined.
"I'm honored, truly, but I must apologize… I won't leave HAL."
Given who Iwata was, Kobayashi didn't find this answer surprising at all.
Iwata Satoru was the type who joined Tanimura Masahito's tiny studio after graduation just because they used to play games together in the same computer room. HAL had only four people back then, no track record, no success stories—basically a shoestring operation.
And even after HAL's slow growth since 1980, without a single major hit, Iwata still stayed.
Recruiting someone like that? Not easy.
Kobayashi didn't press the matter. He simply lifted a glass.
"That's fine too. Atlas and HAL will collaborate many more times in the future. Then—may our future cooperation be delightful!"
Iwata bowed with his own glass.
"May it be delightful."
After drinking, Kobayashi seemed more relaxed.
"So, Iwata-kun—what do you want right now? New equipment? Office gear?"
Iwata thought seriously, then looked at Kobayashi's profile.
"A bowl of pork cutlet rice."
There were many dishes on the table, but all were light—salty, yes, but lacking any oiliness.
In times like this, a hot, glossy, rich katsudon was exactly what the heart yearned for.
Kobayashi laughed and put down his drink.
"Just pork cutlet rice? Wait here!"
Iwata watched Kobayashi walk away.
He thought Kobayashi was going to buy it.
Instead, after a few words with the shop owner, Kobayashi tied on an apron and walked into the kitchen.
Iwata instantly leaned back, stunned.
The honest man Iwata Satoru was deeply shaken.
What was Kobayashi doing?! Was he really going to cook katsudon for him?
Nakayuji appeared at some point.
"Iwata-kun, you're lucky! I'm jealous." He tapped his own chest. "The president rarely cooks. I only got to taste his chicken cutlet rice when I first joined—for me, the flavor was divine!"
Iwata was even more shocked.
"Not even his… girlfriend has eaten it?"
"Which girlfriend?"
Nakayuji glanced at Kokawa, then glanced again toward the kitchen, where Sister Nene was helping Kobayashi prepare ingredients.
Which one?
Both!
Japan's cooking flames might not compare to planetary engines, but making a deep-fried dish like katsudon was still easy.
Ten-some minutes later, a bowl of steaming pork cutlet rice was set before Iwata. The crisp browned pork, enriched by the Maillard reaction, released a fragrant aroma. Pickled radish and finely shredded cabbage completed the dish.
"Soy sauce, chili oil, other condiments are on the table—use whatever you like."
Kobayashi removed the apron and smiled.
"Try it. I'm fairly confident in my cooking."
This wasn't exaggeration.
Besides, the palate in Kaishi City was actually quite similar to Japan's.
Iwata didn't speak. He simply stared at the steaming bowl.
He had never expected the president of Atlas—a man whose console had sold a million units, and whose games sold hundreds of thousands—would personally cook a bowl of katsudon for him.
And not just any bowl—
It looked perfect.
Color, aroma, flavor… nothing short of exquisite.
Iwata pressed his palms together, picked up the chopsticks.
"Well then… I'll begin."
With this standard phrase, he took his first bite.
The moment the crisp pork and the faint heat of chili oil touched his tongue, Iwata felt an absurd urge to cry.
Delicious.
He couldn't tell whether it was the taste, the feeling of being valued, or the unexpected kindness bridging a distance he thought couldn't be crossed.
But he was truly moved.
He abandoned etiquette, devoured the rice, and cleaned the bowl without leaving a single grain.
Nakayuji nodded sincerely beside him.
It worked.
In the industry, this phenomenon was called "returning one's heart."
In a… different genre, it would be called "corruption," usually with titles like
Iwata Satoru—Corrupted, Mind Broken, AVI.
"Thank you for the meal," Iwata said, placing his chopsticks neatly across the bowl.
He looked up at Kobayashi.
"There's something I've been wanting to ask, President Kobayashi. The files on that computer—did you write them yourself?"
Kobayashi nodded.
"Yeah. The assets, the source code—they're all mine."
Iwata asked no further. He simply bowed deeply.
Much later, one day, he asked Kobayashi again:
"That day… why was your pork cutlet rice so delicious? Did you pour emotion into the cooking? Like in manga—where heartfelt cooking tastes better? Was that the reason?"
Kobayashi laughed, shook his head, and answered with utmost sincerity:
"No. I added an extra spoonful of MSG. Trust in science—a single spoonful of MSG can make any dish unbelievably delicious.
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