บท 222: Overprice
Anticipation filled the press room as Arthur noted the growing curiosity about pricing. Camera flashes punctuated the silence while reporters leaned forward in their seats.
"The Hellfire Entertainment System will retail for 45 dollars," Arthur announced simply.
The silence lasted precisely three seconds before the room erupted.
"45 dollars? For a toy?" A voice cut through the chaos, dripping with derision.
"That's TV pricing territory!" another shouted.
"Actually," someone countered, "basic TV models are down to 40-42 dollars now."
The skepticism spread like wildfire through the crowd. "Who would spend that much on controlling cartoon characters?"
"What's the point of this device anyway?"
Arthur raised his hands for quiet, waiting until the clamor subsided. "Before we continue with questions, let's hear from someone who's actually experienced it." He turned to the journalist still hovering near the console. "You've played it. What are your thoughts on the price point?"
The journalist found himself under the scrutiny of every camera and notebook in the room. He glanced at the screen, still displaying "Game Over" in vibrant pixels, then back at his colleagues' expectant faces.
"The price is... substantial," he began carefully, weighing each word. "But the concept is interesting. The level of engagement, the way it pulls you in..." He paused, visibly struggling between professional detachment and genuine enthusiasm. "I found it genuinely entertaining."
"How much did Hellfire pay for that endorsement?" The cynical shout from the back triggered scattered laughter throughout the press room.
Despite the mockery, another journalist raised a crucial question: "Given the console's price point, will 'games' copies be included?"
The television audience leaned forward, hoping for some consolation. Arthur's simple "No" dashed those hopes immediately. "Games will be sold separately."
"What? Why?" The incredulous response echoed through the room.
Arthur maintained his composed smile. "As you can see, this games, stored in a cartridge, is a groundbreaking new technology. It's unlike anything the world has seen before, and creating something this advanced comes at a significant cost."
The room filled with mutters and whispers until someone finally asked about pricing. The response - 10 dollars for "Music Legends Quest" and 8 dollars for games like "Tetris" - sent another wave of disbelief through the crowd.
"So not only do we pay for the console," a voice called out, "but we keep paying for every game?"
"The pricing reflects the reality of creating new entertainment technology," Arthur replied evenly. "Each cartridge is a sophisticated piece of equipment, not simply a recording or a toy."
The murmurs among the journalists grew louder, skepticism rippling through the room.
"I believe we'll conclude here," Arthur cut in smoothly. "The H.E.S. launches today at all Hellscape locations. Experience it yourselves before passing judgment." His smile carried a hint of knowing confidence. "Thank you for your time."
---
Outside the Hellfire building, journalists and cameramen clustered in small groups, their initial politeness giving way to open skepticism.
"Disappointing," a senior reporter shook his head. "After the computer, I expected something revolutionary from our 'exiled prince.' Seems we set our hopes too high."
"That teaser on Hellfire Network had us all fooled," another added, packing away his notepad. "Made it sound like another computer-level breakthrough. Instead, we get an expensive toy."
A cameraman lowered his equipment, joining the conversation. "Speaking of computers, heard Dark Electronics might buy the patent rights. Big money involved."
"Wouldn't surprise me," his journalist companion nodded. "Dark Electronics doesn't throw billions around unless something's worth it. And lately, every major company wants computer technology."
"Computer sales already hit 1.5 billion," someone chimed in. "Production costs aside, Hellfire must be swimming in hundreds of millions."
"The computer and barcode systems - those are his real golden geese," a veteran reporter observed. "He could abandon entertainment entirely, focus on technology. Instead, he's pricing children's toys like luxury items."
A younger journalist grinned, already drafting his headline in the air with dramatic flair. "'Exiled Prince's Latest Venture: 45 Dollar Toy Promises New Worlds, Delivers Expensive Headache.' How's that sound?"
Laughter rippled through the group. None of them noticed the solitary figure still clutching a controller inside the building, sneaking in another game before security cleared the room.
***
The live broadcast of Hellfire's conference rippled through Horn City, triggering immediate reactions in homes across the kingdom.
"Forty-five dollars for a toy?" A mother of three shook her head at her television. "He lost his mind. Only the wealthy can afford such luxuries!"
In a cramped apartment, a lone demon clicked off his TV in disappointment. "All that hype for this?"
At the Corner Cup Café, where Saturday regulars gathered for their weekly meetup, the announcement played on the wall-mounted TV. A bull-demon nursed his coffee, grimacing at the price. "Maybe with my Winter Day bonus, I could get one for my kid..."
"Why waste good money?" his friend countered. "It's just a fancy toy."
Yet despite the widespread criticism, thousands flooded into Hellscape Centers across the city. Whether driven by curiosity or genuine interest, they packed the Hellfire Electronics sections by noon.
At the main Hellscape Center, a succubus saleswoman fielded endless questions about the console. Her rehearsed smile never wavered, even as skeptics challenged her.
"How can you justify this price for a child's plaything?" a customer demanded.
The saleswoman's crimson lips curved into a practiced smile. "While it might appear simple, the H.E.S. contains technology rivaling our computers. We're talking integrated circuits, picture processing units, audio processing units - components so advanced most people wouldn't grasp their complexity." Her tone carried just enough condescension to sting.
Several customers bristled at her implied insult, but their indignation couldn't mask their confusion at the technical terms.
"Can't you explain it in plain language?" a demon growled, tail lashing in annoyance.
"Of course," she replied smoothly. "Think of it as a simplified computer, designed purely for entertainment. All the complex technology, made user-friendly enough for anyone to enjoy."
"Could I try it myself?" A voice cut through the murmuring crowd.
The group parted to reveal a monkey demon in simple but immaculate clothing. While others might have missed the subtle signs, the saleswoman's experienced eye caught them all - the perfect posture, the quiet confidence, the way his clothes, though plain, were perfectly tailored. This was wealth that didn't need to announce itself.
"Certainly," the succubus's tone shifted to silk-smooth professionalism. "We encourage customers to experience our products firsthand." She gestured toward a demonstration setup nearby. "We have everything ready for testing - both the H.E.S. and a television display."
The monkey demon offered a gracious smile as he took his seat. "Most kind of you."
"Please, take all the time you need," she said, her earlier condescension replaced with genuine warmth.
"If this proves impressive," he mused, settling into position, "my son might find one under the Winter Day tree."
The saleswoman beamed. "Children find such joy in these games." The watching crowd noted her dramatic shift in demeanor, several rolling their eyes at her obvious attention to a promising customer.
As the succubus guided him through starting the game, selecting Frederick as his character, something unexpected happened. The monkey demon's expression changed. His initial polite interest transformed into genuine absorption as Frederick moved across the screen, responding to each press of the controller buttons. The magical attacks, the moving platforms, the advancing enemies - all of it pulled him deeper into this new form of entertainment.
The music swelled as Frederick approached the first mini-boss in stage 1-1. The watching crowd, initially skeptical, found themselves drawn closer to the screen. Their earlier dismissiveness faded as they watched the battle unfold in vibrant colors and fluid movement.
The broadcast hadn't done it justice. In person, the bright displays and dynamic action created something genuinely captivating. Even customers who'd come for computers or the Hellfire OS 1.5 drifted over to watch, while salespeople balanced their duties with curious glances at the gameplay.
Ten minutes slipped by unnoticed. The monkey demon remained focused on his character's journey until a final miscalculation led to his game over. Before he could even rise from his seat, another customer stepped forward.
"May I try it?"
The monkey demon nodded, surrendering his position with surprising reluctance.
The succubus saleswoman materialized beside him, her professional smile firmly in place. "Your thoughts, sir? Did it change your perspective on television entertainment?"
"Indeed it did," he replied without hesitation. "I'll take three units."
Her eyebrows lifted slightly at the unexpected quantity.
"And the game I just played," he added firmly.
The saleswoman's smile widened as she guided him toward the display of "Music Legends Quest" cartridges. "Excellent choice, sir. You might also enjoy 'Tetris' - it's another of our popular titles." She gestured toward a row of additional game options, sensing a significant sale in progress.
บท 223: Sales
As evening approached, H.E.S. sales across all Hellscape locations showed steady growth. By closing time at 7:00 PM, the numbers had reached 39,500 units sold, along with their limited game selection.
The day's revenue painted an interesting picture: 1.7 million dollars from console sales, with an additional 355 thousand from games, totaling 2,132,992 dollars. After manufacturing costs, Hellfire cleared 746 thousand in profit - respectable for a new product launch, though modest compared to their computer sales or barcode licensing. Even Arthur's films typically earned more.
However, since Hellfire hadn't published these opening figures, evening news networks rushed to declare the launch a failure.
"This is clearly a luxury item," declared Economics Professor Gerald Vale on Horn Kingdom News. "Only upper-class families can justify spending forty-five dollars on entertainment equipment. The market is simply too limited."
Over on Crystal Network, a business analyst shook his head gravely. "The fundamental flaw in Hellfire's strategy is pricing a recreational device at professional equipment levels. Without practical application, it can't possibly sustain those numbers."
The evening audiences, many of whom hadn't given the H.E.S. much thought before, found themselves drawn into the narrative of Hellfire's supposed misstep. The story of an overpriced toy's "inevitable failure" proved irresistible, even to those who'd never considered purchasing one.
---
In his mansion, Arthur watched the media's rush to judge the H.E.S. before clicking off the massive television with a knowing smile. Their criticism felt familiar - the same doubts had greeted both his color television patents and computers at launch. Those "doomed innovations" had transformed into pillars of his wealth.
HOLLOW had already earned billions from television sales, with Arthur's color TV patent royalties providing him a steady stream of income. His computers, meanwhile, had reached millions in sales across the Anatolia region, generating 1.4 billion dollars in profit after costs.
The computer's success remained limited to specific markets - Horn Kingdom, Japon, Choson, parts of Morningstar, and select regions of Bharat. Yet even this restricted distribution had corporate giants worried.
Every day brought new acquisition offers from major companies in Evros, Empirica, and Eden. These corporate giants, sensing their monopolies threatened, waved increasingly astronomical sums at his computer patents. Arthur's consistent refusal only drove the offers higher.
Settling into bed, his thoughts drifted to tomorrow's sales figures. Sunday often brought even better numbers than launch day.
Before sleep claimed him, Arthur visited his divine domain, checking on his followers in Angel City. Relief washed over him seeing their continued safety. The threatened champion had yet to appear.
Unknown to him, in Apollo Kingdom, the church's administration drowning in champion requests. The "Cult of Dionysus" competed for attention with dozens of more aggressive cults. Between bureaucratic delays and prioritizing more violent threats, their response would likely take weeks, if not months.
His followers had time - though none of them knew exactly how much.
***
Sunday's newspapers hit the streets with scathing headlines about Hellfire's latest venture.
The Horn Times led with "HELLFIRE'S NEW TOY: A FAR CRY FROM COMPUTER REVOLUTION", while the Morning Star Herald questioned "45 DOLLARS FOR ENTERTAINMENT? Arthur's Ambitious Gamble" in bold letters.
Business Daily didn't hold back either, splashing their front page with "'NEW FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT' OR EXPENSIVE DISTRACTION?"
Experts and critics filled column after column comparing the H.E.S. unfavorably to Arthur's computer success. Yet their relentless coverage, combined with Hellfire's strategic billboard campaign showing happy families gathered around their H.E.S., only fueled public curiosity.
The media's constant repetition of "new form of entertainment" particularly caught people's attention. Even those who'd never considered video games found themselves wondering what Arthur had created this time. The skeptical coverage had accomplished what marketing alone couldn't - it made the H.E.S. impossible to ignore.
Hellscape locations saw increased foot traffic throughout Sunday, with curious onlookers far outnumbering serious buyers. Yet surprisingly, or perhaps because of this expanded exposure, H.E.S. and game sales surpassed the previous day's numbers.
As the second day unfolded, sales climbed to an impressive 41,000 units, surpassing the launch day's numbers. However, even when combined with the first day's total, the figure represented only 0.71% of the Horn Kingdom's population.
Video games remained an unproven entertainment medium. Unlike computers with their practical applications, the H.E.S. offered pure entertainment in an age where leisure time was scarce. Most families found satisfaction in television and the steady stream of VFX-films from various studios. For children's gifts, parents gravitated toward proven choices like Hellfire Toys' popular "Good Guys" dolls.
The initial wave of H.E.S. purchases came primarily from the kingdom's wealthy elite - successful merchants, noble families, and prosperous business owners. Among them was Lorelai, a prominent businesswoman seeking something - anything - that might interest her restless son.
Previous attempts had failed spectacularly. The Good Guys doll she'd bought him gathered dust in his room, dismissed as "boring" because it lacked the artificial organs that made Chucky so fascinating in the film. When she'd given him a toy gun, he'd demanded a real one instead.
The psychiatrist had explained it clinically: her demon child had inherited the primal demon's hunger for action and adventure, a genetic restlessness that toys alone couldn't satisfy.
Now, as she carried the H.E.S. home, she could hear her six-year-old son's voice carrying from their living room. He stood before his friends, gesturing wildly as he proclaimed his future plans.
"Just you wait!" he declared, tail lashing with excitement. "When I'm older, I'll explore every inch of the Eden continent! There's still unmapped regions out there, filled with ancient ruins and maybe even dragons! That's where the real adventures are!"
"That's so cool, Nathan!" his friends crowded closer, eyes shining with admiration.
"I want to be an adventurer too!" one chimed in.
A smaller demon shuffled his feet. "My parents are making me become a doctor. We're too poor for adventures..."
"Then just run away!" Nathan thrust his fist in the air. "That's the only way to be free!"
Lorelai cleared her throat, announcing her presence.
Nathan spun around, pointing dramatically. "Look who's here - the witch of the house!"
"Mind your language, young man," Lorelai's voice carried ice. "Birthday or not, there are limits."
"I'll never follow your rules!" Nathan crossed his arms, lower lip jutting out.
Lorelai sighed, producing a wrapped package. "I brought you something. Try to appreciate it this time."
"A present!" Nathan's defiance vanished instantly. His friends gathered around, envy plain on their faces.
Nathan tore through the wrapping, revealing the black and silver H.E.S. console. He turned the unfamiliar device in his hands, studying its smooth surfaces and mysterious cartridge slot with uncertainty.
"What's this supposed to be?" His nose wrinkled. "Another boring thing?"
"Watch your tone," Lorelai warned, her voice sharp enough to make Nathan's tail drop. Then, with practiced patience, she connected the console to their television, walking him through each step of setup.
Minutes later, Nathan sat transfixed, controller gripped tightly in his hands while his friends watched in growing amazement. Every game over only seemed to fuel his determination.
"Well?" Lorelai asked after ten minutes, trying to keep the hope from her voice.
Nathan's character died again, but his eyes never left the screen. "It's really hard, but..." he paused, and Lorelai held her breath. "This is actually awesome! I can't believe I get to play as James! He's my hero!"
Lorelai watched her son's enthusiasm with quiet relief. After countless failed gifts, she'd finally found something that captured his restless spirit.
---
Across Horn Kingdom, similar scenes played out as the H.E.S. found its audience. While media critics continued their skepticism, and sales remained modest compared to computers, the console sparked an unexpected social phenomenon.
A week after launch, word spread through taverns and workplaces, schools and social clubs. Young adults who'd initially dismissed the "toy" found themselves drawn in after watching friends play. Some dipped into savings to purchase their own consoles, while others developed creative ways to share gaming time with console-owning friends.
Those who couldn't afford the H.E.S. discovered another option - the Hellscape Center's arcade section. The game rooms, already popular before the console's release, saw a surge in visitors. Ironically, many arcade regulars ended up purchasing the H.E.S. to avoid spending coins on their daily gaming sessions.
Their departure made room for newcomers, drawn by curiosity about this "new form of entertainment." The arcade's recently upgraded machines, now matching the H.E.S. in power and graphics, provided a perfect introduction to gaming. For the price of a few coins, anyone could experience what the newspapers couldn't stop criticizing.
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