No, the other game called The New Order where the Nazis won

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > No, the other game called The New Order where the Nazis won

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theblastizard: Nov 5, 2009

Was this the HOI4 mod that had the nazis try to do Project Atlantropa?

# ? May 29, 2023 00:23

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# ? May 8, 2024 12:52

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Chapter 3: mid March - June 1962

The factories get to work, producing enough Sony prototype rifles to equip 4 battalions of infantry. Volunteers and �volunteers� from the police, Kempeitai, and IJA garrison are gathered together and sent on their way.

Meanwhile, the tycoons go about their days. Reminder, profiles of the tycoons are available in the �Dramatis Personae� post.

At the same time, the chief executive stumbles across something and decides to investigate.

quote:

Suzuki had waited until well into the afternoon to begin poring over the transaction settlement records from the Bureau of Finance, just one of the many records he had seemingly requested at random from Guangdong's government. It wouldn't do to have swirling rumors or a discernable pattern surrounding what he was doing; Yasuda surely didn't need to know their ally was looking into the cracks of their business.

Suzuki pored over the tables under a fluorescent desk light, tracking any mention of Yasuda and Minezaka payments over the past six months in his notebook. The transactions from Yasuda's Tokyo home office to Minezaka did exist - more precisely, the Yasuda home office was Minezaka's only counterparty.

Suzuki leaned back at his desk. From what he understood of Japanese banks, they would normally ask their local branches to handle payments to local counterparties, barring some mistakes where the home office might be forced to intervene. Yasuda Tokyo's payments to Minezaka were too consistent for that - their Home Office was involved in something on the side in Guangdong, beyond their regular business.

None of this proved anything of import to Suzuki about whether Yasuda could be trusted or not. It was unusual, yes - evidence of wrongdoing, no. But if Yasuda's home office was so deeply involved in Guangdong already, perhaps they would be doing other things�

He turned to a summary of Masuzawa�s resume. "Graduate of the Tokyo Imperial University Law Faculty. Hired at Yasuda Bank, Nihonbashi-bakurocho branch, servicing corporate clients. Conscripted as an officer candidate; discharged as second lieutenant in 1942 after deployment to Manchuria. Reassigned to headquarters. Named deputy section chief of corporate lending in 1947, age 34. Assigned to the Ministry of Finance; later assigned as section chief of corporate lending. Commended for strategic vision. Promoted to Head of Personnel, 1956; General Manager for General Affairs, 1958."

Suzuki found himself nodding in quiet marvel as he read over Matsuzawa's glittering career, tapping his cigarette against an ashtray. A graduate of the Imperial Universities, clearly groomed for success from the start. A general manager by �45? The man had lived a charmed life.

Suzuki reached the next line, and paused. �Promoted to Representative Director, 1960: reassigned to Guangdong as Regional Director.�

Suzuki's eyebrow arched. The zaibatsu tended to keep their future leadership in their home offices. Matsuzawa was clearly on that path, but had been reassigned to Guangdong. With a promotion and a fancy title, sure, but nevertheless banished from Tokyo, likely for angering someone above him in the corporate food chain - and there weren't that many above Matsuzawa, at his level.

Suzuki extinguished his cigarette with a frustrated sigh. That explained why Matsuzawa was so eager to work with Suzuki - Matsuzawa probably saw Suzuki as his ticket back home. But that didn't explain Matsuzawa and the suspect military yen transactions - Matsuzawa could equally be Yasuda's front man in Guangdong, or he could be completely shut out from the business, a glorified exile.

The sun had long since set when Suzuki began his inquiry into the Minezaka Conglomerate. A myriad of files and documents discreetly acquired through secretaries and informants, but his efforts were thus far turning up frustratingly little.

The company seemed innocuous enough, a shipping firm handling military freight, the largest of many such firms established in the tumultuous wake of Japanese victory and one which had only grown with time. Yet, Minezaka's footprint was elusive, and even in Guangdong's vast harbor, it possessed but a handful of port facilities and a single office. An unexpectedly small presence for a supposed shipping giant, especially one which supplied Japanese garrisons across the Sphere.

Indeed, Minezaka's sheer lack of presence in Guangdong was in and of itself a peculiar sign. At a time when every Japanese company wanted to be seen along the Pearl River, Minezaka seemed content to remain out of the limelight.\n\nAs far as Suzuki was concerned, the only thing clear about Minezaka was that it was a matter which warranted a much deeper investigation.

As was standard for military contractors, Minezaka's portside warehouses came under the purview of the IJA, with security forces dotted amidst the harbor front. As far as Suzuki was concerned, that was the only normal thing about Minezaka's arrangement.

Three decades in the IJA had instilled in him the mantra that every logistics officer should strive to ensure every item was properly cataloged and every delivery made to a constant and regular schedule. Yet, as he poured over records from Minezaka's warehouses, the only constant he could note was just how irregular activity was, with deliveries coming seemingly at random with long pauses between each.

What was even more puzzling was the seeming inactivity of Minezaka when compared to other military contractors in Guangdong, a sign that either Minezaka was but a minor part of the IJA's supply chain, or that something was being concealed.

None of it made any sense, none of it. Why were the assets of a supposed shipping conglomerate minuscule and vacant, its information buried beneath layers of secrecy. And what did the Army have to do in all of this? Suzuki sighed, taking note of the rising moon. Whatever was going on, it certainly wasn't doing the number of hours he spent at the office any favors.

quote:

It took another pack of Home Islands-made cigarettes for Suzuki's brain to finally cool down and function again. If the tumultuous years in the House of Peers had taught him anything, it's that Tokyo had for decades been a bottomless cesspool infested with connections, lobbying, bribery, and backstabbing; a place where political innocence was considered a vice. The stench of decadence catches up to you, just as you thought you had escaped its omnipresent grasp; and right where Suzuki hadn't been looking, it had wormed its way unbidden onto his precious freighter named Guangdong.

Indeed, Yasuda's undisputed status as the Sphere's banking hegemon won it more than enough influence to stuff the Imperial Diet with its marionettes; problem being, Suzuki wasn't entirely certain whether they'd all been dancing to the tune of the Cabinet alone. Aspiring politicians were already vying for the seat of the Prime Minister at this very moment, and for any financial entity clinging to political relevance, even a juggernaut like Yasuda, the damage from antagonizing those people and their power bases alone should reasonably prove too much to risk. Yet Matsuzawa's irritated growls - hints of behind-the-scenes workings he'd been kept in the dark about - kept on ringing in Suzuki's head.

The clock in Suzuki's silent office seems to tick louder than ever, continuous cold beads of sweat roll down his neck as he clears his mind of unnecessary thoughts. Something has been happening behind the curtains with Yasuda Bank. The possibilities range from suspicious activity within the borders of Guangdong to a degree of corruption occurring in Tokyo itself. Suzuki felt his hands tremble slightly; whatever impact results from this, it will heavily affect him. Matsuzawa and Yasuda have been the most ardent and keen to back and support Suzuki in his actions during his tenure as Chief Executive, especially Matsuzawa, who has personally vouched support for him. Any failure or scandal on his part will reflect upon himself.

Still, there was no absolute definitive evidence that Matsuzawa himself was involved in any way, shape or form in this case, but if it was connected to Yasuda in Guangdong, it could very possibly involve him. Suzuki could place his faith in Matsuzawa, assume he was innocent and ask for his help, securing his relations. Or he could assume that Matsuzawa was implicated and directly accuse him. Either way, he had to make a choice.

Suzuki took a deep breath, and made his final decision.

As our research and development team arrives in Syonan-To, the chief executive summons Matsuzawa to a meeting.

One crisis averted.

Our team reaches the front lines and begins their tests.

How successful this is is heavily dependent on the AI and RNG. I�ll do my best to fill all the bars before the deadline but what combat actually contributes is buggy at best.

quote:

World News: April 8, 1962
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON EDWARD VIII

In stunning news today the King of England, Edward VIII, has had a narrow escape from assassination during a speech he was giving outside Buckingham Palace. The assassin, believed to be a radical member of the organization known as Her Majesty�s Most Loyal Resistance (HMMLR), attempted to throw a grenade at the monarch in the middle of the speech, and was only stopped by the fact that their device landed amidst members of the government standing behind the king, shielding him from the blast.

This is a public display of the instability many have long believed hides behind the facade of civility in modern England.

quote:

World News: April 11, 1962
LAURANO G�MEZ DIES

Surprising news out of Bogot� as the leader of the central government in Colombia, President Laureano G�mez Castro, abruptly passed away after suffering a stroke in his office in the presidential palace. Shortly after his death, Vice President Roberto Urdaneta took over the leadership of the government.

G�mez rose to power after overthrowing previous interim president Gabrial Turbay, denouncing his use of the emergency powers and making promises to preserve democracy in Colombia, but soon after taking power would break those promises by ordering the murder of all he suspected to be opposed to him or involved in supporting the New Granada insurgents.

While many across the region have celebrated the president�s demise, ultra-conservatives in Latin America and the members of the Italian, Iberian, and Japanese spheres have already sent their condolences to Bogot�.

quote:

The glimmering red lights of the Japanese trading ships passing through Victoria Harbor were silhouetted against the flickering lights of Kowloon, a suitably mesmerizing backdrop for welcoming the wealthy and powerful Japanese expatriates of Guangdong.

Chief Executive Suzuki sipped politely at his wine. He wasn't entirely comfortable in such settings - a gathering of tuxedos, kimonos, and dresses adorned in false smiles and tittering laughter - but he couldn't bite the hands that fed Guangdong, either. Suzuki's eyes narrowed as a rotund man approached.

"Baron Yasukawa?" Suzuki recognized the man from his days in the House of Peers. "I thought you were in Japan?"

"The Home Islands are terribly restrictive these days," Yasukawa replied, laughing. "Guangdong seems an ideal place to expand, cheap labor and all!"

After the two shared a toast, Yasukawa motioned for the woman beside him to introduce herself - easily the youngest by some margin, her peacock blue cocktail dress contrasting with the subdued kimonos around them. "My daughter, Yoshiko. She's accompanying me," Baron Yasukawa introduced her, "after graduating from women's college."

"A pleasure to meet you, Chief Executive," Yoshiko offered a flawless bow. "My father always speaks highly of you."

"I'm flattered." Opinionated one, Suzuki thought: the words were polite, but she looked Suzuki directly in the eyes for a fleeting second. He put her out of his mind; his business was with the Baron, not with her.

The Modern Princess: Yasukawa Yoshiko has been added to the Dramatis Personae page.

quote:

World News: May 7, 1962
PAUL HASLUCK PREVAILS IN AUSTRALIAN SNAP ELECTION

Once considered a black sheep even amongst his own party, it appears that the winds of fortune have changed decisively in Paul Hasluck's favor. A proponent of Old Tory-style paternalism, the fact that he is in the Liberal Party at all may seem contradictory. With the Liberal Party being comprised of devotees of the creed to devolve Canberra's reach and place more emphasis on the individual and states, Hasluck's victory doesn't simply signal a change for the country, but a change at the very foundation of Australian politics.

With this electoral upset, Australia has chosen firmly to look into their past to solve the problems of their present. In his victory speech, Hasluck referenced the �lack of unity� within society, pledging to �mend the divide� and to �fix society' once and for all.� Moreover, Hasluck promised that "every citizen will feel naturally obliged to lend each other aid.� Whether Hasluck can push his bold vision through Parliament - with rumblings of dissent in his own party - is another issue entirely.

quote:

"To all loyal, diligent citizens of Guangdong, we hereby announce another series of edicts passed hours ago by the Office of the Chief Executive..."

Most of them moved along without a sound. The old pa sitting by the grocery stand lifted his head up only slightly. The years on his post had made Hayashi Kōsen a sharp, observant man keeping eyes and ears on all around him, his own distaste for such a habit aside.

"Effective today, all factories are to include one extra day of paid leave in labor contracts on a bi-monthly basis, granted with the utmost generosity by Chief Executive Suzuki Teiichi as replenishment and reward to those toiling for our greater prosperity..."

The monotonous buzz of the TV set went on, but Hayashi's mind had already drifted elsewhere. Nothing major, then. There was a sigh from five meters away. Three middle-aged men in rags hurried by, one shooting him a disdainful glance and muttering obscenities under his breath. Hayashi offered no retort, for doing so would be professional misconduct; yet for the first time in months, something within him began to waver.

To his colleagues and superiors, he was a trustworthy officer, the perfect Zhujin specimen, and perseverance incarnate; to himself, he was but a wanderer stranded between worlds, seen as an outsider by those above him and an outcast -- a traitor even -- by those he left behind. The one persistent burden on his back, however, was his struggle for paychecks, for recognition, and for his own place in this society of artifice. And here he was today, confronted once again by the stagnant reality, and the predicament of those of his own blood.

And so Lam Haau-cyun lost himself in thought, until Hayashi Kōsen stood back up and shook it all away.

The Good Cop: Hayashi Kōsen has been added to the Dramatis Personae page.

I attempted to boost our Chinese support via the �Meet with the Consul-General� decision; it did not go well.

The Sony team in Malaya is making progress when their IJA liaison delivers some shocking news.

Two divisions worth of modern tanks and APCs have been reportedly unloaded at a rebel-controlled port, along with a large number of American personnel, presumably �advisors.�

Unable to resist the temptation of seeing how their rifle stacks up against modern American equipment, our team throws themselves into the thickest areas of renewed fighting.

quote:

World News: June 10, 1962
ROJAS PINILLA DEPOSES COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT

The ongoing political crisis in Colombia that followed the death of President Laureano G�mez has reached a tipping point, as today General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, with the apparent unanimous support of the armed forces, has overthrown the government and formed a military junta following an attempt by President Urdaneta to remove him.

The new leader of Colombia has indefinitely suspended elections and outlawed the Conservative and Liberal parties, opting for an autocratic third position path of national development inspired by Castro�s Cuba.

Meanwhile, the Liberal and Conservative dissidents, made up of moderates who neither belong to the URC or New Granada, have mostly fled to Venezuela, from where they have formed the �National Front,� a unified force that seeks to depose General Rojas.

Decision time!

It�s time to subsidize Guangdong�s latest and greatest product. Which one should we choose, and what market should we focus on?

# ? May 29, 2023 03:32

tatankatonk: Nov 4, 2011; Pitching is the art of instilling fear.

Let's sell some drat air conditioners to the Chinese

# ? May 29, 2023 06:05

NewMars: Mar 10, 2013

theblastizard posted:

Was this the HOI4 mod that had the nazis try to do Project Atlantropa?

Yes. But they removed it because it was a massive headache to write Mediterranean content for. A lot of the weirder, earlier stuff that didn't mesh well with it's portrayal of "person on the street in a poo poo timeline" stuff has gone that way, but some remains mostly because it's still, in the end, a timeline based on awful, stupid people winning and they will do awful, stupid things. This includes it's counterpart the congo lake, which it was actually possible to make despite it being a terrible, terrible idea and Guangdong itself.

Speaking of which Audio systems for China!

# ? May 29, 2023 06:26

Szarrukin: Sep 29, 2021

Was Edward VIII reinstated after Great Britain lost the war or did he never abdicated in this timeline?

# ? May 29, 2023 11:34

NeverHelm: Aug 9, 2017; Never attribute to malice that post which is adequately explained by a poor sense of humor.

Szarrukin posted:

Was Edward VIII reinstated after Great Britain lost the war or did he never abdicated in this timeline?

The former. The Germans had him installed as a puppet figurehead monarch after the war.

Also, let's sell some Audio Systems to the Chinese Market.

# ? May 29, 2023 12:45

idhrendur: Aug 20, 2016

tatankatonk posted:

Let's sell some drat air conditioners to the Chinese

# ? May 29, 2023 16:27

ChaseSP: Mar 25, 2013

tatankatonk posted:

Let's sell some drat air conditioners to the Chinese

# ? May 29, 2023 17:16

Lynneth: Sep 13, 2011

tatankatonk posted:

Let's sell some drat air conditioners to the Chinese

This.

# ? May 29, 2023 23:49

Arbite: Nov 4, 2009

tatankatonk posted:

Let's sell some drat air conditioners to the Chinese

Got my vote, but something to remember is you can switch target markets back and forth between Japan and China during the product phase for additional marketing opportunities. Just finish with China.

# ? May 29, 2023 23:56

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Chapter 4: June - September 1962

The product cycle has begun, and we�re selling some drat air conditioners to the Chinese. As you can see, we need to do a fair amount to boost both interest and product quality.

Fortunately there are many ways we can go about this, and this is where the approval we�ve hopefully been banking from the local ethnic groups (the Japanese, Chinese, and Zhujin) and internationally (China and Japan) becomes very important because it�s what you have to spend. In addition, some of these decisions will increase corruption and the higher that goes the more maluses you get so it�s important to have some to spare in that area as well.

In only a few months we�ve got a great air conditioner that our neighbors to the north are clamoring for!

There are a few economic and societal costs to this but aren�t there always?

That�s where events like these become much more than just flavor. Fortunately, the Chief Executive�s meeting with the Japanese envoy goes better than his meeting with the Chinese Consul-General in the last update.

quote:

World News: June 25, 1962
ERICH KOCH SEVERELY INJURED IN KIEW BOMBING

The second attempt on the life of a German leader this year, martial law has been declared across Reichskommissariat Ukraine following an attempt on the life of Reichskommissar Erich Koch. Reportedly injured when a bomb hidden within his personal vehicle detonated as he left his home yesterday morning, two soldiers and Koch's driver were killed whilst Koch suffered severe injuries to his chest, right arm and face. Following emergency surgery, the German administrator reportedly remains in critical condition.

With undercover foreign press having extensively exposed the levels of violence and poverty within Ukraine since the German capture of the region from the Soviet Union during the Second World War, many internationally now fear for the welfare of the Ukrainian people as the Reich begins its hunt for those responsible.

quote:

World News: June 28, 1962
ARGENTINE PRESIDENT REMOVED BY ARMY

While Arturo Frondizi�s electoral defeat in recent legislative elections was certain to end his presidency, many placed hopes on reported attempts to forestall a military takeover and resolve the situation democratically. Those hopes have now vanished as the various corps commanders of the Argentine army reportedly have formed a junta and named Lt. General Ra�l Poggi as president.

While a military government, the influence of civilians from the most extreme sectors of the Conservative, Socialist, and Popular-Radical parties is evident from the composition of the new cabinet. However, the cabinet�s expression of support for Frondizi's ouster has already caused a split in all three, and even in the army itself, in which there seems to be growing resentment against the coup plotters.

Meanwhile in Malaysia, the front has bogged down completely on the borders of Perak state. It�s highly unlikely that our single R&D division will be able to contribute to breaking the insurgent lines and the AI will likely bash itself against one another piecemeal. I doubt we�re going to see any more progress here.

quote:

Just east of Kōshu's bustling streets, a quiet little village had stood undisturbed for centuries, unchanged even as the land beneath it changed hands from the province, now State, of Guangdong.

Chun, the eldest son of the Lee family, lay wide awake at dawn, reminiscing over the memories he had made here. The house he had lived in for his entire life was built long before he, or his parents, was even born, its rudimentary wooden foundations and ash-gray walls standing firm for his sixteen years of life.

A barrage of hefty vehicles descended upon the village, their exteriors unembellished and coarse, emitting an unending stream of pungent and opaque fumes. One of the men stepped forward with a megaphone, and in heavily accented Cantonese, announced that the village was to be vacated immediately. "Do not resist," he added. "You will be provided with new residences."

At this the entire Lee family awoke. A village elder, who had serviced this village's needs for his entire life, stumbled up to the men questioning why he hadn't been consulted beforehand. When the order from Chief Executive Suzuki was presented, the elder did not relent, continuing to press the issue. One of the men, growing increasingly frustrated, drew their pistol and slammed it into the elder's cheek; his scream of pain echoed throughout the village.

Three consecutive sharp knocks rang out from the front door of the house. Chun's younger brother, Hei, hesitated before opening it, revealing two young Kenpeitai officers, who immediately herded the Lee family - Chun, Hei, Wai, and their parents - outside, forcing them towards several olive green trucks in the distance. Chun stole one last glance at the household where he grew up, realizing that he'll likely never see it again.

The Displaced Family: The Lees has been added to the Dramatis Personae page.

quote:

The Displaced Family

The truck carrying the Lee family abruptly stopped in front of a drab building complex, where a couple of stained and murky windows provided a glimpse into the conditions within: rows of rusting old bunk beds and mildew infested walls. The facility's foreman, a Japanese man of short stature, stepped forward and crassly demanded the Lee family to get out and get settled, brandishing his truncheon.

Hei, the younger brother, paid no heed to the unsubtle threat. "What gives you the authority to dictate what we do? You people forcibly dragged us out of our home and now you expect us to follow your rules?"

The foreman merely looked amused, before striking Hei across the face with the truncheon. Chun saw red and stepped forward; he faintly heard his mother imploring him to not do anything rash, before he slapped the foreman on the side of his face.

The foreman dragged Chun by his collar out onto the street, the two trading blows in the fading dusk light. A passing police officer rushed over, reprimanding the foreman for treating workers in such a way. The foreman, eyes bulging, spat messily into the policeman's face before storming back into the dormitory, slamming the door in their faces.

"You all better not get into any more trouble around here," the officer said, wiping saliva from his face. "Come on. The cheapest tenements in town are this way; if you sell everything, you might just muster enough cash to get a little place."

Chun's mother, Mei, profusely thanked the policeman as the family followed behind. Chun glanced at the officer's badge, unsure whether to thank or to curse him for getting in between him and the detestable foreman.

�Officer Hayashi Kōsen.�

quote:

The Good Cop

That evening, Lam Haau-cyun took one more glance at the envelope in his hand. Written on it was the all-too-familiar address, his one remaining anchor to the distant patch of soil he called home. He could only hope the amount he sent was enough for them to get by; the mail blackout that started three weeks ago was growing more worrisome by the day. Pushing such concerns out of his thoughts, he lifted his head, and stepped across the threshold of the cha chaan teng.

Greeting him as he strode into the cramped dining hall were the all-too-familiar mixture of odors, the all-too-familiar yells and chatters in perfect Cantonese, and the all-too-familiar faces of his colleagues, their features all too wrinkled to give away one bit of youthfulness. As Lam returned their exhausted greetings, the desperate visages of that young former villager and his aging mother flashed across his mind.

How he wished he could have done more, but then he'd be deluding himself for he knew what awaited those "indigenous" folks, as the higher-ups called them. Factory after factory as far as the eye could see, eager to squash them into the cogs of the industrial machine and little else. It was only his own meager Japanese skills that rescued him from his disaster of a business venture back in Honkon, after all; and quite frankly, anyone without the fortune to possess such resources would be doomed to the bottom of the pyramid for the rest of their lives.

As Lam gobbled away at his plate of egg-and-meat cheungfan, something right outside the glass panes caught his eye: a slender, feminine figure clad in pale blue kimono, peeking inside with almost curious wonder. The next moment she was gone, swept away by another towering, sharply dressed figure. Before Lam could spare it much thought, he felt a tug on his shoulder; there had been another "accident", another body to pull off the nets. So Officer Hayashi shrugged, abandoned his plate, and hurried out into the afternoon lights. Perhaps that was just another Japanese tourist.

quote:

The Modern Princess

"Yoshiko. Come on, stop staring." Baron Yasukawa's voice carried clearly from ten paces ahead on the crowded Kōshu street, where Yasukawa Yoshiko - now dressed in a pale blue kimono - peered into a darkened cha chaan teng.

"Just looking, father," Yoshiko walked briskly back to her father's side, the kimono's folds holding her to short, rapid strides, kicking up dust from the street. "It's not odd to want to see how people live their lives outside Japan, is it?"

"You shouldn't be close to the Chinese; there's no reason to be," Baron Yasukawa admonished Yoshiko. "They do their job; we do ours. It's how things work."

"Yes, father," Yoshiko demurred for a second, before she looked back at the receding eatery. "The people inside looked tired, father, but they were - lively. A dozen tables without an empty seat, all speaking over each other. Nothing like home."

Baron Yasukawa frowned, a flash of irritation on his face. "You don't know the Chinese at all. Don't pretend that you do."

"Well, then what about our valet? He spoke Japanese and seemed perfectly nice," Yoshiko countered. "What are they called - Zhujin? The people here can't be all bad."

"They're none of your concern, Yoshiko. We're going back to Japan tomorrow," Baron Yasukawa declared, while pulling at Yoshiko's hand. "You don't have to worry about the world, like you did in college. You're a daughter of the Yasukawa family; you'll probably never come back here again once you're married."

Yoshiko chose to be silent, her mind elsewhere.

quote:

World News: July 8, 1962
CHE GUEVARA RELEASED

Today the eyes of the world are fixed on Chile, as famous revolutionary Che Guevara was released from Santiago Public Prison. Despite being responsible for agitation and sedition, Chilean President Jorge Alessandri refused requests by successive Argentine governments to extradite the revolutionary.

While some believe Alessandri to be concerned for his safety, this move also comes in the midst of his attempts to begin a process of land reform, so it is believed that Guevara�s release is an attempt to secure support from the socialist-led FRAP Coalition. Though this may allow for President Alessandri to further his agenda, it has also sparked considerable controversy locally and abroad. Only time will tell if this move has secured a future for Chile � potentially at the cost of others � or if this is yet another footnote in the long history of Chile�s political instability.

The Kempeitai�s Warden: Miyazaki Kiyotaka has been added to the Dramatis Personae page.

The Leashed Butcher: Lt. General Nagano Shigeto has been added to the Dramatis Personae page.

quote:

World News: August 16, 1962
HAS BURGUNDY FINALLY DONE IT?

The Swiss Seismological Service has issued a press release with worrying news. Last night, their HQ in Z�rich noted a seismological event somewhere in the Burgundian Jura that lasted four seconds and reached 4.6 on the Richter scale. Due to the lack of aftershocks, they concluded that this is "not natural activity, but likely a man-made incident." Several Swiss radiologists have also reported a spike in airborne radiation equivalent to a mild nuclear meltdown or an atomic airblast.

Governments worldwide have arrived at one conclusion: the Burgundians have successfully tested a nuclear device, twice as strong as the one dropped on Pearl Harbor in 1945. With the shadow state remaining tight-lipped as ever, the news will likely never be confirmed. Still, it seems that 1962 will be remembered as the year Burgundy ascended to the ranks of the nuclear powers.

There is a little under a month to go before the 1962 product cycle�s launch, but we have another choice to make as the focus tree has two mutually exclusive choices here.

Do we make nice with the Triads, represented by Stanley Ho or the Yakuza, represented by Yokoi Hideki?

Moon Slayer fucked around with this message at 04:29 on Jun 4, 2023

# ? May 30, 2023 03:56

NewMars: Mar 10, 2013

Ah, that stanley ho, he's just such a charmer.

# ? May 30, 2023 04:00

samcarsten: Sep 13, 2022; by vyelkin

Yokoi Hideki

# ? May 30, 2023 04:26

Gideon020: Apr 23, 2011

That Stanley Ho seems like a fine and charming gentleman.

# ? May 30, 2023 11:50

Arbite: Nov 4, 2009

Usually there's a little story when the product launches in a new region, is there not one for China and Matsushita?

# ? May 30, 2023 12:15

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

There will be next update, I just got to this focus tree branch before the launch.

# ? May 30, 2023 12:24

StillFullyTerrible: Feb 16, 2020; you should have left Let's Play open for public view, Lowtax

Go with Ho

# ? May 30, 2023 21:55

Doopliss: Nov 3, 2012

StillFullyTerrible posted:

Go with Ho

Ho seems like a bro

# ? May 31, 2023 00:03

paragon1: Nov 22, 2010; FULL COMMUNISM NOW

StillFullyTerrible posted:

Go with Ho

# ? May 31, 2023 01:29

ChaseSP: Mar 25, 2013

StillFullyTerrible posted:

Go with Ho

# ? May 31, 2023 02:37

Kurgarra Queen: Jun 11, 2008; GIVE ME MORE
SUPER BOWL
WINS

StillFullyTerrible posted:

Go with Ho

We are trying to sell some damned air conditioners to the Chinese, maybe the Triads can help with that?
...Maybe they would like some air conditioners?

# ? May 31, 2023 02:59

QuoProQuid: Jan 12, 2012; Tr*ckin' and F*ckin' all the way to tha
T O P

hello, im one of the pretentious writers who leads TNO. i won't participate in votes, but i'll be reading the thread. appreciate you showing off guangdong, which was a blast to put together.

Szarrukin posted:

I wonder about this mod's version of General Government - is it a playable faction or just a part of Reich?

will be playable in the next planned update "lehi i rus," which i suspect will release before the end of summer

QuoProQuid fucked around with this message at 03:56 on May 31, 2023

# ? May 31, 2023 03:42

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Chapter 5: Mid September - November 1962

StillFullyTerrible posted:

Go with Ho

And shortly after that �

With a massively successful product launch behind us, I undertake efforts to bring our corruption down and support from Japan and China up.

Some of these efforts go better than others.

However, a little under a month later, the results are clear.

quote:

World News: October 1, 1962
TROPICAL STORM HARRIET HITS THAILAND

A severe tropical storm has struck southern Thailand, claiming approximately 700 lives and displacing tens of thousands in the region. The storm, named Harriet, first formed in the South China Sea before moving west. The storm then made landfall in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province on the south-eastern Thai coast, crossing the peninsula and entering the Indian Ocean.

In Harriet�s wake, hundreds are dead and tens of thousands have been made homeless. The storm struck at a difficult time for the Thai government, who had committed significant investments into the region as part of their economic development plans. As rescue and reconstruction efforts begin, many fear that the damage Harriet has inflicted will remain with Thailand for decades.

If the Malaya campaign wasn�t bogged down before, it certainly is now.

And now it is time for the Chief Executive�s biggest project to date. As you can see, there is still a ways to go before it has enough support to pass. Compromises will need to be made to get to 51 votes; either with the tycoons or our level of corruption. This will take the form of amendments to the bill, and each amendment will lose support as well as gain it.

(... Legislative Council, Morita Akio in particular, but if Ibuka can be brought over to the reformist side just this once, the rest of the reluctant opposition will surely follow.)

We can only meet with TWO of the tycoons: choose which two those will be.

Moon Slayer fucked around with this message at 04:37 on May 31, 2023

# ? May 31, 2023 04:35

NewMars: Mar 10, 2013

Morita and Yasuda!

They seem like reliable types.

# ? May 31, 2023 05:06

McGavin: Sep 18, 2012

NewMars posted:

Morita and Yasuda!

They seem like reliable types.

# ? May 31, 2023 05:51

Arbite: Nov 4, 2009

Matsushita and Yasuda.

A cool new breeze in the establishment.

# ? May 31, 2023 10:08

Mamkute: Sep 2, 2018

Arbite posted:

Matsushita and Yasuda.

A cool new breeze in the establishment.

Matsushita and Yasuda.

The other two guys don't seem as chill.

# ? May 31, 2023 18:54

tatankatonk: Nov 4, 2011; Pitching is the art of instilling fear.

Matsushita and Yasuda, since they're the biggest and Fujitsu and Sony already hate each other which means a divided opposition

# ? May 31, 2023 19:04

paragon1: Nov 22, 2010; FULL COMMUNISM NOW

Morita and Matsushita

# ? May 31, 2023 19:12

NeverHelm: Aug 9, 2017; Never attribute to malice that post which is adequately explained by a poor sense of humor.

paragon1 posted:

Morita and Matsushita

Same!

# ? May 31, 2023 19:26

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

QuoProQuid posted:

hello, im one of the pretentious writers who leads TNO. i won't participate in votes, but i'll be reading the thread. appreciate you showing off guangdong, which was a blast to put together.

will be playable in the next planned update "lehi i rus," which i suspect will release before the end of summer

How sick of hearing the name Atlantropa are you?

# ? Jun 1, 2023 00:29

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Some quick thread housekeeping: I've been updating pretty frequently because right now I'm waiting for a new job to start so I've got lots of free time. Probably next week though updates will be less rapid fire, but since the game throws a lot of stuff that needs explaining up front I think it's working out pretty well. If you don't get a chance to check in and vote on something, don't worry, there's lots of thread participation to come.

For right now though voting will be open for another few hours. Yasuda is clearly in the lead but Sony and Matsushita are neck and neck for 2nd place.

# ? Jun 1, 2023 02:20

QuoProQuid: Jan 12, 2012; Tr*ckin' and F*ckin' all the way to tha
T O P

Moon Slayer posted:

How sick of hearing the name Atlantropa are you?

honestly, i get why people had a negative reaction to its removal. it served as a very visible symbol of tno being a �broken world,� forever marred by Nazi hubris. i also get people being frustrated with its removal in absence of new playable content in places like italy that would give players new things to release off of. things like penelope�s web have been in development for too long and the long time between updates is a running joke.

im somewhat less chill about the coordinated harassment that some fans engaged in in the aftermath of atlantropa�s removal and the weird obsessive way that some people �track� devs

# ? Jun 1, 2023 02:26

Arbite: Nov 4, 2009

QuoProQuid posted:

honestly, i get why people had a negative reaction to its removal. it served as a very visible symbol of tno being a �broken world,� forever marred by Nazi hubris. i also get people being frustrated with its removal in absence of new playable content in places like italy that would give players new things to release off of. things like penelope�s web have been in development for too long and the long time between updates is a running joke.

im somewhat less chill about the coordinated harassment that some fans engaged in in the aftermath of atlantropa�s removal and the weird obsessive way that some people �track� devs

Fan reaction is one thing, I'm more curious how calculating the possible reaction from a living person's portrayal in the mod and blowback there enters into things. Li Ka-shing in particular comes to mind. If he'd somehow caught wind of this and disapproved of his portrayal was there a different industrialist that would have been slotted into his spot?

Arbite fucked around with this message at 03:18 on Jun 1, 2023

# ? Jun 1, 2023 03:15

Szarrukin: Sep 29, 2021

QuoProQuid posted:

will be playable in the next planned update "lehi i rus," which i suspect will release before the end of summer

Is that a reference to legendary Slavic founding rulers? Because in that case it should be "Lech i Rus".

# ? Jun 1, 2023 09:56

QuoProQuid: Jan 12, 2012; Tr*ckin' and F*ckin' all the way to tha
T O P

Arbite posted:

Fan reaction is one thing, I'm more curious how calculating the possible reaction from a living person's portrayal in the mod and blowback there enters into things. Li Ka-shing in particular comes to mind. If he'd somehow caught wind of this and disapproved of his portrayal was there a different industrialist that would have been slotted into his spot?

if we got a real request, i suppose we might consider it. the first release of TNO had a really lovely habit of using soviet veterans as fascist warlords, something that was thankfully nipped in the bud early. there's now a deliberate effort to ensure that people depicted bear some general resemblance to how they are depicted in the mod (with a handful of silly outliers like in kemerovo).

but tno isn't really big enough for these problems to emerge regularly and those few living people in the mod who have been informed of TNO's existence haven't cared.

Szarrukin posted:

Is that a reference to legendary Slavic founding rulers? Because in that case it should be "Lech i Rus".

what happens when im tired and phone post. yes, it's lech i rus.

QuoProQuid fucked around with this message at 15:54 on Jun 1, 2023

# ? Jun 1, 2023 12:39

NewMars: Mar 10, 2013

I hope Kemrovo never goes, it's great and amazing.

# ? Jun 1, 2023 14:56

HannibalBarca: Sep 11, 2016; History shows, again and again, how nature points out the folly of man.

Yeah I feel like the remaining legacy "wacky" content should be considered sacrosanct, except for stuff that's both wacky and boring like, uh, everything involving the African RKs.

# ? Jun 1, 2023 22:02

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

Chapter 6: November 1962 - March 1963

Unfortunately, it appears that the thread failed to read the fine print, an unforgivable and possibly fatal mistake in Guangdong, as Yasuda and Matsushita are mutually exclusive choices! Picking them would result in both pulling their support from the RLSO. As such, I have gone with the third-place pick, Sony.

Alas, that still puts us somewhat short, though not nearly as big a deficit as it would have been if Yasuda had pulled their support completely. Fortunately, there are ways of making that up.

There we go.

Not great, but not terrible.

And worth it in the end.

The RLSO will always pass, it�s just a matter of how much corruption you incur to do so. And we can�t afford to have corruption dragging down our GDP growth, because �

� we�ve got a quota to hit and we�re still short.

quote:

Yamauchi Hiroshi disembarked the compact passenger ship that had transported him across the turquoise and turbulent ocean, stepping onto the concrete docks of Port Shōri, Honkon. With his arrival, he carried with him the burden and weight of the legacy of his family and a duty to resuscitate a waning endeavor: a venerable yet struggling and unremarkable business focusing on the production of playing cards.

Yamauchi's business was considerably old, being established by an experienced craftsman decades ago, with the purpose of the production of traditional Japanese hanafuda playing cards. Throughout the years, the family had remained true to their roots, finding slight success in the brief period of post-war prosperity in Japan; but alas, the nature of the economic markets continuously fluctuate. It was to the surprise of nobody when the market for the cards that Yamauchi had specialized in began to be saturated and profits began dropping. New routes had to be considered.

To Yamauchi and many others abroad, Guangdong was a golden land of opportunity; a place where humble businesses and upstarts could thrive and develop, supported by the measures of the current Chief Executive, Suzuki Teiichi. As matters became tenuous on the Home Islands, Yamauchi turned his attention towards the opportunities that the Three Pearls had to offer and departed for more lucrative shores. He certainly was not the first, as made evident by the four corporations dominating the administration, and he certainly would not be the last.

Yamauchi took a deep breath of the tangy air of the delta and smiled. Here, Nintendo would find success and prosperity

The Struggling Founder: Yamauchi Hiroshi has been added to the Dramatis Personae page.

quote:

World News: November 28, 1962
QUEEN WILHELMINA DIES

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, exiled in Suriname has died in her makeshift residence in Paramaribo, where she has stayed since the government-in-exile�s decampment to the Caribbean. Her death came as no surprise as the Queen had long been ill, forcing her daughter � now Queen Juliana � to assume more and more of her duties.

The Dutch Caribbean � at times plagued by disagreements � unites to mourn her death; mourning has even been reported in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. At the late queen�s request, the funeral will be performed in white vestments rather than black in reflection of her Christian belief that death is merely the beginning of eternal life. Due to the circumstances, a special cemetery has been planned in Paramaribo to house her remains; however, government sources have said that if Amsterdam is ever freed, she will join her ancestors in the royal crypt there.

quote:

The Displaced Family

The cries of Chun's younger sister jolted him awake, the piercing pitch only somewhat muted by the dull pain that squeezed his spine. The disturbance was by no means new to the Lee family - Chun especially, who had endured much worse than a split ear and a bad back during their short life in the city.

Chun shook off the confusion; not a minute could be spared to dwell on the complexities of his life's new arrangements. It was time to trudge to work, and he waved a tired goodbye to his mother, numb to the cries and the aching. Step after step, his hands buried deep in his pockets; it had already become a mindless chore to him.

His bleak expectations were dispelled during his short lunch break; word of action by the government had spread. Some mentioned higher wages, others prophesied protection from abuse - but these details mattered little to Chun. Merely the fact that the government was willing to consider any form of improvements was enough to raise his spirits as he returned to the factory floor. His optimism soon vanished again as he heard the owner's distant voice announce amidst open laughter:

"There's no way those fools can enforce this. I'd pay more attention to a dog than this drat bill!"

Later that night, Chun heaved himself dejectedly through the door of his family's apartment, only for Hei to nearly knock him over at the door, exclaiming that their father had 'the most money' in hand since they'd come to Kōshu. His father had an announcement to the whole family, one that gave Chun some welcome relief after the trials of the day.

As Matsushita was the second-most-popular pick in the last vote and I overruled it, we�ll bring him along on this trip.

Before heading out, though, I issue orders to recall our experimental rifle test group in Malaya. As expected the front has not moved in months and the stalemate shows little sign of offering us the opportunities to finish testing in those last two environments. Time to bring them home and analyze the final reports.

Again, not great, but not terrible.

Overall the conference is somewhat of a waste of time, although this is perhaps the start of a � friendly? � rivalry. The conference is only marred by news out of what was supposed to be another economic powerhouses of the Sphere, the Philippines.

quote:

World News: December 26. 1962
COUP IN SOUTH PHILIPPINES

After over a week of fighting, the chaos that gripped the Free Republic of the Philippines is now over. Forces loyal to Wendell Fertig, the former American guerilla in charge of the USFIP, have secured their control of the capital.

The conflict began on December 16th, the first day of Simbang Gabi, the nine days of Catholic masses before Christmas. On that day, troops commanded by Fertig stormed Congress and forcibly demanded the impeachment of President Garcia and VIce President Santos. Although fierce resistance was led by Ramon Magsaysay, his surrender to federal troops in the name of national unity on Christmas Eve put an end to hostilities. As Christmas Morning dawns, the future of the Free Republic seems uncertain.

quote:

The Struggling Founder

Amidst the cacophony of buzzing exhaust pipes and unintelligible shouts that defined the nature of the metropolis of Honkon resided an unremarkable property, indistinguishable from the vast ocean of buildings that surrounded it. An inconspicuous office was nestled within the mundane complex, now registered to Yamauchi Hiroshi and the Nintendo Corporation.

Yamauchi had been, ever since he first stepped ashore, precariously examining and evaluating the merits of certain consumer markets. He clasped his hands together tightly and smiled with glee; it seemed that the countless hours of exhausting evaluation and reevaluation would finally bear fruit. He peered over the piles of external fiscal reports and documents on market trends spread across his desk, his focus centered upon one.

The instant foods industry.

It was a new source of demand that had only been pioneered within the last decade, a nascent market abundant with potential for expansion and growth. Yamauchi once again considered the prospects for innovation; the instant noodle market had been dominated long ago by its creator, Momofuku Ando and his company Nissin Foods, and entry would mean fierce and established competition which he could not hope to outmatch. Yamauchi knew, however, that the possibilities of instant foods were not exclusively limited to noodles. His mind immediately pivoted to the staple food that sustained the livelihoods of tens of millions across Asia and the world: rice, a realm that Momofuku had failed to conquer.

Akin to noodles, rice could be easily dehydrated and rehydrated with the mere addition of heated water, yet other corporate entities had not expanded extensively into this prospect, making it ripe for development and profit. Yamauchi hurriedly retrieved a sheet of paper and began sketching down rudimentary concepts.

It was time for scattered thoughts to manifest in reality.

quote:

World News: February 9, 1963
CYMRU GOCH WINS WELSH ELECTIONS

The government of Wales has officially announced that the left-wing party known as the Cyrmu Goch has won the recent election.

The past few months in Wales have certainly been tumultuous due to the coal crisis that gripped the country for most of 1962, bringing Wales to the brink of economic collapse. Soon after the crisis had been resolved, the Aberfan disaster occurred when a coal mine spoil tip collapsed, resulting in the deaths of over one hundred and forty people, most of them children after the spoil tip hit the local school.

In a speech after results were announced, Emrys Thomas, leader of Cyrmu Goch, promised a new government for the people and one for Wales as a whole.

With a massively successful product launch, and middlingly successful weapon prototype put into production, the passing of the Revised Labor Standards Ordinance, and the meeting of economic projections, Suzuki could be forgiven for taking the first part of 1963 off, but the work never ends.

quote:

The Good Cop

Lam winced as he heard the officer speak, his Cantonese barely decipherable between the poor pronunciation and the smattering of Japanese. A look of confusion plastered on the face of the man opposite of him. The officer repeated his question twice over, further butchering the language with each successive attempt.

It was on the man's third try when Lam stepped in, repeating the question, and this time, the man responded, with narrowed eyes and with no emotion in his voice. "No officer, I can't say I've seen anything worth reporting, nor have I seen anyone here who matches your description. Will that be all?"

Lam nodded and moved off, taking careful note of the contemptuous glances being shot his way, both from the officers and the resident. Lam Haau-cyun shrugged it all off; they didn't have to like him, but they did have to learn Cantonese.

quote:

World News: February 23, 1963
UPRISING IN MADAGASCAR

Terror has struck Madagascar today, as what was initially a rebellion of native collaborator police has now spiraled into a total collapse of authority on the African island. The French colonial government has, in effect, been dissolved completely. In this vacuum the German garrison has largely taken matters into its own hands. Subsequent reports have come in of various native uprisings, aligning under the umbrella of the �Governing Council.�

The latest news indicates that the colonial authorities have been engaged in intense fighting for control over the various urban centers across the island, with the Council reportedly reaching out to Japan, and also finding support through private backers with ties to the Free French. Germania, meanwhile, has been engaged in a diplomatic dispute with Paris as to the legality of their garrison�s seizure.

quote:

World News: March 11, 1963
GENERAL POGGI DISAPPEARS

The military junta that has ruled Argentina for the last nine months designated a new president today, appointing 80-year-old retired general Benjam�n Men�ndez as the new president. The announcement left unmentioned the fate of General Raul Poggi, the previous president and junta member, who has been absent from the public eye for over a week.

General Men�ndez, a seasoned coup plotter responsible for attempts to overthrow governments in 1942, 1945, 1951, 1959, and 1960, appears not to be responsible for his own selection as president, which was announced by Admiral Isaac Rojas, leader of the junta and head of the Argentine Navy. Buenos Aires did not experience any large-scale protests in the aftermath of the announcement, which from all appearances took the population by surprise.

From Madrid, the exiled Juan Per�n condemned the announcement.

Despite continued unrest in Africa and South America, things in Guangdong appear to be going quite well. For the immediate future, we can � hold on, there�s another story coming in over the wire.

quote:

World News: March 19, 1963
YASUDA ON BRINK OF COLLAPSE

Following the release of information implicating the zaibatsu�s executives as leaders in a corruption scheme-turned-murder investigation, the titanic Yasuda Bank appears to be in dire straits. When the Tokyo Stock Exchange opened earlier this morning, the floors were flooded with frantic shareholders begging for their orders to be processed first and frightened interns carrying bins of SELL orders through the chaos.

Already Yasuda�s share price has entered freefall and the mass liquidation of assets held in the Home Islands, Guangdong, Vietnam, and China has begun. Experts predict that the zaibatsu is on life support and, unless Prime Minister Ino�s cabinet can produce a miracle, the total collapse of the corporation can be expected as soon as next week.

Moon Slayer fucked around with this message at 04:45 on Jun 2, 2023

# ? Jun 2, 2023 04:40

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? May 8, 2024 12:52

NewMars: Mar 10, 2013

I'm sure this'll be fine, it's just one collapse of a corporation. Wait, we live in a corporatist nation?

# ? Jun 2, 2023 05:36

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > No, the other game called The New Order where the Nazis won

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