From:	Jeffrey Mach <mach@****.CALTECH.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Re[2]: Maxim, again?!
Date:	Thu, 27 Mar 1997 12:55:24 -0800

On Wed, 26 Mar 1997, Mike Goldberg wrote:

<<snip Pepsi/dilute urine commentary--frankly I wouldn't know...never
tasted urine dilute or otherwise. :P Drink Josta.>>
> >JAIMIE NICHOLSON

> If you are a gm, one of the more useful things to watch for is things
> like what is going on with Pepsi. Pepsi is in three different (but
> related) industries (and most of their products do nothing for me).
> It is just the small start of a megacorporation. Look at how
> Microsoft operates or even AT&T. If you feel you tell me that their
> actions don't give inspiration of things you can do in cyberpunk with
> a corporation, then I wish you to not only tell me that, but tell my
> why that is so. *grin*
>
> IMHO, having that bit of real world knowledge of corporations and
> their strategies, makes the game feel a little more alive for me and
> the players that I have gm'd over.

The cannonical company I refer to as a mega-corp is definitely Mitsubishi.
There is Mitsubishi's automotive division, which most people know about.
Then there is their electronics divisions that put out everything from
big-screen TV's and VCR's to diode laser systems (like the ones in your CD
player). Finallly there is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Their interests
include, but are not limited to: oil tanker ships, nuclear reactors,
F-16's (under the FSX subcontract to Lockheed-Martin), the HOPE space
shuttle, magnetohydrodynamic drives for ships, large scale buildings
(auditoriums, stadiums), and more. With the proclivity of Shadowrun
to avoid messing with existing corps (libel, etc.), they don't get much
air in any of the sourcebooks but may have been the inspiration for some
of the Japanese members of the Big 8.

> Here is the idea two sides really:
>
> One a small corporation wants to gain a foothold in a new city to
> compete with the big boys in the junk food biz. They start convincing
> local food stores to carry their product. Maybe at the same time,
> they try and convince restaurants not owned by their competitors to
> switch junk food suppliers. They gain a small foothold. A big bad
> corp, doesn't like the decreasing profit line, and hence, all sort of
> opportunities are open to a GM and players alike.

Interesting...I can see it now: "Hey, Bob, you ever notice this?" In
really small print on the back of a pack of Twinkies: Hostess, a
division of Shiawase Inc.

--Catch you later

Jeff