III: Unfair Games — Chapter 3

Summary

• The second game in the Ichigo series, Ichigo II: Go, Ichigo, Go, came out in November 1998. It had modestly better sales, but most critics thought it to be a step backward creatively and that it did not innovate or push boundaries.
• Sadie announces that she doesn’t want to make a third Ichigo game, leading to a heated debate between her, Marx and Sam who have just returned from an Ichigo II promotional tour.
• Sadie states that she feels the series has run its course and that there are other game ideas she wants to develop, comments which upset her partners, Marx and Sam who urge her to not leave the game series.
• Sam gets infuriated when Sadie decides on what to do next without getting input from the others. During the tense conversation, Marx notices that Sam’s foot is heavily bleeding but Sam dismisses his concern abruptly.
• Sadie leaves in anger and reaches her apartment to find the phone ringing, which she ignores. She reflects on her independence, wondering if she could develop games without Sam and Marx. When she finally picks the call, she discusses with Dov the possibility of making a game without Sam.
• Later, Sadie is interrupted by Sam calling from the street. Sam insists that he wants to learn about Sadie's new game ideas and admits that he understands her fatigue with Ichigo. They make light banter about a potential Ichigo III and Sam's defiance of Marx to visit her.
• They sit and watch Letterman on the TV, before discussing Sadie’s relationship with Dov, Marx’s new love interest, and the concept of love itself before she finally shares her new game idea, Both Sides to Sam.