Chapter 37
Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Ultimate Strategy Proposal (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
He then spun around, faced the executives, and declared magnanimously.
“Stop spouting empty promises about business models and revenue targets you can't even keep! This is the kind of presentation I want to see—one that gets people emotionally and sentimentally invested right from the strategy proposal stage! I expect this from all of you, understand?”
“Yes… we understand.”
At his roar, the executives responded meekly and nodded.
Uh… it seemed my pitch was a little different from what the other PDs at the company had done before.
This was my first time in a meeting like this, and Division Head Shin Chihwan had never mentioned anything of the sort, so I was a bit flustered.
‘The other division heads look absolutely sour.’
I smiled awkwardly and glanced around.
The division heads who disliked Shin Chihwan… especially Seo Donghyuk, the Head of Division 1, was openly frowning.
That must have meant my presentation felt threatening to them.
And Division Head Shin Chihwan didn't miss this golden opportunity.
“Then, let's hold a vote right here and now on how to proceed with this project, Mr. President.”
“But the project's economic viability hasn't been reviewed at all…”
Fearing the momentum would shift, Director Jeong Sanghyeok from the Business Department immediately objected.
But… just then, President Oh Geoshin cut him off and threw a question at me.
“Manager Jo Hyunsoo, how many people did you say Pass On Dream requires for its production?”
“A maximum of ten.”
I replied in a short, precise, and confident voice.
A voice that conveyed the conviction that this project would never fail.
President Oh Geoshin scratched his chin, cleared his throat, and continued.
“Director Jeong Sanghyeok, do we really need a strict business viability review for a team of ten at most? Are we that broke?”
“…No, sir. I was short-sighted.”
With a single word from the president, Director Jeong Sanghyeok, who had been so sharp and imperious just moments ago, became as meek as a lamb.
No matter how powerful the Business Department was, he was still just a contract employee on a two-year term whose neck could be on the line with a few words from the president.
He wouldn't dare defy the word of the man at the top.
Oh Geoshin, having quelled the coup, raised his right hand high and spoke in a gentle yet resolute voice.
“Then, let's vote. Executives in favor of developing Pass On Dream, raise your hands. I'm strongly in favor.”
With the company's highest authority sending such a strong message, no one was crazy enough to rain on his parade.
One, two, four, six, eight, ten.
Every single executive's hand was raised.
Even Director Jeong Sanghyeok raised his hand, his head bowed.
“It seems no one objects to proceeding with this project. I'll be counting on you, PD Jo Hyunsoo.”
“I'll do my best.”
The game was over.
I bowed my head deeply and offered my thanks.
The strategy proposal presentation came to an end, and the executives began to file out of the conference room.
And then…
<<Congratulations! I am greatly satisfied with your presentation!>>
<<Your pitch has been rated ‘S+’.>>
<<You have cleared the main quest ‘Soon to be a PD.’!>>
God Game Maker spewed out system messages as if to praise me for all my hard work.
<<You have gained a large amount of experience and leveled up from Level 8 to Level 9! You have acquired 5 points!>>
<<You have acquired the achievement ‘Rookie PD’!>>
-Reward: All stats of your subordinate employees will increase by +1.
<<You have acquired 20 exclusive points for use in the Shop! These points can be combined with regular points!>>
‘Was it because this quest was difficult? The rewards are pretty substantial.’
Indeed… unlike previous quests, this one was quite tough.
Before, my role was to assist with other people's projects, but this time, I was presenting my own work to the highest person in the company.
But I pulled it off perfectly, and thanks to that, I earned not only the president's praise but also a hefty reward.
A level-up, an achievement that boosts my colleagues' stats, and 20 shop points on top of that.
‘This is practically like receiving a Level 5 or 6 reward all at once.’
I felt like a favorable wind was at my back; I wanted to shout for joy.
“Hoo…”
Only then did the taut string of tension finally snap, and a sigh escaped me automatically.
I started packing up the presentation laptop and my materials.
And at that moment…
“PD Jo Hyunsoo, are you busy right now?”
“Ah, no, sir.”
When I looked up, President Oh Geoshin was staring intently at me.
And he…
“Then let's have a private chat.”
He invited me to his office.
****
“That presentation earlier was very impressive. I never knew we had someone with such a deep knowledge of modern Western art. Our PDs just drone on and on about business models and systems, I can never understand a word they're saying. They're all so devoid of sentiment, so devoid!”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
The president's office, which I was entering for the first time.
The walls were covered with Western paintings that looked expensive even at a glance.
I sat at the guest table and sipped the americano his secretary had brought me.
“I've heard a lot about you from Division Head Shin Chihwan. Thanks to you, the Phoenix project did well, and the company's stock price went up. You're a real talent.”
“Ah… yes…”
“Well, it's not for any particular reason, but there's something I wanted to ask you.”
“Something you wanted to ask?”
At my words, President Oh Geoshin cleared his throat and continued.
“Ahem, in your opinion, what do you think is our company's biggest problem?”
“Pardon?”
“Before Phoenix came out, our games were consistently flopping, weren't they? To be honest, even during the FGT, I never thought Phoenix would succeed. But then… rumors started spreading that you were shaking things up, the game changed, and then *bam*, it blew up. Frankly, I don't understand why. Tell me about it in detail. This is a request from me as the owner.”
A difficult question.
The problems with NB Soft… there were countless, and it wasn't like the employees were unaware of them.
However, most of the people who had voiced such things were either no longer with the company or were receiving unfair treatment.
Despite its name as a global game company, its corporate culture was incredibly conservative.
I knew this culture well, which was why I had kept my mouth shut, worked on my game alone, and planned to quit.
“I will tell you if you make me one promise.”
President Oh Geoshin furrowed his brow at my bold condition.
A stern impression, fearsome like a bulldog.
There couldn't be many people in this company who could face him and lay down conditions to his face.
But it didn't matter.
After all, I had become a card they couldn't just discard, one that had garnered too much attention.
“Alright, what's the condition?”
“That no matter what I say, you won't penalize me or my project for it. And especially not Division Head Shin Chihwan.”
“What?”
Oh Geoshin's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
And then…
“Hahahahaha! I heard you were an unusual one, but you really are bold! Go on, speak your mind. I'm a man of my word! I always keep my promises.”
“Hoo…”
After getting his answer, I slowly began to speak.
What benefit the words I was about to utter would bring me.
I didn't care about such calculations.
I was doing my job well—no, better than well—and because of that, I believed I had the right to say this.
The Jo Hyunsoo who lived like a puppet, keeping his mouth shut and just doing what his superiors told him, was no more.
“Our company, for one that creates content, has a rigid corporate culture.”
“Rigid… Tell me more.”
“For example, let's say I write a world-building document. It would then require confirmation from the Part Head, the PD, the Division Head, the Head of Business, the Vice President, the President, and various other executives.”
“Hmm… But doesn't getting confirmation from multiple people result in a better product?”
I shook my head.
“Not at all. Especially for content that is heavily influenced by personal taste. For a good result to come from multiple rounds of confirmation, every member involved must have a high level of understanding of the work. But among the people I just mentioned, who has a deep understanding of world-building? To be frank, more than 80% of the feedback from that process is just garbage spewed out without any insight, simply because they feel they have to say something.”
Part Head Go Yeongmi, PD Oh Gwangseok, Division Head Shin Chihwan… and the other executives…
Strictly speaking, they were all people far removed from world-building.
Division Head Shin Chihwan was a bit better since he usually enjoys a variety of content, but the rest weren't like that at all.
From the beginning, NB Soft wasn't a company that succeeded through game concepts or storytelling; they had thrived by creating solid systems and business models, so that culture was deeply ingrained.
Getting confirmation from people who grew up in that environment?
They were bound to complain about anything that didn't suit their personal tastes.
When that happens, the person actually doing the work ends up creating not original content… but a bland, featureless, mass-produced product that no one will complain about.
“But just because they're not the ones doing the hands-on work doesn't mean they don't have a good eye for things, does it?”
“Then, if you'll pardon my impertinence, may I ask you a question? Mr. President, what is the most recent game you've played?”
“…I don't really have much knowledge when it comes to games.”
How ridiculous.
The president of a game company doesn't play games.
This was likely the fundamental reason why NB Soft's stock price kept falling.
The so-called "3Ds"—DC Soft, Dexon, and DetHable.
Setting aside any moral or other issues, the presidents of those three companies were at least former hardcore gamers or were famous for playing a lot of games.
Of course, those companies also had mountains of problems, but their situation was at least better than NB Soft's.
“If you don't play games, how can you say you have a good eye for them?”
“Hmm…”
President Oh Geoshin let out a low groan.
This was my chance to press the attack.
“And I believe this isn't just limited to you, Mr. President, but is a common phenomenon among most of the executives. People with no eye for content are giving approvals, which delays schedules, sends the work in the wrong direction, and ultimately causes talented developers to lose their motivation and leave. The fact that our company has a steady stream of resignations, with their positions being filled by open recruits, is proof of this.”
The incompetence of the higher-ups drives out the talented and fills their spots with the incompetent.
The open recruits, hired solely based on their academic backgrounds, lose the opportunity to be trained without skilled practitioners to learn from, and only their years of service pile up.
A vicious cycle of incompetence.
That was the reality NB Soft was facing.
“That stings a little. If what you're saying is true, it sounds like you're telling the higher-ups who don't have an eye for games to stay out of the approval process.”
“Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying.”
“Then what are we supposed to do? Just provide the money and wait, trusting the other employees?”
“The Phoenix project proved that with its results.”
Anger was visibly rising on his face.
I had phrased it indirectly, but what I was really saying was, 'If you know you're incompetent, you should know to stay out of it.'
He had promised not to penalize me, but the atmosphere was so tense that it wouldn't have been strange if he'd decided to fire me on the spot.
Just then…
“Ahaha! I have to admit, that's pretty irritating.”
Oh Geoshin let out a deep sigh, his explosive expression softening.
“You know that I have a great interest in Western art, don't you?”
“Yes. I know that's why our company has sponsored many art exhibitions.”
“That's why. Well, your presentation was excellent, but I also really liked your project. Especially since it's a game about Van Gogh… I wanted to reflect some of my own opinions in it. Give you a few pointers about the values I hold.”
A chill ran down my spine.
The logic I had constructed to appeal to the president's tastes had backfired, turning into a declaration that he would get directly involved in the game.
The president, a layman when it comes to games, interfering with a tiny 10-person project?
Not even a god of game development, let alone me, could make a decent game under those circumstances.
“Well, never mind that now. Then… proceed with this project as you see fit.”
“Pardon?”
I tilted my head in confusion at Oh Geoshin's sudden proposal.