Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Sharing the Captain's Vision
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"And so, through the story of an artist named Van Gogh, *Pass On Dream* aims to tell the stories of those who have sacrificed their 'dreams' for someone or something, much like our parents did. Its unique graphical concept, direction, and the way it interprets the act of 'painting' as a form of combat will be our project's greatest strengths."
Monday morning, in the main conference room, all ten members of Team Christian had gathered to listen to the presentation.
The presenter, Jo Hyunsoo, once again clearly conveyed the game's intended direction and goals.
It was a simple, clear, and concise presentation, using images and prototype footage that made it easy enough for a child to understand.
"My goal is to complete development by March 15th of next year for a release sometime in April. The game will consist of thirteen chapters, and our sales target is three million copies on Steam."
After the game's introduction, he laid out the specific development schedule, scope, and sales targets.
Of course, there would be executive evaluations along the way, but since those details weren't set in stone, he only shared a rough projected timeline.
*So, this is the kind of game I'm supposed to be making.*
Everyone gathered there felt as if the previously unclear parts of the project were now neatly falling into place in their minds.
Though they had all asked questions about the project during last week's team dinner, this felt much more official.
Just as everyone was nodding in understanding, PD Jo Hyunsoo added one more thing.
"And, this is just my personal hope, but I'm also aiming for our game to make it into the top ten for next year's GOTY awards."
GOTY. Game of the Year.
A title every game developer dreams of at least once.
It was an award that required not just high sales, but also excellence in the somewhat subjective realms of 'gameplay' and 'artistry.'
In the Korean game industry, which pursues extreme commercialism, even attempting such a feat was like a story from a distant land.
But.
*With PD Jo Hyunsoo, with this project, it might just be possible.*
Everyone in the room had a similar thought.
*Forgotten Andersen's Story*, a game Jo Hyunsoo had made, had already sold over a million copies in just six months, and predictions were circulating that it might even snag a few GOTY awards by the end of the year.
For a solo-developed game to achieve such results was incredibly rare.
Besides, the prototype for *Pass On Dream* was proof enough that his words were not just an empty boast.
*We are on a project that's aiming for a GOTY.*
The team members' hearts pounded at Jo Hyunsoo's announcement, and they felt a burgeoning sense of pride in their project.
"That concludes my presentation. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them all before lunchtime."
As soon as he finished, hands shot up all over the room.
"PD-nim, do you have any ideas in mind for how to use the UI as part of the game's direction?"
"Not yet, no. But the idea of using the UI itself as an element of the direction is interesting. If you have any ideas on that front, please feel free to share them anytime. I'll keep that in mind when planning the UI/UX from now on."
"Is the overall flow for the thirteen-chapter story already established?"
"The general outline is in place, but it lacks detail and will undergo many revisions. I plan to share it with the entire team once it's more complete."
"Are there any books about Van Gogh you'd recommend?"
"There's an autobiography that was released in Korea, though it's out of print. If anyone needs it, let me know. I can make copies and share them."
I began to answer each person's questions with sincerity.
Responding to each one was a bit tiring, but their passion was palpable, and I couldn't stop, sensing their desire to learn as much as they could right here and now.
Besides.
*Clearing up as many doubts as possible for the team members in this meeting will have a positive impact on leading the team going forward.*
I had seen several projects fail because the PD couldn't present a clear vision to the team.
Sailors on a ship with an unknown destination are always anxious and tend to become passive.
The primary goal of this presentation was to alleviate their anxiety by clearly communicating our voyage's purpose, our destination, and how long it would take.
Sharing the vision with the team, and narrowing the gap between my thoughts and theirs as much as possible.
*It might not seem like a big deal, but most teams that failed did so because they couldn't do this.*
Since entering the game industry, every single team I had been a part of had failed for this very reason.
A PD who didn't even know what kind of game he was making, teetering precariously due to executives and office politics.
And because of that, the team members were anxious, and the team leads were sacrificed time and again to persuade them.
When this situation repeats itself, every member becomes exhausted, and only one thought remains in everyone's mind.
-Is this even going to work?
Today's presentation was essential to prevent that from happening.
There was a good reason the God Game Maker had forced this as a quest.
"This concludes today's presentation. Detailed schedules and planning documents will be delivered sequentially to the relevant staff through your respective team leads. I look forward to working with all of you."
I bowed my head deeply, bringing the meeting to a close.
"Great work!"
One by one, the team members filed out of the conference room.
Just then.
<<You have cleared the Sudden Quest 'Share the Vision'!>>
<<Team members' work speed will increase by 20% for one week!>>
<<You have acquired a small amount of EXP! Your level has increased from 8 to 9! You have gained 5 points!>>
The completion notification for the sudden quest appeared.
*A 20% work speed boost for the team for a week. I need to finish all the documents for this week's work today and hand them over quickly so they can start first thing tomorrow.*
The activation of a skill that could boost efficiency by 20% for a week.
To make the most of it, they needed the actual planning documents.
"PD-nim, are you heading to lunch right away?"
As I was lost in thought, Jeong Yosep and Heo Yuri looked at me and asked.
I shook my head.
"No, you two take the team members and go ahead. I have something urgent to take care of."
"Oh, again? You should at least eat something. You'll ruin your health."
"Hmm, I'll buy a sandwich on my way in."
Heo Yuri spoke with concern, and Jeong Yosep offered an alternative.
Grateful for their consideration, I smiled, pulled out my card, and said.
"Then please grab a sandwich for me on your way back. And use this to buy coffee for the team members, too."
"Understood."
Jeong Yosep bowed his head slightly as he took the card, then left with Heo Yuri.
I went straight back to the office and sat down at my desk.
Pulling up a Word document on my monitor, I immediately activated Acceleration.
*I'll finish and send over all the development documents by the end of today.*
I clenched my jaw and began to type furiously on the keyboard.
****
[Me: Here are the development documents for the graphics and programming teams. Please review them and contact me via phone or messenger if you have any questions. I'm taking the day off today. - 07:31 AM]
"Ugh, I'm gonna die."
The next morning, after sending the development documents I'd written all night to each team lead, I staggered my way home.
Even with the help of the God Game Maker's abilities, writing documents in front of a computer for nearly eighteen hours straight made me feel nauseous.
*Still, I managed to get them all to an A-grade or higher.*
It wasn't just writing; I'd also used the 'Document Improvement Solution' to refine the documents' grade and fix their shortcomings, which took even more time.
Before I had the God Game Maker, creating this volume of documents at this level of quality would have taken at least ten days.
It was a task that would have been impossible without the God Game Maker's power and the fact that I had already been organizing the ideas beforehand.
"Phew... shower, then sleep."
Having poured everything I had into it, I planned to take the day off and rest completely without lifting a finger.
After a shower, just as I lay down in bed to sleep.
*Ping!*
A message arrived.
[Rokhui: Hyunsoo, did you get to work okay?]
[Me: Ah, I just got off work.]
[Rokhui: Got off?]
I briefly explained the situation to Seol Rokhui.
Then.
[Rokhui: Oh, you must have worked so hard. Then you probably won't have time today.]
[Rokhui: I was wondering if you were free tonight, I wanted to see you. It's the end of the year, and my new series got approved for serialization, so I wanted to treat you.]
[Me: Wow, it got approved? Congratulations!]
The competition for Greenhouse Webtoons was so fierce that even for established artists, landing a new contract was apparently not easy.
She had been stressing over it, so she must be over the moon now that it was approved.
[Rokhui: Hehe, thank you. You must be tired today, so let's meet another time.]
[Me: Hmm, I'm actually fine. After I get some sleep, I think I could even meet a bit early.]
[Rokhui: Really? For me, the earlier the better! Then would it be okay to meet around 4 PM today?]
[Me: So where should we meet?]
Lately, I had been so consumed by work that I needed a change of pace.
The team dinner had been fun, but it was still an extension of work...
It was the end of the year, and I wanted to get into the holiday spirit a bit, too.
And if it was with Rokhui, that would be more than perfect.
After arranging to meet at Gangnam Station at 4 PM, I fell asleep.
.
"PD Jo Hyunsoo, this is the first time in Korean gaming history that a single game has received this many GOTY awards. What was your secret?"
"I didn't try to go it alone; I always strived to keep pace with my team members. And I constantly worked to share my ideas with everyone and help them understand."
Bright lights and countless reporters surrounded me.
A flood of questions, and me, answering with a confident expression.
My chest swelled with an overwhelming emotion.
"Do you have any words for the Korean game industry?"
"It's true that games are made to make money. However, if the industry focuses too heavily on one genre, consumers will eventually turn their backs, and that will have a negative long-term impact on the entire market. I hope the success of *Pass On Dream* can be an opportunity to show the higher-ups that we need to attempt a wider variety of games."
Applause erupted from all sides, and a smile naturally formed on my lips.
I looked around and saw my teammates watching me with faces full of smiles.
*Have I achieved my dream?*
To achieve fame and fortune with everyone, by making the game I wanted to make.
This was the final destination.
Just then, a reporter shouted a question in a loud voice.
He had a familiar voice and silhouette, but his face was obscured by a mosaic.
"Excuse me, but what was the title of the game that won the GOTY this time?"
*What kind of reporter asks a question without even knowing the name of the game?*
I felt a surge of displeasure but tried to recall the title to answer him.
But wait... what was the name of my game?
I couldn't remember the title at all.
*Forgotten Andersen's Story? Pass On Dream?*
No, those weren't good enough to win a GOTY yet.
As my thoughts dragged on.
"You're lying, aren't you? Did you really think someone like you could win a GOTY?"
"No, that's not it, I'm just trying to recall the title."
"What's the point of making a game that doesn't even make money?"
"Hey, why are you suddenly speaking so informally—"
Just then, my eyes met the reporter's again, and the mosaic disappeared.
In its place was a familiar face.
Lee Hyeonho, the new PD of Division 1 and the man who had openly declared war on me.
And the mosaics on the faces of the other reporters around him began to peel away, one by one.
Division Head Seo Donghyuk, the PDs from Division 1, and the executives who had sided with him.
"Give me a break! Do you think other PDs are idiots, that they just bow and scrape for no reason?"
"What do you know about game development?"
"Honestly, one little troublemaker is making things so tiring for everyone."
They endlessly hurled insults at me, their faces twisted into demonic smiles.
I tried to argue, but their numbers were overwhelming, and my voice was drowned out.