Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Obstacle
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After that day, the work with the industry-academia collaboration project proceeded swiftly.
Under Director Shin Chihwan's lead, the legal issues and contracts were settled without much difficulty.
The storyboard for the first cinematic had already been sent over, and we agreed to create and send the second storyboard before the Lunar New Year holiday was over.
‘I can’t wait to see how it turns out.’
A cinematic video infused with the sensibilities of indie animation, not the cookie-cutter cinematics I'd seen at other game companies.
I had high hopes for the life it would breathe into POD.
And I sincerely hoped it would become a sharp weapon to take down Lee Hyeonho.
‘But I can’t just rely on that.’
The cinematic video was like the strawberry on top of a cake.
It could provide a powerful kick, but it would be meaningless if the cake itself didn't taste good.
In the end, it meant I also had to make the game that the cinematic would be placed upon properly.
‘First, let’s play the prototype build and see if I missed anything.’
As long as the work proceeds according to the milestones I've set, the future schedule will be fine.
From now on, it was time to minimize mistakes and obsess over the details as much as possible.
The existing prototype build was mostly made with hardcoding (※ A coding method for one-time implementation, not structured for easy maintenance and repair. Mainly used in prototype builds or for parts that are difficult to structure.).
Therefore, while the first build would be created anew with proper structuring, the concept and the overall tone of the game would be based on the prototype.
‘After all, the prototype is where I can get the most hints at this stage.’
I opened Unity and ran the prototype, which I hadn't launched in a while.
After playing for a few hours…
‘Hmm, what is this? It feels a bit different from what I remember.’
Was it because so much time had passed?
Somehow, the feel of the prototype was completely different.
How should I put it?
I could clearly see the direction and the overall concept, but it felt like something was missing from it as a game.
‘God Game Maker definitely told me this prototype build had a completion level of S-rank or higher.’
This build had performed well in the prototype evaluation, and even I thought it was good back then.
But now, I couldn't understand why it felt so strangely dissonant.
Just in case, I tried activating my skill again.
‘Use The Ultimate Advisor.’
<<The Ultimate Advisor will now evaluate the POD, Prototype Build!>>
[Pass On Dream / Prototype Build]
-A build created to pass the prototype evaluation. It is a wonderful prototype, hard to believe it was made by only three people.
The brilliant direction and overall tone of the game are easy to grasp, and the core combat system is well-demonstrated.
It would be difficult to create a better prototype; you can be confident in this build.
However, play it with the consideration that it is a prototype build.
(1) Rank: S
(2) Creators: Jo Hyunsoo, Heo Yuri, Jeong Yosep.
(3) Advice: ※ The Ultimate Advisor cannot provide advice for builds of S-rank or higher. The final piece must be found through the developer's inspiration.
‘Am I just worrying for nothing?’
The Ultimate Advisor was still explaining that the prototype was S-rank.
Moreover, because the rank was high, the <Advice> function was disabled.
Just as I was about to close the status window, one sentence written there caught my eye.
<However, play it with the consideration that it is a prototype build.>
‘This might be a hint.’
In other words, this S-rank was an evaluation based on the fact that it was ‘a prototype.’
Prototypes, by nature, are primarily for demonstration purposes to convey the game concept to others.
Because of this, there are inevitably parts where the completeness in terms of detailed balance or systems is lacking.
What if this were the actual first build?
‘The standards would have to be completely different.’
Just in case, I checked the name of the build file.
[POD_ProtoType_20201212.APK]
‘I wonder if a method like this would work.’
On a whim, I right-clicked the mouse, selected [Rename (M)], and changed the file name to [POD_1stReview_20200120.APK].
I removed the word "Prototype" and replaced it with "1stReview."
Then, I activated the skill once more.
[Pass On Dream / 1st Review Build]
-The build for the first review at the end of March. The quality is so low it's hard to believe it was made by a team of ten.
There isn't much time left, so if the build is not improved quickly, it is highly likely to receive a poor evaluation.
(1) Rank: C-
(2) Creators: Team Christian (View Details)
(3) Advice:
-Composed mostly of hardcoding, which is predicted to cause significant maintenance difficulties when the game goes live in the future.
-There are sections where the oil painting style graphics implementation causes overload; optimization is required.
-The current build is severely lacking in balance design. (View Details)
-A lobby to connect each scene seems necessary. (View details)
.
‘Whoa, this is insane.’
Along with the disastrous report card of a C- rank, advice on various aspects was listed.
Most of these were issues being resolved in the first build, but there were many that weren't.
There were several, but one, in particular, stood out.
‘Balance design, this is it.’
I certainly hadn't considered the balance aspect while making the prototype.
The combat system, which implemented alcohol as a type of potion, was there, but it was merely an implementation of what it felt like.
Without any balance design, there was none of the pleasure that comes from exquisitely defeating an opponent.
A game isn't a novel or a movie; the gameplay itself must provide enjoyment.
And for that, balance design was necessary.
<<You have recognized the problem at hand!>>
<<Solving this problem may result in a small reward!>>
Then, God Game Maker stimulated my desire for a challenge again.
Well, I was going to do it anyway.
‘The problem is, I’m hopeless in this area.’
My current balance planning ability was practically a blank slate.
Balance and level designers deal with the mathematical side of things, which is why they command high salaries within the planning profession and are considered a highly specialized field.
Moreover.
[Forgotten Andersen's Story User Reviews]
-DKK12: This game is perfect in terms of story, and the direction is also good. If you want to naturally learn about this person you vaguely know as Christian Andersen, I recommend playing this game. By the time the game ends, you'll probably find yourself in tears. [Translate]
-GOTO10: Everything's good, but the game has balance issues. Some sections are excessively difficult, and others are too easy. If this and the graphics were handled better, it would have been an even better game. [Translate]
-KollK: I completely agree with GOTO10. I hope they pay attention to balance design in their next work. [Translate]
When I made *Forgotten Andersen's Story*, the most criticized aspect was the balance.
My current stats in that area were also pitifully low.
‘And I can’t add another balance planner to the team.’
It was a headache in many ways.
Usually, the completeness of the balance isn't considered important in the first build.
That's why I had planned to take my time with it, but now that I was up against Lee Hyeonho, I couldn't just let it slide.
‘Balance planning, balance planning.’
I understood the situation, but there was no clear solution.
As I sat in front of my PC, racking my brain.
“Is something bothering you, PD-nim?”
Part Lead Jeong Yosep asked with a worried expression.
Being the most attentive person on our team, he must have noticed the look on my face.
“Ah, no. I’m fine.”
I didn't want to bring down the team's morale with something like this.
A single planner who doesn't know how to handle balance, with no additional headcount available?
It was a very critical situation.
‘No need to make them anxious by complaining.’
I was determined to find an answer one way or another.
‘Well, just figuring out the problem is a positive. I just need to solve it before the first build.’
Unlike the problems I'd faced so far, this one didn't have an immediate answer.
Whether to raise my balance stats with God Game Maker, purchase a skill, or even outsource the balance design.
There were several methods, but I needed to seriously consider which would yield the best result.
****
Time passed.
Despite being a new team, Team Christian carried out their tasks smoothly and without any setbacks.
During that time, the dialogue system tool was completed, development on the cinematic system began, and over 80% of the resources for Chapter 1 were finished.
It was all thanks to the two part leads expertly directing both the graphics and programming departments.
‘Sigh, now I just need to do my part.’
The problem was that I still hadn't found an answer for the balance issue.
On top of that, February, with the Lunar New Year holiday, had arrived.
I didn't want to face the holidays with this nagging feeling, but I decided to think as positively as possible.
‘Maybe I’m just burnt out and can’t think straight.’
Previously, when I was thinking of a concept for a new game, I was stuck for a long time until I visited my hometown in Danyang and got a hint there.
I had a vague hope that if I took a short break from thinking about balance design, something might just click into place.
Well, if that didn't work, I would have to take drastic measures, but for now, I tried to give myself a little breathing room.
‘By the way, Blind should be on fire by now.’
During a short break from work, I logged into the anonymous workplace social media app, [Blind].
It was to see the annual spectacle that anyone working at NB Soft would witness.
[II3I1II: Seriously, a company that earns trillions a year gives out Spam sets as a holiday gift? Ffs, other places get bonuses and stuff.]
[Iii11: Hahaha, they really are cheap in the weirdest ways. For the money they make, the benefits here are terrible. I’m so sick of my friends from other companies making fun of us.]
[11PP: Our company’s accounting team is just too much. Aren't they just trying to curry favor with the higher-ups? People call us the ‘Pangyo Salt Farm’ for a reason.]
[JobHopper112: If you have so many complaints, then just get another job.]
[GhostOfNBSoft: ↑ There goes the job-hopping bastard again.]
[12OIO1: People from other companies were teasing us. Asking if the company ran out of money and if we were still getting paid properly.]
This year, too, Blind was ablaze with complaints about the Lunar New Year gift.
‘Haa, this damn company.’
Usually, large game companies with market caps in the trillions pay quite a bit of attention to the gifts they give before the holidays.
They ranged from electronics worth around a million won on the high end to modest gift sets on the low end.
The disparity was huge, as each company's financial situation was different.
‘The problem is that NB Soft is a company with trillions in revenue, making a single 20,000 won Spam set a bit much. Even I think they crossed a line.’
A gift that would make what little company loyalty one had plummet through the floor.
I heard there was an executive in HR from Seo Donghyuk's line who was completely unresponsive despite the continuous complaints.
This kind of pettiness in minor benefits was something I was determined to overhaul if I ever climbed to the top.
‘Most of the people who joined our team are new. I can’t send them home for their first holiday with just a single Spam set and tank their morale. I should prepare something extra for them.’
Before changing the company, I would try to change my team.
Whenever I had a spare moment during work hours, I spent it looking for New Year's gifts for my team members.
The days passed one by one, and soon, the last workday before the Lunar New Year holiday arrived.
As closing time approached.
“Quick delivery!”
Two couriers entered the office with ten boxes and stacked them neatly next to my desk.
“What’s all this?”
All the team members had baffled expressions, as if wondering what was going on.