Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Tripping Over One's Own Feet (3)
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"Our Project L will be a game armed with photorealistic Unreal graphics and impactful combat, the likes of which NB Soft has never shown before. The prototype build was also produced with that point in mind."
Lee Hyeonho displayed his presentation document on the wall and smoothly continued his presentation.
It was clean, the flow was good, and he periodically showed short clips of actual gameplay to explain in detail the kind of impact and graphics he was talking about.
At this, I scratched my chin and sank into thought for a moment.
‘A photorealistic MMORPG, huh? It’s true that NB Soft has never had a successful project like this.’
‘League of War,’ which is currently NB Soft’s bread and butter, is built around hand-painted 3D characters with somewhat casual graphics and four-head-high proportions (a method using a small number of polygons, where shading and textures are all expressed through the texture map; it's difficult to achieve quality beyond a certain level, but it's useful for game optimization).
That's why a game using the Unreal Engine with normal maps (a modeling technique that extracts and converts information from high-polygon models, allowing for more realistic models compared to hand-painting) could certainly be a feature in itself.
"Now, let's watch a short video prepared by our team."
After that, Lee Hyeonho played a cinematic video of about one minute and thirty seconds that he had prepared with the cinematics team.
The grand scene of human and undead forces engaged in a siege, killing each other, was so overwhelming it was breathtaking just to watch.
‘So it’s a game centered on siege warfare and competition.’
Just by watching it, I could clearly see what kind of game it would be.
After the video ended, Lee Hyeonho spoke again.
"Large-scale battles, PK, and through them, endless competition! Through this, users will experience a sense of power and exhilaration they can't feel in reality. This will lead to in-game purchases, and I will evolve the business models I've used in previous projects to drive revenue."
He paused for a breath before adding one more thing.
"A minimum average daily revenue of one billion won. An annual revenue of two hundred billion won. This is the revenue target I aim to achieve with Project L."
The moment he said that, the executives began to murmur, and President Oh Geoshin’s lips curled into a smirk.
For a PD with a successful track record to come in with a plausible cinematic video and speak so bluntly, the president couldn't help but view it positively.
"A game that will repay you with revenue and results to succeed 'League of War.' That is what Project L will be."
With that short and impactful presentation, Lee Hyeonho bowed his head deeply.
Applause immediately poured out, and a somewhat arrogant smile graced his face.
‘From a market logic perspective, the presentation is flawless.’
I had to admit it.
In terms of making a money-making game, it would be difficult to give a more appealing presentation than that.
It was just what I’d expect from Lee Hyeonho, the so-called king of mass-produced games.
"Now, if anyone has any questions, please ask."
"I have a question. In the case of siege warfare, using normal-mapped models like that could cause performance issues. Have you found a solution for that?"
"Ah, of course. For optimization, we've decided to apply a new shader supported by Unity, which has been confirmed to increase the frame rate by up to 20 FPS on an S21, for example."
After that, the executives naturally asked questions, and Lee Hyeonho answered them.
"When is this cinematic video scheduled to be released to the public?"
"If today's review passes, we've arranged with the business team to issue a press release within three weeks."
"Haha, this will certainly help boost the stock price."
"I'm glad it can be of help to the company."
Lee Hyeonho's answers came out so perfectly, as if scripted, leaving no room for doubt.
‘It’s better not to poke at it clumsily.’
Sometimes, the wisest move is not to fight on an unfavorable battlefield.
I decided it would be better to break through head-on with my own work rather than trying some clumsy trick.
Department Head Shin Chihwan seemed to think the same, as he sat with his mouth tightly shut.
Then, Lee Hyeonho, with a slight smile on his lips, looked at me and spoke.
"PD Jo Hyunsoo, do you happen to have any opinions?"
"Hmm. Not really?"
"Please, say something. You're a PD recognized for your artistry. I'm wondering if I've focused too much on the commercial side, so I'd like to hear your opinion."
It was a blatant attempt to bait me, and I didn't want to respond.
However.
"Haha, PD Jo Hyunsoo, you should say something too. PD Lee Hyeonho is confident about revenue, but surely there's something you can say with that artistic sense of yours?"
"Ah, yes."
President Oh Geoshin had blatantly put me on the spot.
‘Hmm.’
Lee Hyeonho and I are competitors, but we're also employees of the same company.
If I just kept my mouth shut here, from the president's perspective, I would just look like someone who isn't making an effort.
In the end, I was in a situation where I had to give some kind of plausible answer.
I briefly met Department Head Shin Chihwan’s gaze.
He had a worried expression. I gave him a small nod before lifting my head and opening my mouth.
"I understand that you expect high revenue by creating pressure through competition and siege warfare. PD Lee Hyeonho is a very skilled individual, and the prototype build you've shown is a work of corresponding quality. However, I have my doubts as to whether this project aligns with the company's direction."
"The company's direction?"
"Recently, Mr. President, you declared that you would grow NB Soft beyond a company that simply sells games by utilizing our IP to expand into various fields like webtoons, animation, movies, and web novels—a one-source multi-use or media franchise business."
"But. While Project L might generate revenue, I feel that it doesn't align with that direction."
As Lee Hyeonho slightly furrowed his brow, I continued speaking.
"I believe that managing IP and branding for the company must ultimately be built on a foundation of user trust. But with the recent climate of distrust in the gaming industry, I'm concerned about how people will react to another game like this being released."
Recently, user complaints sparked by things like probability manipulation by game companies, discriminatory events, and endless pay-to-win structures with no spending caps have been exploding on social media.
This began when the tyranny of some game companies, who had been ripping off customers through information asymmetry, reached a tipping point.
Because of this, discussions about regulating probabilities in the gaming industry have become a major issue in the political sphere recently, and a phenomenon has even started where people are seeking out and supporting so-called 'good games.'
There were even rumors that President Oh Geoshin's frequent meetings with politicians lately were related to lobbying on this very issue.
And in the midst of all this, you're going to release a press release for a game like this just to get a short-term stock boost?
‘It’s no different from dousing yourself in oil and walking into a fire.’
A super pay-to-win game that sticks a straw in the backs of whale users who easily spend hundreds of millions of won a month and sucks out their money indefinitely.
If you see games purely as a means of business, it's not a bad choice, and since a company is an entity for making money, I didn't want to define this as purely evil.
But it's an undeniable fact that making a game like this at this point in time is essentially trading the company's long-term brand and intangible assets like IP value for cash, and I believe a game should be more than just a product; it should also be a 'work of art.'
"Ahem, well, with all that's been happening recently, we do need to be careful."
President Oh Geoshin nodded at my words and said.
No matter how ignorant he was about games, he would surely understand the current situation.
Besides, since he'd been spouting off about IP businesses and company value lately, he was likely saying that to save face, even if he secretly wanted the money.
‘What I need to exploit is President Oh Geoshin’s vanity.’
The desire to be someone who seems sophisticated and is socially recognized.
This was a basic trait common to the newly rich—regardless of time, place, gender, or age—who had struck it rich by chance.
President Oh Geoshin's talk of IP and one-source multi-use was rooted in this desire, so constantly stimulating that side of him could turn the battlefield in my favor.
"Well, isn't that just your personal opinion, PD Jo Hyunsoo? There's a proven method that can clearly generate revenue. There's no need to avoid it, is there?"
"Yes, it is a very personal opinion. But I simply believe that it's possible to achieve meaningful results without that kind of monetization structure."
Artistry versus marketability. This is a topic that always comes up in any field of content creation.
It goes without saying, but I have no intention of abandoning marketability.
I just think the current Korean game market has tilted so far to one side that it has completely lost its balance.
As I said before, I believe this is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs—selling off user trust, a future resource, for immediate cash.
"Hmm. Well, those are nice words. If it's something that can 'actually' be realized, that is."
"I'm at least going to make an attempt."
In response to my answer, Lee Hyeonho shot back with a cynical smile.
"Then I suppose it's time to hear about this 'alternative' game you've prepared, PD Jo Hyunsoo."
"Well, let's do that."
I immediately stood up and started my presentation.
"I will now begin the presentation for Project POD. First, the goal for this initial build was to enhance the combat system and to implement a complete, playable scenario for the player, rather than just fragmented scenes."
I first gave an overview of the game, then went on to talk in detail about the scenarios for Chapters 1 and 2, and what criteria were used for balancing the game's combat.
And finally, I played the sand animation we had created.
"Ooh."
Perhaps because he hadn't played my game to the end yet, President Oh Geoshin watched the sand animation with a satisfied smile.
The sophisticated, 'artistic' feel must have captured his attention.
‘As expected. The impact of the sand animation is quite good.’
It was a video that didn't fall short even when compared to the Gold Digger team's 3D animation, which had consumed a significant amount of company resources and cost hundreds of millions of won. In fact, in terms of originality, it surpassed it.
Indeed, looking at the executives' faces, their expressions were generally positive, and some even let out small gasps of "ooh."
Seeing a style of video they had never encountered in a game before must have struck them as fresh and eye-catching.
"Well then."
After finishing the presentation, I gave a small nod and opened my mouth.
"I will now take questions."
At that, President Oh Geoshin spoke up as if he had been waiting.
"Ooh, so that animation just now was expressing Van Gogh's feelings when he first saw a painting by Manet?"
"Yes, the work as a whole weaves together dreams and the life of Van Gogh. We felt that the most important moment of his childhood was witnessing a painting by Manet, his spiritual mentor, so this cinematic expresses that."
"Hoh. How fresh. It has a high-class feel to it, too."
After that, Oh Geoshin, full of curiosity, peppered me with questions like a child, and I gave him answers that went beyond what he asked.
"Will there be any problems with the development schedule if you continue at this pace? Being only at Chapter 2, it seems like the release date might be delayed."
"It's within the expected range. Chapters 1 and 2 took a long time because we were establishing the foundation for the overall balance design, combat system, and direction tools. The subsequent work will proceed with this direction established, so there will be no problems."
"Ahem. I see."
It was then that the executives, who had been holding back because of the president, slowly began their attack.
"Personally, while the story is unique, I feel it's too niche. What are your thoughts on this point? I understand your artistic vision, PD-nim, but I feel it might be difficult to gain mainstream popularity."
"Hey, you! Haven't you seen the online reactions?"
"Uh, what?"
President Oh Geoshin openly rebuked one of the executives from the business department who had been attacking me.
"I'm asking if you haven't seen the attention PD Jo Hyunsoo's work has been getting online. People are going crazy over how fun it is!"
"I apologize. I haven't been checking the communities closely."
"A guy from the business department didn't even check that?"
At that, the business department executive's expression rapidly soured.
‘Just as I thought. So those bastards were the ones who stirred things up.’
I smiled inwardly at this.
Watching those fools flailing about, caught in the very trap they had set, felt incredibly satisfying.
"Just look at the public's reaction—PD Jo Hyunsoo's storytelling is already highly acclaimed! At this point, how can we, who don't even know the trends, nitpick with our nonsense?"
"I-I'm sorry. I'm a complete amateur in that area."
"If you don't know anything, you shouldn't open your mouth. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Anyway, with the business department in this state, it's no wonder our games' results are so mediocre."
Naturally, the expressions on Seo Donghyuk and Lee Hyeonho's faces also darkened rapidly.
"Ahaha. I have really high hopes for this project! I've been so busy I've only made it to the middle of Chapter 1, but I'm going to play it all the way through as soon as I get back!"
"Thank you, Mr. President."
The game was already half won.
With the president chattering away so excitedly, it was obvious that making a clumsy move and getting on his bad side would do them no good.
Just as the presentation seemed to be winding down.
Department Head Seo Donghyuk frowned and shot a look to the side.
It was a signal to do something, as it looked like they were about to lose by decision before the fight even began.
Catching the signal, Lee Hyeonho raised his hand as if he had been waiting and spoke.
"I have a question."
"Yes, please go ahead, PD-nim."
"PD Jo Hyunsoo, what is the expected revenue for Project POD?"
It seemed Lee Hyeonho was finally ready to start a real fight.
‘Well, I suppose I can take that on.’
I swallowed hard and raised the corners of my mouth in a slight smile.