Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: The Calm Before the Storm
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Time passed.
We incorporated some of the bugs and feedback from the QA team, pushing POD’s quality to its absolute limit.
And then, around mid-March.
“Alright! As of today, the final build of POD is complete. Everyone, you’ve worked so hard! We might have to struggle a bit more after the live launch, but I truly hope this project succeeds and brings a great outcome for all of you. And for me, too.”
“Great work, everyone!”
“It’s finally over!”
We were able to submit the final build of POD to Steam and various other rating agencies.
In this regard, I received a lot of help from PD Oh Gwangseok, who had gone through quite an ordeal during the Phoenix project. Thanks to him, we didn't encounter any major issues.
Fortunately, the review process went smoothly, and we were able to finalize POD’s launch date for April 9th.
We planned to let streamers play the game twelve hours before its release to maximize the promotional effect.
Furthermore.
[Shin Hoyoung, CEO of Greenhouse: The schedule for the promotional webtoon's simultaneous launch in five countries, along with the platform's main banner and pop-up events, is out. We'll be pushing it heavily starting three days before the game's launch.]
[Me: Understood. Thank you for your hard work.]
[Author Han Sanghyeok: Haha, I certainly hope the promotion is effective. This is my first time doing a promotional webtoon, so I feel like a rookie making his debut all over again.]
In line with this, the details of Author Han Sanghyeok's promotional webtoon and other promotions were finalized.
It seemed Greenhouse Webtoon was quite pleased with the collaboration between my game and Author Han Sanghyeok, as they were planning to push it aggressively.
‘I might be getting ahead of myself, but Author Han Sanghyeok’s promotional webtoon turned out so well that I can’t help but have high expectations.’
Indeed, the promotional webtoon exceeded my expectations, delivering the highest possible quality.
After I gave feedback during the storyboard phase that it felt too distant from a promotional piece, Author Han Sanghyeok quickly grasped the difference between a promotional webtoon and a serialized one.
He tantalizingly revealed just enough of the main story to build anticipation while simultaneously recreating the oil painting feel—a key feature of POD—on the webtoon screen, making the brushstroke-like images seem to writhe and squirm.
From what I heard, he received a lot of help from Jang Huisik, a programmer-turned-webtoon artist who had pioneered the use of techniques like webtoon scrolling and BGM insertion in the industry.
I couldn't help but feel immense gratitude toward Author Han Sanghyeok for mobilizing his entire network, treating this promotional webtoon as if it were his own work.
‘I’ve now done everything I possibly can with the resources I have.’
All preparations were complete.
A strange feeling washed over me at the thought that all that was left was to see the results. I sat down on a chair in the break room, staring blankly at the ceiling for a while.
Just then.
“PD-nim, aren’t you nervous about the game launching soon?”
Turning my head at the sudden, serious voice, I saw Part Leader Jeong Yosep.
Seeing the tumbler in his hand, it seemed he had come to get some water from the dispenser.
“Nervous? I’m more excited than nervous. How about you, Part Leader Yosep?”
“I feel the same. We did our best to make it, so I’m curious to see how people will react. The calm before the storm… the results will show whether you’re the weak ones or we are!”
Jeong Yosep cracked a lame joke, and I managed an awkward smile.
“S-Sorry, PD-nim!”
He let out a cough, his face turning red, and scurried off to the other side without even getting his water.
For a man of his build and appearance, he had a strangely cute side.
‘It’s really launching now.’
I smiled faintly and closed my eyes for a moment.
I quietly organized the journey of this project in my mind, from its very beginning to this moment.
A project that started rashly with the idea of discussing dreams, sparked by a reunion with my parents and sister.
Along the way, I met many good people, and it was through their wholehearted support and help that I had come this far.
It felt surreal that so many people had joined in on the dream of a kid who had run this far with the sole ambition of creating a masterpiece game since childhood, and I felt grateful for my current reality.
‘I hope the result is one that can answer the support and help everyone has given me.’
The time to lift the lid was finally approaching.
****
Three days left until POD’s launch.
The promotional webtoon created by Author Han Sanghyeok was simultaneously published on Greenhouse Webtoon.
And then.
[Twitter Real-time Trends]
- PassOnDream - 19,214 Tweets
- POD - 3,412 Tweets
- Author Han Sanghyeok - 9,124 Tweets
The real-time trends on social media were completely swept by POD and Author Han Sanghyeok’s promotional webtoon.
[WebtoonDevourer @webmine]
- Whoa. Author Han Sanghyeok's promo webtoon is insane. The PD for the POD project is Jo Hyunsoo, the developer of Forgotten Andersen's Story. Can't help but be excited.
💬 5 / 🔁 3,412 / ♥️ 5,123
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[IndieGameToppingMan @topingman]
- He's truly the hope of the Korean game industry. Please let it be a success, success, success.
💬 15 / 🔁 1,432 / ♥️ 3,123
---
[CobyFox @CobyFox]
- My friend Christian, the developer of Forgotten Andersen's Story, has a new game coming out soon.
- The promotional webtoon is up, so please check it out. I'm also really looking forward to its release.
- link: greenhouse/webtoon/list.
- (※This post was translated from English to Korean.)
💬 183 / 🔁 7,212 / ♥️ 10,123
---
From indie game developers and fans to even Coby Fox.
Many people expressed fervent interest, and even though the game wasn't out yet, fan art began to pop up based solely on the promotional webtoon and teaser videos.
It was a shame that the real-time popular search terms on portal sites had been recently abolished, so I couldn't gauge the reaction there, but online news outlets were excitedly publishing related articles as press releases.
NB Soft hadn't even pushed for this, which meant the media outlets knew it would generate clicks. That, in turn, meant the public was genuinely interested in POD and Author Han Sanghyeok.
“Damn it, he hired Han Sanghyeok and made a webtoon like this with a budget of just 100 million won? That bastard Jo Hyunsoo?”
At that very moment, Seo Donghyuk, who wished for Jo Hyunsoo’s failure more than anyone, found his expression souring in real time.
- Those bastards in Division 5 refused the marketing budget? What the hell are they thinking?
- I don't know, sir. No matter how much I try to find out, there are hardly any rumors circulating internally, and their team is so united that no information is leaking out.
- Well, it’s for the best. No matter how talented that guy is, there’s a limit to how popular a game can get without marketing. That's just how the game market works.
Naturally, Seo Donghyuk hadn't been sitting on his hands all this time.
Even though President Oh Geoshin had been recently backing Division 5, Seo Donghyuk’s influence still reached the business department.
This was a dynamic that wouldn't easily change, as *League of War*'s revenue, despite its gradual decline, still accounted for the majority of the company's sales.
He had planned to use this influence to gather information from all corners and, at the very least, keep the Christian team in check through the marketing department.
But the situation had unfolded in an unexpected way.
It was Jo Hyunsoo who had refused the business department's help.
Moreover, the word was that he had agreed to use only the 100 million won allocated to Division 5 for the marketing budget.
When Seo Donghyuk first heard this, he thought Jo Hyunsoo was shooting himself in the foot.
But now, seeing the promotional webtoon go up on Greenhouse Webtoon and cause an uproar everywhere, he couldn't help but frown.
‘Crazy. This level of promotion for 100 million won? Does that even make sense?’
Usually, when NB Soft released a new title, especially one from the powerful Division 1, they would burn through anywhere from 5 billion to 15 billion won on marketing.
But the results were a series of box-office flops that were embarrassing to even compare with *League of War*.
This was the underlying reason why President Oh Geoshin was putting pressure on Seo Donghyuk and the other division heads.
Yet, Jo Hyunsoo had managed to create this level of promotional impact with a mere 100 million won. For Seo Donghyuk, the anxiety was reaching its peak.
If things went wrong, this could not only lead to increased pressure on the business department, which had been continuously criticized for being incompetent, but it could also create public opinion that Division 1's marketing expenses for its games were excessive.
[Blind - Game Topic Board]
▶[Whoa, this is insane. Anyone see the POD promo webtoon that dropped today? - DevMan21 / Netus]
▶[LMAO. Amazing. I usually find game promo webtoons boring as hell, but since Han Sanghyeok drew it, the hype is unreal. Already pre-ordered POD - II1I1I / Blue Marble]
▶[Wow. Han Sanghyeok, huh? They must have spent a fortune on marketing. Heard NB Soft is really pushing PD Jo Hyunsoo, guess it's true - SpringLover / GamesNet]
└[They didn't spend a fortune lol. Heard it was less than 100 million won in total. Internal rumor is that Han Sanghyeok is a fan of PD Jo Hyunsoo's games and gave him a discount. Also heard Greenhouse Webtoon is pushing the POD promotion hard because they expect it to boost their own brand value - IWantToQuit / NB Soft]
└[100 million? Is that even possible? If that's real, I feel so defeated lol - SpringLover / GamesNet]
└[Yeah, seems to be true. Heard that's why the business department couldn't interfere at all this time - IWantToQuit / NB Soft]
└[Whoa. That’s insane. Coby Fox even mentioned it on social media. PD Jo Hyunsoo is on another level. I really hope this succeeds and brings some change to the game industry - LOLUniversity / GamesNet]
└[lol I don't think it'll change even if it succeeds. There are too many old-timers in this industry - IWantToQuit / NB Soft]
Indeed, the Blind game topic board was currently abuzz with talk about POD.
What if POD actually succeeds?
‘The expectations for the Gold Digger team will skyrocket.’
The *Gold Digger* team had over 100 developers, and its marketing budget would surely be in the billions.
Furthermore, they had brought in Lee Hyeonho, a PD who had achieved considerable success in the commercial game world, so the company's expectations were much higher.
Therefore, anything less than a spectacular success would struggle to make a greater impact than POD's success.
However, no matter what he tried, Lee Hyeonho refused to deviate one bit from his framework of sticking to his old, proven methods of success.
Seo Donghyuk, who was said to be able to make birds fall from the sky at NB Soft, found himself unable to do anything, both within his division and outside of it.
‘I have to do something. If I just stand by and do nothing, my position will only get smaller.’
Seo Donghyuk immediately took out his smartphone and called someone.
“Hello, Reporter. This is Seo Donghyuk.”
- Ah, yes, Division Head Seo! It’s been a while. Have you been well?
“Haha! Thanks to you. Editor-in-chief, do you have a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you regarding POD.”
- Oh, POD? It’s been incredibly hot today. I was just thinking of requesting an interview with someone from NB Soft.
At the mention of POD, the person on the other end overtly expressed their curiosity.
At this, Seo Donghyuk’s lips curled into a smirk as he added a final word.
“Is that so? In that case, I’d be more than happy to help with your coverage.”