Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The Rumored Feast Was Bountiful (2)
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>
> Chapter 93. The Rumored Feast Was Bountiful (2)
> 2022.09.01.
>
>
> ‘Even if we only sell around 300,000 to 400,000 copies over the weekend, the trend won't be bad.’
>
> 400,000 copies sold in just two days.
>
> Since one copy of POD costs 33,000 won, that meant expecting sales of at least 13.2 billion won over the weekend.
>
> In truth, even considering POD was a console game, this was an incredibly high target.
>
> Even Nexus's Laneige M, which had the highest daily sales in Korea, peaked at around 3 billion won a day, and they managed that to earn trillions.
>
> He knew it was greedy, but that was how Hyunsoo felt.
>
> He wanted to show that a game developers poured their souls into could, even if only in the short term, outperform a gacha-style game.
>
> <<Don't be shocked when you hear this, Jo Hyunsoo. The initial sales over the weekend were...>>
>
> "Don't drag it out, just tell me."
>
> <<Oh, and for the record, the first digit is a 1.>>
>
> "Haaah."
>
> The moment he heard that, Hyunsoo felt his excitement deflate.
>
> '100,000 copies. It's not bad, but just that much isn't enough.'
>
> 100,000 copies sold over the weekend.
>
> That meant at least 3 to 4 billion won in sales.
>
> This alone was a good result, enough to have surely passed the BEP (break-even point).
>
> But he had dreamed big from the start; he wanted this game to do more than just perform well—he wanted it to send a shockwave through the industry.
>
> That's why, to Jo Hyunsoo, the report card felt disappointing.
>
> <<Why are you sighing like that? The game's a massive hit.>>
>
> "It's just that it didn't do as well as I'd hoped. 100,000 copies isn't bad, but..."
>
> <<What nonsense are you talking about? It's not 100,000 copies, it's 1,000,000.>>
>
> "What?"
>
> For a moment, Hyunsoo doubted his ears.
>
> A million copies? I must have misheard.
>
> "What did you just say, Director?"
>
> <>
>
> He barely suppressed the gasp that threatened to escape his lips.
>
> One million copies. That meant over the weekend, they had made almost...
>
> "You're saying we've made over 33 billion won so far?"
>
> A number he couldn't believe even as he said it.
>
> His voice echoed through the office, and the eyes of the team members, who had been in the middle of enjoying the party atmosphere, all turned to him.
>
> <<That's right, man. At this rate, we'll break 1.3 million today. Haven't you seen all the communities going wild? The Sajang wants to see us both later. Let's go up together around 5.>>
>
> "Ah, yes, yes. Let's do that."
>
> After hearing the news, Hyunsoo hung up the phone.
>
> The team members were already waiting for him to speak, like baby birds waiting for food.
>
> "You might have just heard, but POD has sold over a million copies over the weekend. The number of concurrent players is holding steady in the mid-100,000s."
>
> "Waaaaaaaaah!"
>
> "A-ma-zaaaaang! Are we getting bonuses?! Kyaaaaaak!"
>
> In that instant, the office erupted in cheers.
>
> It seemed I had just dropped a bomb on a place already filled with excitement and anticipation.
>
> "Jo Hyunsoo! Jo Hyunsoo! Jo Hyunsoo!"
>
> As the shouting died down, the team members suddenly started chanting my name.
>
> "Let's toss him in the air! Toss him!"
>
> "Let's gooooo! Let's show our PD a piece of heaven!"
>
> "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don't grab me! Hey, everyone!"
>
> They suddenly swarmed me and lifted my body into the air.
>
> They tossed me up and down several times.
>
> In that moment, as I was lifted into the air, a status window appeared before my eyes.
>
> [Congratulations! You have completed Chapter 2: 'The PD Making His First Game'!]
>
> [Your new project, POD, has been evaluated as S-Rank!]
>
> [The rewards have been enhanced due to performance exceeding expectations!]
>
> └You have acquired '30 Points'!
>
> [The level cap has been removed! Chapter 3 will begin soon!]
>
> It looked like a special effect celebrating the current situation.
>
> 'Good. Look forward to what's next, God Game Maker.'
>
> And so, a happy day was passing by.
>
> ****
>
> Afterward, the performance of the POD project soared without end.
>
> Sales surpassed two million copies within ten days of release, and NB Soft was now estimating that total sales would easily exceed five million copies based on the launch-to-date sales trajectory.
>
> "Gahaha! I knew you guys would pull something off! This is huge! Yes, absolutely huge!"
>
> Thanks to that, Director Shin Chihwan and I received so much praise from Sajang Oh Geoshin that our ears were about to bleed.
>
> Major broadcast networks mentioned POD's success as part of the 'Korean Wave'—though Jakga Han Sanghyeok's involvement in the promotion likely had a big influence—and memes related to POD began circulating in various online communities.
>
> It was showing the potential to become more than just a simple hit, but a robust IP.
>
> The previously planned art book, limited edition package, OST, and DLCs were approved almost instantly, and our team proceeded with that work while also fixing bugs.
>
> Also.
>
> [Meet Director Oh Hana, Creator of the Cinematic for 'Pass On Dream,' the Game Loved by Two Million!]
>
> [Seojong Arts University's Animation Department, which handled the POD industry-academia collaboration, flooded with offers after unexpected success.]
>
> [How Was POD's Masterpiece OST Created? An Exclusive Interview with Gwajang Seo Eunhye of NB Soft!]
>
> Not only the POD team, but also the members who participated from inside and outside the company began to receive a small spotlight.
>
> The attention on the Seojong Arts University collaboration, in particular, brought me a small gift as well.
>
> -My professor said to be sure to tell you thank you so much for letting them participate in the POD project, and that he's grateful to you too, Hyunsoo. Hehe, having a great boyfriend gets me praised by my professor. It feels nice!
>
> -Really? I'm glad we made this game.
>
> -Right? I've been bragging to everyone all over town that my boyfriend made this game! Ahem!
>
> -Oh my, then I'll have to make sure I don't lose and brag about you a lot too, Rokhui.
>
> -Of course!
>
> It was a phone call from Rokhui, her voice filled with happiness.
>
> Just hearing her bubbly voice made me think I'd done the right thing by making POD, and I praised myself several times over.
>
> In this way, POD's success was rapidly changing many things around me.
>
> Everything was going so well.
>
> However.
>
> [Director Shin Chihwan: Hey, PD Jo Hyunsoo, did you see Director Seo Donghyuk's interview about POD?]
>
> Such great success always attracts flies.
>
> [Me: No? What are you talking about?? Why is Director Seo doing an interview for that?]
>
> [Director Shin Chihwan: greenhouse/news/1290481/=3411]
>
> [Director Shin Chihwan: Here's the link, check it out. Haaah. Does this bastard have no conscience?]
>
> I checked the link Director Shin Chihwan sent, and there it was, an interview with Director Seo Donghyuk right on a gaming webzine.
>
> The title was: [POD, the Globally Successful Game That Captured Both Artistry and Gameplay! We Ask About the Secret to Its Success! - Director Seo Donghyuk of NB Soft].
>
> 'What... is this.'
>
> Because we were so busy right now, we had turned down all interview requests from various media outlets.
>
> So we hadn't done any public interviews, yet the first one related to POD was being done by Seo Donghyuk, who had nothing to do with it.
>
> 'Does this make any sense? Why is Seo Donghyuk spouting this nonsense instead of me or Director Shin Chihwan?'
>
> The content was even more of a spectacle.
>
> As if he had contributed anything to POD, he was running his mouth about its success factors, thematic consciousness, and the company's strategy.
>
> Seriously. Is this some kind of "Director's Game that the Director didn't participate in"?
>
> The part that particularly pissed me off was this.
>
> [Q: I heard you made a significant contribution to the development of NB Soft's League of War. Could you tell us exactly what parts you were involved in, Director Seo Donghyuk?]
>
> [A: As Managing Director and Division Head, I often provide direction on the overall game concept. Especially when deciding on POD's theme, I argued a lot with PD Jo Hyunsoo in the beginning. But I suppose that's the beauty of game development (laughs). Oh, and our star PD, Lee Hyeonho, is also working on a new title.]
>
> 'Crazy bastard.'
>
> It was a truly cunning interview.
>
> It wasn't a complete lie, since Seo Donghyuk had in fact given his opinions during a few of the general meetings.
>
> But he was using his overall wording to mislead people into thinking he played some important role in POD's development.
>
> It was the kind of dirty trick you'd expect from Seo Donghyuk, who was skilled at office politics.
>
> 'This is so disgusting.'
>
> Just as I was enjoying the bliss of success, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on me.
>
> No. I hated that man enough to want him kicked out of the company immediately.
>
> A piece of trash who, with one lucky hit in League of War, seized power and fed on the dreams of others to fill his own stomach.
>
> And a guy like that dares to stick his spoon into POD?
>
> If I followed my heart, I'd want to set his office on fire right now.
>
> 'He's probably pulling this because he thinks I can't act rashly with the company involved, right?'
>
> The reason Seo Donghyuk was so bold in sticking his spoon in was obvious.
>
> First, if any negative news about POD broke out now, it could adversely affect sales.
>
> Second, since the interview itself portrayed the game positively, opposing it would make a mere employee look like they were going against the entire company.
>
> [Me: Director, I want to flip this whole thing on its head. Can I take action?]
>
> [Chihwan-hyung: Haaah. What should we do about this... Picking a fight here means we're heading for a dogfight. And that's probably what Director Seo wants.]
>
> [Me: Would it be difficult to bring it up through Sajang Oh's channels?]
>
> [Chihwan-hyung: Hey, you know what he's like. He'll 100% say it's a company matter and to let it go peacefully. It's true Sajang Oh has high hopes for POD, but he's not going to kick out Seo Donghyuk, who has League of War and Lee Hyeonho, over something like this.]
>
> [Me: So we should just sit back and do nothing? I can't stand for this. Our team members who worked day and night haven't even done an interview like that, but what the hell did that bastard do to deserve one.]
>
> [Chihwan-hyung: Hoo... You're right. I'll think of a countermeasure too.]
>
> And with that, our conversation ended.
>
> 'Damn it. What is wrong with this company.'
>
> For a moment, my head grew hot.
>
> Before POD's launch, we strived to make a fun game, and we tried to focus only on that.
>
> Seo Donghyuk tried to interfere several times in the process, but we somehow managed to push past it and come this far.
>
> But when that didn't work, he now blatantly sticks his spoon onto someone else's dinner table.
>
> An act that had crossed a line I had drawn in my mind long ago.
>
> That's not a person.
>
> It's just a beast that drools at the sight of prey.
>
> A vile beast that will devour me if I don't kill it first.
>
> Fanning the flames of hostility toward Seo Donghyuk in my mind, I stormed out of the office.
>
> And immediately called one person.
>
> <<PD Jo Hyunsoo? What's the occasion? You rarely call me.>>
>
> "Director Jeong, there's something I'd like to discuss regarding POD. Can we meet for a moment?"
>
> He was Director Jeong, the head of the company's business division.