Chapter 2
I stepped out of the capsule after finishing the first content and plopped down in front of my computer. Being a budget capsule, it couldn't handle watching streams or anything like that, which was honestly such a pain.
"...But if this succeeds, I can upgrade to a better capsule, right?"
The current one was just too underpowered, honestly. If it hadn't lagged or taken forever to render earlier, I could've finished the work several times faster.
"Let's check if she's streaming first."
It was a bit early, but she sometimes went live ahead of schedule. I logged into Eed, the broadcasting platform. Since I'd checked yesterday, I was familiar with the screen. I opened my follow list to see. Would she be live?
"She started early today."
I hopped into the stream of Momona, my favorite VTuber. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her playing some incomprehensible trash game.
"Where does she even find stuff like this?"
I gradually got sucked into the stream of her escaping a crudely made monster covered in bizarre colors and stretched-out textures. Truth be told, this was one reason I'd fallen for her broadcasts. One of her regular segments was digging up amateurish or weird games and content made by random creators and showcasing them.
And I'd been one of them. I can't even describe how grateful I was when she fished my content out of the depths and featured it. Thanks to that, I'd made enough money from a single day to live extravagantly for a bit.
I'd started watching out of pure gratitude, but before I knew it, I was hooked. I'd even made a few games specifically for her... but the viewers' reactions hadn't been great. Honestly, I hadn't put much effort into them back then, so I'd felt bad for both her and the audience.
"But things are different now."
As the game neared its end, I straightened my shoulders and sent a donation.
"Huh? Oh! MPG-nim, it's been ages! New content? Hmm! No schedule this week, so send as much as you want! I'll be looking forward to it~!"
I mentally gave a thumbs-up at Momona's beaming smile. With permission granted, I figured I should whip something up and send it today.
The chat was filled with negative vibes, but I didn't care. This time was different. I'd make something so delicious they couldn't say a word.
"Alright, permission secured."
I minimized the stream and looked up Momona's info. I'd checked it plenty before, but there might be new memes or details.
"Hmm, nothing new added... But why does it stick in my head so perfectly?"
Last time, I'd struggled to memorize, jotting notes and double-checking constantly. Now, everything I'd read was crystal clear, sparking ideas left and right on how to build it.
"Whoa, whoa. Hold up... I can't hold back anymore."
The stream wasn't over, but I couldn't wait. My body itched to create right now. Sorry, Momona...
"I'll catch the stream later via replay or clips. Time to make content."
I needed to vent this urge immediately. I wanted to craft a game for her right now. I got up from the computer, the capsule still warm, and climbed back in. Please hold out until I'm done, I prayed. I wasn't sure if this cheap thing could handle what I had in mind.
"Eh, I'll just optimize it."
Countless methods flooded my mind. This capsule would suffice; even without top gear, it was doable... But someday, I'd upgrade. Clutching that thought, I powered it up.
"Alright. Let's start with the field."
In the blank void, I gripped the hologram and looked around. Ideas overflowed, but I couldn't cram them all in.
"Just because it's packed doesn't make it good content."
I wanted to stuff it full, but not everyone would love that. Perfect content had to be enjoyable in moderation, easy to dip into or quit.
"Base it on Momona's RP first."
I recalled her RP: an elf alchemist from another world, who bungled a potion with forest spirit help and got isekai'd. It'd been nearly a year since she started, so she didn't stick to it strictly anymore, but it was her core. I'd build around that.
"Potion-making tycoon. Gather ingredients, brew potions. So, where's the fun hook?"
Just brewing wouldn't cut it. Potions needed interactions for real fun.
"...Like this. Add effects to avatars. And not just brewing—make it a shop."
Effects from drinking potions yourself, plus NPCs popping in periodically to buy. Turn it into quests: each NPC wants different potions, has unique personalities...
"Heh, heh. Ahh, just thinking about it is fun."
It already felt enjoyable to make. My hands flew into action. What potions to include? Which NPCs?
"Yeah. Add her teammates too. And... a light story wouldn't hurt."
Nothing official, so fleshing it out myself should be fine. It'd just be one-off content anyway.
"Then... let's burn a day on this."
I wanted perfection before sending it off, so I'd pour in max time.
First, the map. Tycoon-style, didn't need anything massive...
"Hmm, show some combat scenes. Demonstrate how potions get used."
Plan set, I dove in. Maps for brewing, gathering ingredients, and combat basics took shape under the hologram as I leaped around tweaking.
"Keep brewing and gathering consistent—varying points would be too much. Just randomize the combat map."
I set random encounters for combat maps, etching in the base AI.
"Conditions... Per session, total 7 days at 2 hours each? That works."
14 hours total... A tad long for content, but too short and I couldn't show everything.
"Add session saves to continue next day... Perfect."
If it's too long, they can stop and pick up later. Satisfied with the forming maps and designs, I sprinkled in fine details.
"Good. Ingredients to gather, mini-games for gathering, modeling—and it's basically done."
Ingredients were easy from memory, but NPCs' looks and AI were crucial. In content limited to brewing and gathering, killer NPCs added life and engagement—key to immersion.
"No matter how fun the systems, if it looks meh, no one wants to play."
The abyss had gems too; they just lacked polish and appeal, so they got ignored. Time to sculpt killer characters. I had base bodies before... but no need now. A flick of the hologram polygons shaped my visions perfectly.
I formed a basic female body type, copied it, named and saved variants. For Momona's team: three members, plus two extras. I tapped the hologram to set them.
Something... something was missing. My gut screamed it wasn't enough, that I was overlooking something.
What was it? What...
"Aha, right! That's it."
Eyes flashing, I pinpointed it. I'd been so focused on details, I forgot the obvious. Grinning, I rolled my stiff shoulders and refocused.
Everything set. Now... sprint to the finish.
"Fwaaah... Done."
Feeling my stinging eyes, I admired the result. Perfect. Higher quality than anything I'd made before.
"Can't wait... So..."
I sent the file and slowly exited the capsule. Exhausted. If I didn't rest, I wouldn't catch the reactions live.
"Yawwwn... Wonder how much she'll love it."
Brimming with anticipation, I face-planted into bed and passed out. I hoped she'd enjoy the content to the fullest.