Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Fame
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Recently, the American internet community Usenet was experiencing explosive growth.
The reasons cited for that surge included the spread of computers and the development of the internet, but the biggest factor by far was Demon Slayer.
After Id Software announced they would distribute Demon Slayer over the internet, users began flocking to Usenet—the only place online with a dedicated gaming board.
Those users had gathered to talk about Demon Slayer.
Thanks to them, Usenet had now become the largest community for PC and console game info.
"Please... ban that asshole admin!!!"
Porter, one of Usenet's most passionate members, was so furious he could barely contain himself.
The post Porter was reading had several photos attached.
A luxurious box made of fine leather.
Cute figurines of characters wearing straw hats.
And a delicate diorama capturing a beautiful farm landscape—big enough to house all the figurines.
Usenet had originally been a hub for Demon Slayer fans eagerly awaiting its release, so talk had mostly revolved around that game.
But those days were long gone. Now, the hottest topic scorching Usenet was a game called Village Maker.
Last year's top PC game? Dead Hills was beyond dispute.
When Savior announced a new title from the creators of Dead Hills, people took notice—but no one expected this level of madness.
But then...
"This demo version of the new title Village Maker will be provided via lottery—only 100 copies."
Porter still vividly remembered the shock of reading that in the magazine.
The previous game had given away demos for free with every magazine purchase. Limiting them to a lottery of 100 copies? Insane.
At first, he thought the devs had gone soft in the head. But then he saw the limited edition demo package...
Regular game packages were plastic or cardboard at best. This one? Crafted from luxury leather like high-end brands. It screamed expense.
And it wasn't just the box. Inside: figurines, a diorama, even models of in-game items.
The moment Porter saw it, he knew he had to have it.
But soon after, he let out a scream close to a wail.
Why the hell did I throw out the box?!
He wanted to punch his past self, who'd tossed the Dead Hills box because it just took up space, keeping only the contents.
The old Porter would have grumbled about it and moved on.
However...
Before long, articles about Village Maker demo packages started popping up everywhere—like they'd been coordinated. Newspapers, even the news.
The crowning jewel? An ad in the New York Times classifieds: someone offering $10,000 for a Village Maker demo package.
$10,000 for one game?
Insane price.
Games topped out at $50, half that for budget ones. Selling a free demo for $10k? That's a 200x profit.
No—it's free, so pure $10k profit?
After that article, interest exploded—not just among gamers, but the general public.
What game was so special they only made 100 copies? And so fun someone would pay $10k for one?
Even non-gamers got swept up in the $10k hype.
Now, winners of Village Maker demos made newspaper headlines.
Countless people were buying Savior's previous game, Dead Hills, just to chase that $10k lottery.
Ridiculous logic, sure. But Porter fell for it and bought three Dead Hills packages.
I want it so bad.
He'd coveted it from the start. But as hype built—friends freaking out, news and papers buzzing—his greed swelled.
Worse, seeing posts like this one, where someone beat impossible 100-to-1 odds and bragged? It fueled the fire.
Porter couldn't stand the thought of some money-grubbing newbie getting that limited package instead of a true Dead Hills fan like him.
"Huck, if we make one more demo package and sell it, that's $10k easy, right?"
Jason said it while reading yet another Village Maker article.
A few days back, after he read that $10k ad...
'Sell just one, and the company's finances get a boost! All for my love of Savior...'
The guy who'd been loitering at the office without going home suddenly left early. Suspicious, we prodded—and Village Maker demo limited editions spilled from his bag.
Under interrogation from me, Rogers, and Scarlett, he confessed to planning to sell just one. Guess he hadn't given up yet.
"No one's actually buying at that price anyway."
"What?"
What else? It was a shill hired by Hudson at my request.
Savior had no track record. Would a limited package from us really spark frenzy?
Interest, sure. But not this level of mania.
So I'd engineered artificial hype from the start.
Like a K-pop idol blowing up globally in the distant future.
'We used the 'famous because we're famous' strategy.'
Words from a producer of an idol group that conquered the world from America in the 2020s.
When asked how they generated buzz, he explained riding hype waves.
'Start in our base, Asia—release articles about our Asian buzz while touring South America. Then South American sensation articles for Europe, rolling into the US.'
The shock of reading that first time? Immense.
Even in a future flooded with info, that tactic had massive reach. Using it now, in an era where news and papers were the info world? Inevitable success.
"That's fraud?!"
"Not fraud. We didn't sell anything for money. The ad just said 'someone out there wants this.'"
Jason and Rogers eyed me like I wasn't human, but honestly? This was tame marketing for the era.
Others ran ads bordering on scams without batting an eye.
"We're about at the point where we need to discuss the full release."
"True."
Scarlett shifted from demo hype to the full Village Maker launch amid our chatter.
She was right. The pan was scorching—we needed to throw something on it.
"Our marketing team's embarrassed, honestly. The hype's so huge, just releasing it guarantees a smash hit."
Scarlett gave me an incredulous look.
Even she—who'd orchestrated Seton's infamous diss marketing—was stunned by this fame strategy.
"AE's producing packages now. Retailers nationwide are begging: 'We'll pay premium—give us everything you make.' Believable?"
"Retailers that eager?"
"Major US chains are storming AE, demanding exclusives for Village Maker."
According to her, they were clamoring for solo shelf space, dedicated promos—exclusive deals all around.
US big-box stores rarely bent over backward like that; they were the bosses.
Village Maker's buzz was real, alright.
"We could release now and rake it in. But I want to try one more of the president's tricks."
"My trick?"
"Limited edition for the full version too?"
Clap.
I couldn't help applauding Scarlett's idea.
"How'd you think the exact same thing?"
"Obviously? Demand for limiteds is maxed out after the demo. Release a full-version limited, and it'll be chaos."
"Media covers that frenzy, and the cooling Village Maker hype reignites!"
The final punch of this limited edition marketing: do it for the full release too.
Feeling Scarlett on the exact same wavelength? No ally more reliable.
"Huck, why'd that guy even get into Caltech?"
"Jason, hate to agree, but left outside, he'd probably run a Ponzi scheme."
"Caltech saved America."
We ignored the peanut gallery.
Village Maker's success was right there in front of us.