Team Meeting
There were many reasons why a game studio might want to participate in a game festival, but when you looked at it on a big scale, you could basically sum it up to three main ones.>
First, to promote the upcoming new game or gather user feedback on the game currently in development.>
Advertising was obvious, but user feedback was incredibly important.>
Even if the game company played the game repeatedly during development for quality checks, the testers were insiders, so they couldn't offer an objective view of the game. External perspectives were necessary, and the chance to get feedback from potential customers, the users, was extremely precious.>
Second, for fundraising.>
No new game company that hadn't released a game yet could avoid constant financial pressure. The biggest expense was naturally personnel costs, and there were also utilities like electricity bills and rent, outsourcing fees, server rental costs, and so on, with money continuously flowing out as development progressed.>
In times like these, investment funds that could breathe new life into the company were more valuable than life itself. For new game companies, game-related events were precious opportunities for self-PR.>
Third, to elevate brand value.>
This was the goal of most large game companies. Through large booths, they could share the company's vision, advertise how they would operate future releases and existing IPs, strengthen the existing fanbase, and attract new users—a precious opportunity.>
Attendees had something to enjoy, and game companies had the chance to promote their games at a game festival.>
So, what was PlayForge's purpose in participating in Gamestar?>
‘Brand value.’>
We had already released two games, but PlayForge was still a new game company that had only been founded for just over a year. If you told people you wanted to learn the name, they would have at least heard of Heavy Gamers or PlayForge, but the average user wouldn't know the game company's name at all.>
‘Most gamers didn't know unless it was around the 3N level or higher.’>
That was why I wanted to introduce PlayForge's name to as many gamers as possible during this opportunity.>
‘As a bonus, I could also promote the game.’>
Dot Hero had been out in the global market for a full year, but in the Korean market it was still treated as a recently released new game. Although ACD, which was selling well on Storm, was growing at a steep pace, its performance in Korea was a bit disappointing compared to other countries.>
So I was at a crossroads.>
“Which game should we promote at the booth? Dot Hero? ACD?”>
“Can't we do both?”>
At Minji's question I shook my head.>
“I'd like to do that too, but the booth we've been assigned is narrow, so we have to focus on just one.”>
If you looked, you'd see that the assigned booth was smaller than you thought. It was only about three pyengs—maybe—even though that wasn't quite big enough to promote two games.>
“Ugh! Don't you guys think your company is doing well? Dot Hero, a global hit, and ACD, which is ranked number one in sales on Storm. Just three pyengs?”>
“That's not that narrow. It's about average size. There are even mini booths around one pyeng.”>
“Really? I haven't been to one, but I saw news about huge booths at places like Next…”>
“Large game companies have the history built up over time, so that's how it is. Even if not this year, next year at least. We're the last-minute fill-in.”>
“No way… I thought a company your size would be doing really well…”>
“No, you have to think the opposite. Because you're at that level, you didn't even apply, but you got a call first.”>
Gamestar, being such a large-scale event, had a “waitlist” prepared in cases like this where participants couldn't make it due to circumstances.>
Normally, a company that wanted to participate would have been prioritized for the lost opportunity when all booths filled up, but before that, they had contacted us first.>
‘In the industry, they're looking at us as a sudden super promising rookie.’>
Even if the game company that was originally number one on the waitlist found out, it would be unfair, but what could you do. The organizers had decided to do it that way.>
‘Patriotism, now or then, what a joke…’>
There was no special connection, and the organizers had simply raised their hand for us, a domestic game company doing well overseas. I didn't really need to stretch for the rolling-in opportunity.>
“So, give me your opinions. No grand reasons needed, just casual.”>
Before I finished speaking, everyone gave their opinions.>
“G, Gamestar is a place where, uh, Heavy Gamers mostly participate, so, doesn't everyone use Storm a lot? Th, then maybe ACD that is causing a stir on Storm wouldn't be bad…”>
Reamin's opinion, supporting ACD.>
“Eii~ Dot Hero is better. Even though ACD is a new game, in terms of visibility in Korea it's the same new game as Dot Hero, right? A slightly more mainstream Dot Hero would suit the festival better. There's a difference in download numbers though~”>
That was Cha Ju-hee's opinion.>
‘Both of those words make sense.’>
That was why I had asked my staff for their opinions. Honestly, I didn't really care which one, so I wanted to know how they thought.>
“ACD is the way to go…”>
“Dot Hero suits the festival better, right?”>
The meeting room had now split into two teams.>
Reamin, the programming team leader, led Daniel and Seongbae in pushing for ACD, while Cha Ju-hee and Minji pushed for Dot Hero.>
“%$@!”>
“#*@!”>
As their claims of being right clashed back and forth, I noticed that Seokho, who usually kept quiet, was deep in thought with a different expression from usual.>
“Seokho. Why aren't you saying anything?”>
“Ah! Director. I've been thinking about what would be best.”>
“Just say it casually. You don't need to overthink it.”>
“Um… then, I think Dot Hero would be good.”>
“Could you give me the reason, simply?”>
Seokho cautiously began to speak.>
“I've researched Gamestar to some extent.”>
“Oh? Really? That's surprising.”>
“Haha. It's only natural since I've been in a game company! Anyway… when I researched Gamestar, I found out that while people come for game promotion and experiences, there's also a big thing for cosplay—people come just to see the costumes!”>
“That's true.”>
One of Gamestar's core attractions.>
You could preview unreleased new games or win limited-edition goods and prizes, but the fun of walking between booths and seeing the cosplayers was undeniable.>
“Should we hire cosplayers too?”>
“Yes! I think that would be good for promotion! To do that, instead of the odd creatures from ACD, I think Dot Hero, which has many female characters appealing to our core adult male customer base, would be better!”>
“Hmm…”>
Seokho's idea was good. He was full of passion, and his coding skills were average, but in almost a year he had become a proper employee.>
However, there was a problem with Seokho's plan.>
“Seokho. It's a really good idea, but… there's only a month left until Gamestar. The professional cosplay team probably already has all the contracts done. It was a good plan, but the timing is a little late—”>
“Then why don't we do it ourselves?”>
Seokho looked at Cha Ju-hee and Minji.>
“Cha Ju-hee, the art team leader, has the charm of a mature woman, so Nine Tails from Dot Hero. Minji, she'd suit the petite Wolf Lady.”>
“Ho.”>
A 2026 statement that could have stood in court.>
I looked at Cha Ju-hee, whose expression was blank with disbelief as she heard the words.>
“Ah, no way? Director? You can't just reject an idea like that out of hand, right?”>
I ignored her earnest gaze.>
“This month's outstanding employee is Seokho. Congratulations.”>
“Thank you!”>
Cha Ju-hee's and Minji's cosplays.>
Forget the promotion, I thought it would be fun.*>
“I won't! I'm quitting! I'll quit! Overtime isn't enough, and now they want me to do cosplay? This is human rights violation!”>
“I'll give you a bonus.”>
“I'm not stupid enough to choose social suicide just because I get a little bonus, am I?!”>
I showed her the amount that would be deposited into her calculator as a bonus.>
“Y-you really mean you'd give this much?”>
“Yes. But in return, you have to work diligently.”>
“Three months of salary?!”>
“Yes.”>
“Kk…”>
After a moment's hesitation, she bit her lip with a resolute expression and nodded.>
‘Even the professional cosplay team couldn't get that much.’>
I guess they couldn't afford to refuse.>
“What about you, Minji? I'm giving you a bonus.”>
“I'm fine with it. It'll be fun. I've wanted to try it once.”>
Cha Ju-hee looked at Minji with horrified eyes.>
“M-Minji. You've wanted to try it? Y-you didn't forget about the Wolf Lady outfit, did you? There's more exposed area than covered area, right?!”>
“I'm a little disappointed. Even though my height is similar, my volume is a bit smaller than Wolf Lady's, so the match rate is a little lower. I think users will be greatly disappointed.”>
“That's not important, is it?!”>
Cha Ju-hee sighed at Minji's expression as if to say what was the problem.>
“No… I might be able to do it.”>
“It'll be fun, won't it? When else in my life would I get to do something like this.”>
A very positive mindset.>
I hadn't realized that even a person like Minji, who was usually cold as a machine with little emotional expression, could show this side.>
Thinking there was no one on her side, Cha Ju-hee changed the subject.>
“By the way, Director. Time is tight—can we prepare the cosplay costumes?”>
“Juhee.”>
“Yes?”>
“Money, like the bonus I'm giving you, can solve a lot of things.”>
“Even if they give a lot of money, it doesn't take just a day or two to make costumes. There might not be enough time physically…”>
“Then I'll give more.”>
Creators are the kind of people who make anything when you throw an amount they can't refuse.>
Cosplay makers are no different.>
“Tch…! No matter how I think about it, it's a bit unfair that only women are doing it! I've changed my mind again—unless all the male staff participate, I'm not doing it.”>
Even a verbal contract was a proper contract…!>
I wanted to scold him for throwing around a logical fallacy as the company's owner and representative director, but since this wasn't really the art team's responsibility, I couldn't force it.>
“Hmm… So, do the others have to do cosplay too?”>
“Yes!”>
“T, that’s a bit…”>
While Reamin protested, someone raised their hand.>
“Director. I want to do it!”>
“Seongbae? What hero do you want to cosplay?”>
“Not a hero! I want to do the boss monster from stage three, the Minotaur!”>
“Uh… Is that possible?”>
I thought clothes or accessories could be made for money, but a Minotaur with a bit of difficulty, whether it could be done in time was questionable.>
“Okay, I'll look for a company that's possible. Considering the chances aren't high, think of other characters too.”>
“Yes! Actually, anything that's a monster is fine!”>
Creature freak.>
“Juhee. Since Seongbae is doing it, you can't back out now, right?”>
“Ah, not yet! It's two women and one man! We have to balance it!”>
For a moment, I felt the male employees excluding me exchanging glances.>
“T, this kind of thing, Director, you probably have to do…”>
“Boss. I heard there's a saying in Korea about leading by example. Isn't this when you use it?”>
“If I were the Director, I'd do well in any hero cosplay!”>
At a time like this, Daniel, who was as eloquent as ever, was joined by Reamin and Seokho pushing my back.>
However, who was I?>
The absolute owner of PlayForge Studio, owning 100% of the shares.>
“Rejected.”>
“Eek—”>
Absolutely, absolutely not.>
‘I don't want to be permanently frozen in infamy on the internet with such a ridiculous figure in this lifetime either.’>
Even though there was no AI back then, I knew better than anyone how much a single photo could be twisted to make me look insane, so would I really do cosplay?>
If it was an issue affecting the company's fate, maybe, but I couldn't do such a heel turn—>
“Director! Was your love for this game at that level?”>
“…?”>
“Dot Hero or ACD, you said they're like children to you! But as a father, you can't even do cosplay for your children? Your love was just empty talk!”>
“…!”>
No, even so, cosplay would be nice.>
The dignity of a leader—>
“I'll compromise! Masquerade! Masquerade cosplay is fine, right?! I'll wear a mask so my face is completely covered!”>
“Um…”>
“A character whose face and body are both completely covered, and you say you can't do even that? What do I do… Dot Hero, ACD… Dad doesn't even want to wear a mask for you… You might as well have failed to promote… I might think of you as my abandoned child…”>
Games that had already succeeded too much, but I thought about it for a moment.>
‘If the face is covered and the body is completely covered… does it matter?’>
It wasn't like I would be going around with “Director” written on me anyway, and how could normal people without insider connections figure out my identity?>
‘It seems like she's determined not to do it…’>
Right now Cha Ju-hee didn't want to do it and was trying to make me cosplay by using me as an excuse to turn it into nothing. Her cheap scheme had been completely read through, and it was pitiful.>
In my head, Cha Ju-hee's scheme to make fun of me fiercely battled with the idea of doing the cosplay, and finally—>
“Fine.”>
“What?”>
The scheme to make fun of her won.