Chapter 153
Chapter 153
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: The Plan (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Life rarely goes as planned.
Even if I know the future, that very knowledge can become an inflection point, creating new incidents and accidents.
Eleven years after regressing, I've come to understand this to some extent, but that doesn't make this situation any more welcome.
[Yes, development is progressing faster than expected. At this rate, I think we can go ahead and confirm the development schedule.]
That was the answer I received after casually mentioning it while in contact with Gorou Ayado.
Did I somehow spur them on, or did a change brought about by me affect their company in some way?
It's impossible to know yet.
Perhaps I never will.
In that case, all I can do is devise a plan to respond to this change.
‘The chances of the final product being subpar are low.’
This was a time before any story-related controversies or leaks about the second game had emerged.
And even if the second one comes out, the one unchangeable fact is that *End of Us 1* is a masterpiece of its era.
It's only natural that the developer and publisher would be striving to deliver a quality that meets those expectations.
They wouldn't rush and ruin it, so the verdict that it's a 'masterpiece in terms of gameplay' will likely remain unchanged.
Most likely, their optimization process has become a bit faster.
In that case, I can't hope for a lucky break.
I have to face it head-on, and what I need to do to win is clear.
‘I need to strengthen the storyline.’
It gives me a relative advantage.
Fortunately, *Hellic 4* has a story that appeals to a very mainstream sensibility.
A love story with a happy ending.
As a story that sticks to the basics, if we focus on the presentation, we can gain an edge in the public's eye.
When it comes to winning GOTY, sales figures are an undeniable factor.
As for the game's overall quality?
I couldn't be more confident.
Rewind is a jewel I've crafted by selecting and polishing only the finest raw gems since my regression.
While *Hellic 3* and *Identity* may have been divisive, they never once received a low evaluation for their quality.
‘It's fine. I can do this.’
I had to trust myself and my team.
I called a meeting.
“We're confirming a release for June or July of next year.”
First, the release schedule.
Then, the development timeline and various marketing strategies to boost sales.
“As soon as development is more or less complete, we'll prepare to upload a preview. And one more thing.”
While always important, there are three elements whose significance is particularly heightened for the launch of *Hellic 4*.
Story, optimization, and compact gameplay.
We need to make it flow seamlessly without a dull moment, crafting a single, perfect work from start to finish.
“We're bringing in more QA and programming staff. Let's pay special attention to optimization.”
“…How many months do we have until launch?”
Myeong-gyu asked.
I answered.
“A little over half a year.”
“Since implementation of the final chapter is almost done…”
“So we can spend half a year on bug fixes and optimization?”
“Only half a year?”
“A whole half a year.”
Such a drama queen.
“You can do it.”
There's an unchanging truth in this industry.
“If we work hard, it'll get done.”
Grind the developers, and a game will emerge.
No matter what anyone says, developers grow through hardship.
Work-life balance is the cry of the weak.
Rest is something you save up for after release.
And one last thing.
“The players are waiting.”
Players don't care about the developers' circumstances.
Perfection as a form of play.
That is the only thing a developer should care about.
“…”
Myeong-gyu hung his head low.
‘Hmm…!’
It seems he was convinced.
* * *
A more aggressive marketing strategy.
Since we adopted a strategy of building up anticipation as much as possible in the little over six months we have and then letting it explode, we needed a tight promotional schedule.
In cases like this, the key is to 'bring new information just as people are about to forget.'
“Let's schedule new announcements every one or two months. We'll start by dropping small things.”
This was the conclusion I reached while talking with Yang Gil-sang.
There are still many official marketing tools we can use.
Since we haven't officially announced the release date, just revealing it can cement our game in players' minds. Beyond that, there are gameplay trailers from internal QA and press previews.
Then, in the final countdown to release, the development team can even appear in an introductory video.
“We need to constantly remind people that this game is coming out soon. Let's start with the easy stuff. Announcing the confirmed release date. A Christmas present would be nice.”
Announcing the release date doesn't require many resources.
However, it requires consultation with Sona, because to finalize the release date, we need to align with the publisher's schedule.
Yang Gil-sang said.
“Doesn't that season overlap with E3? Perhaps we could do the final marketing push there…”
I cut him off.
“No need to worry about that. Let's exclude E3 from our plans.”
“Huh?”
“Because we'll have finished all our marketing before then.”
Telling them in advance that E3 will be canceled due to COVID would just make me look like a lunatic or a charlatan.
I changed the subject by expressing my intention to keep the schedule tight.
“*End of Us 2* comes out next March. So, after that game has taken the industry by storm… we'll pour all our efforts into the final two months.”
There's no need to specify *how* it will take the industry by storm.
The important thing is that if we time it right, we can perfectly scratch an itch for the players.
Yang Gil-sang was puzzled.
“Wouldn't that make E3 even more necessary?”
“Presenting at E3 is something to consider only in the final stages. Besides, with Sona's support, we won't need to expend any extra resources.”
Only after I said that did he seem to understand.
Following that, after finishing meetings about the immediate schedule, confirming the release date, and reaching an agreement with Sona, it was suddenly late December.
Implementation was more or less finished.
It was all thanks to everyone's hard work.
There were some minor detail and design revision tasks left, but those were for the latter half of the game, so they wouldn't significantly impact the marketing schedule.
And so, on a day when I was busy listening to progress reports and preparing for Christmas…
“Another year is passing.”
Early in the evening, I stopped by an izakaya with Han Seo-rim.
We'd been coming here occasionally for years, so the scene wasn't unfamiliar.
But the decorated tree outside the window for Christmas, the carols playing everywhere, and the long, early winter night seemed different from usual.
One drink, then two, went down.
Skewers and cheap sake.
The reason we didn't bother with expensive alcohol was simply that we were used to this.
The reason it was just the two of us was also because we were used to it.
I was just blankly staring at the decorated tree, soaking in a moment of rest.
A grumbling sound escaped Han Seo-rim's lips.
“Hah, working on Christmas, too.”
Seeing her dark complexion, she seemed to have a lot on her mind.
So did I.
“We're close to finishing. Still, it's just a release date announcement, so we're not using any extra staff. It's a holiday, you can take the day off.”
“What's the point of resting at home?”
“You rest.”
“I'm asking what's the point of resting alone.”
I had no idea what she meant.
Han Seo-rim sighed.
I could smell a bit of alcohol on her breath.
Why was she acting like this today?
As I was thinking, Han Seo-rim shot me a sidelong, sullen glance.
“Am I just going to work until I'm old and dead?”
Oh dear, is she burned out?
She might be upset because I gave her a little more work than usual.
I needed to boost her motivation.
“You're not just working until you're old and dead. Every moment of your life, you're leaving a trace that you lived…”
“…Bullshit.”
“?”
“Aigoo, I'm drunk.”
Han Seo-rim smacked her lips.
Her stress seemed to be at an extraordinary level.
Han Seo-rim's gaze shifted to the window.
Has she become more sentimental?
I understand.
There are days when I, too, for some reason, become more sentimental and think about the future.
That feeling gets even stronger on days when I, having returned to the past, think about new games that haven't been released yet.
Ah, now that I think about it, *Baldur's Gate 3* is still five years away.
‘Damn it.’
How am I supposed to wait until then?
It was a moment I was suddenly seized by a gloomy thought.
“Hey.”
“Yeah.”
“Don't you ever feel that way?”
“Feel what way?”
“When you just feel lonely and alone for no reason.”
Han Seo-rim swirled her index finger around the rim of her glass.
She looked down, her expression hidden by her hair.
Loneliness in a crowd, is that it?
I don't get it.
“How can you be lonely when you're with the staff all day?”
*Grind.* I heard a sound.
I checked to see if it was Han Seo-rim, but she wasn't grinding her teeth.
What was that sound?
‘More importantly, it's Christmas.’
True, it's a day when everyone goes out to spend quality time with good people.
Resting at home alone on a day when everyone—friends, family, lovers—is happy together might make one think all sorts of things.
And one more thing.
‘This is the last year for festivities.’
From next year on, people won't be able to go out even if they want to.
Once the various incidents caused by the virus begin, the culture of going out will die down completely, so this will be the last chance to enjoy it.
It's something only I know for now.
Thinking that far, something occurred to me.
‘Since this is the last year.’
It would be good to make next year a little less regrettable for her.
“Then should we go out that day? Together.”
*Thump!*
“What?!”
Han Seo-rim exclaimed loudly.
The attention of those around us was drawn to her.
I ignored the rather sharp stares and continued.
“It's a day off. It's good to have some fun.”
Han Seo-rim looked dumbfounded.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she moved her lips silently before finally speaking.
“…Are we going to a PC bang?”
“Wouldn't it be better to hang out outside? There'll be plenty to see.”
“Soup?”
“Soup on Christmas?”
“I guess not, right?”
“We can just walk around and people-watch. So you won't be bored.”
“I can't believe it.”
“You don't want to?”
“…”
Han Seo-rim pressed her lips together.
Her glare became even sharper.
Then, just as the surrounding gazes dissipated and the sound of carols once again filled the air…
“…Deal.”
Han Seo-rim raised her glass.
*Clink.* The glasses met.
* * *
On Christmas Day, Seo-rim was busy from the morning.
When her brother, Jin-gyeong, said, "Oh, going on a date? Our Captain of the Singles, Han Seo-rim?" she didn't kick him as usual, nor did she make coffee first thing after waking up like she normally would.
It was because this was the first time she was meeting Yeon-ho alone for personal reasons, and she was conscious of him.
Thanks to her consistent skincare routine, she had no blemishes.
She hadn't gained any weight since she'd been eating less due to work.
Her makeup wasn't cakey either.
‘Condition: okay.’
I can call this a date, right?
The thought sent a flush of heat to the top of her head.
“I'm heading out.”
“Ooh.”
Feeling a strange mix of emotions, Seo-rim left the house and headed to the meeting spot.
However, there was one thing Seo-rim had overlooked.
Cheon Yeon-ho, that son of a bitch.
When a man with a brilliant mind for work but a catastrophic lack of social awareness and relationship skills suggests a plan, there was something she should have suspected first, but she had been so captivated by the words "let's hang out" that she'd missed it.
“Ah, hello…!”
At the meeting spot stood Yeon-ho in his damn black long padded coat, and Jo A-yun, also in a black long padded coat.
Her hair was now over seventy percent pink.
“A-yun…?”
They weren't hanging out as a pair.
Feeling dejected, she looked at Yeon-ho, who gave her this answer.
“Myeong-gyu, Yu-mi, and Hye-ji said they had other plans. Gil-sang went to meet his girlfriend. It's just the three of us.”
Ah, so when he said 'let's hang out', he meant 'let's all hang out together'.
Seo-rim's eye twitched.
Her gaze turned to A-yun.
She knew she shouldn't feel this way, but couldn't our innocent A-yun have a little more sense?
“A-yun, it's Christmas. Aren't there any in-game events?”
When she asked, A-yun giggled and replied.
“S-Someone’s running them for me…!”
Aah….
“…Is that so?”
What a shame.
Truly a shame.
A vein popped on Seo-rim's forehead, then quickly disappeared.