Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The New Recruits
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Here’s a question: Whose job is it to systematically weave a planned concept into the game's systems?
The answer:
“I think we need to hire some planners.”
That’s a planner’s job.
“Planners?”
At the snack bar, Yang Gil-sang looked up from his bibimbap, spoon still stuck in the bowl, and asked again.
I nodded.
“Yes. It’s getting to be too much for me to handle alone.”
It wasn't just an excuse; it was the truth.
Three weeks after the first revision, I started making changes to the system based on Jo A-yun's feedback. But the number of synergies and combination formulas had grown so vast that the workload became overwhelming.
To condense it, I limited each weapon's growth build to two paths and broke down the functions of the hardware parts, but it was still too much to manage alone.
In other words, it was time to hire the staff for my department that I'd been putting off.
“The planning department... Hmm...”
Yang Gil-sang rubbed his hairline and said with a smile.
“That's going to be tough.”
“...Yeah.”
I couldn't help but hang my head.
The truth is, game planners aren't the kind of professionals that just pop up when you call for them.
It's a job that takes a long time to learn and master in the first place.
Most people flee, terrified by the killer workload—like working 365 days straight. And even if they do get used to it, they often consider switching to another field. That's just how this department is.
Surviving that and getting used to the work?
What happens then? They usually grit their teeth, stick it out where they built their career to aim for a promotion, or start their own company.
In short, for an already established company to find an experienced planner is like plucking a star from the sky.
“We'll have to hire rookies.”
An unavoidable compromise.
At this early stage of development, it was better to build and train my own team.
Yang Gil-sang thought for a moment before nodding.
“Okay, I'll put out a job posting. How many people are you thinking of?”
“Two or three.”
For now, that should be enough.
Yang Gil-sang said.
“But don't get your hopes up too high. The main hiring season is over, so finding people won't be easy.”
“I know. We'll be lucky to get ten applicants.”
Talented people aren't that easy to find.
I decided to accept it humbly. And so, a month passed.
“...What?”
“We have 50 applicants who passed the document screening.”
“...”
We received far more applications than I expected.
* * *
On the day of the interviews, Han Seo-rim spoke.
“Looks like there are some experienced people in the mix. You must be a little relieved.”
“I'm not so sure.”
I wasn't entirely pleased.
While more is usually better, such a high number of applicants warranted some thought.
After all, the number of applicants was directly tied to Studio Rewind's standing and public perception.
The reason why industry professionals saw us as a good option.
After some considerable thought, I came to a conclusion.
“I think the 'Galápagos syndrome' might be the problem.”
“Galápagos syndrome?”
“Yeah, Korea isn't the right environment for making AAA games. The capital and market structure are heavily focused on online games, right? But that doesn't mean no one wants to make AAA titles. It's just a difference in perspective between the business side and the developers.”
Companies want to make games that make money.
Most developers want to make games as a form of self-fulfillment.
The structure of the Korean game market is too distorted to bridge that gap.
The rapid spread of PCs and LAN cables was the cause, leading almost all games to be PC-based.
And amidst all that, Studio Rewind appeared—a AAA development studio.
For applicants aiming for AAA development but finding it difficult to go abroad, we were a forced choice, which is probably why they all flocked here.
Considering we got this many applicants in just over a month, with the application window open for only two weeks, it was a reasonably well-founded analysis.
“So this is the first-mover advantage.”
Of course, even our main target was the overseas market, not the domestic one, but what does that matter?
When I finished my explanation, Han Seo-rim said,
“Your tie is crooked.”
...Was she even listening?
“Honestly, come here. How old are you? You still can't even tie this right?”
She reached out and yanked it tight around my neck.
Then she loosened it, adjusting it until it felt just right.
I said awkwardly.
“...What does a director need a tie for anyway? It's fine if I can't do it.”
“You're a director *and* the president.”
“The president's work is...”
“Going to dump it all on Mr. Gil-sang? I doubt you could do that, not with your personality.”
She knows me too well.
In fact, that was another reason I wanted to hire planners.
Since I couldn't completely ignore the management side of things, I was also handling the final document reviews.
It meant I was spread too thin.
The existence of direct subordinates to share the workload.
They were absolutely essential for me.
“All done. Let's go in now.”
Han Seo-rim patted my shoulder.
Today's interviewers were me, Han Seo-rim, Yang Gil-sang, and Myeong-gyu.
Since I was the one hiring for my team, the others were really just for show.
It was a setup Yang Gil-sang had devised, thinking it would look strange if I were sitting there all alone.
“Alright, let's go.”
10 AM. The interviews began.
* * *
Into the thirties, and still no one I liked.
“I first played *Hellic* when I was in college! I enjoyed it so much! At this company, I believe...”
The applicant chattered on with a passionate expression, but it wasn't very impressive.
Even though he had experience.
*'He ran away.'*
The game listed on his resume was one I knew.
But considering the game's development timeline, I could only conclude that he'd bailed midway through development.
In other words, he was the type to quit if he couldn't handle our game's development either.
He wasn't the only one.
Even after multiple rounds of screening, everyone left seemed somewhat unreliable for the job.
It got to the point where I started to wonder, 'Are my standards too high?'
I considered lowering my standards, but in the end, I gave up on the idea.
*'How could I?'*
They'd be my direct reports. If I looked at their faces and immediately felt they were unreliable, how tough would the work ahead be?
There were still about 20 people left.
I decided to wait and see. The thirties passed.
*'All rejected.'*
And so, we were about to begin interviews with the forties.
“...Yeon-ho, are they all that bad?”
Yang Gil-sang asked gently.
I nodded.
Yang Gil-sang sighed.
“Oh dear...”
“I'll just have to hope there's someone in the last ten.”
I pressed my temples and reviewed the resumes of the last ten applicants one more time.
A flicker of impatience stirred within me.
It was a moment where I seriously considered if I should just lower my standards.
“...!”
One resume caught my eye.
A rookie with no experience, yet a resume that was impossible to ignore.
“The next group of interviewees may enter.”
The secretary from the management department said.
Then, five people, numbers 41 through 45, entered the interview room.
From that moment, my eyes were already fixed on number 41.
*'That person?'*
My heart fluttered.
At a sight that didn't betray my expectations.
*'Park Ho-su.'*
Height around 173 cm, a moderately chubby build, with dark circles under his eyes.
For some reason, his lips were darkish, and his short hair was messy despite having been styled.
He gave off the impression that a t-shirt and jeans would suit him better than a suit.
The finishing touch was his slightly stooped neck.
“We'll start with interviewee number 41.”
He responded to Yang Gil-sang's words.
“Yes...”
A voice tinged with chronic fatigue.
But his head was held stiffly.
As if, as if...
*'To fatigue...'*
He's accustomed to it!
In other words, he's used to all-nighters!
Of course! He has to be!
It was a moment where my fists clenched tightly.
“I am number 41, Park Ho-su. From Goguryeo University's mathematics department...”
He shot an arrow straight through my heart.
“...I completed my master's degree.”
A mathematics department from a prestigious university, a graduate degree.
A resume that made me wonder why on earth he was applying to a game company, yet one that made me thirst for him.
This feeling... to put it bluntly.
*'Myeong-gyu...!'*
This was a 0.8 Go Myeong-gyu level of shock.
My gaze automatically turned to Myeong-gyu.
Myeong-gyu was nodding with a stern, solemn, serious expression.
Verification complete.
“...I've always been very interested in game development. I originally planned to get a job right after graduating from university... but my professor...”
His effort to convey his points as clearly as possible is admirable!
“...You could call it a blessing in disguise. Thanks to that, I was able to apply to Studio Rewind during its hiring period...”
His witty remarks are excellent! Admirable! He's trying so hard!
“...That is all.”
I held back tears.
Good things come to those who wait.
No, good things come and find you...!
I suppressed the rising tremor in my voice and finally spoke.
“...Thank you.”
My number one pick had been decided.
* * *
Park Ho-su, age 30.
After earning a master's degree in mathematics from Goguryeo University, he was embarking on his monumental first step into the working world.
-You may come in comfortable attire.
As instructed, Ho-su came to work wearing his usual favorite t-shirt and cargo pants.
There was a sense of excitement.
For Ho-su, who had always loved games, it was the moment he was finally taking a step toward his dream.
By nature, he couldn't refuse others' requests.
His strong desire to meet the expectations of those around him led him to major in mathematics as his parents wished, and to enroll in graduate school at his professor's recommendation.
After all that hard work, he one day came to a realization, a thought: 'Whose life is this?'
Having stubbornly chosen a game company for the first time in his life—and a company challenging the AAA space at that—Ho-su was filled with passion.
Of course, it was only natural that his outward appearance was steeped in fatigue.
Anyway, he arrived at the company.
“You're here.”
Yeon-ho greeted Ho-su.
At that moment, another person came through the door.
“Sorry I'm late...! The shuttle...”
“It's fine. I know the public transport around here isn't great.”
Ho-su's gaze turned to his new colleague.
*'His name is Kang Ji-seok.'*
From what he saw at the interview, he was number 50, the last applicant.
His acne-scarred face, curly hair, and thick glasses gave him a friendly air.
“Alright, let's have a seat. We're going to get straight to work.”
Yeon-ho, the only one looking sharp and out of place in this atmosphere, said.
Ho-su sat down immediately.
Inside the partition were three computer setups, including Yeon-ho's.
He had heard about his duties a few days ago during a separate meeting with Yeon-ho.
*'Balancing, wasn't it.'*
His first task was balancing: ensuring synergy between traits and weapon builds, and making sure the superiority of certain combinations wasn't too pronounced.
Ho-su mentally ran through the number of cases he would have to review.
Then he quickly gave up.
*'Right, let's not think about it.'*
He knew from experience.
When work is piled up, the only way is to clear your mind and tackle it one step at a time.
It was more comforting to think of it as an extension of his graduate school days.
No, come to think of it, this was a better environment than back then.
*'They pay for overtime.'*
Getting paid for overtime? What kind of absurd paradise was this?
And so began his moving first day of work.
It was 7 PM, quitting time.
“Alright, let's push on a little longer.”
“???”
Question marks seemed to sprout above his colleague Kang Ji-seok's head, but Ho-su couldn't understand why.
*'They even have an on-call room here, right? They let you sleep over, so what's the big deal?'*
Let's set aside trivial questions like why an on-call room (a room for sleeping, in other words) even exists.
This is what you call inertia.
Ho-su's mind calmly accepted every hardship that came his way.
“President, about us going home...”
“Let's push on a little longer.”
Kang Ji-seok's question remained unanswered.
Naturally.
For it was forbidden knowledge, not meant for mortals.
“Alright, just a little more.”
At 10 PM, Yeon-ho said as much and hurried them onto the next task.
Ho-su realized.
*'He's just like my professor.'*
He felt a little more at ease.
May 7th.
The day Yeon-ho's 'people who will implement the awesome stuff I think of' joined the company.
* * *
June. One month after the planning team had grown to three members.
A ghost story began to circulate in the Studio Rewind office.
“They say you can hear a ghost crying near the on-call room.”
The On-Call Room Ghost Story.
It was a ghost story that persisted even though everyone knew the truth behind it.
The specifics were as follows.
On nights when the wails of the on-call room ghosts (the planning and programming teams) could be heard, the undertaker (Jo A-yun) would appear, standing guard in front of the room with a recorder in hand.
While this terrifying ghost story gained notoriety among the employees with each passing day, the world outside was facing a slightly different change.
To be precise, an external change related to Studio Rewind had occurred.
『E3 Begins!』
E3, the world's largest game show, kicked off in LA.
Its official name was the Electronic Entertainment Expo, and at the time, it was a festival that boasted unrivaled prestige as a console celebration.
And it was there that Sona made an announcement.
『Hellic 2 Console Version Coming Out?』
The release of *Hellic 2* for the PS3.
It was news that would further excite the *Hellic* fanbase.
Naturally, the related communities were on fire.
Furthermore, communities in several unrelated countries also began to pay attention to *Hellic*.
After all, wasn't Yeon-ho's original goal to enter a new stage where *Hellic* had little presence?
That goal had been achieved.
The first reaction came from Japan.
『Who is that cute girl?』
It was a comment to that effect.
Alice lands in Japan, the land of subculture!
Abyss (1)