Chapter 37
Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 037
Chapter Title: Mobile Game Development Team Reorganization
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Girls Memorial's 1st anniversary commemorative video was released.
The interview footage we shot was positioned at the opening of the video,
but since each person's interview was less than a minute long, I hadn't expected much.
However, contrary to my expectations, the interviews sparked a huge reaction in the community.
I was monitoring the communities myself and was genuinely surprised.
Here are some representative community vibes I pulled out:
💬 Forum Posts — Anon Girls Memorial Sound Director turns out to be a total legend lol mind blown [Chaeyoung's SBC Music Director era composition list] I knew the name sounded familiar and my memory was spot on lol mind blown x7 How the hell did they snag someone who was a broadcast network music director? I pulled up a list of her compositions, so pick any track and give it a listen. You'll recognize it right away. — Replies (Newest First) No way, you're not capping, she composed those songs? lol No wonder the BGM during story scenes slaps so hard lol Pretty much every track in that image is one I've heard before. — NoNo Creative Director? What even is this guy lololol [Photo of Yoon Seol wearing a bunny mask and throwing up a V-sign] I was wondering why she was the only one in a bunny mask during the interview lolol Turns out she's the story director lololol The reporter teased her a bit during the shoot and her reactions were spot on hilarious lol — Replies (Newest First) Skipped it thinking it'd be boring, coming back now. She's adorable af lol — GodGirlsMemorial Looking at it this way, Girls Memorial's staff lineup is insane General Director: Pillar of ND Soft, former main director of Blood Alliance 2. Art Director: Former ND Soft art director as well. Sound Director: Former SBC Music Director. The bunny mask director and the male dev director are obviously big-time Enson alumni too. How is this lineup so stacked for a mobile game? Putting it all together, it's ridiculous lol — Replies (Newest First) This can't be real lololololol Now I get why they crushed the Japanese market lol Most posts were either straight-up praise or shock at the team's past credentials.
Yerin and I already had our careers somewhat known, so that was expected,
but digging up Chaeyoung Senior's history was honestly surprising.
I never thought game community folks would know broadcast network directors that well.
Anyway, since the interviews were under a minute, they quickly got buried under new hype,
but it was still a satisfying outcome.
While the game inside and out was in full festival mode, what was I doing?...
Having a one-on-one with Suyeon in the president's office.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The president's office was wrapped in silence, save for the rustle of turning pages.
Sitting across from me was Suyeon,
back from headquarters in a two-piece suit, seriously reviewing the report I'd handed her.
"Um, Hojin."
"Yes."
"I get the intent behind the proposal... but isn't it a bit early for a sequel project?"
It was the exact same point Seol had raised when we first brainstormed the next project.
Well, given that PC games still dominated the current market, it was a perfectly reasonable question.
If I hadn't regressed, I'd have thought the same as Suyeon right now.
Of course, that's just talk—knowing the future's direction, there was no reason not to pick the winning choice.
"President, what do you think the lifespan of a mobile game is?"
"Mobile game lifespan? Hmm."
Suyeon tilted her head at my out-of-left-field question instead of answering.
"For successful ones, it's about 3 years. For mobile games overall, just 6 months."
"No way. Even PC games have plenty that run over 5 years."
"As you know, unlike PC games, mobile games inevitably have thin content due to platform limitations."
Suyeon nodded at that.
"Go on."
"Thin content means users burn through it fast, which demands frequent updates.
That cycle leads to a drop in live service quality, and this vicious loop directly ties to the game's lifespan."
What I told Suyeon was the path every mobile game before regression had followed.
But in this era, the dawn of mobile gaming, it was hard to swallow.
That's probably why she was mulling it over like that.
Suyeon crossed her arms, pondering deeply for a bit before asking me,
"Say we go ahead with the next project as you want. What about Girls Memorial then?"
"Hand it off to one of the directors. It's already on track, so no issues there."
"Operationally, sure... but users will freak if you move to a new project?"
"That's why I'll step in whenever we need to show face to users. Most of our team is introverted anyway, so no one will object."
Suyeon's expression softened a bit at my seamless answers to each question.
"...Alright. So how can I help our director?"
Her voice carried a hint of intrigue as she asked.
"First off, I'm planning to reorganize the mobile game development team."
"Reorganize? Suddenly?"
"Unlike Girls Memorial, a new project needs a fresh team. But blindly expanding is iffy."
"So how do you want to reorganize?"
"Instead of the current team setup, how about creating studios per project for separate management?"
"Studios?"
"Yeah. Assign projects to their own studios. It'd streamline project and personnel management over the old team structure."
At that, Suyeon perked up like a good idea had hit her, grabbing a pen and paper from her desk.
"...Okay, what if we do it like this?"
She started sketching an org chart on the paper as she spoke.
"You're saying convert the current teams into a studio system, right?"
"Exactly."
"Then make the studios horizontally structured, and set up a new headquarters to oversee them. You'd naturally be the HQ head in charge."
The paper showed a large rectangle labeled "New HQ" with smaller ones scattered inside—an org chart.
"That'd be perfect, but is that okay? Starting with the execs..."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Suyeon blinked like I'd said something weird.
"Why would the execs oppose? They'll never say no to what you're trying to do."
"Nah, no way."
Confucian culture still lingers here...
No way the execs would take kindly to a early-30s guy like me heading HQ.
At my attitude, Suyeon chuckled and continued.
"You turned a perennial loss-making subsidiary into a profit machine overnight, laying golden eggs. They'd be crazy to oppose."
"Hearing it like that... yeah, maybe."
"Right? That's one issue solved... Anything else you need?"
Requests, huh...
"I'll need some personnel boosts."
"Not talking junior hires for the new project... What level?"
"A senior dev who can handle TD duties."
"I already assigned Ace to you."
"Myunghoon Brother is an ace, sure... but..."
"But why?"
"I'm passing him the Girls Memorial director role."
Suyeon seemed to ponder briefly, then nodded.
"A dev-background director is ideal... Got it. I'll source a senior dev somehow, so head down for today. Nothing else?"
I nodded and stood at her question.
Honestly, I hadn't expected this much from today's meeting.
Luck was on my side.
"Then I'll head out."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After leaving the president's office and heading to our floor, I texted Myunghoon to come out.
Not something to discuss with the team around.
Mobile game dev team reorganization and new project launch.
Both were set in stone, but it wasn't time to tell the team yet.
After sending the text and waiting a moment, Myunghoon opened the door and stepped out.
"Brother, you came."
"Yeah, Hojin. You said you had something to say."
"Might take a while here—cafe okay? My treat for coffee."
"Sure? Give me a sec. I'll just tell the team and come."