Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Full Preparations
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One user's news caused an uproar in the Reverse Arcadia gallery.
The news was the launch of the Korean server for Reverse Arcadia.
For an ordinary game, it wouldn't have been a big deal—people might even ask what the fuss was about. But the subject was Reverse Arcadia, or rather Enson GT, so it was a different story.
A game company that had achieved #1 sales on both major Japanese app stores for the first time from a Korean developer.
And it carried the reputation of a company that absolutely never released games in Korea.
Of course, Enson GT's hesitation to launch in Korea wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
To begin with, male-oriented subculture mobile games like Girls Memorial or Reverse Arcadia simply didn't have the right conditions for service in Korea.
However, most gamers cared more about practical inconveniences than such rational explanations.
So, complaints and demands started piling up against Enson GT, bit by bit.
"Why do we have to jump through hoops just to play a game from our own country?"
"Honestly, trying to follow the story in Japanese totally kills the immersion."
"At this point, isn't it time for a Korean server?"
But Enson GT, which had ignored these desperate pleas and grudges without response, suddenly declared a Korean server launch out of nowhere.
And the Reverse Arcadia gallery at the center of it all descended into chaos.
— Anon Title: Wait, the Korean server launch is legit real?? No cap? Suddenly announcing Korean server with zero warning. I'm dumbfounded. At least use your turn signal before pulling this lololol 💬 Comments (Newest First) — Anon For real, what's going on lololol — Anon Newbies who just started the JP server are gonna shed the most blood tears. — Anon Title: No other info besides the launch being confirmed, right? Debating buying a JP world account to start now. Crazy tempting. But probably better to endure a bit longer? 💬 Comments (Newest First) — Anon Unless you're native-level Japanese, endure lololol — Anon For real, newbies should 100% start fresh on KR server. — Anon Title: But what happens if they fail the rating review? No way it'll get an 18+ rating, right? If it does, we can't play... please no lololol 💬 Comments (Newest First) — Anon Crazy, even school kids are on the gallery these days. — Anon School kid, close the game and gallery. Go study lolololol Adults and minors.
Veteran players on the Japanese server and those agonizing over whether to start.
Old-timers and newbies.
And outsiders dropping by to stir trouble or for other business.
All of them mixed together, turning the Reverse Arcadia gallery into utter chaos.
If you asked what I was doing in the midst of all this...
I was visiting the president's office.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ For months, while agonizing over the Korean server launch, two issues had nagged at me.
The first was ratings review.
At this point in time, self-regulation had replaced formal review, so it wasn't a huge issue in itself...
But the uncertainty of when a complaint might force an R-18 rating made it a massive variable and risk.
In my past life, there had even been a huge uproar after a complaint led to reclassification.
But there wasn't much I could do about it, so I had to let that thought go.
The second was gender conflict.
This was the real culprit that had made me hesitate on the Korean launch right up to the end.
In 2015, it was still simmering below the surface, quiet for now—but I already knew how it would explode.
I'd watched the mess unfold right in front of my eyes in my past life.
So from the start of Reverse Arcadia's development, I'd prepared countermeasures.
Unlike Girls Memorial, Reverse Arcadia had been made with a Korean launch in mind.
Based on memories from my past life, I'd excluded from Project RA anyone at Enson GT who'd caused scandals or stuck in my mind for it.
I'd even added clauses to employment contracts banning SNS controversies, just in case.
But knowing that wasn't enough, I'd ended up coming to the president's office.
Suyeon's expression as she read the company policy revisions I'd handed her was more nuanced than expected.
"So... to sum up Hojin's point: gender tensions are about to heat up soon, we might catch some flak, so we need to prepare in advance?"
"Yes, exactly."
At my response, Suyeon set down the report with a look of disbelief and asked again.
"I'd usually trust what Hojin says... but this one's kinda hard to buy."
Suyeon shook her head, as if my story was too unbelievable.
It was exactly as I'd predicted before coming.
The stories I'd told her were from my past life, when gender conflicts had reached their peak.
To Suyeon, living in 2015, they sounded too wild to believe.
Which was also proof that tensions weren't bad yet.
"Take a look at this first."
I handed her backup materials I'd prepared just in case.
The folder contained screenshots from Twitter accounts steeped in male-hate, captured mid-rant.
To me, who'd lived through the extreme 2020s, they felt tame...
But they seemed plenty shocking to convince Suyeon.
Her face as she scrolled through was pure shock.
"No way... these people actually exist? Why do they hate men so much?"
I could only shrug at her question.
No way I'd understand the psychology of male-haters.
Suyeon didn't seem to expect an answer anyway; she just frowned seriously and kept scanning the files.
"Hojin, just to be sure—this stuff is legit, right?"
"Of course."
"Your earlier stories felt kinda unrealistic... but seeing this, it hits different."
"So...?"
She set down the files with a sigh.
"I'll handle the policy revisions you want. I didn't realize it'd be this bad... you're right, we should do it."
"Th-thank you."
"It's gotta be done anyway. Oh, right—how's the Korean server prep going?"
I nodded at her question.
Everything was going incredibly smoothly, after all.
"Good to hear. Anything else you need?"
"Nothing right now...?"
She nodded, stood, and slipped on her suit jacket, apparently heading to her next appointment.
"I'll let you know once the policy's updated. You can head out now."
"Got it."
As I bowed and left the office, I felt Suyeon's warm gaze on my back.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After announcing the Reverse Arcadia Korean server launch, preparations proceeded smoothly.
Yerin's art team had finished the UI/UX tweaks for the Korean server requested by dev and was now working on launch countdown illustrations.
The planning team was running simulations on the patch gap between JP and KR servers—specifically, the future content issue.
They'd probably settle on either a 3-month or 6-month delay.
Both had pros and cons, so it wasn't an easy call.
Not having a gap at all was out of the question.
In the midst of accelerating Korean server prep, with just two weeks to launch, I got a call from Suyeon.
As expected, it was about the policy revisions I'd requested.
Hearing they'd passed, I immediately called all the directors to the conference room.
The team buzzed at the sudden summons.
I was the last to enter, and addressed them.
"Any idea why I called you here today?"
They shook their heads; nothing came to mind.
I cleared my throat and spoke.
"Not sure if it's up on the intranet yet, but there's a new company policy update. Here's the gist..."
I paused mid-explanation, grabbed the remote, and turned on the beam projector.
The wall lit up with the updated policy clauses.
"The change is to the SNS clause. In short: Don't make statements on social issues that could spark controversy while in a state where people can infer you're a company employee."
The room buzzed again.
"Questions?"
Yerin raised her hand.
"So, as long as it's not a social issue, it's fine?"
"Yeah. This isn't meant to ban employee SNS entirely."
"What's the line for 'social issue'?"
"Anything that could cause controversy and harm the company."
"That's pretty broad..."
"Can't be helped. It's to prevent damage from scandals. More questions?"
Chaeyoung raised her hand.
"What about accounts where no one can tell you're a company employee? Like burner accounts?"
"Like you said, we can't police burners. Up to your conscience. But if you're caught doing something weird on one, it becomes grounds for discipline."
"Fair enough..."
Chaeyoung nodded, her expression softening as she got it.
"Anyone else?"
No more hands.
"Alright, head back to your teams and brief everyone in detail. Better safe than sorry if someone slips up. Got it?"
They agreed enthusiastically and filed out one by one.
Alone in the empty conference room, I sank into a chair and sighed.
"This should keep major issues at bay..."
I sincerely hoped we'd make it through next year's hell unscathed.