Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Feedback
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"Alright, this is Han Chaeyoung, our new Sound Director who'll be handling all the sound work with our team starting today."
The weekly morning meeting, held once a week.
After wrapping up her time at the broadcasting station, I'd introduced Chaeyoung Senior as she joined our team, and applause filled the conference room.
"Ah... Nice to meet you all. I'm Han Chaeyoung, and I'll be taking on the Sound Director role. It's been a while since I last worked on games, but I look forward to working with you."
She bowed her head after speaking, and another wave of applause poured in.
I gave them a moment to get acquainted before resuming the meeting.
"Okay, that wraps up the meeting... Yerin, Seol, Chaeyoung Senior, and Myunghoon Brother, please stick around for a bit."
As the other team members left the room, only the four I'd called remained. I turned first to Chaeyoung.
"Chaeyoung Senior, the top priority is composing the main OST for our game."
"OST? Sounds good. Do you have any samples?"
"No samples, I'm afraid. But you can check the game setting documents and story outline, then work your magic based on what feels right to you."
"Hmm... So that's why you brought me on? Planning to work me to the bone from day one."
"Something like that."
"Fine by me. Is there a deadline?"
"No, the project's still in its early stages on our end too. Of course, I'd love it if you could finish quickly, but don't stress—just focus on the work."
"Got it. Anything else I need to keep in mind?"
"It's in the materials I sent, but since this will be the main OST, please aim for a youthful, high-teen vibe that matches the game's core theme. Something bubbly and energetic."
"Youthful, high-teen, bubbly..."
"You can head out of the office and go left down the hall to the recording studio for your work."
"Okay~."
Once Chaeyoung had left after we'd finished, I turned to Myunghoon next.
"I checked the update you posted, Brother... Even with aggressive optimization, full 3D combat is too much?"
Myunghoon nodded with a troubled expression.
"I've been coordinating with the art team to optimize as much as possible. Apple devices hit acceptable frame rates, but Android... it's dismal."
"Hmm... I figured it might be rough. For now, let's finish the prototype and retest next year when new Android devices drop."
"Sounds good."
"No rush on development for a while, so make sure the internal test prototype is solid. No bugs. Got it?"
"Obviously."
With feedback done, Myunghoon gathered his papers and headed out.
Watching his steadfast back as he left, I felt my trust in him rising again.
'Yeah... That's how a developer should be.'
As the door closed, I turned to Yerin next.
She knew exactly what I wanted and fired up the beam projector right away.
Three illustrations of our game's representative beautiful girls appeared on the blank conference room wall.
"Based on the rough sketches you drew, Senior, I designed them with distinct focal points to highlight their positions as lead characters."
Yerin took a sip of water, her throat dry from talking, then continued.
"Of course, school uniforms aren't common worldwide, so I based them on Korean uniforms and Japanese sailor suits, with some modifications... Is that okay?"
Looking at the characters' uniforms as Yerin spoke, I could see remnants of the sailor suit and the H-line Korean style.
"Finally, I differentiated the students' ability sources with unique rings on their wrists."
"This looks good... pretty solid, actually..."
Viewing the character designs, I couldn't help but tilt my head slightly.
Something felt off, like it was missing flavor.
Like a dish without seasoning.
"It feels like something's lacking..."
"Really?"
I looked over the illustrations again, ignoring Yerin's puzzled head tilt.
'Ah...'
I got it now. What was wrong.
"Yerin, Seol, come here."
I pointed at the character illustrations as the two approached.
"I figured out what's missing. Don't these three feel too plain?"
"Too plain?"
"I'm... not sure."
"Not the designs themselves being plain."
The clothing designs alone were already on par with pre-regression Blue Asteris— Yerin's talent had fully blossomed.
Her doujin circle activities must have sharpened her eye for design...
But something was still missing from her current art.
Personality.
"The characters are cute. The outfit designs are great. But they feel lacking? It's because they lack individuality."
I grabbed the tablet pen and added a hairpin and elf ears to the blue-haired first character, Corone.
"Our game's not set in the modern world, right? The girls are students, but they wield various weapons and have special abilities. So, wouldn't it make sense for non-human races too?"
"Ah... You're right."
"Plus, in the synopsis, what's the first gift Corone gets after regaining her memories? A ChiChi-chan merch bag. So, draw her with it slung over her shoulder like this... What do you think?"
"Just a bag on the shoulder might look too plain, and since she's a girl, maybe add a keychain too?"
"Not a bad idea."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"And the second character, China—she's too stereotypical as a blonde. Let's flip it and make her the taciturn type instead."
"Keep the sharp eyes?"
"Yeah. She looks stern and quiet on the outside, but soft-hearted inside, maybe raising dogs or cats. Oh, and make her chest the biggest. People have image expectations based on hair color."
Yerin, who'd already drawn adult doujins in her circle, took this feedback in stride, but Seol was different.
"Chest... the biggest..."
Her face turned beet red instantly.
I'd suspected as much—she had no immunity to this stuff.
"Finally, Yuzuki—everything's good, but... she goes to Oracle United Academy, right? Anything come to mind?"
"Hmm... Like a studious good-girl type?"
"Science vibe, kinda engineering nerd?"
"Close, but not quite. Oracle screams STEM student or researcher. So, what if she's an extreme indoor type who rarely goes out?"
I shrank Yuzuki's height in Photoshop and layered a white lab coat over her uniform.
"Add the pale skin and faint dark circles from lots of indoor time, but keep a bright expression to avoid that gloomy researcher feel..."
With the expression tweak, Yuzuki transformed into a completely different character.
"See? Totally distinct now."
"Senior, this is..."
"A-amazing..."
I shrugged at their admiration and saved the work.
"Try infusing that kind of personality into initial designs... Oh, you finished the mascot too?"
"Ah, yes. Here."
Yerin worked the computer, and the trio vanished, replaced by an illustration of a girl who looked about 9 or 10.
Platinum blonde hime-cut hair down to her waist, a sleeveless knee-length dress with gold patterns.
Star-flecked white pupils and a ring of light around her neck added an otherworldly mystique, like she wasn't quite human.
'Perfect...'
It nailed the original concept, plus my request for an inhuman mystery.
"No feedback needed for the Operator mascot."
"Right? Seol Sister helped a ton."
"Seol did?"
"Yeah, the pupil design and color combos were all based on her input."
Surprised, I looked at Seol, who nodded with a flushed face.
'The producer really sent me nothing but S-ranks...'
"That should do for character designs. Ask if you get stuck."
"Got it."
"Seol... Synopsis done?"
"Ah, yes...! Main story up to Chapter 3 is up on the internal cloud...!"
"Good work. Key visual roughs?"
"Rough draft's ready... Planning to pass to art team once Yerin's character designs are finalized..."
"Perfect. While art handles key visuals, tell the planners except main story writers to prep for PV storyboard work."
"Ah, yes...!"
"Alright, you two get back to it."
They bowed and left together amicably, and a held-back sigh escaped me.
'Somehow cleared the project's starting line... Maybe squeeze in some good luck charms while there's time.'
I shook my head at the absurd thought and headed to my private office.