Agreeing to Create Bad Games, What the Hell Is ‘Titanfall’? Chapter 153: The Milestone That Was Cut

"Kora?"

Shen Miaomiao leaned back in the boss chair and picked up the fax on the desk, sowhat surprised.

She knew Kora.

After all, it was a world-class comprehensive digital entertainnt company spanning East and West.

Naturally, she had heard of it.

In its early years, Kora got its start with pachinko, accumulating its initial capital through countless tiny steel balls.

Afterward, it blossod in all directions, beginning from small pinball machines and gradually establishing its grand empire in the gaming world, conquering markets from north to south.

Now, Kora had beco one of the largest comprehensive digital entertainnt companies in all of Neo-Japan, with its main businesses in gaming and motion-sensing pods spanning the globe.

It could almost be called the only company second to the “Yunwei-Weiwangdi” United Digital Entertainnt Group.

Today, Kora held the gaming market in one hand and motion-sensing pods in the other, sitting firmly atop the pachinko throne with undeniable prestige.

In Asia, it was truly the king among thousands.

Of course,

Shen Miaomiao only ca to understand all this bit by bit after she had joined the ga industry and beco the CEO of Golden Wind Gas.

By all rights, Golden Wind was still just a small company, not even a top-tier ga company in China.

She was a little puzzled about why Kora would reach out to them.

“It’s Director Gu,” Chu Qingzhou, who ca to report, said,

“Kora specifically requested Director Gu by na.”

Shen Miaomiao: ...

She fell silent for three seconds.

She clenched her silver teeth with a creak: “Damn it—those little devils just won’t stop trying to ruin . I’m going to find Lao Shen! No matter what, this ti I will…”

Chu Qingzhou opened her mouth: “They ca to seek cooperation…”

“No matter what, we have to show them what real value for money ans!!!”

Shen Miaomiao, who had stood up halfway, sat back down again.

“Sister Chuchu, can you please finish your sentence in one go next ti?”

Shen Miaomiao took a sip of water and finally swallowed that breath.

Chu Qingzhou shrugged, “You didn’t let finish either.”

“That’s true…”

Shen Miaomiao scratched her head and put down the fax, too lazy to read further:

“So, what kind of cooperation are they seeking?”

Chu Qingzhou was already used to Miaomiao’s lazy, slacker attitude, so she opened her laptop and began reporting:

“In two and a half months, at the beginning of November, one of the world’s top four ga exhibitions—the Neo-Tokyo Ga Festival—will open,”

“At that ti, 507 ga companies from around the world will participate,”

“Among them, local Neo-Japan companies occupy half the spots,”

“And among these Neo-Japan companies, the big brother Kora will naturally not be absent,”

“Due to the recent expansion of the motion-sensing pod market and Kora being currently the world’s largest producer of motion-sensing pods,”

“This year at the ga festival, Kora will further increase the proportion of motion-sensing pod ga promotion to 80%,”

“They have prepared for the three major categories: shooting, racing, and sports,”

“But beyond that, they also plan to try more in other ga genres,”

“For example—”

…

“Horror gas.”

Two weeks ago.

Neo-Tokyo, Kora Corporation’s top-floor conference room.

Moriya Tetsuya, Kora’s Executive Director in charge of the ga division, spoke:

“The motion-sensing pod market is becoming increasingly vast,”

“And we at Kora, as a world-class major company leading both gas and motion-sensing pods, naturally want to take the lead at this Tokyo Ga Festival,”

“The three major ga categories have been steadily developed under the arrangents of Minister Uesugi of the ga division,”

“But beyond these three categories, I think we can also make so corresponding efforts,”

“To make our motion-sensing pod ga lineup more comprehensive,”

“After all, our exhibition focus this ti is motion-sensing pod gas,”

“So, I suggest we take a step back and once again try horror gas in motion-sensing pods.”

After hearing Executive Director Moriya’s words, Kora’s executives looked at each other and nodded.

“I think Moriya Executive’s proposal is worth discussing…”

“Indeed, the compatibility between horror gas and motion-sensing pods should be very high…”

“And since this ti we’re focusing on motion-sensing pod gas, horror gas as a category can definitely be considered…”

“It is truly a fitting ti…”

“It will also enrich our ga categories…”

“But the problem is, the reputation and player interest for horror gas in motion-sensing pods right now are not ideal; this is a tricky objective factor…”

“Moreover, we currently don’t have any good horror ga material to work with…”

As each executive raised these difficult objective issues, everyone frowned.

The current market for motion-sensing pod horror gas was unfriendly, and that was a confird fact.

In this regard, they had suffered losses.

Since the mass production of motion-sensing pods began, Kora had released a total of five motion-sensing pod horror gas.

Two made profits, one broke even, and two lost money.

But considering that each ga’s investnt was higher than the last,

Overall, they were still losing money in this field of motion-sensing pod horror gas.

How could they make a profit?

This was the core of the core issue, and the one Kora’s president, Uekoe Kagemasa, cared about most!

Uekoe Kagemasa was fifty-eight this year; though lean in build, his style was extrely tough and profit-driven.

His way of managing Kora was very simple—

Profitable projects received support, whether money or personnel, but projects were not allowed to be casually ended. Even if they were bad, their last ounce of life had to be squeezed out.

As for those projects that were unprofitable and continuously burning costs—

One big word—cut!

Don’t talk about artistry; is my business for art?

Of course, being critically acclaid and popular is great.

But if forced to choose between the two,

Uekoe Kagemasa would undoubtedly choose the latter without hesitation, putting profits first.

And now!

Although Executive Director Moriya’s proposal was very good,

Before profitability could be guaranteed, he still had serious doubts about this project.

“So, Executive Director Moriya, do you already have a plan for the horror ga?”

As the president’s voice sounded,

All eyes imdiately focused on Moriya.

However!

Moriya was well prepared!

He took out a thin stack of docunts from his eting binder and handed them to Uekoe Kagemasa:

“Yes, please take a look.”

Taking the docunts Moriya handed over, Uekoe focused on reading.

It was a ga proposal.

But upon opening it, they found it incomplete, with only basic settings and frawork.

The related content inside was either unfinished or lost.

Closing the proposal, Uekoe murmured,

“Serendo… Hai Lu?”

“Silent Hell,” Moriya nodded, “Silent Hill.”

“This is a proposal from ten years ago,”

Moriya introduced,

“Ten years ago, the Team Silent team submitted this proposal,”

“But at that ti, our focus was on another ga, so the budget for this ga was cut,”

“And this ga’s initial cost scale was very large,”

“So, after unanimous board agreent, the project was indefinitely shelved,”

“And the main creative team, Team Silent, disbanded shortly after,”

“This proposal was sothing I had to search hard to find, but unfortunately, only the first few pages remain.”

After hearing Moriya’s introduction, Uekoe recalled the past.

It had been a long ti.

There seed to have been such a project back then, but since it never made waves, it was naturally cut.

But now, Moriya had dug the proposal out again.

“So,” Uekoe asked, “do you think this proposal has great potential?”

“Before, it was hard to say,”

Moriya answered,

“But now, I think the ti has co.”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Uekoe raised his eyebrows with interest:

“Why?”

“This,” Moriya pointed to the ga keywords on the first page of the proposal: “Adventure, horror, psychological suggestive fear.”

Exactly!

In this world!

Silent Hill, which should have beco a milestone in horror gas with a growing reputation, had never been officially released!

By a twist of fate, it beca a stepping stone for one of Kora’s past ga projects!

And the reason Moriya brought it up today was precisely because of the last few words—psychological suggestive fear!

As the executive director in charge of ga operations!

Moriya naturally knew all about the industry’s changes,

Including the “psychological horror” pioneered by Golden Wind!

This concept was almost identical in spirit to the Silent Hill shelved project, a perfect coincidence!

“And, through market validation, Golden Wind has also proven that this ga style can forge ahead boldly,”

“Even when the main form of motion-sensing pod horror gas is struggling, it can still win critical acclaim and comrcial success,”

Saying this, Moriya opened his notebook:

“According to historical data, the multiplayer online horror ga ‘Phasmophobia’ brought by Golden Wind”

“Achieved break-even in a single week and net profits more than double the cost in a single month.”

Having worked at Kora for so many years, Moriya knew that words were useless—only putting the word ‘profit’ in front of Uekoe Kagemasa would get his attention.

Golden Wind had done horror gas!

Golden Wind had tried psychological horror!

It could make money!

Sure enough!

Upon hearing the exaggerated data from Moriya, Uekoe’s eyes lit up, and he gasped in surprise!

“Hiss—Is that the company that spent 50 million at the Asian competition, defeated all rivals, and took the Golden Crown and Scepter?”

“Yes,”

Moriya nodded:

“Since soone has already tried and succeeded, I think we can definitely follow up,”

“Partnering with Golden Wind, and inviting their soul figure to serve as the special chief ga director for this project—”

…

“Working with us? And specifically naming as the special director?”

In Little Nezha’s office, Gu Sheng clicked his tongue.

The invitation from Kora.

Tsk.

Gu Sheng felt a bit suspicious inside.

He was sowhat surprised.

After all, given Golden Wind’s current size and his own fa in the ga circle, it seed unworthy of being noticed by Kora, a world-class comprehensive super ga company.

But,

Thinking of how they had taken the Golden Crown under the watchful eyes of all Asia, defeating many strong Asian rivals,

Getting on Kora’s radar didn’t seem impossible.

It was just that...

Gu Sheng had a bit of resistance to Kora as a company.

Not because it had ever hurt him or Golden Wind,

But simply because Kora’s na was too similar to that Fvking company with the sa “Ke” surna from his previous life!

Gu Sheng did not have much good impression of that ga company.

However, such a biased judgnt was unfair and seed to be colored by the glasses of his past life looking at this one.

Gu Sheng grinned with a sowhat ambiguous attitude.

“What kind of cooperation are they proposing?”

Gu Sheng asked.

“Co-developnt of a ga,” Chu Qingzhou said, “At the beginning of November’s Neo-Tokyo Ga Festival, Kora plans to reboot an IP called Silent Hill, bringing it to motion-sensing pods…”

“Wait,”

Before Chu Qingzhou finished, Gu Sheng raised his hand to interrupt:

“Sorry, Secretary Chu, did you just say… which IP?”

“Silent Hill,”

Chu Qingzhou repeated:

“According to Kora, this was one of their shelved projects, but now, looking at it again, it has a strong flavor of psychological horror,”

“What? You’ve heard of it?”

Hiss!!!

After hearing Chu Qingzhou’s words, Gu Sheng couldn’t help but gulp inside!

I didn’t just hear of it!

In my original world, this was a milestone ga standing shoulder to shoulder with Resident Evil, holding a place of honor in horror gas!

Previously, Gu Sheng had even complained that this world had Resident Evil but no Silent Hill.

Now it seed!

This world did have Silent Hill!

Or rather, it should have had Silent Hill!

But due to various reasons, this project was shelved!

This was truly… a twist of fate.

Gu Sheng thought silently.

Originally, if things had been slightly different, the pioneer of psychological horror wouldn’t be himself, but Kora.

But Kora had cut down what should have been the milestone work.

That was how this ti-traveling Gu Sheng, with a ga called Phasmophobia, took the title of psychological horror pioneer.

Thinking this, Gu Sheng shook his head and smiled wryly.

Strictly speaking, Phasmophobia didn’t fully realize psychological horror.

Players found it scary partly because Gu Sheng had added so Silent Hill flavor, and partly because this world’s ga industry level was higher than his previous life, with motion-sensing pods providing strong innate imrsion.

That was why it succeeded.

And now!

Kora had co! Silent Hill was resurrected!

A world-class ga company just across the water had co knocking, wanting to reboot the Silent Hill IP, inviting Golden Wind to co-develop, and appointing Gu Sheng as special chief ga director!

You want to do Silent Hill?

The players are in for a huge treat!

Gu Sheng felt it was ti to let players truly understand what psychological horror really was!

However!

This IP belonged to Kora, not Golden Wind, and Gu Sheng’s first impression of Kora was naturally biased.

So, before cooperating, they still had to negotiate the cooperation details.

Making gas was fine.

But how to make them had to be carefully considered.