"Wow, the reaction is incredible."
Jas' broadcast was followed by the community reactions that Han Seorim had voluntarily compiled and delivered to the next day.
Overwhelmingly positive steam reviews.
While hiding the most important elents, it had achieved remarkable marketing.
In essence, it could be said to be the king of viral marketing.
It concealed many things, creating anticipation in the process. It presented information in puzzle-piece format, leaving it to the players to find the pieces, thereby maximizing the ga's interest, excitent, and passion.
This kind of marketing was impossible at the level of Rewind Studio.
Such marketing could only be done with the existence of a massive fandom.
But there was one reason why this was already possible.
"I didn't know this person would step up."
I stared intently at the email inbox displayed on my monitor.
There, a short email from across the Pacific was pinned.
『From, Aldred Russo
see you soon.』
Aldred Russo.
He was the greatest ga director of all ti and the future creator of legends in the gaming world.
In other words, the senior who had led down this path had sent an email.
I was deeply moved.
Because the work that had planted the dream of becoming a director in was his "Ruin Crusader."
And now, I realized sothing.
The identity of the person who had taken a closed beta key for the purpose of criticism through the gaming magazine "On Ga" was none other than him.
That was the problem.
I began to think about why soone like him would pay attention to a ga from a small company like ours.
In the end, the conclusion would converge to one point: "Han Seorim."
Another na for Lost Kingdom.
Perhaps Aldred had discovered that Han Seorim at this point was like what I had been.
"No, it's too early to be sure."
But even if that was the case, I had no intention of handing her over.
Han Seorim was the most powerful weapon I could use.
So I pushed aside my confused thoughts and read the email again.
His email translated literally ant "See you soon."
It didn't an he was coming to Korea.
Rather, it was a confident statent because he knew quite well.
Well, who knows what kind of person my role model is?
"What an eccentric guy."
Aldred Russo was arrogant.
No, he was a person born with a talent that couldn't be called arrogance.
He definitely had as much pride as the achievents he had accomplished, and that's why he had a history of causing various incidents in the dia.
One of the most famous things he had said was:
"I don't bow down to other directors. That would an my ga is less great than theirs."
He said this in a live interview six months before the release of "Lost Kingdom," drunk.
Even though it was a statent that could have caused a controversy, it didn't last long, for one reason.
He proved that his ga was indeed great.
"Yeah, if I had made that, I'd say the sa thing."
It was what Jo Ayoon had said after the success of Lost Kingdom.
That's right.
He had created a masterpiece.
With the confidence and ego that ca from creating such a masterpiece, and as a person who lived drunkenly, he was coming all the way to Korea?
"It's not even funny."
Let's translate Aldred Russo words into his language:
"He praised my ga. It must have suited his taste."
Aldred is a person who believes that his own preferences are synonymous with justice. If that's not the case, he is the type of person who would say the world is wrong. So, he has predictable aspects to the situations that form in Aldred's mind.
"An awards ceremony."
My ga will be nominated for Indie Ga of the Year.
Naturally, I will be heading to North Arica for the awards ceremony.
Aldred must be trying to et in that situation
"But..."
The truth is, I can only find out once I have actually stood on that award stage. I excluded any emotional stories beyond that. I just thought about how I could use this situation to my advantage.
Whatever happens, one card is definitely in my hand.
"Alred Russo's endorsent."
It felt like a poisoned chalice. Respecting a ga that hasn't been released is a risky Endeavor. Especially when it carries the weight of its reputation.
He must know this fact, and yet he acted as he pleased.
"Isn't this stressful?"
Even if I interpret it with such intentions, it wasn't a stretch. It's okay to feel bad. But...
"It's subjective. That evaluation."
As ntioned earlier, respecting a ga that hasn't been released carries risks. On the other hand, there is a reward worthy of those risks. High risk, high return. This is a sweet honey worth taking the risk for. There was no reason not to play the card.
"Seorim."
"Yes?"
"Let's have one more event."
There is one strategy. Taking advantage of Alred Russo's endorsent to attempt aggressive marketing.
"We need to increase the initial sales figures. Aim for an even more explosive success."
As quickly as possible, as many as possible. In other words...
"Let's break the all-ti indie sales record."
Record-breaking, a direct challenge.
There is a saying that the thirsty man buys the well. After the release of the widely considered worst internet broadcast ever. (though internet broadcasting history is very short)(users who had been waiting for the release since Jas Han's Hellic 2 closed beta said that)
"(Info) Lord of the Blood Rainforest: I got a recording of Jas's broadcast from the North Arican community."
Users started analysing the broadcast recording in any way they could to extract aningful information, even though cinematic scenes that were completely skipped or Butterfly's lines which couldn't be obtained.
Still, if you tried to analyse it, there was quite a bit of aningful information.
"FlowerJaehuiPlumLips: I got the 'Grappling Hook' route build.
(Screenshot of the recording growth tab)
From just looking at the icons, I'm not exactly sure, but the order seems to be correct. You can get a rough idea of the farming locations by watching in-ga footage, right?
It seems like the 'Grappling Hook' build is one of the three major builds after the demo version."
Because Hellic's item growth system is displayed in a mind map format, this analysis was possible.
Jas's build beca known among users as the "Grappling Hook" build. In fact, the diversity that was not revealed in the demo version had been uncovered, and since there was a guarantee that the information was not wrong, user analysis was quite active.
TwithoutClouds: Oh, okay.
┕FlowerJaehuiPlumLips: Did I get it right?
┕TwithoutClouds: No validation lol.
ArmyEnlistntDelayChecker: Can you do a drug build? That's what I was most curious about.
WaitingforHellic2: Jas is a jerk.
"TwithoutClouds" either ambiguously or quite clearly indicated the truth or falsehood of the analysis in response to analysis comnts. Core information was still hidden, but the community users were quite excited with just this much information.
In any case, in addition to the build, there was another revealed fact.
"S2 Poppy S2: Gimmick Analysis!
(Attached a screenshot to Chapter 2 pillar)
After watching the recording several tis, I spotted the gimmick in Chapter 2!
It seems like you can defeat monsters near the pillars and farm through the pillars!
If you look closely, before touching the pillar, Jas eats an herb..."
This was an analysis of the main gimmicks in each chapter.
Apart from what was revealed in the demo version, the fact that each chapter had unique gimmicks intrigued the players awaiting its release.
Lord of Bangbaedong: It certainly looks plausible.
ClearWithoutT: Did you receive the Closed Beta key?
WaitingForHellic2: Jas is such a jerk.
Almost two weeks passed, and players spent their ti importing analysis posts from North Arica to uncover the secrets of Hellic 2.
It was an effort by players to relieve the burning anticipation.
But waiting was such a thing.
Because the essence of waiting was always an unrequited longing, it was a feeling that always pierced the heart.
The backlash was slowly building up.
(Chatter) WaitingForHellic2: Ah... When will it finally co out?ㅠ
Waiting was becoming tireso.
One day in August, opinions like that began to erge.
An official post appeared on Rewind Studio's official social dia account.
"It was perfectly tid news.
D-47."
A single line of text, and no one was clueless about what it ant.
WaitingForHellic2: It's here!!!
The release date was announced.
Finally, the long wait was coming to an end.
Of course, if the news had stopped there, it would have led to more discontent.
Studio Rewind was wise in that regard.
In other words, they knew how to turn dissatisfaction into enthusiasm.
One week exactly after the release date was revealed, the director stepped in.
"I am Director Cheon Yeonho.
First of all, I want to thank all the users who have been waiting for Hellic 2. Thanks to your support, we have confird the release date for Hellic 2.
As with the previous instalnt, the ga will be released on Steam at a price of $19.99.
Your interest and love, from the demo version to the Closed Beta, have always been our strength.
No amount of thanks would be enough.
Therefore, our company has prepared a small event to show our gratitude.
Below is the event information.
Hellic 2 has prepared an additional hidden route, apart from the designated endings.
The difficulty level is extrely challenging, sowhat tar than the Cancer Giant from the previous ga.
However, it's not a mission to clear that hidden route in the first place. We made it a difficulty level that cannot be cleared just for the fun of it.
The mission is to find the hidden route, take a screenshot of the scene when you enter it, and share it on our official social dia along with your thoughts on the ga.
The event will run for two weeks from the release date.
We plan to reward the top 30 participants who leave the most impressive feedback with an Alice figurine and so additional rchandise, following the great response from the Closed Beta event.
We ask for your active participation."
News of the release event spread both dostically and internationally.
The reactions were explosive.
(Chatter) WaitingForHellic2: This is it!!!
(Chatter) PostponingMilitaryService: Can't wait for the rchandise! LOL
(Chatter) ClearWithoutT: I didn't even know there was a hidden route -_-
(Chatter) zZoneHanSoo: Haha, Alice figurine is here!
(Chatter) Lord of Bangbaedong: Essentially, it's a feedback event. Since the process of entering the hidden route will have to be disclosed. Sounds good, I might participate too.
New rchandise was revealed, along with the release and giveaway of new rchandise. A tight goal to clear a ga with significant content in just two weeks, along with tackling the hidden route.
It was an event that couldn't be achieved without genuine effort.
But if it was sincere, it was an event worth the challenge.
The ga had already been validated through several events. All that was left for the players was to prepare for the upcoming day by clearing their schedules and making sure their wallets were ready.
(Chatter) WaitingForHellic2: Move aside! The rchandise is mine!!!
Soone (a duo of enthusiasts) had to painstakingly read through countless review posts and select the recipients, but that wasn't their concern.
***
The marketing built anticipation until the very end, matching the release date day by day.
Soone in the industry praised Yeonho's strategy.
"It's one of two things. Either they lacked the backing to bring up the initial sales to that extent and used the marketing tactics, or they've made an incredibly remarkable ga that can handle the aftermath of such a push. Initial sales are like that. You sell a lot at first, and if the results aren't good, you face backlash.
So, I think it's the latter. After all, Aldred Russo highly praised the ga, right? The chances of success are high. If it really succeeds, it'll beco a legend in the indie industry. What if it's the forr? Well, we'll applaud that too. Planning a sche of this scale is also a talent, isn't it?"
Now, the mont of truth was right around the corner.
Finally, D-day arrived.
There was no need to elaborate on the details of the process; it would take less than a month to explain all the events and incidents that occurred.
So, it was best to simply state the outco.
October 12th, midnight, according to Korean ti.
The release ti of Hellic 2.
The result was dramatic.
(Chatter) WaitingForHellic2: Is it just , or you cant access the purchase page right now?
The Steam server crashed.
Only on Hellic 2's purchase page.
Reviews
All reviews (0)