The success surpasses the word “expansive.”
About 1.1 trillion won from the initial sales alone. Even after deducting taxes, developnt costs, and various expenses, at least 200 to 300 billion won will remain.
That’s just the result for the first week.
It may seem too little, but that’s a misconception.
This is not the total sales volu; it’s the initial sales volu.
“It’s only been a week. Considering the remaining period, it will probably end at around 5 million copies.”
After that, there will be a continuous influx of small-scale inco.
In the end, a net profit of around 1 trillion won.
Ironically, at that mont, the first thought that ca to my mind was:
“With this money, I can develop two more AAA-grade gas.”
Reinvestnt.
In other words, the thought that developnt funds had been secured ca to mind first.
It’s ridiculous to complain even though it’s a substantial amount.
However, how can one not feel pure joy?
I simply indulged in delightful fantasies.
“Let’s expand the personnel of Team 2. We’ve just finished the planning phase and are entering full-scale developnt.”
The planning phase for Team 2 was unusually long.
It was because two individuals with polar opposite philosophies about the ga had to reconcile their opinions.
It wasn’t a significant penalty.
So far, the personnel for Team 2 has been maintained at around ten people.
Now, however, is the crucial mont.
At this point, as the planning is concluding, we need to expand the actual developnt team for Team 2.
Let’s think back to my previous life; Demon’s Relic was a ga created by about 40 people over five years with a budget of around 70 billion won.
Thinking about budget and scale.
“Reduce the ti, increase the personnel.”
Roughly around 60 to 70 people should do.
Keep the total developnt cost around 600 billion.
As I contemplated, my head heated up.
Next, I need to think about my ga…
“Sunbae! Sunbae!”
Han Seorim grabbed my collar and shook .
“Ugh! Our 1 trillion, right!”
“Seorim, this… could you…”
“Kyaaah!”
Han Seorim scread and hugged tightly.
Jo Ayoon quietly approached and joined in.
“Hehe…”
My mind was all over the place.
At that mont.
“ too!”
“Hey!”
“Oops!”
The lively duo dragged Myungkyu hyung over and piled on top of us.
With that, Yang Gilsang also hesitated for a mont, then approached and joined the group hug.
“Congratulations, everyone. You all did well.”
Well, it’s a touching mont, so it’s understandable.
I also decided to erase passing thoughts and enjoy this mont.
But there’s one thing.
“Hey, guys…”
I couldn’t breathe.
A little too much.
***
Another week has passed.
The evaluation of Hellic 3 has converged to a single score, collecting both praise and criticism.
User score: 82 points.
Still, it can be considered a work of art.
About this, Han Seorim exclaid, “How is this not a 90?!”
After rejoining the community that she had left behind, Han Seorim occasionally cos to to vent her frustration, unable to fully accept the criticisms of Hellic 3.
Even though I explain that not every ga can be perfect for everyone and point out the flaws of Hellic 3, it seems challenging for her to understand.
Perhaps it’s because of disappointnt.
The user score, while not an objective asure, is one that directly correlates with sales.
82 points is a reasonable result for a first AAA ga.
No, it goes beyond being reasonable; it belongs to the category of capturing the public sentint very well.
As ntioned earlier, Hellic 2’s user score still stands at 91 points, creating a noticeable gap.
“Relax. 82 is a high score, especially considering it’s a user rating.”
It’s understandable.
Even being a reviewer doesn’t make one immune to the regret that surges when the results are evaluated after creating sothing.
It’s a pondering related to the question, “Could I have done better?”
When creating the initial Hellic 3, there were considerations about whether to have one protagonist or four playable characters, whether to strengthen or weaken the connection with the previous instalnt, and how to configure the ga’s pacing and systems.
And this is the result.
The monts that have passed cannot be held onto.
Even for a regressor like , it’s the sa.
So, should we not accept it?
Fortunately, we had that opportunity.
“The evaluation score didn’t surpass Hellic 2, but the sales were sufficient. And considering this ga is our first AAA title, it’s a more aningful tric.”
Let’s think about the future.
This is within the expected range.
When you think about it, the developnt team itself had its first experience with AAA developnt.
It’s not because they hired young employees.
Even if they had hired experienced employees, it would have been inevitable.
“Korea lacks personnel who have experience developing AAA console gas.”
They commonly call it developnt prowess.
The practical skills of the personnel needed for developnt, as well as their intuitive understanding of the final product, are the kinds of attributes that cannot be obtained even if you pour in money.
It’s because those attributes accumulate solely from the “experience” of the developnt team.
It’s one of the significant reasons why Korea is labelled as a barren land for AAA console ga developnt.
From the perspective of large corporations, there’s no reason to embark on such an adventure, and small indie companies lack the foundation to do so.
Rewind has achieved that.
In this narrow peninsula, they beca the only company with “experience completing a AAA console ga.”
“Let’s do better next ti.”
With these words, I reassured Han Seorim by patting her shoulder.
And then, I suddenly realized sothing.
I saw my fingertips trembling.
“Ah.”
I am more disappointed than I thought.
***
The year was coming to an end.
It ant more than just the end and beginning of a certain ti.
Year-end, also known as the season of reckoning.
The gaming industry was no exception.
『(Chat)zZoneHanSu: Looks like award season is coming.
Who do you think will win the awards?
I think it might be Road to Harshin for , at least for now.』
In communities around the world, the hottest topic was who would be the Ga of the Year (GOTY) for the current year.
It was natural.
For gars, GOTY didn’t just an the most enjoyable ga of the year; it went beyond the concept of simple rankings. It was a testant to a masterpiece that could be acknowledged even years later.
That was the perspective.
Gars already had so expectations about the results.
『BangbaedongPee’sLord: I think it might be Road to Harshin for too. It might sweep like Last of Us did last year.
┕Helic3Enjoynt: Just give Hellic a spot… I beg you…
┕ClearWithoutT: The competition seems tough.
┕zZoneHanSu: Clear, you haven’t been streaming again, have you…?
SweetBellMan42: Valhalla didn’t disappoint, right? ^^
S2PoppyS2: Soul 2 was also good! I hope it gets a spot too.』
This year belonged to Valhalla.
Road to Harshin, released early in the year, received praise both in terms of its narrative and gaplay, and hence Rewind fell short compared to Valhalla, as was often the case with Russo’s gas.
That’s why Hellic 3’s first place had mostly sceptical reactions.
To summarize, it was sothing like, ‘It was fun, but not as incredible as Valhalla.’ It was an inevitable comparison, given the different levels of Valhalla and Rewind.
There was a related story.
『(Chat)FlowerJaeHeeApricotLips: Still, I think Hellic 3 is impressive.
For a first-ti AAA developer to be considered a competitor to Valhalla is a big deal, even if they lose, they fought well.
Helic3Enjoynt: Right, their growth is remarkably fast. Still, it would be nice if they won at least one award…
GooksinaNayo: If they release any ga, I’ll buy it and play it. The money spent on the ga wasn’t wasted at all. They’ve definitely gained trust as developnt studio.』
As Yeonho judged, Rewind succeeded in laying the foundation for the future.
The money spent on the ga wasn’t wasted.
At least, that was the praise applied to the gaming company.
In conclusion, according to the gars’ judgnt, this year’s GOTY was Road to Harshin.
It was the most mainstream opinion, and the discussion shifted to ‘How many awards will Harshin win?’.
The dice had already been rolled.
***
December ca faster than I thought.
Perhaps it’s because of the holiday season.
After the release of Hellic 3 and fixing all the minor bugs discovered thereafter, I had quite a bit of leisure ti.
Moreover, with the developnt team taking turns for their vacations, the company was relatively quiet, contributing to the sense of calm.
I spent ti sowhat absentmindedly, and that led to this point.
Award ceremonies.
The season to reflect on the year and the gas released so far has arrived.
“Valhalla is truly overwhelming.”
Three award ceremonies have already passed.
So far, Russo’s Road to Harshin has won two awards, and From Software’s Dark Soul 2 has won one.
Reflecting on the past, it was a different life.
In 2014, Ga of the Year went to Valhalla’s Road to Harshin four tis, with Dark Soul 2 taking the remaining one.
The overwhelming difference between Russo and was evident.
If I humbly accept, there’s a possibility I may not win a single award this ti.
If I said that this that fact doesn’t disappoint , it would be a lie.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t an I’ll give up.
I kept telling myself, “This is just the beginning.”
It’s important for a director to have an objective perspective on their own ga.
There’s no need to bla oneself out of competitiveness.
Hellic 3 was a well-made ga, as evidenced by its sales and reviews.
Set realistic goals.
Just aiming for one of the five major ga awards would be a victory, and more than that is a bonus.
As such, the fourth award ceremony was crucial for .
The BAFTA, the British award ceremony, was the one.
Since The Ga Awards, which is essentially the last in line, had already confird Road to Harshin as the winner, the real competition had to be here.
During the award ceremony.
The core mbers of Rewind, the seven, were present.
Russo was next to .
“Hellic 3, you made it enjoyable.”
Russo said with a faint smile.
I replied, “I had fun too. Road to Harshin.”
“Of course, it was fun. It’s my ga.”
The arrogant tone remained unchanged.
However, it’s a skill that cannot be dismissed as re arrogance because it’s backed by real talent.
That’s why abilities are important.
I was caught up in such trivial thoughts.
“Next is the Ga of the Year award!”
The amplified voice echoed through the speakers.
“It’s starting.”
“Yes, which ga do you expect?”
“Well, either or you. Dark Souls 2 is also there, but my intuition says otherwise.”
“Then I’ll bet on myself. You’ve already won two.”
Russo chuckled without saying anything.
I didn’t bother thinking about the aning.
I just expressed my current feelings.
Despite sitting in a chair with a soft backrest, it felt like a thorny cushion.
“The Ga of the Year is…”
The host’s voice resonated like a proclamation.
I closed my eyes.
I gripped my hands together, and Seorim next to mumbled sothing.
It was that mont.
Tap—
A hand rested on my shoulder.
From the direction where Russo was.
I jerked my body, looking at Russo.
He raised the corner of his mouth and said, “Congratulations.”
I understood the aning as the host’s voice that followed confird it.
“…Studio Rewind’s Hellic 3! Congratulations!”
Words fell like thunder.
My vision blurred.
The surrounding noise seed to gradually fade away, yet the sensation remained.
Even though this was the second award ceremony, it was the sa.
The mont you fervently wish for sothing to happen, the numbness precedes the exhilaration, and the exhilaration follows belatedly.
“Well, go up.”
Russo chuckled and pointed to the stage.
After a mont of hesitation, I cleared my throat and heard, “Sunbae! Why aren’t you standing up?!”
Seorim’s commotion allowed to finally rise.
***
Russo thought to himself.
“Well, it looks like the 4 sweep plan is in trouble.”
He offered congratulations before the announcent, relying on intuition.
Having been in this position for decades, he had developed a keen sense in that direction over ti.
Is he upset?
If you were to ask, the answer was clear.
“He’s growing well.”
What Russo had said to Yeonho was not an empty phrase.
Russo truly enjoyed Hellic 3.
Because of that, he could clearly point out its shortcomings.
“He was too imrsed in the series.”
In other words, if you weren’t a series fan, there were aspects that might seem confusing.
It was like chaining oneself to popularity as a package.
A mistake of a beginner trying to find reasons.
Russo could understand.
Yeonho’s actions just before the award announcent indicated that he himself had realized these shortcomings.
That’s why Russo felt a sense of anticipation.
The first AAA-grade of Rewind, Hellic 3, showed success as a benchmark.
They gained the nutrients of the developer’s experience and gained a reputation as a successful AAA-grade developer by winning one of the five major ga awards.
So,
“Now, what are you going to present?”
As a director with such high ambitions.
“I would like to thank everyone who helped get to this point.”
Yeonho’s impression followed.
Russo watched with satisfaction as sothing sprouted and grew.
The sensation of sothing rising from under his feet.
A sense of crisis or competition.
Wanting to make them on my side, but knowing that it is absolutely impossible, a more willing opponent will co.
It was a ti when the smile gradually spread.
“Next, I will ask a few questions.”
The host stepped forward.
He engaged in a fluent conversation with the Rewind developers, and in the anti, he asked a question.
“There was a lot of praise for the BGM during the evaluation of Hellic 3. Especially, the BGM of Chapter 2 received a great response from nurous users! I have so questions related to that! How were the personalized sounds inserted into the BGM completed?”
“Oh! I was really curious about that!”
Joseph laughed and chid in as the host spoke.
Russo looked at the stage.
For so reason, the girl who seed a bit nervous, the sound director of Hellic, was blinking as she listened to the interpreter’s words.
Then she made an “Ah” sound.
She took the microphone.
After a mont of contemplation, she made a “Um” sound and then turned her gaze.
Exactly, in the direction of Yeonho.
And she smiled.
“…”
“…”
Silence echoed in the room.
Yeonho’s gaze flickered.
Joseph’s voice trembled too.
“Uh…?”
A gaze and a smile that needed no verbal communication.
However, it was an overwhelming cruelty that explained all the behind-the-scenes.
An undeniable ‘worst gaze handling in industry history’ without the need for any verbal communication.
/RomanceMTL
Reviews
All reviews (0)