Chapter 87: Results

Chapter 87: Results

The success surpasses the word “expansive.”

About 1.1 trillion won from the initial sales alone. Even after deducting taxes, development 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 volume; it’s the initial sales volume.

“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 income.

In the end, a net profit of around 1 trillion won.

Ironically, at that moment, the first thought that came to my mind was:

“With this money, I can develop two more AAA-grade games.”

Reinvestment.

In other words, the thought that development funds had been secured came 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 development.”

The planning phase for Team 2 was unusually long.

It was because two individuals with polar opposite philosophies about the game 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 moment.

At this point, as the planning is concluding, we need to expand the actual development team for Team 2.

Let’s think back to my previous life; Demon’s Relic was a game created by about 40 people over five years with a budget of around 70 billion won.

Thinking about budget and scale.

“Reduce the time, increase the personnel.”

Roughly around 60 to 70 people should do.

Keep the total development cost around 600 billion.

As I contemplated, my head heated up.

Next, I need to think about my game...

“Sunbae! Sunbae!”

Han Seorim grabbed my collar and shook me.

“Ugh! Our 1 trillion, right!”

“Seorim, this... could you...”

“Kyaaah!”

Han Seorim screamed and hugged me tightly.

Jo Ayoon quietly approached and joined in.

“Hehe...”

My mind was all over the place.

At that moment.

“Me too!”

“Hey!”

“Oops!”

The lively duo dragged Myungkyu hyung over and piled on top of us.

With that, Yang Gilsang also hesitated for a moment, then approached and joined the group hug.

“Congratulations, everyone. You all did well.”

Well, it’s a touching moment, so it’s understandable.

I also decided to erase passing thoughts and enjoy this moment.

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 exclaimed, “How is this not a 90?!”

After rejoining the community that she had left behind, Han Seorim occasionally comes to me to vent her frustration, unable to fully accept the criticisms of Hellic 3.

Even though I explain that not every game 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 disappointment.

The user score, while not an objective measure, is one that directly correlates with sales.

82 points is a reasonable result for a first AAA game.

No, it goes beyond being reasonable; it belongs to the category of capturing the public sentiment very well.

As mentioned 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 something.

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 instalment, and how to configure the game’s pacing and systems.

And this is the result.

The moments that have passed cannot be held onto.

Even for a regressor like me, it’s the same.

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 game is our first AAA title, it’s a more meaningful metric.”

Let’s think about the future.

This is within the expected range.

When you think about it, the development team itself had its first experience with AAA development.

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 games.”This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

They commonly call it development prowess.

The money spent on the game wasn’t wasted.

The amplified voice echoed through the speakers.

“It’s starting.”

“Yes, which game do you expect?”

“Well, either me 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 meaning.

I just expressed my current feelings.

Despite sitting in a chair with a soft backrest, it felt like a thorny cushion.

“The Game 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 me mumbled something.

It was that moment.

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 meaning as the host’s voice that followed confirmed it.

“...Studio Rewind’s Hellic 3! Congratulations!”

Words fell like thunder.

My vision blurred.

The surrounding noise seemed to gradually fade away, yet the sensation remained.

Even though this was the second award ceremony, it was the same.

The moment you fervently wish for something to happen, the numbness precedes the exhilaration, and the exhilaration follows belatedly.

“Well, go up.”

Russo chuckled and pointed to the stage.

After a moment of hesitation, I cleared my throat and heard, “Sunbae! Why aren’t you standing up?!”

Seorim’s commotion allowed me to finally rise.

***

Russo thought to himself.

“Well, it looks like the 4 sweep plan is in trouble.”

He offered congratulations before the announcement, relying on intuition.

Having been in this position for decades, he had developed a keen sense in that direction over time.

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 immersed 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 announcement 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 game awards.

So,

“Now, what are you going to present?”

As a director with such high ambitions.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped me get to this point.”

Yeonho’s impression followed.

Russo watched with satisfaction as something sprouted and grew.

The sensation of something 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 come.

It was a time 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 meantime, 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 numerous users! I have some questions related to that! How were the personalized sounds inserted into the BGM completed?”

“Oh! I was really curious about that!”

Joseph laughed and chimed in as the host spoke.

Russo looked at the stage.

For some reason, the girl who seemed 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 moment 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