79. Start of Challenge League (2)
The demo version of Apocalypse Police has been downloaded and reviewed by millions of gamers worldwide.
From nob le mt l dot com
More and more attention was paid to it, and eventually things exploded.
The world’s best game streamer, Golden Pineapple, reviewed it.
[This is a really fun game! There are all kinds of elements, and the scenario and worldview setting are very strong. I heard that a popular Korean web novel is the original work, but I think it is an example of using the original work very well!]
Due to this influence, the number of downloads quickly exceeded 10 million.
It was an unusual achievement for a demo version.
Right after that, Chairman Yoo Jin-seong announced the launch of the ‘Challenge League’ through a media interview.
[The challenge league requires only one thing, fun!]
[It doesn’t matter what the business model or trend is, just fun.]
In addition, this fact was also announced.
[The original version of Apocalypse Police will be the first lineup of the Challenge League.]
[After that, we are preparing a lineup of fresh and interesting games, so please look forward to it.]
It was the moment when the indie game wind was about to blow through the industry.
* * *
After the interview, Chairman Yoo Jin-seong was spending a new day.
[I, Chairman. hello? I’m Baek Han-seong, who made games under the chairman 8 years ago… … .]
[I heard about Yoo Jin-sung’s rap and the Challenge League. I know of an indie team that’s making really good games. Would it be okay if I introduced them?]
Suggestions are pouring in from all directions.
Not long ago, the Game Association made this suggestion.
[Rather than that, wouldn’t it be better to hold an indie game competition to offer prize money and good conditions and recruit talent? Our association will do our best to help!]
It may be something that can be decided alone, but President Jinsung Yoo went to Taeyeon and asked for advice.
“In this situation, what should I do?”
Taeyeon’s answer is simple.
“There is no need to rush. Just do what you have been doing.”
“You mean don’t be shaken and push forward at your own pace?”
“That’s right. Right now, this is becoming a hot topic, so there will be a lot of idiots trying to get and eat soybean paste. If you get caught up in it, you will only lose the essence.”
“Um, I guess so.”
“Our Nexple, and the chairman, have already gone beyond the level of being excited about this level of interest. You just have to be serious, step by step, not in a hurry, and make a decision to invest after thoroughly verifying the talent.”
“okay. Actually, I’m not doing this to earn more interest or money… … No need to rush! So, do I continue doing what I want to do?”
“You can do that.”
After President Jinsung Yoo left, Taeyeon checked the status of other games belonging to Jinseong Yoo’s lab.
Since we have already received the test build version of the game from the companies belonging to the lab, you can play each one and decide whether to invest.
“There aren’t many works worth writing about than I thought. Well, there’s no way that works like Apocalypse People will continue to come out.”
There was another work that I pointed out, but as a result of playing, the latter part was very disappointing. The level design broke a lot and the system had a critical weakness.
All of the issues were critical to carrying all of them, so I had no choice but to postpone my fighting spirit.
‘Maybe my discernment is too high… … .’
What should I do?
Since the build version was handed over for testing purposes, appropriate feedback is essential.
The problem was the level.
“… … If you’re going to get down to this level, you shouldn’t have made a game in the first place.”
Pour out everything without filtering!
Having made that decision, Taeyeon started to write an evaluation of her play.
After the launch of the Challenge League, an interesting phenomenon occurred.
It was a job inside Nexle.
“CEO, I… … .”
“… … ?”
“That Challenge League… … Can we?”
“Could you elaborate?”
“Did you know that there is an indie game club within the company? There’s a game in development there… … I was wondering if it would be possible to get a studio promotion if the CEO confirmed it.”
Inquiries from internal developers followed.
Not only the game development club inside Nexple, but also those who are developing small games or software in their personal time have been asking.
Regarding this, Taeyeon sent an official notice internally.
[Anyone can challenge the Challenge League. However, the evaluation criteria will be applied equally rigorously. You can ask me for more details, but if I’m having trouble, you can ask Choi Jong-hak PD and Park Myung-hoon CP.]
Choi Jong-hak and Park Myung-hoon came and asked.
“No, what is this again? Are you asking me to become an evaluator for the Challenge League?”
“It’ll be troublesome if you say anything suddenly!”
Taeyeon said calmly.
“Now you know, okay? I don’t think there’s any need to explain the contents, so I think it’ll be all right for the two of you to act as judges for the Challenge League.”
“… … .”
“… … .”
A face struck by lightning out of nowhere!
Choi Jong-hak and Park Myung-hoon looked at each other blankly and then said a word.
“Wow, really… … . Oh, if it weren’t for the representative… … .”
“Ah, so you paid a lot of money and put me in this seat to pamper you like this!”
It was the moment when the three evaluators of the Challenge League were decided.
Taeyeon shared the evaluations written for the purpose of giving to the developers of Yujinsung’s lab.
This is the basis for writing evaluations.
Choi Jong-hak and Park Myung-hun’s impressions were as follows.
“Cruel.”
“If it were me, I would be frustrated and hurt and cry after receiving this… … .”
It was a brutal evaluation that spread the facts to the level of bombing.
“If you can’t stand up at this level, there’s no need to make an indie game difficult.”
“No, anyway… … .”
“I think the level of this is too high… … .”
Taeyeon said to the two people who were in trouble.
“Think of a time when you were learning from me. I think I’ve been more brutal than this… … .”
“That’s why a lot of people couldn’t stand it and fell off.”
“How many times we cried behind the scenes… … .”
Taeyeon sighed and said.
“It’s not just about making good games. It means that we will choose sprouts that are worth growing and grow them properly.”
The two of them nodded.
“From now on, the two of them will be leading a lot of important things, and at that time, it is convenient to have talented people, or to be called disciples who can be trusted.”
“That’s right.”
“but… … .”
“So, you have to work hard. I’ll toss most of the work, but the game itself is mediocre, but the people themselves are people with enough potential, so take a look.”
“Ah, I didn’t mean to ask us to look for needles in the sand. Are you saying that Hyung and Chairman Yoo Jin-seong will choose for you? Okay then.”
“Me too, okay.”
The two trusted Taeyeon’s eyesight to the point of being absolute. Just looking at the people Taeyeon picked and used right now, all of them were talented or talented people that were hard to find in the industry.
When the two agreed and went back, Taeyeon sent out the prepared evaluation form.
“I don’t know how many people are going to stand up to this.”
* * *
There are a total of 10 game companies benefiting from Yu Jin-sung Lab.
Among them, Apocalypse People received a large investment and was promoted to Nexple’s official studio, so there were nine companies left.
‘It’s time to come soon… … .’
‘Isn’t it about time for the results to come out?’
Every day was a series of blood-drying waits.
‘I need money next month… … .’
‘In two months, I have no money to pay my employees’ salaries… … .’
‘I borrowed all the loans and I can’t afford it anymore… … .’
Of course, we are not looking only at Nexle.
I don’t know what will happen.
Each of them lined up with several companies in their own way and waited for the results, but the places they were most looking forward to were Neckple and Challenge League.
Didn’t you watch right in front of CEO Jung Jeong-hwan, who often gathered together to have meals and share worries?
I also had confidence.
‘In fact, our game is no less than Apocalypse Police.’
‘The quality of our games is not lacking either. If our game is good… … ?’
Then the long awaited news finally came.
[hello. This is Yoo Tae-yeon.]
‘It’s here!’
‘at las… … !’
E-mail directly sent by Taeyeon Yoo!
‘Let’s check it out quickly!’
Excel file is attached.
I clicked with trembling hands and hurriedly checked the contents.
‘invest. invest… … .’
‘We are like the Apocalypse Police… … !’
But soon, the faces of the representatives harden.
It was full of all sorts of devastating criticism.
Fortunately, it did not end with the content or problem raised in the form of catching floating clouds, but even developed a solution of its own.
But that wasn’t the most important thing for the representatives now.
“so… … Are you saying you can’t give me money?”
“Money is… … ?”
What they needed right away was money to pay for their staff salaries and rent. It was a development cost that could sustain a month.
It’s not like this evaluation… … .
Those who were not convinced called Taeyeon’s direct number.
Taeyeon only said one word.
[I think it would be better to talk about it face-to-face.]
* * *
‘As expected.’
It is rare for someone to react calmly when a work he has devoted all his energy to is criticized. More so if you are an indie game developer, especially if the evaluation is directly related to money.
Eugene’s rap. The 9 representatives came to Taeyeon one by one.
There, Taeyeon showed the malfunctions or disappointing parts that had been filmed in advance by shooting them with a beam projector.
“Do you see this part?”
What is the problem, and why is it a problem?
Taeyeon pointed out item by item, but the most serious part was… … .
“This is a copy of an indie game that was released in Sweden two years ago and became slightly popular.”
“ah… … .”
just this part.
I don’t think you’ll know, but if you’re a fan of games like Taeyeon, you can’t miss it… … It was about plagiarism.
“If this part goes out as it is, it will not end with international disgrace, but the company that launched and invested in, and even the Korean game industry.”
“… … .”
“Still, I made that suggestion because I thought that if only these parts were corrected, it could be a good game. Chairman Yoo Jin-seong is old and doesn’t enjoy games as deeply and widely as I do, so it seems he didn’t know… … .”
Here comes the reason why Park Myung-hoon and Choi Jong-hak were selected as evaluation members.
They, too, were fans of games no less than Taeyeon.
Well-known major company games are basic.
They were two fans who dedicated their lives to games to the extent that they even took care of indie games from unknown countries.
It is not called Taeyeon’s disciple for nothing.
“What would you like to do? Either fix it, or if you don’t understand it, get out of Yoo Jin-sung’s lab and look for another investment destination.”
In fact, many indie games have similar problems.
It’s novel and plausible in the beginning, but as this pattern keeps repeating, it breaks down the tension and becomes boring.
If not, the volume is too short.
Literally, it’s because of the real problem.
No money, no manpower. As a result, the work period is inevitably short… … .
That’s why Apocalypse Police is a thing.
It’s because we overcame these innate limitations and secured fun and play time comparable to major games.
Of course, these aren’t all.
tax, deliberation… … . Even if all of these concepts were lacking, there were some who somehow worked part-time and studied hard to make games.
And the development progress was very far.
These are games that two or three people made for a year or so to die.
“I feel like we’ve come too far already to release in Early Access. I will give you a month’s worth of support, so please quickly improve and release only the areas I pointed out.”
“Well, then, after that… … ?”
“Bring your ideas and present them in front of me and the evaluation committee. You must have prepared a plan, right?”
“yes? yes that, that… … . But it’s just a plan… … .”
“It doesn’t matter, let’s do a presentation. If it goes well, until launch, we will support the office and all funding through the Challenge League.”
“… … .!”
It was a project that started to select and nurture talented people who can grow in a good direction.
It was unacceptable to say that the immediate result was disappointing, and that it was impossible to cut it without seeing its potential. It was decided to give them at least a chance.
It was Taeyeon’s unique way of treating talented people who did not play tricks and competed fairly even when it was difficult.
“Go, thank you!”
“I will do my best!”
Those who gained hope left the company with happy expressions as if they had gained the whole world.
Looking at the three young developers in their early 30s who had just left, Taeyeon smiled.
‘I don’t know who I learned from, but my status window stats are fairly good. He’s full of passion, so if he develops it well, he’ll be able to use it as a good developer.’