115. Blizzard’s Future(3)
Hoyoung closed his sketchbook and looked at Chris Metzen.
He looked worried as if he hadn’t thought that Hoyoung would offer to recruit him right away.
“But I am worried because I am currently studying. Even though it’s a two-year college, I’ve only been attending one year.”
“The degree doesn’t really matter. I want you to come to our company as soon as possible and make a game with the world and characters you have created. In fact, isn’t it true that electrical engineering, which you are majoring in now, has little to do with making games?”
At Hoyoung’s words, Metzen pondered a little more, then nodded broadly.
“I know what you mean. But it seems to be a difficult matter to decide right here.”
“I didn’t expect you to answer me right now. You can take it slow, but if you have time tomorrow, why don’t we go to Blizzard together?”
“good. I also want to go see it.”
“Could you write down your address? I will send the car to your house tomorrow.”
Chris Metzen obediently wrote down his home address on the note handed out by Hoyoung.
Seeing that, Hoyoung thought that Metzen had already crossed half way.
“Then see you tomorrow.”
“yes. Should I bring my portfolio tomorrow too?”
“I’m sorry, but would you please do that? The management of the actual company will also really like your concept art.”
“yes. All right.”
After a brief greeting, Hoyeong stood up, paid for her drink, and left the store.
next day.
Chris Metzen arrived at Blizzard for an interview by taking a taxi sent by Hoyoung, and as expected by Hoyoung, Alan Adham and Michael Morhaime both liked his drawing.
‘All the people needed at Blizzard have gathered. This could accelerate Blizzard’s progress by several years.’
Hoyeong was finally able to put her mind at ease.
The reason he forcibly gathered the people he needed for Blizzard was because of the PlayStation to be created in collaboration with Nintendo.
‘When the PlayStation is released, there is a high possibility that all the attention in the game world will be focused on it. But then, if Blizzard releases games like Diablo for the PlayStation platform, we will definitely be able to develop together.’
Hoyoung opened his mouth as he watched the three of them talking about the world of Warcraft.
“Kris. Are you willing to come to Blizzard now?”
Chris Metzen nodded his head as Hoyoung stopped talking.
“yes. Within a week, I will organize my school and Irvine life and come here.”
“haha. It’s good to have a good fight. So Alan, are you willing to hire Chris?”
“One week is too long. Can’t you come tomorrow right now?”
Alan’s expression was too real to be a joke, and the people watching him burst into laughter.
When everyone’s laughter calmed down a bit, Hoyoung spoke again seriously.
“I have no doubts that you guys are going to make great games. But I have an idea that could make the game stand out, would you like to hear it?”
“Oh, what idea? Good ideas are always welcome.”
“This is a cinematic trailer.”
“If it’s a trailer, you wouldn’t say a tow truck, would you say a trailer?”
“That’s right.”
Everyone was still puzzled.
This was a natural reaction at a time when cinematic trailers for games were not universal.
“When promoting a game or running a game, create and provide a video of extremely high quality. To put it in more detail, you can think of it as making a short cg movie.”
“Oh my. That sounds like a really good idea. If you catch the eyes and ears of gamers with spectacular directing and at the same time show the story of the game like a movie, gamers will be much more immersed.”
Chris Metzen understood Hoyoung’s intentions at once.
“Right. If we create a trailer that can show Blizzard’s game character and color well, we will definitely be able to increase fan loyalty.”
Everyone nodded, but Michael Morhaime opened his mouth with a slightly doubtful look on his face.
“That idea is obviously a good one. But there is one problem.”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s that we don’t have the skills and people to make cinematic trailers. Even if you hire a new one, isn’t it something you can’t guarantee how long it will take?”
It made sense, but Hoyoung’s expression was relaxed.
“you’re right. But I have all my thoughts.”
“Do you have a way?”
“yes. Wouldn’t it be better to entrust the commission to experts who make CG images?”
“You mean to outsource production. Do you have someone you can trust?”
Hoyoung said confidently.
“yes. There is a company I know well. Do you know Pixar?”
“Pixar? I’m not sure.”
“It’s not a very famous company yet. However, I can only vouch for your skills.”
“If it’s recommended by the boss, it’s okay even if it’s a company that was created yesterday.”
Alan and Michael showed infinite trust in Ho-young to the point where he felt embarrassed.
“Speaking of which, shall we start right away with Warcraft? I will do the consultation with Pixar or the video production request. The three of you, please thoroughly and firmly establish the worldview of Warcraft, and create a story that will move forward and the story of this cinematic.”
“All right. We will do our best to bring out the highest quality story possible.”
And they talked for a while about Blizzard’s future direction and trends in the game market.
Hoyoung did not intervene as much as possible when talking about the story.
It was because he thought that even if his opinions were mixed, games that deviated greatly from the existing ones could be produced.
Fortunately, as a result of hearing from Hoyoung, I was able to judge that I was going in the right direction.
“Could you three talk a little more? I’ll just get up.”
“Are you going to die already?”
“Look at your watch. Not already.”
The clock was already past 5pm.
“It’s almost dinnertime already.”
“under···. As Alan said earlier, I really want to go to work tomorrow.”
“Look. what did i say You’re coming out tomorrow!”
Everyone in the room burst into laughter at Alan’s joke.
Hoyoung left Blizzard after leaving the friendly people behind.
His face was very bright.
.
.
.
next day.
Hoyoung arrived at Pixar headquarters in Emeryville, California.
Irvine, where Blizzard was located, and Emeryville were less than two hours away by car, so he was able to arrive early in the morning.
“Mr. Yoon. hello.”
As he opened the front door of Pixar and entered, a man approached him and greeted him.
Intuitively, Ho-yeong was able to recognize that he was the person she wanted to meet.
“John Lasseter? Nice to meet you. Were you waiting for me?”
“I heard you’re coming, but I can’t wait inside.”
Hoyoung liked the first impression of John Lasseter, who seemed like a person.
“haha. Thank you for your welcome. Shall we go in then?”
“yes. come this way Refreshments have been prepared in the drawing room.”
Pixar’s building was fairly simple and clean.
It seemed to have been influenced a little by Steve Jobs, the largest shareholder.
When Hoyeong followed John Lasseter to the drawing room and took a seat, John Lasseter sat across from him.
“Actually, I was surprised when he said he was coming. I’m sorry, but I didn’t even know you came to America.”
“I also came here for other things, but I stopped by unexpectedly. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you beforehand.”
Hoyeong and John Lasseter chatted for a while.
John Lasseter had a short conversation and thought that Hoyoung’s conversation felt formal.
‘I thought he was an Asian with a lot of money because he said he was an Asian shareholder who owns 20% of Pixar’s shares, but it seems that he is simply a person with a lot of wealth.’
John Lasseter intuitively grasped that Ho-young was not an ordinary person.
Steve Jobs, who is the largest shareholder of Pixar and has a close relationship with him, often brought up the story of Hoyoung when talking to him.
Whenever that happened, I always wondered how great a person he was because he always praised him for his abilities.
I thought that the curiosity was solved only today.
And Hoyeong also thought that John Lasseter was a great person.
‘He seems to know a lot, and he knows how to bring out a conversation naturally. Does that mean he will be called the master of 3D animation in the future?’
As they continued to talk admiring each other, Hoyoung sneakily brought up the main topic.
“Actually, I have a request for Pixar. Can Pixar afford to take my commission now?”
“It depends on the length of the video and deadlines.”
“The video is 10 minutes at most. But maybe between 3 and 5 minutes. And the deadline is March next year.”
John Lasseter calculated something in his head for a moment, then said.
“Of course, the exact thing is to consider the final script and necessary directing, but for now, if it is that long, it will be possible.”
“good. There is one game company I invested in. Blizzard.”
“sorry. I haven’t heard of it because I’m not interested in games.”
“it’s okay. It is a company that has been in business for a little over a year and is no different from a new company.”
“Are you trying to commission a video from that game company?”
“yes. Have you heard of cinematic trailers?”
Hoyoung explained the cinematic trailer to John Lasseter.
However, his reaction was completely different from Hoyoung’s expectations.
Contrary to what I thought would be positive, John Lasseter had a negative reaction.
“Hmm···. Will people be interested in the game by seeing a trailer like that and not the gameplay? And to make something about the game, you’ll need a fancy direction, but if that happens, the production cost will be at a formidable level. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to do other marketing with that money?”
“it’s okay. I have no doubt that this cinematic trailer will play a key role in marketing the game in the future. Don’t worry, I’ll pay enough for the production cost. As a shareholder, I don’t ask for a cheap price or anything.”
At Hoyoung’s words, John Lasseter cleared his throat.
What he was concerned about was pointed out exactly.
“It didn’t necessarily mean that. haha. But if we have enough funds, we will do our best to make good quality videos.”
“thank you. Then, Blizzard will send it here as soon as the scenario is completed.”
“Can you pull that timing as quickly as possible?”
“Working on a screenplay?”
“yes. That’s because we want to start working as quickly as possible.”
Hoyoung wondered why he wanted to start making videos as soon as possible.
It was because it seemed like it would be fun, or because I was curious about the results, so it didn’t seem like I wanted to do it quickly.
“Is there a reason you need to be quick?”
“yes. There is a work in the middle of working on a screenplay right now. From the second half of this year, I have to start CG work on that work, so I tried to finish the work as much as possible before that.”
“Is this an important task?”
“yes. It’s really important. It’s our first feature-length animation.”
Hoyoung’s eyes widened.
Because it was the first feature-length animation Pixar produced.
“What kind of work is it?”
“This is a work that was invested by Disney. The title is ‘You Are A Toy.’ Well···. If you listen to the title like this, it may sound childish, but I am trying to create a work that can touch both adults and children.”
Contrary to his concerns, however, he did not think that this film would be childish at all.
The title You are a Toy, John Lasseter said, was the original title of ‘Toy Story’.