Chapter 184: Longing for the Wind
The 3D performance demonstration of 'Complete Laon' using Tyranno Saurus ultimately left a tremendous impression on the users.
It wasn't just movement; it transcended the passive fact of being unable to move, instilling the perception that the Pentagon's next-generation model was far superior to consoles from other companies.
To be honest, I had a little trick up my sleeve in this regard as well. That was funneling all of Complete Laon's performance into a single object. (The exquisite cartoon rendering technology that showcased Miyuki in the bonus mode of The Empty Streets was actually created using this method.)
It was clear that if another dinosaur of the same quality had appeared, the device's performance would have plummeted drastically, probably stuttering to a point of being nearly unwatchable.
A game cannot exist with just one object.
No matter how beautifully an inspector wields a sword, if there's no opponent to strike it, the content of the game cannot materialize.
Barrages fired by enemies in shooting games.
Opponents in fighting games.
The fields and combat systems that comprise an RPG.
In the realm of programming, countless calculations and judgments intersect with a single player's movement. Of course, claiming I did well with this performance isn't accurate.
While inflating device performance to some extent in international conferences might border on deceit, compared to NEGA's upcoming 'Real Fighter,' this level was rather charming. (The deceit lies in approving a release with that kind of quality.)
I called Rob onto the stage to provide additional context about Tyranno Saurus's dynamic movements.
Stepping forward in front of the many people, he appeared somewhat hesitant, explaining fervently about the 3D acceleration device integrated into Laon with a trembling voice. However, truthfully, the general audience had little interest in Rob's specialized explanations.
In the past and in the future...
There's only one thing gamers care about.
Got it. Just shut up and give me a game worth playing. That's what it was all about...
The conference for Laon, with the heightened momentum of Final Frontier 6, The Empty Streets Remake, and a new episode of Dragon Emblem, concluded with the quiet piano music of the New Age genre and promotion of 'Gift of the Gods,' scheduled for release next spring in the US.
Just like in Japan, the faces of the four heroines from Gift of the Gods weren't revealed, and, as always, we had to be content with seeing their backs.
Enchanted by the beautiful melody of the piano played by the final Gift of the Gods protagonist, the spectators enthusiastically anticipated a new genre called 'Graphic Novel,' giving a resounding round of applause.
"So, what happened then? What happened?"
"Well, suddenly the dinosaur roared, and everyone was startled and turned upside down..."
"Really? Ah, it must have been fun. I wish I had been there..."
That night, around 8 p.m.
After the first day of the international expo for general visitors had ended and while tidying up the venue, I called Yuki in Japan.
Upon arriving in the US, meeting Rob immediately, and reconstructing the character modeling of Tyranno Saurus and Miyuki based on the performance of the 3D acceleration device he created, it had been a hectic week, almost without a proper chance to talk to Morita, Hayashi, and the designers Rob brought along.
"I should probably head in now. The staff must be waiting."
"Sure. I think I'll take a nap. Suddenly feeling so sleepy."
"They say you sleep a lot when you're pregnant."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Just here and there?"
Actually, I heard that before I crossed over to '83...
Yuki's voice came through the receiver.
"Oh, right! I received a package from Mr. Ueno at Pentagon Soft today."
"A package...? From composer Ueno?"
"Yes. There was a note and a CD inside."
At that moment, I realized Mr. Ueno must have sent the CD to our house with the intention that all the music for Gift of the Gods was completed...
His music from Final Frontier 6 not only received accolades for the opera scene but was considered the best OST across the entire series.
"That CD must be the original soundtrack for Gift of the Gods."
"OST? I should give it a listen."
I heard a clicking sound, as if she was taking out the CD from across the line.
A while later, gentle music streamed through the speakers in the living room.
"Wow... Mr. Ueno's music is really good."
From the very first track, she seemed to like his music a lot; despite being new to it, she hummed along with the tune.
I closed my eyes for a moment, listening closely to her voice coming through the phone.
"Just hearing your voice makes me miss you."
"Me too. Hurry back."
"Yeah. As soon as the event ends, I'll come over."
Just as I was about to end the call with Yuki, Miyazaki approached me, saying, "The CEO is looking for you."
"Yes. I'll go right away."
"Understood, sir."
&
After wrapping up the call with Yuki, Miyazaki guided me to the waiting room he mentioned, where a familiar face greeted me after a long time.
"Mr. Toriyama?"
Perhaps due to his experience as an author, the aura he exuded felt different from when I last saw him at Phoenix Soft seven to eight years ago.
It seemed like he remembered me right away as he extended his hand with a welcoming smile.
"Mr. Kang Junhyuk, it's been a while. Have you been well?"
"Oh, yes. It's good to see you in good health, sir."
At that moment, Yuuji, who was beside Mr. Toriyama, also reached out for a handshake.
"Oh, Mr. Yuuji too? What brings you to CES?"
Moreover, it was quite unexpected to have both Phoenix Soft's prominent director and the master of the manga world, Mr. Toriyama, here at the Pentagon's staff room. Especially Yuuji, who had a deep connection with Mintendo through the Dragon Warrior series, making his visit even more surprising.
"We visited the exhibition because many companies, including Pentagon, are unveiling new next-gen models at this conference. The presentations by the leading console companies in Japan left nothing to miss."
With a satisfied expression, Yuuji shook my hand and added further.
"However, personally, Sony and Pentagon's conferences were quite impressive at this CES. They were the most anticipated next-gen models."
The conferences by Sony and Pentagon, showcasing remarkable performance using a massive dragon and presenting the most realistic capabilities, stood out as the top event booths among the numerous home appliances released at this CES. It was evident that Yuuji's words weren't just simple pleasantries.
Although the reaction to Mintendo's Project 64 displaying full polygon Super Marigi was remarkable, the lack of additional explanations about when they'd release their next-gen device left users feeling unsatisfied.
"However, about our visit to the Pentagon staff room..."
To my direct question, Yuuji awkwardly chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
"In truth, I've been interested in Raon, created by Pentagon Soft, for a long time. I have quite a fond memory of playing Dragon Emblem and the eerie feeling I got on Valentine's Day, despite it being a bit offbeat. I felt there was a lot to learn from it."
I glanced briefly at Yuuji, who only spoke praises about Pentagon, and pondered.
Toriyama Akira, the mastermind behind the unprecedented success in the manga industry through overseas exports, and Horii Yuuji, the main director of the nationally revered RPG Dragon Warrior series and Final Frontier, considered the twin peaks of traditional Japanese RPGs.
Just by seeing these three, there was a game that came to mind...
When I gave them an odd look, Yuuji was the first to speak up.
"In fact, the reason I brought Mr. Toriyama here is to make a proposition to Mr. Kawaguchi and Mr. Junhyuk."
Wait, me too? Wasn't this project originally for you three?
---
Dragon Warrior series.
This series, often referred to as the national RPG, is one of the best-loved games in Japan, enjoyed by all age groups from children to adults.
With the consecutive hits from the series, up until the most recent fifth installment, it had accumulated sales of over 10 million units, solidifying its place as the pride of the Japanese gaming industry.
However...
Unlike its domestic success, the response to Dragon Warrior in the overseas market was lukewarm.
Overseas players failed to grasp where to find the fun in this game, which appeared like a fairytale to them at some point.
The impact of the traditional first-person combat system in Dragon Warrior seemed too dull to their eyes, and the adventures of heroes fighting demons felt too childish.
Moreover, besides the flagship game Dragon Warrior, Phoenix Soft didn't have many notable hits. When comparing the years of Dragon Warrior's release to those without, the company's profits were at extremes.
Sure, the spin-off "The Great Adventure of Toruneko," based on Dragon Warrior, garnered some popularity, but for a company increasingly reliant on Dragon Warrior alone, it was challenging to handle.
However, unlike them, Pentagon, with its successful releases of Final Frontier and Dragon Emblem series in overseas markets, must have appeared quite fascinating to Yuuji's eyes.
What were the differences between my created Dragon Warrior and their games?
What elements were captivating the users' hearts?
If left as is, wouldn't there be a time when the title of the national RPG would also slip from Phoenix Soft to Pentagon?
He might be trying to appear nonchalant, but various anxious emotions were clearly tormenting him.
He must have had to make a choice.
Should he stay complacent, or create an unprecedented sensation that would shake the current gaming industry?
And now. Phoenix Soft's main director, Horii Yuuji, without hesitation, chose the latter.
"Mr. Kawaguchi, and Mr. Junhyuk, I'd like to propose creating software for Raon with all of you."
>
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