65. Skirmish (3)

Surprisingly, sales did not drop significantly the following month.

No, rather rose!

“Not only domestically, but overseas as well, listening to news and making payments. Through my Nexple overseas account.”

Nexple is the largest game company in Korea.

The game has already been servicing in numerous countries around the world for a long time, and the official website and SNS accounts have been linked.

Lee Tae-young’s report continued.

“With live streaming and reviews from overseas streamers, including Gold Pineapple, it’s going viral.”

he proudly declared.

“Elcross is no longer a dark history!”

“Oh oh… … !”

Just as the executives are about to burst into applause.

“It’s a dark history, so what… … Will that erase our mistakes?”

“… … !”

“Let’s admit it. Elcross is definitely our mistake. PD Song Jae-hee is not the only one to say. This time, it’s purely Taeyeon, that guy… … That, what expressions do young people use at times like this?”

Director Son Young-sang, who was next to him, said softly.

“I usually use the word hard carry a lot. President.”

“Yes, that’s right! Hard Carry! This is a result that Taeyeon achieved through hard carrying by herself. You have to know that!”

“I didn’t do it alone, but together… … .”

“What didn’t you do alone? Then, what did those studio staff do during PD Song Jae-hee’s days?”

“It’s not about blaming other members for PD Song Jae-hee’s reading problems… … .”

“If something goes wrong, producers and CEOs are responsible. If it’s good, everyone will do well together? Hey, I know that’s the standard, but honestly, you did everything this time. Ahem, you didn’t just clear your throat and give instructions, you did all the important work yourself.”

Taeyeon couldn’t answer.

because it was true

Then an executive said.

“still… … If it had been freemium, it would have been more successful.”

It was an executive who blushed with Taeyeon over the issue of partial payment the other day.

Chairman Yoo Jin-seong clicked his tongue.

“If it was limited to Korea, it might have been. However, the way to export overseas would have been blocked. Are there any examples of freemium MMORPGs that have become famous worldwide?”

“You know Nero Soft’s Shinhwa Online, right? It is still consistently in the top 10 in the PC game category by revenue!”

Director Lee Tae-young, who is in charge of the business, will step up.

“More than 90% of that is domestic sales. Among them, it is an achievement made by some heavy billers who charge hundreds of millions of bills casually.”

“… … .”

“And Shinhwa Online’s sales have been steadily declining since exactly four years ago. Do you know why?”

“That, well… … ?”

“Heavy billing agent who increased sales. Even those who are called whales are fed up. It would be nice to at least maintain the status quo, but they keep doing stupid things to raise sales.”

“… … .”

“Of course, looking at the profits we’ve made so far, it’s great, but… … That’s enough for Shinhwa Online. We must aim for the global market, and to do so, we need to respect CEO Yoo Tae-yeon’s development philosophy.”

All eyes are on Taeyeon.

“For the first time, games that are loved all over the world are born. We must continue this trend. You need to invest more. That is our way of life.”

At Director Lee Tae-young’s words, several executives, including director Son Young-sang, applauded.

It was a gesture of active support and empathy.

“Ugh… … .”

In this atmosphere, the executive in question put on a face that he would die of regret, but for now, he kept his mouth shut.

Taeyeon opened her mouth.

“I don’t intend to completely abandon freemium. There are many people who pursue the BM, and if you keep the line well, it can be applied well to both developers and users.”

“U-isn’t it?”

“Isn’t it the Japanese IP mobile game that PD Jong-Hak Choi is in charge of? In addition, many partially paid games are showing their presence by making their own achievements. All of them are great assets and pillars of our company.”

Everyone nods their heads in agreement.

“The best example is Choi Jong-hak, producer, who proudly overcame the negative perceptions of partial charge and pay to win, and is mass-producing many enthusiasts at home and abroad. And I am also thinking of a mobile game with a freemium model.”

“Oh oh… … !”

“Is that true?”

“CEO Taeyeon Yoo’s partially paid mobile game… … !”

The conference room is buzzing.

Chairman Yoo Jin-seong asks with great interest.

“Is it really? Is there anything else besides the next work announced now?”

“yes.”

“What genre?”

“Everyone knows that Battle City 2 is currently being secretly produced under the direction of producer Choi Won-mok.”

Everyone nods.

“The original source for the PC and console platforms was handed over to the relevant team, and I was preparing to develop the mobile version separately.”

“Ah, then <Battle City 2> will come out on three platforms: PC, console, and mobile?”

“To be precise, it is <Battle City Gaiden>, in effect becoming a separate series. That’s because you can aim for maximization of revenue through partial payment. Users who are reluctant to subscribe to it will be able to introduce it for free.”

“Oh oh… … !”

Everyone’s face brightens.

Battle City 2, along with Pantheon and Pandemonium, was the newest game that Nexple cares about the most. The studio increased the number of developers to 100, and Taeyeon was actively involved in the development and personnel management.

Title: Executive Producer.

“As you can see, I am by no means obsessed with subscriptions and rejecting microtransactions. Monster Eater was originally a subscription, and Elcross Re was just a choice to make an MMORPG that could be more successful in the overseas market.”

Taeyeon’s eyes sparkled with confidence.

“You shouldn’t adapt the game to BM. BM has to fit the game.”

“… … .”

“Occasionally, I hear interesting news. In some places, the power of the business team is stronger than the development team. They said that if they told you to, you should keep your mouth shut.”

Everyone sees the attention of Lee Tae-young and other business-related figures.

“Our company has nothing like that. First of all, making a fun game is the first priority. There are no other interests involved here.”

Everyone just swallows saliva.

Doesn’t it seem like you’re denying director Lee Tae-young?

however.

nod

He nods his head in deep sympathy.

In this situation, who can say anything?

The meeting ended just like that.

* * *

During her tenure at Dream Soft and Bless, Taeyeon had a nickname.

master of maintenance.

It was a nickname that was given because he was very good at maintaining the games in service.

“The secret to hearing from customers that we operate well is simple. Kindly, accurately, quickly!”

Administrators gathered in a huge conference room to listen to Taeyeon’s special lecture.

“Of course you would have liked to do that too. However, there are often cases in which various unforeseen circumstances prevent that meaning. Whether it’s when you have to somehow fix an accident that developers have committed, or when you make mistakes yourself and you have to deal with an issue that doesn’t exactly make sense.”

Operators nod their heads in sympathy.

“Besides that, there will be a few other factors that can quench your enthusiasm. Relatively low salary and incentives, discriminatory views… … .”

The head nodding speed increases.

“I am sorry that I have not been able to pay much attention to the management side because I have been busy with various things. However, now that the time has come and it seems that we have some capacity, we will reorganize the management team as a whole.”

A few things were announced.

First of all, salary increase and incentive system reform,

“There are star developers, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of star operators. It must be because the treatment is harsh and there is no opportunity to stand out, and the perception is relatively poor.”

It is a situation where it is difficult to nurture skilled personnel.

“We will treat you as a developer. We will provide not only salary and incentives, but also educational opportunities for game development so that you can acquire professional game management and development skills.”

This one word impresses the operators.

“I will make it so that you can live with pride in being a game operator.”

No matter how Taeyeon is, she can’t take care of everything alone.

A guest came to the representative office of the Gangnam office building.

They were men in their early 30s, and they had a very ordinary impression.

“Igo CEO!”

“You call me like this! It is an honour!”

Taeyeon approached them with a wide smile and hugged them tightly one by one.

“Thank you for coming. Mr. Jaewon, Mr. Woohyuk.”

Song Jae-won and Park Woo-hyuk.

In the early days of Bless, they were the people Taeyeon personally picked and taught about game management and game planning for the management of Hange Breakthrough.

I could have taken him to Neckple when I left, but I didn’t. At that time, it was because the treatment of the operation team was poor compared to the amount of work and the amount of criticism.

Using their personal connections, they chose a company where they could be fully active and receive the best possible treatment, and hired them there.

“It may seem a little late, but… … I thought that now is the right time to call you guys. I apologize if I upset you by calling you late.”

“There are no feelings of regret. You told me to wait a few times in the chat window.”

“that’s right. I’ve been waiting for you, believing that you’ll call me again when the time comes.”

It wasn’t that I left because I wanted to in the first place.

So, the two were quietly doing their best in their respective positions until the time was right. In the meantime, they became general managers of operations in their respective companies, and occasionally participated in planning meetings to provide development ideas.

“What was the reaction when you two left the company?”

“Oh no, don’t talk. I’m telling you not to go… … It wasn’t even a fuss.”

“I even went out to the CEO to stop it.”

Let’s go to the middle of the day.

Talented people have no choice but to stand out in the end no matter where they are or what they do.

‘I’m sorry.’

But it was a time when he really needed the two of them.

Taeyeon is what they have to do.

After explaining in detail what he wanted from them, he asked.

“I’ll entrust the 1st and 2nd headquarters to the two of you, so please make sure to set the frame.”

“I will do my best as much as you trusted me!”

“I will do my best not to hear the sound of monthly salary lupine!”

It was the moment when the first billionaire in the industry operation team was born.

* * *

Aside from this, Taeyeon had meetings with overseas publishers and received love calls each time. Chairman Yoo Jin-seong was terrified whenever he heard such news as a report.

‘I’m afraid I can’t. I have to do something too.’

The question is what action to take.

‘The biggest problem is Mercury Games. I heard that there is an atmosphere of constant contact… … .’

The working-level team visits the company from time to time to touch the game and receive briefings.

Publishers in other countries are active in their own way, but Mercury Games was very passionate.

‘I don’t know what kind of offer I received… … .’

Then you will take the appropriate action.

‘Ask openly?’

Lately, I haven’t been able to sleep well because of this problem.

A talented person who can accomplish what he has longed for has finally appeared.

In any case, if Taeyeon leaves, the aftermath will not be serious.

‘It’s just that it’s not going to end at the level of leaving one person.’

That’s why Taeyeon’s progress in the industry right now is truly overwhelming.

at last.

‘I probably won’t. I should call him over and have a drink and have a serious conversation.’

A question that cannot be answered by thinking about it alone.

It would have been better to talk openly about everything.

For the first time, President Jinsung Yoo sent a message to Taeyeon with his fingers shaking.

[Leave some time this afternoon. Let’s have a drink.]

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