ôWell, and another anniversary is a go. Damn, we're hitting the barrel...ö
ôI think we already dug through the barrel a long time ago, sir.ö The younger of the board members shot back, nervous, and angry. Angry that the situation had come to this. Angry that what was once a source of products that set the highest points in storytelling, challenging gameplay and overall game quality was now at this point. Half-assed sequels, spin-offs and sequels, DLC, compilations, promising projects condemned to a limbo that make Duke Nukem Forever look like the push for a Christmas release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2006. ôA rhythm game. Really?ö
ôIt's selling well.ö
ôYes, but the point is it wasn't developed by us. It was developed by a subsidiary. Come on, the last good thing we put out was the twelfth installment, and even that had many flaws.ö The MMO-like gameplay was a tad too much, especially with the programmable characters option. He'd seen tons of video of people just sitting back and letting the game play itself. The challenge, again, was gone. ôCome on, guys. Admit it. We've been doing this the wrong way ever since Hiro jumped boat.ö
ôAnd what would the right way be in your eyes, Tanaka?ö
ôThe Hiro way, of course. You know, a solid story that makes sense? Challenging gameplay and maps? Also, stop being so dispersive, working on so many projects at a time and have them come out half assed? Focusing our efforts into one big game?ö The man proposed, observing with his eyes each and everyone of his colleagues. ôWe've been living off our pasty glory for too much. It doesn't work anymore, as proved by our reception and our sales. Pushing out new kind of games can only work for so long, gamers are not stupid. It's time we get off our asses and starting making good games again.ö There was a solemn silence. Tanaka allowed himself a small smile. His words had had some effect. Maybe there still was hope. Then the booming round of laughter made him lose all hope in humanity.
ôAhahahahah! Gamers are not stupid! Good one, Tanaka! Good one!ö If he could, he would Hulk out. Hulk out and rip off their fucking larinxes. ôOkay, seriously, now. We need something new.ö
ôHmm, I've heard that the Elders Scrolls games are selling well... Hey! What about, we make our next main series game an open world?!ö
ôARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!ö Tanaka explodes, to the point of actually hulking out.
ôFantastic idea! Now, on the side. We've been making good money with the anniversary line. Well, why wait every five years? Let's release another game with all the main characters and the most popular ones of the main series!ö
ôWhat genre, though? Fight game, we did. Rhythm too... Maybe a platformer?ö
ôARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO YOURSELF ANYMORE?! A PLATFORMER?! WE'RE A COMPANY THAT MAKES RPGS, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!ö Tanaka exploded, sending papers flying and slamming his hands on the round wooden table. ôWHAT'S NEXT?! A FREAKING DATING SIM?!ö He roared with the last of his breath, breathing quickly to regain it right after.
The board was stunned by his outburst. They started looking at each other. Then, their stunned expressions slowly turned to enlightened smiles and grins. Tanaka stared back, confused. Then it downed on him. ôOH, FUCK ME! YOU CAN'T BE POSSIBLY-ö
-I-
ôRenaigemu û Final Fantasy.ö The bespectacled woman reads out loud from the folder she was holding in her hand, distracting herself from the sounds of a nearby wall breaking, courtesy of Tanaka's forehead. ôThey're really doing it, huh?ö
ôThe damn!ö Crack. ôFreaking!ö Crack. ôIdiots!ö Crumble. Tanaka found himself staring in a the men's side of the bathroom. ô... Sorry.ö He groaned, turning around, ignoring the stunned expressions of the two men as he turned to his assistant. ôAnd to top it off, they gave me supervision, since it was my idea.ö He slumped in a nearby chair. ôThis is a nightmare, Kyoko. What happened to the company that made me dream when I was a kid?ö
ôWell... It is a questionable choice, but, is it really that bad of a situation?ö The black haired woman asked, making the man raise his head again. ôI mean, yes, making a dating sim with those conditions is hard, but... It's not impossible, and it's not like it's automatically a bad idea. Don't you remember your personal motto?ö
ô... There are no bad ideas. Only bad executions.ö He murmured, sighing and straightening his posture on the chair. ôSo, you're saying that I should give this a try?ö
ôYou're a professional, aren't you?ö She said, standing up, holding the folder to her chest. ôYes, this may not be the dream project you wanted to work on, but it's still something that deserves your maximum effort and attention.ö He raised his head, watching Kyoko with a warm smile. ôLet's show those old farts how it's done, and next time you'll be the one giving the orders.ö
ô... You know what, you're right!ö His energy and purpose renewed, Tanaka grabbed the folder and started jotting down notes on it. ôOrganize a meeting with the team. Also, get me Namco and Sega on the phone and find where the hell the members of Software House Parsley have gone to.ö Kyoko's eyes widened at that. Tanaka just grinned. ôWhat? Just because I thought it was a bad idea doesn't mean I hate dating sims or that I've never played one in my life.ö
ôI think we already dug through the barrel a long time ago, sir.ö The younger of the board members shot back, nervous, and angry. Angry that the situation had come to this. Angry that what was once a source of products that set the highest points in storytelling, challenging gameplay and overall game quality was now at this point. Half-assed sequels, spin-offs and sequels, DLC, compilations, promising projects condemned to a limbo that make Duke Nukem Forever look like the push for a Christmas release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2006. ôA rhythm game. Really?ö
ôIt's selling well.ö
ôYes, but the point is it wasn't developed by us. It was developed by a subsidiary. Come on, the last good thing we put out was the twelfth installment, and even that had many flaws.ö The MMO-like gameplay was a tad too much, especially with the programmable characters option. He'd seen tons of video of people just sitting back and letting the game play itself. The challenge, again, was gone. ôCome on, guys. Admit it. We've been doing this the wrong way ever since Hiro jumped boat.ö
ôAnd what would the right way be in your eyes, Tanaka?ö
ôThe Hiro way, of course. You know, a solid story that makes sense? Challenging gameplay and maps? Also, stop being so dispersive, working on so many projects at a time and have them come out half assed? Focusing our efforts into one big game?ö The man proposed, observing with his eyes each and everyone of his colleagues. ôWe've been living off our pasty glory for too much. It doesn't work anymore, as proved by our reception and our sales. Pushing out new kind of games can only work for so long, gamers are not stupid. It's time we get off our asses and starting making good games again.ö There was a solemn silence. Tanaka allowed himself a small smile. His words had had some effect. Maybe there still was hope. Then the booming round of laughter made him lose all hope in humanity.
ôAhahahahah! Gamers are not stupid! Good one, Tanaka! Good one!ö If he could, he would Hulk out. Hulk out and rip off their fucking larinxes. ôOkay, seriously, now. We need something new.ö
ôHmm, I've heard that the Elders Scrolls games are selling well... Hey! What about, we make our next main series game an open world?!ö
ôARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!ö Tanaka explodes, to the point of actually hulking out.
ôFantastic idea! Now, on the side. We've been making good money with the anniversary line. Well, why wait every five years? Let's release another game with all the main characters and the most popular ones of the main series!ö
ôWhat genre, though? Fight game, we did. Rhythm too... Maybe a platformer?ö
ôARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO YOURSELF ANYMORE?! A PLATFORMER?! WE'RE A COMPANY THAT MAKES RPGS, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!ö Tanaka exploded, sending papers flying and slamming his hands on the round wooden table. ôWHAT'S NEXT?! A FREAKING DATING SIM?!ö He roared with the last of his breath, breathing quickly to regain it right after.
The board was stunned by his outburst. They started looking at each other. Then, their stunned expressions slowly turned to enlightened smiles and grins. Tanaka stared back, confused. Then it downed on him. ôOH, FUCK ME! YOU CAN'T BE POSSIBLY-ö
-I-
ôRenaigemu û Final Fantasy.ö The bespectacled woman reads out loud from the folder she was holding in her hand, distracting herself from the sounds of a nearby wall breaking, courtesy of Tanaka's forehead. ôThey're really doing it, huh?ö
ôThe damn!ö Crack. ôFreaking!ö Crack. ôIdiots!ö Crumble. Tanaka found himself staring in a the men's side of the bathroom. ô... Sorry.ö He groaned, turning around, ignoring the stunned expressions of the two men as he turned to his assistant. ôAnd to top it off, they gave me supervision, since it was my idea.ö He slumped in a nearby chair. ôThis is a nightmare, Kyoko. What happened to the company that made me dream when I was a kid?ö
ôWell... It is a questionable choice, but, is it really that bad of a situation?ö The black haired woman asked, making the man raise his head again. ôI mean, yes, making a dating sim with those conditions is hard, but... It's not impossible, and it's not like it's automatically a bad idea. Don't you remember your personal motto?ö
ô... There are no bad ideas. Only bad executions.ö He murmured, sighing and straightening his posture on the chair. ôSo, you're saying that I should give this a try?ö
ôYou're a professional, aren't you?ö She said, standing up, holding the folder to her chest. ôYes, this may not be the dream project you wanted to work on, but it's still something that deserves your maximum effort and attention.ö He raised his head, watching Kyoko with a warm smile. ôLet's show those old farts how it's done, and next time you'll be the one giving the orders.ö
ô... You know what, you're right!ö His energy and purpose renewed, Tanaka grabbed the folder and started jotting down notes on it. ôOrganize a meeting with the team. Also, get me Namco and Sega on the phone and find where the hell the members of Software House Parsley have gone to.ö Kyoko's eyes widened at that. Tanaka just grinned. ôWhat? Just because I thought it was a bad idea doesn't mean I hate dating sims or that I've never played one in my life.ö
