Game Market 1983
Chapter 225: Complete Joy

"Tickets to participate in the live show can be acquired using the hero's cultivation points you've gained through gameplay, so there's no need to purchase them separately," Director Kang Junhyuk's explanation about Virtual Idol resonated profoundly. The release of the game coupled with such a striking announcement...

Perhaps it was after witnessing Cheryl and Azusa's splendid live performance moments ago, but a wave of discontent surged among the audience regarding what they perceived as excessively stringent policies.

However, here's the thing.

Reflecting back, every game crafted by Director Kang Junhyuk never shied away from a challenge, from the early days of 'Dragon Emblem,' a brutally challenging game he introduced during the Family era.

In that game, losing a character meant losing play data, and that same system carried over to the sequel. Back then, users also complained about the gameplay of Dragon Emblem being excessively unforgiving.

Instances of entire parties being wiped out due to players ignoring strategic actions during party play were common. At one point, Director Kang Junhyuk dismissed such feedback from users with just a single phrase in a gaming magazine.

"The Dragon Emblem series is meant to be enjoyed like that."

While some in the industry found his response dismissive of user concerns, I wholeheartedly agreed with his statement.

Users who shared my perspective gathered trustworthy players, forming clans to challenge dungeon raids together.

It was as if the camaraderie found in RPG games had materialized into reality due to the insane difficulty of Dragon Emblem.

Some gaming magazines even likened the difficulty level 'Kang Junhyuk' to an additional tier above EASY, NORMAL, and HARD.

Thus, the name Kang Junhyuk itself carried a peculiar excitement for users. Was it because of these expectations that all the games he developed have been massive hits to date?

If he had heeded user opinions and taken an easier route, criticism would have surely surfaced, accusing him of losing his initial vision...

The gaze of people is always like that.

When something clashes with their standards, they fervently desire to mold it to their liking.

In reality, there were games in the Super Family era that, despite releasing a light version reflecting user feedback about excessive difficulty, ended up in poor sales and eventually dragging down the main title.

In that regard, Director Kang Junhyuk appeared as an unyielding director who remained impervious to user evaluations.

But even for someone like him, would he truly incorporate such a ruthless system into an idol cultivation game?

'His unique style of pushing users to the brink knows no boundaries, regardless of genre...'

On one hand, it's truly commendable for his consistency. A user sitting near the front asked him,

"How exactly do we use these cultivation points you just mentioned? Are we supposed to bring a Complete Laon to the live show?"

Now that I think about it, how exactly do we redeem these points?

As everyone's attention returned to Mr. Kang Junhyuk, he, rather perplexed, asked us,

"Wouldn't everyone here have at least one Laon in their bags?"

In that instant, the instruction manual for Complete Laon I saw at the restaurant earlier flashed through my mind.

Could it be...?

"If you select the synchronization menu on the main screen of Virtual Idol, you can link your play data with the portable Laon. Please note that this sync feature will be present in all games released by Pentagon in the future."

"For games like Virtual Idol, syncing with Laon allows you to enjoy mini-games externally. Additionally, through terminals in Pentagon shops, you can monitor the heroines' points in real-time and download new stage outfits updated weekly."

"Wow... That's... incredible."

Upon hearing Director Kang Junhyuk's explanation, I involuntarily exclaimed.

The Complete Laon he developed completely shattered the framework existing in console games. Could the existing portable gaming device enhance game variations to such an extent?

I had only considered the port as a device for existing users.

However, with the synchronization feature with Virtual Idol, the portable Laon skyrocketed from being just an excellent peripheral device to an 'absolutely essential' one.

Moreover, his subtly provocative statement was enough to wound the pride of users who hadn't owned a Laon yet.

It almost felt like he was saying, 'What? You still don't have a Laon? Then what are you going to do with the points you've gathered?' His demeanor bordered on rudeness, even seeming a bit intimidating.

'But the portable Laon isn't something you can easily purchase if you weren't a prior owner, right?'

At that moment, a screen displaying the portable Laon appeared behind Director Kang Junhyuk.

It introduced various features that could be accessed using the existing Laon on the go.

"Ah~ If you use the portable Laon in Full Metal Gear Solid, you can receive map screens and radio transmissions on the Laon..."

"Can this sync feature be used with third-party devices too?"

Merely hearing wireless reception through the portable Laon brought a remarkable sense of reality.

The multi-effects from the two displays elicited yet another round of admiration from the audience.

"Argh... I can't handle this. I might have to go downstairs after this and get a Laon..."

"No way... If I buy a Laon now and go back, my wife will kick me out..."

"How about throwing away the box and just taking the device in your bag?"

"Are you crazy? How can you just carry the device without its package!?"

...Right. You have to cherish the box to be called a true gamer.

Besides, you might get a better price when selling it second-hand.

But somehow, even playing the same game, it feels like it would be more fun to play using the portable Laon...

In the midst of it all, the remake video of "Streets Without Me" revealed the pinnacle of purchasing psychology. It showcased the secret album mode of "Streets Without Me," which appears when synced with Complete Laon.

Introducing a collection of memories with the 30 letters the protagonist left for the heroine before dying, along with the album stored in his drawer, one user in the audience couldn't contain their excitement and exclaimed, "Ah! Darn it! I'm going to buy it now."

Users who had been fond of Pentagon's "Streets Without Me" could no longer resist and began leaving their seats. Perhaps, anticipating a possible shortage situation, they hurried to make a purchase.

At that moment, lively sound effects echoed from the speakers, halting the people heading towards the exit. At this point, I couldn't help but marvel at Director Kang Junhyuk's meticulous marketing skills.

"To celebrate the release of Complete Laon, we're reducing the consumer price of the existing Laon by 30% for one month starting today."

"Wow!"

"Darn it. Even if my wife kicks me out, I have to buy this."

"I already have it, but I'll get another one for my collection."

"Darn it... my wallet is getting thinner."

To reduce the price at this timing... Truly, it couldn't be anything but a formidable strategy.

Back in university, I took a marketing course as an elective, and the professor praised Pentagon's marketing techniques. Kang Junhyuk, besides his game development skills, seemed to possess a genius sense in marketing, from utilizing the public count of sales to promoting "Streets Without Me" and the unique costume event on Valentine's Day to the conferences at CES.

By the way, I vaguely remember hearing a story that even the 'Golden Cartridge Limited Edition' in Karin's Legend of MinTendo was his idea.

"With that, let's conclude the additional explanation about the integration features with Laon, including virtual idols. Please look forward to the upcoming performances by Erica and Tsubaki."

Maintaining composure until the end, Kang Junhyuk left the stage, and next to me, Mayumi whispered, "Impressive. I felt it before, but that person exudes confidence in every action."

Ugh... reluctantly admitting it, I wholeheartedly agreed with Mayumi's opinion. The atmosphere in the live hall was indeed flowing in the direction he intended.

A little later, as the stage darkened for the live performance, Erica's image appeared on the screen. "Ah, it's Kanna's song."

"Shh. Didn't Junhyuk say Kanna's name is a secret..."

"Oh, right. I almost..."

Watching Erica calmly pluck the guitar strings on the screen, the restless atmosphere in the hall gradually subsided, aligning with the chairman's intentions.

After a while, when Kanna, having closed her eyes, finished singing calmly, she descended from the chair where she played the guitar, took the microphone, and said, "Hello, everyone. I'm Kishimori Kanna, who will be playing Katajiri Erica in Virtual Idol for the first time. It's my first greeting to you all, and it's quite nerve-wracking, but I think I need to share a somewhat disappointing news."

"Hmm...? What is it?"

Kanna, displaying a momentarily uneasy expression at the reactions of the people tilting their heads, looked inside the stage.

Having received a message from someone there, after a while, she bit her lower lip and opened her mouth, "The voice actor for Tsubaki-san, who was supposed to perform after me, is in bad condition today and can't sing."

"Oh no!"

"This is disappointing..."

"Is she nervous because it's her first stage?"

"When I heard it through the speakers this morning, it felt so good that I wanted to hear it again..."

"Darn it... to think we can't even see her."

Kanna on the stage had a visibly sad expression, matching the complaints from users all around.

"Does this mean the live ends here?"

"Feels like something's missing since we can't see the last stage."

"Exactly..."

Well, it was considered the climax of today's live, and now it had turned out like this. It was somewhat understandable that users were disappointed.

Mayumi also had a disappointed expression upon hearing that Tsubaki's stage couldn't be seen. At that moment, Kanna, who was observing the grumbling audience, slowly brought the microphone closer to her lips.

"... If it's okay with all of you, may I sing 'Please hold me' on behalf of Tsubaki-san?"

>

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