Game Director from Hell - Chapter 51: Awards Ceremony (3)

It was a historic achievement, an unbelievable one.

Everyone in the audience looking at the stage at this awards ceremony knew that fact.

South Korea, a country that lagged behind in development despite producing top gamers, had started with just a university club and had achieved a cumulative sales revenue of approximately 20 billion won from the release of an indie game till today.

Even with that, should we not describe this as a miracle, having competed with and defeated the storm that was Minecraft?

For this reason, industry professionals in the audience understood Yeonho’s somewhat blank reaction.

His expression, which had always been cold until now, thawed in the excitement, and even that alone was a spectacle in itself.

The moment the trophy nestled in his arms was especially remarkable.

“Ah…”

Yeonho’s touch was delicate, as if receiving a new-born baby.

The flicker of his eyes that rose as he embraced it was magnified on the screen and conveyed vividly.

Not only Yeonho but also the entire team at Studio Rewind showed such expressions.

The veterans who had been in the industry for quite some time wore contented smiles.

Because they had their youth, reminiscent of the early days of the video game era known as the Romantic Era, when they developed games in small garages and the like.

“Ah…”

The breath that flowed from Yeonho’s lips spread through the microphone.

At this moment, there was an indisputable fact.

That young director had drawn a historic line in the records of the gaming industry, and perhaps he would continue to do so in the future.

Who could not be delighted by this fact?

The sprout that was now just starting to unfold its leaves would undoubtedly make the industry even more splendid.

The applause grew even louder.

Meanwhile, the host awkwardly interrupted.

“Now, have you calmed down a bit?”

Yeonho hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a small smile.

His gaze was fixed straight ahead.

His emotions were still not as composed as his appearance.

The trembling in his voice attested to that.

“I… showed an unsightly appearance.”

After expressing his gratitude, his first words were like that.

“In truth, I had big doubt that I might not win this award. I did my best, but I ended up giving up half of it because of Minecraft, which I competed with this year, was such an excellent game.”

Respect towards the competition was followed by formal thanks.

But it was imbued with sincere feelings.

“I received help from so many people. First and foremost, my team members who worked hard every day to create the game. Each and every one of them is my precious asset. I wouldn’t exchange them for anything. Also…”

Like most award winners, he gave a long speech.

Yeonho expressed his gratitude to his team members and then talked about the advisors who had provided external advice. And finally, he revealed the most important thing.

“I want to use this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the users who bestowed this honour upon Hellic.”

He bowed his head for the first time.

When Yeonho raised his head again, his expression was still frosty.

However, his eyes were burning, and his emotions didn’t fade away.

He seemed to be trying to say something.

“A long time ago, the first game I played as a child was Studio Valhalla’s Rune Crusader.”

Somewhere in the audience, an Aldred chuckled happily.

Despite that, Yeonho continued his speech.

“It was a new experience. It felt like my life had turned 180 degrees compared to what it had been until then. So, I had no choice but to get into it. The conviction that this was my path only grew stronger as I played more games.”

After mentioning a few prominent works, he continued.

“I’ve only come this far thanks to everyone who gave me this award. I won’t consider it an excessive honour. It would be disrespectful to everyone who presented the award.”

Yeonho said this and fell silent for a moment, then spoke again.

“Thank you. And I promise to do my best so that it doesn’t end here.”

Yeonho gaze swept the audience.

At that moment, for some reason, a silence spread from the direction whereever Yeonho gaze fell.

The quiet venue, with all eyes focused solely on one person.

“I’ll greet you again next time. Right here. At AAA level.”

Yeonho detonated the bomb.

Click!

Camera flashes burst dazzlingly.

It was the moment when the true identity of Hellic 3 was revealed, just as about 20 seconds of the spoiler had been shown.

***

“Korean university student game development team Studio Rewind conquers the world game market!”

It was an article that sounded more like boasting.

To call it a conquest was an exaggeration; their success was within the indie game scene, and even their victory was only one award ahead of the second, leading to a backlash within the community against such articles.

However, it wasn’t a big deal.

There were more important matters at hand for them.

“WaitingforHellic3: Helic! Helic! Helic!”

“Lord of Bangbae-dong: Wow… is a GOTY going to Korea? Is this real?”

“Flower Jaehui Cherry Lips: This is insaneㅠㅠㅠ”

GOTY award for Hellic 2.

Not just any award, but winning first place with 18 awards in the highly competitive indie scene that year made Hellic 2 a source of pride for them.

It was a time when their passion for the game exploded, expressed in various forms.

“ZJong Hansoo: Celebrating Hellic 2’s victory with Alice!”

(Yeonho cosplaying as Alice)

Alice wants a cheeseburger to celebrate the victory!

<Comments>

“Flower Jaehui Cherry Lips: Fix the 3-meter Alice bug lol”

Using well-known memes circulating on the internet.

“Guksinanya: So, is the guy in the checkered shirt the director?

(Hellic 2 award acceptance speech meme)

Isn’t the guy in glasses the director? The one giving the speech is in charge of speeches.

<Comments>

“Tenuous Without T: He’s not in charge of speeches lol, he’s the face of the game. The guy who barely opened his mouth probably has very little power lol”

Or simply enjoying the sight of Studio Rewind, who were clueless at the awards ceremony.

And there was more.

“Yeonho Sarang Nara Sarang: Is this the Director Cheon Yeonho they are talking about?

(Yeonho smiling in the awards ceremony meme)

Phewㅠㅠㅠ he’s really good-lookingㅠㅠㅠ how is this even possibleㅠㅠㅠ

<Comments>

“ClearWithoutT: Can’t this guy be blocked?”

It was such a big event that it made it to the 9 o’clock news, not just online articles.

Well, wouldn’t the title of “Korea’s first GOTY” be quite impressive?

Interest in games like Hellic and premium games also increased.

It was a positive sign for the entire game industry.

And there was one more thing Studio Rewind had to talk about besides winning the GOTY.

“WaitingforHelllic3: Helic!!! 3!!! AAA!!!

Kyaaaaaah!!!”

The reveal of additional information about Hellic 3, and it was done in a way that no one expected, right in the spotlight.

Studio Rewind was aiming for AAA level.

In reality, there were more worries than expectations, but Yeonho’s performances so far had somewhat quelled the worries that players had in their hearts.

“S2 Poppy S2: We can’t help but have high expectations! After all, they’re the first GOTY winners in Korea!”

“Lord of Bangbae-dong: Will we get a prominent AAA series from Korea?”

“Guksinanya: But if it’s AAA, how long will it take until the release?”

The name itself promised a lot.

Comparing the impact of the initial launch of Studio Rewind with the game Hellic and the moment when just one piece of information about Hellic 3 was revealed, it was clear that they had come a long way.

Studio Rewind was no longer a small studio.

Those who were watching their progress were filled with anticipation.

Of course, there was an undeniable truth.

“Uju War Lover: Making a fuss about a game that hasn’t even been released yet lol”

Every game can’t be judged until you’ve played it.

Hellic 3 was still a distant story for them.

(Chatter) Pre-Enlistment Chat: Haha, I’m going to ride a time machine and go to the future. Its going to be right before my enlistment ends! See you in two years! When Hellic 3 is released! Haha.”

…It might be a story that’s not too far away for some.

“<Comments>

T-Not-Clear: Ugh, smells like a soldier. Haha.

WaitingforHellic3: Haha.

zZoneHanSu: Wow!!! I’m jealous!!! Haha.”

The community was peaceful today as well.

“Congratulations.”

On the day of wrapping up the schedule, Aldred Russo appeared.

I nodded briefly.

“Thank you.”

I decided not to bow or be overly cautious.

I’m not the me from the time when I just admired him.

However, a certain amount of deference might be necessary.

“The road ahead is long. Now, you have to challenge the AAA level.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the road ahead was very long.

Indie and AAA-level games are different.

If we use soccer as an analogy, it’s like the difference between a youth soccer team and the Premier League.

Even if you make a big impact within the indie scene, it doesn’t mean you can hold your head high in the AAA-level market.

Now, I’ve taken the first step.

In that sense, Aldred responded with a chuckle.

“In the end, you were right. I admit my lack of insight.”

“Deference doesn’t suit you.”

“Then, let me be straightforward. I regret not recruiting you. But I’ll admit it. You have talent. Enough to make an impact even in the AAA level.”

It felt unfamiliar.

This kind of favourability from Aldred.

But it wasn’t to the extent of showing emotions outwardly.

I nodded in agreement and, without any lingering feelings, Alred added one more thing.

“I’ve prepared a gift. You can check it after you return home.”

“A gift?”

“It’s a secret what the gift is. Anticipation like this is also a form of enjoyment, isn’t it?”

I should be able to figure out what he’s thinking.

But if he personally tells me to anticipate it, it couldn’t be a small gift.

Is there any reason to refuse it by asserting my pride?

“I…look forward to it.”

“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it too. To see you come this far in this market.”

Alred left.

I watched the spot where he disappeared for a moment, then turned to my team members.

“Why does that old man come here so often?”

Han Seorim glared at the spot where Alred had been with a discontented expression.

Because…

“Maybe he likes me.”

“Ugh, that’s creepy.”

Suddenly, Han Seorim’s furrowed brow reminded me of her trembling as we approached the awards ceremony.

“Aren’t you nervous anymore?”

I asked nonchalantly, and she replied,

“…Shut up.”

I turned Han Seo-rim into Herobrine(a character in Minecraft).

“Let’s go!”

She even made thumping sounds as she pulled her carrier behind her, leaving an impressive sight.

I gasped for breath for a moment.

‘Hmm.’

It still didn’t feel real, even now.

Indie Game of the Year, and that too against Minecraft.

If I were to tell someone from my past life, no one would believe this miracle.

It was a momentary magic created by perfect timing.

Considering that the sales were slowly catching up, it wouldn’t be long before they surpassed the sales.

Of course,

“I won, didn’t I?”

That didn’t necessarily mean a complete victory over Minecraft.

My heart felt lighter.

I was in the middle of taking a step.

Thump!

“Ouch!”

Something hit my leg.

I lowered my head to check.

“···!”

I held my breath for a moment.

“Ugh···.”

A pitiful whimper came from a white girl who couldn’t be more than ten years old.

Blonde hair, blue eyes, and cheeks that burned bright red.

The girl was looking at a crushed hamburger with tears in her eyes.

Then, I heard a woman’s voice from afar.

“Lisa!”

The woman who approached quickly was undoubtedly the girl’s mother.

“I’m sorry. Our child can be a bit stubborn.”

The woman said with a forced smile.

Immediately after that, she picked up the girl and held her.

I couldn’t react in time.

I felt like something was squeezing my insides.

It was purely a reaction to surprise.

“Lisa, you should apologize.”

The girl glanced at me briefly from her mother’s arms.

“···Sorry.”

She muttered a brief apology and buried her head in her mother’s chest.

The woman left a final apology and handed me a dollar bill for laundry expenses.

I looked at the 5 dollars stained with hamburger sauce in my pocket.

Was it a misunderstanding because I couldn’t properly distinguish foreign faces?

“Sunbae! What are you daydreaming about over there?”

Han Seorim called out from a distance.

Only then could I break free from my thoughts.

The mother and daughter were no longer in sight.

I tightly held the dollar bill in my hand.

“…It must have been a misunderstanding.”

I turned and walked away.

In any case, I thought it was a good thing.

Perhaps the future I had hoped for might come true.

If not, I simply wanted to believe it was a misunderstanding.

“I’m going now.”

The sun was warm.

Warm enough to put me in a good mood.

***

It was the first day of my return to my home country.

“Mom, Dad.”

At the end of a month-long journey, I finally told my parents about my work.

“I became a game developer.”

My father responded, “I see, you’re making games. I saw it in the news. I was so surprised to suddenly see your face.”

Ping, ping.

My father tapped his smartphone and asked, “So, do you make baseball games too?”

“?”

“Which team is the strongest, the Giants?”

I glanced briefly at my father’s smartphone screen.

He was playing a mobile baseball game.

Crack!

With a sound effect, his team gave up a home run.

“Come on!”

My heart ached.

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