Game Director from Hell

Chapter 58: Planning Team

Question: Which role is responsible for systematically incorporating the planned concepts into the game?

Answer:

“It seems like we need to hire someone for the planning department.”

The planner says.

“Planning, you say?”

Yang Gilsang, who was plunging a spoon into his bibimbap at a snack bar, raised his head and asked.

I nodded.

“Yes, it’s getting a bit overwhelming to do it all by myself.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration, it was really getting that way.

After the first draft, three weeks had passed, and I had started making changes to the system based on Jo Ayoon’s suggestions. The number of item synergies and combination formulas had increased so much that the workload had become too much to handle alone.

In an attempt to streamline it, I limited the weapon growth builds to two per weapon and refined the functions of characteristics. However, it was still too much for me to handle on my own.

In other words, it was time to start looking for employees for my department.

“A planning role… Hmm…”

Yang Gilsang, rubbing his forehead, said with a smile.

“It might be difficult.”

“…Yes.”

There was no choice but to lower my head.

In fact, being a game planner wasn’t something you could just easily step into. It took quite a long time to learn and become proficient at it.

Most people either fled in the face of the overwhelming workload, or even if they became proficient, they thought about switching to a different profession.

Who could endure becoming proficient in such a demanding job?

In most cases, it was either about persevering in a well-established company to aim for a promotion or starting their own company.

So, looking for experienced professionals in a company that had already established its foundation was like trying to catch a star in the sky.

“We’ll have to hire newbies.”

It was an unavoidable compromise.

It would be better to build and train my own team at this early stage of development.

After a moment of hesitation, Yang Gilsang nodded.

“Okay, I’ll try to recruit some. How many people are you thinking of?”

“Two or three for now.”

That should be enough for the time being.

Yang Gilsang said, “But don’t expect too much. It won’t be easy to recruit after the open hiring season is over.”

“I understand. Even if we get ten applicants, that would be a lot.”

Talent isn’t something you can easily find.

I accepted it humbly, and that’s how it went for a month.

***

“What…?”

“We have 50 applicants who passed the initial screening.”

“…”

We received more applicants than expected.

On the day of the interviews, Han Seorim said, “I noticed that there are some experienced candidates. You must be more concerned.”

“Well…”

I didn’t feel entirely happy about it.

While it’s good to have good candidates, there was a need to think about the large number of applicants.

Well, it’s not like the number of applicants was unrelated to Studio Rewind’s status and external perception.

It was related to why we appeared as a good option to those in the industry.

I thought long and hard, and eventually came to a conclusion.

“Could it be because of the Galapagos Syndrome?”

“Galapagos Syndrome?”

“Yeah, Korea isn’t really an environment for making AAA games. The capital and market structure are heavily focused on online gaming, right? But that doesn’t mean there aren’t people who want to make AAA games. It’s just a difference in perspective between business owners and developers.”

Businesses want to make profitable games.

Most developers want to create games in the realm of self-expression.

The structural characteristics of the Korean gaming market make it difficult to bridge that gap.

Due to the rapid proliferation of PCs and LAN lines, almost all games ended up being PC-based.

In the midst of this, Studio Rewind, a AAA development studio, emerged.

It seems that even though the applicants are aiming for the highest AAA grade, they are forced to consider this place as one of their limited options for international expansion.

With just about a month left, and even considering that we only opened the application process for two weeks, this level of interest makes sense.

“This must be the market perception.”

Of course, our primary target is not domestic but international, but does that really matter?

After finishing the explanation, Han Seorim spoke.

“Senior, your tie is crooked.”

… Are you even listening properly?

“Oh, come here. How old are you, and you still can’t do this?”

I reach out and straighten my tie, pulling it just tight enough to feel comfortable.

I mumble.

“What does the director have to do with a tie? I don’t need to do it if I don’t want to.”

“The director is also the CEO.”

“Well about the CEO duties…”

“Leave them all to Mr. Gilsang? That would be difficult, given your personality, senior.”

She knows me too well.

In fact, the reason I’m looking for a planning position is precisely for that.

Because I can’t completely let go of management issues, I’ve been handling the final review of documents myself.

It means I’m short-handed.

The presence of direct subordinates who can help with the workload is essential to me.

“We’re all set. Let’s go in now.”

Han Seorim tapped my shoulder lightly.

Today’s interviewers are me, Han Seorim, Yang Gilsang, and Myungkyu.

To be honest, I’m looking for my own staff so the rest are just a façade.

It’s a structure that Yang Gilsang came up with so that I don’t look odd just sitting there alone.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

The interview started at 10 a.m.

In their 30s, none of them seem impressive.

“I first encountered Hellic during my college years! I had so much fun with it! If I join this company…”

An enthusiastic interviewee with an unimpressive face kept talking, but he didn’t leave a strong impression.

Even though he had experience.

“He ran away.”

The game development he mentioned in his resume is one I know of.

But thinking about the timing of that game’s development, it seems like he ran away in the middle of it.

In other words, he’s the kind of person who would leave even while developing our game.

And it wasn’t just him.

Despite being filtered through the initial application process, none of the candidates seemed suitable for the job.

By this point, I even started to wonder, “Am I being too picky?”

I considered lowering my standards, but in the end, I gave up.

“How did it come to this?”

If I’m already having doubts about my own direct subordinates just by looking at their faces, how difficult will the work be in the future?

There are still about 20 more to go.

For now, I’ll endure and watch.

With that mindset, I faced the candidates in their 40s.

“Yeonho, is everyone that bad?”

Yang Gilsang asked subtly.

I nodded.

Yang Gilsang sighed.

“Wow…”

“I hope there’s someone good among the last ten.”

I checked the resumes of the last ten candidates once again while pressing down on my frustration.

A little impatience was building up inside me.

At this point, I was starting to think that maybe I should lower my standards.

“!”

But then…

A certain resume caught my eye.

A fresh graduate with no prior experience, yet it was the kind of resume that could steal your attention.

“The next interviewees, please come in,” said the secretary from the management department.

Subsequently, five candidates entered the interview room, numbered 41 to 45.

My gaze had already been fixed on number 41 since then.

“Is it that person?”

My heart was racing.

He didn’t disappoint my expectations.

“Park Hosu.”

He was around 173 cm tall, with a slightly chubby build, dark circles under his eyes. For some reason, his lips looked dry despite the effort to tidy them, and he had short, unkempt hair. He gave off the impression that a T-shirt and jeans would suit him better than a suit. He even had a slightly crooked neck.

“Let’s start with candidate number 41,” Yang Gilsang said.

He responded, “Yes…”

His voice sounded chronically fatigued, but his posture was as stiff as a board.

It felt like… it felt like he was accustomed to fatigue!

That’s right! He must be accustomed to it!

I clenched my fist.

“Candidate number 41, Park Hosu, graduated from Goguryeo University with a master’s degree in mathematics…”

He had shot an arrow straight into my heart.

“…I was very interested in game development. Originally, I was planning to get a job right after graduating from college, but my professor…”

His straightforward and concise attitude was impressive.

“…you could call it a stroke of luck. Thanks to that, I was able to apply to Studio Rewind at the right time.”

His witty remarks were excellent. He works hard!

“…That’s all.”

I held back tears.

The reward that comes after hard work.

No, it’s more like how rewards come to you…

I suppressed the rising excitement and finally spoke, “I’ve heard everything.”

My number one pick was decided in my heart.

***

Park Hosu, 30 years old.

Having obtained a master’s degree in mathematics from Goguryeo University, it was a momentous start to his first professional career.

“Feel free to dress comfortably,” the instructions had said.

Hosu arrived at work wearing his usual t-shirt and cargo pants.

He felt excitement.

From the beginning, Hosu had always loved gaming, and this was finally a moment when his dream was coming true.

He had a tendency to have a hard time refusing others’ requests.

Driven by the desire to meet the expectations of those around him, he had followed his parents’ wishes to study mathematics and later entered graduate school at the urging of his professors.

After going through such hardships, he eventually realized, “Whose life is this, anyway?”

Starting at a game company, and one that was challenging AAA-level games at that, Hosu was filled with enthusiasm.

Of course, it was only natural that he looked tired on the outside.

In any case, he had arrived at the company.

“You have arrived.”

Yeonho greeted Hosu, and at that moment, one more person opened the door and came out.

“Sorry for being late… The shuttle…”

“It’s okay. The transportation here isn’t great either.”

Hosu’s gaze turned to his fellow newcomer.

“His name is Kang Jiseok.”

He had seen him during the interview, as the candidate with the number 50, the last one.

Acne scars on his face, messy hair, and high-prescription glasses added to his approachable appearance.

“Let’s sit down for now. We’ll start with the work right away.”

Yeonho, who seemed out of place in this atmosphere, said.

Hosu sat down immediately.

Inside the partition were computers, including Yeonho’s.

He had received information about the job during a separate meeting with Yeonho a few days ago.

“It’s about balancing.”

Balancing between special abilities, weapon builds, and not making combinations too distinct was his first task.

Hosu considered the possible scenarios in his mind.

But soon, he gave up.

“Well, let’s not think about it.”

From his experience, he knew that when tasks piled up, the best approach was to clear his mind and work through them step by step.

In the end, he thought of it as an extension of his graduate school days.

No, when he thought about it, it was a better environment than back then.

“They even pay overtime bonuses.”

Getting paid for overtime? Wasn’t this an unbelievable paradise?

And so, his first day of work was filled with such touching moments.

It was 7 p.m., time to go home.

“Please bear with us a little longer.”

“???”

Kang Jiseok’s face showed confusion, as if questioning why.

“Why don’t we go home now?”

His doubts were not resolved.

Of course not.

It was knowledge forbidden to humans.

“Let’s work a little more.”

At 10 p.m., Yeonho said that and moved on to the next task.

Hosu realized something.

“This boss is like our professor.”

That thought made him feel a bit more at ease.

May 7th.

It was the day when the people who would help bring to life what Yeonho envisioned joined the company.

***

June, one month after the planning team expanded to three members.

Strange rumours started circulating at Studio Rewind’s office.

“They say you can hear the ghost’s crying near the sleeping quarters.”

The ghost story about the sleeping quarters.

Everyone knew its true identity.

The story was specific.

At night when you could hear the cries of the ghost (the planning and programming team), a priest (Jo Ayoon) would appear with a recorder in hand to guard the area.

As the spine-chilling ghost story gained notoriety among the employees, the world was experiencing another change related to Studio Rewind.

“E3 is here!”

The world’s largest gaming show, E3, was opening in LA.

Officially known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo, it was the festival that stood out as the uncontested leader in the world of gaming festivals, especially for console releases.

And that’s where Sony made its debut.

“They say there’s a release of Hellic 2 on console?”

The release of Hellic 2 on the PS3.

It was news that would excite Hellic fans even more.

Naturally, the online communities went wild.

And some unrelated communities in a few countries also began to pay attention to Hellic.

Well, wasn’t that the original goal of Yeonho, to venture into new territories where Hellic was less known?

And it was a success.

The reactions came first from Japan.

“Who’s that cute girl?”

That’s what they were saying.

Alice had landed in Japan, the land of /RomanceMTL