Just as expected, although the game engine seemed revolutionary, few third-party developers were actually willing to purchase it.
They were still waiting and seeing, waiting for the first wave of games made with the Persona Engine to be released before making a choice.
However, some had already chosen to be the first to pick up the napkin.
For example, Hidetaka Miyazaki.
After the Atlas Developers Conference ended, Hidetaka Miyazaki, who attended as a member of the audience, was also given a cartridge.
Damn it! It's Syobon Action.
Miyazaki was delighted to be able to play the game for free by attending the conference.
But.
After finishing the game, Miyazaki could no longer smile.
In his private room, Miyazaki collapsed in his computer chair, his eyes lifeless and his face blank.
Before him was the game-clear screen of Syobon Action, along with a taunt from the developer.
"Congratulations, you've cleared the game. So what now?"
So what now? Miyazaki thought to himself, So what, you damn fool!
This game was too torturous!
For a brief moment, he understood why Atlas insisted on certain game design choices.
Because if you didn't design it that way, it would truly be disgusting.
"This game should be in a category of its own, called a 'Kuso Game'! The experience is a total load of crap. How could anyone make a game this disgusting?!"
Hidetaka Miyazaki stood up, tears in his eyes.
He had made his decision.
So what if it's a 'Kuso Game'? I can do it too!
He'd heard the Persona Engine was retailing for only 26,800 Yen. He'd buy a copy and try it out himself!
During dinner, Hidetaka brought up his idea to his parents.
They didn't object right away. Instead, they asked about his current situation and checked his grades. Seeing that everything seemed fine, they finally gave their approval.
His father smiled. "Let's go buy it together this weekend. I want to see what kind of game sells for so much!"
"It's not a game..." Hidetaka started to say, then stopped.
It's a game for making games.
Regardless, since his father had agreed, that was all that mattered. Hidetaka went back to his meal, a wave of emotion washing over him.
Tonight...
Hidetaka Miyazaki joins the hunt!
At the Kadokawa Game Magazine Editorial Department, Kobayakawa Rinko bowed deeply to the Editor-in-Chief, Tofuya Fami-bo.
The man, whose public image was that of a tanuki, looked genuinely regretful. "So, Kobayakawa has decided to resign..."
"Yes," Kobayakawa said. "It's not just because we've secured funding from Atlus, but also because Rinko has decided to enter the game industry. With this development engine, the difficulty of making a game has been drastically reduced, so even Rinko should be able to do it."
Tofuya Fami-bo could only shake his head helplessly.
"What a shame, Kobayakawa. Your writing style is so excellent, and you have a good understanding of games. It would have been great if you could have stayed in the editorial department. But since you've already made your decision, I won't stand in your way. I hope to see your work the next time we review a game."
He suddenly asked, "By the way, what are you planning to name your studio?"
Kobayakawa Rinko looked up, full of confidence: "SOBA!"
Tofuya Fami-bo choked on his ramen.
Soba noodles! That's... a pretty unique name!
After leaving her resignation letter, Kobayakawa turned and left the editor-in-chief's office.
She hadn't worked at the Kadokawa Game Magazine Editorial Department for very long, but she had indeed written many game review articles under the pseudonym "Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
It wasn't that Kobayakawa was overly enthusiastic about socializing—she wasn't exactly the social butterfly type—but she had still managed to make a few close friends, like Black Flame Dragon.
Seeing Kobayakawa about to leave, Black Flame Dragon felt a wave of regret.
The first "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" had already left to become a president.
And now the second "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" was leaving to become a president too!
Dammit!
"If this keeps up, I'll be the only dragon left! After all, Red-Eyes Black Dragon is still stronger than Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
Black Flame Dragon suddenly stood up.
"Brother Dragon has made a decision! Brother Dragon is also resigning!"
Kobayakawa was shocked. "You're resigning to develop games too?!"
"That's right. I've actually wanted to do this for a long time, but I didn't know anything about professional programming, so I couldn't make games. I've saved up some money over the years, and now that there's such a perfect tool for game development, it would be a shame not to take a gamble!"
Black Flame Dragon smoothed down his afro.
Tonight, Brother Dragon would also join the hunt! Because the strong must relentlessly create games!
Although there weren't many individual developers who could afford to purchase their own engines, the trend had still attracted many people to the industry.
If I can make games easily, I can bring all my ideas to life!
In Kyoto, there was a university with a rather strange name: Doshisha University. It was one of the top private universities in the Kansai region, rivaling institutions like Waseda and Keio in Kanto.
In a Doshisha University dormitory, a young man lay sprawled across his bed, playing games like a monkey, his eyes glued to the screen.
If one looked closely, they would see the sheer intensity radiating from him. Behind his back, the ghostly images of nine heads seemed to hover in the air, and his entire being exuded an aura of arrogance, as if he were the Yamata no Orochi itself.
Shinji Mikami picked his nose and continued to furiously play Ninja Gaiden.
The dormitory door swung open, and a classmate walked in. He looked at Shinji with surprise. "Mikami-kun, you're out of class already?"
"What?"
Shinji Mikami glanced at his watch.
He hadn't just come back from class—he hadn't even gone to class yet!
Shinji slapped his forehead.
Forget it, I'm not going! I'll deal with it tomorrow. I'm too busy to skip a gaming session just to attend one lecture!
His classmate began unpacking a bunch of gift bags, casually explaining, "Mikami-kun, you really should have gone to Tokyo. The Atlus Carnival was amazing! They even gave me a free game, but I didn't bring my console, so you can have it."
Shinji took the game and looked at it. Damn, it's Syobon Action.
He nodded. A free game? Who'd say no to that?
He popped the cartridge into his console and chatted idly with his friend.
"Speaking of which, we're graduating next year. Have you thought about where you want to go, Mikami-kun?"
"Not yet. My family wants me to work locally, but that place is boring. It's not even as good as staying in Kyoto—Nintendo is here, after all. Or maybe Osaka; there are a few game companies there too."
"Why not try Tokyo? Sega and Atlus are both there."
"No way. People in Tokyo look down on us from Kansai."
"Don't say that. Atlus just released something called the Persona Engine that can be used to develop games. Why don't you give it a try, Mikami-kun? If you have a portfolio, it'll be much easier to get a job later, right?"
Just then, Shinji Mikami, who was stuck under a brick, looked up from his screen.
If I have a portfolio, it'll definitely be easier to get a job.
"Develop a game by myself? I can't do something like that. And what's this Persona Engine anyway?"
"Mikami-kun, what have you been doing these past few days? Everyone's talking about it! It's a piece of software developed by Atlus, a tool for game development. It's so simple that anyone with a pair of hands can make a game! Atlus even sponsored fifteen developers on the spot, giving each one twenty million yen!"
Shinji Mikami couldn't help but scratch his head in frustration.
There was something like that? If I'd known, I would have gone too!
"The Persona Engine? A single person can develop a game? Oh boy!"
Shinji Mikami hesitated for a moment before quickly convincing himself.
Developing a game didn't mean he had to go to Tokyo to work! He was just buying this engine to try it out. What if he actually managed to develop a game? He wouldn't have to worry about finding a job in the future!
Shinji Mikami really did have an idea for a game, and he'd even thought of the title! He'd call it Sweet Home.
It would be absolutely sweet! Though maybe a lot of people would die in it.
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