Gorotsu's interview with Aoki Haruhi was featured in the latest issue of the magazine, alongside an exclusive report and analysis of "Blanket Man".
It also included some of the best ending theories from players, presented for readers to judge for themselves.
Most importantly, Aoki Haruhi's statement: "What can be told to the players has already been put into the game; content that was not in the creators' minds will not be included in the game."
This answer caused countless players who wanted to send razor blades to Pokeni to suppress their impulses.
Players exclaimed, "Mm-hmm, I knew it. Ishino Mika is Kogahara Tsubakiaki's final act of kindness. Ever since 'Your Name', P Corporation has turned over a new leaf and stopped doing Bad Endings; now everything is Happy Endings. Clearly, some people are over-interpreting it; this game is actually quite good."
"Ah~ It's so good to see President Aoki Haruhi's reply, it's really great, otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep at all. I don't know which idiot could possibly have such terrible and dark thoughts—"
"Ah~ it's so good to see a reply from President Aoki. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to sleep at all. I don't know which idiot came up with such a terrifying and dark idea—that the story of Blanket Man is all just a figment of Hedgehog Girl's imagination, and that everyone is actually a psychiatric patient.
I was truly terrified by this theory; every time I closed my eyes at night, I kept imagining this scenario. I couldn't sleep, and I even had the urge to go to Pokeni and hack Jun Maeda and Ishino Mika. Thankfully, I was able to see the Gorotsu magazine today, and the little devil in my heart was quickly suppressed."
"What do I do? I've already sent the razor blades, and I can't take them back. If you want to blame someone, blame that player who over-analyzed it—although I quite like their concept, to be honest. This player really understands the essence of P Corp. All I can guarantee is that I'll send fewer next time."
***
"Wonderful, Pokeni has given another exclusive scoop to Gorotsu again."
To this day, Hamamura himself still hasn't quite figured it out—what exactly did Famitsu do to offend Pokeni to be treated with such disdain? Moreover, he can't shake the feeling that as Pokeni continues to grow, this little e-magazine, Gorotsu, is becoming increasingly bold.
Aoki Haruhi would argue that it's not that Famitsu offended Pokeni; it's mainly because Famitsu is Nintendo's backyard, and besides, Pokeni genuinely needs a mouthpiece of its own.
Aoki Haruhi is not a scumbag either; since he chose Gorotsu, there's no reason to keep coddling Famitsu. And Aoki is a man of his word—integrity is his foundation.
He said he would make Yamauchi Hiroshi regret it, and he absolutely would!
He said he would pay him back twofold, and he would definitely do it!
One could only say that Famitsu is truly unlucky, but then again, perhaps not that unlucky, given that most games in Japan still revolve around Famitsu. It is rather Pokeni, a company that stands out uniquely from the rest, that is the anomaly.
However, Editor-in-Chief Hamamura refuses to accept this, much like every other man under the sun—the harder something is to attain, the more one wants to conquer it.
Sometimes a rebellious palace maid is more favored than the well-behaved concubines.
Hamamura wanted to give Pokeni some perks, but after thinking about it for a long time, he just couldn't bring himself to do it.
"I've already been refused when trying to interview Kogahara Tsubakiaki, and as for interviewing the production team of Blanket Man... I didn't even get the chance before they gave all the information to Gorotsu.
You can't exactly say they were too proactive; if anything, they could say we were too late. Is there any way to make President Aoki prioritize Famitsu next time?"
The other editors looked at each other and shook their heads one after another.
It was clearly written on their faces: Editor-in-Chief, just give up.
"Could it be because the scores we gave their games were too low, and they didn't make it into the Platinum Hall of Fame, causing Pokeni to have a not-so-good impression of us?" Editor Sano asked.
Hamamura crossed his arms, his brows slightly furrowed.
That was very possible.
After all, Pokeni's galgames had an incredibly strong reputation in the industry, and many of their masterpieces really hit the ceiling, making players unable to put them down.
However...
After all, Pokeni's galgames have a stellar reputation in the industry. Many of their masterpieces have truly reached the ceiling, making players love them dearly.
However...
"It seems we don't have sufficient reason to give them a high score either. A game with a perfect plot but zero gameplay doesn't deserve to enter the Platinum Hall of Fame."
Hamamura remained steadfast in his thinking, and also upheld Famitsu's tradition.
"Indeed... Pokeni's games are truly bizarre. The plot could be said to be the strongest in the industry, yet they insist on expressing it in the least gamified way possible. Under these circumstances, it seems we can't violate our principles to give them a high score."
Editor Sano rubbed his chin, "Unless... we break it down?"
"Hmm?" Hamamura's heart skipped a beat, "Continue."
Games require creativity, and game magazines require creativity too. This is exactly the time when Famitsu needs creativity.
"We can set up categorized awards. Even if it's not the Platinum Hall of Fame, it could still solve this problem." Sano had only had a flash of inspiration, perhaps even just talking off the top of his head, and hadn't expected the Editor-in-Chief to actually take him seriously.
With no other choice, he had to bite the bullet and use his imagination to continue:
"We can set up as many awards as there are dimensions to evaluate games. For example, the Best Script of the Year Award, the Best Visuals of the Year Award, or let's call it the Best Presentation Award, the Best Creativity Award... and so on. There will always be an award that fits the current state of the gaming industry."
"For instance, Best Script of the Year, Best Graphics of the Year, or maybe we call it Best Presentation, Best Innovation Award... and so on. There will always be an award that fits the current state of the gaming industry."
"That's not bad. This way, the Best Script award could solve the issue of P Corporation's games being hard to rate. Even if they can't enter the Platinum Hall of Fame, they could still win Best Script of the Year!" Other editors chimed in, expressing their agreement.
Editor-in-Chief Hamamura remarked that he really was a smart one.
"But wouldn't that dilute the prestige of the awards?"
"Unlikely, as long as our judging criteria remain strict."
"Is there a chance this will clash with the 'Platinum Hall of Fame'? How will players decide which games to choose from then?"
"No, no, this is precisely to help players set their standards. The original intention behind designing all these awards is really just one thing: to serve the players..."
After about three hours of debate, everyone became increasingly excited.
"This is basically the Oscars of the gaming industry!"
"Alright, let's do it," Hamamura said, making the final decision.
December 1, 1993.
The employees of Pokeni moved into their new building in Ginza.
Everyone was so moved they were almost in tears.
"Wow, the renovation of this new building is just incredible, isn't it? Look at this space, look at these pillars. Wow, is this my workstation? I can't believe I have such a big workstation! It feels just like a dream!"
"Yeah, I never imagined I'd be able to have such a great working environment."
"Look, look! That's Ginza right across the street!"
"Are you out of your mind? We're already in Ginza, aren't we?!"
"Ah, I meant, that's the busiest street in Ginza right across from us."
"Can we really work in an environment like this?"
"It's just too wonderful, isn't it? I guarantee, my daily work efficiency will more than double from now on."
"Ah~ the office environment has become so comfortable, and it just lifts your whole mood, doesn't it?"
"Wow, everyone has their own individual desk and a separate cabinet. Wow, this is amazing!"
The new workspace was twice as large as the old one, and the company's total floor area had more than tripled.
Only a portion of it was being used right now; Aoki Haruhi had reserved the rest for future employees.
After all, Pokeni was currently in a growth phase, and it was always necessary to plan ahead.
For the sake of development, recruiting more talent was the way to go.
Seeing the happy expressions on everyone's faces and hearing their praises, Aoki Haruhi couldn't help but feel moved.
How should he put it?
This kind of office environment was what normal human beings should have in the first place, right?
The previous setup, where two people were squeezed into a single workstation, had been far too cramped.
It didn't even count as a cubicle.
***
After moving into their [new home], all the employees were overjoyed.
Pokeni's location was also quite excellent.
Just across a park, one could see the Sony headquarters.
"President, won't people talk about this?" Jun Maeda asked, surprised.
"What could they possibly say?"
"That we're sucking up to Sony, or trying to form some kind of alliance with them?"
Aoki Haruhi rolled his eyes. Good grief, the shocked look on your face makes it seem like this is the first time you've heard we were moving here.
"What do you mean 'people will talk'? We already have a deep partnership with Sony, don't we?!"
Wait a minute, is it possible this guy Jun Maeda really doesn't know the company's future development strategy?
***
Anyway, after moving into the new environment, I feel so much better.
The office building had been renovated half a year ago, but we left it to ventilate for over six months to clear out the formaldehyde.
Now that we've moved in, the smell is almost completely gone.
Aoki Haruhi pushed open the door to the President's Office and walked in.
His office was in the corner of the company, but it had a comfortable atmosphere, with a luxurious sofa, coffee table, desk...
The office was decorated with very modern glass walls, so Aoki could see what was happening outside with just a glance.
He sat in his new executive chair and spun around, his back fitting perfectly against the backrest. It was incredibly comfortable.
"Ah~ a new office environment, and my mood has improved too."
Aoki stretched.
He looked out the window, his eyes filled with infinite longing.
From today on, Pokeni has truly entered a fresh start.
***
Since it's a new beginning, we can't be without a new game, can we?
Aoki Haruhi tapped his fingers on the desk, looking at the scenery outside. The Sony Building across from the park had a glass curtain wall that shone especially brightly under the sun.
Even if Sony wasn't in the gaming industry, it would still be a giant right now.
He wondered when Pokeni would be able to reach such heights.
Tapping the desk, Aoki Haruhi reined in his thoughts and focused on the question of what new game to develop.
Early next year, the company would have two game products going on sale.
One was Diablo II, primarily targeting the Western game market.
The other was the Pokémon sequel, Pokémon Gold and Silver, a global blockbuster that was popular in both Japan and the West.
The animated series had also achieved remarkable results, and coupled with the explosive popularity of Kimura Takuya over the past year, the buzz around Pokémon remained incredibly high.
These two games were the company's heavy hitters.
In addition to these, the company also had another game under development, expected to be released in the first half of next year, Patema Inverted, which was currently being developed by Mikami Shinji and Gen Urobuchi.
Aoki Haruhi wasn't quite sure how far along they were just yet.
It looked like he would have to grab Mikami Shinji in a few days to ask him about it.
Then, regarding the galgame side...
"Blanket Man" has achieved extraordinary success, possibly even setting a new sales record for Pokeni's galgames.
Now that this game has come to an end, Jun Maeda and Ishino Mika are free.
According to Aoki Haruhi's plans, they could certainly produce a new galgame.
But what would be the best approach?
Aoki Haruhi closed his eyes and pondered silently.
Should he continue to let Jun Maeda play to his strengths?
Or should he play his trump card right away?
After a moment of deliberation, Aoki Haruhi made his decision—
Set off toward CLANNAD!
"Blanket Man" has already given Jun Maeda some game development experience, and combined with his talent, it doesn't seem impossible.
"CLANNAD" is, in any case, the Mount Everest that one cannot bypass in the world of galgames.
An absolute masterpiece.
A masterpiece among masterpieces.
Whenever galgames are mentioned, one cannot help but think of CL.
Especially after this game was adapted into an anime in his past life, the anime alone brought countless people to tears, making Jun Maeda the undisputed "Great Demon King of Tears" and further cementing the impression of Key's tear-jerkers through CL.
It is easy to imagine just how excellent this work is; even 20 years later, people will still remember it.
The reasons why "Clannad" is called a masterpiece are as follows:
Profound emotions: This anime takes family, friendship, and love as its themes, touching the audience's hearts through delicate emotional portrayals.
Vivid character images: Every character has their own unique personality and backstory, allowing the audience to understand them deeply and resonate with them.
Ups and downs in the plot: The plot of "Clannad" is full of surprises and twists, keeping the audience constantly focused on and looking forward to the story.
Exquisite art: The animation features beautiful and detailed visuals, with outstanding scene and character designs that leave a deep impression.
In summary, "Clannad" performs excellently in terms of emotion, characters, plot, and art, which is why it is hailed as a masterpiece.
Clannad—you feel heartbroken every time you watch it.
Even now, whenever Aoki Haruhi thinks about the ending, he can't help but shed manly tears.
Of course, a masterpiece cannot be given up on.
A world without CL is an incomplete one.
Of course, similar words can also be applied to Fate.
***
The current Jun Maeda actually already showed similar tendencies even back when he was known as the "Blanket Man."
He excels at subtle emotions while possessing an incredibly powerful ability to elicit sentiment.
However, Aoki Haruhi does not intend to just throw the script for CL in Jun Maeda's face, but rather intends to guide him step by step.
During this time, Aoki has been chatting with Jun Maeda quite a bit.
"Maeda, do you know what an electrician is?"
"And how much do you understand about electricians?"
"I've seen them, but I don't know much about them." Although Jun Maeda didn't know why the president was asking this, he answered truthfully.
"Then I'm giving you a task: for a while, go and experience it for yourself."
"Huh?"
Jun Maeda had absolutely no idea what this person was talking about.
"And by the way, try experiencing what family life is like, too."
Jun Maeda: ???
Is the president hinting that I should find a girlfriend and get married?!
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