Investor That Can See The Future

Chapter 459

The cosplay of Anneke and Hana Yang was hugely popular.

People flocked to take pictures, and an official Stormcon reporter offered an interview. Recruitment proposals from famous cosplay teams continued.

Anneke was excited and suggested that she try on another outfit, but Yang Hana firmly shook her head. It was a short time, but it felt as if he had gone through all the humiliation he would have suffered in his life.

The two went to change clothes again, and Taek-gyu muttered with his arms crossed.

“OTK Games should also hold such an event soon.”

Icestorm is the only game company in the world that can attract people like this while selling tickets for a fee.

But wouldn’t it be possible with OTK Games?

Lost fantasy fans around the world are increasing. In particular, the performance in the North American market, which was almost barren, is encouraging.

As it confirmed that the Lost Fantasy series is a worldwide content, it was a positive signal for the VRMMORPG currently under development.

‘Everyone is only thinking about the sales and operating profit of OTK Games, but the vice president is planning a new event for gamers! Was the reason you came here to benchmark your competitors’ events?’

Team leader Jeong Ki-hong exclaimed with admiration.

“You didn’t just come to play!”

It was a misunderstanding. I was just here to play.

After a while, Anneke and Hana Yang returned back to their original clothes. Taek-gyu raised his thumb towards the two of them.

“Well done. It went very well.”

Yang Ha-na smiled at Taek-gyu’s praise.

“Ah, thank you.”

Still, getting compliments made me feel better. Yang Hana, who had barely recovered her mentality, asked Taek-gyu.

“Why is Icestorm so loved by gamers?”

To that question, Taek-gyu simply answered.

“I am faithful to the basics.”

“Basic?”

“The basics of a game company is to make good games.”

“Ah!”

It was too obvious, but it was a story that penetrated the core.

Usually, game companies are busy releasing similar games by copying them appropriately after a certain game is released. And, if most of them succeed, they are desperate to get some money out of the billing somehow. ‘Maple Tales’ and ‘Dungeon and Magicians’ are representative examples.

On the other hand, Icestorm’s game had original creativity. In particular, it is famous for its impeccable worldview. It was enough to create the illusion of being in another world while playing the game.

User-friendly interface and rich content are also great advantages.

Because of this, every released game created a sensation in the game market, and it was called a ‘god developer’ among gamers, and was also selected as the game developer most wanted to enter.

Lately, it has been showing signs of shaking due to several problems. Everyone had no doubts that he would soon return to the center and release a game that would thrill fans all over the world.

“This trust is the greatest value that Icestorm has built up over the years.”

“i See.”

“So, despite the fact that Mephisto 4 is a rare masterpiece, everyone is looking forward to it like this. I think Icestorm will make a better game by overcoming mistakes.”

* * *

After many events, finally the highlight of the event.

New game announcement time has begun. Everyone already knows that the game is a Mephisto series.

Again, the Mephisto logo appeared on the screen, and Mephisto’s general designer Steve Wang appeared.

A Taiwanese-American with a good-natured look, he was wearing jeans and a T-shirt with the Mephisto logo on it.

King Steve raised his hands and greeted them loudly.

“Hello, Stormcon! Guys, we love Mephisto! We are proud that millions of players around the world have come together to defeat the devil.”

Fans responded with cheers to the words.

So far it’s been good However, what followed was completely different from what was expected.

“Today’s world is interconnected through mobile devices. We know. The best platform for playing Mephisto’s new game is a mobile device. What could be more fun than gathering family and friends to defeat the devil? Let’s see the cinematic first.”

Then came a cinematic video that filled the screen.

Anneke was puzzled and asked Taek-gyu.

“What happened, brother? It’s not online right now, but mobile, right?”

“… … .”

Taehyung didn’t say anything. It felt as if I had been hit hard in the back of the head with a hammer.

Moments later, when the cinematic was over, Steve Wang shouted.

“The new mobile game Mephisto Infinity! I am so looking forward to it!”

It’s a very alone look.

Taek-gyu denied reality.

‘no! this can’t be real There will definitely be a twist! Online announcements after mobile announcements!’

Far from being a reversal, the subsequent remarks were even more shocking.

“This game was produced by Easynet, a Chinese game company. Without their passion and dedication, Mephisto Infinity would never have been possible. How are you guys? Are you surprised?”

I was really surprised.

The back of the head that was just hit is still tingling, but I feel like I’ve been hit again.

Usually, when a new game is released, it is normal when there is a burst of cheers. But everyone was so surprised that they didn’t say anything.

“I know what you guys are thinking. Would you like to see a play video?”

‘No, I don’t want to see that!’

When no one responded, he panicked and turned on a gameplay video.

Everyone in the presentation room murmured instead of concentrating on the video.

“No, what is that?”

“It should be Mephisto 5, what is Infinity?”

“Is that Mephisto? It’s just a mass-produced mobile game!”

“Did you subcontract it to a Chinese game company? So what does Icestorm do?”

“I’m also Chinese, but why leave this to Easynet? If you’re only lending your name, isn’t this just a Chinese game?”

“Do you think I came all the way from Germany to see this?”

Both of them asked as if they did not understand.

“Hey, is this such a big deal?”

It’s such a big deal.

Taek-gyu screamed in anger.

“Are these kids kidding? Where did Mephisto 5 go?”

I couldn’t figure out why this was happening.

Unlike OTK Games, which depended on only one IP called Lost Fantasy, Ice Storm succeeded in several games besides Mephisto. In addition, it created a huge box office hit in the North American and Chinese markets as well as the world.

However, despite its worldwide popularity, Icestorm’s sales volume is not very large. Last year’s sales were $2.3 billion. And the operating profit margin was $690 million, which is 30 percent.

If it is large, it is a large amount, but for a global game company, it is shabby. The reason was mainly because the game was sold as a package or a flat rate.

The development of technology has greatly increased the cost of game development. In the case of a masterpiece MMORPG, the development period has been increased several times, and the development cost has also increased significantly.

In a nutshell, there is no significant change in sales, only cost increases.

On the other hand, mobile development is less difficult and costs less. However, sales are much higher than online.

So Shigeru Ichikawa also produced Lost Fantasy Mobile first, and then developed online again with the profits from that.

As for human psychology, a 100,000-won package game seems too expensive, and even if the monthly fee is increased by only $10, the game company swears by it that the game company has risen, but various items and random boxes sold in mobile games are easily erased.

If you pay that way because your clothes get wet in the drizzle, it is an instant to go over hundreds of thousands of won or millions of won.

The development cost is also low, but the operating profit margin of mobile games is often over 50% because of the induction of billing in all kinds of ways. In extreme cases, it has exceeded 90%. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

‘Are you planning on selling random boxes through mobile games and pulling out money after all?’

In a way, Icestorm is going to do the same thing that other game companies have done so far, and this is not necessarily a bad thing. Anyway, game companies are companies, and the purpose of the company is to make a profit.

Considering this, it is understandable why they outsourced the game to a Chinese game company.

Icestorm has mainly made PC online games, so there is a shortage of mobile game production personnel. In order to save development cost and time, it is reasonable to outsource it.

If you are already determined to make money, China is a market you cannot miss. However, China is currently closed. If you entrust the production to a Chinese game company, it will be relatively easy to break through this plate.

To be honest, Mephisto Infinity isn’t a bad game. The graphics and interface didn’t look much different from other mobile action RPGs. If it had been a different game, I would have thought it was a pretty good game.

The problem is that this is a Mephisto series!

Those gathered here are loyal fans from all over the world who have spent their time and money in anticipation of Mephisto 5.

What they want is a PC online game, not a mobile game made to earn moderately. I wanted a new story that would erase the black history of 4, which was a failure, and make my heart race again.

But out of the blue, mass-produced mobile games were introduced.

It wasn’t even made by Icestorm himself, but it was made by subcontracting to a Chinese game company!

This is tantamount to betraying the expectations of many fans. To use an analogy, it said that it was a restaurant, so I waited for a long time to sit at the table, and then I poured water on the cup noodles, right?

“New characters, new skills, new stories, and more. We have prepared a playable demo version in Hall E, so you can enjoy it after the presentation.”

There was still no reaction, and Wang Steve gave him an indifferent expression. A few more explanations followed, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The American man, who appeared to be in his 30s, asked into the microphone.

“I’m really curious, but do you have any plans to release it on PC? Is it really the end of that mobile game?”

Steve Wang just cut it off.

“As announced, only mobile, that is, Andromeda and NOS. There are currently no plans for a PC release.”

At those words, boos erupted everywhere.

“Boo!”

“Wow!”

Steve Wang jokingly tried to change the mood somehow.

“You don’t even have a phone?”

The other presenter sitting next to them quickly chimed in.

“Yes. You all have phones. Or a tablet.”

With these remarks, the atmosphere of understanding shifted to an irreversible situation.

Taek-gyu, unable to bear it any longer, told Team Leader Jeong Ki-hong.

“Go out and tell me what I mean.”(Read more @ wuxiax.com)

“Yes?”

Team leader Jeong Ki-hong, who stood in front of the microphone as if pushing his back, coughed in vain.

“Wow! Oh, hello. My name is Ki-Hong Jung, the former head of the PR team at OTK Company.”

Everyone, including Steve Wang, was shocked by that statement.

A few people around recognized the face of Team Leader Jeong Ki-hong.

“uh! I think I saw him on TV.”

“It looks like the guy who came out when the OTK Company announced it.”

“uh? Are you really from OTK Company?”

“Why are you here?”

asked Steve Wang.

“Do you have anything to say?”

Team leader Jeong Ki-hong said while holding the microphone.

“It’s not that I have anything to say, but the vice president of OTK Company asked me to give you a message.”

Everyone screamed in surprise.

“You’re the deputy representative of OTK Company!”

“Did you watch Stormcan at home?”

“Aren’t you here by any chance?”

“Ah, maybe.”

Who doesn’t know who the OTK Company vice president is for a gamer?

He invested in Shigeru Ichikawa to establish OTK Games, and defended the Korean game industry against the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. (At the time, the video of the discussion with the Ministry of Leisure was translated into several languages ​​and watched by gamers around the world.)

In addition, it supported the development of VRMMORPGs, which cost more than $10 billion, and established an OTK award.

Due to this series of events, the vice president of OTK Company was regarded as a true historical figure in the game world, a myth.

Team leader Jeong Ki-hong was surprised to see the message delivered on his smartphone.

‘Are you really reading this?’

… … Looking back, Taek-gyu nodded his head as if to read it quickly.

Team leader Jeong Ki-hong closed his eyes tightly and did as he was told.

“I’m going to take over Icestorm right now and cut all the people who said we should develop it, and make Mephisto 5… … You said.”

A long silence passed for a while. Then, there was a loud cheer that seemed to leave the presentation hall.

“Wow!”

“Hey, everyone! calm down!”

The organizers tried to rectify the unexpected situation, but people all raised their hands and shouted.

“OTK! OTK!”