“Then let’s officially start the release of ‘Capsule Monster’!!”
[ “Wowwwww!!!!” ]
The release of ‘Capsule Monster’ kicked off in a flashy manner. There was no need to hold back, considering it was a popular and guaranteed hit like Super Thomas.
Borrowing the coliseum for this game release event after a long time, we had something very special prepared with the cooperation of the palace. Money was one thing, but we received something even more extraordinary.
That was…
“Wow, disciple, it’s a Pikachu tree!!!”
It was none other than the palace gardeners. I had seen their skills before when they supplied trees to the royal garden. Their ability to shape trees into art was truly magical, and I requested their support from the kingdom to make this event even more perfect.
I asked them to create a sculpture of Capsule Monster, and they began crafting a massive Pikachu tree with giant scissors using their ‘Woodria’ (tree manipulation magic), creating a giant green Pikachu tree in no time.
Of course, the tree sculptures weren’t limited to just Pikachu. They also made sculptures of the starting Pokémon: [Oddish], [Squirtle], and [Charmander].
“Wow! Dad, that’s so cute!! I want to touch it!”
“Me too! Me too!!”
The Capsule Monster sculptures became a huge hit with the kids. The launch venue for Capsule Monster was overflowing with family guests for the first time in ages. After releasing many hardcore games recently, it was refreshing to see families filling the event space.
It felt like the crowd could burst at any moment. With both adults and kids alike captivated by the cute Capsule Monsters, and with Edward Consortium’s grand marketing efforts, it was reminiscent of the day Super Thomas was released with the number of visitors.
“Wow, so many people came, Yuren.”
“Edward Consortium hasn’t done this big of a promotion in a while, and Capsule Monster is so cute.”
“I think it’s the first time we’ve seen this many people since Super Thomas. This game is a success too, Yuren.”
Looking at the packed coliseum, Sylvia spoke up. Just gathering this many people without a tournament-like event was already a sign of success for Capsule Monster.
However, what Yuren felt at that moment was an entirely different emotion.
“Hehehe…”
“Why… why are you like that, Yuren? Why that sinister smile?”
While Sylvia saw the crowded venue and thought, ‘This is it,’ Yuren thought, ‘This is just the beginning.’
“By the way, Sylvia, you’ve never seen a game succeed beyond Super Thomas.”
“Can a game really be more successful than Super Thomas?”
There were games that earned more than Super Thomas, strictly speaking. But no game had ever reached the level of success that Super Thomas achieved. Super Thomas held an absolute position in Sylvia’s and gamers’ hearts.
“This is just my prediction, but I think you’ll get to see a game succeed beyond Super Thomas.”
“Beyond Super Thomas!?”
But Yuren believed it could be even better. Why? Because this game was none other than ‘Capsule Monster’.
*
The official launch of Capsule Monster began. The Capsule Monster craze started among the kids.
“Hey, have you tried this?”
Whenever a new game comes out, there are always kids who want to boast about it. Whether they want to show off their financial prowess or share the fun, there was always at least one kid in every group who proudly displayed their newly acquired Capsule Monster crystal ball from the release event.
“What is this?”
“This is the game that just came out, ‘Capsule Monster’! It’s super fun! You should try it too!!”
“What kind of game is it?”
“It’s a game where you collect Capsule Monsters and become a Capsule Monster Trainer…”
The kid with the game showed off countless Capsule Monsters reflected in the crystal ball while explaining the game. The premise of becoming a top trainer with cute and cool animals as friends to fulfill your dreams sounded childish, but it was oddly relatable, fitting right into the kids’ world, and that’s how the game began to spread.
To be honest, this part wasn’t particularly special. It was just the usual process one goes through with an enjoyable game.
But the truly terrifying aspect of ‘Capsule Monster’ emerged from here.
“Hey! Do you have [Ghost]?”
“Yeah, I have two. Why?”
“Want to trade? I’ll give you [Miryong].”
“Sure, sounds good!”
‘Capsule Monster’ had a feature that allowed players to trade monsters. This function enabled gamers to exchange monsters they didn’t have, and when this encountered the idea of friendship, the fun EXPLODED.
Every time a gamer got a new monster, they wanted to brag about it to their friends. To get new monsters, they had to level up and play the game. Games become more enjoyable when there’s a goal.
And Capsule Monster provided the ultimate goal indeed. But that was not the end.
“Wow! [Ghost] evolved into a new monster!?”
“That’s amazing. So you can evolve like this too!”
The rumor that trading could lead to evolution in the Capsule Monsters spread like wildfire among the kids. Even those who had no interest in trading ended up trading to evolve, and then they were captivated by the thrill of Capsule Monster.
Thus, the kids fell deeper into the joy of Capsule Monsters.
Then came shocking news.
“Hey! Did you hear the news?”
“What news?”
“They’re making a Capsule Monster animation!!”
“Animation?”
“What’s that?”
In a world where no long anime had officially aired before, the first news of an animation broadcast drew people to the crystal balls. This broadcast was made possible by Yuren connecting the World Tree Network across the country and getting permission from the palace, marking the empire’s first-ever animated broadcast.
The kids gathered in front of the large screen crystal balls in the village square watched the Capsule Monster animation unfold.
“Alright! It’s starting now♫! A journey for my dreams, Pikachu♫”
With the opening song, the moving pictures began, and the adults and children alike couldn’t tear their eyes away from this new visual offering that provided a different kind of excitement from the game.
“Pikachu!!! One million volts!!”
“Pikaaa!!”
The content of ‘Capsule Monster’ was almost identical to the game. It told the adventure story of [Ji-Woon] and [Pikachu] aspiring to be the best Capsule Monster Trainer in [Start Village], simply adapting the game’s storyline into video format.
But the vibrant life and breathing world of Capsule Monsters shown on screen were irresistibly appealing to the kids.
“Pikachu is so cute!”
“Yeah, if monsters like that existed, I’d want to raise one too.”
Entranced by the cute, kind, and strong Capsule Monsters, the kids began to say things like…
“Dad! Let’s raise monsters too!”
“That’s nonsense!! Capsule Monsters and forest monsters are different! Forest monsters eat people, so you must never go near them. Got it?”
“Hiiing…”
As the popularity of Capsule Monsters grew day by day, yet another cultural shock approached. It was none other than “bread.”
“Alright! The Capsule Monster bread is here!”
“When you buy bread, you get a Capsule Monster card for free!!”
The Baker Guild, with two thousand locations across the empire, began selling ‘Capsule Monster Bread’. The news that they’d give a Capsule Monster card with every bread purchase mimicked the characteristics of the Capsule Monsters, prompting people to flock to the Baker Guild’s bakeries.
“I’ll have one [Pikachu Cornbread]!!”
“I’ll take a [Ghost Chocolate Bread]!”
The kids begged their parents to buy Capsule Monster bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to get the Capsule Monster cards.
The synergy with the Baker Guild’s delicious bread skyrocketed the sale of Capsule Monster bread.
In just two months, the entire empire was overrun with Capsule Monsters.
The streets were filled with kids talking about Capsule Monsters,
they ate Capsule Monster bread for meals,
watched Capsule Monster animations in the afternoons,
played the Capsule Monster game in the evenings, and connected to the World Tree Network to battle Capsule Monsters with others.
If they didn’t join in Capsule Monster discussions, they were left out, and if they didn’t have any Capsule Monsters, the kids ignored them, forcing the adults to buy Capsule Monsters for their children.
Adults, kids, elves, dark elves, dwarves – everyone came into contact with Capsule Monsters in one form or another, making it nearly impossible for anyone in the empire to remain unaware of Capsule Monsters.
The Capsule Monster craze was truly beginning to erupt!
