In 1999, a game machine appeared in Korean arcades.
Released by a South Korean game development company, “Andamir,” this arcade rhythm game became a legend in the world of Korean arcade games.
Arcades dedicated solely to this game sprang up like mushrooms, and tournaments solely for this game happened so frequently that they were beyond counting.
This legendary game, often said to have kept the arcades alive along with “Steel Authority,” maintained the throne of arcade rhythm games for the next decade, preserving the dwindling pulse of Korean rhythm games.
This is the legend of domestically produced arcade games.
It has provided arcade BGM for countless media works and has famously wrecked the knees of many students.
It is “Jump.”
*
“Jump” is not the first rhythm game.
The earliest rhythm game is said to be “SIMON,” released in 1978 by a place called Madel.
So, is it the first arcade rhythm game? Nope, that’s not it either.
The first arcade rhythm game is “Beat the Mania,” released by Kojima in 1997.
That game allowed players to indirectly experience being a DJ, showcasing the fun and potential of arcade rhythm games to the world.
Seeing the fun, Kojima created a separate brand and produced various rhythm arcade games.
From that came “Poppin’ Music,” and the original arcade game now famous in Korea, “Dance Dance Dance Revolution,” abbreviated as “DDDR.”
“Jump” started as a copycat of “DDDR.”
Unlike “DDDR,” which has up-and-down and side-to-side panels, “Jump” set up diagonal panels and actively integrated Korean pop music, expanding its presence in Korea.
From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, “Jump” grew alongside the burgeoning Korean pop music market, creating a golden age for arcade rhythm games.
Even now, if you close your eyes, you can remember the Beethoven Virus of “Jump” resonating in the arcades and the superhumans clearing it in all combos.
The reason I hadn’t created such a rhythm game until now was simple.
First, I couldn’t remember; second, I hadn’t played many rhythm games.
By the time I became interested in rhythm games, the arcades were already occupied by superhumans who cleared it with all combos as casually as eating.
I went to the arcade with a pounding heart, only to return home feeling lonely after playing “Steel Authority” while watching their amazing show.
But this is another world.
It might require some experimentation, but if it’s possible, I could create a new rhythm game market in this world.
“So it’s decided; the next game will be a rhythm game.”
The day after the performance, I announced this before everyone.
As always, my statement about producing a rhythm game triggered question marks above everyone’s heads.
As always, Jiren spoke on behalf of the group.
“What kind of game is a rhythm game?”
“A rhythm game is, quite literally, a game where you entrust your body to the rhythm.”
“You entrust your body?”
I pulled out the rhythm game prototype I had created while everyone was sleeping last night.
“How did you make this in just a day?”
Developing a rhythm game isn’t hard, and with the support of the Dragon Heart Stone, this is a piece of cake.
I continued explaining to Jiren.
“Now, stand on this platform that outputs from the Crystal Ball.”
The holographic diagonal arrows and central button panel were projected from the Crystal Ball.
Jiren stood on it, and I ran the mode that displayed nodes without music.
“Then step on the panel in time with the arrow nodes coming down on the screen.”
Following my instructions, Jiren stepped on the panel corresponding to the arrow coming from the left diagonal.
Then the arrow node burst forth with effects I had temporally created.
Bang!
“Like this?”
“Yeah, just keep doing that.”
Jiren continued to step on the descending arrow nodes.
As he combined steps and managed combos, his expression gradually hardened.
It was only natural.
A game without music couldn’t possibly be fun.
“Um… this is boring. Yuren bro.”
“Now I’m going to turn the music on, so try again.”
I told Jiren, who had a serious expression, while approaching the Crystal Ball.
Then I activated the mode that played the song I had crudely recorded yesterday.
Thus, the nodes began to descend with music.
“You’re my cute black cat, the red ribbon looks so good on you♫”
““Wait…!?”
Bang! Bang! Ba-bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Ba-bang!
To the rhythm of the music, Jiren began to step on the panels.
As he started gaming, entrusting his body to the rhythm, Jiren’s expression started to change.
He began to show signs of energy and joy, and we, too, slowly started to sway to the rhythm.
After the short 1 minute and 20 seconds song ended, Jiren looked relieved, as if he hadn’t felt that good in a long time.
“Ha… Ha… Ha…”
“How was it, fun?”
“This is fun!”
“That’s the joy of a rhythm game!”
It seemed Jiren had understood the thrill of a rhythm game physically.
Yeah, this was the essence of rhythm game fun.
It was a game where you feel whole-body enjoyment of riding the rhythm well.
Pleased with Jiren’s reaction, I was smiling when Jiren spoke again.
“But bro, I think we have a serious problem.”
“What’s that?”
“The song is terrible.”
“…Really?”
“It’s not that the lyrics or rhythm are bad, but it doesn’t sound like something Yuren bro would sing.”
With the factual barrage laced with Jiren’s killing intent, I felt my past karaoke trauma rise up.
No! No matter how true that is, saying something so cruel, I turned back to find other allies.
“Yuren, I think Jiren has a point.”
“It’s not bad, but for a song we can sell…”
“Yuren’s singing isn’t bad, but it’s always fun to listen to! Hahaha!”
Sora, Sylvia, and Julia confirmed the kill, striking my heart.
And finally, the master said…
“Yuren, my disciple, let’s leave the singing to someone else.”
“Yes… Master…”
Even the master had confirmed the kill, and my song was demoted to test material.
It was fall, as winter was approaching.
*
Riana felt her heart race upon hearing a song for the first time at a tavern, wanting to know who that silver-haired person was, and she asked the tavern master.
And she learned that the person was none other than Yuren, the wizard who manages Irene Land and created the Tetris she liked.
The next day, Riana snuck out during morning practice and headed to Irene Tower, where Yuren worked.
Honestly, Riana didn’t know why she was doing this.
But one thing was certain… she felt an ominous foreboding that if she let this chance slip by, something wouldn’t return again.
“Is this where Wizard Yuren works?”
Riana found a hole in the main gate to sneak in.
In her experience, there was always a hole in these magic towers or research facilities.
Thanking the one who created the hole (Jiren), she entered Irene Tower and began to wander around.
However, while doing that, she heard the song she had heard yesterday.
“It’s… a song?”
It was the very song she had heard in the tavern.
It was neither folk tunes nor the hymns she sang herself but a new song, and she walked toward where the music was coming from.
Peering through a window, she saw several people animatedly discussing among strange magical tools with unknown purposes.
“That’s not it, Julia! Sing more passionately, feel the betrayal of love deeper!”
“This is my limit!”
“Yuren, do we really have to go this far?”
“No matter how much we resolve the song through requests, we need to create the basic music for it to sound the way we want. And the only one among us who sings well is Julia.”
“That’s true, but…”
The Irene School’s music was produced through outsourcing from the Bard Guild.
They relied on the guild’s capabilities after providing only basic concepts, and up until now, since music hadn’t been very critical in the games, Yuren had accepted that without much thought.
But this time, music was the main element of the game, and he was looking for ways to enhance the quality of the music.
“Ah… Are there any capable singers out there…”
While Yuren sighed, Riana recalled the song she’d heard earlier.
Though the performer was lacking, what could she say?
It seemed like a very cheerful and enjoyable song.
Riana began to sing along with that tune.
“I don’t know!♫ I can’t know!!♫ You loved me like this!!♫…”
She sang as she remembered the familiar parts of the song.
Though there was no audience watching, Riana felt it.
‘(It feels good…)’
The exhilarating feeling, the indescribable happiness resonated within her.
As she finished singing the memorable parts of the song, she suddenly felt a gaze upon her.
“…………”
“……….”
Looking to the side, she found Yuren peeking in, only his head visible, watching her.
Riana, who had experienced many men looking at her sexually, recognized that Yuren’s gaze was different.
The sparkling gleam in Yuren’s eyes, hunting for talent not slaves, was a sight she had never seen before, leaving Riana feeling flustered.
And she was even more confused by Yuren’s next words.
“Accepted!!!!!!!!!”
