After developing Legend Fighter, while I was training due to a fight with the prince, the game development at the Irene School continued. Thanks to my reliable disciples, they were sweating it out, working hard on game development, and their skills were improving rapidly. They were at the point where everyone could create their own game.
There’s a saying that if you work a lot, your work will increase, and if you sleep a lot, your sleep will increase. So, what should I increase for the disciples who worked hard on game development? That’s right. Increasing their fun game development experience would be the greatest reward.
This was definitely not just about me being upset because I took on tough tasks at the Minister’s Office. Absolutely not.
“So, while I was away, our Irene School will split into two teams to develop games.”
I announced this to everyone gathered, holding up the project modification crystal ball. There wasn’t much time, so I skipped over a lot, and Jiren and Julia were already tied to their chairs.
“Now you aren’t even giving us a chance to escape, are you, Yuren hyung?”
“Hahaha, that’s too harsh, Yuren.”
I felt sorry for the two, but I had no choice; I was running out of time. With the hidden character of Legend Fighter, the tournament challengers of Irene, meetings with the Minister’s Office, and Sylvia… I didn’t even have the time to spare for capturing them.
For now, I handed the project modification crystal ball to Jiren and Noirin and said, “You two form a team and create ‘Super Thomas 2’.”
Jiren and Noirin started looking at my project modification crystal ball for Super Thomas 2. Super Thomas 2 was a version where the legendary raccoon Thomas first appeared, corresponding to Super Ario 3 in my previous life.
The graphic concepts, items, stages, and key points of Super Thomas 2 were stored in the crystal ball through document magic, and as they looked at it, they began to discuss.
“In Super Thomas 2, if Thomas eats a fallen leaf, he transforms into a raccoon.”
“And when he becomes a raccoon, he flies around? Yuren hyung, raccoons don’t have wings, how can they fly?”
That’s how it is in the Mushroom Kingdom. And right now, that’s not what’s important, Jiren. What’s important is that this game featuring raccoon Thomas is going to be incredibly fun. Super Ario 3 is hailed as a masterpiece that fully established the game quality of the Super Ario series. It’s the game I enjoyed the most among the series.
I also spoke to the other team, Karen and Julia. “What should we make, Yuren?”
“Karen, team up with Julia and create this game. With both of your skills and the help of the Juel School, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
I handed a project modification crystal ball to Karen and Julia. As Julia read the first page, the words spilled out.
“The game name is ‘Puyo Puyo’? What a strange name, Yuren.”
‘Puyo Puyo’ is one of the falling object puzzle games produced by the Japanese company Compile, and one of the classic puzzle games that defined its genre. The rules were simple. You match similarly colored Puyos falling from the sky to eliminate them. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary game, but its true value lies in the combos.
By strategically arranging several Puyos, you could create a chain reaction of explosions that would clear the entire screen, delivering an exhilarating feeling. Tetris has its limits with straight blocks clearing four rows at once, but Puyo Puyo can clean the screen in a single burst!
During its prime, it was even more popular than Tetris in Japan and Korea, and it remains a legendary game officially recognized in Japan’s esports league as a professional title.
“Let’s make sure we create that weird game since it could become the mainstay of the Juel School.”
“Ah… understood! Don’t pat my shoulder so fearfully!!”
The significance of the ‘Puyo Puyo’ project is that many disciples from the Juel School would officially participate. While planning and managing would be handled by the Irene School, development would be done by the Juel School, with future profits divided as per the contract.
I had wanted to implement this development method for a while. No matter how skilled the disciples of the Irene School were, there was a limit. But by doing this, it was possible to create various games with minimal manpower.
While this might slightly reduce profits, our Irene School was already the wealthiest school in the Southern Region. What mattered wasn’t money; it was about delivering fun and entertaining games to the people.
“And Master, if any production problems arise with the two games, I ask you to respond accordingly.”
“Got it! My disciple, leave it to me!!”
Trusting my master and disciples to handle game development, I headed back to the Minister’s Office to finalize the next line of Legend Fighter. After focusing on the success of Legend Fighter for nearly two months, getting tied up in all sorts of tasks, including a desperate showdown with the Prince of Ra, I finally returned, having regained my freedom.
I really thought I was going to die from exhaustion. The first thing I did upon returning to the Irene School was…
(╮°-°)╮┳━┳
(╯> △*
Even while I was away, our Irene School and Juren School were diligently developing games. Super Thomas 2 was 60% complete, and Puyo Puyo was 80% done. If this continued, it looked like they would be able to release a game next month—if I didn’t flip the table, that is.
If it had been another school, they would’ve been satisfied with this level of progress, but I could not be satisfied! If Super Thomas 2 were released as it was, the god of games would probably smite me!
So, with tears of blood, I requested modifications from everyone.
“This isn’t it! The raccoon in Super Thomas shouldn’t fly like this!”
“What do you mean by that, hyung?”
The raccoon created by Jiren and Noirin in Super Thomas 2 flew according to the plan. But it only adhered too strictly to the plan. The feeling of running versus the feeling of flying just wasn’t there. I summoned all my strength to channel my past self to convey that feeling.
“It’s not that Super Thomas just runs dryly and then flies; it’s like he’s running and wagging his tail while going ‘Wiiing’ and then flies!”
“What on earth does that mean, Yuren hyung!?”
Seeing my heartfelt expression, Jiren and Noirin regarded me with the look of ‘This guy has fought a crazy dragon and finally lost his mind.’
While I couldn’t find a way to express this frustrating feeling, a savior appeared.
“I see now. My disciple, so you mean to say he should run, ‘Tudadadada’, then go ‘Wiiing’ and fly?”
“Yes, exactly! I knew only you, Master, would understand my heart!”
“Cough, of course. I am your master, aren’t I!”
The master proudly puffed out his chest, while Jiren and Noirin looked on in utter confusion. Those guys seem to lack game development skills still.
And there was still a game left for the table flip.
“This isn’t it either! The popping sensation of Puyo Puyo isn’t like this!”
“What do you mean by that, Yuren?”
Puyo Puyo, created by Julia, Karen, and the Juel School, was well-crafted according to the project. But the key essence, the explosive feeling that was both the alpha and omega of Puyo Puyo, was missing.
I invoked the spirit of the slime hunter and spoke to Julia.
“It’s not supposed to pop like air escaping. It should burst as if a water-laden slime got hit by a throwing spear, bursting its bodily fluid!”
Upon hearing my comparison, Julia’s expression turned progressively darker, like a little girl watching a horrific gore movie.
What was this? Why was she looking so glum?
“Are you telling me to create such a cruel effect!?”
Julia yelled at me for my refreshing, enjoyable pop concept. Was it that my explanation was lacking?
Just then, Karen spoke up.
“I understand, Yuren. You mean the feeling when a slime bursts upon being hit by a throwing spear.”
“Yes, that’s it! Karen gets it!?”
Karen, who was listening to my modification suggestions between Julia and me, sparkled with her eyes and said, “Yes, I understand. Julia, let’s shorten the playtime when the slime bursts by about 0.3 seconds and adjust the internal image of the Puyo like this…”
As Karen’s modification instructions were applied, the refreshing pop sensation of Puyo started to come to life. Yes! This is how Puyo should burst!
I clapped and cheered.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
“Yeah! This feeling is it!”
“I think the people of the Irene School… are quite strange.”
As Karen received my applause, she puffed her shoulders with pride like the master. Julia looked at us with a strange expression, like we were bizarre.
Finally, I felt like I had returned to where I belonged.
