A month had passed since I returned to the Irene School after my match with Prince Ra.
The game development, after flipping the dinner table, was progressing smoothly.
The development was just like any other day.
Sometimes I worked late nights,
Sometimes Jiren and Julia would run away,
Sometimes we awakened everyone by using Busker (Berserker Magic) and Kaya (Healing Magic) while making the game.
The quality of ‘Super Thomas 2’ and ‘Puyo Puyo’ was rising day by day, and when even the god of games praised its excellence, I gave the green light for the release.
News about the release of not just one but two new games from the Irene School spread like wildfire.
While the power of the IP from the sequel to Super Thomas played its part, there was also another title added this time, which sped things up even more.
That title was [Game of Yuren (Irene School), the Wizard who defeated the Crazy Dragon of the Kingdom of Ra].
Honor and titles were extremely important.
In this otherworldly fantasy realm, they were even more crucial.
I intended to take full advantage of the title I had earned through hard work.
“Well then, let’s release it in two weeks as planned, Yuren.”
“Got it, Sylvia. We’ll head to Zephia then.”
I decided the game release date with Sylvia and the staff of the Edward Consortium.
We agreed to start marketing the game a relaxed two weeks in advance.
If the game’s popularity became overwhelming, an explosive short-term marketing approach would pack people in too tightly, making things unmanageable.
While we discussed such matters, Julia, with a scowl on her face, glanced at Sylvia and said,
“Sylvia, it seems like you’ve been around a lot lately.”
Hearing Julia’s complaint while sticking closely to me, Sylvia smiled and replied,
“I think I’ll be visiting the Irene School often, so I installed a ‘Teleportation Carpet.’”
The ‘Teleportation Carpet’ was a magical tool that allowed instant transportation to designated areas; although it required high installation costs and had a daily usage limit, once set up, it was easy to use as many times as needed.
Until now, I primarily used teleportation magic to go to Zephia, but as it turned out, there were many occasions when Sylvia needed to come to the Irene School, so we decided to install it at great expense together.
Now, I could travel comfortably rather than the hassle of going to Zephia.
“Let’s meet often at the Irene School from now on, Julia.”
Sylvia said with a mischievous smile to Julia, who glared back at Sylvia, seemingly keeping her in check.
When did these two get so friendly?
It seemed a lot had happened between them while I was unaware.
And this time, we introduced a new ad.
That was…
“Yuren! This month’s ‘Zers Gamer’ is out!”
“Oh! Finally!”
‘Zers Gamer’ was the first gaming magazine in the Zers Empire.
There were newspapers and magazines even in this other world.
The newspapers were hardly different from those in my previous life, although being monarchy, there were slight articles praising the royal family.
As for magazines, ones introducing magical tools comprised the mainstream.
Since gaming crystal balls were a type of magical tool, they had been introduced in those magazines, but the audience mainly consisted of housewives, so my potential customers typically paid little attention.
However, as gaming crystal balls gained popularity, a magazine solely dedicated to them was published.
That magazine was ‘Zers Gamer.’
“Let’s see… Oh! Here it is.”
“We’re really in here!”
“I’m in here too, Jiren!”
We decided to place an ad in ‘Zers Gamer.’
And while we were at it, the journalists from Zers Gamer asked to interview us at the Irene School and took our photos as well.
The content was quite similar to interviews with game developers from my past life.
They asked what kind of fun we aimed to provide with the game,
What challenges we faced during development (Jiren was about to say something, but I cut him off).
As we spoke, I, my apprentices, and Master Irene concluded with a group photo showcasing the typical game developers’ crossed-arms pose.
For some unknown reason, stepping in front of a camera made us naturally do that.
“It’s amusing to think that I’m featured in a magazine photo like this.”
“Super Thomas 2 and Puyo Puyo are also introduced!”
The magazine also included introduction pages for the previously played Super Thomas 2 and Puyo Puyo.
I picked up a demo version of Super Thomas 2 and Puyo Puyo from Zephia, and journalists played it to write their introductory articles.
The introduction for Super Thomas 2 roughly went like this:
[Super Thomas 1 was a perfect game. But now, an even more perfect game has descended upon this empire.]
[You should buy three games: one to play, one to keep, and one to pass down to your child.]
[Yuren is not just a warrior who has defeated a crazy dragon. He is ‘the God of Games.’]
In short, it received glowing reviews.
A bit embarrassing, but considering the expected reaction for Super Mario 3, I nodded and flipped to the next page.
There was an intro about Puyo Puyo, and it went something like this:
[It’s fun. So I hit my friend with a chair shot.]
[An irresistible addiction, terrifying beings surpassing Tetric are coming.]
[Payoen♫ Payoen♫ Payoen♫ Payoen♫ Payoen♫ Payoen♫ Payoen♫]
In summary, it was simply ‘Payoen♫.’
Those journalists really enjoyed Puyo Puyo!
Thus, the latest issue of ‘Zers Gamer’ featured proper advertisements for Super Thomas 2 and Puyo Puyo.
This should have been sufficient advertisement for gamers.
Ah! Naturally, I also gave an ad to the Bard Guild as well.
[Have you heard everyone!? Finally, ‘Super Thomas 2’ is set to release! That’s all. What the hell! Turn off the broadcast quickly! I’ve got to go buy it!!]
“…………”
The advertising broadcasts seem to be getting shorter each day.
If you have to go, at least sing the ad jingle before you leave!
*
The release date for Super Thomas 2 and Puyo Puyo had arrived.
Including myself, everyone involved in game development from the Irene School comfortably traveled via the teleportation magical tool to the Harmon Game Store for the release.
A horde of people gathered at the Harmon Game Store to buy the two games.
Was it due to the influence of Legend Fighter?
We even spotted many muscle-bound gamers!
[Then, we’ll now begin the sales of Super Thomas 2 and Puyo Puyo! Customers, please line up…]
“Move aside!!!”
“Whoa!!!”
As the announcement for the game’s release was made, gamers surged into the store.
Thinking about the gamers who had grown strong from Legend Fighter, the Edward Consortium only called some of the stronger folks, but apparently, it wasn’t enough.
“Give me one Super Thomas 2!”
“I’ll take two Super Thomas 2s here!!”
“I want the Super-Puyo set!!!”
Overall, people bought Super Thomas 2 and Puyo Puyo as a package.
Just in case, a product with two crystal balls set as the Super-Puyo set was prepared, and it seemed like that was a genius move!
“Hey guys! You can play Puyo Puyo right here at the game store!”
“Really! Let’s go play!!”
Thus, the sales of Super Thomas 2 and Puyo Puyo coincided with the game store’s release.
Especially Puyo Puyo, being a total arcade-style game, was placed right next to Legend Fighter, receiving special attention.
“Aha! So this is a game where you match blobs of the same color.”
“Isn’t this way too easy?”
“True, Tetric seems way harder.”
Gamers touched Puyo Puyo while thinking lightheartedly.
And soon enough, sounds of the game began resonating in the arcade.
Bwoom! Bwoom! Bang! Payoen♫
Bwoom! Bwoom! Bang! Bang! Bang! Payoen! Payoen!!♫
Kuwong! Kuwong! Payo- Payo- Payoen!!!♫
The sound of Payoen, the symbol of both the game and mass slaughter, began to echo.
“Are you actually playing this game like garbage!!! (You’re really playing this game terribly.)”
Pffff!
“Aah!! Hey!!!! Don’t hit so hard just because it’s a chair shot!!!”
Payoen is one of the character’s moves in Puyo Puyo that originally aimed to enchant the opponent with a flower, rendering them immobile.
However, this meaning completely distorted when it came into the battle mode of Puyo Puyo.
To understand the reason, one must know the chaining system of Puyo Puyo.
When conditions for bursting are continuously satisfied, chains burst forth, and crossing 7 chains locks the chain spell to ‘Payoen’, dropping hindering Puyos.
In other words, from a novice’s perspective, the sounds of ‘Payoen~ Payoen~ Payoen~ Payoen~’ would repetitively ring from their opponent’s screen as something poured into their screen, leading to game over.
This fear could only be grasped by those who experienced it.
The helplessness of being unable to do anything,
The sound that etched the terror of seasoned players into many gamers was none other than this Payoen.
One could argue it would be best to eliminate any factor that tortures gamers.
But without Payoen, it wouldn’t be Puyo Puyo!!!!
Only those defeated by Payoen would grasp the vastness of the world,
Learn the joy of hardship,
And truly grow into gamers, which has been my belief since my previous life.
“Payoen♫”
And so, from the release day onward, the voices of seasoned players resonated through the game store.
