Chapter 73. Regretting to the Core
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Continuing Pokeni's consistently top-tier art standards, along with highly impactful script and plot, character development, and superb musical score...
Combined with Pokeni's reputation built in the galgame world through the two previous Onmyoji games, Mermaid's Heart achieved unprecedented success upon release.
In just the first week, it had already broken through 70,000 copies in sales.
At this pace, it was very likely to exceed 300,000 copies.
This was something that had almost never happened in galgame history.
Even among all-ages games, only a very few could reach such numbers.
...
"President! Pokeni's Mermaid's Heart has achieved unprecedented success." Secretary Fujiki said happily.
Hearing this news, Hattori Hiroyuki's entire body trembled.
"That's... that's great."
He tried hard to squeeze out a smile on his stiff face.
This time, Tojun had directly pre-ordered over 5,000 copies of Mermaid's Heart from Pokeni, but—
I still threw Mermaid's Heart into the trash can.
Have I been cursed or something?
Hattori Hiroyuki couldn't help but wonder.
On second thought, if his predictions were always this accurate, then in the future he should just throw everything into the trash can.
"Should we restock, President?" Fujiki asked.
"Of course."
...
At the same time, upon seeing the relevant data, Nintendo President Yamauchi Hiroshi's brow furrowed slightly.
"This game developer called Pokeni is quite interesting."
After the company development direction meeting ended, Iwata Satoru mentioned the latest gaming news to Yamauchi Hiroshi.
This made Yamauchi Hiroshi feel somewhat uncomfortable, though he didn't pay it much attention.
"It's only 70,000 copies, isn't it?"
Honestly, if Kiyoshi Yuuma hadn't confronted him, Yamauchi Hiroshi wouldn't even remember the name Pokeni.
But once remembered by him, he would definitely pay attention.
After all, Nintendo's famous titles basically all had sales in the millions.
Especially the Super Mario series—to date, global sales had exceeded 20 million copies.
Compared to these works, Pokeni's Mermaid's Heart was like a tiny ant.
"It's not really about the sales numbers. Of course, sales are important too, but many players are saying that Pokeni has created a new gaming era."
"What could such garbage games create?" Yamauchi Hiroshi snorted coldly.
"I heard that Pokeni's galgames create romantic atmosphere through plot and other aspects of rendering, which could be called a breath of fresh air..."
Iwata Satoru continued speaking on his own, but when he looked up and saw the expression on the President's face, he immediately obediently shut his mouth.
Terrifying.
The game tyrant's expression wasn't very good today.
Could it be related to Pokeni?
...
"Mizutani, how long have you been at the company?"
In Blue Wings's President's office, Takaya Mizutani stood rigidly in front of the President's desk.
He was trembling all over, not daring to lift his head even once.
Seeing him not responding for a while, President Kobayashi Shigeru slapped the desk heavily.
"Your answer?"
"It's been one year, President." Takaya Mizutani quickly replied.
"President, please give me one more chance."
Kobayashi Shigeru slightly raised the corner of his eye and glanced at him. "You said the same thing last time."
From Street Pickup to Street Pickup 2, this guy had already had two consecutive failed works.
No, the premise of calling it a failure is that you must have at least had some successful experience first.
Since this chief planner Mizutani came to the company, he hadn't developed a single decent product.
Apart from losses, there was no hope to be seen.
"Mizutani, I'm appointing you as planner for the Philippine branch office, starting next week." Kobayashi Shigeru stood up and handed him the appointment letter.
Mizutani silently swallowed.
He felt a bitter taste in his throat.
Japan had a lifetime employment system—the President couldn't fire him, so he could only transfer him overseas, which was essentially exile.
Although the Philippines was slightly better than Africa, who would want to go to such a place?
After some time, his superior would probably find some random excuse to criticize him and force him to resign.
These were all common tactics.
Mizutani painfully accepted the appointment letter, feeling utterly regretful.
Why did I ever leave Pokeni back then?