After finalizing the agreement with DUN, Aoki Haruhi immediately convened an emergency meeting with the Onmyoji 2 development team upon returning to the office.
The main agenda was to discuss upcoming changes and production issues.
The key leaders had been tormented by him all night and hadn't slept a wink.
Lead artist Sakata Taiji sat in his chair, his expression constipated.
"President, is it really wise to keep changing the direction like this?"
Who was it that insisted we move away from galgames and focus on a console title? It had only been a few months, and the project was already more than halfway developed. Now, they were being asked to make changes.
Wouldn't all that previous effort have been wasted?
"I know," Aoki Haruhi said, frowning. In truth, no one felt the pain more acutely than he did. "Do you think I want to go back to making a galgame? It's just that—
I have to consider the company's fundamental interests."
If Elite Academy hadn't been a Waterloo, they would already be developing their next Kairosoft game, without any concerns about Onmyoji 2's sales.
Even if Onmyoji 2 failed, they could have gracefully abandoned the galgame.
But now, their vanguard force had been annihilated. If they didn't turn back immediately, the entire army risked being wiped out.
Though Aoki Haruhi was an idealist, he wasn't stubborn.
When necessary, he was willing to prioritize the greater good.
Pokeni's bankruptcy might be manageable, but what would happen to these employees once they lost their jobs?
He painstakingly explained these reasons to everyone present, and a heavy silence fell over the room.
The team had been harboring considerable resentment lately, especially the art department. Sakata Taiji had already completed many original illustrations. Who wouldn't find it unbearable to have to change them now?
Akanishi Ken sighed softly beside him.
The fact that the President could think this way only proved that Aoki Haruhi had truly matured.
While ideals are important in the world, survival comes first.
That's why, during the meeting, Akanishi Ken was one of the few who, from Pokeni's perspective, wholeheartedly supported Aoki Haruhi's decision.
"Exactly! I support the President's decision. The ability to quickly respond to market feedback and make adjustments is actually a fortunate thing.
It's far better than facing poor sales after the game's release."
Influenced by Elite Academy, the team's confidence in Onmyoji 2 had been greatly shaken.
After all, no one knew what the outcome would be if they abandoned the galgame format and continued on their current path.
But at least by reverting to a galgame, with Onmyoji 1 as a foundation, the risk would be much lower and the results couldn't be much worse.
"Hmm," Sakata Taiji said, stiffening his neck. "Let's hope there won't be a next time."
Hiss...
Aoki Haruhi didn't find the sound particularly pleasant.
The Japanese tradition of subordinates challenging their superiors was well-established, and these employees were certainly not being polite.
But since he was the one who had made the mistake, he had to accept the criticism.
As long as the product succeeded, Aoki Haruhi didn't mind being blamed a bit.
After all, the players might end up cursing him even more harshly later.
After extensive discussion, many details were gradually finalized.
First, the plot would require significant adjustments. While the main storyline would remain intact, incorporating elements from the galgame would inevitably disrupt the original narrative's flow.
These plot changes would necessitate corresponding artistic revisions. The original pure and charming character designs would need to be partially abandoned, and the "assets" of certain female characters would have to be enhanced.
Additionally, the traditional Onmyōji skill of subduing demonic creatures would be added to the game. Fortunately, this could leverage existing character resources from Onmyoji 1, with the addition of a few new subduable demonic creatures featuring galgame CGs.
The galgame scenarios for the female protagonists would require meticulous refinement, and the exact resource requirements and scope of these changes couldn't yet be assessed. This would depend on the specific requirements outlined by the planners.
"Yes." As the team's newcomer and the lead writer for Onmyoji 2, Urobuchi Gen felt the immense pressure of his responsibilities.
He sat with his hands clasped on his knees, his entire body tense since entering the meeting room.
Urobuchi Gen nodded seriously. "I'll definitely write a good script and won't let anyone down."
Aoki Haruhi found Urobuchi Gen's tense expression amusing.
He walked over and gently patted Urobuchi's shoulder, signaling him to relax.
"Wada-san, there's no need to be so nervous. Just act normally. Based on your current skill level, there won't be any problems."
Urobuchi Gen was the pseudonym of this guy; Wada was his surname.
Aoki Haruhi had already reviewed his resume on his first day.
"Yes," Urobuchi Gen replied, his body still rigid.
"I'll be joining the art team as well," Aoki Haruhi said, turning to the lead artist, Sakata Taiji. "Sakata-san, please feel free to use me as much as possible. Don't hold back."
Sakata Taiji paused, his eyes darting sideways before he nodded silently.
Though inwardly impressed by Aoki Haruhi's attitude, he maintained his gruff exterior. "Of course. As lead artist, I won't let your position as President exempt you from my standards."
"Great!"
Aoki Haruhi laughed happily.
That tsundere old man, Sakata Taiji.
Don't forget, Kogahara Tsubakiaki is the project producer.
You can make demands as lead artist, and I can make changes as producer.
Still, Aoki Haruhi had a feeling that after their previous collaboration, this project would go smoothly.
The programming issues weren't a major concern, as Onmyoji 2 would retain the same core framework and combat mechanics as its predecessor. The primary challenge lay in the art assets.
Furthermore, the development team from Elite Academy could join forces to accelerate the development of Onmyoji 2.
Since Elite Academy had already failed, the strategy of pursuing a Kairosoft-style game had been abandoned. Any future projects would have to wait until the company had sufficient funds.
Aoki Haruhi still hadn't decided what kind of game to develop next.
Therefore, the only course of action was to pour all their efforts into making Onmyoji 2 a success.
While they hadn't yet reached the brink of desperation, the situation was close enough to warrant a "fight to the death" approach.
In the following days, Aoki Haruhi found himself completely swamped.
As the producer, he had to oversee every detail of the projects. Simultaneously, as the lead artist, he needed to generate and output a substantial amount of character content.
Fortunately, his performance remained remarkably consistent. The original owner of this body's artistic skill was truly exceptional. At times, he would merely think of a composition, and his hands would move on their own.
The final artwork surpassed even his own expectations.
It both inherited the style of Onmyoji 1 and pushed the era's aesthetic forward by a small but significant step.
The team members were full of praise when they saw the results.
"Wow, President Qing, your artwork is absolutely top-tier!"
"Even without seeing it in the game, these illustrations make you want to play immediately. Is this the power of our president?"
"Honestly, President Qing's art level is probably industry-leading, right?"
Aoki Haruhi stood by, arms crossed, and smirked coldly.
You all underestimate me too much.
If it weren't for hardware limitations, I could completely match Makoto Shinkai's level as the "Wallpaper Demon."
However, thanks to his addition and the project's shift in direction, progress was remarkably good, and the team's confidence surged visibly.
"Alright!"
"Let's use Onmyoji 2 to create another sales miracle!"
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