1988 Retro Game Tycoon - Chapter 32



Only Noblemtl

32 – Micro Programming

Seoul, office of the computer magazine .

A planning meeting was being held to close out 1988 and prepare for 1989. The conference room was filled with cigarette smoke.

“You’ve worked hard this year too. Now, let’s have a frank discussion about how we can increase magazine sales next year.”

The editor-in-chief sat at the head of the conference room desk and looked around at the reporters. They all took out their notebooks, coughed in vain, or pretended to look through other magazines piled in the center of the table.

“Do you all know? , which started just like us, has been seeing steady sales growth since last year? This year, thanks to the Olympics and the promotion of computerization everywhere, our sales have also increased considerably. But!”

The editor-in-chief waved the November 1988 issue of , a special edition commemorating the 5th anniversary of its launch.

“ sold much more than we did. At first, there wasn’t much of a difference, but now the difference is almost double. If this continues, it might triple next year.”

The editor warned. Even though he was an editor, he was still a salaried worker like other reporters. Magazine sales were important, but his own salary and bonus were equally important.

was also on the rise, but since the two magazines were launched around the same time, they were always compared by publishers.

A veteran reporter who has been there since the first issue said.

“But, bro, is a magazine that teaches basic information to those who are just starting out with computers, and we are a specialized magazine that targets people who are at least college students and know a little bit about computers. Can’t we help it?”

“Who doesn’t know that? Are you going to just let it go and let the differences grow? Huh? Right there, youngest Minseok!”

“yes?”

Suddenly, a spark flew to the youngest reporter.

“You said you had a friend at , right? They’re getting a bonus as their sales increase, and their reporters’ salaries are going up. Are you just going to watch that? Drinking and getting drinks? Is that all? If continues to grow, they’ll hire a lot of reporters. Your friend has a junior colleague and is becoming a senior reporter. Minseok, are you going to continue to be the youngest next year and the year after?”

“No! It’s not!”

Kim Min-seok shook his head strongly.

“Hey, if someone saw you, they’d think someone was hitting you. Why are you denying it so strongly?”

“Come to think of it, aren’t you really hitting us when we’re not looking? You just make us lie down and do it?”

“Judging from Minseok’s reaction, it seems like that?”

The other reporters also laughed out loud at the shooter’s joke and joked around. The atmosphere lightened up a bit.

“I heard that the Ministry of Education will be expanding the educational PC project next year, so how about preparing a special feature on that in advance? I heard that even now, many teachers do not know how to use the PCs that have been distributed to the front line. I wonder if there will be some response if we serialize it for several months, from basic knowledge to advanced usage methods, for teachers?”

“Yeah, that sounds good! Let’s give it to teachers, not programmers, and give it to regular teachers that can use it right away. We go around to each school and sell subscriptions. That’s good. What else? What else is there? It’s okay, just tell me anything!”

When the editor-in-chief looked happy, the reporters started to speak. The youngest, Kim Min-seok, also added one thing.

“Then how about interviewing Bill Gates?”

“Hey, is it really okay to just throw things out like that? What about the transportation and accommodation costs to the US? And how are you going to get Bill Gates? If you get him again? Who will do the interview? Is there anyone here who can have a one-on-one conversation with Bill Gates in English?”

“No, I just···.”

The youngest, Kim Min-seok, just threw out whatever came to mind and got beaten up by the editor. As expected, you shouldn’t take your superior’s words at face value.

The other reporters who saw the youngest get scolded quickly raised their standards for self-censorship, as people with more experience in society. The meeting began to drag on, but the words just kept going around and around.

“There’s nothing I can think of that I like. Isn’t there something a little more refreshing? Hey, youngest. Why haven’t you said anything since a while ago? You’re the youngest here. Don’t you have any fresh ideas?”

The spark flew to Kim Min-seok again. Embarrassed, Kim Min-seok repeated the same mistake. He just blurted out whatever came to his mind.

“Then how about we try working on the gaming side?”

“game?”

The editor reacted indifferently.

“Should we also do something like , including a list of popular games and strategies for Japanese games? Would that fit with the nature of our magazine?”

“No. No. It’s not like .”

“then?”

Kim Min-seok’s back was covered in sweat at the editor’s question. He spoke as if he had something in mind, but in fact, he had nothing in particular in mind. He racked his brain and somehow came up with something to say.

“So, games are also software, or programs, right? So, of course, there must be a way to further enhance them, right? But, haven’t we ever dealt with customized programming methods for games?”

“Well, instead of focusing on game strategies like , we focus on game development?”

“Yes, that’s it! Editor!”

“Hmm, well, we’ve never really covered game programming before. But are there any game developers in Korea?”

“I will look for it diligently!”

“Really? Okay! Let’s have the youngest take charge of game development starting next year.”

“Yes? Really?”

“Oh~, is the youngest finally planning and writing articles on his own? Isn’t it too fast, Editor-in-Chief?”

“Then you want to do it instead?”

“The youngest will definitely do well!”

“Okay, Minseok, don’t just struggle on your own. If you get stuck or something seems strange, ask your seniors. Got it?”

“yes!”

Kim Min-seok, who was unexpectedly assigned to a section of the New Year’s plan, was happy but also scared. He had always been a caretaker for his seniors, but he was finally able to take responsibility for a section, but he was worried that he might end up just talking nonsense and ruining it.

I just blurted out that I thought it would be nice to have a game at least once, so there was no particular context or perspective. After thinking about it for a while, I remembered what the shooter had said.

“When you have to write an article about anything, you have to meet people first. As a reporter, other people’s thoughts are more important than your own. First, you have to find the most famous people in the field, the experts, meet them, and become friends. And then you have to ask them a lot of questions.”

Kim Min-seok jumped up from his seat.

“I’ll go and report!”

It wasn’t a plan that I could come up with on my own since I lacked relevant knowledge. First, I had to go and meet someone famous in this field.

Who should I go to? Should I start with the Seun Shopping Mall Game Shop? Now that Yongsan Electronics Market is open, should I go there?

But we think the people who make games are more important than the people who sell them. So who are those people? People who develop PC games and famous hobby groups?

“Ah, Gemini!”

I learned that when you don’t know, it’s best to start with a big place.

“Oh, reporter. Nice to meet you. It’s an honor to have you come to cover . I’m Kim Ho-seung, the president of Cheonggye Media, which operates Jeminan.”

Even though he called and went straight there, the CEO personally welcomed Kim Min-seok. He visited the shopping mall where Kim Min-seok was born, looked around Cheonggye Media, and visited the research lab, which is the pride of Jeminan.

“Can I take a picture?”

“Let’s take the pictures later, reporter. I’ve been working so hard that the place is a bit disorganized. I also need to clean up a bit.”

“Can I interview some game programmers?”

“If you are a programmer, you should talk to our team leader, Jeong Byeong-cheol. Since Byeong-cheol is the team leader, everyone knows him. He is also good at talking. The other friends are shy and may find it difficult to talk to them.”

“Oh, then Mr. Byeong-cheol. I understand that you are currently number one in the industry. Do you have any other companies or game developers that you consider competitors?”

“Oh my, reporter. You’re saying that we’re competitors in a place the size of the palm of your hand? We’re all living together and helping each other. We learn together, ask each other questions when we don’t know something, and teach each other again. Right, Byung-chul? Hahaha.”

Although President Kim Ho-seung was kind, there were many restrictions on interviewing. When talking to employees, he would stay right next to them and immediately interrupt when they tried to ask him a deeper question.

“Thank you for today. I’ll come again next time.”

“Yes, next time, if possible, please let me know 2-3 days in advance before you come for the interview.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

Although he felt a little disappointed, Kim Min-seok was satisfied that he had finally gotten to know President Jeminan.

“Next time I should talk more with the programmers.”

After finishing his interview, Kim Min-seok decided to take a look around Seun Shopping Mall. He crossed the cloud bridge from Cheonggye Shopping Mall to Seun Shopping Mall and went up to the 4th floor where the computer and electronics stores were located.

But there was a long line stretching along the 4th floor hallway. Kim Min-seok looked around and asked.

“What is this line?”

“I’m waiting to buy .”

“? What is that?”

“It’s a Jemix game. Haven’t you tried the demo? This game is killer.”

“A high school student made that.”

“No, I heard that a middle school student made it?”

“Wasn’t that made by a genius high school girl?”

“Hey, the name of the person who created it is mentioned. Her name is Seo Nam-joon, so how can she be a high school girl?”

“They say that even though she’s a girl, her father decided before she was born that she’d definitely be a boy and named her Seo Namjoon?”

“Really?”

People standing in line were chatting amongst themselves about the developer of .

What the heck?

Kim Min-seok felt a strong curiosity at that moment. Rather than thinking, “Can I write an article about this?”, he had a stronger desire to find out what it was.

“But why are you standing in line like this?”

“ is only sold at All Electronics.”

“Yes? Why?”

“I don’t know. Is it an exclusive sale? This is the first time I’ve seen something like this. It’s been like this every day here lately.”

Kim Min-seok took out his camera and took pictures of the long line forming in the hallway.

Other game shop owners standing at the door and watching the line looked uncomfortable.

As he followed the line, he saw Modu Electronics. The store was bustling. When Kim Min-seok tried to enter, a large man blocked his way.

“You have to go to the back and stand in line.”

“No, in I···.”

“Ah, go back!”

“Let’s keep some order!”

“We’ve been waiting for a long time too!”

“Who is the thief?!”

People who misunderstood that Kim Min-seok was trying to steal something snapped at him. As the atmosphere suddenly became tense, Kim Min-seok felt his life was in danger and retreated for the time being.

Kim Min-seok, who was about to turn around and decide to call again tomorrow to schedule an interview, suddenly stopped walking. Then he started asking questions to the people waiting in line again.

“Where did you come from? How long have you been waiting?”

Whatever you do, meet people first.

You shouldn’t take your boss’s words at work literally, but if you listen carefully, it can become your lifeblood. Now was the time to listen to your senior’s words.

***

“It’s going much better than I expected, Mr. Seo. With so many customers flocking to the store, I feel like I need two bodies these days!”

‘s ‘exclusive sales strategy’ worked well. In fact, it was because there were too few retail stores, but now, long lines at exclusive sales stores have become a feature of game stores.

The line to buy had a significant advertising effect in itself. People were curious and asked about it as they passed by, and some people stood in line without even knowing what it was.

“I told you that everything would be fine.”

“That’s right. I guess I still lack faith. Seriously, don’t be ridiculous. These days, there are even people who buy ten at a time and sell them to people waiting in line for a 1,000 or 2,000 won premium. That’s why I only sell two per person.”

Wow, resellers are already appearing. Isn’t that much faster than I thought?

“Good job. Please tell other shops to be careful.”

“Yes, I already delivered everything. But how long do you plan on continuing this exclusive sales strategy? There are several stores that are contacting me right now, saying they want to sell it again.”

“I guess there are stores that are starting to get jealous and are lining up for poop. It’s not happening yet. Right now, people lining up is actually creating more buzz and marketing. Please don’t let them go.”

“Okay, I understand. I will do that.”

“Anyway, I’m going to meet with the president of Myeongseong Electronics soon to discuss opening a store. I’m also going to open a branch at Jewoo Electronics.”

“Representative Seo, then wouldn’t there be a shortage of stock? It’s selling faster than expected right now. Rather, there isn’t enough stock to enter the large-scale dealerships.”

“I’ve been recommended a few subcontractors from Myungsung Electronics that are good at their job and meet our needs, so we’ll start additional production right away. From now on, we’ll have to produce in units of ten thousand.”

“Yeah, at first I thought making 5,000 was too much. I guess I was being short-sighted. If you need my help, just let me know.”

“Yes, sir. Come in.”

I immediately called the subcontractors and agreed on the schedule and quantity. It wasn’t a sophisticated home appliance, and it was just a simple soldering, assembly, and packaging after copying the ROM chip, so I could make it quickly.

“Hmm, but since we’re already making it, isn’t there a way to sell more of it?”

Even if it enters the Myeongseong and Jewoo Electronics dealerships, it will be early next year at the earliest. It will probably take more time to coordinate nationwide.

I also thought it would be a shame to let the end-of-year season pass like this while increasing production. There are still no dealers, and it is difficult to increase the number of game retailers, but is there no place where I can sell for a short time during the end-of-year season?

“Should we open a pop-up store?”

I was reminded of pop-up stores, where brands open temporary special stores to attract people’s attention. Pop-up stores in 1988.

It may be a little early, but it seems like a good idea. There are already resellers.

“Hello? Manager Park?”

I immediately called Myeongseong Planning. Once I made the decision, I had to move quickly, even if it meant killing time.