Chapter 373 |
A-Tube started as a site where videos could be easily watched on any browser.
Later, Gooble, recognizing its potential, acquired it. Under Gooble's financial backing, it experienced explosive growth. It has now become the world's most famous video-sharing site and personal internet broadcasting platform.
Just as some jobs disappear with technological advancements and industrial shifts, new ones inevitably emerge.
People who create content on A-Tube are called creators, or A-Tubers. Popular A-Tubers are said to be more famous than many celebrities.
Their primary income sources are advertising revenue and viewer donations.
"It varies depending on subscribers and video views, but many of them earn over 100 million won a month. Some form teams with scriptwriters, directors of photography, and editors, sharing the profits. There are also management agencies, PR firms, and even academies that train creators."
"That's incredible. Does it really make that much money?"
"It's a 'rich get richer, poor get poorer' situation. If you succeed, earning hundreds of millions of won a month is nothing, but if you don't, you might not even make a few hundred thousand won a year. There are also many 'old-timers' who've been around for a long time and built up strong fanbases."
Gacha Hunter started on A-Tube relatively recently. He initially focused on political and current affairs content, but when that didn't take off, he switched to gacha content.
"What's your exact concept? Why did you switch from politics to gaming?"
"That's just how internet broadcasting is. You try this, then that, a bit of everything."
An all-around entertainer, perhaps?
After a moment's thought, I asked.
"But what's the deal with copyright for game streaming? Streaming games isn't just playing them for fun; it's a form of derivative work, isn't it?"
Taekgyu nodded.
"In principle, that's true. But most game companies allow it because it's good publicity. Some games even offer built-in recording features. Of course, there are companies that don't. Nintendo, for instance, completely banned internet broadcasts of their games and had all related content taken down from A-Tube."
"I see."
Taekgyu asked, feigning familiarity.
"My friend. So, you'll come on my stream, right?"
"Well, I don't see why not, but..."
Personal internet broadcasting, much like SNS, tends to attract like-minded individuals, sometimes turning into a battleground between progressives and conservatives. Each side would use favorable data, statistics, and fake news to attack the other.
Especially since it hadn't been long since Assemblyman Myeong Jin-wook resigned. If I were to appear, wouldn't both sides cause an uproar?
After a brief thought, I said.
"You know other attention seekers you're close with. Why don't you ask one of them?"
"...Huh?"
***
Just because anyone can do personal broadcasting doesn't mean anyone can become famous.
Gacha Hunter believed that as long as he got famous, the means didn't matter. Therefore, to attract subscribers and viewers, he produced all sorts of sensational content.
He would use profanity and vulgar language during games and didn't shy away from personal attacks. He also flaunted his connections with various celebrities, one such claim being his supposed closeness to the Vice President of OTK Company.
In any case, he also had talent, allowing him to attract nearly 500,000 subscribers in a short period. Just as he was cruising along, a formidable competitor suddenly emerged.
It was Super Rich.
For his first broadcast, Super Rich appeared wearing an Iron Man mask and a gray tracksuit. His voice was also slightly modulated, as if the mask had some sort of voice-changing feature.
So far, he wasn't much different from other creators. Just another A-Tuber streaming games while wearing a mask.
Consequently, he didn't have many subscribers. It was the mask, rather than the content of the broadcast, that drew interest.
-The mask is Iron Man, but the outfit is a tracksuit?
-LOL, it's even Uniclo. I wouldn't wear it even if you gave it to me.
-'Super Rich,' my ass. What a beggar... Ah! It was Lich, not Rich. My bad~
-But why does that mask look so high-quality? Anyone would think it's real.
-That mask is sick. Where on earth do they sell that? I want one too.
-Just tell us where you bought it!
-Wanna sell it for 300,000 won?
Super Rich streamed Lost Fantasy Online and also featured gacha content.
The entertainment factor in gacha content lies in the rollercoaster of emotions—joy and despair—when opening loot boxes. It’s like the thrill of flipping cards in a high-stakes poker game.
Typically, the amount spent in a single video ranged from hundreds of thousands to several million won. Occasionally, it would reach tens of millions, but it was safe to assume it never went into the hundreds of millions.
Super Rich shot to fame thanks to a character pull in 'God and Soul.'
The loot boxes in 'God and Soul' were notorious for their abysmal drop rates. EX-rank characters, in particular, were so infamous that it was said you'd need your ancestors for three generations to have blessed their gravesites just to pull one.
The number of people who had verifiably pulled one could be counted on one hand, to the point where there were rumors the game company was rigging the odds.
"Today, I'm going to try and pull an EX-rank character from God and Soul."
At that point, there were only a few dozen viewers.
-You'll never pull an EX-rank.
-Gacha Hunter spent 50 million won and still gave up cursing.
-It's designed so you can't pull it. Those bastards~
-LOL, I bet my entire fortune he won't pull it.
-I'll bet my wrist on it, bro!
-Bring it on! Bring it on!!
Unlike other A-Tubers who typically used a single smartphone for pulls, Super Rich lined up five smartphones and performed pulls simultaneously.
As expected, they were all duds.
Even if he luckily pulled an SSS-rank, the EX-rank character remained elusive. However, Super Rich paid it no mind and continued.
Using five devices meant the money spent was also five times greater.
Once the amount spent surpassed 100 million won, word spread like wildfire throughout the online streaming community. Even those who weren't currently watching quickly logged in to join the stream.
The viewership exploded to several thousand.
And soon, the total spent exceeded 300 million won. By this point, everyone was aghast.
-How much has he spent so far?
-Did he sign away his organs to Cash & Rush or something?
-Holy sh*t, he's insane! Looks like he's going all the way today.
-(Breaking News) Super Rich squandering his family fortune.
-Stop before your mom runs in and smacks your back!
-I can't watch anymore, it's too wasteful ㅜㅜ Give me the money and stop!
-What are you talking about? After spending this much, he has to go all the way!
-It's definitely coming next time! Let's go, Super Rich!
-Isn't this the game company CEO wearing a mask?
-Just how much money does he have to be able to do this?
-That's Kang Jin-hu! 100% Kang Jin-hu!
-Definitely not Kang Jin-hu. His stream times have overlapped with press conferences several times.
-Then who is it? Im Jin-yong?
Super Rich finally succeeded in pulling the EX-rank character. The moment it appeared, the chat window erupted, and viewers went into a frenzy.
But it didn't end there.
Super Rich addressed his viewers.
"These kinds of gambling-like games are ruining the entire gaming industry. Is this a game, or is it gambling? I will contact the game companies to ensure they take immediate corrective action."
Viewers were baffled, wondering what he was talking about, but game companies actually began to change their policies. Some even issued public apologies.
"Next week, the association will announce new regulations. From now on, loot box probabilities will have to be clearly disclosed, and the practice of purely independent trial gachas (without pity systems) will be abolished."
The Game Association announced self-regulatory measures identical to what Super Rich had stated.
-What? Is this for real?
-Super Rich changed game company policies?
-Looks like he's the real Super Rich.
-He must have pulled it off because he has money.
-But is that something that can be done just by having a lot of money?
As a result, other A-Tubers who focused on gacha content took a significant hit.
Previously, spending even a few million won would elicit an enthusiastic response, but now, no matter how much money they spent, they couldn't get the same level of engagement.
-Not very fun.
-The thrill is gone.
-Gonna rewatch Super Rich's video~
-Ah! That was truly legendary! A real SSS-tier pull!
-Gacha Hunter should go learn a thing or two from Super Rich!
-But are you really close with the OTK Company VP?
-All of Gacha Hunter's info was wrong, but Super Rich's info was all correct.
-LOL, isn't saying you're close to the VP all a lie?
-Seems to me like Super Rich is the one close to the VP.
Gacha Hunter was furious.
'That bastard copied my concept!'
He had been the first to stream games wearing a mask. Now, some guy with a similar concept had appeared and was threatening his position.
Viewers constantly compared him to Super Rich in the comments, and whenever his live stream overlapped with Super Rich's, he suffered the humiliation of some of his viewers flocking to the other channel.
He attacked Super Rich, trying to tear him down. But no matter how much of a fuss he made, his rival showed no particular reaction.
Instead, the viewers reacted. They raised questions, continuously fanning the flames of conflict, and Gacha Hunter, his pride wounded, even wagered his account's deletion.
He was confident. As long as the Vice President didn't reveal his identity, proving such a connection was impossible. And he was certain that Super Rich also had no ties to the VP.
If there had been such a connection, Super Rich would have revealed it long ago and used it to promote his channel.
The public call-out was definitely effective. It even made it onto some internet news sites, causing his subscribers and viewership to skyrocket.
Since neither side could prove their claims anyway, all he had to do was enjoy the situation.
***
Gacha Hunter was streaming again today, continuing his attacks on Super Rich.
"Super Rich recently stopped streaming and uploading videos, right? He's gone into hiding because he has no connection to the OTK Company Vice President. I met with the VP just the other day, and he was exasperated, saying he doesn't reveal his identity precisely because of people like him."
He smirked inwardly, looking at the significantly larger audience.
However, the number of live viewers, which had been steadily increasing, suddenly began to plummet. The reason: Super Rich had just started his stream.
"Ah, Super Rich is streaming now."
While continuing his own stream, he simultaneously monitored Super Rich's broadcast.
Super Rich, in his Iron Man mask, spoke.
"Today, I have a special guest. Please come on out."
A man sat down next to Super Rich. Dressed in a suit, he was wearing a Batman mask.
The two chatted about Lost Fantasy Online. Unlike the Iron Man mask, the Batman mask didn't have a voice modulator.
-What is this, a Marvel and DC crossover?
-Not a crossover, more like a hybrid abomination. Is it okay for Iron Man and Batman to be together?
-Who on earth is that guy?
-But doesn't his voice sound a bit familiar?
-I feel like I've heard that voice on the news or something...
-W-wait a minute. Isn't that... him?
-Nah, no way. It's probably just a voice impression.
During their conversation, the man in the Batman mask said.
"May I take this off?"
"Already?"
"It's a bit stuffy."
"Please, go ahead."
The man removed the Batman mask and put on a pair of glasses. The moment his face was revealed, the chat window exploded.
-Gasp! N-No way!!
-Is this real life?
-Is this a deepfake? Or a look-alike?
-Hasn't this guy been arrested yet?
-Why is someone who should have been locked up long ago for illegal inheritance, accounting fraud, embezzlement, etc., here?
-Holy crap! Is this for real?
The man, having completed his "transformation", looked at the camera and greeted the audience.
"Hello, Super Rich subscribers. This is Im Jin-yong."
Everyone was stunned, but the person most shocked was undoubtedly Gacha Hunter. Watching the stream, he exclaimed in disbelief.
"Bro, what are you doing there?!"
***
The video featuring Chairman Im Jin-yong remained on A-Tube, amassing over 5 million views.
Gacha Hunter, who had promised to delete his account, brazenly continued to stream.
"What the? Why hasn't this guy deleted his account?"
Taekgyu said, as if he'd known all along.
"An 'account deletion bet' is like one of those body forfeiture agreements."
"What do you mean?"
"They're not legally binding. So, most people who make them don't follow through."
"So, what then?"
"What do you mean, 'what then'? They just take the heat and that's the end of it."
Gacha Hunter became the laughingstock of the entire internet, but he's now using that to create even more content.
However, a few days later, A-Tube deleted Gacha Hunter's account. The reason cited was the profanity and personal attacks in his previous videos.
This wasn't Taekgyu's doing, but in effect, Gacha Hunter ended up keeping his promise about the account deletion bet.
Taekgyu remarked, as if reminiscing.
"He was a good A-Tuber. He taught keyboard warriors a valuable lesson: don't make account deletion bets lightly. No one will forget him."
"..."
He would be memorable in many ways, indeed.
But Taekgyu, the actual winner, also quit streaming.
"I was planning to quit anyway; it was starting to get boring. When OTK Games releases Seruana later, I'll give it a proper go then."
I asked, dumbfounded.
"You're going to do this again?"
"Think about it. Game streaming is already this popular. What do you think will happen when VRMMORPGs are released?"
"What will happen?"
"Every game streamer will flock to it. According to oracle's prediction, there will be 100 million concurrent users. That means the total player base will be several times that."
"True."
At this scale, it would transcend gaming and become a global pop culture phenomenon.
Taekgyu then said, as if an idea had struck him.
"Why don't we just do it ourselves?"
"Game streaming, you mean?"
Taekgyu shook his head in response to my question.
"No. A site like A-Tube, for game streaming."
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