Chapter 107: Mod (2) |
From the moment the idea deepened, I considered every element. After much contemplation, the answer leaned towards ‘possible’.
“Life, combat, and operational functions are already implemented,” I thought.
The game’s mode friendliness stems from the vastness of content integrated into the vanilla version. It wasn’t about the volume; rather, the elements that contribute to the game’s multifaceted nature.
To illustrate, consider a game solely focused on combat.
Adding modes would only diversify combat, providing no additional benefits. Conversely, in open-field games, introducing modes could significantly alter the game’s foundation, as seen in classics like Hellic 2 and the Elder Scroll released in the same year.
Benchmarking against such games, I thought, “Identity can change in any way.”
Building a village content could integrate seamlessly into a sandbox. Given the game’s depth in various life aspects and combat elements, with modders stepping in, Identity could transform into any form.
Interestingly, fitting the name ‘Identity,’ I pondered how to establish this mode environment. The answer, as mentioned before, was in benchmarking.
“The company supports modders at a corporate level”.
From simple add-ons to large-scale mods that reset rules, supporting them from launch or hosting tournaments could dramatically extend the game’s lifespan. “Identity wasn’t originally designed with a sequel in mind,” I thought. It wasn’t even planning DLCs. So, there’s no reason to miss this opportunity.
Most drawbacks of modes could be overcome. However, there was one problem to solve—Ayado.
I called Ayado from Sony.
“I’m planning to apply modes to Identity. So, I was wondering, could you allow modes on PS4?”
Identity was planning a simultaneous release on Steam and PS platforms. Therefore, regardless of the platform, modes should not pose any inconvenience. It required Sony’s permission.
It was a tense moment. Sony wasn’t a company known for favoring the mod environment. Ayado’s response was hesitant. “Internal discussions are needed.”
“Sure, take your time. I’ll await a positive response.” I hung up.
If permission was granted, creating an environment on the Rewind’s official website to port modes to PS4 could be established. Even if Sony didn’t permit modes, focusing on implementing mods on the PC version would suffice, despite potential controversies like device discrimination.
The remaining vacation days were consumed by thoughts on mods. On the last day, I convened the programming team and gave a special mission:
“Let’s develop mod tools.”
—
Sony’s approval was obtained. Ayado added, “As you know, there may be issues with mods on PS4 due to device performance. That…”
“We’ll consider that. We’ll optimize as much as possible. If it’s not feasible, some mode settings might have to be cut,” I said, acknowledging the inevitable problem.
The programming team’s responsibility became more significant. Additional funding and increased QA were provided. Ultimately, developing the game relied on people, on human effort to cut corners and seek shortcuts to meet deadlines.
As development progressed, my attention shifted to something else.
『E-40, who entered the Emperor’s Palace, had an unbelievable reunion there.
‘You’ve come this far.”
It was a horrible reunion.
The person sitting in front of E-40 was Miso, the girl who gave him a smile as he was dying』
The last chapter of Identity, concluding the main story. E-40 met people, saved them, and gradually realized the meaning of life, returning to the centre of the empire to defeat the source of suffering—the Emperor.
A smile and reunion awaited him there.
One of them had to die as the archenemy.
“There are no issues with continuity.”
From the very beginning, Miso was the one that smiled at E-40, her eventually going missing in the empty forest and then presumably dying to the knights and her body going missing was all part of a grander scheme of foreshadowing.
So, why did she smile at E-40?
Writing the answer in this chapter was crucial. Unlike the previous omnibus-style chapters that highlighted different characters, this part resolved E-40 and Miso’s story.
Yeonho typed on the keyboard.
“The girl with the crown smiled and said, ‘I am the enemy you need to defeat. Now, stab the sword into my heart.’
When E-40 shook his head, the girl said sadly,
‘I can’t live. As long as I’m alive, the empire will never collapse. You’ve seen how terrible that is. Your journey…. You have learnt the meaning of life and what it means to live of…’”
“Understanding.”
To end the horrible events, he had come here.
However, she summoned him to that forest as someone who knew the empire’s horror better than anyone.
“At first, it wasn’t like this. The order I established made everyone happy. But as time passed…the entire country has stagnated.”
Despite everyone else forgetting the brilliant moments, she remembered them, experiencing the pain of loss. Sympathy blossomed within E-40. Wasn’t it ironic? Even she, who had the brightest smile, suffered behind the “smiling face.”
He still loved her smile.
Confronting her sadness was unbearable. If living with a smile caused pain, cutting it off would be a relief. Perhaps, for E-40, that was the only thing he could do for her.
*Srrung—*
His sword was unsheathed. She rose from the throne.
“Thank you.”
E-40 had always known the answer he wanted to give if he ever met her miraculously.
Now was the time to do so.
—
“It’s a sad ending.”
Seorim already knew the outcome. The instructions given by Yeonho before the final battle hinted at it. The grand imperial duel, the battle with Miso. Miso, the black sorceress surrounded by a dark aura. Seorim sensed it wasn’t right.
“Hmm…”
Seorim’s brow furrowed. What should she say? Miso’s magic, decaying alongside the empire, seemed like it hadn’t expressed the full extent of its dismal manifestation. Perhaps there was a better way.
Pondering, Seorim revisited the story and the final boss’s modeling. Only then could she make a decision.
“Senior.”
“Yeah.”
“Concept art and modeling are my responsibility, right?”
Yeonho nodded. To this, Seorim responded, “I’ll redraw the concept art and combat modelling for the final boss.”
“Is that okay?”
“Drawing one character again won’t be a problem.”
Yeonho hesitated for a moment before nodding. There were times like this—moments when an inexplicable intuition said, “This isn’t right,” surpassing all the information one had.
Returning to his seat, Seorim discarded all the work she had done on Miso until then. Then, she picked up her pen.
“An emperor buried in time. A puppet rotting forever with the empire”
Adding the keyword “black sorceress” to the concept, he began creating the character. Seorim’s hand moved, crafting the character with an emotional approach.
“For the battle…”
Not Miso, but the time engulfing her, the will of the decaying empire. On the blank canvas, a rusty clock with ten crooked arms. It was a manifestation created by the dark aura, not a physical object. Ten fingers at the end of each arm held strings that pierced Miso’s entire body, manipulating her like a puppet.
Unable to die on her own, with a sad smile she decided to engage in battle. In other words, visual representation was necessary, a decision stemming from the need for visual expression.
“Let’s redo the battle effects based on this.”
Yeonho, with a wry smile, acknowledged Seorim.
“As expected, your imagination is better than mine.”
It seemed like a spark of enthusiasm was kindled.
Opinions poured out from Yeonho, and Seolim, translating them into visuals, started the work.
“It’s going to be a long night.”
It was spring.
—
The completed final boss design surpassed my imagination by far. Thanks to the surge in ideas, adjustments were made, and the story was revised. The salvation of Miso, entangled in the empire.
The ending for E-40 was rewritten.
『The empire’s clock that bound her, collapsed.
When the thread piercing her body broke, she collapsed like a doll.
E-40 embraced her.
Kugu Palace, the imperial palace, began to crumble.
‘Thank you.’
Miso spoke with a voice that seemed at ease, as if now she was liberated.
However, there was no vigor in her. E-40 felt a sense of déjà vu.
The day he had lost her in the forest, it the as it is now.
‘Now go, be happy wherever you are.’
She told him to leave, and E-40 nodded.
He didn’t want to be powerless again.
This time, he wanted to truly save her.
There was something he could do now. The empire’s time magic no longer ensnared her.
Tick-tock—
Her face was empty.
E-40 returned the smile he had borrowed back to her.
The smile he hoped to keep for himself.
But with it, perhaps she could now smile from her heart.
Her breathing gradually stabilized.
“Huh’
It was at that moment, E-40 realized he could now speak.
Startled, he touched his face in surprise.
There was a smile on his face.
E-40 looked at her.
He had already removed the smile he had borrowed, yet another smile remained.
E-40 pondered for a moment.
But he already knew the answer.
His journey had brought him to this moment, and brought him the answers he needed.
‘Haha…!’
E-40 laughed excitedly, holding her in his arms.
Then as they ran towards the forest, leaving the collapsing palace behind.
Behind them, they saw the faces of the people of the imperial capital.
Their void faces now had smiles.
Yes, one of the world’s greatest and most magnificent secrets.
The spreading of smiles.』
I let go of the keyboard.
For a moment, I read the text absentmindedly, and then, there was a definite feeling.
The Identity of the previous life also had a sad ending. Because that was what left a lasting impression. But look.
‘As expected…’
Endings are better when they are happy.
Even if it’s typical.
—
May 2016.
The trailer for Identity was released. And one piece of news was conveyed to the players.
『ResignationCatcherJaeHee: Identity supports modifications?』
The full scale of the launch was beginning to unveil.
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