NOVEL NEXT Chapter 89
Hiroki Otonase.
He was a renowned master who was credited with leading Enjendou, one of the two major companies in Japan’s gaming industry, into its revival era.
In reality, one could safely say that among the game series currently released by Enjendou, there were almost none untouched by his influence.
Now, due to his age, he had retired after handing over all director and producer positions to the next generation, and thus his frontline activities had ceased.
Nevertheless, another epithet often used to describe him was “eccentric.”
One might think this title is inappropriate for a renowned master who defined an era, but those who worked with him or knew him closely all agreed with it.
The reason? It was simple.
He had engaged in truly extraordinary antics.
An eccentric, even as a person of privilege, who cried out for innovation.
A master who held blockbuster IPs capable of commercial success through mere safe progression, yet continuously challenged himself.
A man who referred to himself as a mere merchant but agonized over the balance between art and commerce more than anyone.
This was Hiroki Otonase.
Given his nature, it was not surprising that he took an interest in Jihojin.
Leaving behind his position as the Chief Director of a major game company to join a subsidiary of a competitor with an uncertain future, Jihojin had embarked on creating the games he wanted to develop.
Afterward, whenever he created a new game, he continually sought to explore new genres, a path that perfectly aligned with Hiroki’s taste for innovation and challenge.
Recently, however, he seemed to have been in need of a rest, as no significant news about him had reached Hiroki, causing him to lose track of Jihojin’s activities.
Then, at an unexpected time, a video from Enson GT surfaced, utterly stunning Hiroki.
The content shown in the video was none other than what Hiroki himself had dreamed of when he was younger.
A game not constrained to clearing defined stages but allowing players to travel the map, periodically saving their progress, and continuously enjoying endless adventures—essentially, an open-world game.
Although he had to pass the dream to his protégé due to the limitations of hardware in his youth, seeing this young man trying to create an open-world game within the confines of mobile resources reminded him deeply of himself.
From the start, Hiroki was the type who would act decisively once his mind was made up.
However, recalling his wife’s nagging advice to think before acting, he sent a text to his successor, Hideaki Yoshida.
“Should be fine if I do it this way.”
Meanwhile, upon receiving the text from Hiroki, Hideaki Yoshida sighed and asked his Project Manager (PM).
“You mentioned someone you know from SFLAG, right?”
“Yes, I have a few close college friends there. Why?”
“Just give me their contact details.”
Upon hearing this, the PM wrote down a friend’s phone number and handed it over to Yoshida.
“I’ve got the number, but is something wrong?”
“Our esteemed senior will be heading to Korea the day after tomorrow to meet the now-famous Director Jihojin.”
Yoshida dropped this unexpected bombshell.
Concerned, the PM questioned Yoshida,
“Is our senior alright? Shouldn’t we perhaps devise a plan?”
“Already arranged tickets and everything. Once he’s made up his mind, no one can stop him, so it’s best to at least inform Enson GT beforehand.”
Hideaki’s familiar handling of Hiroki’s antics revealed an acceptance that things were bound to be eventful.
***
When Tanaka first called, I thought it was a joke.
Who else but Hiroki Otonase visiting me?
The father figure behind Enjendou’s rise?
After watching a PV I uploaded a few days ago?
But only after receiving a call from Enjendoo, saying they would handle the details later, did I realize this wasn’t a joke.
‘Guess this is one for the books.’
Even before my regression, and after, I had done nothing to attract Otonase’s attention.
Nonetheless, I decided to make the most of this heaven-sent opportunity.
With someone who led Enjendoo to its golden era, there was bound to be something to learn even from a casual conversation.
The next day, after receiving Enjendoo’s call,
I went down to the lobby after being notified that the visitor had arrived.
Despite the “eccentric” label, expecting a seasoned elder, I entered the lobby with a mix of anticipation.
And indeed, knowing he was in his 70s,
The imposing figure of Hiroki, who stood tall enough for me, at 182 cm, to look up to, greeted me heartily.
“Are you Jihojin?”
“Yes, nice to meet you, Senior Otonase Hiroki.”
“That’s right. I am Hiroki Otonase. But how did you know I was coming?”
“Enjendoo contacted me the day before.”
This elicited another hearty laugh from Hiroki.
“You guys are something else. There was no need for prior contact. Anyhow, when do you finish work today?”
“Well, my official quitting time is 6, but would you care to visit a café first? I’d be happy to accompany you.”
“No need. As a worker, you should abide by your schedule. Instead, how about dinner later tonight? I’d like to share some thoughts.”
“Certainly, I’ll be in touch after work.”
“Understood. See you later, then.”
We set the meeting for after work, and time passed until it was 6 PM.
As soon as work ended, I picked up Hiroki and headed to a high-end Japanese restaurant called ‘Hanayama’ in Pajero.
It had a good atmosphere, private rooms that respected customers’ privacy, and especially, delicious food, making it a favorite spot for hosting in Pajero’s game industry.
Of course, with its exorbitant prices, it was a place one could only visit with a corporate card.
When the first course of the reserved omakase arrived, the conversation began.
“How long have you been in game development?”
“It’s been a little over ten years.”
“Ten years? You’re still in your prime.”
Hiroki listened to my story, chuckled, and took a spoonful of the abalone porridge that served as an appetizer. His expression suggested it suited his taste well.
“Would you like something alcoholic?”
“No, it’s fine. I drank enough in my youth, so I’ve been abstaining for quite a while.”
“Is that so?”
I was secretly relieved, as I wouldn’t have the courage to take care of that figure if he became drunk.
After finishing the abalone porridge, the next dish arrived, and the talk naturally progressed to game-related subjects.
From the early days of home gaming consoles to PCs, consoles, and mobiles—we discussed everything.
Though these stories are familiar to anyone in the gaming industry, hearing them directly from a master who lived through that era was a different experience.
“So was the production of the video you released this time your idea?”
“Yes, it was. The 3D modeling work was faster than expected, so I had some free time and made the video to use for promotional purposes.”
“So the project behind the video is completely your idea and creation?”
“This project, in fact, began after acquiring an IP license, so I wouldn’t say it’s entirely my idea.”
“Ah, I see… Then, was it someone else’s idea to choose open-world as the genre for this game?”
“No, although the IP license was purchased, choosing open-world as the genre was my decision.”
With this answer, Hiroki appeared lost in thought for a moment, gazing silently at me. Feeling slightly burdened by the stare, I was about to eat some slices of sashimi when he resumed his conversation.
“Do you know what my dream was when I was young?”
Dream?
I’ve watched many of Hiroki’s interviews, but nothing about dreams stuck in my memory.
“Uh, I don’t know.”
“I used to dream of creating a game where characters could explore freely rather than having to clear predetermined stages like puppets.”
Hiroki, with a nostalgic glance, gently picked up and ate a piece of sashimi.
“However, my generation faced hardware limitations that made such an implementation impossible. That’s why I admire you and my successor so much.”
“Ah.”
“My interest in you stems from that. The challenge of achieving dreams within limited resources like mobile resonates strongly with my younger self.”
“That’s why…”
“Open-world games present numerous challenges and hardships, but don’t give up. It will be a great learning experience for you.”
Listening to his insightful advice, I could only nod in agreement.
“By the way, Senior Hiroki.”
“What is it?”
“There’s something I wanted to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“Since Enjendou is known not only for game quality but also for optimization, might I ask for some advice on that?”
“Yes.”
“If it’s not too presumptuous… could you offer a few pointers?”
“I see… optimization in mobile games can be quite challenging, can’t it?”
“Indeed, it is.”
Finding humor in my straightforward reply, Hiroki motioned me closer with what seemed like a mischievous grin.
As I leaned in closer, he began whispering.
“This is technically a whim of mine, but please do not tell a soul. There used to be more openness in sharing such tricks back in my day, but nowadays, with fears of technology leaks, it’s become a real headache.”
With a resolute expression, I nodded at his careful instruction.
“I’ll take this to my grave.”
***
On the way home after my first meeting with Hiroki, despite it being a simple dinner without alcohol, Hiroki’s expression before parting appeared quite satisfied.
He seemed delighted to have imparted his teachings to a younger generation walking a similar path.
Perhaps it’s accurate to describe him as an eccentric, even in his old age.
Thanks to him, I gained direct instruction and a connection with this renowned master, making our encounter a mutually satisfying win-win.
Returning home satisfied, the next day when I came to the office, there was a bombshell on my desk.
A common-looking envelope.
On the envelope was the title “Opinion Request on Probability Item Regulation Bill.”
‘Here we go.’
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