NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
Episode 145 – What's that voice?
Good decisions come from good grounds. In other words, it also means that decisions made without grounds should be avoided.
And the executives gathered at the meeting, as decision makers, understood its meaning well.
“Then, I would like to ask you to report on the status of each branch. Let’s start with the report from the Korean branch.”
At the request of the head office executive, the Korean branch executive stood up. When he manipulated the smart link, a holographic graph was projected.
[Capsule Room Game Rankings]
[1. Mystic League – 31.77%]
[2. Gunner Ground – 21.41%]
[3. Lost Arcana – 14.57%]
[4. Dungeon & Champions – 9.18%]
[5. Outlaw Universe – 7.36%]
…
It was the ranking of capsule room games in Korea.
“As you can see, online games are mainstream in Korea. Although the package market is not small, the difference is clear when compared to other markets.”
It was a characteristic that had been passed down since the PC room days before capsules came out.
“In Korea, packaged games are still considered non-mainstream. Among them, games that had a long hiatus like this one and Demon Must Cry were nothing more than memories.”
The other executives nodded in agreement. Soon the hologram changed to another piece of information.
“But now it’s different.”
The hologram illuminated the Tri screen with related communities including Demerk Meta.
“These are the number of viewers for the console version broadcast and related community posts. From the announcement of the experience broadcast until now, the indicators that had been stagnant until then have risen sharply.”
Executives smiled at the line graph that soared nearly 90 degrees.
“But more important than that in the Korean market is the influx of new customers. So we looked for general data.”
With those words another graph appeared.
[Comparison of Qoogle/Never related keyword search volumes]
It was data from a search portal used by both gamers and the general public.
“The first spike was right after the announcement at the game show. The search volume up to the next day was set as the standard based on the interest of existing gamers. As you can see from the graph, the search volume increased by an average of 273% compared to the standard even after the experience broadcast.”
If it had ended with the interest of only existing fans, the increase would not have been this high. New users who became interested in the game after watching the broadcast would have searched for it.
“Our Korean branch finds this result very meaningful. We believe that Demon Must Cry’s awareness has increased and its customer pool has expanded accordingly.”
The Korean executive bowed his head slightly as he summarized the report. The other executives nodded in satisfaction.
“Thank you for your hard work. As you said, I was worried about the gap period, but it looks like there’s no need to worry too much.”
The head office executive spoke as if representing everyone else. Soon his gaze turned to the North American branch.
At this, the North American executive stood up with a faint smile.
“It’s ironic. The response here is bigger than in Korea, the home of Purple.”
He opened his mouth like that and coughed in vain before displaying the data.
“I believe the North American market is balanced in both online and package markets. That’s why there has been considerable interest since its first release.”
[Qoogle/Leadit/Tweety related keyword analysis]
The data came from the search engine Qgle, the representative North American community Reddit, and the short message SNS Twitter.
“At the time of the announcement, most of the keywords were game-related. After the webzine article came out, keywords related to streamer Purple showed a response, but the amount was extremely small.”
Literally a world of difference.
The graph, divided into two colors, showed a stark difference.
“But things started to change after the first broadcast.”
As he lightly manipulated the smart link, the graph became longer and longer sideways.
Purple's graph, which had been crawling on the floor, jumped for a moment. Soon, it soared as if it had gained momentum over time.
“As soon as the first broadcast ended, the two graphs reversed.”
The graph right after the broadcast ended was like a rocket. The game graph also rose steadily, but it was nothing compared to that upward trend.
Another world of difference has occurred.
“Everyone who watched the broadcast and everyone who heard about the broadcast wanted to know. Streamer Purple, who is he? Who on earth is he to show such a play?”
As he moved his hand, the purple-related graph expanded.
“We felt the need to look a little closer.”
Soon the graph split into several branches, as if pruning branches.
“People were looking for Purple-related items, like our own game BioCrisis, and From Studios’ Elden Souls. They started digging up Purple’s old work.”
Most of the people who watched the broadcast were package gamers. So they looked for other package game play of Purple.
“Fortunately, interest in third parties died down quickly, as Elden Souls did not provide official subtitles. I think this was thanks to the Korean branch’s response.”
At his words, the executives' gaze turned towards the Korean branch. The Korean executive smiled awkwardly.
“The results proved that the skill was not a coincidence. People seemed to want to share this amazing discovery with joy.”
The North American executive changed the material with a smile.
“It was a natural fit for him to create memes. The keyword ‘Perfect Durante’ went viral.”
The keyword 'Perfect Durante' has been trending with memes created by people.
But strangely enough, the search volume for the original Demon Must Cry has actually decreased.
“From then on, games and purple were no longer separate. People searched for keywords related to ‘DMC’ and ‘purple’ together.”
Although the number of standalone searches has decreased, the number of searches conducted together has increased.
Among them, there was one keyword that particularly stood out.
“The keyword we need to pay attention to is this: ‘Voice’, Purple’s voice.”
The keyword, which had been steadily increasing since the first broadcast, increased explosively after Purple announced that it would provide dubbed videos.
“Search volume for Purple’s Qtube, Qtube membership, and dubbing increased by 951% in just one day. It’s probably still increasing in real time. This kind of solid data was worth analyzing.”
The executives' eyes lit up.
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It must have been because they all intuitively felt the 'benefit'. However, they could not base their intuition on it.
“I think everyone has noticed. This phenomenon is now considered ‘identification’. It is the most important virtue in the virtual reality game market.”
He changed the data with a light hand gesture. The main characters, Durante and streamer Purple, appeared in the center of the conference room.
“Customers now don’t want to experience being ‘Durante’. It may have been like that when it was announced, but it’s different now that the broadcast has started.”
He smiled and merged the two figures into one.
“Not just Durante, but ‘Perfect Durante’, now customers want to get closer to perfection.”
“But it would be difficult for ordinary gamers to keep up with that skill level.”
He nodded at the head office executive's words.
“Yes. Maybe there are many who think it is impossible. That is why customers want Purple’s ‘voice’. Because it is the part that can be most easily identified.”
It's hard to be good at a game like Purple. In comparison, having a voice was easy.
“Interestingly, since the dubbing announcement, there has been an increase in questions on Reddit about how to ‘voice sample’ Qtube videos, and how to create and apply voice mods. I don’t think this is a coincidence. That’s all.”
“Indeed, North America is showing a similar reaction to us. It seems that people’s minds are all similar.”
The head office executive laughed at that explanation.
“As you may know, there are many people in Japan who have a strong attachment to characters. And sometimes, that affection is not limited to the characters, but also extends to the voice actors behind them.”
No wonder voice actors' albums climb the charts and there are people who are both voice actors and idols.
“The reaction in Japan is not much different from that in North America. In fact, from that perspective, the reaction is probably even bigger. There are already videos uploaded of aspiring voice actors analyzing his pronunciation or practicing impersonations.”
He lightly stroked his chin and glanced at the other executives.
“If we look at the current situation, it seems that awareness and demand for the game have increased in Korea, while interest in Purple itself seems to be increasing in North America and Japan.”
Everyone nodded at his summary.
“In this situation, it is clear how we can increase sales.”
The other executives smiled as if they had been waiting.
“We have to give our customers what they want.”
Then, the corners of the head office executive's mouths curved upward.
“We introduced it as a test build, but the game is actually already complete. If no major issues are found during the broadcast, we will open pre-orders.”
“Yes, I will prepare according to your schedule.”
“I definitely think it’s time to write.”
The Korean and North American executives in charge of distribution, not development, immediately agreed. But that wasn't the point.
“Yes. And we will revise the plan to provide Purple’s ‘Voice Pack’ in addition to the existing pre-order benefits.”
The results of the analysis were clear.
Purple's 'voice' could be a purchasing factor for customers.
“That’s a great idea. User-created mods tend to be less complete. If we officially supported them, they would be very appealing.”
The North American branch welcomed this enthusiastically, and the head office executives also expressed their enthusiasm.
“We will support sampling and production and purchase data rights. It will be a win-win for both parties, and we will be able to reduce the costs paid to Purple to some extent.”
The basic idea was to increase profits and reduce costs. However, that plan soon needed to be revised.
“Unfortunately, Purple has already finished preparing the voice sampling.”
"yes?"
“But it wouldn’t be possible with just any equipment… … ?”
The other two executives were confused by the Korean executive's words.
“Sampling conducted by individuals cannot guarantee quality. How about negotiating right away, even tomorrow?”
“Yes, even if you sign a promotional contract, if the sound quality is poor, you’re doing the work twice.”
The two executives quickly poured out their words to the Korean executive. He shook his head with a troubled expression.
“Well, I don’t know the exact details, but… … the studio prepared by Purple is one of the best in Korea.”
The two people's eyes widened at that answer. Wasn't he just a streamer?
“Unfortunately, the equipment in the Korean branch is not up to that standard. However, if we were to rent a studio of the same level again, it would incur additional costs. So the cost savings would be meaningless.”
The executives' eyes quickly turned to those words. As they were well-versed in business, they were quick to calculate their own interests.
“Well, then I guess there’s nothing we can do.”
“If this is the case, I think we will have to set the price including the recording costs.”
They immediately accepted the situation and started calculating how much Purple would accept.
* * *
The next day, early afternoon.
Lee Kyung-bok and Park Joo-ho arrived at Shinsa-dong.
“Here?”
The place they came to was the sound studio that Yoon Nara had reserved.
“Oh… … So this is what the studio looks like.”
As Lee Kyung-bok strode toward the entrance, Park Joo-ho quickly grabbed him.
“Hey, what’s going on here?”
"what?"
“No… … No matter how I look at it, this isn’t a place where individuals would come!”
Park Joo-ho looked inside through the door and spoke quietly.
I could really feel the difference because I had researched other studios in case something went wrong.
“How on earth did you get into a place like this… … No, I already made a reservation, so that’s fine. If I had known it would be like this, I would have bought a more expensive coffee!”
Park Joo-ho adjusted his glasses and shook the coffee carrier he was holding in his other hand.
“No, we are the customers, why are you so concerned?”
Lee Kyung-bok couldn't understand his friend's reaction at all. Park Joo-ho shook his head.
“That’s nonsense. Recording requires not only equipment but also the skills of an engineer.”
“Skill?”
“Yes. Especially when it comes to voice sampling that is digitized, it is no exaggeration to say that the quality is determined by the engineer’s sense.”
He said that and looked at the coffee again.
“Since it requires such meticulous work, we need to show some sincerity on our part, umm… …”
“Hey, just come in. It’s rude to be late for an appointment.”
Lee Kyung-bok opened the door with a laugh at his friend's worry.
Park Joo-ho didn't know, but this was a place that had an exclusive contract with Sweeties' agency.
However, I couldn't see Yoon Na-ra's face because of my schedule.
'That's why I said I definitely prepared for it.'
The engineer had no reason to treat him carelessly, as he had been thoroughly instructed to avoid any problems.
“Anyway, confidence… … ”
Park Joo-ho eventually suppressed his anxiety and followed him.
“Oh, welcome!”
Fortunately, things went as Lee Kyung-bok had planned. The engineer greeted the two with a bright expression.
“Wow, I was wondering what was going on since you said you were an ordinary person. Are you still an aspiring singer? When are you going to debut?”
"yes?"
After a brief greeting, Lee Kyung-bok's eyes widened at the question.
“Oh, I’m not an aspiring celebrity.”
"yes?"
When Park Joo-ho answered on his behalf, this time the engineer's eyes widened.
He couldn't hide his puzzled expression as he looked at Lee Kyung-bok's face. However, he didn't bring up the question any further.
“Um, okay. Okay, shall we get started right away?”
“Oh, is that right?”
“Yes, yes. Actually, the faster you do it, the more relaxed you’ll be. Voice sampling may seem easy, but it takes a lot of time.”
The engineer explained as he looked at Lee Kyung-bok's face again.
“If you are an ordinary person who has not received separate vocal training, it may take longer.”
Her eyes still looked as if she couldn't believe it. Park Joo-ho handed her the coffee he had prepared with a businesslike smile.
“Yes, please take care of it.”
“Oh, something like this again. I’ll drink it gratefully. I needed some caffeine anyway.”
It didn't seem like a lie that it took a long time.
Empty coffee cups and energy drink bottles were piled in the trash can, suggesting an all-nighter.
“Please come into the booth and follow my instructions.”
"all right."
Lee Kyung-bok entered the recording booth, adjusted his headset, and stood in front of the microphone.
<Okay, first, we'll start by sampling simple consonants and vowels. Do you see the screen in front of you?>
"yes yes."
The engineer's voice came through the headset. A sentence appeared on the screen in front of him along with his answer.
[Nothing expresses the leisure of the night as much as the sound of burning oak trees and the night view.]
<That's a pangram, a sentence that contains both consonants and vowels. Since this is your first time, just read it comfortably.>
“Yes, I understand.”
Lee Kyung-bok cleared his throat with a cough and read the sentence. At the same time, the engineer nodded and opened his mouth again.
<Yes, that will work. I will read it this time paying more attention to pronunciation.>
"yes."
I thought it was pretty accurate, but it seemed like there were some shortcomings. Lee Kyung-bok looked at the sentence again.
'If we're going to do it, we should do it right.'
He thought of the foreign viewers who would listen to this dubbing, even though he couldn't understand all of their chat.
'Happiness has no borders.'
To Lee Kyung-bok, they were people he could be grateful to, just like Korean fans.
This wasn't simply a matter of increasing the number of YouTube memberships or raising profits.
'I hope the viewers enjoy it as much as I do.'
Lee Kyung-bok calmed down and read the sentence in front of him again. His pronunciation and articulation were not much different from before.
But then a change occurred that even he was unaware of.
“As much as the sound of burning oak trees and the night view.”
The magic within me was stirred.
It was carried out in a voice following Lee Gyeong-bok's thoughts and wishes.
“There is nothing that expresses the leisure of the night.”
The divine energy that was released along with the voice did not return. Therefore, there was no rebound as before.
Therefore, it was not Lee Kyung-bok but someone else who felt the change.
'Why is that?'
Park Joo-ho was watching from a distance so as not to disturb the work. But then, in an instant, the engineer's expression changed.
'Why are you laughing all of a sudden?'
A faint smile appeared on his face. I wonder if the results will be good this time.
But strangely enough, the evaluation didn't come out right away.
“Excuse me, Engineer?”
“Huh? Oh, just a moment.”
Eventually, when Park Joo-ho asked cautiously, he responded. However, he seemed more embarrassed than satisfied.
“Wait, please wait a minute.”
The engineer said the same thing to Lee Kyung-bok and quickly started manipulating the computer.
Park Joo-ho had no knowledge at all about sound-related programs.
'Hmm, not much has changed.'
Just by looking at the shape, you could tell that the recorded data was not much different from the original.
If things continued like this, it seemed like the work would take quite a while, just as the engineer had said.
“What the heck is this… … ”
But the engineer didn't give another instruction. Instead, he grabbed his headset with a serious expression and clicked the mouse.
'There is no difference in the data.'
The pitch, pronunciation, and even the slightest breathing sound were almost the same as the first time. But the voice recorded the second time was different.
'You mean, it feels like your head is getting refreshed?'
My body was already so tired that I needed some caffeine.
Although he didn't show it in front of the guests, a deep sense of fatigue was weighing on his body.
It definitely was like that.
'This is really weird.'
As I listened to this voice, my body gradually became more energetic. I was so absorbed in that strange feeling of fullness that I forgot that I had to analyze it.
'What kind of music therapy is this?'
No, music therapy is usually meant to be calming, not uplifting.
He soon faced a conflict.
'To this extent, it is possible to cover it up with editing… … '
The data suggested that it could be improved with revisions, but his senses rejected it.
It was enough as it was, and it seemed like if I touched it, this feeling of fullness would disappear.
“… … Okay. Let’s move on.”
In the end, he followed his instincts.
I followed my intuition rather than the knowledge I had gained through experience and learning. And above all else, there was one reason why I did it.
'I want to keep hearing this voice.'
If I were to give additional instructions, something might change. I wanted to continue sampling as is.
“Excuse me, Engineer.”
"yes?"
“I only did it twice, is it okay if I skip it?”
However, Park Joo-ho, who did not know the circumstances, could not help but have doubts. Rather, it was a situation that made him think that the engineer was doing something carelessly.
But the engineer was not offended. His body felt more energetic and his mind was at ease.
“Listen.”
"yes?"
“Hear for yourself.”
He even handed over his headset, which he rarely gave to anyone else, to Park Joo-ho.
The engineer played the second recording without further explanation.
And Park Joo-ho smiled faintly, as if he had had the same experience.
“I’ve worked with a lot of people in this line of work, but this is the first time I’ve felt so certain that I said, ‘This is it!’ You’ll understand when you hear it, right?”
“I can’t give you a detailed impression because I’m a devil… … ”
Park Joo-ho nodded, trailing off. The engineer laughed at this.
“First of all, the basic base is excellent. But it’s rough. But this rawness is very good.”
He let out a short gasp and shook his head.
“That’s what I’m going to do here, to make better adjustments. I’ve actually been doing that. But… … this time it’s a little different.”
Reason and emotion were in conflict within him. Even when he was smiling, his brows were furrowed.
“It feels like all the experience I’ve accumulated so far is being completely denied.”
“Well, I think I know how you feel.”
Park Joo-ho looked at the engineer and smiled.
“Sometimes, when I see that friend, something like that happens to me.”
Genius is a being far removed from the category of a commoner. If he were confined to the existing framework, there would be no reason to call him a 'genius'.
“I don’t usually say things like that.”
The engineer whispered quietly with a serious expression. He continued, his lips dry and tense.
“Do you ever seriously consider becoming a singer or idol?”
“A celebrity?”
“Yes. The mask is also outstanding, and it seems like you have been taking care of your body regularly, and with this tone of voice… … ”
He spoke quickly, as if he would not miss the opportunity.
“Well, that was such a sudden suggestion… … ”
But soon, seeing Park Joo-ho's expression and answer, he immediately changed course.
“Of course, it’s not something you can decide on right away. I think you should just think of it as a method like this. Even if it’s not something like that, if you need help with anything related to sound, just contact me at any time.”
The engineer didn't want to let this unexpected opportunity pass him by.
"all right."
Park Joo-ho also nodded at those words.
'I can't believe an engineer from a studio like this is sending me a love call.'
It was surprising, but when you think about it, it was only natural.
Anyone can recognize a genius, but those with a keen eye can see it even more clearly.
<Is there a problem? Should I try again?>
At that moment, Lee Kyung-bok's question came back from inside the recording studio.
It seemed that he misunderstood the two people outside talking with serious expressions.
Park Joo-ho and the engineer laughed in unison.
“No, it’s perfect. Let’s move on.”
The truth was enough in itself.