223, Hao Street, Downtown Peggulf, Sakura City
09:30 AM, Monday, March 22nd
The small studio rented by RainX Indie Game Studio buzzed with quiet energy as the ten members of the team gathered around their conference table. It wasn't much-a cramped room in an aging building, with wires strewn about and art sketches taped to the walls-but it was their space. For the past year, they had called this place home, pouring their hearts and souls into Wanderer, their passion project, a game that was slowly coming to life.
The team's creative director, and unofficial leader, Akio Matsuda, sat at the head of the table, flipping through a small notepad filled with notes from PrimCon. Akio had always been the dreamer of the group, the one who refused to compromise their vision despite the challenges. His calm but commanding presence kept the team grounded and focused. He looked up from his notes, his glasses reflecting the soft glow of the overhead light.
"Okay, let's talk about PrimCon," Akio began, his voice steady but tinged with the exhaustion they all shared. "We did what we set out to do. We advertised Wanderer, we sold more
merchandise than we expected, and we raised enough funds to keep development going for the next three months."
The room buzzed with quiet nods and murmurs of approval. It wasn't just about the money; it was the validation that came with people showing interest in their work. They weren't just a group of dreamers anymore-they were becoming a legitimate studio.
Across the table, Sato Yuki, the lead programmer, leaned back in his chair, tapping a pencil against his knee. "I didn't expect us to raise that much," Yuki admitted with a chuckle. "Our stand was tucked away in the Artist Alley, but we still got plenty of traffic."
"That's because the demo was killer," Mei Tanaka, the lead artist, chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Mei's vibrant sketches of the game's world hung all around the room, and her artistic vision had given Wanderer its unique and captivating look. "People were hooked as soon as they saw our art. I overheard some fans saying they've never seen anything like it."
Akio smiled, appreciating the enthusiasm, but he knew they couldn't rest on their laurels just yet. "We've definitely made a strong first impression, but we're far from finished. We've got three months of runway now, but we need to make the most of it."
Hana Nishimura, the lead writer, was more reserved than the others, quietly taking notes as the meeting unfolded. She had been the one to craft the intricate narrative of Wanderer, and her love for storytelling had shaped the emotional core of the game. As someone who preferred to stay in the background, Hana usually spoke only when she had something important to say.
"I've been thinking about the feedback we received at PrimCon," Hana finally said, her voice soft but purposeful. "A lot of people mentioned they were intrigued by the lore, but some were confused about certain aspects of the story. I think we need to tighten up the narrative structure a bit make it clearer without sacrificing the depth."
Akio nodded, flipping back to his notes. "Agreed. We've got time to refine that, and we'll need to make the story flow naturally with the gameplay. People loved the world we've built, but we have to make sure it's easy to follow, especially for new players."
The rest of the team listened intently, understanding that the next few months would be crucial. They had momentum now, but sustaining that momentum would require every ounce of focus and dedication they could muster.
"We also need to think about long-term funding," Yuki added, shifting gears slightly. "PrimCon gave us a nice boost, but once these three months are up, we're going to need more. We should be looking for potential investors or partners. Maybe even a publisher."
The suggestion hung in the air for a moment. The idea of seeking outside investment had always been a touchy subject for the group. On one hand, they needed the financial support to keep going. On the other, they feared losing creative control to a publisher who might push them to make compromises they weren't willing to make.
"I don't want to rush into anything," Akio said carefully, his fingers tapping on the notepad. "We'll keep our options open, but we need to be cautious. This is our game, and I don't want anyone dictating how we make it."
Mei nodded vigorously. "No way I'm letting some big studio come in and tell me how to draw my characters. This is our vision."
Hana chimed in again, more assertively this time. "We built this from the ground up. If we bring in investors, they need to understand that we're not compromising the core of what Wanderer is about."
They had such a big reaction to this subject because most of them had graduated from college a couple of years ago, some of them even graduated with flying colors and received job offers to work in big game studios. But they knew if they accepted these offers they would become slaves to these companies, and their dreams would shatter to become mere laborers to others. So, this group of friends defied all odds to create their own independent studio where they could create a game of their choice free of the commitment of big game studios.
They pulled their savings and even worked part-time jobs to realize their dream to create a game of their dreams, and that's how Wanderer was created a year later.
They even saved money to reserve a stand in the Artist Alley of PrimCon.
Their intention to go to PrimCon was to advertise their game, raise money to fund their project through selling merchandise, and maybe even attract investment from others.
Their plan was a success because they managed to advertise their game to a lot of people, and they even managed to raise enough money to fund their game development project for the next three months.
Akio looked around the room, seeing the determination in his team's eyes. They were all on the same page, and that was what mattered most. They would explore their options, but they would do it on their terms.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Akio concluded. "For now, let's focus on what we can control. We've got three months to make major strides, so let's make them count."
The conversation shifted to more practical matters-scheduling the next phases of development, fine-tuning the demo, and preparing for a possible crowdfunding campaign. Each member of the team knew their role, and despite the uncertainty ahead, there was a shared sense of excitement. They were creating something they believed in, and that was worth every late-night and financial sacrifice.
As the meeting progressed, the core team grew more animated, their ideas bouncing off one another like sparks in a forge. The synergy between them was undeniable. They weren't just coworkers; they were friends who had chosen to embark on this journey together, and they had faith in each other's abilities.
Yuki, who had been quiet for the last few minutes, suddenly raised a hand. "One more thing. I think we should prepare for next year's PrimCon now. If Wanderer takes off the way we hope, we're going to need a bigger presence next time."
Mei grinned. "A bigger booth, maybe even a gameplay showcase on one of the main stages."
Hana smirked. "And more merchandise. People loved the art prints and plushies." Akio chuckled. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but yeah, planning ahead won't hurt."
As the meeting began to wind down, the mood in the room was optimistic but focused. They knew they were still a small fish in a big pond, but for the first time, they felt like they had a real shot at success.
Just as Akio was about to wrap things up, his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and saw an unknown number. His brow furrowed slightly.
"Hold on a second," Akio said, holding up his hand as he reached for the phone.
The rest of the team exchanged curious glances as Akio answered the call, wondering who
could be on the other end of the line.
"Hello, this is Akio Matsuda," he said, his voice steady as ever.
"Hello, Mr. Akio, this is Samantha Walker, CEO of the Umbrella Corporation. I'm calling you
to discuss an important matter."
The conversation that would follow could change everything for RainX.