Chapter 29: It’s Good to Be Young, Part 1

What is the key to game development?

Graphics?

Story?

Sound?

Control?

Maybe all four?

Of course, this varies from person to person.

But the dating sim that Min Hayoon is trying to make now.

Visual novels are a genre that minimizes the ‘functionality’ as a game to the extreme.

Well, by 2023, visual novels with mini-game elements will be pouring out…

‘How is that a visual novel?’

Min Hayoon has an old-fashioned view that the classification of visual novels itself explains the identity of visual novels.

‘Visual’ and ‘novel’.

That’s the alpha and omega of visual novels.

Some people cite the lack of gameplay as the reason why visual novels are becoming obsolete.

However, the reason why visual novels have a solid demand is that people want to see the story-oriented structure unique to visual novels…

They don’t want to see a minor copy of a common mobile gacha game.

At least that’s what Min Hayoon thinks.

From that point of view…

It’s still far from complete.

Not to mention voice recording, even the BGM hasn’t been inserted yet.

If we look at the state of Cosplay Holic…

It was faithfully adhering to the original form of a visual novel.

Clean UI.

Concise dialogue and intuitive story.

Beautiful graphics.

Faithfully pursuing ‘visual’ and ‘novel’…

“For now, let’s maintain the current state. We can continue like this.”

-Then, we proceed while maintaining the current method?

“Yes, please proceed like this. Since we need to add sound, just keep that in mind when coding.”

Min Hayoon thought this was enough and gave Do Jin-ho permission to proceed via phone.

Plus one more thing.

“If you can speed it up a bit, please do. The sooner it’s completed, the better.”

-Uh… Didn’t you say the release was planned for the end of March or the beginning of April?

“If possible, we should release it in March. Still.”

-Alright. I’ll try to speed it up, but are you sure the contact with the voice actors and BGM is going well? It’s okay to release the demo without voice, but you should contact them in advance so it’s easier to schedule later.

Grin.

Min Hayoon’s lips curled up as she talked to Do Jin-ho.

-What is it? Why are you suddenly quiet?

“No, I just suddenly thought… It’s okay for me to contact the voice actors as I please, right?”

-Uh, yeah…? It’s your money anyway. If you’ve already talked to that Choi Arin person, I have nothing more to say. Do as you please.

“Okay. Keep up the good work, I’ll hang up now.”

-Okay, confirmation.

Min Hayoon doesn’t know exactly when which stocks will skyrocket.

Min Hayoon only does periodic investments, so she doesn’t stare at charts like full-time investors.

But.

“I know exactly which voice actor will reach a new high at which timing.”

Because Min Hayoon loves domestic works as much as Japanese ones, she is more familiar with the trends of domestic voice actors than stocks.

“Now, a voice actor who just went freelance around this time…”

With a subtle smile on her lips, Min Hayoon examined the list of voice actors from various agencies.

2020.

The number of female voice actors whose contracts with broadcasting companies expire this year is less than ten.

“It’s her, as expected.”

After selecting a list of voice actors who just went freelance this year and marking the name of the voice actor who is certain to become very successful, Min Hayoon…

She focused on finding her contact information to sign a contract with her.

#

Surprisingly, domestic voice actors tend to be older.

The competition rate for voice acting auditions is naturally around 1000:1, so it’s common for people to take the test multiple times…

After graduating from a 4-year college in a related department, spending a few years at an academy, and for male voice actors, completing military service, when the 2 to 5-year exclusive contract period ends…

They’re usually in their mid-30s, and sometimes even over 40.

It’s not easy to find young voice actors.

However, Min Hayoon thought this was the biggest problem in the domestic visual novel scene.

The so-called ‘red pill’.

The voice actors are too old.

The main age group of visual novel players is roughly from their late teens to early 30s, and they’re mostly men…

But most domestic voice actors are over 30.

There are plenty of amateur voice actors who are the foundation of the voice acting market, but they’re also old…

“It would be perfect if there was a successful voice actor in their early 20s…”

It’s a shame, but what can you do.

She has to choose from the available voice actors.

First, Min Hayoon sent a contact email to a 26-year-old voice actor who is considered one of the youngest in the industry and a voice actor who just turned 30.

“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped.”

Min Hayoon believes that marketing that maximizes the loyalty of the fandom is the best for a small market like visual novels.

And there are four main factors that can increase fan loyalty in this scene.

Illustrations, story, merchandise, and voice acting.

Min Hayoon can maximize the illustrations, story, and merchandise as the overall producer…

But voice acting is an element that Min Hayoon can’t control alone.

If they had the skills, she thought about contacting amateur voice actors and nurturing them from the ground up like some Japanese companies…

And a few hours later, she got a reply.

“…”

After careful consideration of your proposal.

We have determined that a meeting is necessary first to negotiate matters including payment and recording schedule.

Therefore, regarding the future meeting schedule…

A newly freelance voice actor is literally just that – newly freelance.

In other words, they’ve just become a freelancer.

Since they’ve just left a company that used to give them work regularly, their income becomes unstable as the amount of work temporarily decreases immediately after going freelance.

That’s why voice actor Park Ji-hye, to whom Min Hayoon sent an email, replied in less than 3 hours, even though she said she had carefully considered it.

This is a time when every job is precious, so it’s clear that she’s trying to secure work as quickly as possible…

“Yes, I understand. I would like to have a meeting at a cafe near Seodaemun Station…”

Min Hayoon also considered Park Ji-hye’s needs and replied immediately.

As soon as she confirmed that the email had been sent, she took a deep breath and clenched her fist.

“Yes…!”

Park Ji-hye.

Age 26 this year.

It’s not easy to find a voice actor this young among those whose contracts with domestic voice acting agencies have expired.

She has already released three works, yet she is only twenty-eight.

This kind of voice actor definitely has marketability.

If she hosts an autograph session with Park Ji-hye at an event like AGC, a lot of people will come.

And basically…

“Her face is also quite pretty.”

With these conditions, anything is possible.

Besides, Park Ji-hye is a voice actor who, in Min Hayoon’s memory, will grow the fastest in the next few years.

It’s thrilling to be able to buy a rising star in this industry at a low point…

There was just one minor problem.

Min Hayoon, who is scheduled to meet with Park Ji-hye, is too young.

Of course, this is a solvable problem.

Because Min Hayoon is not alone anymore.

“Unnie.”

-Yes?

“I’ve scheduled a meeting with voice actor Park Ji-hye. Come to the usual cafe tomorrow. It’s at 2:20 PM.”

-What?

“Just come and smile. I’ll do all the talking. I’ll take care of your transportation and give you a bonus, so please come. I’m counting on you!”

-O-okay…

This issue can be resolved by bringing Choi Arin, who is older than Min Hayoon and is also quite tall, at around 165cm.

Unlike Min Hayoon, who still has a youthful look, Choi Arin has a long, slender body that gives off a college student vibe.

It’ll probably work out somehow.

“Ah, taxes.”

Come to think of it, the tax issue…

“Dad!”

“Huh? What?”

“Let’s go register a business next Monday.”

“Uh, sure… Okay.”

She also needs to calculate income tax soon since it’s almost May, so the sooner she registers the business, the better.

‘It’s so sweet.’

She will definitely make the most of it.

#

The next day.

Min Hayoon and Choi Arin met again at the now-familiar cafe near Seodaemun Station.

“I tried to dress up as much as possible… Is this okay?”

Choi Arin, who came wearing a shirt under a sweater, expressed her bewilderment, asking if this was okay.

It’s natural to react this way.

Choi Arin is still an amateur who hasn’t released any notable works, and the other party is a professional voice actor.

“She’s only 26. She’s only eight years older than you. Don’t you have a cousin? Isn’t it about that age difference?”

“Well…”

On the other hand, Min Hayoon was calm.

The money is in her hands anyway.

“We’re the ones giving her work. If she doesn’t work with us, her income will be negative. She’ll get over 500,000 won per hour of recording, why would she refuse?”

“Her income will be negative? What does that even mean… Anyway, do we have enough budget?”

“I can afford to give her 1 million won per hour.”

“1 million…?”

“I’ll offer 550,000 won first, and if she hesitates, I’ll gradually increase it. She’ll definitely accept before it reaches 1 million won.”

If it seems like there isn’t enough money, she can just offer more.

The one who is short on money right now is Park Ji-hye herself, who has become a freelancer.

Min Hayoon, who knows the psychology of unstable freelancers better than anyone, was confident that this contract would succeed.

-Ding dong.

Just then, a familiar face entered the cafe.