Chapter 57
The Reverse Arcadia Gallery erupted into an uproar at the news brought by a user.
That news was none other than the launch of Reverse Arcadia's Korean Server.
For an ordinary game, such news would barely cause a stir, perhaps even be met with 'what's all the fuss about?' But if the subject was Reverse Arcadia, or rather, EnsonGT, it was a different story.
It was the first Game Company in Korea to achieve Number 1 in Sales in Japan's Two Major Markets.
And it also held the title of being a game company that *never* launched games in Korea.
Of course, EnsonGT's hesitation to launch games in Korea wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
From the start, Male-oriented Subculture Mobile Games like Girls Memorial or Reverse Arcadia didn't have the right conditions for service in Korea.
However, for most gamers, practical inconvenience took precedence over such rational reasons,
and complaints and demands gradually began to accumulate against EnsonGT.
Why do I have to play a game from my own country by bypassing restrictions?
Honestly, watching the story in Japanese really breaks my immersion.
At this point, isn't it about time they launched a Korean Server?
But EnsonGT, which had consistently ignored these desperate demands and grievances, announced the Korean Server Launch suddenly and without any warning, as if a sudden gust of wind had blown through it.
And the Reverse Arcadia Gallery, at the center of it all, began to descend into *pandemonium*.
They're launching a Korean Server without any warning. I'm dumbfounded.
Seriously, use your turn signal before coming in, lololol
[Comment List][Newest]
-LOL, what's actually happening, lololol
-Newbies who just started on the Japanese Server must be crying tears of blood.
I'm debating whether to buy a reroll account and start now. Crazy.
It's probably better to hold out a bit longer, right?
[Comment List][Newest]
-Unless you're native-level Japanese, holding out is the way to go, lololol
-Seriously, if you're a Newbie, you absolutely have to start fresh on the Korean Server.
[Nickname: Anonymous]
[Title: But what happens if they can't pass the rating review?]
They won't get an 18+ rating, right?
If it gets an 18+ rating, I can't play, please lololol
[Comment List][Newest]
-Crazy, even Middle/High School Students are on the Gallery these days.
-Middle/High School Students, turn off your games and the Gallery and study lolololol
Adults and Minors,
Users playing on the Japanese Server and those considering to *try out* the game,
Veteran Players and Newbies,
as well as *Agitators* and external Users who came for other purposes.
All of them mixed together, the Reverse Arcadia Gallery was gradually descending into chaos.
If you were to ask what I was doing in this situation...
I was visiting the CEO's Office.
***
While I had been contemplating the Korean Server Launch for several months, two issues weighed on my mind.
The first was the rating review.
It had changed to self-rating at the current point in time, so the review itself wasn't a major problem....
but the fact that it could be reported and changed to R-18 at any time was a huge variable and risk.
In fact, before Regression, there was a huge commotion due to a report followed by a re-evaluation of Classification.
However, there wasn't much I could do about this even if I thought about it, so I had no choice but to give up on that line of thought.
And the second was the Gender Conflict.
This issue was precisely what made me hesitate about the Korean Server Launch until the very end.
In 2015, at the current point in time, it was still dormant beneath the surface, a quiet situation, but I already knew how it would erupt.
Before Regression, I had witnessed the *pandemonium* that unfolded right beside me with my own eyes.
That's why I had prepared for it since the Development of Reverse Arcadia.
Unlike Girls Memorial, Reverse Arcadia was developed with the Korean Server Launch in mind.
so, based on my Pre-regression Memory, all Employees who I remembered or who I heard had caused trouble at EnsonGT were excluded from Project RA.
Just in case, I also added a clause to the Employment Contract stating that they should not cause trouble on SNS.
But knowing this alone wouldn't be enough; I eventually sought out the CEO's Office.
Suyeon's expression as she read the Company Regulations Amendment I handed her was more subtle than I expected.
“So... if what you say, Hojin-ssi, is true, the Gender Conflict is expected to intensify soon, and we could get caught in the crossfire, so we need to prepare in advance, right?”
“Yes, that's right.”
At my answer, Suyeon put down the report with a disbelieving expression and asked again.
“If it's a story from you, Hojin-ssi, I'd usually believe it... but this one is a bit hard to swallow.”
Suyeon shook her head, as if she couldn't believe my story.
It was exactly as I had expected before visiting the CEO's Office.
The stories I told Suyeon were from a point Before Regression when the Gender Conflict had already reached its peak,
so for Suyeon, who was living in the year 2015, there were many bewildering stories to believe.
It also proved that the Gender Conflict wasn't yet severe.
“First, take a look at this.”
Just in case, I handed Suyeon the materials I had prepared.
The materials I gave Suyeon contained Bluebird (Twitter) screenshots of accounts steeped in misandry, filled with hateful posts.
To me, these materials felt mild, having lived through the 2020s when they reached their extreme Before Regression....
but it seemed this level of intensity was enough to convince Suyeon.
Suyeon's expression as she examined the materials was pure shock.
“No... did these kinds of people really exist? Why do they hate men so much?”
At Suyeon's question, I could only shrug.
There was no way I could know the psychology of those who harbored misandry.
Suyeon didn't seem to expect an answer from me either, and with a serious expression, she began to review the materials again.
“Hojin-ssi, I'm asking, just in case, but are these materials really reliable?”
“Of course.”
“Honestly, the stories you told earlier, Hojin-ssi, didn't seem very realistic... but seeing this, I definitely get the feeling.”
“Does that mean...?”
At that question, Suyeon put down the materials and sighed, then replied.
“I'll take care of the amendment you want, Hojin-ssi. I never imagined it would be this bad. It seems you're right.”
“Th-thank you.”
“It's something that needs to be done anyway. By the way, how are the Korean Server Launch preparations coming along?”
At her question, I nodded.
In fact, the current Launch Preparation was going incredibly smoothly.
“That's good... Is there anything else you need or want to ask for?”
“Not really, at the moment... right?”
Suyeon nodded at my words and stood up.
As if she had another appointment, she put on her suit jacket and said to me.
“I'll contact you as soon as the Internal Regulations Amendment is done, so you can go now.”
“Understood.”
As I bowed and left the CEO's Office, I could feel Suyeon's pleased gaze on my back.
***
After the announcement of Reverse Arcadia's Korean Server Launch, the launch preparation was proceeding smoothly.
Yerin's Art Team was currently working on the Open Countdown Illustration after completing the UI/UX Work for the Korean Server requested by the Development Team,
and the Planning Team was diligently running simulations regarding the patch gap issue between the Japanese server and the Korean server, in other words, the 'future sight' problem.
It seemed it would be decided between a 3-month and a 6-month difference.
Both scenarios had their pros and cons, making it difficult to choose easily.
And not having any difference at all was an unthinkable option.
Anyway, while the Korean Server Launch preparations were in full swing, I received a call from Suyeon about two weeks before the launch.
The reason for her call was, of course, about the Company Regulations Amendment I had requested.
Upon hearing that the Company Regulations had been amended, I immediately summoned all Director-level staff to the Conference Room.
The Team Members murmured at the sudden summons.
I, who entered the Conference Room last, looked at them and began to speak.
“Does anyone know why I called you all here today?”
The Team Members shook their heads at my question, seemingly having no particular idea.
Seeing that, I cleared my throat once and began to speak.
“I'm not sure if it's been posted on the Intranet yet, but there's been an Internal Regulations Amendment. The content is as follows....”
I paused my explanation, then pressed the remote control to turn on the Beam Projector.
Then, the clauses of the Internal Regulations Handbook appeared on the wall surface illuminated by the beam projector.
“This time, the amended clause is related to SNS... To put it simply, it's this: 'Do not make remarks that could become controversial regarding Social Issues while in a state where one can be inferred to be a Company Employee.'”
At those words, the Conference Room began to murmur again.
“Does anyone have any questions?”
At that question, Yerin raised her hand.
“According to Senior, as long as it's not a Social Issue, there's no problem, right?”
“Right. These Internal Regulations weren't created to block Employees' SNS usage itself.”
“Then what's the standard for a social issue?”
“Anything that could cause controversy and harm the Company.”
“That's too broad....”
“It can't be helped. It's an amended clause to prevent harm to the Company due to controversy. Does anyone else have questions?”
Chaeyoung was the one who raised her hand at that question.
“What about accounts where it's impossible to infer that it's a Company Employee, like a burner account?”
“As Senior said, we can't catch things like burner accounts, so we're leaving it to each person's conscience. However, if you get caught doing something strange with a burner account, then it becomes grounds for disciplinary action.”
“Oh? If it's just that much....”
Chaeyoung nodded with a softened expression, seemingly having understood my answer.
“Any more questions?”
I asked one more time just in case, but no more questions came.
“Alright, everyone, go back to your teams and explain the amended Company Regulations to your Team Members in detail. It wouldn't be good if someone suffered losses because they didn't know, right? Understood?”
The Team Members responded positively to my request and began to leave the Conference Room one by one.
The Conference Room is now empty.
Left alone in that space, I sat in a chair and sighed.
If I've done this much, no major problems should erupt...
I sincerely prayed that we could pass through the *pandemonium* that would erupt next year without major issues.