The gaming industry, like the animation industry and consumer electronics industry, is not a single entity.
Just like game categories, it has countless subcategories of its own.
Besides instructing players on how to choose their favorite titles, it also serves as a means of diverting studios.
It was as if there was an unspoken understanding between them.
There will always be a few types that are the private domain of independent studios.
Big companies don't do it, and they're too lazy to do it.
Small factories, however, can try to turn their fate around using these methods.
The most typical examples are, of course, visual novels and roguelike games.
However, upon closer examination, it may also be due to a host of "big company problems" inherent in large companies themselves.
Manufacturers that have become overly industrialized are actually unable to create works with these kinds of gameplay, creativity, and content.
but...
Gamenova is clearly not a company suffering from the typical problems of large corporations. At the same time, it possesses the top-tier technological accumulation and foundation that only large corporations typically have.
This company is now making dating simulation games...
That's a dimensional reduction attack that you don't even need to think about.
The next day.
Furukawa, sporting dark circles under his eyes, shuffled to school.
I was so engrossed in playing last night that I almost stayed up all night.
Unfortunately, I don't know where I went wrong, and my path to mastering the game is blocked at every turn.
He saw Shiori Fujisaki at the school gate yesterday, and he thought his spring was finally coming.
Without hesitation, he immediately invited the other person to go home together.
result...
[ Fujisaki ]: "I'm sorry, I'm afraid people might say something if they see this..."
What the heck does that mean?! Does she think it's embarrassing to be seen with him?
This caused his schedule to fall apart afterwards.
I accidentally missed the club activities that were required to be attended.
The result was that I was forced to leave the club.
Honestly, sometimes he even felt that Saki Nijino was actually the better choice that everyone wanted.
Perhaps because he had invested some inappropriate feelings in Fujisaki, he was unable to convince himself to switch lines.
"That's what I mean. I should be able to win over Ayako Katagiri when I get back today. We even went home together yesterday."
"Wow-- Katagiri's figure must be the best in the game, I'm so envious! Could you share some tips and tricks? I haven't been able to trigger her appearance yet."
"Hmph, dream on! Katagiri is mine!"
Furukawa, who was catching up on sleep at his desk, twitched his ears and listened intently to the conversation of several male classmates not far away.
It sounds... like Tokimeki Memorial?
So... so they play games too. It's a pity I missed the best opportunity to join in.
Although he really wanted to chat, he figured if he interrupted abruptly, it would probably just create an awkward silence...
"Tch, you stingy brat! I was going to tell you about Mira Kagami's appearance conditions, but you can dream on! She's the best-looking and prettiest girl in the whole school, what do you know?"
"Oh? No, I was wrong, please teach me..."
" Furukawa -kun? Are you alright?"
"Bang!"
Furukawa, who was listening intently to the group's discussion of their thoughts on " Tokimeki Memorial," was startled by the shout and was about to stand up abruptly.
Because he got up too quickly, his leg slammed directly onto the desk, making a loud thud.
" Fujisaki -san... Ah, I, I mean, Yaguchi -san, I... I just didn't get enough rest yesterday."
Furukawa practically blurted out " Fujisaki -kun".
He then realized who it was and quickly changed his story. But it was clearly too late.
The classroom, which had fallen silent because of the loud noise he made, echoed with the words " Fujisaki- kun".
The students who were still talking about " Tokimeki Memorial " exchanged glances, their eyes lit up, and then they burst into laughter.
Seeing Nami Yaguchi's puzzled expression and the laughing classmates, Furukawa's face immediately turned bright red from his neck to the top of his head, as if he were about to burst into flames.
However, the expected mockery did not materialize.
Several boys excitedly rushed up to him and started chatting away, regardless of whether he liked it or not.
"You are... Furukawa -kun, right? You also play Tokimeki Memorial?"
"Ah, yes, yes."
"Wow, that's impressive! You went for the Shiori Fujisaki route? I heard Fujisaki's really difficult; apparently no one has ever successfully completed it."
Furukawa lowered his head shyly, his voice very soft.
"I didn't succeed either. I just joined the same club as Shiori, so I had more opportunities to see her."
"Club! What club? Classical music? Or humanities? Art?" "Swimming club... I only found out by calling Yoshio."
"It can be like this? Ah, I should have thought of that earlier. Yoshio clearly said so."
Upon hearing this, the group discussed it again and wrote down the technique.
"Huh? But in my file, Shiori is in the art club, so was it random?"
"I don't know..."
Seeing that Furukawa and the others were getting more and more animated in their conversation, Yaguchi smiled faintly, turned around and left.
It must be said that Tokimeki Memorial is a work that appears peaceful on the surface, but harbors hidden dangers.
Without consulting resources or guides, perhaps only truly exceptional players could successfully romance Shiori Fujisaki on their first playthrough.
At least Furukawa himself couldn't do it.
Fortunately, because I spent all my time in various sports clubs, I finally met the stat requirements and got Saki Nijino without triggering the guaranteed reward.
Listening to Saki's confession to him under the Legendary Tree, and feeling the vibrations in his hand perfectly synchronized with their heartbeats, Furukawa let out a long sigh. That's wonderful.
It is precisely because of its regrets that it feels so real.
There were joys and regrets, but this is the college life I've always dreamed of.
Leading the baseball club to crush other schools, strolling through the streets with your crush at the school festival, going to the amusement park with your friends...
Being happy is still a day, and failing means you can try again.
If only reality were a game.
Attributes that can be improved with effort; rewards that come with hard work...
But why am I just going around in circles in that small room?
I wish reality were like " Tokimeki Memorial ".
"Tap, tap, tap..."
" Kentaro, your friend is on the phone—"
His mother's voice came from outside the door, bringing him back to his senses. "Coming!"
"Hey, Kentaro, guess what?"
The voice on the other end of the phone sounded very excited.
Furukawa recognized it as Matsumoto's voice; it was the voice of a friend he had met at school because of " Tokimeki Memorial ".
He's a pretty outgoing guy.
If it weren't for what happened that day, Furukawa would never have imagined that this guy would actually play a game like " Tokimeki Memorial," which is something only otaku would play.
"How?"
" Shiori Fujisaki! I succeeded! It was so close, I almost messed up."
"Really?! That's amazing?"
Shiori Fujisaki is the ultimate boss in this game; if you can win her over, you're basically invincible.
"Arts, humanities, and sports all need to be over 130! Appearance and popularity also need to be 100+, I'm almost sick of grinding, but it's all worth it, hehe..." "That's great, I also want to see Shiori's CG..."
Furukawa's voice was sour, and there was even a nameless annoyance welling up, but he quickly suppressed it.
The two chattered away, exchanging more information, before finally stopping.
Just as Furukawa was about to hang up, Matsumoto suddenly spoke again:
"By the way Kentaro..."
"How?"
"You and Yaguchi went to the same school, right? Um... do you know what she likes? You know, tomorrow is her birthday."
"Why?"
Furukawa paused, then suddenly felt a pang of anxiety.
"Me? I don't know, I'm not familiar with her..."
Upon hearing this, the person on the other end of the phone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Phew... that's good. I'm planning to invite Yaguchi out, right under that big tree in our school square, hehe... you know, I want to recreate the Legendary Tree scene from * Tokimeki Memorial *." "..."
"Moxi Moshi? Kentaro?"
"Come on..."
After hanging up the phone, Furukawa returned to his room, dejected, and grabbed the controller.
On the bright side, at least now I know how to win over Shiori Fujisaki.
It's only 130+ in all attributes, just keep grinding for a few more days... you'll eventually get it...
Create a new save file and start the game.
With a goal in mind, everything became much clearer this time.
If only life were like Tokimeki Memorial.
Hmm...
Furukawa suddenly threw down the Elite Controller, scratched his hair in frustration, stood up abruptly, and jogged downstairs. He had barely reached the Yaguchi family's house next door when he saw a figure already standing in front of the door.
It's Matsumoto.
He was talking to Nami Yaguchi.
Furukawa paused for a moment, then suddenly accelerated and rushed to the two of them.
Upon seeing him appear, Yaguchi paused, looking at him in surprise.
" Furukawa -kun? Matsumoto -kun said you have something to tell me?"
"Why?"
Furukawa paused, then turned to look at Matsumoto standing in front of him.
He winked at himself, and gave him a thumbs-up from an angle where Nami Yaguchi couldn't see.
" Furukawa -kun?"
"Uh... yes, Yaguchi- kun, um... tomorrow is your birthday, and I wanted to give you a present. I wonder if you'd like it..."
Furukawa sweetly pulled out the already packaged record he had brought downstairs. "Wow! Thank you, Furukawa- kun."
Yaguchi took the record with delight and played with it with it, unable to put it down.
After a long pause, he looked at Furukawa with a serious expression.
" Furukawa -kun, I actually have something I want to tell you too..."
After saying that, she glanced at Matsumoto standing next to her.
He shrugged and consciously turned away to create some distance.
"I am a tree, you all chat."
"... Ahem, Furukawa- kun."
Yaguchi stared into Furukawa's eyes.
Study hard for the midterm exams!
"Huh? Oh, okay, sure, of course."
Furukawa blinked, surprised that what he heard was completely different from what he had imagined. Yaguchi pursed his lips.
"I want to get into University of Tokyo, and I hope... I hope you can too."
Upon hearing this, Furukawa's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes immediately brightened.
"Certainly!"
The next day.
" Kentaro, wanna go to the club together?"
"Matsumoto shouted."
Furukawa glanced at Nami Yaguchi, and their eyes met. He scratched his head sheepishly and lowered his head to pack his bag.
Furukawa quickly caught up with Matsumoto at the door and then whispered.
"So how did you know that?"
"Do you know how Shiori Fujisaki's club was decided?" "No, I've played several games where I was in the swimming club."
"Hehe... I guessed so. Let's go, don't be late."