Vol. 2 Ch. 2 Ep. 2: A Day at the Game Dev Department

Hah! Get ready, Sensei!

This is my super secret, ultimate move!

Momoi Splash!

Heeheehee! There are no blind spots in my cruel combo attack! I'm not gonna stop until your HP reaches zero!

Hiyaaaaaa!

Wahhh! How come my combo whiffed?!

Wh-What?! Did Sensei already figure out my attack patterns?!

I thought Sensei was a total beginner who never played this game before.

Hey! Don't rub it in, Midori!

That one didn't count!

One more! Let's do one more match, Sensei! I swear I'm gonna show you my secret combo...

Huh? We've already played eight matches?!

Yeah, that's enough. Sensei's too nice to say no to you.

B-But I can't end on a loss. It hurts my pride as a gamer...

This nonsense again...

So it's okay for Sensei to end on a loss? Everything revolves around you?

What?! Oh... I didn't really think of that.

*sigh* Sensei, you shouldn't let her get away with things all the time.

The only thing on your mind is the game...

I hope you didn't forget the actual purpose of today's club activities.

*gasp* Right...!

...Right?

Oh, no! Midori! I remember, of course! Yeah, I swear!

Don't tell me you brought Sensei here without explaining anything to them.

Hey!

I-I was planning on explaining right now! Duh!

The purpose of today's club activity is...

To begin brainstorming ideas for our next video game!

Yes, we at the Game Development Department think it's time to pursue a new endeavor.

Right! When we heard that you had some free time, which almost never happens, we had to have you here!

Well, we all know how busy you are... We appreciate you coming out!

Anyway, we'd like to hear your opinions on our next project!

You might have incredible and fresh ideas to contribute!

That's what we were all thinking...and that's why we asked you to be here!

"But wait, how come we've only been playing this fighting game, then?"

Oh, that was her idea.

It was market research, okay?! Research!

Just sitting around struggling to come up with ideas together doesn't guarantee good results!

So we thought we could play popular games and analyze them to help get our juices flowing.

Heeheehee! Right?! Especially the game we were just playing...

The Fist of Cassiopeia - Upalupa Great Battle is one of the most popular and controversial titles in the fighting game world!

There's a lot to learn from this game. We should dig into it thoroughly and analyze it!

I'm sure we'll come up with some great ideas for our next project!

So, our next project is basically a therapeutic dungeon strategy RPG where you take on quests, go fishing, farm, and develop your characters.

What kind of question is that, Sensei?!

I know the connection between a dungeon strategy RPG and fighting games isn't immediately obvious, but...

Heeheehee! Well, you can't judge a book by its cover!

To win the next Millennium Prize, we have to take risks that no one has ever even fathomed!!

In short, forget the stereotypes, overcome your prejudices and reach for new horizons!

We were thinking that combining elements from two seemingly unrelated genres might bring about a refreshing and interesting game.

Midori! I was getting to that part!

You were taking too long to explain, so I just did it for you.

Waaah! You're so mean!

Really?!

Ah...

Heehee!

Well, of course!

Right, Momoi and I, Yuzu, and Aris...

We promised to totally rule the Millennium Prize next time.

Yes. That's our quest right now.

Momoi! Midori! Sensei! It is an emergency!

Huh? What's wrong all of a sudden, Aris?

Yuzu has finally entered the challenge to win ten online battles in a row!

Really?! No way!

What? Ten wins in a row?

Whoa...

That was so cool, Yuzu!

Yuzu, you're always so amazing.

I was impressed too! You truly are a legendary hero, UZQueen!

Wh-What...? Huh?

Right? Perfect Yuzu! You were in UZQueen Mode!

UZQueen Mode is like a buff that's activated when Yuzu is in a high-intensity situation!

It's a state that makes her feel bolder and more confident than usual...where her brain works 150% faster than normal and visual detection increases by 280%!

You just made that up...

I know it too! Yuzu is very strong in that state! I would love to have a skill like UZQueen Mode!

Sensei?!

Th-That's not...! Augh!

It really isn't anything special...

Watching Yuzu's achievements, I am inspired to take action.

It is my turn next!

I will become a fighting game hero like Momoi, Midori, Yuzu, and Sensei!

Momoi is more like a trash mob monster...

Hey! Just because it's true, doesn't mean you should say it!

A-Aris... Good luck!

Yes! I will do my best!

"Oh, a challenger has appeared."

I will show off the skills I obtained by training with Momoi!

Hiyap!

Hmm! Yah! Yup.

The opponent is dodging all the attacks...

Not yet! This is only the beginning!

I got this!

Huh? What was that...

When Aris hit the opponent, did her own character's HP go down?

I... I can do this!

"Oh, now the opponent just... disappeared...?"

H-Huh?

The opponent ambushed Aris from behind!

A-Ack! What do I...? Attack!

The attack went right through the opponent? What the heck?

Woah?! Why are they suddenly invisible?

Now they're turning into a giant! They're covering the entire screen!

Wh-Why isn't the hitbox registering?

A-Argh! I cannot beat this player!

What the heck? They have to be cheating!

Right? Ugh! Cheaters are the worst. They're not even enjoying the game!

They're challenging us again?! How shameless! That dirty cheater!

Wh-What should I do?

Just deny the request! We have no reason to play with a cheater!

I'm sorry, Aris. Sometimes games just aren't fair.

...It's not like there's no way to win.

"Yuzu?"

L-Let me take this from here. I'll enter with my account.

...!

Ugh! See?! They're using the invisibility cheat again!

Don't worry. Look. The character might be invisible, but you can still see their shadow.

I can track the shadow and react that way.

Hm... Your attack did land, but...

It didn't deal any damage! They used the invincibility cheat again...

It's not invincibility. They're changing where the hitbox is on their avatar.

I can counter it with a skill that deals damage ignoring the hitbox.

My character's Taunt skill has a gimmick that forcibly deals ten times damage if not interrupted...

Momoi! Midori! D-Did you see that?!

She's crazy...

You did it! You hurt them!

"Oh! They're coming with their full power now!"

I can guard against it. I just have to keep an eye on the attack frames.

There's a split moment after the enemy attacks when they're vulnerable...

Now! I can jump backwards and hit them with a jumping heavy kick.

No way! Their character is stunned!

If they don't know how to punish this keep-out move, they'll never be able to approach.

I don't think they know.

I'll break down their cheats one by one...

And I can beat them.

...

See? I told you we weren't out of options.

A-Amazing! I mean there's no words to describe how amazing that was, Yuzu!

Yes! I was holding my breath the whole time!

I see. Even if the enemy is cheating...

You can still cheese strats by using in-game tricks to counter them.

Yes... It's a dirty way of playing, though. I prefer not to use them. That's not the way the game is meant to be played.

But if the other player decides to cheat, all the gloves are off. That's part of the game too.

I understand! Cheese and tricks are part of gameplay too!

Yes, exactly right. Although, I'm sure they can find cheats to counter the methods I used.

But even if they did, I'd find another way to beat them.

Yup. That's what a gamer does, after all.

Oh...! Even S-Sensei complimented me... It's not a big deal...

Yes it is! It felt so good when you won!

This experience was a great way to start brainstorming.

Shall we start the design meeting, then?

Huh? The design meeting? What are you talking about?

...

...Momoi.

R-R-Right! I remember!

O-Of course, we're gonna have a meeting!