Villain Ch 977. Narrative Designer VS Player Relations
This time, Kafra huffed, shaking her head slightly. "Yeah, not all of it. But I have to emphasize the part about you kissing your girls in front of players. You can’t say that didn’t have an impact."
Allen cringed, recalling those moments. He had thought it was all part of the role—being shameless, flaunting his power, and showing the world he could do whatever he wanted. But now, in hindsight, it seemed those displays had fueled the fire in a way he hadn’t anticipated.
Kafra winced slightly and hummed, her tone taking on a more reflective quality. "I knew that Energy Transfer skill was a bad idea. When we designed that, it was supposed to be a strategic move, a way to replenish your companions in battle. But the way it looks… well, it doesn’t exactly scream ’purely practical.’"
Allen chuckled despite himself. The skill involved a kiss. It was a visual spectacle, sure, but it also created an image that was easy to misinterpret—or to interpret in ways he hadn’t intended.
Kafra glanced at Allen and gave him another stern look, her gaze piercing through the screen. Allen’s face tensed up again. He smiled awkwardly in reply. "You’re not going to cancel that skill, right?" he asked, huffing slightly. Despite his usual bravado, he could suddenly understand why Emma had always had a mix of fear and respect for this woman.
Kafra had a way of cutting through the nonsense, making even someone like him feel small under her scrutiny.
Kafra huffed, a sound that was half amusement, half exasperation. "After all of this?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "It’s too late for that," she added, her tone making it clear that the Energy Transfer skill had become too embedded in the game’s lore and mechanics to simply remove now.
Allen’s face turned serious, his earlier defensiveness giving way to genuine concern. He leaned forward, his voice more controlled. "Does that mean you agree to that petition? The romance one?" he asked, his mind already racing ahead to the implications of such a decision.
Kafra’s expression didn’t soften, but there was a hint of something more thoughtful in her gaze. "We’ll discuss it later," she replied, her tone measured. "But this definitely requires your consent. That’s why we asked you to attend this meeting."
Allen nodded, realizing that her response made sense. This wasn’t just a simple gameplay update—it was a major shift that could change the nature of the game and his role within it. The fact that they were even considering it meant that the game developers were likely leaning toward agreeing with the petition.
The question was, how would they implement it? Would it be a side quest? An alternate story? An event? Or perhaps even a separate game mode altogether? A new dating game with a similar character to the emperor?
And then there was the matter of control. Would Allen still be in charge of the Devil Emperor when this happens? Or would they develop an AI to handle the more intimate interactions, allowing the character to exist independently of Allen’s direct input? How far would the romance aspect go?
Would it be limited to simple gestures like hugs and kisses, or could it delve into something deeper, more complex?
The possibilities were endless, and each one seemed to come with its own set of challenges and potential pitfalls. How would this new dynamic fit into the main storyline of the game? Would it detract from the Devil Emperor’s role as the ultimate villain, or would it add a new layer of complexity to his character?
A few minutes later, the meeting room began to fill up. Two more staff members logged on. One was a man named Martin, the lead narrative designer for Hell’s Gate, known for his intricate storytelling and deep understanding of character development.
The other was Lisa, the head of player relations, whose job was to keep a pulse on the community and ensure that the game met player expectations while staying true to its core vision.
Martin was the first to greet everyone, his tone formal but warm. "Good evening, everyone. I hope you’re all doing well. My name is Martin, the lead narrative designer for the game," he said, his voice calm and steady.
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Lisa followed suit. "Evening," she said, her voice crisp and professional. "I’m Lisa, the head of player relations. I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts on this," she added, her tone measured but hinting at the gravity of the discussion ahead.
Allen greeted them with equal formality. "I’m Allen. Good to see you both," he said, nodding to each of them in turn, assuming they already knew him.
Kafra took the lead. She cleared her throat, her voice cutting through the small talk. "Alright, everyone, let’s get down to business. As you know, we’ve called this meeting to discuss the recent petitions that have been gaining traction within the player community. Specifically, we need to address the petition concerning the Devil Emperor as a romanceable character."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. "We’ve all seen the numbers, and it’s clear that this is something the community is passionate about. But before we make any decisions, we need to consider the implications—both for the game’s narrative and for player experience."
Martin leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed in thought. "From a narrative standpoint, this is a significant shift," he began, his voice thoughtful. "The Devil Emperor has always been portrayed as the ultimate antagonist in the game—powerful, ruthless, and unapproachable.
Introducing a romance option would add a layer of complexity to his character, but it could also risk undermining the fear and respect he commands," he continued. "Also, the Devil Emperor’s whole persona is built around being untouchable, someone who doesn’t need or want emotional connections. If we introduce a romance angle, it could change the way players perceive him entirely."
Lisa chimed in, her tone was pragmatic. "But we also have to consider player demand. The fact that this petition has gained so much support means that there’s a significant portion of our community that wants to see this happen. Ignoring that could lead to disappointment and backlash," she reminded them.
Note: Now choose. Should I make the devil emperor romanceable for example in an event? Or not? Please answer with yes/no on the comment section in 1X24 hours.
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Explaination: I was thinking about an event so there’s only like 2 or three people for the winner. If the winner is a girl, she can romance Allen (but not as far as hug or kiss). It will be a dark romance thing. If the winner is a boy, he can join the villain’s side for the next event. Just one event. The game devs will give him a different one time account.