Early in the day in Tokyo, Japan, the bustling atmosphere of a game studio was gearing up for a busy day.
"Yuki-san, I think you'll be the employee of the year, I'm sure of it!" a rotund man complimented the striking young woman as they walked through the corridors.
"Haha, you're flattering me, Director Shuichi. I think Shinro-kun has done a great job too..." While Yuki brushed off the compliment with a smile, she appreciated the director's praise.
"Shinro? I don't think he's done enough this year! In fact, he underperformed!" Director Shuichi remarked. Then, changing the subject, he added, "I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll wear at the annual gala, Yuki-san."
Yuki responded with a slight bow and a smile.
As the Development Director and Yuki, along with their team members, entered the workspace, the team watched them disappear into the distance. Once they were out of earshot, those who had bristled at the director's earlier flattery began to whisper among themselves. "Director Shuichi is already a middle-aged man with a wife and kids, yet he still has the nerve to flirt with a younger woman."
A female team member nodded in agreement, adding, "But it seems like Yuki actually enjoys the attention..."
"Yeah, and I've heard rumors that the director and Yuki are having a secret affair..."
"Really? Poor Shinro."
"I know, right? Shinro has been really putting himself out there, trying to win Yuki over. He's even been taking on some of her tasks and neglecting his own—I wouldn't be surprised if Yuki ends up being the employee of the year at the Annual Gala."
"Shinro's so oblivious to the director and Yuki's relationship," one team member commented.
"It's clear Yuki is just using him," another added.
"Should we give him a hint?"
"No, let's see how long this fool keeps chasing after her."
While they gossiped, Shinro was fast asleep at his desk, his head resting on a pile of paperwork.
Noticing Shinro in his booth, the team members quieted down. They exchanged looks and one remarked, "Did he pull another all-nighter?"
Shinro's desk was a mess of scattered papers and a still-running computer, with a half-finished coffee and an empty noodle cup nearby. It was evident that he had been working hard enough to exhaust himself into sleep.
"Poor guy... He's probably been putting in extra hours again to finish his work..."
"That's what happens when you spend too much time helping Yuki with her tasks."
A man nudged his colleague jokingly, "Go check if he's still breathing."
"What?"
"He might have died from all that overworking."
"That's terrible."
"What? It's not surprising. A lot of people in our industry have died from overwork, and Shinro has been at it almost non-stop this week— he hasn't even been going home..."
The coworker nodded, conceding the point. He approached Shinro and nudged him several times. "Hey, wake up, Shinro!"
When Shinro didn't respond, the coworker grew concerned.
"Yikes—maybe you're right."
"Check his pulse, but try not to panic," another colleague suggested, his voice calm but edged with anxiety.
The others looked on, equally nervous.
The coworker swallowed hard and checked Shinro's pulse. His expression turned grave as he withdrew his hand from Shinro's neck. "He... He's dead..."
A wave of shock passed through the team members, and a flurry of activity began as one of them said, "I'll go call someone—"
"Why are you guys so loud?" Shinro's head shot up from the desk as he exclaimed, looking bewildered at his team members.
"Ah!" The person who had just checked Shinro's pulse yelped in surprise.
Though initially shocked, the team members were relieved to see that Shinro was actually still alive.
"He's alive! Akari, you caused a false alarm!"
Akari, who had checked the pulse, was visibly confused as he scratched his head, certain he hadn't felt any pulse from Shinro...
"Seriously, Akari, thanks for the scare," another teammate chided.
The team members gave Akari disapproving looks as they returned to their booths.
Feeling frustrated and embarrassed by his colleagues' reactions, Akari pointed at Shinro and snapped, "You... You should have just died!"
Shinro wore a puzzled expression as Akari stormed off after his outburst.
"Where the heck am I?" Shinro mumbled, scratching the back of his head as he tried to piece together his memories.
He had been playing a video game called "Valorant," deeply engrossed and enjoying himself while wearing a headset. At first, he noticed a sensation of heat but dismissed it, too caught up in his game to pay it much mind.
However, the heat intensified, prompting him to wonder if the air conditioner had malfunctioned or broken down. It wasn't until smoke began to fill the room that he realized a fire had broken out.
His neighbors were already in a panic, and commotion filled the air, but his headset had blocked out all the sounds.
Recalling these events vividly, that's when Math Boolean Algebra realized he had died.
"Mother of pearl... I actually died... And I remember it all so clearly..." Math whispered to himself.
Catching his reflection in a small mirror on the desk, Math was shocked to see an unfamiliar face staring back at him.
Despite his shock, Math managed to keep his reaction subdued. After all, he was a fan of novels about transmigration and was quite certain that was exactly what had happened to him.
The only issue was his appearance. "Why does this new face look so worn out? And those dark circles under the eyes... They're just like Yuichiro Hayashi's," Math murmured to himself.
Glancing at the papers strewn across the desk, Math realized he couldn't understand the language they were written in. However, the computer screen provided a clue that his new identity was also a game developer, much like his previous self.
"Cool. This guy is a game developer too?" Math thought aloud, then he realized another problem, "The only issue is that I can't read Japanese."
Just then, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind, accompanied by a transparent interface that appeared before him: [Ding! You have awakened the "Genesis System"!]
Overwhelmed with excitement, Math nearly shouted, "Heck yeah!!!"
But he restrained himself. Math was familiar with these systems from the web novels he had read in his previous life.
He was quite curious about what his new system could offer.
[Ding! You received a "Gift Pack"! Do you want to open it?]
"Wow..." Math was thrilled and murmured, "Open it."
[Ding! You received a mastery in the "Japanese Language" skill!]
[Ding! You received a valuable ability!]
[Legendary Ability: Game Developer Assistant!
- Function: Offers basic code templates and snippets, simple debugging tools, and basic game design tutorials.
- User Interface: Simple, user-friendly interface with straightforward commands and minimal options.
- Capabilities: Assists with organizing project files, basic asset management, and provides tips to host.
- Ability Level: 1 (This "Legendary Ability" can be leveled up to 100, and as the level increases, the ability will enhance and may provide more features.)]
Seeing this, Math was both shocked and delighted.
He hadn't expected to receive such a useful ability from his first "Gift Pack."
Essentially, he could use his ability to code and develop games using his system, which also allowed him to transfer game files to the computer.
"This system is really useful... I can even use it as a computer," Math thought, but his reflections were interrupted as a woman approached him.
"Shinro-kun, could you provide a little help with this project?"
Math looked at the attractive woman and wondered, "Who is this woman?"
--
Author's Note: I'll make sure to update this, but no rush, okay? If you're feeling generous and want to motivate me even more, go ahead and drop a like!
Before Math stood a striking young woman. He had only just arrived in an unfamiliar body and was still acclimating to his new circumstances, so he didn't recognize the person before him.
[Alert: Host has not received the current body's memories. Would you like to inherit them?]
Upon hearing this, Math wondered to himself, "Will it be painful or troublesome to receive the original body's memories?"
[No. The system's protection allows the host to absorb the memories smoothly.]
Reassured, Math decided internally, "Let's do it. I need those memories to better understand my situation."
[Acknowledged. Initiating recovery of "Shinro Suzuki's" memories.]
[Processing: 10%... 20%... 50%... 80%...]
"Shinro?"
Math was jolted back to reality by the woman's voice.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concern evident in her tone.
"Yes, I'm fine," Math responded, though he felt a twinge of doubt. The body he now occupied was weak and drained.
[100%! Ding! The host has fully absorbed the original body's memories.]
Math momentarily froze as a torrent of memories from his new body cascaded through his mind. After the rush, clarity dawned on his face.
The original body, named Shinro Suzuki, graduated a year ago and has since embarked on an independent life in society. Shortly after graduating, he secured a position as a game developer at the video game studio Konami.
The year is 2010, and for Math, what stands out is the popularity of mobile games. Konami has thus focused its efforts on the mobile gaming market, which is not only popular but also profitable—unlike the markets for console or PC games. At this time, most Japanese game companies are primarily targeting the mobile games sector.
This trend is largely due to Japanese workers who lack the time for console or PC gaming and instead turn to playing casual video games on their smartphones. These workers are willing to invest significant money into their gaming habits, using mobile games as a form of stress relief and entertainment.
[Your status has been updated!]
[Name: Shinro Suzuki]
[Level: 1]
[Unlock more system features as you level up.]
[XP: 0/100]
[Worlds: 0] [Worlds: This is the main feature of the "Genesis System." As you develop games, you can publish them under your independent company. The more popular your games become, the more points you earn! These points can be used to create your own world. Minimum points required to start a world: 100.]
[Savings: 50,000 YEN] [Money can also be converted into points.]
[Points: 0] [Points are crucial for starting your world!]
[Game Company: 0 Games: 0 Games Popularity: 0]
[Task: Develop and publish your first game. Reward: 50XP, 10 Points.]
As Math perused the system interface before him, he was struck by a sudden realization. "I can start my own world!?" he thought, astounded.
The idea of creating a world was utterly unexpected.
After all, it was akin to playing God. The possibilities were limitless.
At the same time, Math noted that the system had labeled him as "Shinro Suzuki" instead of "Math Boolean Algebra."
"Well, I guess I'm Shinro now. Never liked my own name much, anyway." Math, now adopting the name Shinro, mused silently.
"Umm... Shinro-kun, could you help me?" Yuki's voice broke through his thoughts after he had been quiet for some time.
Shinro snapped out of his reverie and turned to look at the woman before him. Now, with the memories he had absorbed, he recognized her—her name was Yuki.
From the original Shinro's memories, he understood that Shinro had harbored feelings for her, to the point of neglecting his tasks. This distraction might have even contributed to the original Shinro's downfall.
Reflecting further, he realized that the original Shinro had overlooked some glaring truths. Yuki and Director Shuichi seemed to have a close relationship, a fact that the original Shinro chose to ignore, living in denial of the obvious.
Reflecting on his situation, Shinro decisively said to Yuki, "No. Look for someone else to help you, I still have tasks to do."
This response surprised not only Yuki but also Shinro's coworkers, who couldn't believe their ears.
"Did... Did he just turn down Yuki!? Shinro, of all people!?" murmured the coworkers in disbelief.
"Wha-what?" Yuki stuttered, taken aback.
"I said go. I don't have time for you," Shinro stated firmly, as he tidied the messy papers on his desk.
"Well, if... If that's the case, alright..." Yuki replied, visibly shaken. Before she left, she added, "If you're tired, you could at least say it kindly..." and then she walked away.
Hearing such a remark from Yuki made Shinro chuckle internally, thinking to himself, "The audacity of that bitch."
He was tempted to flash her the middle finger but decided against it as it would be inappropriate.
Shinro then turned his attention back to studying the "Genesis System."
Meanwhile, Yuki was dealing with mixed emotions after being rejected by Shinro. She had never been turned down by him before, and experiencing it for the first time stirred complex feelings within her.
"Hmph... That guy thinks being snub and cold to me will work and make me think of him," Yuki mused, mistakenly believing that Shinro's rejection was merely a psychological tactic to get her attention.
Although Yuki snorted dismissively, her expression still carried a semblance of kindness, as if she truly were a gentle soul.
Meanwhile, having just inherited the original body's memories, Shinro endeavored to carry out his job as usual, especially since today was payday, and he couldn't afford to leave the company without collecting his salary of 180,000 yen.
He worked until he finished, stretching his body wearily before submitting his work.
Afterwards, Shinro felt the curious gazes of his co-workers, and one of them approached him, asking, "Shinro, are you okay today?"
Confused, Shinro responded, "What do you mean?"
"It's just that it's the first time you've ever rejected Yuki."
With a chuckle, Shinro replied, "I don't want to be involved with that woman."
Hearing this, Shinro's coworkers exchanged surprised glances.
They couldn't believe Shinro would say such a thing, especially about Yuki.
"Maybe you're just trying to fake it, Shinro. You playing mind games, acting distant to get more of her attention?" another coworker speculated.
Shinro just smiled and said, "No chance. You guys are overthinking it. I've come to realize Yuki isn't who I thought she was."
As Shinro and his coworkers were talking, Director Shuichi entered the workspace and announced, "Alright, everyone— in just half an hour, the company's annual gala will begin! Make sure you're prepared. If you don't have specific clothes set aside, just wear your suit as it is."
Hearing this, everyone was excited.
It was evening, and the Konami building's main hall was bustling with people. Tables were scattered around, with guests mingling and sipping wine.
Shinro was reluctantly pulled into the party, feeling somewhat out of place. He had no choice but to participate; after all, he could only receive his salary after the "Best Employee of the Year" was announced.
As the event unfolded, music filled the hall. Shinro overheard his coworkers discussing potential winners of the "Best Employee of the Year."
"Is it even a question? Yuki definitely stands a chance!" Director Shuichi proclaimed to his team members, who softly chuckled and agreed. Yet, deep down, they all knew that without Director Shuichi's backing and Shinro's help on her projects, Yuki would likely not even be nominated.
Meanwhile, Shinro was minding his own business, enjoying his meal and sipping on some wine when Yuki suddenly appeared in front of him. "Shinro, I think you have a great chance of winning this year! I hope you'll be the best employee this time!" she said with feigned sincerity.
Shinro stopped eating and looked at her, his expression indifferent. "So?"
Yuki flinched slightly at his cold response but maintained her facade. Internally, she seethed. "This guy is still pretending to be cold towards me…"
"I hope you win, Shinro-kun!" she said, forcing a smile.
Shinro responded dismissively, "Yeah, yeah…"
Yuki clenched her fists under the table, thinking angrily, "If it weren't for the fact that you're so useful to me, Shinro-kun, I wouldn't even bother with you."
Shinro, oblivious to her true feelings, continued to mind his own business, paying no heed to her insincerity.
As the evening progressed, Shinro applauded politely as the host of the Annual Gala presented awards for "Best Customer Service," "Innovative Award," and "Leadership Excellence." Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. The host announced, "And the Employee of the Year is… Yuki Meinu!"
The crowd erupted in applause as Yuki jumped up and down, visibly elated. "I won!" she squealed, hugging Director Shuichi who congratulated her with a hearty, "You deserve it!"
Yuki then made her way to the stage to deliver her acceptance speech.
Meanwhile, Shinro couldn't help but overhear his coworkers whispering behind him. "Heh, looks like you're the reason she got the award she didn't earn," they snickered.
As his coworkers continued to gossip, one of them nudged him and said, "Look, Shinro! Yuki's practically hugging our director. What do you think?"
Another joined in, "Come on, we know you must be jealous."
Shinro had enough. In perfect English, he snapped, "Shut the fuck up. I couldn't care less about that bitch."
His coworkers were taken aback, clearly not expecting him to curse or speak English so fluently.
Shinro had enough of the ceremony and just wanted to get his salary and leave. He stood up and walked away, leaving his stunned coworkers behind.
As he left, they tried to imitate his English accent, saying things like, "What did he say? Bi-chi?" and "He says, facku upu." After a few failed attempts, they returned to gossiping. "See, I told you, Shinro's affected."
"No doubt about it," the other agreed.
As the gala neared its end, Shinro decided to use the restroom.
However, as he approached the stall where the moaning was coming from, he couldn't help but eavesdrop. Recognizing the voices, he hesitated for a moment but then thought, "Eh, I don't care." He flung open the door, revealing Director Shuichi and Yuki in the act.
Instead of being embarrassed, Director Shuichi looked at Shinro with a smug grin. "Aha! Caught you two fucking like rabbits," Shinro said nonchalantly.
Director Shuichi, still panting, smirked and licked Yuki's cheek. "What do you think, Shinro? I'm banging your 'beloved' Yuki right here, right now."
Yuki, pretending to be lost in ecstasy, moaned louder as Director Shuichi encouraged her on.
"Ah, yes! Yes!" she moaned, faking her pleasure.
"Show Shinro how much you love it!" he said, grinning.
"Ah, yes, I love your thick c*ck!" Yuki moaned, but it was all an act.
Shinro, on the other hand, wasn't fazed. He watched the two with a hint of amusement in his eyes. Unbeknownst to them, he discreetly took out his phone from his wallet and snapped a photo of the cheating couple in the act in 4k.
It was only when Yuki caught him that her act fell apart. "Kyah! He's taking photos of us!" she shrieked.
Hearing the commotion, Director Shuichi turned around, only to see Shinro recording them in the act. Panicking, he quickly pulled out of Yuki.
Shinro chuckled as his phone's camera captured the director's less-than-impressive manhood.
"Stop it right now, or you're doomed!" Director Shuichi threatened.
"Me? Doomed? I think you're the one in trouble here, bro," Shinro smirked. "I bet you love an audience, right? Well, I'll make sure everyone at the company sees this."
Yuki panicked, "Please, Shinro-kun, don't!"
Shinro evaded Director Shuichi's attempt to snatch his phone with ease, leaving the man on the floor, face first.
"Stand up, big boy," Shinro laughed.
Yuki, desperate, begged, "Please, don't release it! I'll do anything! You can even fuck me right now!"
Hearing Yuki's offer, Director Shuichi frowned but knew he was cornered. "Fine, fine! Go ahead, Shinro! Fuck her all you want! I don't care!" he said, still on his face.
"Haha, I've got enough." Shinro kicked the director and left the bathroom, making his way to the backstage where the LED screens were controlled. Startled, the operators asked, "What are you doing here?"
Shinro smirked. "I'm here to give you all a good show." He then connected his phone to the LED screen.
"What are you doing?" one of the operators asked, alarmed.
"Just giving you all a show," Shinro smirked as he connected his phone to the LED screen.
The moment the video of Yuki and Director Shuichi's tryst played on the screen, the crowd gasped in shock. The operators quickly realized what was happening and rushed to disconnect Shinro's phone, kicking him out of the backstage area.
Shinro, unfazed, adjusted his attire and smirked. He had already received his salary, so he didn't care about the consequences anymore.
Director Shuichi and Yuki, who had just left the bathroom, were met with stares and whispers. It took them a moment to realize their tryst had been broadcasted for all to see. They fled the scene, humiliated.
"Hahaha, did you see Director Shuichi's dick in the video? And he's acting so proud? Haha!"
"That Yuki, the 'Best Employee of the Year'? What a joke!"
"This is a slap to the company's face!"
--
With the scandal behind him, Shinro headed home, ready to focus on his true passion: video game development. Armed with his [Genesis System]'s programming assistance, he knew he could create popular and easy-to-make games from his previous life. He knew he'd have to go to the office tomorrow and submit his resignation, but for now, all he wanted was sleep.
Yawning, he boarded the train and made his way home. As soon as he reached his apartment, he collapsed onto his bed and drifted off to sleep.
Early in the morning, Shinro sat at his computer, browsing through potential websites where he could publish the game he was developing. He had noticed that in this new life of his, there were no video games like "Super Mario Bros" or "Metroid." While those games were considered classics in his previous life, they didn't seem to exist in this world.
Although it was a shame, Shinro was more interested in creating indie games like "Undertale" and similar titles. However, even with the help of his [Genesis System] coding, developing such games would still take him several weeks.
Additionally, Shinro noticed that YouTubers focused on gaming, like PewDiePie, were just starting out at this time. PewDiePie, for example, had only around 120,000 subscribers, according to what Shinro could see. It was nowhere near as popular as it was in his previous life.
Shinro decided to create his own YouTube account using Gmail and began configuring his channel profile. He thought about playing his own created video games on the platform and potentially gaining viewers along the way. Since he could speak English, he hoped to reach an international audience.
YouTube wasn't as popular yet in this timeline, and Shinro would be a fool not to take advantage of this opportunity.
As he was browsing on his PC, his alarm clock rang, signaling that it was already 7:00 AM.
It was time for him to head to the company building and submit his resignation letter.
--
In the Konami building, employees from various departments were buzzing about the development director Shuichi and the "Best Employee of the Year" Yuki, who were caught in a compromising situation in a video and pictures that had been shown on the annual gala's event screen the previous night.
Shuichi, just out of the CEO's office, had received a scolding along the lines of, "Can't you control your kid? I don't care if you're f*cking, but your kid shouldn't be causing trouble!"
The CEO continued to rant after that, further irritating Shuichi. His resentment towards Shinro grew even more.
He couldn't even face his team members without hearing snickers from them.
*
As Shinro entered the company building, all eyes were on him.
"I heard he's the one who exposed Director Shuichi and Yuki…"
"Haha! No wonder he's affected, Yuki was his love interest, after all."
Shinro ignored the whispers and gossip as he made his way to his usual workspace.
His coworkers were in a frenzy, discussing the scandal.
Yuki, usually kind and pretty, now wore a face of shame. When she noticed Shinro, her expression contorted into ugliness, a far cry from her usual beauty. If looks could kill, she would have murdered him a hundred times over.
Shinro caught her glare and couldn't help but snicker in disdain.
Seeing this, Yuki couldn't hold it in any longer. She stormed up to Shinro and yelled, "Why did you do it? Why are you making my life difficult? Are you jealous? Is this revenge because you didn't get the 'Best Employee of the Year' award or because I'm with Director Shuichi?"
Shinro chuckled, "Calm down. At least you're still alive. It's not over for you, especially since you're still working here. And congrats on the 'Best Employee of the Year' award, by the way…" he said sarcastically.
Yuki was about to retort, but the employees around them were laughing and some were even pointing at her. Embarrassed, she stomped off.
Shinro chuckled, but then Director Shuichi appeared.
"You have the nerve to show your face here after what you've done?!" he yelled at Shinro, his anger evident on his face. However, upon noticing the employees watching, he barked, "What are you guys standing around for? Get back to work!"
Reluctantly, the employees returned to their stations. Although Director Shuichi's reputation had taken a hit, he was still their superior.
"Now, what do you have to say for yourself, Shinro? If you don't satisfy me with your explanation, I'll fire you—" Director Shuichi didn't even finish his sentence before Shinro interrupted him.
"Stop talking, you fatherless creep," Shinro retorted, causing the entire workspace to fall silent, with a few people stifling laughter.
Director Shuichi's face flushed with embarrassment and anger.
"Don't talk so much bull crap. I don't need your lecture, and I don't need to explain myself to you. In fact, I've come here to resign." Shinro said as he threw his resignation letter in Director Shuichi's face.
Everyone was stunned, including Yuki, who had been secretly gloating in the distance until then. However, she felt unsatisfied after hearing Shinro's response to Director Shuichi.
"Now that I've submitted my resignation, goodbye." Shinro said, and instead of waving goodbye, he flipped them both off before leaving.
Initially, Shinro had planned to submit his resignation letter to his supervisor or manager, but since Director Shuichi had come to him, it made things much easier.
"Shinro! I'm not done with you!" Director Shuichi yelled, removing the resignation letter from his face.
"So long, nerds," Shinro said, waving his middle finger at them one last time.
"Bastard…" Director Shuichi muttered, before leaving the workspace in embarrassment and anger.
As soon as he was gone, the employees burst into laughter.
"Did you hear that? Shinro called Director Shuichi a 'fatherless creep'!"
"I know, right? Haha, I didn't think Shinro had the guts."
"Neither did I, but now I respect him more."
"I wish I had the guts to do that," one employee said enviously.
"We can't afford to, we need our jobs. But at least Shinro did us a favor!" another chimed in.
"No doubt about it," a third person added, chuckling.
Yuki's expression darkened as she eavesdropped on her coworkers praising Shinro and laughing at Director Shuichi's expense. Her mind was filled with thoughts of revenge.
The employees continued to gossip and laugh about the incident as they went back to their workstations.
--
After leaving the company building, Shinro felt a sense of satisfaction coursing through his body.
"Was that from the original Shinro?" he wondered to himself before shaking it off.
He rushed back to his apartment and immediately sat in front of his computer, turning it on.
He had about 200,000 Yen in his account, which wouldn't last him long. He needed to develop a video game that could earn him money through ads or payments.
"What should I create?" he muttered thoughtfully. He had many options from successful and popular games in his previous life.
After some deliberation, he decided it wouldn't be so bad to develop "Super Mario Bros." in 8- or 16-bit pixels, but playable on PC.
Why "Super Mario Bros.?" Shinro thought. It was relatively easy to develop in his opinion, and with the capabilities of the computer, he could improve the graphics. With the help of [Genesis System, programming and finding resources for textures would be a breeze.
Shinro activated his [Legendary Ability: Game Developer Assistant] and started tapping on the transparent interface in front of him.
He estimated that with the help of his system, his own game development skills, and the improved hardware, he could complete the game in about two days.
[Two Days Later]
Shinro had outdone himself. He hadn't left his apartment in those two days, surviving on instant ramen, pizza, and other food deliveries from local restaurants. His eyes were bloodshot, but he blinked away the fatigue.
With one final tap on the transparent system interface, he exclaimed, "Finally done!"
[Ding! You have completed a "Game Project" named "Super Mario Bros." Reward: Knowledge for the development of "Undertale" indie game!]
Shinro was pleasantly surprised by the reward. He clicked on it, and information about the game's development, storyline, and codes appeared before him, which would be helpful when he started working on "Undertale."
Shinro stroked his chin thoughtfully before setting it aside for now.
Right now, he needed to transfer the "Super Mario Bros" files from his [Genesis System] to his computer and upload it on Steam.
Indie game developers weren't as widespread or profitable yet, and most games on Steam were from established and major video game studios.
Shinro uploaded the game file, logged into his Steam account, and submitted "Super Mario Bros." for review, setting a price of $4.99 for the download.
He was informed that his game was under review and would be published once approved. With that done, Shinro sighed in relief and collapsed onto his bed.
It has been three days since Shinro submitted his "Super Mario Bros" game to Steam, and he's been waiting patiently for the review process to be completed with a successful outcome.
In the meantime, he's already spent about 30% of his initial budget of 200,000 yen, leaving him with just 145,000 yen. With such limited funds remaining, Shinro desperately hopes that his first game developed in this life will be accepted by Steam, as he can't afford to wait much longer.
Shinro was browsing on his computer when he noticed an email sent on his Gmail opened in another tab from Steam in his inbox. His heart raced as he quickly opened it. To his relief and joy, the email congratulated him on successfully passing the review process and informed him that his game would soon be available on their platform.
Shinro smiled, relieved and elated. He tried searching for "Super Mario Bros" on Steam right away, but it didn't show up yet. He knew it might take some time to appear, so he decided to wait. A few hours later, another email from Steam landed in his inbox, informing him that his game was now live on the platform.
Eagerly, he searched for his game again using the search bar, and this time, it appeared! While there were no downloads yet, Shinro couldn't help but feel thrilled to see his creation on the Steam platform.
"I need to find a way to get this game some attention," Shinro muttered to himself as he browsed the internet for a screen recording software.
He downloaded one, and then proceeded to buy his own game on Steam, both to support himself and to play it through the platform. Once the software was ready, he opened "Super Mario Bros" and positioned his low-quality webcam to record his gameplay.
"Hello, fellow gamers! Welcome to my channel!" Shinro said, still getting used to talking to himself in his room. But he pushed through, reminding himself of the potential popularity of YouTubers in the future.
Shinro continued to narrate and play the game, addressing the webcam as if he were speaking to a live audience. He wore a mask to hide his identity, both to reduce his own embarrassment and to create an air of mystery around his channel.
"Today, we're playing a brand new game that I've been working on for quite some time now. It's called 'Super Mario Bros.'"
Shinro pressed the start button and the Mario theme song began to play. "So, in this game, you control a plumber named Mario, who's on a mission to save the kidnapped Princess from the evil Bowser." As he spoke, he maneuvered Mario with the keyboard, introducing the controls and basic mechanics to his future audience.
"You move Mario with the arrow keys, and you can jump by pressing spacebar. The goal is to reach the end of each level while avoiding or stomping on Goombas, these mushroom-like enemies."
As he progressed through the first level, Shinro narrated his actions and provided tips for new players. "You'll come across question blocks containing power-ups like mushrooms that make you bigger, which allows you to stomp on more enemies, and stars that grant temporary invincibility."
He continued to play through the first few levels, showcasing the game's side-scrolling platforming gameplay and introducing the various power-ups and enemies. "This game may look simple, but trust me, it gets challenging as you progress. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did making it!"
Shinro played the game for half an hour, then set to work editing the footage. Having some experience with video editing in his previous life, he was confident in his ability to create a decent video even with the limited tools available in this time. Despite the video editor's lack of future features, Shinro managed to piece together a coherent and engaging Let's Play video in just two and a half hours.
Reviewing the final product, he couldn't help but notice the poor quality of the webcam footage. "The webcam quality is bad, but it'll have to do for now," he sighed, stroking his chin.
After exporting the video, Shinro uploaded it to his newly created YouTube channel called "Yu-Gi-Oh." He chose this name because the anime series of the same name didn't exist in this world yet, and as a fan, he thought it would be fitting. The channel banner featured both "Yu-Gi-Oh" and "遊戯王" written in stylized text, while his profile picture showed him wearing the same mask he had worn during the recording.
After a half an hour, the video finally finished uploading.
[Two hours later]
Shinro was disappointed to see it only had 0 views.
Shinro felt discouraged, but he reminded himself that it would take time to gain an audience. He decided to watch some videos from PewDiePie, who, unsurprisingly, had more subscribers in this world's 2010 than in his previous life's timeline 2010. It made sense, considering the slightly larger and more developed YouTube community in this reality.
Shinro laughed as he watched PewDiePie play Amnesia. After the video, he returned to his own channel and sighed at the still-stagnant 0 view count. He knew he had to do something to promote his game and channel, so he decided to reach out to smaller YouTubers for a collaboration. PewDiePie, with his thousands of subscribers, was out of his budget, so he started searching for smaller channels instead.
While browsing, Shinro stumbled upon a channel with around 2,000 subscribers. To his surprise, it belonged to Markiplier! After watching one of his full videos, Shinro decided to reach out. He sent Markiplier an email:
"Hi, Markiplier! I'm from Japan, and I can see that you love playing video games! I noticed you have a great audience and a lot of subscribers, which is why I'm curious if you'd be interested in promoting my game on your channel? I'm willing to pay you 10,000 yen if you could feature and play my game in one of your videos. I apologize for the low offer, but I've spent all my funds developing the game."
Shinro hit send, his heart pounding with anticipation. "Please respond soon, Markiplier…"
--
Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark was sipping a Monster energy drink after a long day at work. He was browsing the internet for new scary horror games to play on his YouTube channel. Recording himself playing these games had become both a hobby and a coping mechanism, as he found them less scary when being recorded. To his surprise, his channel had been growing steadily over the months, and he now had 2,376 subscribers.
After a while, Mark opened his Gmail to check for new messages. Among the usual notifications, he spotted an unread email. Intrigued, he opened it and read the contents.
"I can't believe it," he muttered, "a potential sponsor!" He quickly search on Google and converted 10,000 yen to USD and found out it was around $121. While it wasn't much, it was still more than the nothing he was currently earning from YouTube. This could be his first-ever YouTube income!
Excitedly, Mark replied to Shinro's email.
--
In his apartment, Shinro was refreshing the page every few minutes, hoping for a response from Markiplier. After half an hour of anticipation, he finally saw a new email from him.
"Greetings from the USA, Shinro! This is Mark. I'm intrigued by your offer and would love to collaborate. I'd be happy to check out your game and give it a try on my channel. Please send me more details about the game and how we can proceed with this collaboration."
Shinro's face lit up with joy. "Yes, this is it!"
Shinro quickly responded, "Hello Mark! Thank you so much for considering my offer! 'Super Mario Bros.' is a side-scrolling platformer game I developed myself. You play as a plumber named Mario, who must save the kidnapped Princess from the evil Bowser. Here's the Steam link: /app/XXX/Super_Mario_Bros]. I'd be honored if you could give it a try on your channel. As for the payment, I can send you the money via or any other method you prefer. Please provide your details, and I'll gladly transfer the funds."
Shinro trusted Markiplier, having watched his videos in his previous life, so he didn't mind sending the money upfront.
--
In USA, Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark read Shinro's response and smiled.
"Hey Shinro, thanks for the info! I'll definitely check out your game and see if it's a good fit for my channel. If I like it, we can discuss the collaboration further. Please don't send the money just yet, I want to make sure it's something I'd feel comfortable promoting. Here's my [ma, just in case."
Markiplier was excited about his first potential sponsorship, but he also wanted to ensure the game was good and appropriate for his audience.
Mark, seated in his room, stared at the computer screen as he prepared to open the link sent by Shinro, his potential sponsor. He noticed that the game, "Super Mario Bros," had only two downloads. "Well, it only has two downloads. I wonder what this game is all about." Mark said in a deep voice. Despite not having received payment from Shinro yet, Mark's curiosity got the better of him and he decided to purchase and download the game.
The game's file size was surprisingly small, only around 20 MBs, which seemed too small for a playable game. Mark couldn't help but wonder what kind of game it could be with such a minuscule file size.
As he finished downloading the game, the counter on the page increased to three downloads. Intrigued, he double-clicked on the game icon, and a logo appeared on the screen: "KiShin Entertainment" followed by "Yu-Gi-Oh." Underneath the "Yu-Gi-Oh" text, there was a YouTube link.
Mark was greeted by the game's main menu, featuring the "Super Mario Bros." theme playing in the background. "Wow, pretty catchy tune," he muttered to himself. In the top-right corner, he noticed a YouTube link under the "Yu-Gi-Oh" logo. Curiosity piqued, he opened the link in a new tab.
Google Chrome popped up, and Mark found himself on a channel named "Yu-Gi-Oh" with only one video titled: "Let's play my first video game, 'Super Mario Bros!'" The thumbnail showed a 2D pixelated dwarf character wearing red. "Could this be Shinro's channel?" he wondered aloud. He clicked on the video, and it started playing.
The video showed a masked man in the top-right corner, explaining the game's story while playing "Super Mario Bros." on the main screen. Mark listened intently to the masked man's commentary as he played the game. After watching for about ten minutes, Mark decided it was time to try the game himself.
He launched the game and played for an hour straight, occasionally glancing at the video for tips. By the end of the session, a smile crept onto his face. "Interesting game so far," he said to himself.
Finally, he closed the game and composed an email to Shinro, agreeing to collaborate on the project.
--
In his apartment, Shinro's Gmail buzzed with a new message from Markiplier. Grinning, he read the email and sent a quick response, agreeing to collaborate on both their YouTube channels to promote the game.
Shinro then transferred 10,000 Yen to Markiplier's account as promised.
And so, the collaboration between "Yu-Gi-Oh" and "Markiplier" began, with Markiplier promoting the video game "Super Mario Bros."
--
Mark set up his webcam, angling it to capture his face and the gameplay.
As he opened "Super Mario Bros," he began his video with his signature intro: "Hello, everybody! My name's Markiplier! Welcome to let's play 'Super Mario Bros.'" He looked straight into the camera and continued, "I've played the game beforehand, and I can tell you guys it's pretty interesting."
As he started the game, he addressed the elephant in the room. "I know some of you might be wondering, 'Markiplier, why aren't you playing horror games?' Well, the creator of 'Super Mario Bros' contacted me for a collaboration, and I thought, why not? It's a first for me, and—" dies "Oh, great. As I was saying, it's the first time someone wanted to collaborate with me, and—" dies again "And… uh, as you can see, it's quite challenging."
Realizing he was losing due to distractions, Mark decided to talk to the camera first. "Alright, let me explain this. A YouTuber named 'Yu-Gi-Oh' contacted me for a collaboration. I agreed not just because it's a sponsorship, but also because the game is pretty interesting! It deserves more attention."
He then refocused on the game, playing more seriously and having fun along the way. After two hours of gameplay, Mark stopped recording and began editing the footage. The editing process took longer than the actual gaming and recording combined, but he was used to it by now.
Finally, he exported the video and scheduled it to upload.
The whole process was exhausting, but the payment from the sponsorship made it worthwhile.
Mark uploaded the video to YouTube, but due to his slow internet, it took another two hours to finish. He waited for viewers to trickle in, but after a few minutes, it only had five views. Feeling discouraged, he decided to call it a day and went to bed.
Little did he know, uploading a video of "Super Mario Bros." would turn out to be a right decision.
--
A few hours after Markiplier uploaded his "Super Mario Bros" gameplay, the video had already amassed 538 views, which was a significant number for him, considering he only had around two thousand subscribers. One of these viewers was Josh, a college freshman, who watched the video in his dorm room.
As Markiplier's character died and the "Game Over" theme played, Josh couldn't help but chuckle. "He should've made Mario jump more," he muttered to himself.
After finishing the 50-minute video, Josh was intrigued enough to search for "Super Mario Bros" on Steam and downloaded it.
Once the game was installed, Josh thought, "Based on Markiplier's gameplay, this game seems promising."
He started playing and before he knew it, three hours had passed. The only thing that broke his concentration was his roommate nudging him, "Josh, I thought you were cooking us food? What are you playing?"
"What time is it?" Josh asked, startled.
"It's already 12 PM," his roommate replied.
"Oh, shoot! I still have a thesis due!" Josh cursed, "Damn this game! I didn't even notice the time fly by!"
His roommate was confused. "What game?"
"It's called 'Super Mario Bros.'" Josh sighed, shaking his head.
His roommate glanced at the screen, "What's so addicting about that game? It looks like it's from the 80s or 90s."
Josh chuckled, "Trust me, even though it's a 2D pixelated throwback, it's more addicting than Call of Duty."
"Really?" His roommate didn't believe him.
"Definitely. The retro graphics and old-school gameplay make it nostalgic and fun. You should try it." Josh said with a cunning smile.
Josh secretly hoped his roommate would get hooked on the game too, so he wouldn't be the only one procrastinating on their thesis.
--
The impact of Markiplier's "Super Mario Bros" video surpassed Shinro's expectations.
Shinro checked the game's download count, which had now reached 139, and his earnings: around $600 and counting. The number of downloads continued to rise.
Intrigued, Shinro decided to watch Markiplier's video, and was shocked to see it had already amassed 12,038 views in just 12 hours!
Markiplier's subscriber count had also skyrocketed to 4,089.
Shinro realized that Markiplier's "Super Mario Bros" video had gone viral. The only explanation he could think of was that Markiplier's subscribers must have shared the video with their friends, resulting in a threefold increase in views.
--
In Sweden, Felix finished uploading a video and was browsing YouTube when he noticed a recommended video from "Markiplier" in his feed. Curious, he clicked on it and watched as Markiplier introduced a game called "Super Mario Bros."
Felix was intrigued by the game's concept and decided to give it a try. He found and downloaded the game on Steam.
As he started playing "Super Mario Bros," he was surprised by how addicting the 2D, old-school gameplay was. Time flew by without him even realizing it.
"This game is fucking good! I should record myself playing it." Felix said to himself as he opened his screen recording software, positioning his webcam to capture his face and the gameplay.
Felix, who had just finished uploading a video, started recording again. "What's up, bros? My name's PewDiePie!" He paused for dramatic effect before continuing, "Today, we're playing a game called 'Super Mario Bros.'"
--
Meanwhile, as "Super Mario Bros" continued to gain popularity, Shinro noticed that he was earning points. He knew these points could be used to create his own world using the [Genesis System, but he still needed more.
Currently, he had 12 points, not enough to create a world yet. However, he was thrilled to see his game gaining attention on Steam, and the more popular it became, the more points he would earn.
Checking YouTube, Shinro noticed that his "Yu-Gi-Oh" channel had gained 300 new subscribers, and his first video had reached 1,839 views.
He was elated to see the growth in such a short time. With these new subscribers, he could promote his future games and potentially gain more supporters.