Chapter 545 - IRO Management (8): Good News, Bad News
"Good work, everyone~."
"Yes, yes, good work, good work."
Misha P. briskly handled the documents in her hand without even looking at GM Choco, who had just entered.
Most of them were related to the rights of the popular content, Iris Revolution Online.
GM Choco, as usual, headed to the coffee server and brewed a cup for herself and Misha P.
"Here you go."
"Thanks. Any reports?"
"Yes. I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
Misha P.'s smile twitched slightly at those words.
In such cases, it's usually bad news either way.
"…Do you know the origin of that phrase?"
"Oh? Isn't that a British thing?"
"Apparently, there was an American movie that said something like that."
As Misha P. replied, GM Choco exerted pressure, saying, "Just choose already."
"Hmph… Alright, let's start with the good news."
"New users who started after the Demon Kingdom Update have a much higher retention rate than expected, so we'll likely need to revise our sales forecast upwards."
"Oh, that's genuinely great news! As expected of Choco-chan! Choco-sas!"
Misha P. looked up and began to applaud.
However,
"Now for the bad news."
"Stop it! The producer's HP is zero!"
"The overall player retention rate is high, which means the actual player count is much higher than anticipated."
Misha P. flinched at those words.
A much higher actual player count means the in-game economy is considerably more active, leading to a problem often inherent to MMORPGs:
"Could it be… already starting to inflate?"
"Yes."
"Too fast, Jose!"
Fortunately, it seems the prices of items beginners need haven't risen, but the cost of magic tools excavated from the Necropolis's underground dungeon has become astronomical.
"Well, things you craft to level up skills inevitably end up being sold for pennies, don't they?"
"Things like knives can be melted down and reused, albeit with some loss. But for miscellaneous goods, it usually ends up being sold to an NPC vendor for a meager amount of money."
"When the total amount of currency in the world increases, inflation happens, right?"
Simply put, every time a player joins, 30,000 Iris are added to this world.
The key is how to make them spend it pleasantly and curb the expansion of currency circulation.
"You've thought of countermeasures, right?"
"Yes, the quickest way would be to permit Mithril mining in state-owned mines in each country."
Until now, players could enter state-owned mines by purchasing a daily mining permit. However, this was limited to areas where rare ore rarely appeared.
The plan is to allow access to Mithril-producing areas for an additional fee.
"Ah, if you increase the circulation of Mithril, will the power balance be okay?"
"I think it will be fine. The price is a bit too high right now, making it prohibitive even for intermediate players, so some people are struggling."
"I see. Well, then I guess it's fine. I don't think that's such bad news."
Misha P. leaned back deeply into her gaming chair with a relieved expression.
However,
"I don't recall saying inflation was the only problem, do I?"
"W-what did you say!"
Misha P. sprang up from her chair with a clatter.
She nodded, then sat back down.
"Skit aside, with a larger active player count, there are more Fairies moving actively."
This includes the Gnomes living southwest of the Kingdom, and the Cait Sith who came to the mainland from Ramune Island.
Depending on the number of players, more Fairies leave their villages, settlements, and islands to interact with players, but…
"Ah, this is bad. The next World Quest is going to be a nuruge (easy game)."
Fairies are sensitive to demons.
They are a trump card for the World Quest "When the Devils Come," which involves finding demons infiltrating various countries on the mainland, and the key is whether players realize this.
However, if there are too many Fairies, the demon hunt might end too quickly…
"It's not what we anticipated, but an easy game might not be so bad, right?"
"Hmm, indeed… The Necropolis was so difficult to get into that it was a struggle in the early stages."
"Since there are many new players, I think it would be good to extend the duration and have them explore around for an event where they can definitely get 1 SP."
The infiltrating demons are generally weak in combat power and excellent at mimicry; roughly speaking, it's akin to hide-and-seek.
In the process, hints leading to the next World Quest will be provided.
"Okay, then. When can it start?"
"The fastest would be the last week of August, but we'd also like to review and finalize it again, so for a clear break, September would be ideal."
"Yes, that sounds right. Let's aim for a September start and ending around the holidays, and rerun the pre-release checks."
Although there won't be major content changes, reviewing potential situations that could arise from changing the event period is essential.
"Alright. By the way, how are the remote islands being handled?"
"The same! No special treatment!"
Misha P. replied instantly, perhaps a trauma returning from when remote islands were excluded, leading to painful consequences. However,
"Remote islands… Can't you only go to Ramune Island and Anshia Island?"
"You're forgetting the Southern Island where the Jade Goddess descended."
"I feel like a grand flag just got raised…"
"It's your imagination. To notice it is to lose."
………
……
…
[Update History]
4/20 Chapter 484 The Island Master's Return ~ To this chapter
Comic serialization has started on Young Ace UP!
https://web-ace.jp/youngaceup/contents/1000255/
Also available on Niconico Seiga Manga!
https://seiga.nicovideo.jp/comic/67669
Please also support the books. m(_ _)m
BOOK☆WALKER : https://bookwalker.jp/series/375270/
Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0BYK5SFV6