STOVE Lounge
_1747885377555.png)
Rockman II's record is a success!
I got 200 Flakes as a challenge reward.
A fleeting moment, it was perfect! ✨
Please try again next time!
💣 Want to become a timing god?
Take the challenge now!
👉 [Play on the Stove App]
Liatin's record is a success!
I got 200 Flakes as a challenge reward.
The pleasure of stillness,
Once is not enough!
💣 Want to become a timing god?
Take the challenge now!
👉 [Play on the Stove App]
hello!
I'm posting early today because I had something urgent to take care of this afternoon. It may seem a bit empty, but it is full of rich information about events in the gaming industry, so read it and enjoy!
💦 [Game Censorship of the Week] Steam Begins Comprehensive Content Censorship! Is the Era of General Censorship Coming? ⚔️ [Industry Conflict of the Week] Anniversary Becomes a Day of Conflict… DnF 20th Anniversary Event Cancelled 🤣 [Game Humor of the Week] Fresh perspectives from people who haven't played games 😶🌫️ [Steam Summary of the Week] Dedicated Servers and Butts That Are Taking Over Steam Trends 🙀 [This Week's Side Story Chat] Is Illegal Copying Really So Bad? - The Postal Creator's Argument 👾 [Emulating News of the Week] Italy Arrests Emulator Reviewer, Could He Face Up to 3 Years in Prison? 🔊 [Game News of the Week] Short but important industry news
💦 [Game Censorship of the Week] Steam Begins Comprehensive Content Censorship! Is the Era of General Censorship Coming?
Updated “What Not to Post” suggests censorship of certain kinds of adult only content.
A big change has come to Steam, which has always advocated for content autonomy and non-interference . This is a somewhat unexpected change for Steam, which has been unwavering despite government requests.
Now, “Steam has changed its policy to not allow games that violate the rules and standards set by payment processors and internet network providers.” Although it says it uses the vague term 'certain kinds of adult only content' , The direction can be seen in the subsequent mass deletion of incest and violence-themed games .
As it says Steam's payment processors and related card networks and banks, Although there is no specific mention, many users see this as an extension of the Pornhub incident that occurred in 2020-2021. This is the case where Mastercard and Visa suspended payment services with Pornhub due to issues such as child sexual exploitation material, hidden cameras, and uploading without consent . Since then, both companies have begun requiring more stringent content monitoring and certification policies from adult content providers .
Most transactions on Steam are credit card-based, and violating Visa/MasterCard regulations could have a huge impact on global sales.
The deleted games give us a rough idea of the direction this censorship is taking: incest, child, and violent content.
Additionally, major infrastructure providers such as Amazon AWS, Cloudflare, and Google Cloud, which provide global web services, are also strengthening their service policies .
In particular , incest, children, **fantasy, etc. are mostly classified as “forbidden content,” and sites that use this server infrastructure have even been threatened with hosting suspension.
Although Steam has its own infrastructure, it operates some networks by outsourcing them depending on the region , so I think this is to respond to that. Recently, the Midnight Diner channel in Korea, which shared shady material, was shut down for similar reasons (threat to server host shutdown due to DMCA violations).
It could also be a problem with your Internet Service Provider . For example, in Korea, there are KT, SK Broadband, and LG U+, which provide Korea's internet communication network. It's also possible that Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who have no choice but to go there to access the Internet, have asked Steam to censor them as a "condition for using their network."
Domestic users have no choice but to use the Internet through domestic ISPs (SK, KT, LG U+).
These ISPs are required to block illegal sites and content.
People on Steam Reddit didn't seem to have any particular disagreement about censored content, but “Credit card companies should not be the ones deciding what kind of content is available for sale,” he said, clearly expressing concerns about censorship . It also revealed a perspective that values freedom of expression, saying that even if a particular game is unpleasant, that unpleasantness should not be used to block the expression of others.
I agree with the censorship of such “specific adult content,” but I think it’s wrong for the payment company to have the power to decide . There was also much criticism that card companies were focusing on managing their brand image rather than protecting consumers. There was also criticism about the current capital monopoly structure, which allows card companies with no understanding of content to exert strong influence .
People in regions where such content is not taboo have also expressed resistance to the cultural imperative of “why should content be removed based on American moral standards?” Surprisingly, European users also raised a lot of criticism about the unilateral application of these “American-centric moral standards.”
There have also been calls for competing payment platforms, or for signature campaigns like the recently successful Stop Killing Game.
There was also an approach from the consumer's perspective. There was also a libertarian view that “I should decide what to buy with my money.” He said that if the content is not legally problematic, the purchase decision is solely between the user and the seller, and that no one should be influenced by it.
Now , Koreans are subject to not only domestic censorship, but also global censorship. I'm not advocating incest or violent content, but there are so many precedents for censorship that started this way and then expanded .
For example, Patreon, which was used by many creators, also had to strengthen censorship due to pressure from card companies and payment processors. Censorship has expanded every year, and since then, many creators have left Patreon, and it has been evaluated as a step back for creative freedom . The OnlyFans incident is also famous.
This censorship in particular is an incident that shows that “if the card company or internet provider doesn’t like it, they can erase it.” What do you think about this censorship incident?
🆙 Update) Since writing this, hundreds of adult games have been continuously removed from the Steam store from yesterday to today. Censorship is expanding across the board to include adult content other than incest and children. Even popular games like Manchayul 300% are being deleted.
🆙 Update) There are reports that censorship has begun not only for the current game, but also for various mods . Please note, mod censorship is currently only reported and not officially confirmed.
🆙 Update) In response to inquiries from some media outlets, Steam responded that this censorship was indeed carried out under pressure from card companies .
⚔️ [Industry Conflict of the Week] Anniversary Becomes a Day of Conflict… DnF 20th Anniversary Event Cancelled
Neople, a subsidiary of Nexon and the developer of Dungeon & Fighter, has announced the cancellation of “DNF Universe 2025,” the 20th anniversary event of DnF .
This event, celebrating the 20th anniversary, will include major updates for the second half of DnF, It was planned as a large-scale offline event where various games such as PC DnF, DnF Mobile, First Berserker: Kazan, and Cyphers will all be gathered in one place. This was an event that fans had been looking forward to, with a wealth of content including lectures, update demonstration zones, and limited edition goods.
However, we have decided to cancel the event because we judged that it would be difficult to present the content that we originally wanted to show with sufficient completeness . In lieu of this event, they plan to change the social contribution event . They said they will announce it again as soon as it is decided.
Although the announcement stated that the event was canceled “due to lack of preparation and completion,” the industry sees the ongoing Neople strike as a direct result of the cancellation.
Recently, Neople achieved its best performance since its establishment with operating profit of over 1 trillion won, thanks to the success of Dungeon & Fighter Mobile in the Chinese market. However, the performance-based pay that employees received was less than promised , and the accumulated dissatisfaction with the intensity of labor that they had endured while receiving performance-based pay exploded . As a result, approximately 900 people, equivalent to two-thirds of Neople employees, participated in a general strike , effectively paralyzing work.
This situation does not appear to be a sudden conflict, but rather the result of accumulated structural instability in the past. Neople once had an incident that shook the foundation of the lives of its employees when it relocated to Jeju Island. And later, when the Seoul branch was re-established, employees often expressed anxiety due to frequent changes in work locations. This was also pointed out loud during this strike.
However, Neople's employees are satisfied with the company's promise of a 30% high performance bonus (GI - Growth Incentive). They have been willing to move their land and work hard.
However, when Neople reduced performance-based pay (by 20%), the union membership rate exceeded 80%, showing that distrust in the company had reached its peak. This led to the current general strike. The union proposed distributing 4% of operating profits directly to employees , but management rejected the proposal, citing sustainability as a reason .
It looks like the strike will continue for some time as the opinions of labor and management continue to be at odds.
Despite our record-breaking performance, conflicts continue to arise, and we are now unable to even celebrate anniversaries together.
It 's unfortunate that the damage from that fight is passed on to the gamers who deserve it the most .
Paramedic and Chimera recently updated in DnF
🤣 [Game Humor of the Week] Fresh perspectives from people who haven't played games
So, when a game boasts about “good graphics!”, does that mean the PR person hasn’t played the game?
▷ Kedehun drawn with a classic beat 'em up game feel ◁
It would be fun if it really happened! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ (@pixeljeff1995)
▷ What game's mistake scale ◁
I accidentally killed a few people…
It was clear this was intentional!
▷ People who say Hitman is difficult ◁
I told him to play hitman, but he's actually carrying out the assassination when there are no witnesses.
▷ Game Options The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ◁
These are options that eat up the specs as they should, but actually make the graphics look worse. These are options that I really don't know why they were created. Let's turn them off for now. ㅠㅠ
▷ Unprecedented incident in trike history ◁
The representative's house deed that was held as collateral was blown away to another world.
Now even the boss himself is enjoying it hahaha
😶🌫️ [Steam Summary of the Week] Dedicated Servers and Butts That Are Taking Over Steam Trends
▷ Dedicated Servers and Butts Suddenly Became a Trend
In the Steam DB trend , there was a sudden trend monopolized by dedicated servers for Valve games . It is not clear exactly why, but it is likely part of the ongoing Stop Killing Games petition in the EU. There have been suggestions that Steam is preparing in advance for continued hosting or use even if the service is terminated . Or, there was also an assumption that the trend may have started when people realized that there was a dedicated server and connected to it . One comment even said, “I saw someone posting something promoting their own dedicated server.” It was said to be part of SKG.
People were paying more attention elsewhere, with “Amarillo's Butt Slapper” reaching 10,000 concurrent viewers for the week. It's a typical banana-like game where you slap butts to collect more butt skins .
Oh, I don't know about the server, I'm more curious about who's spanking the butt lol
▷ This week’s Steam trend is “The Golden Tower of Siege Warfare! Stronghold: Crusader Definitive Edition”
For those who love medieval sieges, there is no game like this! The remake version of the Stronghold series, “Stronghold: Crusaders”, which is highly rated, has been released as the “Definitive Edition” . It has set a record of 14,000 concurrent users, deleting many people’s time. The evaluation is 91% very positive ! Since the original was overwhelmingly positive, I hope it will be a little more challenging despite its high rating. ㅎㅎㅎ
In addition to the AI, maps, and campaigns from past Crusader games and expansion packs, there are new, unique AIs, challenging and historical campaigns, and most importantly, “official Korean language support”! I was definitely planning to play just a little bit, but the game is already 7 hours long. But that's okay. If I remember correctly, this is a content-rich game that takes over 100 hours just to complete the campaign !
Has there ever been a game in gaming history that implemented siege warfare more fun than Stronghold?
▷ Steam Store Update Layout, New Version Leaked
(Above) New layout leaked in May / (Below) New layout newly leaked this time
It's gotten prettier! Of course, the amount of information contained on the screen will decrease proportionally. However, this time it also appears that controller-based operations, like Steam Deck, were taken into consideration. Compared to the previous layout, which seemed to have been made by only engineering students, it has improved a lot, as if a designer was involved . Hahaha
🙀 [This Week's Side Story Chat] Is Illegal Copying Really So Bad? - The Postal Creator's Argument
Recently, the FBI made an official announcement that they had shut down 7 illegal Switch 2 ROM sharing sites . The site reported that from February to May of this year, there were approximately 3.2 million illegal downloads , which resulted in an estimated $170 million in losses .
The creator of the Postal series, famous for its addictive games, has become a hot topic after leaving a favorable comment about an illegal sharing site.
In short, the argument is that 'piracy is not simply a loss, but can act as a route for word of mouth and inflow.'
Minecraft creator Markus Persson said at a developer conference in 2011: “Piracy is not theft. Stealing a car means there are one less cars in the world, but stealing a game means there are one more copies . And maybe even new fans.” This is along similar lines.
Persson told a fan in 2012 that he couldn't afford to buy the game right away. “Just copy it illegally. When you have money, you can buy it officially . Oh, and don’t forget to feel guilty.”
Recently, in relation to Stop Killing Game, He also made a somewhat ironic statement, saying, “If purchasing a game does not imply ownership, then piracy is not theft. How can you steal something if no one owns it? ”
Piracy is an act that already includes the word illegal . It has caused clear damage to the industry and has left even more painful scars on the Korean gaming industry .
However, some developers have taken an interesting view that copying can also be a kind of 'inflow path' in terms of accessibility and distribution of content.
There are some controversial parts to say whether the above claim is right or wrong, but if you keep it in mind, it is certainly an interesting perspective that allows you to see the incident from a slightly broader perspective .
The FBI's warning message you see when you access a blocked site.
👾 [Emulating News of the Week] Italy Arrests Emulator Reviewer, Could He Face Up to 3 Years in Prison?
For gamers who want to relive the classic games of their past, the barriers to entry are high. Titles that are no longer officially distributed cannot be purchased even if you pay for them, and even if you can somehow obtain them, they are now so old that they do not function properly, buttons do not work, the LCD is faded, etc… Many problems prevent us from retrieving our memories.
To fill this gap, a number of handheld gaming consoles based on emulation have been gaining attention from various Chinese manufacturers . Emulators made by Chinese manufacturers like Anvernic, Paukidi, and Trimu have helped us a lot in reviving our memories of playing classic games with much greater ease and improved gaming experience.
And then in Italy , a YouTuber who specialized in reviewing these emulator game consoles was suddenly arrested . Police visited his home and office with a search warrant, accusing him of “promoting pirated copyrighted material.” Police reportedly seized more than 30 consoles, including ANBERNIC, Powkiddy and TrimUI, and even took chat records from mobile phone and emulator game manufacturers . In addition, the YouTuber's channel, which had been built up over the years, was also in danger of being shut down.
The latest emulator game console, Anvernic's RG Slide. After repeated complaints about emulating problems, they have now removed the mention of it from their promotional material.
The issue in this case is not simply whether the device was reviewed, but whether the company was aware of the existence of the illegal ROM files that came with the device and indirectly promoted them . The allegations center around repeated appearances of “microSD cards full of pirated ROMs” in his product review videos . Additionally, they point out that manufacturers have been providing microSD cards to users who purchase game consoles, which is problematic.
This is seen as punishable by a fine of 15,000 euros (24 million won) and a prison sentence of up to three years, according to Article 171 of the Italian Copyright Act.
Once Were Nerd has covered a variety of retro games, so we have reviewed a variety of products. However , we emphasize that we have never posted sponsored reviews or received any monetary compensation for our work . Of course, we have also not included any affiliate links that lead to the purchase of game consoles. He also said that he bought most of the consoles with his own money, and that he owns the original packaging for the games he demonstrated in the video to review the console's performance .
It will likely be quite some time before we see the outcome of this case, but given that Italy is known for having fairly strict copyright laws, the outlook is unlikely to be bright.
Copyright protection is clearly an important value. However, we must also consider the reality that, as it has become a lost medium, there is no rational way to enjoy classic games .
It seems that we now need to have a serious discussion about the boundaries between emulation and replication, and the responsibilities of creators who introduce them.
Especially these days, with the number of games that have disappeared completely due to service termination increasing, if one day in the future, memories of those disappeared games suddenly come to mind. Are we just sucking our thumbs?
This is a bit off topic, but in this regard, I think the higher compatibility of PC games is appreciated compared to consoles.
🔊 [Game News of the Week] Short but important industry news
🔊 Virtuos (developer of Oblivion Remastered, Cyberpunk 2077, etc.) lays off 300 developers 🔊 Development of a new game based on the B-grade emotional slasher game Lollipop Chainsaw IP begins 🔊 The official Stella Blade X account was hacked , and an incident occurred where a cryptocurrency promotion article was written. 🔊 1:1 scale bust figures made of characters from Mango Party's representative games, Summer Clover (Shizuko), Monster Princess (Nao), and Wife Fighter (Kate) are scheduled to be released (7 million won)
🔊 The Legend of Zelda movie casting announced, 'Zelda' will be played by Bo Bragason (representative work: Three Girls), The role of 'Link' is played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (representative work: The Haunting of Bly Manor) 🔊 Nioh 3 , PlayStation 5 limited demo released 🔊 LINE Yahoo Japan, “Mandatory Use of Generative AI” for 11,000 Employees: Aiming to Double Productivity in 3 Years 🔊 Persona 4 Revival , Steam and Plus Store pages open, but no information beyond the last trailer is revealed. (3 backgrounds)
🔊 Arc System Works has cancelled the development of a new Guilty Gear game that was in development. It is known that they have abandoned all development work and returned to the concept design stage. 🔊 Rockstar Games Social Club, the gaming hub for GTA, officially shuts down after 13 years of operation 🔊 Destiny 2's latest season, Edge of Fate, is considered the fastest-growing and worst season of all time. 🔊 Speed Run Contest Summer Games Done Quick 2025. Raised $2,436,885 for Doctors Without Borders !
🔊 Obsidian's About is finally officially available in Korean ! 🔊 PEAK, achieved a huge record of selling 5 million copies in less than a month since its release! 🔊 Netflix greenlights live-action Assassin's Creed series 🔊 Mortal Kombat II, official trailer released. As always, Johnny Cage ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Thank you for your hard work this week.
The weather seemed to be clearing up a bit due to the sudden downpour, but we also heard that some areas suffered flood damage due to the strong localized downpour. I hope you all are doing well. I hope you enjoy your weekend playing games at home instead of going out in the rain and getting soaked!
From censorship to labor disputes to cloning discussions… in an increasingly complex gaming world,
We will continue to deliver stories that our gamers should not miss.
Have a great week and see you next Friday at 7pm! 🎮
thank you!
cc
Purchase completed, thank you for the great event.
congrats
I didn't expect it and got 3000,000, so I spun it quickly and couldn't capture it for a moment~
It's finally here after so long and so long~~
Hello, this is Pepper Game Studio!
Forest Heroes has officially launched today after approximately 6 months of Early Access!
Although it hasn't been long since we launched on the stove, we sincerely thank everyone who has supported us.
Rule Change - 'Flower'
When a battle starts at Curse Stage 5 or higher, a 'flower' will appear.
What would happen if you plucked this flower that looks so appealing?
Check it out in the game!
Hidden 4th Act 'Dawn' Opens
With the official launch, the hidden 4th act, 'Dawn', has been revealed.
Beyond the 'Oak Tree Long' stage, a secret final stage awaits, which only fairies who meet certain conditions can enter.
Add a card border
Card borders are applied to allied units that win together.
15 Allies who win the curse together will receive a golden border!
Changes
Buffer: Duration 5→8 seconds Fungi Mushroom: Increased explosion radius Rose Cupcakes: Common → Uncommon Heart Cupcakes: Uncommon → Common Cursed Doll: Uncommon → Common Rainbow: Damage 10→30 Shampoo: Increased thorns by 2→1 Charcoal: Activation time 5→6 seconds Socks: Common → UncommonAdditional Notes
Pale Fairy Skill Added: Skeleton Archer
Bug fixes
Fixed an issue where 'Puberty Monkey' was not affected by 'Arrow of Deception' Fixed an issue where the special unit that the 'Ball Bread Hamster' was appearing in did not receive a buff Fixed an issue where units with self-destruct effects such as 'Ssamdak' were not properly processed as dead when they self-destructed. Fixed the phenomenon where the 'Vulnerability' effect was applied to fixed damage such as 'Poison' and 'Bleeding'Current Puzzle & Casual Party and Exclusive Collaboration Event
There are various events where you can get discounts of up to 45% as shown above, so please enjoy them as much as possible!
thank you !
TinyTAN characters have been added to STOVE profile images 🎉
Customize your profile with adorable TinyTAN characters and get Flakes too!
💡 Participation Method
1. Change your profile image to TinyTAN
2. Leave a comment on this post with your updated profile image!
How to change your profile image:
👉Click the ⚙ [Settings] icon at the top right of MY HOME.
👉Select TinyTAN and register.
>> Go to MY HOME <<
📅 Participation Period
July 4, 2025 (Fri) – July 31, 2025 (Thu) 14:59 (UTC+0)
🎁 Participation Rewards
2,000 Flakes to all participants!
* Distribution Date: August 8, 2025 (Fri)
* Event Precautions
✔ You can participate after STOVE Login.
✔ Comments that are meaningless, contain profanity, or may cause discomfort may be deleted without prior notice.
✔ Comments that have been deleted will not be recognized as valid entries.
✔ The reward, Flakes, for event winners will be given to the account that entered the event.
Hello, this is the Lounge Manager. 👩🍳✨
BTS Cooking on STOVE : TinyTAN Restaurant
PC version is finally here!
To commemorate this, we've prepared a small but special event in the lounge.
Come post your First Play on PC and get special rewards!
🧾 How to Participate
1. Please log in to the STOVE PC client.
2. Screenshot the BTS Cooking on STOVE play screen!
3. Post with the tag #BTSCookingOn to join the event!
>> Go write a post (Click) <<
🎁 Participation RewardsEveryone who has participated in the event
will be given the 💜 My HOME Achievement Badge 💜 as a gift!
A limited badge you can only get through this event!
You'll be able to check it in My HOME later.
The schedule for badge distribution will be announced separately.
🕒 Participation Period06/12/2025 (Thurs) – 06/30/2025 (Mon) 14:59 (UTC)
Play on the PC now,
and get your limited achievement badge 😊
Thank you!
Sincerely, Lounge Manager 💌
※ Event Precautions
✔ You can participate after STOVE Login
✔ Only posts written in the STOVE lounge will be recognized as valid entries.
✔ Questions and answers that are meaningless, contain profanity, or may cause discomfort may be deleted without prior notice.
✔ Posts that have been deleted will not be recognized as valid entries.
✔ The rewards for event winners will be given to the account that entered the event.
✔ The distribution schedule will be announced separately through a notice.
단편 스토리 게임"지나간일"하나리인 인터뷰
*인디 게임 개발자 인터뷰 시리즈입니다. 인터뷰에 사용된 사진과 인터뷰 내용은 디스코드 등을 통해 창작자님께서 제공한 사진 및 내용을 사용하였습니다. 인터뷰 참여 가능한 게임 개발자님께서는 (이메일, 디스코드, SNS 주소, 게시물 댓글 등) 다양한 방법을 통해 저에게 부담 없이 연락 주시면 플랫폼 상관없이 인터뷰 가능합니다. (창작자님 선호도에 따라 실시간 인터뷰 또는 설문지 방식으로 가능합니다!)
인터뷰 : Q (hashiruka48) / A (하나리인)
게임 제목 : <지나간일>
장르 : 플랫포머, 캐주얼
창작자 : 하나리인
Q.《지나간일》이라는 제목은 어떤 의미를 담고 있나요?
A. 이 게임의 주인공은, 과거 때문에 방어적인 성격을 가지게 되었고, 과거 때문에 성격을 바꾸기 힘들어하며, 과거 때문에 PTSD를 겪는 인물입니다. 즉, 이 게임의 주제는 <과거>입니다. '과거'라는 의미를 제목에 녹여내야 했습니다. 과거를 표현할 수 있는 말은 많습니다. <있었던 일>도, <기억>도 될 수 있겠지요. 수많은 표현 중에 <지나간일>을 선택한 이유는, '지나간'이라는 뉘앙스가, 게임의 메시지에 가장 적합하였기 때문입니다. 아픈 과거를 '지나간일'로 생각해 주기를 바라는, 소망과 의도가 담겨 있습니다.
Q. 게임의 기본적인 세계관과 배경은 어떻게 설정되었나요?
A. <기억 재생 장치>가 발명된, 미래의 한국을 배경으로 하고 있습니다. 주인공은 연구를 통해 저승으로 갈 수 있는 방법을 알아내었고, 그 저승에서 벌어지는 이야기들이, 이 게임의 주요 내용입니다.
Q. 이 게임을 개발하게 된 계기나 영감이 된 사건이 있었나요?
A. 최근 많은 분들이 차용하신 삶의 방향이, 공허하다고 생각되었습니다. 그래서 세상에 이야기를 하고 싶었습니다. 그냥 이야기하는 것보다는, 문화 예술에 녹여내는 편이 좋다고 생각해서, 이렇게 스토리 게임을 만들게 되었습니다.
Q. 게임을 통해 전달하고 싶었던 메시지나 감정은 무엇인가요?
A. 효율적이며 공허한 삶보다, 되고 싶은 자신이 되는 삶을 선택하자. 이 메시지를 전하고 싶었습니다.
Q. 실제 본인의 경험이나 주변 인물의 이야기가 반영된 부분이 있을까요? 등장인물은 어떤 방식으로 창조되었고, 가장 애착이 가는 캐릭터는 누구인가요?
A. 과도기에 거쳐간 생각들을 형상화시켜 캐릭터를 창조하였습니다. *자신이 틀렸다는 것을 알고 있음에도 쉽게 바뀔 수가 없는, 교착 상태의 주인공에게 애착이 갑니다. 지금까지의 세계관을 깨는 행위에 대한 거부감은, 저도 강하게 느낀 감정이기 때문입니다.
Q. 플레이어가 겪게 되는 주된 이야기 흐름은 어떤 구조로 이루어져 있나요?
A. 저승을 여행하며 대화를 나누고, 저승에 남기 위해 과거 회상을 하는 것이, 이야기 흐름의 주요 구조입니다. 그런 과정을 거치며, 최종 목적지로 나아갑니다.
Q. 여러 갈래로 나뉘는 선택지는 어떤 기준으로 구성하셨나요?
A. <분기>의 개념은 없으나, <선택지>의 개념은 존재합니다. 그 '선택지'에 대한 이야기를 말씀드리자면, 주인공의 주관을 해치지 않는 선에서, 취할 수 있는 선택지를 제공하였습니다. 추가적인 대화를 나누거나, 자그마한 호기심을 표출하는 정도입니다.
Q. 멀티 엔딩이 있다면, 각각의 엔딩을 통해 어떤 의미를 전하고자 했나요?
A. 엔딩은 하나밖에 없습니다. 주인공의 선택은 이미 정해져있기 때문입니다.
Q. 특정 캐릭터나 장면에 감정적으로 몰입하게 된 순간이 있었나요?
A. 세계관에 대해 설명하는 부분을 제외하고, 모든 장면에 감정적으로 몰입할 수 있었습니다. 직접 몰입할 수 있는 이야기를 위주로 구성하려고 노력했습니다.
Q. 게임 개발에 사용된 툴이나 엔진은 무엇인가요?
A. 유니티 엔진을 사용하여 개발하였습니다. 게임을 다듬는 과정에서, 포토샵과 프리미어 프로도 사용했네요.
Q. 1인 개발인가요, 아니면 팀으로 작업하셨나요?
A. 고유 사운드와 고유 그래픽 리소스는 외주 의뢰를 통해 작업하였으며, 나머지는 모두 혼자서 작업했습니다.
Q. 개발 기간은 얼마나 걸렸으며, 가장 어려웠던 부분은 무엇이었나요?
A. 스토브 얼리 액세스 출시를 기준으로, 약 1년 정도 소요되었습니다. 가장 어려웠던 부분은 밸런스입니다. 게임 개발자는 개발한 게임의 고인물이 되더라고요. 구글에 난이도 피드백이 많이 들어왔습니다. 현재는 스토리 모드를 출시하고, 노말 모드도 많이 다듬기는 했습니다. 하지만 아직도 밸런스가 괜찮은지 모르겠네요. 혼자 피드백 할 수 없다는 점이 정말 어렵습니다.
Q. 게임 내 사운드나 음악은 직접 제작하셨나요, 아니면 협업하셨나요?
A. 일반 사운드는 저작권이 문제 되지 않는 사이트와, 에셋 구매를 통해 공급하였습니다. 고유 사운드는 외주를 통해 제작하였습니다. 제가 음악의 세부사항에 대해 말씀드리면, 작곡가분이 그것에 맞추어 작곡하는 방식입니다. 일부 음악은, 제가 임의로 기존 음악의 악기를 재배치하여, 새로 재구성한 것도 있습니다.
Q. 그래픽 스타일과 UI/UX는 어떤 방향성을 기준으로 정하셨나요?
A. 인 게임 그래픽은 도트끼리의 조화를, UI/UX는 가시성을 중요하게 생각했습니다.
Q. 《지나간일》을 플레이한 유저들의 반응 중 가장 인상 깊었던 피드백은 무엇인가요?
A. 모두 인상 깊었습니다.(피드백에 우열을 나누고 싶지 않습니다.)
Q. 출시 이후 유저와의 소통에서 중요하게 생각하는 점은 무엇인가요?
A. 저는 플레이 방식과 세계관에 익숙하지만, 유저분들은 이 게임을 처음 마주하게 됩니다. 즉, 경험과 정보에 있어 크나큰 차이가 존재합니다. 그 차이로 인해 발생하는 문제를, 최대한 고민해야 된다고 생각합니다. 난이도 조정과 충분한 설명을, 가장 중요하게 생각하고 있습니다.
Q. 《지나간일》의 후속작이나 관련된 스핀 오프를 계획 중이신가요?
A. 현재는 계획하고 있지 않습니다.
Q. 이 게임을 다른 플랫폼(모바일, 콘솔 등)으로 확장할 계획이 있나요?
A. 기회가 된다면 도전해 보고 싶습니다.
Q. 향후 도전해 보고 싶은 게임 장르나 스토리 유형이 있다면?
A. 육성 시뮬레이션 게임을 만들어보고 싶습니다. AI 알고리즘과 접목시켜, 실제 생명체를 키우는 느낌을 내보고 싶습니다.
Q. 인디게임 개발자로서 가장 보람을 느끼는 순간은 언제인가요?
A. 제 세계관에 진심으로 마주해주실수록, 보람을 크게 느낍니다. 세상에 이야기를 전하는 것이, 이 게임의 가장 큰 목적이기 때문입니다
Q. 《지나간일》을 처음 접하는 유저들에게 하고 싶은 말이 있다면?
A. 1시간짜리 단편 게임이며, 플레이 방식도 최대한 단순화하였습니다. 부담 없이 즐겨주셨으면 좋겠습니다.
게임을 통해 전달하고픈 메시지가 인상적이네요
