#lessons in japanese game design

[easternmind]

- Lessons in Japanese Game Design #3 -

Aside from what is easily one of the most stylish presentations in a videogame from the 1990s, one of Front Mission 3′s truly remarkable features consists of an in-game internet browser running within a simulated operating system. Expanding on the concept first rehearsed by Squaresoft in the second entry of the series, this massive component of the game can be accessed during breaks between missions, offering the player access to a number of pages for government entities, enterprises or other institutions. Access to additional websites is permitted as the game progresses.

This inventive solution offers unparalleled insight into the fictional universe of the game, in that it paints a very granular image of a futuristic society, its economy, geopolitical environment and zeitgeist. The information contained in these pages comes in the form of of bulletin boards, institutional updates, press releases, top secret data volumes, or the occasionally amusing curiosity. The user interface itself permits some degree of customisation, such as the option to disable the startup animation - itself a gorgeous visual relic that one hardly tires of watching - or changing the wallpaper pattern. Certain websites will also provide the option to download content, including images which can be set as said wallpaper. Other resources require secure access via the insertion of a password. Moreover, the player will have access to an email inbox to both read and send messages as may be relevant to advance onto the next stage.

Make-believe computer front-ends in video games were no novelty by the year 1999. Several sci-fi adventure, role-playing or action games allowed access to often very believable GUIs for the purpose of, for instance, retrieving precious clues or, say, disabling security locks. Aside from Front Mission 2, Final Fantasy VIII fans will likely remember the exciting Balamb Garden Network terminal. Kowloon's Gate's unforgettable Kownloonet terminals gave access to an email inbox, an all-important database and various other quotidian curiosities that helped fleshing out its mystic sci-fi narrative. The Japanese were privileged to have a complete version of Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere with access to an in-game encyclopedia the player could browse, as well as additional story elements told through email exchanges between the characters. 

That same year, the western Tactical RPG sensation from the West, Jagged Alliance 2, dabbled in this idea. Only three short years later, CyberConnect2′s singular .hack series was designed around the idea of a MMORPG that plays offline, allowing for countless interactions with non-playable characters which simulate messaging formats of the era. Other notable examples include the 2chan boards in Steins;Gate or, inescapably, the passionate love letter to web 1.0 that is Hypnospace Outlaw.

Generally, all of the aforementioned titles are either entirely dedicated on a similar concept, or merely resorted to it as a secondary, amusing distraction. Front Mission 3 pioneered the use of this device as a storytelling technique. No other game of the time, at least to my knowledge, had dedicated so much of its resources to producing a credible replica of design and functionality of the internet as it once existed.

[he-calls-me-kitten]

Dirty Dozen (ft. +2)

GN! MC x Pervert! OM Characters

(Cause y'all seemed to love the first one omg. Also TW: I made everyone wayy more sleazy and nasty than before so read at your own risk. MInors DNI)

Pervert! Mammon who likes to ask you for something specifically when your hands are full. "MC, lend me a few Grimm could ya?" He asks when you're in the middle of cooking.

"My hands are covered in cake batter, just take some from my back pocket."

"Are you sure it's there? Let me check both pockets." He isn't so much searching for coins as much as he's feeling and practically groping your ass. Seriously you start to wonder how it's taking him 20 minutes to find something that's right there.

Pervert! Solomon who keeps his room colder than usual when you come over for magic lessons.

"Is it too cold for you MC? I apologise, I kept it this way because some of the potions have bad reactions to heat but if you'd like-"

"I'm absolutely fine, Solomon. You worry about me too much." You smile at him reassuringly, not noticing how his eyes are so eagerly trained at your nipples perking up through your thin t-shirt.

Boner Bonus points if you allow him to hug you for some warmth. His fingers will definitely brush against your chest more than once.

Pervert! Beel who seems to make a mess whenever he's trying to help you in the kitchen. "I'm so sorry, MC. I didn't mean to spill it on your hands!"

"It's okay Beel, it's just some cream and syrup. I can just wash it off right away."

"But it's such a waste. Please allow me." He starts to thoroughly lick your fingers and you shake your head and let him knowing his fixations on food.

But he can't help it - you taste so good. He secretly wonders what you might taste like down there, drooling at the thought.

Pervert! Levi who has taken to sitting on pillows Japanese style while gaming and offers you the same. Sure enough you don't even suspect an ulterior motive.

"Did you get inspired by some human world anime again? Careful though - your legs and butt will start to cramp after a while."

"MC you're too gracious! Caring so much for an otaku like me!"

After you leave, he promptly takes the pillow you were sitting on and puts it in his bathtub. He's going to sleep on it ofc. Your scent on it helps him jerk off better.

Pervert! Belphie who now asks you to rub his belly till he falls asleep. "What's so funny?" He asks as you giggle at his request.

"Since when do you need help falling asleep?"

"I care about the quality of my sleep. And I sleep better this way."

Fortunately you believe him and don't suspect that it's because it's the closest he can get you to fondling his dick. He has such a difficult time holding in his moans and hard ons, every time your hands go even a bit lower than usual.

Pervert! Barbatos who got into sewing clothes as a hobby and specifically likes making them for you now. But you never understand why he needs to take same measurements over and over again.

"Oh? This is a different kind of design, MC. So the measurements will vary from before."

"Always making new things aren't you? You never fail to suprise Barbatos." You smile at him admiring.

The tightening of the tape around your chest and crotch are subtle. He can hardly keep it together when you praise him after all. But he has to if he wants to skim his hands over your body like this again.

Pervert! Diavolo who takes you on such long drives that you always doze off in the front seat, waking up apologetic for missing so much of the journey.

"Hahaha, it's okay, MC. We've been on this same road lots of times. I assure you, you didn't miss anything. And I like that you feel safe to sleep in my presence."

"But still, I'm so sorry, it feels disrespectful..." You apologize, not even knowing how hard he is in his pants right now.

Afterall, he can keep squeezing your beautiful thighs, maybe let his hands wander between them and imagine himself fucking you in the back seat as much as he wants, when you're asleep.

Pervert! Simeon who will have noone except you as his muse for art classes. And the themes just keep getting more erotic each time.

"Are you sure you're okay with this, MC? You don't have to do it if you're not comfortable-"

"Nonsense, Simeon. I feel super comfortable if it's you. You're a true artist after all." You say as you lay on his bed wrapped up only in bedsheets, exposing your entire back and legs.

If only you knew, this angel has thoughts dirtier than most demons. How he's practically fucking you with his eyes. How he's definitely going to jerk off into those bedsheets, moaning your name.

Pervert! Satan who loves teaching you things - standing right behind you, guiding your hands to make latte-art, or trying a new style of painting.

"That's it, nice and slow. Look how much you've improved, MC." He beams at the cute kitty in the coffee cup.

"All thanks to you, Satan. I can't wait to learn more from you." You smile at him earnestly.

He almost feels guilty for tricking you this way, but the way your hands feel in his, and your ass feels against his groin is so addicting. One of these days, he wishes could teach you to be on all fours and take his length in your pretty little mouth.

Pervert! Asmo who loves keeping your eyes on him and noone else. From elaborate performances to petty staring contests, he cannot have enough of your gaze.

"Oh you're turning red in the face, Asmo. Did I manage to flutter the heart of the Avatar of Lust?" You lean forward smiling.

"You're my only weakness after all, MC. It's your fault for making me this way." He almost moans.

You laugh and mock apologize at his antics but you don't know he's been grinding like an animal on his seat, and creamed his pants under your innocent gaze. Your undivided attention just turns him on so much.

Pervert! Lucifer who makes his desires too obvious sometimes. He'll regret it in the morning and take you to dinner to apologize but not until he's already done something dirty.

"Lucifer, it's 2 am. You need to throw away that coffee and sleep." You're practically dragging him to bed.

"Fine. I'll go sleep if you'll stay in my room tonight." He says knowing you'll comply. You care too much for your own good. He's not even going to let you sleep on the couch, no you have to stay wrapped up in his arms.

You might wake upto him groaning your name in his sleep and you might mistake it for a nightmare - not knowing how he's balls deep inside you in his dreams.

Pervert! Thirteen who likes how excited you get over her newest inventions and keeps making more things to call you over.

"And this little baby and can throw pie at people's faces without ever missing. Guaranteed headshot." She smiles proud.

"This would be so useful in a cafeteria food fight and then get banned right after its glory. But I so wanna use it!" You whine.

She loves how much you appreciate her inventions. She is secretly working on a 'pleasure' device scented like her to give you - she hopes you'll like it just as much.

Pervert! Mephisto who is actually taken aback by your duality. You're such a mischievous little imp usually but turn so well-mannered in front of Diavolo's esteemed guests.

"So even you can be prim and proper sometimes? If only you could maintain this on the daily." He huffs.

You laugh and mock-bow in front of him. "Of course, anything for you my dearest lord. Would you like to dance with this proper human while you can?"

He blushes at the sudden offer. Why you little- how dare you tempt him like this. You can't complain about him gripping you somewhere improper or too tight. You deserve this for your attitude.

Pervert! Raphael who is still navigating new feelings of lust he's never felt before he met you. Why his heart skips every time you fall asleep on his shoulder or why he felt a sudden warmth at the pit of his stomach feeling you breath so softly into his neck.

"Thank you for helping me tidy the classroom, MC. I didn't even know where the cleaning supplies were."

"That's alright. It's more fun with two people anyway and wait Raphael there's a bucket over the-" The fresh bucket of water already spilled splashing all over both of you.

You immediately fetched a towel to help him dry up but he couldn't stop staring at you instead. With the uniform sticking to your body like and the water glistening on your exposed skin - why was he so enthralled? Why does he feel a strange pulsing between his legs as you hover over him?

[svt-luna]

ᡴꪫ ⋆ GAME CATERERS X SVT ࣪ ! ˓ ౨ৎ ࣪˖ ─── episode 1-3.

Game Caterers x SEVENTEEN

synopsis: Episode 1-3! The games begin and the infamous character quiz is up first. With numerous delicious Korean delicacies on the line, SEVENTEEN tries their hardest to eat at least one of the dishes.

╰ ౨ৎ LUNA-VERSE MASTERLIST

╰౨ৎ fan reactions ╰౨ৎ game caterers masterlist

[added captions are in brackets] ᡣ𐭩

bold dialogues are spoken in english ᡣ𐭩

The next part of the show was about to begin, and the members were called back on set, ready to dive into the games segment. The familiar space where they had filmed the intro and interviews now had a slightly different setup. Instead of the two rows of chairs they had before, the chairs were now arranged in a straight line, creating a new dynamic. Behind the chairs were several posters displaying some of their most famous quotes from ‘Going Seventeen’, adding a playful touch to the atmosphere.

[SEVENTEEN's getting ready]

The members slowly streamed into the set, choosing their seats and exchanging light banter as they did. Mingyu and Woozi were the first to sit down, speaking to PD Na about the seating arrangements. Seungkwan was busy taking pictures of the posters at the back before he later sat down next to Mingyu. The room buzzed with anticipation as they all settled in.

[SEVENTEEN swarms in]

Luna and Minghao were among the last to enter, walking slowly as they engaged in a quiet conversation.

"I’ve been taking Chinese lessons recently," Luna said, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "I’ve always loved learning new languages, and since I’m almost fluent in Japanese, I thought I’d give Chinese a try."

Minghao smiled, nodding in approval. "That’s great. Chinese is a beautiful language. How are you finding it so far?"

"It’s challenging, but I’m enjoying it," Luna replied. "The tones are tricky. I think it's more difficult than Japanese."

As they continued talking, they reached the line of chairs where the other members were already seated. Minghao took a seat on the far left, next to Dokyeom, while Luna remained standing in front of him, still engrossed in their conversation.

Jeonghan, who had taken a seat next to Dokyeom, watched Luna patiently. He placed his hand on the empty seat beside him, silently signaling for her to sit. After a few seconds, he reached out and gently grabbed her hand, pulling her attention away from Minghao.

"Nana-ya," Jeonghan crooned softly, using his nickname for her.

Luna turned to him, a small smile playing on her lips. Without protest, she allowed Jeonghan to guide her to the seat beside him, nestled between him and Dino.

[During the short break, they start chattering]

The room buzzed with chatter as the members broke off into small groups, waiting for the games to begin. The atmosphere resembled a lively classroom during recess, with overlapping conversations creating a symphony of voices that filled the space. Each group was engaged in their own world, sharing jokes, stories, and laughter that blended into the overall din of excitement.

Luna and Jeonghan, sitting close together, had their own quiet conversation amidst the noise. Luna, who had been nervously fidgeting with the rings on her fingers, caught Jeonghan's attention. He noticed the way she absentmindedly twisted the rings, a habit he had come to recognize over the years. It was something she did when she was feeling anxious.

Without a word, Jeonghan reached over and covered her hands with his, the warmth of his touch instantly calming her. His fingers gently caressed the back of her hand, grounding her in the present moment.

"Did you get your nails done?" Jeonghan asked, his tone light and casual, steering the conversation to something simple and familiar.

Luna looked down at her hands, a small smile forming on her lips as she nodded. "Yeah, I got them done yesterday. Do you like them?" She wiggled her fingers, showcasing the intricate designs painted on her nails.

Jeonghan lifted her hand slightly, examining her nails with a playful curiosity, his touch light as he traced the patterns. "They’re really pretty. You always choose the coolest designs,"

Luna chuckled softly, her nerves slowly melting away as they continued to talk. "I went for something a bit different this time, more muted tones."

Jeonghan traced the edge of one of her nails with his finger, still holding her hand in his. "It suits you. They look pretty."

His touch was gentle, almost absentminded as he played with her fingers, turning them over in his hand. Luna watched him, a sense of calm washing over her as he continued to distract her from her earlier nerves.

"It's therapeutic," Luna chuckled. "Getting your nails done."

Jeonghan hummed in agreement, still playing with her fingers. "Maybe you should paint my nails sometime," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Luna perked up at the suggestion, her smile widening. "I would love to! I could do something simple, or we could go all out and try something bold. I have nail stickers at home. What do you think?"

Jeonghan pretended to think about it, a playful expression on his face. "Hmm, I don’t know… I’m not sure I could pull it off as well as you do, but who knows? Maybe I’ll give it a shot."

Luna giggled, knowing he was playing hard to get but also knowing he wouldn’t say no. "Come on, you know you’d look great. How about this: when we get home later, I’ll paint your nails. Deal?"

Jeonghan finally relented, a soft laugh escaping him as he nodded. "Alright. Alright."

Jeonghan, still holding Luna's hand, turned his attention to Dino, who was seated on her other side. With a playful glint in his eyes, he leaned over Luna and lightly smacked Dino’s leg.

"How have you been?" Dino asked, looking at Jeonghan with a friendly smile.

"I asked you to go to the sauna with me twice, but you never went," Jeonghan replied, feigning a pout.

"You only asked me once," Dino countered, raising an eyebrow in mild confusion.

Jeonghan shook his head, smiling slyly. "I can’t be direct. If I say, 'I’m going to the sauna,' that’s me asking you."

Luna couldn’t help but chuckle at that, finding Jeonghan’s indirect way of inviting Dino endearing. Dino, on the other hand, widened his eyes in realization. "Ahh, okay. Sorry."

From Jeonghan’s other side, Dokyeom joined the conversation with a curious expression. "How come you say it directly to me?"

Jeonghan turned to him, his grin widening. "I need someone to talk to directly. Then other people will be like, 'Can I join you?'"

Dokyeom laughed, catching on to Jeonghan’s playful banter. "Are you saying you took advantage of me?"

"He did," Luna muttered with a smirk, making Dokyeom laugh even more.

"Exactly," Jeonghan admitted with a shrug, his nonchalant response earning a round of laughter. "I know you’re going to send me a long text now."

Once Dokyeom stopped laughing, he smiled warmly at Jeonghan. "Let’s go to the sauna together."

"You can go now?" Jeonghan asked, tilting his head slightly. "I was going to go yesterday," he said, his tone light, "but then you called me."

"If I went yesterday, I might have died," he added dramatically, making Luna stifle a laugh.

[He filmed ‘My Alcohol Diary’ yesterday]

"Why didn’t you ask me to join?" Luna chimed in, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she looked at Jeonghan and Dokyeom.

Jeonghan and Dokyeom exchanged glances before Jeonghan asked, "You want to?"

Before Luna could reply, Dokyeom, with a teasing pout, quickly linked his arm through Jeonghan’s and pulled him closer. "No, no, no," Dokyeom said, mockingly possessive. "You two are always together. Jeonghan is mine now."

Jeonghan burst out laughing, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned into Dokyeom’s playful embrace. Luna looked at them in mock bewilderment before shaking her head with a chuckle. "Alright, I won’t third-wheel your date," she said, her voice filled with playful resignation.

Jeonghan glanced at her with a grin, still laughing at Dokyeom’s antics, while Luna’s heart warmed at the sight of their close bond.

As the group continued chatting among themselves, their conversations overlapping into a lively cacophony, PD Na and the writers observed the scene, slightly bewildered by the sheer energy of the room. The room buzzed like a classroom during recess, with every member engaged in their own small group discussions. The writers, poised and ready to start the next segment, hesitated for a moment, unsure how to gain control over the spirited group.

[This is how they look as a whole]

"Who do we talk to in this case?" one of the writers asked PD Na, glancing at the scene.

"Someone in the center," PD Na suggested, his eyes scanning the group for the best target.

One of the writers looked up and, to her surprise, saw Joshua sitting in the middle of the group. "It’s a new person," she remarked, her voice drawing the attention of the band and, most notably, Joshua, who looked back at her with wide, confused eyes.

[Surprised Bambi]

"Hoshi moved here because it was too much," Wonwoo explained from his seat, offering context with a slight grin.

"That’s why you switched?" Joshua asked, turning to Hoshi, who nodded in response.

"I don’t mind when I’m dancing, but this is too much pressure," Hoshi admitted, a sheepish smile spreading across his face.

[Moved 2 seats]

"We have Joshua in the center. Center Jo," PD Na announced, making Joshua chuckle at the unexpected title.

With the attention now on him, Mingyu leaned forward and added with a grin, "Joshua, hit the slate."

[The center's role on a variety show]

[Hit the slate]

Joshua, still laughing, opened his arms in front of him as if mimicking a movie slate. "I’ll hit the slate… 1… 2… 3," he said, clapping his hands together to signal the beginning of the game portion.

As the group settled into their seats, the chatter gradually died down, and all eyes turned to PD Na, who was ready to kick off the next part of the show. "It's time for the first game," PD Na announced with a smile.

The members responded with enthusiastic clapping and cheers, the room once again buzzing with excitement.

[Shouting like high school students]

"I love games," Minghao said, his eyes bright with anticipation.

PD Na continued, "There’s nothing much to it. We play a game over food, over something else. Play a game over money. And then it’s over."

"I’d love to play over money," Jeonghan deadpanned, a small smile tugging at his lips, making a few of the members laugh at his unexpected 'enthusiasm.'

[He's never looked so enthusiastic]

"Right?" Luna chimed in, smiling at Jeonghan.

The playful banter settled as PD Na explained the stakes. "Today, you’ll be playing for your food."

[For this game] [it's not over money, but food]

The members’ excitement only grew at the mention of food. "I'm hungry," Hoshi said, leaning forward eagerly.

"Let’s eat," Minghao agreed, nodding.

"I don’t think we will be able to," Luna said, chuckling at the impending challenge.

[Food matters more than money in our universe]

"You need to eat," PD Na insisted with a grin. "Let’s play a game over food."

Jeonghan, ever the strategist, asked, "What’s the menu?"

"I’ll show you," PD Na teased, building up the anticipation.

"Is it coming in here?" S.Coups asked, already craning his neck to catch a glimpse of the food, his hands moving in a little dance of excitement. "Oh, there it is."

"It’s crazy," Jeonghan said, eyes widening as a table was wheeled in, laden with containers filled with various dishes.

"What do I do? I’m hungry," Luna exclaimed, her eyes glued to the food.

"That’s the old-school container," S.Coups noted, recognizing the style of the containers as they were placed in front of them.

[Passing by]

"LA galbi?" Vernon asked, spotting one of his favorites.

"There are grilled yellow corvinas?" Luna pointed out, her voice tinged with surprise and delight.

"Grilled yellow corvinas?" Vernon said again, gasping.

[Gasping]

As the containers were opened, the room filled with a chorus of excited comments and exclamations as they recognized different dishes. The spread was reminiscent of a school cafeteria, the familiar scents bringing back memories.

[Exclaiming]

"It reminds me of the school cafeteria. I love it," Jeonghan said a nostalgic smile on their face.

"Please don’t remove one every time," Seungkwan pleaded, knowing all too well how these games worked, anticipating the challenge that lay ahead.

[The dishes to be removed are here]

The air was thick with anticipation and hunger as the group prepared to dive into the game, their competitiveness heightened by the delicious food that awaited them.

As the room settled after the initial excitement, PD Na stepped forward, announcing with a grin, "It's the retreat course for lunch." The members erupted into cheers and applause, at the mention of lunch.

[Retreat course: 14 side dishes]

"When you go on a retreat at school, you get these dishes for lunch. S.Coups, can you introduce them?" PD Na prompted, turning to the leader.

S.Coups stood up, ready to take on the role of the food guide. He pointed at each dish as he named them, "Tomato salad, yogurt, stir-fried spicy pork, LA galbi, kimchi, grilled yellow corvinas, acorn jelly, rolled omelet, mini pork cutlets, sausages, japchae, seasoned bean sprouts." His voice was clear and confident, but there was a playful pride in his tone as if he were presenting treasures.

[There's got to be one you'd like]

"It's perfect," Jun commented, his eyes wide with admiration at the spread before them.

"That's crazy," Joshua added, echoing the awe felt by the group.

PD Na smiled, seeing the members’ appreciation. "I'm sure everyone likes different food. There are fourteen people here," he observed.

"Kimchi is my favorite," Hoshi chimed in enthusiastically, earning nods from the others. "Kimchi is a must. Wherever I go, I try kimchi first and decide whether the place is good or not. That’s how much I love kimchi."

Nods of agreement followed his statement, with some members murmuring their own love for the staple Korean dish.

"Woozi, is there anything you don't like here?" PD Na asked, curious to see if there was a dish that might not suit the tastes of the meticulous producer.

Woozi, ever thoughtful, scanned the table before replying, "Something I don't like? That would be… nothing in particular. I'm not picky."

Seungkwan, ever the observant one, couldn’t help but comment, "Your eyes are focused on the tomato salad," causing a round of laughter to ripple through the group.

Woozi immediately defended himself, "Why eat that of all other dishes?" His mock indignation only made the others laugh harder.

[Wise]

Hoshi, always quick to chime in, pointed at Wonwoo, "Wonwoo can't have seafood."

"I can't eat yellow corvinas," Wonwoo confirmed, his voice even and unbothered, though his gaze lingered on the dish.

Jeonghan, lightly patted Luna’s leg, drawing attention to her. "Jiyeonie loves seafood," he said with a knowing smile.

Luna nodded in agreement, a wide grin on her face. "I love seafood," she echoed, her eyes brightening at the mention of one of her favorite types of cuisine.

"And yellow corvinas are DK's favorite," Jeonghan added, gesturing to the member seated next to him.

"I love yellow corvinas," Dokyeom confirmed with a nod, his voice carrying a hint of excitement at the prospect of enjoying the dish.

As the conversation naturally flowed, PD Na took the opportunity to ask a question that delved deeper into their group dynamics. "If a conflict occurs in the band, how do you resolve it?" he asked, his tone both curious and serious.

Wonwoo was the first to respond, his voice steady and assured. "We go by the majority," he said, earning a confirming nod from S.Coups, the leader of the group.

[They follow the majority]

"If anyone can't eat something, then we take it into consideration," Vernon added, his explanation highlighting their thoughtfulness as a group.

PD Na, intrigued, continued to probe. "Do you always go by majority?"

Seungkwan, always quick-witted, replied with a slight grin, "No, we still listen to the minority."

"We only listen," S.Coups added with a knowing smile, causing a ripple of laughter among the members.

Luna, finding the situation amusing, chuckled before chiming in, "It's funny because it's true."

Jun nodded, adding his own lighthearted commentary, "We only listen. We don’t do it."

"Listen and go with the majority," Dokyeom added with a chuckle, his tone playful.

"They have to endure it," Seungkwan said, his voice teasing but with a hint of truth.

"But if they can persuade us…" Joshua began, his thought hanging in the air.

"…We might change," Hoshi finished, completing Joshua’s sentence with a knowing look.

[If minority is still persuasive, they'd do it]

[That's direct democracy]

Seungkwan, taking the conversation in a slightly different direction, remarked, "If the whole group gets to go on a show like ‘The Game Caterers’, everyone must agree."

"Even if one person says no, we can't do it," Jeonghan added, his tone serious yet relaxed.

Seungkwan then pointed out, "All fourteen of us agreed to go to ‘The Game Caterers’, which is why we're all here." His words carried a sense of pride, a reflection of their collective decision-making process.

[Fortunately, they all approved]

PD Na and the writers, appreciating the sentiment, bowed their heads slightly in gratitude. "Thank you," they said, their voices sincere.

"So let us eat," Seungkwan added with a grin, breaking the moment of seriousness and earning laughter from the group.

[That was from the bottom of his heart]

PD Na, sensing the anticipation in the room, addressed the members with a wry smile. "I'll give you rice and soup," he said, his tone slightly playful. "Normally, I don't. But in case CARATs get mad at me, I'll give you rice and soup."

[We prepared luxurious beef radish soup]

A wave of grateful murmurs and nods spread through the group, with a few members visibly relieved at the news. "Thank you," several of them echoed, their appreciation genuine.

"But," PD Na continued, his voice taking on a more serious edge, "the rest of the dishes depend on how well you do in the game."

[That's right]

The tension in the room shifted, excitement mingling with a hint of nervousness as the stakes were laid out. Everyone knew that this wouldn't be easy; their ability to enjoy the meal in front of them depended entirely on their performance.

"The first game is a revenge match," PD Na announced, pausing to let the words sink in. "The Character Quiz."

At the mention of the game, a collective sound of acknowledgment filled the room, a chorus of "Ooohhs" and nods of understanding. This wasn’t just any game— it was a rematch of the quiz they had played during the ‘HYBE’ Special, a challenge that had left several of them hungry and slightly humiliated.

"Okay," Minghao said, his expression serious yet excited.

Seungkwan, Jun, Hoshi, Mingyu, Minghao, Joshua, and Dino exchanged knowing looks, scoffing out laughs tinged with the bitterness of past defeat.

[Their hearts ache already]

PD Na, ever the observant host, pointed out with a grin, "I just noticed. There are seven people here who played the Character Quiz before." His eyes swept across the room, landing on Mingyu, Seungkwan, Dino, Hoshi, Jun, The8, and Joshua.

[The seven who lost]

"Why don't you give advice to the people who haven't played before?" PD Na suggested, inviting the veterans to share their wisdom.

"Give us advice," Woozi chimed in, leaning forward slightly, genuinely curious.

[But they don't have much to say]

But before any of the seven could respond, Luna deadpanned, "Didn't they lose?" Her tone was dry, the subtle jab laced with humor. The room erupted into laughter, with Joshua especially amused by her quick wit, and S.Coups nodding in agreement.

"They didn't get anything. They got everything wrong," S.Coups added, his voice dripping with mock disappointment, his smile betraying his amusement.

Jun shrugged, not willing to argue against the truth. "We don’t exactly have the experience," he admitted, eliciting another round of chuckles.

Dino, always quick on his feet, gestured with a sly grin. "Just remember. My eyes are watching front, but my ears are listening to the people next to me." His hands moved to his ears, making his intentions clear— he was ready to cheat.

"Right," Jeonghan agreed without missing a beat, the room responding with laughter at the unsurprising agreement by the notorious game cheater.

Wonwoo chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

"If you're going to swindle, do it quietly," Mingyu scolded, a playful edge to his voice as he pointed at Dino.

"That’s what you call cheating," PD Na interjected, though his tone held no real reprimand— he was simply amused by the group’s antics.

"They were asking me for advice," Dino defended himself, feigning innocence.

"Cut us some slack," Jeonghan chimed in, his voice carrying a touch of mock sincerity. The room erupted again when one of the producers, caught off guard, exclaimed, "What?" Her high-pitched voice slicing through the laughter.

[We were surprised]

Jeonghan, still laughing, clutched Luna's thigh for support, his amusement clear in the way his shoulders shook.

"He's being serious," Luna informed the producers and writers, her own smile betraying her amusement.

"He's shameless," Seungkwan added, pointing at Jeonghan, his voice filled with playful exasperation.

[Yoon the surprise: He'll surprise Producer Na a lot today]

"Nice," S.Coups clapped his hands, laughing as he pointed at Jeonghan, who was still recovering from his bout of laughter.

"This is really fun," Mingyu commented as he fixed his jacket.

S.Coups turned to PD Na with a puzzled expression. "Is this going to be one way?" he asked, using hand gestures to illustrate his question. Suddenly, his eyes widened with realization. "Both ways?" he added, his tone tinged with incredulity.

PD Na, ever the master of mind games, smirked. "When it comes to the Character Quiz, going one way is a servile choice. That's not who you are, right?"

"He’s brainwashing us," Mingyu quipped, making PD Na laugh along with the others.

[Busted]

Mingyu quickly followed up with a more serious tone, trying to calculate the logistics of the game. "A band of seven people going both ways is us going one way. If we go back and forth, that’s twenty-seven."

"It’s twenty-eight," Jun corrected, his brows furrowed in thought.

"Isn’t it twenty-seven? One person plays once and the rest play twice," Mingyu insisted, explaining his logic.

"You’re right," Hoshi confirmed, nodding in agreement.

"Mingyu is smart," Seungkwan commented, adding to the consensus.

"Give him applause," Hoshi said, prompting the members to clap for Mingyu without hesitation.

[We thought it was over]

The debate, however, wasn’t over. "No, it’s twenty-eight," S.Coups nudged Mingyu, determined to get to the bottom of it. "I have to play twice," he reasoned, starting to count the members aloud along with Seungkwan.

"We go all the way there and come back," Mingyu insisted, using hand gestures to further illustrate his point.

Luna, clearly growing exasperated with the pointless argument, let out an exaggerated sigh. "Why does it matter? We won’t be able to eat anyway. Let’s just do it," she said, her tone laced with mock resignation. Her comment earned a hearty laugh from PD Na, who seemed to appreciate her pragmatic approach.

[Bunny is over it]

Jeonghan, amused by Luna’s ‘over-it’ expression, chuckled softly. He reached out, his knuckles gently brushing against her cheek in a comforting gesture before placing his hand back down on his lap.

"Let’s just do it," Seungkwan echoed, mimicking an expression of exhaustion that perfectly captured the group's collective sentiment.

Minghao, ever the calm voice of reason, chimed in with a simple, "We just have to do it."

"Right, as long as we do well," Seungkwan agreed, nodding in determination.

[You have to get used to it. This band loves chattering]

PD Na, sensing an opportunity to rally the group, leaned into his usual dramatic flair. "When there were a lot of people, there were seven. The maximum number I tried was eight. But if fourteen people succeed, then in the history of variety shows…" He trailed off, letting the implication of their potential legendary status hang in the air.

[Producer Na is scamming them]

The members caught between skepticism and amusement, nodded along, some chuckling at PD Na's clear attempt to hype them up.

"It’ll be legend," Dokyeom chimed in, playing along with a playful grin.

"Let’s try," S.Coups encouraged, the leader’s competitive spirit shining through.

"It’ll leave a mark in the history of variety shows," PD Na continued, his voice full of mock seriousness, earning more laughter from the group.

[Be history]

As PD Na kept going on about how legendary their success would be, the members couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

[If you succeed, we'll have you fixed on the main page of ‘Channel Fullmoon’]

[The future variety shows will remember you]

"He’s good at fabricating it," Woozi commented dryly, a small smirk on his face.

"He can persuade us," Joshua agreed, clearly enjoying the banter.

"He’s good at it," Dokyeom nodded, his tone filled with reluctant admiration.

PD Na pointed toward the direction of the order, setting the stage for the challenge. “Start with S.Coups, all the way to Jun, and then come back,” he instructed, his voice filled with a mix of authority and anticipation.

Mingyu, ever the strategist, leaned forward with a glint in his eye, pointing directly at Jun. “Shall we start with Jun first?” he suggested his tone light but his mind clearly working through potential advantages.

S.Coups shook his head, already dismissing the idea. “No, he plays only once,” he clarified, his gaze sweeping over the group as he asserted his position.

“That might be better,” Dokyeom said, jumping in with a thoughtful expression.

But Jeonghan had other ideas, gesturing toward their side with a casual wave of his hand. “Isn’t it better to pass here first?” he argued, his voice smooth and persuasive.

Minghao, ever the observant one, smiled as he offered his analysis. “Because the first question tends to be the easiest,” he said, his tone light yet insightful, earning a round of laughter from PD Na and the crew.

[They analyzed his question style]

“Good job,” Luna praised, her smile soft as she looked at Minghao, clearly appreciating his attention to detail, and perhaps finding him a bit adorable.

S.Coups, however, wasn’t entirely convinced, his face a mix of resignation and resolve as he stood up. “I have a feeling it’ll never reach me,” he argued, his eyes scanning the group for support.

“It really won’t,” Luna replied without even looking up, her attention seemingly more focused on her nails than the impending game.

[Has no faith at all]

“If we get it wrong, it’ll never get there,” Minghao agreed, nodding along with Luna, his voice calm yet certain.

[It's something they must overcome]

“Let’s try first,” S.Coups insisted, his determination clear as he tried to rally the group.

“Let’s give it a try,” Jun added, his voice steady, ready to dive in.

“If we get it, it’s great. If not, just eat rice and soup,” Minghao offered, his tone practical and reassuring as he addressed S.Coups.

S.Coups pouted, his desire for more than just the basics evident. “I want yellow corvinas,” he said, his voice soft with longing.

Minghao, ever the considerate friend, responded quickly, “I’ll buy them for you,” his tone was kind and supportive.

“Let’s play first,” S.Coups reiterated, trying to keep everyone focused on the task at hand.

But before they could start, Seungkwan raised his hand, his expression serious as he said, “Wait. Let me tell you something. Don’t get it wrong on purpose to be funny.”

The group immediately chorused back, their voices overlapping in playful accusation, “That’s you,” or “No one does that except you.”

“Sorry,” Seungkwan pouted playfully, his attempt at seriousness quickly dissolving into a cheeky grin.

Luna giggled from her seat, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she quipped, “It’s funny how we keep saying ‘let’s try,’ ‘let’s do it’ over and over again but we’ve done nothing but complain… I love you guys, really.” Her tone was laced with mock irony, making the members burst into laughter at her spot-on observation.

“Let’s start,” PD Na announced, his voice cutting through the playful banter and drawing everyone’s attention to the game.

[Round 1]

The room fell into a sudden hush, the lighthearted atmosphere replaced with focused tension. Some of the members leaned forward in their seats, eyes locked on PD Na as they prepared for the first round. Everyone was fully concentrated, their excitement palpable.

“Let’s start. It sounds so hard,” Minghao murmured, his excitement laced with nerves.

“We can do it,” Joshua said, offering encouragement to the group.

“Are we starting with Jun?” PD Na asked, confirming the order.

“Yes,” the members chorused in unison, their voices firm and in agreement.

“Play sincerely,” Woozi added, his tone serious, urging Jun to give it his best shot.

“Fighting,” Luna said softly, her voice a gentle encouragement aimed directly at Jun. She knew how nerve-wracking it could be to go first, and her words were meant to bolster his confidence.

“It’s okay to get it wrong. Just be confident,” Seungkwan chimed in from the other side, offering some last-minute reassurance.

PD Na flipped the first picture around, revealing it to Jun. “1, 2, 3,” PD Na counted down, and without missing a beat, Jun blurted out, “Jay Park.”

The room erupted in applause and cheers, the members voicing their excitement as Jun nailed the first answer.

[The first obstacle passed]

Wasting no time, PD Na showed the next picture to Minghao, who was up next. “1, 2, 3,” PD Na counted again.

[The next obstacle]

“Chung Ha,” Minghao answered on time, his voice steady.

[They overcame the obstacles]

The members clapped even louder, their praise growing with each correct answer. Dino jumped up in excitement, unable to contain himself.

[They did better than expected]

“They were good at it,” Wonwoo commented, clapping along with the others.

[Producer Na's getting nervous]

[Next is DK]

[His first Character Quiz in his life]

The game moved on swiftly to Dokyeom. PD Na revealed the next picture. “1, 2, 3,” he counted down.

“Captain America,” Dokyeom answered, earning even more cheers from the group.

“You got it,” Luna praised him with a bright smile.

But as the game progressed, the tension started to build. Jeonghan, who was up next, looked a bit alarmed as the reality of the game set in. “Wait, are there foreigners too?” he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

[That's what Character Quiz is about]

PD Na nodded, confirming Jeonghan’s suspicion. The atmosphere tensed up further as the members braced themselves.

PD Na then showed the picture to Jeonghan. “1, 2, 3,” he counted down.

“Han Ji Min,” Jeonghan answered, his response slower than the previous ones.

“He got it right! He got it right!” Luna exclaimed, her voice full of relief and excitement as she pointed at Jeonghan, making sure PD Na acknowledged the correct answer.

PD Na, however, wasn’t as forgiving. “It’s a warning,” he said, pointing at Jeonghan, his tone firm. Jeonghan had answered a bit too slowly for comfort.

“Calm down,” Mingyu advised the rest of the group, sensing the rising tension.

Next up was Luna, who leaned forward, her heart pounding in her chest. PD Na turned the picture to face her. “1, 2, 3,” he counted.

“V!” Luna blurted out, her voice clear and on time.

The room erupted in applause and praises once again, the excitement growing as they celebrated another correct answer. Some of the members were now on their feet, pacing back and forth in nervous energy.

“Let’s calm down,” Mingyu reminded everyone, trying to keep the group grounded.

“It’s Dino’s turn,” PD Na announced, moving on to the next member. He showed Dino the picture, “1, 2, 3,” he counted.

“Mi Joo,” Dino answered, his voice a bit hesitant.

“You got it right,” PD Na said, but quickly followed with, “It’s a warning,” indicating that Dino had been too slow as well. The group clapped for Dino’s correct answer but the tension was palpable.

[Woozi's next]

Finally, it was Woozi’s turn. PD Na turned the picture toward him. “1, 2, 3…” he counted, but no answer came from Woozi’s mouth.

“Wrong!” PD Na declared, the first slip-up in the game.

[Passionate]

Seungkwan’s expression was a mix of frustration and disbelief as he stood up, exclaiming, “Lee Chan Won!” The disappointment was evident in his voice, and the other members quickly rallied around him, determined to reason their way to a redo.

[Excuse me?] [Producer Na, hold on]

Like clockwork, they began voicing their dissatisfaction with the way the picture had been presented. S.Coups stood up, making a hand gesture to PD Na, indicating that the picture needed to be straightened. “You need to straighten the face,” he insisted, his tone half-serious, half-joking.

Jun, eager to support his leader, leaned forward to physically adjust the picture in PD Na’s hands. “You need to straighten the face,” he repeated as if this small detail had thrown off Woozi’s guess.

[They complain the photo was curved]

“I thought that was Chan because it was curved,” Mingyu added, his voice carrying a note of mock indignation that quickly spread through the group. They were slandering PD Na’s method of showing the picture as the reason for the mishap.

[Slandering]

“I get what you mean because it’s curved,” Woozi chimed in, backing up Mingyu’s point. He was now fully committed to the narrative.

“So? Is that why you didn’t know?” Jeonghan pressed, his voice teasing but with a hint of support for Woozi.

“I had no idea for that reason,” Woozi answered, his tone carrying a tinge of exasperation but mostly amusement.

Luna, sitting quietly and observing the chaotic exchange, couldn’t help but giggle at the audacity of the group. Their relentless reasoning, though absurd, was hilariously on brand for them. She decided to stay out of it, letting the boys have their moment.

PD Na looked shocked, not quite believing what he was hearing. “Are you sure you know now?” he asked Woozi, trying to gauge the seriousness of their claims.

“Of course,” Woozi replied confidently.

“We all went to get his autograph before.” Wonwoo, ever the supportive member added.

"He was on ‘Mr. Trot,’” Woozi added as if this solidified his knowledge of the celebrity in question.

S.Coups, seeing the opportunity to save face for Woozi, clapped his hands together, declaring, “Okay. That was a practice.”

“So, that’s all for the practice round,” Jun followed up, clearly attempting to lighten the mood and reset the game.

But PD Na wasn’t buying it. The playful atmosphere quickly turned as he made it clear that there would be no redo. Now, the members had to decide which dish to remove from their meal.

[Let's remove one dish]

[Time to make a decision]

The members of SEVENTEEN found themselves in a heated debate over which dish to remove, the tension mixed with a playful sense of urgency as they weighed their options.

Dino, in his innocence, was the first to make a suggestion. “Should we remove the acorn jelly?” His words hung in the air for a split second before they were met with immediate and resounding disapproval from every direction.

[Everyone yells]

“No!” Vernon shook his hand firmly, his voice laced with disbelief.

“No!” S.Coups echoed at the same time, his tone bordering on alarm.

Joshua leaned forward, his expression appaled as he addressed Dino. “We can never miss the acorn jelly.”

The most vocal reaction came from Seungkwan, who stood up abruptly, pointing an accusatory finger at Dino. “Acorn jelly is the best. What are you talking about?” His outburst left Dino momentarily stunned, his eyes wide as he sat back in his seat, shocked at the intensity of Seungkwan’s reaction.

[All he said was acorn jelly]

Dino tried to justify his choice, albeit hesitantly. “Because of the cucumber…” he trailed off, his voice mixed with chuckling.

Luna, seated next to Dino, patted his thigh gently, chuckling at the situation. “Our Dino doesn’t like cucumbers,” she explained with a soft smile, her tone lightening the mood.

Jun, always pragmatic, offered another option. “How about bean sprouts?” he suggested, his voice calm as he tried to steer the discussion in a different direction. “Bean sprouts,” he repeated as if to solidify his choice.

But before anyone could reply, Seungkwan had already made up his mind. He grabbed the container of salad, ready to remove it from the table.

“He can’t eat tomatoes,” S.Coups stood up and explained, gesturing toward Seungkwan as if to defend his action.

“He’s removing what he can’t eat,” Dokyeom noted, pouting slightly as he eyed Seungkwan up and down. S.Coups couldn’t help but chuckle, pointing at Dokyeom with a playful grin.

Minghao, ever observant, pointed out another detail. “Jun wants only the salad,” he said, turning the focus back to Jun’s preference.

“Ah, really?” Vernon exclaimed, his tone one of genuine surprise.

Jun nodded, his expression earnest. “Because I’m working on detoxing,” he explained, his voice calm as always.

Seungkwan took the opportunity to clarify to PD Na, “Some of us are detoxing. We’ll remove bean sprouts.”

But before the decision could be finalized, Vernon, now on his feet, pointed to another potential sacrifice. “Or what about sausages?” he suggested, his voice filled with the same playful uncertainty that had been present throughout their discussions.

“No, never sausages,” S.Coups replied immediately, his tone firm as he shut down the suggestion.

Dokyeom, feeling the need to contribute, stood up and pointed to another dish. “Let’s remove japchae,” he suggested, his voice confident.

“What?” S.Coups responded in shock, his reaction mirroring that of several other members.

Amidst the ongoing debate, PD Na just sat there, watching with a mixture of amusement and amazement as the members continued to discuss, their voices overlapping in a chaotic but somehow harmonious argument.

The debate among SEVENTEEN over which dish to remove escalated into a full-blown discussion, each member passionately defending their preferences.

Wonwoo, who had been quietly observing the chaos, finally chimed in with a suggestion. “I thought we follow the majority,” he said, his calm voice cutting through the noise.

S.Coups, the only one still standing, began pacing back and forth in front of the group. His frustration was evident as he tried to steer the conversation toward a decision. “Ya, what do you want to remove?” he asked, his voice laced with a hint of impatience.

[The general leader is exhausted]

Dino, sensing an opportunity to bring order, proposed, “Let’s go by majority. Who wants to remove the salad?” He raised his hand as an example, hoping others would follow suit.

Only S.Coups and Seungkwan raised their hands in agreement, their expressions determined. The lack of support from the rest of the group, however, left the salad firmly on the table.

[They're democratic, but it takes a long time and Jun wants it]

Hoshi, always one to throw in a curveball, casually suggested, “Just remove the yellow corvinas.”

[In favor of yellow corvinas]

This suggestion sparked immediate reactions, especially from Luna, who leaned forward to look at Hoshi. “What are you talking about?” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at him.

[Bunny no. 1 wants yellow corvinas]

Minghao echoed her shock, turning to Hoshi with a confused expression. “Why? That’s the best,” he asked, genuinely baffled.

Seungkwan, who had been watching the exchange with growing frustration, finally exploded. “Are you all stupid? Remove bean sprouts,” he exclaimed, his eyes wide as he looked around at the group, unable to believe the conversation was still going.

Eventually, they agreed on removing the bean sprouts, and Dino reached out to remove them from the table, his expression a mix of relief and resignation.

[They agree on bean sprouts]

[Bean sprouts are out]

“So that’s how SEVENTEEN resolves conflicts,” PD Na commented, observing the group with an amused smile.

“It’s quite noisy,” Jun admitted, his tone light as he glanced around at his fellow members.

“We were just talking over each other,” Luna added, a hint of laughter in her voice as she reflected on the chaotic discussion.

“We’re all talking at the same time. What do we do?” Mingyu said, shaking his head with a grin.

“It’s so noisy,” Wonwoo chuckled, covering his ears in mock despair.

[SEVENTEEN never holds back from talking. They're noisy]

PD Na and the writers couldn’t help but laugh at the scene, thoroughly entertained by SEVENTEEN’s dynamic.

As the laughter died down, Seungkwan took the opportunity to remind Dino of his earlier blunder. “Dino, acorn jelly was a wrong choice,” he said, a teasing tone in his voice.

“Not the acorn jelly,” Vernon added, shaking his head.

“Don’t you mess with acorn jelly,” S.Coups warned, pointing at Dino with a playful glare.

Luna, unable to resist, added her own prediction with a grin. “It will be gone soon. Watch.”

Dokyeom giggled at the exchange. “This is funny.”

Jeonghan, who had been watching the whole thing with an amused smile, turned to S.Coups. “You never eat it,” he pointed out, his tone teasing.

[They were sensitive about removing it]

"Honestly, you could remove sausages,” Vernon voiced out, throwing in another suggestion.

“What?” Mingyu exclaimed from beside him, his eyes wide with surprise.

“Really?” Vernon asked him, slightly taken aback by the strong reaction.

“Aren’t sausages good?” Mingyu asked, still trying to process the suggestion.

[They start the debate on sausages]

PD Na, who had been observing the entire exchange with growing amusement, finally interjected with a wry smile. “I guess the conflict never resolves completely,” he remarked, shaking his head.

[No]

The members, realizing how long the discussion had gone on, began shaking their heads and voicing their agreement. “We keep complaining,” S.Coups said, mimicking a mouth with his hand as if to demonstrate how they couldn’t stop talking.

“It lasts long,” Joshua added with a chuckle.

“I won’t be surprised if we’ll be talking about this till we get home,” Luna said, leaning back in her seat with a sigh as if already resigning herself to the inevitability.

“We’re sensitive about food,” Dokyeom explained to PD Na, his tone a mix of sincerity and amusement.

“It turned into a mess many times before,” Seungkwan added, nodding in agreement.

“We’re good with everything else,” Dokyeom added as if to clarify that food was the one area where they just couldn’t seem to find peace.

“The decision is made, but people never stop talking,” PD Na noted, clearly fascinated by the group’s dynamic.

“That’s why they come to me,” Jeonghan added, his tone light but with a hint of truth.

"DK was getting serious." Seungkwan said, pointing at Dokyeom with a playful grin, mimicked him from earlier, saying, "'He's removing what he can't eat.'"

[Portraying DK]

This caused Dokyeom to burst into laughter, joining in by imitating his own actions as well.

[No need for counseling]

[Round 2]

As Round 2 commenced, the atmosphere in the room grew serious. The members were more focused than before. This time, S.Coups would start, which meant Jun would only play once.

[This time, S.Coups will go first]

"Then Jun will play only once," PD Na confirmed, nodding towards the group. "Then the problem is The8."

Minghao waved his hand dismissively, "The8 isn't the problem," he said with a small smile, his confidence unshaken.

"Why not?" PD Na asked, chuckling at Minghao’s laid-back attitude.

"Just make the question easy," Minghao replied innocently, earning a round of laughter from the members and crew.

[Producer Na is the problem]

[Problematic Director]

[The8 is not the problem]

"I'll choose the question carefully," PD Na assured them, the laughter still lingering in the air. "Let's start with S.Coups," he announced as the leader leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, fully concentrated.

[The leader of SEVENTEEN, S.Coups]

PD Na pulled out the first picture and began the countdown, "1, 2, 3…"

S.Coups hesitated, the pressure was evident in his eyes. He stood up suddenly, blurting out, "Hwang Jung Min."

[Park Bo Gum]

"Wrong!" PD Na exclaimed, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

The room fell silent for a moment before it broke into chaos. Not only had S.Coups hesitated, but his answer was also completely off the mark. The question was the easiest one so far, shocking not just the members but also the writers who were present. All eyes turned to their leader, who now paced behind the seats, back and forth, before dramatically holding onto the wall as if in despair.

[SEVENTEEN is shocked]

"Ya!" Joshua pointed at him, his voice filled with both disbelief and amusement. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" Dokyeom echoed, clearly flabbergasted.

Luna, still seated but with wide eyes, couldn’t hold back her surprise. "What just happened? That was the easiest one."

The members began to voice their shock and disappointment, the room now buzzing with incredulous energy.

[Park Bo Gum: As the former host of ‘Music Bank’]

[he probably said hi to SEVENTEEN]

[He probably introduced their new song too]

"Just go home," Seungkwan suggested, his tone dripping with playful sarcasm.

[Outraged]

Mingyu turned to PD Na, mock seriousness in his voice. "Can we remove one member at a time instead of the food?"

[Shocked]

"Give him up," Minghao chimed in, his voice completely deadpan.

"Let's just kick him out," Hoshi added, his own brand of humor causing the others to laugh despite the situation.

"He doesn't know how to play games at all," Dino pointed at S.Coups, shaking his head as if in disbelief, while the leader continued to stand at the back, feigning defeat.

Luna, unable to resist joining in on the teasing, deadpanned with a straight face, "You never know, that might be Hwang Jung Min in another universe," she joked, pointing at the picture as if she were seriously considering the possibility.

[Someone help S.Coups]

The room burst into laughter, the tension from S.Coups' earlier mistake evaporating instantly. Even S.Coups, still leaning against the wall in mock despair, couldn’t help but crack a smile at Luna’s witty remark, grateful for her ability to lighten the mood.

Jeonghan, ever the strategist, took charge of the situation. "We need to remove one," he declared, pointing decisively at the array of food options before them. His eyes scanned the dishes before settling on a decision. "Let’s remove them in order," he suggested, trying to instill some semblance of logic in the chaotic process.

However, Vernon quickly chimed in with his own idea. "No, let's remove the sausages," he proposed, his voice steady.

[Cool]

Luna nodded in agreement, and Jeonghan wasted no time. He pointed directly at the container of sausages, his tone firm, "Remove it."

Seungkwan and Dino, who were already on their feet, sprang into action. Dino grabbed the container with a sense of purpose as if removing the sausages was a mission of utmost importance. "Sure, the processed meat. Sodium nitrite," Seungkwan commented, shaking his head with mock seriousness. "It's not healthy."

[Sausages are out]

PD Na, observing their theatrics, couldn’t help but chuckle. "You worry about your health," he remarked, amused by the group's sudden concern for nutrition.

"Yes!" they chorused in unison, as if the entire group had just had a collective epiphany about healthy eating.

From across the line, Mingyu turned to S.Coups, curiosity etched on his face. "What were you doing earlier?" he asked, referring to S.Coups’ earlier flub.

S.Coups shook his head, still looking somewhat bewildered. "I couldn’t remember," he admitted, his tone sheepish.

"That’s what happens," Mingyu said, nodding sympathetically.

"It happens," Minghao added with a sage nod of his own, as if imparting some deep wisdom.

S.Coups, still nursing his pride, glanced at PD Na and confessed, "I yelled at them when I watched it," referring to the infamous ‘HYBE’ special where they got everything wrong.

PD Na gave him a knowing look, understanding the pressure. "S.Coups, I understand," Jeonghan interjected, his voice gentle, offering his friend some comfort.

Wonwoo, who had been relatively quiet until now, suddenly spoke up, his voice tinged with nervousness. "Why am I getting so nervous?" he asked, almost to himself.

PD Na, ever the problem solver, suggested, "I think you should move S.Coups to the center."

S.Coups, eager to shake off the earlier mishap, quickly stood up. "Can I sit in the middle?" he asked, looking for approval.

Without missing a beat, Mingyu moved to his seat, making him the first in line, while S.Coups settled into Seungkwan’s spot.

[Mingyu moves to the 1st seat]

Seungkwan, still in good spirits despite the chaos, looked at Mingyu and teased, "Mingyu, you weren’t that good last year," reminding him of the infamous ‘HYBE’ special with a playful grin.

[Round 3]

"Let's start," PD Na announced, the energy shifting as everyone prepared for the next challenge.

Mingyu, now in the hot seat as the first in line, tried to steady his nerves. Leaning forward slightly, he murmured to himself, "Who's there these days?" His focus sharpened as PD Na positioned himself in front of him, ready to reveal the next image.

"1, 2, 3," PD Na counted down, pulling the picture out. Without missing a beat, Mingyu confidently answered, "Jang Sung Kyu."

The room erupted in a mix of surprise and admiration. "He's good," S.Coups remarked, genuinely impressed.

"No wonder he's experienced," Woozi added. A few shook their heads, chuckling.

"I wouldn't have got it," Jeonghan admitted, acknowledging Mingyu’s sharpness.

[It requires concentration]

Next up was Vernon. PD Na moved in front of him, the atmosphere slightly more relaxed after Mingyu’s success. "1, 2, 3…" PD Na prompted, revealing the picture. But instead of a quick answer, there was silence. Vernon’s mouth hung open slightly, but no words came out.

"Wrong!" PD Na declared, breaking the silence with a hint of playful disappointment.

From somewhere in the background, Seungkwan, always quick to react, yelled out, "Kim Yeon Koung!" His voice rang out just as Mingyu, feeling victorious, stepped back to let the next player take his place.

S.Coups, however, couldn't resist the opportunity to tease. Standing up, he pointed directly at Vernon. "You can never yell at me," he declared with a triumphant grin.

"Kim Yeon Koung, who led Korea to the semifinal!" Seungkwan added, still slightly in disbelief that Vernon had missed such a well-known figure.

S.Coups wasn't about to let it go. "Admit it. You’re in no place to blame me," he said, a teasing tone in his voice as he looked at Vernon.

Vernon, still processing his mistake, nodded and shook his head. "We’re the same," he admitted with a resigned smile.

Mingyu, always one to keep the energy light, grabbed one of the large posters from the back. On it was one of their famous quotes, and with a mischievous grin, he raised it behind Vernon’s head. The sign read, 'ARE YOU OKAY?' The moment everyone saw it, laughter erupted around the room.

[Greetings]

"For real?" Mingyu asked Vernon, his voice still laced with amusement, making the atmosphere light once more despite the round’s pressure.

The debate over which dish to remove from the table heated up as Jeonghan sprang to his feet, determined to take charge of the situation. He reached for the container of rolled omelets, ready to make the decision himself. At the same time, Minghao, feeling equally decisive, grabbed the japchae container and announced, "Let's remove japchae."

However, not everyone agreed with this sudden move. A chorus of dissent rose from a few members, and before they could follow through, Wonwoo quickly extended his arm, signaling for them to pause. "Wait," he said, his voice steady but firm. S.Coups, already on his way over, echoed the sentiment with a pout, "Wait, not the japchae."

Jeonghan, sensing the resistance, raised his arms in a gesture of surrender. "What do you want to remove then?" he asked, a playful tone of exasperation creeping into his voice as he looked around at his indecisive teammates.

[Choose one already]

Seungkwan, however, had already made up his mind. He walked forward, confidently grabbing the container of japchae from Minghao's grasp. "No. Japchae raises your blood sugar level," he declared, his tone leaving little room for argument.

"That's high in carbs," Dokyeom agreed, nodding as they both returned to their seats, the japchae now out of the table.

[Japchae is out]

As the lively debate over the food continued to unfold, PD Na, with a playful grin, turned his attention to Vernon. "Vernon, you need to apologize," he teased, referring to Vernon’s earlier mistake during the game.

Vernon, feeling the weight of his error, offered a shy smile before bowing slightly in apology. "Are you going to be okay?" PD Na asked, still playfully asking him.

Wonwoo, sensing the need to comfort his friend, chimed in, "You know her, right?" His tone was reassuring, as if to remind Vernon that his slip-up was no big deal.

"Do you remember now?" PD Na followed up, clearly enjoying the banter.

Vernon nodded, his expression a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "I know her, but I couldn't recall her name," he explained, a hint of frustration in his voice at his lapse in memory.

S.Coups, always quick to empathize, added, "See? You get stuck," acknowledging how easy it was to draw a blank under pressure.

Mingyu then seized the moment to ask. "Wonwoo, do you want to come here? Anyone who hasn’t played yet want to go first? We won’t be able to eat anyway," he quipped, earning a hearty laugh from PD Na.

[It turns into an experiential learning]

"Right. We’ll end up eating rice and soup only," Jeonghan agreed, joining in on the humor as the group prepared for the next round, the tension from the game gradually melting into shared laughter.

As they prepared for the fourth round, some of the members began to shuffle their seats, creating a fresh dynamic. Vernon switched places with Dino and found himself sitting next to Luna, who greeted him with a warm smile.

[Vernon moves to the back]

[Dino who tried it before moves to the front]

Mingyu, feeling confident after his recent success, couldn’t resist making a bold statement. "I feel like I've become the ace," he declared, puffing up slightly with mock arrogance, eliciting chuckles from the group.

PD Na, ever curious about their mindset, asked, "Before playing the game, were you confident?"

S.Coups, recalling his earlier blunder, responded first. "When I watched the video, I thought I'd be good at it," he admitted, his initial confidence now tempered with humility. He shook his head in playful defeat. "Wow," he added, the disbelief still lingering in his voice, making PD Na laugh.

[People who are watching right now probably agree with you]

Seungkwan, who was seated next to S.Coups, deadpanned, "Getting Park Bo Gum wrong was a terrible mistake," bringing up the mishap with a seriousness that made the others smirk. The reminder made S.Coups smile in defeat, his expression one of resigned acceptance.

"I know. It was so easy," Jeonghan chimed in, adding to the gentle ribbing.

Seungkwan, always quick with details, pointed out, "He was the ‘Music Bank’ host when we debuted."

Hoshi, joining in from S.Coups’ other side, added, "He even performed 'Pretty U' at his fan meet," his tone both teasing and nostalgic.

Jeonghan, ever the contrarian in a playful way, added, "I still understand," though his words carried a hint of teasing contradiction, causing Luna to giggle from her seat next to him.

"I understand," Hoshi echoed, patting S.Coups on the back with exaggerated sympathy.

"It's okay," Seungkwan added, as they all took turns playfully comforting their leader, who stared blankly ahead with a sarcastic, pained chuckle, his expression making PD Na and the writers laugh heartily.

[If you've seen S.Coups' soul, please call ‘HYBE’]

"Let's go," Hoshi said, ready for the next round and eager to change the subject.

"I'm getting dizzy," S.Coups joked, his dramatic delivery causing more laughter to ripple through the group.

"They're so funny," PD Na remarked to the writers, his amusement evident as he watched the lively group banter.

[SEVENTEEN became a genre]

[Round 4]

As silence fell over the group, the atmosphere grew tense with anticipation. All eyes were on PD Na as he carefully shuffled the pictures in front of him, his movements deliberate and teasing. The members leaned forward slightly, eager to see what challenge lay ahead for Mingyu, who was first in line.

PD Na revealed the picture, holding it up for just a moment before he began his countdown. "1, 2, 3," he intoned, his voice calm yet commanding.

"Hwang Jung Min," Mingyu answered confidently, not missing a beat.

The room erupted in cheers, with the members expressing their excitement and relief. "Mingyu is the ace!" Hoshi exclaimed, springing to his feet to give Mingyu a high five. "Good job!" The energy in the room was infectious, with everyone feeding off the victory.

Mingyu, basking in the praise, mockingly puffed up his chest, wearing a smug grin that only made the others laugh harder.

[His shoulders are rising]

S.Coups, Hoshi, and Joshua exchanged a glance before pointing at him in unison, "Right now, it's sixty centimeters," they quipped, referencing the width of his shoulders— now a running joke among them because of the earlier interview.

[His shoulders are 60cm in width]

"Your shoulders got wider than Wonwoo," PD Na added with a chuckle, playing along with the banter.

On the other side, Luna couldn't hold back a snicker. She leaned toward Jeonghan, who immediately sensed her movement and bent down slightly to catch what she was about to say. "Is it not Park Bo Gum?" Luna whispered, her voice laced with playful sarcasm, referencing S.Coups’ earlier mistake of confusing Park Bo Gum with Hwang Jung Min.

[Someone help S.Coups again]

Jeonghan chuckled at the joke, clearly amused by her quick wit. “In another universe, maybe,” he said, referring to her joke earlier making her laugh. In response, he gave her a gentle poke in the waist, eliciting a surprised squeal from Luna as they both waited for their turn in the game.

[Next is Dino who played before]

As Dino's turn approached, the room's energy shifted slightly, with the focus now on the youngest member. Sitting next to Mingyu, Dino leaned forward, his eyes wide with concentration, clearly determined to give his best shot. The members around him began to cheer him on, their voices a mix of encouragement and playful pressure.

"Dino," they chanted softly, creating a supportive atmosphere. "You know them all," Seungkwan added from Dino’s side, his tone reassuring as he tried to bolster Dino’s confidence.

PD Na, ready to continue, held up the next picture, pausing momentarily before beginning his countdown. "1, 2, 3…" he called out, his voice crisp and clear.

Dino stared at the picture, his brow furrowed in thought. After a moment, he hesitated and said, "He's cool," not entirely sure who he was looking at. The uncertainty in his voice was evident.

[A cool guy]

"Wrong!" PD Na exclaimed, breaking the tension and sending the room into a burst of laughter. Some of the members stood up, clapping and cheering, while others playfully scolded Dino for his guess.

Dino shrugged, offering a sheepish smile as he excused himself, "I'm not good at it."

"It's okay," Luna chimed in, her voice comforting.

[Note: It is only okay for bunny no. 1 if it's someone adorable]

"The Korean Zombie," Wonwoo announced, revealing the correct answer.

Jeonghan turned to Vernon, shaking his head as he pointed out, "You shouldn’t have switched," he teased, knowing Vernon would have recognized the UFC fighter.

"From UFC," Vernon clarified for Dino, his tone understanding.

Luna, sitting next to Vernon, added with a knowing smile, "Dino doesn’t watch UFC."

"I don't watch UFC," Dino repeated, echoing her words as if to solidify his reasoning for missing the answer.

As the game moved on, the next challenge was deciding which dish to remove from their table, an ongoing debate that had already caused plenty of drama. Minghao, with his usual calm demeanor, stood up and confidently headed toward the front table, where all the dishes were displayed. He pointed at one with determination, announcing, "We should remove this."

His suggestion, however, was met with a chorus of loud disagreements. "Why LA galbi?" Joshua's voice rang out, filled with disbelief.

[He's from LA]

"Why? LA galbi is expensive," Luna added, her tone equally appalled.

"Don't mess with galbi," S.Coups warned, his voice carrying the weight of a leader defending a treasured dish.

[Galbi is like family]

Despite Minghao's attempt to remove the LA galbi, the team quickly overruled him, and after much discussion, they unanimously agreed to remove the salad instead. Jun, who had been eyeing the salad only, gladly allowed it to be removed. "Remove it," he agreed with a nod, happy to see it go.

[Salad is out]

[It was a big decision for Jun who was going to eat only the salad]

As the salad was being taken away, S.Coups spoke up again, "Why aren't we removing yogurt?"

Seungkwan looked at him incredulously. "What are you talking about?" he exclaimed.

"We need yogurt," Vernon insisted from his spot, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Seungkwan, always quick with a playful jab, patted S.Coups on the back. "You should be grateful we didn't remove you," he teased.

S.Coups laughed in defeat, knowing he had lost this round of the debate. "Thanks," he chuckled, the humor of the situation not lost on him.

As the atmosphere buzzed with excitement, PD Na raised a hand to gather everyone’s attention. "Who should go first?" he asked, ready to kick off the next round of their game.

"People who haven't played yet should," Mingyu suggested, his voice clear and confident.

[Those of you who haven't gone on the ride yet, come to the front]

At this prompt, a flurry of movement erupted around the room as the members began to switch seats, eager to shuffle into new spots. The commotion was lively and chaotic, with laughter and chatter echoing as fourteen members jockeyed for position. Jeonghan, who had been gripping Luna's pinky finger this entire time found himself separated from her as they were swept along with the crowd that is SEVENTEEN.

In the end, Jeonghan settled into a spot next to S.Coups in the middle of the group, while Luna ended up sitting on the right front side, nestled between Mingyu and Dino. The seat changes brought a new dynamic, and as everyone settled into their places, Hoshi commented from the first chair on the left side, "We'll be going nonstop from now on. You better get ready over there."

“I don’t think I’ll get it,” came a voice from next to Hoshi. It was Wonwoo, second in line, his expression revealing a hint of excitement and uncertainty.

"Wonwoo. Did you answer all the questions until now?" PD Na asked, his curiosity piqued.

"No," Wonwoo replied shyly with a chuckle.

Minghao chimed in, "Wonwoo isn't good at it," his tone light-hearted yet teasing.

"Do you want to switch just in case?" Hoshi suggested, turning to Joshua with an encouraging nod.

"I'm not good at it either," Joshua admitted as they switched seats, with Joshua moving to Wonwoo's original spot.

"Wonwoo tends to play the villain," Seungkwan remarked, a grin spreading across his face.

"I don’t watch TV," Wonwoo explained, his tone earnest as he tried to justify his lack of knowledge.

"Who doesn’t know these days just because they don’t watch TV?" Mingyu asked incredulously, shaking his head in mock of disbelief.

"All he watches is the game," S.Coups added, nodding knowingly at Wonwoo, who merely shrugged in response.

Jeonghan then turned to PD Na with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “You should just show him his own picture.”

“I want to be good at it. I’m getting nervous,” Joshua confided to Hoshi, his nerves evident as he adjusted in his seat. “I’m nervous to be here."

“It’s okay,” Luna softly chuckled at Joshua’s plight, her English accent coming through as she reassured him in English.

[Round 5]

As the fifth round began, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. The members were laser-focused, knowing the stakes were high with each dish removed from the table. PD Na shuffled through his stack of pictures, finally settling on one to show Hoshi, who was first in line.

“1, 2, 3,” PD Na counted down.

“Baekho,” Hoshi answered confidently, earning a round of claps and praise from the other members. His quick response and accuracy brought a wave of relief, as they successfully passed the first hurdle of the round.

[If he got it wrong, he would've spent 3 awkward years]

Next up was Joshua, his face a mix of concentration and nerves as PD Na presented the picture to him.

“1, 2, 3…”

“Lee Bo Young,” Joshua answered, his voice steady. For a moment, there was silence. Then, the room erupted— not in cheers, but in confusion.

[No?]

Hoshi, unaware that Joshua’s answer was wrong, started clapping enthusiastically, his usual bright smile on his face. But before he could get too carried away, Joshua’s eyes widened as he realized his mistake.

“Park Bo Young!” Joshua quickly corrected himself, but the damage was already done.

“Lee Bo Young is Ji Sung’s wife,” Seungkwan exclaimed, standing up with a look of disbelief.

“Park Bo Young?” Joshua asked again, this time with an innocent smile, as if trying to win them over with charm.

“From ‘Agency.’ You should’ve only said Bo Young,” Hoshi said, still somewhat clueless about the error but offering his advice nonetheless.

“You still got Bo Young,” Wonwoo reassured Joshua, trying to salvage the situation and boost morale.

Jeonghan, ever the quick thinker and skilled in mischief and cheating, leaned toward Joshua. “Did you say Lee Bo Young as in that person is Bo Young?” he asked, implying that the mistake was merely a slip in pronunciation.

Luna chuckled at Jeonghan’s cleverness before chiming in, “That’s right.”

“Yes, that’s true,” Joshua said, as if the realization had just dawned on him. “That’s it. Of course, I know Park Bo Young.”

[I can't be wrong]

“Lee as in 'this'?” PD Na asked, playing along with the humorous twist Jeonghan had introduced.

[Acting]

Joshua and Jeonghan immediately seized the moment, pointing at the picture as they both said in sync, “This is… Bo Young.”

Hoshi joined in on the fun, pointing out, “He’s American,” referencing Joshua’s background to justify the mix-up, trying to keep the mood light despite the mistake.

[It's got nothing to do with being American]

[Once you get bitten by SEVENTEEN, you have to get your act together]

[Or you end up getting persuaded]

“This is Bo Young,” Joshua repeated in English, trying to sell the cleverly made excuse.

Mingyu, always quick with a quip, couldn’t resist adding, “It’s so embarrassing. Don’t be so miserable,” which drew a laugh from Luna, her smile softening the moment.

Eventually, the laughter subsided, and the reality of the mistake settled in. Wonwoo, seeing that they needed to move forward, took the initiative. “So, what do we remove?” he asked, his tone practical, ready to accept their loss.

“Mini pork cutlet?” Joshua suggested, standing up to remove the dish himself. He knew they had to sacrifice something, and the mini pork cutlet seemed the most acceptable option.

“Let’s remove them in order except for kimchi,” Jeonghan agreed, always the one to find a way to maintain some semblance of fairness.

“Sorry,” Joshua said sincerely as he walked to the table, lifting the dish of mini pork cutlets with a resigned smile.

“Let’s leave kimchi for last,” S.Coups added, his voice carrying a tone of finality as the round came to a close. They all knew that kimchi was non-negotiable, a staple that no one wanted to part with.

[Mini pork cutlets are out]

As the fifth round drew to a close and the group prepared for the next challenge, Wonwoo looked around, suddenly realizing something.

"Am I the only one who hasn't played yet?" he asked, standing up from his seat. The others watched as he moved to the front of the line, swapping seats with Hoshi.

Seungkwan, ever quick with a playful jab, couldn’t resist, “You won’t even last for three seconds,” he teased, causing PD Na and the writers to burst into laughter.

[They're supposed to answer in 3 seconds]

From the other side of the room, Luna’s voice chimed in, gentle yet confident. “No, Wonwoo can do it. He’s smart,” she said, her tone soft but filled with belief. “I believe in you, Wonwoo.”

Wonwoo, who was usually calm and composed, blushed slightly at the encouragement. “I’m sorry, but don’t get your hopes up,” he responded shyly, clearly touched by Luna’s words but trying to keep expectations realistic.

“Wonwoo, you can do it,” Jeonghan added, his voice warm with support. A chorus of agreements followed from the other members.

“You can do it.”

“A picture of a SEVENTEEN member might pop up,” Jeonghan continued with a playful smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

[Pressure]

“It’ll be funny if we miss it,” Dokyeom chuckled, imagining the scenario.

PD Na, amused by the situation, looked at Wonwoo and said, “No one thinks you’ll succeed,” his tone light and teasing.

“Right. We’re just doing this for experience,” S.Coups chimed in, trying to manage expectations while keeping the atmosphere light.

“We can all be on TV,” Minghao added with a grin.

“When will we get to be here again?” Jeonghan mused his tone a mix of understanding and calmness.

“When will we get to play this?” S.Coups echoed, clearly enjoying the moment with his friends.

“We can always come back here later,” Mingyu said, looking around at the others with a confident smile.

“We should come back,” Minghao agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

“But you never know. It might keep going,” Hoshi added, trying to keep the momentum up.

“We might keep going,” Joshua agreed, his eyes glinting with determination.

“I believe in Wonwoo,” Luna reiterated, shaking her head with a small pout, her belief in him unwavering. Wonwoo, feeling the warmth of her support, couldn’t help but smile— a small, gentle smile that showed how much her words meant to him.

[Round 6]

Round six kicked off with a wave of anticipation. The members, still buzzing from the previous rounds, were eager to see how Wonwoo would fare.

"Come on, Wonwoo!" Jeonghan cheered, his voice full of encouragement, his eyes locked on Wonwoo, who was now in the hot seat.

PD Na shuffled through the pictures in front of him, finally picking one. He looked at Wonwoo and, with a steady tone, counted down, “1, 2, 3.”

“Key,” Wonwoo responded confidently, just as Dino, sitting across the room, muttered the same name under his breath, “Key,” in a subtle attempt to help him out.

The room erupted into cheers and claps. “Good job!” Luna called out, her face lighting up with a proud smile.

[Look at these people]

PD Na, however, had caught the quiet muttering from Dino. “I thought I just heard something,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he gestured toward Dino, who quickly pretended to cough.

“I was coughing,” Dino said, raising his hand as if to cover his mouth, trying to play it off casually. “I should’ve covered my mouth. Sorry.”

[The climate problem is very serious, isn't it?]

PD Na shook his head with a playful grin. “It’s a warning,” he announced, more amused than serious.

“Okay,” the group responded in unison, agreeing to the light-hearted reprimand.

[Next is Hoshi]

Next up was Hoshi. The energy in the room was palpable as PD Na held up the next picture. “1, 2, 3—”

“BamBam,” Hoshi answered without hesitation, prompting another round of cheers.

[He got a colleague for twice in a row]

“Hoshi’s good,” S.Coups noted, nodding in approval.

“The first question is always easy,” Woozi remarked, analyzing the trend.

“I want something like that too,” Vernon added nervously, watching as Hoshi basked in the praise.

[Joshua is next]

Then it was Joshua’s turn. He stood up, taking a deep breath, and as he prepared himself, he suddenly called out, “Wait.”

“Joshua, don’t say the last name,” Dino offered from his seat, trying to guide him.

[No last name]

“Add the last name at the end. Say, Bo Young Park,” Mingyu added, motioning with his hand as Joshua nodded, his hand on his chest, mentally preparing himself.

[Character Quiz World Version]

"Here we go," PD Na announced, setting the stage for Joshua’s turn. The room grew quiet as he began to count down, “1, 2, 3,” and then revealed the picture to Joshua.

Joshua’s reaction was immediate and priceless. “Urgh,” he groaned, his hands shooting up to clutch his neck in shock.

[What was that?]

[We just heard a weird sound]

The sudden, exaggerated movement caught everyone off guard, and the room erupted into laughter. Some of the members stood up, clapping in amusement, while others collapsed to the floor, overcome by laughter.

[Let's laugh for a second]

Dino and Mingyu, who were seated on either side of Luna, found themselves laughing so hard that they fell off their chairs, each grabbing one of Luna’s arms as they went down. The unexpected tug almost pulled Luna down with them, but she managed to stay upright, laughing at the hilarity of the situation.

“Wrong!” PD Na laughed, confirming Joshua’s failure, but the teasing was far from over. The members continued to laugh at Joshua’s dramatic display, some still on the floor, others doubled over on the other side of the room. Joshua, ever the performer, pretended to have a neck cramp, using it as a playful excuse for his blunder.

[Wriggling in agony]

“Wait! He suddenly got a cramp,” Hoshi called out, alerting everyone to Joshua’s antics. He played along, his voice full of mock concern as Joshua writhed in fake agony, his hand still on his neck.

A few members took the joke further, rushing toward Joshua with exaggerated worry. “Are you okay?” Seungkwan asked his voice a mix of laughter and pretend concern as he crouched beside Joshua.

[They're worried about his condition]

“Shua is amazing,” Luna said between laughs, wiping the tears from her eyes. Mingyu, still on the floor, pointed at her, laughing even harder at the sight of her struggling to compose herself.

[The game that makes you cry]

[They all burst into laughter]

PD Na and the writers couldn’t contain their amusement, laughing at the shameless display unfolding before them. Joshua, fully committed to the bit, slowly lay down on the floor, feigning pain and defeat.

[He shouldn't be okay]

[So he lies down on the floor]

Hoshi, always quick to join in on the fun, pointed at the picture again, his tone mockingly serious. “Who’s that?” he asked, drawing everyone’s attention back to the game.

[You must say the answer for this situation to be over]

“Oh, Uhm Jung Hwa!” Joshua suddenly exclaimed, sitting up as if the answer had just come to him. His enthusiasm earned another round of laughter and applause, everyone playing along with the excuse, reveling in the chaos of the moment.

[It seems that's how they film ‘Going Seventeen’]

As the laughter finally began to die down, Jeonghan turned to Joshua, still grinning from ear to ear. “Don’t be nervous,” he advised gently, his voice soothing in its sincerity.

Joshua nodded in agreement, his expression sheepish yet amused. “I was too nervous,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck as if still feeling the phantom cramp.

[He suddenly got a cramp]

Hoshi, never one to miss an opportunity to add a playful twist, chimed in, “His blood sugar level suddenly went up. Even his hair turned red.” This earned another round of chuckles as the group slowly started to settle back into their seats.

[Joshua is healthy]

In the midst of their playful banter, they noticed Vernon walking past them, dragging another chair behind him. Seungkwan, ever observant, asked, “Vernon, what’s wrong with your chair?”

[The chair broke when they made a fuss]

PD Na, clearly amused by the chaotic scene, explained with a laugh, “While one passed out, Vernon’s fixing the chair in the back. You’re all busy on your own.” The camera panned to Vernon, who smiled sheepishly as he adjusted the new chair, his old one having broken during the earlier commotion.

“You got it,” Minghao reminded Joshua of their earlier ruse, referring to the playful way they had tried to twist the rules in their favor.

“Yes, I did,” Joshua responded, puffing up with pride at his small victory, even if it was short-lived.

PD Na, always quick to bring them back to reality, quipped, “You took twenty-three seconds,” which made everyone laugh in defeat at the absurdity of it all.

[What a bummer]

“You’re accurate,” Jun noted, shaking his head in mock disbelief.

“We were on ‘Immortal Songs’— Uhm Jung Hwa special,” Wonwoo added, drawing out an enthusiastic chorus of agreement from the group, all of them nodding as the memory came back to them.

“How can you not get it?” PD Na asked Joshua, who responded with a deep bow of apology, his face a perfect picture of exaggerated regret.

[Sorry]

Before another lengthy debate about which dish to remove could begin, Jeonghan swiftly stood up, his expression decisive. Without a word, he grabbed the container of rolled omelets and removed it from the table, ending the discussion before it even started.

[Say goodbye to rolled omelets]

He returned to his seat with a satisfied grin, earning a few raised eyebrows and stifled laughs from the others, who were grateful to avoid another round of indecisive bickering.

[Rolled omelets are out]

Suddenly Mingyu, proposed with a light-hearted grin, “Shall we have people who appeared on ‘The Game Caterers’ last time sit together? Let’s sit together.”

The suggestion hovered in the air, eliciting a brief, almost uncomfortable silence. The camera captured the stillness as if it were holding its breath, waiting for the next cue. Luna, sitting beside Mingyu with an air of casual confidence, deadpanned in her most matter-of-fact tone, “Do you really think the seven of you who lost last time should all sit together in a row?”

Her words cut through the silence with a sharp clarity. The reaction was immediate and animated. The camera panned to PD Na and the show’s writers, who burst into laughter, their amusement evident as they pointed at Luna. The members, caught off guard by her bluntness, joined in, their laughter blending into the chaotic symphony of the studio. Mingyu, on the other hand, could only stare at the side of Luna’s face, his expression a mix of surprise and a mock resignation as she playfully winked at him after.

“It’s no use,” Jun chimed in, nodding in agreement with Luna’s assessment.

Seungkwan, ever the skeptic, pointed at the array of food laid out on the table and asked, “Do you really think we can eat this?” His tone was laced with incredulity, mirroring the shared skepticism of the group.

Dino, with his trademark optimism, countered with a hopeful smile, “I think we have hope.” His comment was an attempt to inject some positivity into the conversation, despite the prevailing doubts.

“We have to go both ways?” Hoshi inquired, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Yes,” Luna confirmed, nodding.

“It’s impossible,” Minghao interjected, his voice tinged with resignation.

“Can you make it one way?” Jeonghan proposed, turning to negotiate with PD Na. His plea was a bid to simplify the task, showing his willingness to find a compromise.

“All right. It’s time to make a decision. We’re not here to fight,” PD Na began, his voice cutting through the chatter. The members nodded in agreement, their collective attention now focused on the resolution of the issue.

[We want peace]

“In this situation, it should be one way,” PD Na decreed, offering a pragmatic solution. The members, relieved by the compromise, clapped in appreciation. Their gratitude was palpable, a collective sigh of relief that was evident in their cheers.

“He cut it to half,” Seungkwan remarked, his tone reflecting the relief shared by everyone present.

“Thank you,” Luna said, her voice sincere as she expressed her thanks to PD Na.

“Let’s do this,” S.Coups declared, his voice brimming with resolve as he rallied the group.

“Yet, there are more people than other teams,” PD Na pointed out, referencing the discrepancy in team sizes. The members nodded, acknowledging the fairness of the observation.

[Yet you made us go both ways?]

The studio buzzed with a mixture of anticipation and playful banter as PD Na readied the group for the next round of the quiz game.

“Who’s going first?” PD Na asked, looking around at the eager faces.

“Mingyu keeps scoring,” Hoshi announced with a grin, nodding toward the tall figure next to him. “He’s good.”

Luna, who had been listening intently, added her agreement with a nod. “He’s good.” Her gaze shifted to Mingyu, who was seated right next to her. Starting with Mingyu would indeed mean that Luna would be second in line for the quiz— a strategic position she was content with.

“Luna is good too,” PD Na said, acknowledging her skill with a knowing smile.

“You saw the questions. Been practicing?” PD Na asked Dino.

“Yes, I got them all,” Dino answered confidently, giving a nod. His assurance was a source of added confidence for the team.

[Dino was very close]

“I bet Seungkwan knows everyone,” PD Na remarked, turning to the enthusiastic member next to Dino. Seungkwan nodded a sparkle of pride in his eyes.

“S.Coups, what about you?” PD Na inquired, shifting the spotlight to the leader who had yet to score a point.

“Half and half,” S.Coups replied with a shrug, his tone a mix of casual defeat and humor. His track record wasn’t stellar, but he took it all in stride.

“Take it easy. Don’t let it pressure you,” Mingyu advised, leaning back in his seat with a relaxed demeanor. His casual posture was a stark contrast to the tension in the air.

“Okay. I’ll sit like you too,” S.Coups said, mimicking Mingyu’s laid-back position with a playful smirk.

“Sit arrogant like me,” Mingyu said confidently. “Take it easy. You know these people.” His words were meant to reassure but came across with his signature blend of confidence and humor.

“If you reach Wonwoo, you win,” PD Na reminded them, referencing the ultimate goal of the game. Wonwoo, who was sitting quietly and watching the proceedings with an amused expression, was the benchmark they were all aiming for.

Seungkwan, who, catching the infectious enthusiasm in the room, declared with a confident grin, “Let’s do this.”

“We can do it,” Dokyeom added, his voice brimming with encouragement.

“We can do it,” Minghao echoed, his tone matching Dokyeom’s optimism. The repetition of the sentiment helped solidify the group's collective resolve.

“There are still five dishes,” Hoshi pointed out, his statement a reminder of the prize.

With the final pep talk and the remainder of the remaining dishes, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. The scene was set for the next phase of their comedic and unpredictable variety game show adventure, leaving viewers eagerly awaiting to see how the competition would unfold.

[To be continued in Clip 1-4]

ೃ⁀➷ comment or message me to be added to the tag list :)

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ SUBMIT A REQUEST AND ASK ME ANYTHING!

: ̗̀➛ requests are always open ♡ - lunaఌ

Taglist: @yeoberryx @minminghao @angie-x3 @jennwonwoo @k13endall @heeseungthel0ml @chisskaa @megumi2020 @yoonzzziino

[ateez-himari]

[241015] MY PRETTY BOY

[NEW MESSAGES FROM HIMARI]

[PM 11:22] You guys are jealous right, I get to see my boyfriend like this every morning and every night...he's so pretty 🩶

[PM 11:21] What are you talking about, Tiny, he proposed ? We've only been dating for two years and you're already speculating on our engagement ? ㅎㅎㅎ

[PM 11:21] Oooh the rings, I see🤭It's nothing like that, we even have matching silver chains...we do have our anniversary date engraved on the inside of them though

[PM 11:22] You're right he's barely grazing me in the photo, he doesn't like touching me there because of my surgery scar and he thinks it's still painful (even though it's on the other side and healed) 🥹 He's a little less hesitant than before though

[PM 11:22] It's strange to me when people say he's scary...he's the gentlest giant you'll ever meet, his body is huge but really clumsy so he's scared of hurting me

[PM 11:23] Yeah he's silly too ㅋㅋ He often forgets I'm almost half deaf, but he's been trying so hard to learn sign language, sometimes he refuses to talk so he can practice

[PM 11:24] I don't exactly NEED it, but in noisy environments or when I'm tired it tends to be more effective. That's how Hongjoong oppa was communicating with me during Fashion Week. He's actually the one who uses it most often

[PM 11:24] Mhm, all the members are learning but refused to tell me they were taking lessons for the longest time. Wooyoung oppa was the first one to show me and all of them are really good! They put so much effort into it so I was really touched

[PM 11:25] Hanzo nii-chan is fluent in Japanese sign language since our mother taught it to us when we were young, Geum Jae oppa knows the basics but he's trying hard, and Yoongi oppa is fluent in Korean sign language because he's been learning since after our hospital stay

[PM 11:25] Right now ? Mingi is playing LOL with Yunho oppa, Wooyoung oppa and Jongho oppa (Yeosang oppa, Sannie oppa and I claimed the couch so they're stuck sitting on the floor). I play too but not as much, I've been playing Valorant more lately

[PM 11:26] It's pretty embarrassing, but I used to main Yone because I found him hot (still do). Omg and Kayn! His design in the Paranoia music video was just ✨

[PM 11:27] I'm playing Animal Crossing with Seonghwa oppa right now, we're on the same island...he's making me fish, please send help

[PM 11:28] The food we ordered is here! I'll update you guys on how game night went later ♡ Love you so much, kisses!

Translated from Korean by Google

[eurydicees]

pls can u tell me everything about fhq and esp fhq iwaoi i don’t really know what it is but every time i see you repost one of those beautiful heart wrenching artworks i want to die in the best way

YES GLADLY I WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING I CAN !!! under the cut because you're getting everything.

ok so some of the history lesson portion of this may be a little off, it's been a hot minute since i've done much research into this lol. but final haikyuu quest first appeared as a spread in one of the bonus pages in the manga! throughout the manga's run were occasionally drawings of the characters in little fake movie posters, one of them being an action/fantasy movie called final haikyuu quest:

this first poster and the original character designers are drawn by furudate! from there, it went on to become a mini bonus game in the haikyuu 3DS game, which is kind of crazy if you think about it too hard.

there's a playthrough uploaded on youtube here, but it's obv in japanese and i don't think there's been a translation of the game. there's a translation of part of it here on tumblr, but i don't think it's complete. poster from the 3DS game:

from there, it went on to be a CD drama (videos 8-10 on this youtube playlist, with subs), which is super neat. it's also one of the haikyuu light novels, but i have yet to find a full english translation of that.

i haven't read the novel or watched the videos with the CD drama audio myself, so i'm not sure how much it differs from the 3DS game. i assume they're pretty similar though.

so the premise at its most simple is that hinata and his party of adventurers are off to defeat the demon king oikawa and his henchmen! those are the basics.

the "canon" characters in hinata's party are hinata, kenma, aone, iwaizumi, and kageyama. on the opposing side we've got oikawa (the demon king), kuroo, and kiyoko. kiyoko has servants in the form of tanaka and nishionoya (they don't care for oikawa, they're just there for kiyoko). there's also michimiya, who is in the "fair princess kidnapped by oikawa" role that hinata & co. are trying to save. the full character profiles can be found here (everyone in game) and here (heroes only)!

now this whole premise is like. a little silly. the whole deal is a little silly. this is a volleyball manga.

with THAT being said, though, sometimes the most fun to be had is when you take the silly thing and make it devastating. and it's so easy to do that with FHQ. so let's talk abt iwaoi now <3

so in the story, oikawa is the demon king. because the premise is so simplistic and boiled down to good v. bad due to, like, this not being a real piece of media, oikawa is objectively on the "bad side." iwaizumi, on the other hand, is a knight, presumably human, and "oikawa's (former) friend."

iwaizumi being oikawa's former friend is literally his speciality and i think about that all the time btw. for context, kageyama's specialty is "prodigy" and hinata's is "strongest decoy." and fucking iwaizumi is out here like yea hey guys i used to be on the bad side but im mad at oikawa so now i'm with y'all. also my specialty in this fantasy universe is that i used to be oikawa's friend :)

like. what the hell. as you may imagine, the iwaoi angst potential here is ENORMOUS. iwaizumi who has betrayed oikawa and joined the heroes' side to take him down, iwaizumi whose greatest strength comes in knowing oikawa in and out, because the villains you love are both the hardest and the easiest to destroy. iwaizumi who loves oikawa, and who cannot save him.

(**side note, there's a lot of kuroken angst potential involved in this au as well, but let's focus on iwaoi for this post and save kuroken for another day)

so, as i said, the game's interpretation of all this is pretty simplistic and pretty silly. but personally i love thinking too hard and finding depth in things that are so not that deep. and it seems like most fhq fans also employ this as a favorite hobby because holy shit the angst people put in this au is INSANE.

the way i've interpreted it myself has been that iwaoi were besties/lovers/unclear situationship until oikawa kind of "fell into the dark side," because this is an au of every fantasy trope possible, and his reign over aoba became corrupted and "evil." iwaizumi betrays him to join hinata and take him down--save the world, at the cost of the demon he loved so much. but that demon, who oikawa was, is gone already, isn't he?

one of my favorite comics about them is here by @/ichigomaniac, where oikawa falls to the dark side and iwaizumi kills him to save the kingdom he loves. another FAVORITE similar one is here by @/hawberries! the premise of a lot of fics/art in this au run along these lines <3333

another super fun interpretation is a 5 part comic by @/duskisnigh, where oikawa and iwaizumi are running a kind of underground rebellion/safehouse in a world demons are oppressed by the human race. but as oikawa sees more and more evil on the behalf of humanity, he gets more and more unhinged until iwaizumi feels that he no longer knows him--and runs away with kageyama, with the intention of taking oikawa down.

personally i think the BEST aus are where iwaizumi--so loyal, so in love--is forced to leave because he can't stand to watch oikawa fall to more darkness, while oikawa himself is so devoted to iwaizumi that it's his love for iwaizumi that is corrupting him.....

in the fic i wrote, it's a story about forbidden love and how oikawa just wants to be allowed to love iwaizumi and he'll fight a war in order to do it. but iwaizumi can't watch oikawa fight this war anymore, because he's getting more and more dark as the war rages on. so he leaves, and was any of this ever worth it?

ggaahadhgjkadg . fhq. its crazy. i have a tag for it here, where i have been curating my favorite art. special shoutout to @/amezure who has some GORGEOUS pieces in their tag. OH ! and some of my fave fics in this au :

in the arms of loyalty and the hands of devotion (iwaoi, 23252 words), self promo lol

i can go anywhere i want (just not home) (kuroken, 3662 words) by keplcrs

wondering if your heart's still open (iwaoi, 683 words), by birdintheriver

Diorama (iwaizumi & kenma, 2027 words) by PlumTea

the ao3 tag is beautiful everywhere you turn, but i have a special love for those fics <3

so yeah that's the general deal! if you ever want to talk more about it, i am HAPPY to discuss !!! pls pls plsplsplsplsplssplsplslpslslslss!!!!!!

[markerofthemidnight]

Thinking about a Hatchetfield x Danganronpa AU.

And I’m going to post it here because you all need to know about it.

Okay, so it’s called Hatchetronpa. It’s a fangan with the very simple premise of, ‘hey, what if the Lords in Black managed to take 16 Hatchetfield residents, stick them in a place distinct from but similar to the Bastard’s Box, and make them all commit murder.’

(more under cut!)

Each environment represents a different Lord in order of appearance, so Prolouge/Chapter 1 is Wiggly, Chapter 2 is Blinky, etc.

Naturally, Wiggly is the host with the rest of the Lords acting like the Monokubs, but distinct from them in that they actually have something useful to do: specifically, all the Lords govern and control a different aspect of the game.

Pokey controls the rules of the Killing Game and what exceptions they may have, if any. He’s the one who informs the participants when new rules are in place, and the one who intervenes if any are broken.

Tinky, as the Bastard of Time and Space and likely the one who designed the Killing Game arena, governs the environment around the participants, such as which areas are available when and all the technology in the arena, including the Monopads (or whatever the equivalent is).

Blinky and Nibbly both give the participants reasons to kill, but in different ways: the best way to sum it up is that Blinky provides them with the motive, whilst Nibbly provides them with the means.

And Wiggly is, generally speaking, just the face of the Killing Game. He does the announcements, is present for motive reveals (even if Blinky is the one doing them), shows up right before murder investigations to give the participants the file, and obviously he’s there for the Trials as well.

Haven’t decided the full cast yet. After all, the basic rule on who can and can’t be a participant is just ‘anyone who’s interesting and has a good reason to commit murder’, so basically anyone in Hatchetfield.

However, I think Richie would make a pretty good protagonist? Not only would it be funny to see a weeb be the protagonist of the literal Japanese visual novel, but… he’s interesting enough to make for a compelling protagonist while still being just grounded enough to still be a protagonist. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t, actually.

Truth Bullets are replaced with Truth Hatchets, so that the title of the thing stays consistent and also because they’re like both a Truth Bullet and a Truth Blade: they can be thrown for Nonstop Debates, and wielded as close-combat weapons for Rebuttal Showdown!

And finally, all the tracks are remixes of Danganronpa OSTs and Hatchetfield songs. For example:

Beautiful Apotheosis (Beautiful Lie x La Dee Dah Dah Day)

Mr. Y’rath’s Command (Mr. Monokuma’s Lesson x Tickle-Me Wiggly Jingle)

Speak of the Devils (Rise and Shine, Ursine! x The Summoning)

Watch the Blame Go Around (Despair Searching x Hatchet Town)

One for All (literally any sad song that would play before Punishment Time x Inevitable)

Killer Persuasion (Let’s Start The Killing Game! (if it turns up) x Killer Track)

[isephierreo]

3H's UI Design

The title screen shows Sothis throne, in the game, Byleth sees Sothis throne between their dream of the War of the Heroes and their awakening by Jeralt. Which may symbolize that the scene of a throne is the first thing you will see before and after entering the game. The throne is also the place where the most important things happen, such as meeting Sothis, merging with her, and the events of Chapter 11.

After beating the game, Sothis is shown sleeping on a throne, this is similar to Final Fantasy XV, so spoilers for FFXV.

In FFXV, after beating the game, Noctis is shown sleeping with Luna/Oracle in a logo, mirroring the end of the game. It was the end of the game where Noctis sacrifices himself to save his world, and then sleeps in peace on his throne in the afterlife. This is similar to how we know in end of the game about Sothis sacrifices herself to save Fodlan and then went to rest on her throne in the holy tomb.

Player menus is a notebook Byleth carries with charms on it. Pages feature the country logo of chosen house, with the Church of Seiros logo on a page before choosing a house.

Besides a feather pen as a cursor, many ui are in the form of a set of papers; A plain papers, a papers with a Church of Seiros pattern and Sothis tiara, and a papers with a heart pattern in a corners cover.

The design of the options box is similar to a bookmark cards and the ribbon at the top left as a bookmark ribbon that is placed between pages.

With many ui somewhat similar to the sticky notes.

Roster's design is like a campus card, where characters stand on the ground outside a classroom when see roster.

Although the background varies depending on the floor it is on.

The cards and MVP also feature a unique frame for each house or story chapter you are in.

The lower and upper design of a banner that appears upon raising a professor level or passing a certification exam may look similar to a mosaic above a door, which may symbolize the opening of a door to new knowledge and experience gained.

The same theme is present in the banner when begin exploring or lesson plan, symbolizing the beginning of your journey of exploration and teaching others. However, there is no single for Battle, and this may symbolize that there is no benefit to be gained from battles and conflict, and this fits with the FE franchise's message that war is bad. Besides, each one has a color that distinguishes it.

The design of the Crest of Seiros and its various styles is present in most of the UI with the same, if not more, than the Crest of Flames, which is a constant reminder that Officers Academy is the same as the Church of Seiros.

There are many plant patterns that decorate the UI, which is a reference to the passing of the seasons, the meaning of the game's Japanese title. And you can see a branch of leaves on the right of the notebook, which indicates that the notebook has become more like your diary of your life in a monastery.

During a tea party, a screen is decorated with plant patterns with blue roses, giving the ambiance of a garden in which you are sitting. Along with a dialog box in the color of natural hot tea.

The date circle at the top left features four shapes for each season, rose for spring, morning glory for summer, grape vines for fall, and poinsettia for winter. However, during a period of war, the circles loses its colors and becomes grey.

In the background of the chapter title of within White Clouds, the same plants are present, with the background design as a white paper with the Church of Seiros logo. However, like the date circle, during a period of war the background becomes dark with sparks of war flames, plants change to holly and thistle, the Church of Seiros logo to the country logo of the chosen house.

The CF's background differs from the SS's in a red double-headed eagle with two additional black stripes.

And this brings me to the background title before the start of each battle. Unlike the background title in each new chapter, which looks like a new page being turned to record daily events, the background title of a battle is literally the cover of notebook, and this may symbolize something similar to the Battle theme above. Like the chapter title background, it features the Church of Seiros logo during White Clouds and changes to the country logo for the chosen house, with SS and CF sharing the same background.

Speaking of battle, before any start, Fodlan map will appear on a plank of wood. This is similar to what Claude did in cutscene The Academy, where he placed a map on a table and started discussing it.

Battle Prep looks like a clock + glass mosaic, and if you notice, it is surrounded by a magic circle that appears between roles of units. It looks somewhat similar to Mila's Turnwheel, and I know Divine Pulse sounds like shattering glass, but it can be interpreted as follows; A clock is set before the start of a battle, and the magic circle is used to set units' movement points, and when the time comes to use Divine Pulse, the clock glass is shattered, which appears as a portal to an almost parallel world to return to a specific point. Furthermore, the design where the Crest of Flames is located in the middle and surrounded by the rest of the crests is very similar to the Goddess mural. There is also a crescent inside which looks like a star chart, and this corresponds to the cutscene At Death's Door, where the use of Divine Pulse shows what looks like space.

Because we don't use a battle notebook, we use a key ring memo pad instead.

Despite all the praise I gave for the game's UI design, there were some things that disappointed me. Most notable is the Adrestian empire logo for Silver Snow.

I know that the developers called Silver Snow the empire route, but they had to design the UI to fit the Crest of Flames flag, which represents the route as a whole. They don't even reuse the MVP frame from prologue, even though it's very convenient for the route. Why do they design loungewear in line with the Crest of Flames flag but not with the UI?

again they using the Adrestian empire logo for the unique classes poster. Why didn't they design a unique poster for each route? Or make it neutral?

I wish they would change the plant patterns during the tea party in Byleth's room to match the ambiance like a garden.

After all, 3H's UI design is not as perfect or innovative and iconic as Persona 5. However, in this post I wanted to share what I found fun about designing it, and you can summarize it as follows: 3H's UI design represents Sothis, the goddess of the Fodlan world, and the core foundation of the Church of Seiros, which in turn built the Officers Academy where you begin your new life as a instructor to your students through the passing seasons of the year.

Of course, I did not include all the UI designs, perhaps because I forgot them or failed to know its meaning, such as magic circle when raising the level. So, feel free to add to this post if you have any ideas.

[tearsinthemist]

Want to learn something new

Want to learn something new in 2022??

Absolute beginner adult ballet series (fabulous beginning teacher)

40 piano lessons for beginners (some of the best explanations for piano I’ve ever seen)

Excellent basic crochet video series

Basic knitting (probably the best how to knit video out there)

Pre-Free Figure Skate Levels A-D guides and practice activities (each video builds up with exercises to the actual moves!)

How to draw character faces video (very funny, surprisingly instructive?)

Another drawing character faces video

Literally my favorite art pose hack

Tutorial of how to make a whole ass Stardew Valley esque farming game in Gamemaker Studios 2??

Introduction to flying small aircrafts

French/Dutch/Fishtail braiding

Playing the guitar for beginners (well paced and excellent instructor)

Playing the violin for beginners (really good practical tips mixed in)

Color theory in digital art (not of the children’s hospital variety)

Retake classes you hated but now there’s zero stakes:

Calculus 1 (full semester class)

Learn basic statistics (free textbook)

Introduction to college physics (free textbook)

Introduction to accounting (free textbook)

Learn a language:

Ancient Greek

Latin

Spanish

German

Japanese (grammar guide) (for dummies)

French

Russian (pretty good cyrillic guide!)

Jan 2, 2023

Want to learn something new in 2023??

Cooking with flavor bootcamp (used what I learned in this a LOT this year)

Beekeeping 101

Learn Interior Design from the British Academy of Interior Design (free to audit course - just choose the free option when you register)

Video on learning to read music that actually helped me??

How to use and sew with a sewing machine

How to ride a bike (listen. some of us never learned, and that's okay.)

How to cornrow-braid hair (I have it on good authority that this video is a godsend for doing your baby niece's black hair)

Making mead at home (I actually did this last summer and it was SO good)

How to garden

Basics of snowboarding (proceed with caution)

How to draw for people who (think they) suck at art (I know this website looks like a 2003 monstrosity, but the tutorials are excellent)

Pixel art for beginners so you can make the next great indie game

Go (back) to school

Introduction to Astronomy (high school course - free textbook w/ practice problems)

Principals of Economics (high school course - free textbook w/ practice problems)

Introduction to philosophy (free college course)

Computer science basics (full-semester Harvard course free online)

Learn a language

Japanese for Dummies (link fix from 2022)

Ukrainian

Portuguese (Brazil)

American Sign Language (as somebody who works with Deaf people professionally, I also strongly advise you to read up on Deaf/HoH culture and history!)

Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified)

Quenya (LOTR fantasy elf language)

Dec 26, 2023

Want to learn something new in 2024??

Beginner-oriented video on how to sail

This guy has so many videos on baking different types of bread. SO very many.

Coding in Python - one of the most flexible and adaptable high-level programming languages out there - explained through projects making video games

Learn to swim! (for adult learners. I don’t care if you live in Kansas or Mali or wherever. LEARN TO SWIM.)

Learn how quantum mechanics works. Then read some more about it

[Learn about quantum mechanics again, but in a more advanced engineering/mathematics class. Then read more about the math and physics of it]

Poetry Handbook, by Mary Oliver

Something I learned this year: how to sew a quilt (Here’s a very easy beginning pattern that looks amazing and can be done with pre-cut fabric!)

How to hit the ball in softball

Tutorial video on what is under the hood of most (gas) cars + weird engine sounds and what they mean

Full beginner mechanics technical training, if you want to go more in depth

Playlist on how car engine physics work if you want to go ultra in depth

Lecture series on architecture design through study of buildings

How (American income) taxes & tax law work (choose “audit course” at checkout for free class)

Pickleball for beginners (so you can finally join your neighbor/friend/distant cousin who is always insisting you join their team)

+ Para-Pickleball for beginners (for mobility aid users!)

School is so much more fun when there’s no tests:

American Law - Contracts

Shakespeare’s Life and Plays

Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals

Modern Poetry

World History [Part 1, Part 2]

Learn a language:

Arabic + Resource Guide compiled from Reddit (includes info on different dialects)

Chinese (Cantonese) (audio)

Urdu (frequently recommended course on Reddit) + Resource Guide

Yucatec Maya

[otakween]

Digimon Tamers - Episode 43

This episode was really good! Everything: animation, writing, pacing, was on point. Also, it was an Impmon heavy episode and those are usually pretty fun. Everyone loves a redeemed baddie, kinda like Ken in 02.

Notes:

So the D-reaper manifests in many ways we're finding out. Feels kind of weird to just call all of these creatures "D-reaper," I wonder if they have canonical names? I feel like they tried to go for a less lifelike design, which puts them apart from Digimon. Nice and mysterious. Guilmon treating them like friends was cute.

That bread baking scene was everything!! We rarely get glimpses of cute moments like that. Also, now I really want Japanese bread...

The scene where Chou-sensei helps Impmon out was super wholesome. Made me nostalgic for Japanese hospitality. I wonder if the general public would perceive Impmon to be a devil/demon or if that's too Christian lol

I get that the d-reaper doesn't have human reasoning, but I found it kind of funny that the kids hid in their classroom/the bakery (AKA exactly where you'd expect them to be). When Takato said he knew where to hide, I thought it would be the tunnels or something.

Everything about the Mako/Ai scenes was adorable. Impmon accidentally taught them a very important lesson about sharing when he ran away haha. Also, their dog is very cute.

Mako and Ai are called Impmon's "partners," which raises questions...we don't usually see humans share a digimon and they probably don't have digivices, so I'm guessing this is a more informal partnership than if they were tamers. I wonder how the three of them met. Mako and Ai seem young to even be into the digimon video game or TCG.

So now Ruki and Jian are physically connected to Taomon and Rapidmon, just like Takato's connected to MegaloGrowmon. That came outta nowhere...I mean, maybe they're closer now that they've digivolved to ultimate before, but Takato and Guilmon were connected before that.

The real world barrier to ultimate made a lot of sense and was a clever way to throw a wrench into things. Wonder how they'll get around it.

Beelzebumon digivolves to ultimate through THE POWER OF LOVE! Super cheesy, but I loved it. I am a little sad that his ultimate form is so basic though. Oh well. Hopefully Ai and Mako get to cheer him on through their TV.

Juri jumpscare! I had to rewind because I blinked and missed it. It's such a tiny frame it may as well have been subliminal. Very cool.

Shibumi returns to his former squad. I'm not sure how to feel about his voice actor. He talks very softly in a very non-anime sounding way. I kind of like it just because it's different.

[number9robotic]

Intro to RAPTURE ACADEMY

(so remember a few months ago I said I wanted to make a list of characters for a fighting game? It has a name now lol)

RAPTURE ACADEMY is a superhero/alternate history project centrally focused around the Rapture Academy and Institute for Superpowered Opportunists, a school thinly designed to raise supervillains. Primarily focusing on the stories and systems around a bunch of kids with intensely dangerous powers enrolled in a private academy headed by imprisoned supervillain No. 1 Angel as part of an internationally-backed plea deal. The kids are alright.

STUDENTS:

Anti (Canadian) - Analog horror-themed hoodie kid with dark powers (makes everything they hit distort like a broken VHS tape), surprisingly nice and wholesome and probably the least likely to actually become a career villain.

Hellbound ("Eastern European") - Princess sacrificed to a draconic ritual, became a half-dragon berserker who spends her time bound in magic chains. A demure sweetheart when lucid, murderous beast otherwise.

The Vigilante Smog Monster/"Smoggy" (Australian) - A swamp monster summoned by an indigenous tribe searching for a protector, can turn into sludge and murder smoke, wears enchanted wooden masks.

Twintails (Japanese) - two students in one! A male wizard apprentice and a female ninja apprentice from rivalling clans that were fused together by a trickster yokai; one person is in control at a time, they swap from sneezing.

IDKYS/I Don't Know You, Sorry (Filipino) - Aspiring idol/daughter to high-ranking entertainment execs with a literally hypnotic voice. Placed in school with a voice-to-computer TTS mask in order to be taught a lesson in humility, is the class queen anyway.

Magnus VI (American) - Indestructible cyborg cowboy built by a mad science firm who can explosively self-destruct any joint in his body before reassembling. Extremely arrogant. No one touches his hat.

Metal Alice (French) - Daughter of a supervillain who died and was brought back as a haunted animatronic unknowing that she died. Is a walking portal to the ghost dimension who can pull out all sorts of phantasmic metal weapons, from scissors to chainsaws.

Hot★Shot (Chinese) - Cocky martial arts prodigy, has fire abilities, up-and-coming superstar. Basically thinks he's the protagonist of a shounen fighting game, is a colossal asshole from it, yet is the popular jock regardless.

Vioelectrolysis (Motswana) - Upbeat mad scientist-in-training who fights using a giant modified fire-extinguisher that mixes chemicals for deadly use, as well as a bigass flail for deadly use. She may or may not be a mutant.

White Slate (Greek) - A living statue accidentally created by a mad artist, has the ability to turn people into stone with his touch. Is missing a face, sometimes paints one on for intimidation points. Mostly an emo boi who paints a lot.

zZomnia (Pakistani) - Phoneaholic teen haunted by nightmares that double as guardian spirits with insanely powerful weapons whenever she's asleep or is on the verge of it. Is constantly sleepy. Leave her alone.

Bitter Batter (N/A) - Just an ordinary girl with no superpowers, but a baseball bat, a silent death glare, and murderous intent. Originally a teen vagrant before being enlisted in the school. The most "normal" student and also the most fn terrifying

Moonlight Rosebloom Powderpuff of the Unside Neverlandian Court (Scottish?) - A bubbly (alleged) fairy noble from a (disputed) faraway realm hidden in a (presumably) magical garden. Wields (conversely very real) magic. It's very pink.

Ryvr Sticks (Ukrainian) - A scarecrow infected with a paranatural fungi giving him sapience, regeneration abilities, and hallucinogenic powers. Indisputably the class clown and source of gossip. Is a wicked breakdancer.

FACULTY:

No.1 Angel (███) - Headmaster, part-time supervillain, full-time asshole. thinks he's a superhero who deserves to protect humanity but then gave another superhero cancer using his light manipulation powers for trying to stop him.

Panopticon (███) - head of security, a silent dude in black armor and an old-timey diving helmet who sometimes appears unacknowledged to stare at everyone in class, in hallways, or off campus. Powers unknown.

Señor Heartpuncher (Mexican) - Teacher of self-defense. Retired lucha-themed super with a long history of being a hero, but once had a heel-turn and became teacher because he owed a favor to No.1 Angel. has the ability to absorb and reflect kinetic force, perfect for teaching kids how to hit punches then tank them

Drill Instructor Friday (Brazilian) - Teacher of phys ed. Acts like the scariest and most intense drill instructor you can think of. She's also a genuine werewolf. Comes up with some of the funniest PG-13-level insults imaginable and then punishes you for laughing at them.

OfOz (Haitian) - Teacher of paranatural arts (magic, anomalies, anything "supernatural"). Pretty chill and charismatic expert in the field, is able to split his soul/body separately. Only one half of him is teaching classes, other half is doing supervillainy elsewhere in the world.

DDDD (South Korean) - Teacher of technology arts. Is the head of a megacorp developing devices for supers, mostly villains. Teaches remotely from the other side of the world using a mini-mech suit that she pilots from her office. It has weapons. She forgets this. Frequently rants about her competitors and has to be reminded by her secretary to stay on topic.

Sir SPECTACULAR!!! (Swiss) and The Virtuoso (German) - Teacher and assistant teachers of theatrics (getting students to figure out their gimmicks/brand/performances as supers). They used to commit "theatre crimes" together with SPECTACULAR!!!'s super-conductor powers and Virtuoso's super-VR tech, turning cities into musicals. After turning the state of Oklahoma into a musical, they've settled down teaching kids and enjoy it.

Mr. Professor Von Ruin (Austrian) - "Teacher" of ethics (the legalities and philosophies of being a super). he is actually a cat. a super-intelligent, talking cat, pet of a supervillain, but a cat. he doesn't really teach, so his period's just a free block.

Miss Brutalist (Swedish) - Teacher of logistics (resourcing and management of being a super). No powers, actually runs a business designing HQs and lairs for various supers. Most of her assignments involve getting students to do paperwork for her projects.

Dr. Infinity-Plus (Hungarian) - Teacher of general sciences and maths. Has incredible foresight/caculation abilities, which drove him... not quite "insane" but very jaded, paranoid, and antsy. Will often derail classes to vent about existentially terrifying concepts. wears a Rubik's cube-like helmet to dampen his mind.

Sewn Chaos (Azerbaijani) - Teacher of home economics. Former career super before using her textile-manipulation powers to design costumes for others, helps the kids figure out their costumes. genuinely like everyone's favorite grandma up until she shares stories of all the f'd up villains she worked with. Good times!

DREADNAUT (Russian) - Head librarian. Ghostly cosmonaut afflicted by paranatural forces while on the moon, now has gravity powers but is stuck in a fugue state. manages the school's library containing vast resources... which is constructed upside-down in order to make it harder for kids to access.

Gutwrencher (Czech) - Head nurse. A zombie in all but name, has a flesh-mending/regeneration factor she can use to heal herself and others. Is constructed out of various necrotic body parts and stitching that often come apart at inconvenient times. Some students are attracted to her and don't know why.

Mr. BRB (Italian) - Head janitor (and also the only one). He's a necromancer who summons ghouls to help do the cleaning for him but often still leaves things dirty. Mostly chills out in his office to record his personal podcasts and offer advice to kids who ask nicely.

[easternmind]

Lessons in Japanese Game Design #3

From Killer7 to Deadly Premonition, Japanese game creators have intrepidly explored the theme of mental illness in a variety of genres, often in highly stylized form. The title I wish to approach today is a lesser known reference that approached this subject matter with unusual tact and clarity - a memory, if you will, which the collective conscious has long repressed.

Maria Kimi Tachi Ga Umareta Wake (The Reason You Were Born) is a late 1997 adventure game firmly rooted in the visual novel template that earned Chunsoft great repute. It was Break studio's debut, produced over a year and half for both the PlayStation and Saturn systems. It was published by Axela, a company born out of the internal management conflicts and accumulated debt at ASCII, leading to some of its executives teaming up in 1996 to establish a new project centred around software and magazine publishing. The story of this company's origins, alone, would merit a separate post.

Foreseeably, its release was followed by moderate controversy, such that worked mostly in its favour. One of the most polemical moments is found in the introduction scene, with its tasteful yet unvarnished depiction of Maria's suicide attempt, followed by her hospital admission. The imagery and that which it depicts remains as painful to watch today as it did decades ago.

While Maria is the central character, her tragedy and arc merge with that of the actual protagonist, Jun Takano, a fledgeling surgeon who, in the quality of certified psychiatrist, is assigned to provide therapy to the French-Japanese patient the morning after her admittance.

Maria's mental illness component comes to light as the story and therapy sessions progress. The key art consists of photos of women using coloured masks to visually represent the dimensions of her multiple personality disorder.

(Note: the text above is machine translated from the original Japanese game manual.)

Break was denounced for its bid to integrate so serious a derangement as a theme in a juvenile entertainment piece. Their reaction was to highlight the research done to ensure a careful treatment of the subject and sensitization of players via a bespoke message in the manual. In retrospect, the relative popularity of this game at the time was greatly owned to this fleeting controversy, and is believed to have been a crucial factor in the obtention of budget for Maria's far less spirited sequel.

As a work of pure fiction, scenario writer Kirie Fukuda was at liberty to carry the already divisive premise into even more exotic territory by establishing a mysterious yet playful correspondence between Maria's distinct personas and Egyptian deities.

The game's structure is modelled after hirudorama, a Japanese word interchangeably used to describe daytime TV fiction or soap operas; each of its nine chapters lasting nearly thirty minutes, equipped with a plot twist, cliff-hanger ending, and followed by rolling credits.

Perhaps the single most outstanding aspect about this production results from a tireless effort to surpass the standard of authenticity in what pertains facial expressions; particularly those of the multifaceted Maria, often with stilted yet all the more fascinating results.

In this and other regards, the influence of D no Shokutaku and its character, Laura, is clear and unmistakable. Maria's director and studio head at Break, Akira Okada, was an ex-Warp employee who worked as sales director precisely at the time when Eno's game was being developed.

Following a modest success, Break released Maria 2: Jutaikokuchi no Nazo in 99, a not-so-direct sequel which did not command the same attention as the original. The studio created other noteworthy visual novels: Ouma ga Toki and its sequel, as well as the most unusual Saishuu Densha, a paranormal-themed romantic story involving two strangers who meet in a train.

Before closing, it would pay to emphasize that this is an entirely different adventure game from the similarly forgotten MA-RI-A Ningōkan no Noroi, a 1996 3D CG horror adventure designed by Osamu Tezuka's son, Makoto; and scored by Kuniaki Haishima, of Kowloon's Gate and Siren 2 fame.

Nor is it related in any way with the so-called "Maria" episode from the Yarudora visual novel game series, Sampaguita, released in 1997 for the PlayStation by Sugar & Rockets and Production I.G.

[everygame]

Atlantis No Nazo

Developed/Published by: Sunsoft Released: 17/04/1986 Completed: 01/02/2024 Completion: Finished it via the quickest route.

Everything changed for gaming in September 1985 with the release of Super Mario Bros. in Japan. The design hegemony of Xevious and The Tower of Druaga was no longer the only game in town, and now Japanese designers needed to do more than just make power-ups invisible or hide progression behind obscure actions (though they’ll still do that, even Nintendo just have.)

But Super Mario Bros., what’s the key feature that you can rip off to make sure your game is a success? Is it tight action? No, not that, I mean the original Super Mario Bros. isn’t that tight. Oh, I’ve got it!

It’s warps. Warp zones. Get as many of those in your game as possible and you’re sorted.

I joke, but this does seem to have been the mindset of Japanese game designers as soon as they were tasked with making the “next Super Mario Bros.” with 1986 seeing releases like Atlantis No Nazo, Mighty Bomb Jack, Milon’s Secret Castle and more, all of which make warping around a key feature. What’s interesting is how little research into warp zones as a game feature exists online. Being able to “skip” levels has existed since Atari’s “SkillStep” system with Tempest–does that count as a warp, or does a warp need to be found during gameplay? With what I have to hand here I seem forced to conclude that Super Mario Bros. was actually the first to do it–but I’m not sure if I’m fully convinced.

Anyway, hot out the gates in spring 1986 Sunsoft release (in their own words) “The Game That Surpassed Super Mario” Atlantis No Nazo, which translates as “The Mystery of Atlantis.” (Lotta mystery in April ‘86, I guess.) Featuring 100 levels that are explicitly called “zones” the player takes the role of Wynn, an amateur adventurer/casino developer (I assume) who heads to rescue his missing master from the recently re-emerged island of Atlantis with nothing but an infinite supply of dynamite that causes tiny, crappy explosions (slowly) and a weird floaty jump with next to no air control.

The first thing you’re going to notice about Atlantis No Nazo is it… well, it’s immediately crappy. The controls aren’t great, the graphics are weak even for the era (and never, at any point, feel “Atlantean”) and the level design has you bumping your head off the ceiling from literally the second level. I mean the second level–sorry, zone–is so immediately bad I wasn’t sure it was possible to complete–a monotonous trudge through what seems to be a loop of the same area avoiding snails that take an age to kill. When I finally saw that there is a door in it to the next zone, I was almost surprised.

The second thing you learn about Atlantis No Nazo is that unlike Super Mario Bros. you can’t just play it beginning to end. You quickly begin warping around, and if you’re just trying to beat it by playing as much of it as possible, to enjoy all that lovely ~content~ you are not playing it correctly at all. The goal of Atlantis No Nazo is to play as little of it as possible. You’re trying to find the most efficient way to the end of the game by learning which door gets you where and hoping each time it’s “really far through the game.”

The lessons of The Tower of Druaga remain vital here, because the quickest way through the game is to find all the hidden warps and doors. Throw yourself into the right pit? That’s a warp. Throw a bomb at the right place? That’s a warp. Kill yourself in the right position? You better believe that’s a warp.

Something like The Tower of Druaga has a kind of predictability, admittedly. You have to chew through the entire thing in order, so you know at X level, you need to do Y stupid thing. With Atlantis No Nazo… I almost pity the people who had to map this out, seven lives and no continues at a time. With a hundred levels and countless warps back and forward, any map of the game is a hilarious spaghetti, and there are so many amusingly cruel twists, like levels with no light (so you need to make sure you hit a level where you can get a lamp power-up from first) and levels that just throw you unavoidably to your death over and over–which I really want to believe are inspired by Jet Set Willy’s “Entrance to Hades” but probably aren’t.

As with The Tower of Druaga, I can’t really imagine anyone trying to brute force this game on their own, not least because the final level seems basically impossible without an invincibility power-up that requires you get to the end in one life. I’m sure at the time everyone just bought a guidebook, and once you have one to hand the game goes from “baffling spaghetti” to “execute your plan perfectly.”

The funny thing is, I had quite a bit of fun trying to do that. Don’t get me wrong. The controls are bad. But I became interested in trying to get the “smart bomb” power-up which requires playing level 2 literally perfectly, and I got into it. Of course, I found it hard because I hadn’t realised you could run past the snails when they were under their shells, but I still enjoyed the challenge, and then using that practice to get to the end of the game in one life via the path that takes less than ten levels… it was like signing up for one of those courses where you get to be a racecar driver for a day, but it’s actually a “be a speedrunner for a day” course. You’re never actually going to be a speedrunner, but it feels like you are, for a bit.

So, you know, I enjoyed Atlantis No Nazo once I “got” what you’re supposed to do with it (learn how to play it and then follow a guide book). I don’t think that’s actually… good, but it’s something!

Will I ever play it again? If this was an arcade game, now I know the path I’d definitely try and do it to show off. At home, I’m good.

Final Thought: Atlantis No Nazo is legendary enough to be the challenge in the first “real” episode of Game Center CX, and it was rather pleasant to give the episode a rewatch after finishing the game. You really shouldn’t bother playing this, but you should watch the episode, if you can find it!

Support Every Game I’ve Finished on ko-fi! You can pick up a digital copy of exp. 2600, a zine featuring all-exclusive writing at my shop, or join as a supporter at just $1 a month and get articles like this a week early.

[flyfish1999]

UK Edge Magazine Issue 181 - November 2007 Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (vanilla) in Reviews

this article is actually reviewing the american version rather than the european one - only because persona 3 vanilla hadn't yet come out in europe ! the eu recieved vanilla on february 29th, 2008, half a year after america. often forgotten is that persona 3 was europe's first persona game (but not first SMT, beaten by nocturne in 2005), having missed revelations and eternal punishment entirely. the review compares the gameplay of p3 to canis canem edit (bully, for all you ntscheads), and implies the reviewer opted for the kendo team in their playthrough ^_^

Transcription under the cut:

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Format: PS2 Price: $50 (US), £30 (UK) Release: Out Now (US), TBC (UK) Publisher: ATLUS Developer: In-House

Suicide is painless?

Anyone who's ever complained that there aren't enough hours in the day will be pleased with Persona 3's premise. Soon after enrolling your character at the local Japanese high school you're accepted into a covert society and let in on an enormous secret: there are, in fact, 25 hours to a day. The extra 'dark hour', as it's known, occurs every night at midnight. The vast majority of the populace is unaware of its existence as, for its duration, they are rendered unconscious and sealed in coffins, oblivious to the shadow creatures that emerge outside and roam the world looking for prey. A few humans remain unaffected by the phenomenon and, as one of them, it's in the sparse company of these cognoscenti that your character finds himself after dark.

The group, called the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad, is responsible for holding back the shadow creatures' advance while trying to uncover the secrets of their origin, a huge multi-storey ephemeral tower named Tartarus, which emerges each night in the school grounds. Tartarus takes the form of an upwardly built dungeon whose Rogue-like floorplans change every visit. Your overarching mission is to scale the tower bit by bit (don't panic: a warp opens up every five floors) while leveling up and discovering new Personas: creatures that can be summoned to aid you in battle.

While this is a little traditional, the dark hour is just one element to an unorthodox game whose scenario manages to twist it out of the firm grasp of its JRPG roots. In the main this is achieved by the dark hour's counterpoint: daytime, during which you participate in the lessons, clubs and societies of a Japanese school. Here, in a similar way to Canis Canem Edit, you're tasked with daily studying, exam taking and after-school clubs and sports, all minigame-style pursuits that are used as a means to build and enhance your character's abilities. Three core stats (academics, charm and courage) must be raised by taking part in a wide range of different activities from enrolling in the school's kendo team to visiting the karaoke bar in the local mall of an evening. Raising these statistics while building and fostering relationships in school is crucial to creating stronger Personas to make your character more powerful on the nightly battlefield. By linking the game directly to 2009's school term calendar and breaking every day into seven distinct stages (from early morning through lunchtime to late at night), you quickly settle into the comfortable rhythm of a education system, which provides an excellent framework for the disparate mechanics to slot into.

The game's aesthetics are unusual for the genre. Low-poly environments, simple character models and drab lighting are the uninspiring visual building blocks. However, thanks to some ingenious use of beautiful anime artwork the game fizzes with life as character portraits zoom into shot to personify the dialogue while slick and design-conscious menus add some contemporary style.

As with any game that's based on repetitive tasks set in unchanging environments, its rhythm in time becomes a little monotonous. However, the frequent boss battles (introduced every few levels of Tartarus) and surprisingly compelling relationships you foster daily inspire perseverance. Games with distinctive souls are rare things but Persona 3 succeeds in displaying a mesmerising personality that touches the many well-crafted aspects of its curious and singular approach.

Captions, left to right:

Personas are ethereal creatures that are summoned from your unconscious mind to lend their abilities in battle. For this reason, the stronger your relationships with other students or groups the stronger your 'inner self' is and the more powerful your Personas will become. One of the most enduring images from the game comes from the way in which characters summon a Persona: by putting a gun (known in the game as an 'evoker') to their temple before pulling the trigger. To players not closely familiar with anime culture it's a shocking image that's used repeatedly, and since the game's release has attracted keen debate in the US as to its suitability.

Fans furious at the lack of a Japanese audio option have already released on the internet a patched version known as an 'undub', with English subtitles but original voices.

In battles, you only gain direct control over your own character. Your teammates can be given general directions (such as to major on offensive moves or healing) but their specific actions are handled by the competent AI.

You aren't forced to visit Tartarus every night. If you'd rather you can meet up with a friend at the local mall, visit a club in town or spend the evening at your desk studying, all of which level up aspects of your personality.

Persona cards can be fused together with one another to create entirely new monsters, and much of the deeper level of play is concerned with maximising resources to uncover the most powerful Personas in the game.

[silvadour]

In memory of Akira Toriyama

Words cannot describe the levels of sadness that weigh on my heart to know that one of the biggest creative figures in my and many others’ childhoods is no longer with us.

Hearing this news makes me think back to the first time I saw something Dragon Ball-related as a kid and was immediately enamored by it. That of course was when I saw my cousin’s toy collection during a Christmas reunion at their house at the age of 7. From the moment I saw those Vegeta and Goku figurines, I was immediately entranced by Toriyama’s design style even if it was diluted as something else.

Shortly a year later during another Christmas in my town, I would receive a copy of the Budokai PS2 game and that would be my first proper introduction into Akira Toriyama’s world of Dragon Ball even if it was a cliff notes version of it. A game with Japanese audio and English subtitles. But that didn’t matter from then on I was officially a Dragon Ball fan from that point onwards.

As a lover of Toriyama’s art style and his cavalier writing, I’ve made it no secret that I’ve had some difficult thoughts regarding his writing decisions in Dragon Ball, but be that as it may, I still hold a great amount of respect for him for essentially writing stories out of pure imagination without a grand thought-out plan. There is something very admirable about having full confidence in your creative ideas, playing with them, and seeing them slowly evolve. To label Toriyama as a landmark creator in the world is an understatement since the reach of Dragon Ball’s influence in other forms of media over the generations ranging from Western comics & animation, fan art, American sports culture, video games, and even other anime/manga is astounding.

For being a series that took inspiration from Sayuki and Journey to the West, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has certainly gone through its journey to the West and beyond to touch the hearts and minds of others. This man’s work and contributions to the development of the world of manga and anime can’t be overstated, and while we mourn his passing, I think it’s also fair to celebrate the good creative work he’s done and take inspiration from not just Dragon Ball, but from his other shorter-lived works liked Sand Land & Dr. Slump to his creative designs and involvement in JRPGS like Chrono Trigger or the Dragon Quest franchise.

What more could I add to this? With a heavy heart, I’ll still look back on the fond memories of this man’s works that contributed to my childhood, but to pay tribute to him I’ll move forward with my life, taking inspiration from some of the lessons he has imparted on generations of people in both Dragon Ball and other works.

Rest easy, Toriyama-sensei. And I hope you teach a dinosaur to ride a ball in a better place.

Words cannot describe the levels of sadness that weigh on my heart to know that one of the biggest creative figures in my and many others’ childhoods is no longer with us.

Hearing this news makes me think back to the first time I saw something Dragon Ball-related as a kid and was immediately enamored by it. That of course was when I saw my cousin’s toy collection during a Christmas reunion at their house at the age of 7. From the moment I saw those Vegeta and Goku figurines, I was immediately entranced by Toriyama’s design style even if it was diluted as something else.

Shortly a year later during another Christmas in my town, I would receive a copy of the Budokai PS2 game and that would be my first proper introduction into Akira Toriyama’s world of Dragon Ball even if it was a cliff notes version of it. A game with Japanese audio and English subtitles. But that didn’t matter from then on I was officially a Dragon Ball fan from that point onwards.

As a lover of Toriyama’s art style and his cavalier writing, I’ve made it no secret that I’ve had some difficult thoughts regarding his writing decisions in Dragon Ball, but be that as it may, I still hold a great amount of respect for him for essentially writing stories out of pure imagination without a grand thought-out plan. There is something very admirable about having full confidence in your creative ideas, playing with them, and seeing them slowly evolve. To label Toriyama as a landmark creator in the world is an understatement since the reach of Dragon Ball’s influence in other forms of media over the generations ranging from Western comics & animation, fan art, American sports culture, video games, and even other anime/manga is astounding.

For being a series that took inspiration from Sayuki and Journey to the West, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has certainly gone through its journey to the West and beyond to touch the hearts and minds of others. This man’s work and contributions to the development of the world of manga and anime can’t be overstated, and while we mourn his passing, I think it’s also fair to celebrate the good creative work he’s done and take inspiration from not just Dragon Ball, but from his other shorter-lived works liked Sand Land & Dr. Slump to his creative designs and involvement in JRPGS like Chrono Trigger or the Dragon Quest franchise.

What more could I add to this? With a heavy heart, I’ll still look back on the fond memories of this man’s works that contributed to my childhood, but to pay tribute to him I’ll move forward with my life, taking inspiration from some of the lessons he has imparted on generations of people in both Dragon Ball and other works.

Rest easy, Toriyama-sensei. And I hope you teach a dinosaur to ride a ball in a better place.

[waru-chan8]

Would you rather MotoGP Edition!

Okay this is a little game of would you rather... between the MotoGP (and others) series. Please feel free to add your own if your want (but please no F1-related) and share if you want. This is just for fun.

🎵 Would you rather let rather learn how to play piano with Pol, bass with Joe Roberts or guitar with Zarco?

💍 Would you rather let Luca organize your wedding (traditional/fairy tale) or Álex Rins (Party theme)?

🍴 Would you rather have a BBQ with the Binder brothers or Paella with the Márquez?

🏆 Would you rather third wheel a podium between Fermín&Alonso or Joan&Álex back in their Suzuki era?

🏄 Would you rather have surf lessons with Joe Roberts or windsurf with Dani Pedrosa?

🔄 Would you rather learn have a cooking class form Arón or a cross-snitch one from Pol?

💇 Would you rather learn Enea's or Bezz routine to keep their curls?

🏅 Would you rather learn martial arts with Raúl or learn sailing with Luca?

🛵 Would you rather train for a whole day with the VR46 Academy at the ranch or with Maverick (and Dani)'s band of misfits at the Rocco's ranch?

🎧 Would you rather let Bezz, Fabio or Jorge Martín DJ at your party?

👅 Would you rather learn languages with Dani (Spanish, Catalan, English, Italian, French and some Japanese) or with Miguel (Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French and English)? (I know there's a Moto3 rider that speaks up to 8 languages so if anyone knows who he is, I'll include it).

🛍️ Would you rather let go shopping for clothes with Taka or Dovi?

👗 Would you rather lend a dress to Rins, Bezz or Canet?

🐉 Would you rather let Fabio or Arón desing a tattoo for you?

🖼️ Would you rather let Vale, Marc or Aleix design a helmet for you?

🧨 Would you rather participate in a Estrella Galicia challenge with Joan Mir or in a Red Bull Jorge Martín?

⛷️ Would you rather go skiing/snowboarding with the KTM/Ajo Squat/Tech3 team or with the VR46 Academy?

🏖️ Would you rather go on family vacation with the Academy at Ibiza or with Aleix, Jorge M. and Fermín in Bali?

🏍️ Would you rather ride for an historic team (Honda, Yamaha or Aprilia) or for a new one (KTM)?

🐼 Would you rather use a shark or a bunny as your animal/brand?

[shootingstarrfish]

Yay, you finally reblogged it!! <33

Might as more some other time, we'll seeeeeee

⸺ RELATIONSHIPS & PERSONALITY ⸺

02: On a scale of 1 to 10, how annoying are they to Lucifer? :) Had to hehe <3 017: What is a side of themself they don't want other to see? When does that side reveal itself?

⸺ CONCEPT AND DESIGN ⸺

08: Anything you heavily associate with them? A color, a word, a picture, or something else? 10: How about some angst headcanons? >:)

⸺ HUMAN ⸺

01: How old are they? no ulterior motive behind asling this one nuh-uh

YAYYY THANK YOU MELLLL

02:

100000 lucifer is so sick of this bitch send tweet

017:

OOH BOY he tends to come off pretty carefree, and sometimes mayyybe a lil bit shallow? but he tends to contemplate things very deeply, which he sees as a flaw since it makes him overly emotional about things that other people perceive as small so it's not a part of himself he really enjoys sharing

that side kinda just reveals itself normally anyway, he's not exactly great at hiding it, but a part of why he gets along with Belphie so well is that he feels more comfortable willingly sharing this side of himself since Belphie gets it

who else are you suddenly gonna ask "do you ever think about what death is like" and immediately be met with an understanding "yeah"

08:

this is really silly but when a person's jacket falls off their shoulder... it always makes me think about him he is like the brothers, incapable of wearing a jacket properly

10:

it's definitely not unique to say that post lesson 16 was his lowest point, yes because of *gestures at everything that happened* but it was made worse by his interaction with asmo before shit really hit the fan asmo genuinely appreciates the fact that sidra doesnt really care about his appearance or popularity and what he values is who asmo actually is, so the second he believes that their entire relationship existed so sidra could get to belphie, he's absolutely crushed and he begins to doubt all their previous interactions

so while sidra's trying to process the fact that he was killed, he can't even turn to the person he was closest to because, even though it was a big misunderstanding, he did accidentally end up hurting asmo and he just feels way too overwhelmed with everything going on to even think about trying to patch things up at this point even though in the long run it'd make everything a lot easier but it's hard so he just isolates himself further and sends himself into an even worse spiral and-

its ok tho the purgatory hall gang helps him a lot at this point and eventually they sort it out

01:

wowie thank you for asking!!!!!!! he's 33!!! which has the most stupid backstory that i will explain because i want to hehehe

so originally he was going to be like 25 or whatever, not for any particular reason it just seemed fitting enough but i remember seeing a tweet about how kasane teto being in her 30s was very important for maximum cuteness and i thought to myself huh... that's a good point actually, sidra needs to be in his 30s too for maximum cuteness

and also hit japanese singer mafumafu is in his 30s and he is very cute so it just made sense at that point

and then he was gonna be vaguely somewhere in his 30s for a while UNTIL ex and bee happened and i thought itd be hilarious if he was 1 year younger than ex and ex was really mortified about being the same age as sidra so now he's 33...

mc ask game!