Becoming the Strongest as a Game Dev Ch 20

Sam enters the cozy cafe, his eyes scanning the tables until they land on a woman sitting by the window. She appears to be in her 30s, with shoulder-length, straight blonde hair that frames a serious yet approachable face. Her light blue eyes convey an air of quiet confidence, and her posture is poised and professional. She is dressed in a light lavender button-down shirt and a dark skirt, her attire suggesting a polished, office-appropriate style.

As Sam approaches the table, the woman looks up and offers him a small, welcoming smile. "You must be Genesis. I'm Gail Foster, a manager at SimQuest. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Sam nods politely as he takes the seat across from Gail. "It's nice to meet you as well, Ms. Foster. I'm Sam, the developer behind the Batman: Arkham Asylum simulation."

Gail's smile widens slightly. "Excellent work on that simulation, by the way. It's been making quite a splash." She gestures to the menu on the table. "Please, order whatever you'd like. SimQuest is covering the bill."

Sam's eyebrows rise in surprise, but he quickly recovers and scans the menu, settling on a hearty sandwich and a cup of coffee. As the waiter takes his order, Sam turns his attention back to Gail, curious to hear what she has in mind.

Sam leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "If I may ask, what made SimQuest interested in me and my simulation?"

Gail took a sip of her coffee, her gaze steady and composed. "We at SimQuest have been closely following the success of your Arkham Asylum simulation. The engagement and positive feedback it's received have been quite impressive, especially for a first-time developer."

She paused, her eyes meeting Sam's. "The truth is, we believe you have a rare talent, and we'd like to offer you an opportunity to join our team."

Sam's brow furrowed slightly. "Join your team? What exactly would that entail?"

"As a developer at SimQuest, you'd have access to cutting-edge technology, resources, and a talented pool of colleagues to collaborate with," Gail explained. "We could provide you with a stable income, benefits, and the freedom to focus solely on creating innovative, immersive simulations."

Sam considered her words, weighing the potential advantages. "That sounds intriguing, but what's in it for me? What kind of benefits could I expect?"

Gail leaned forward, her expression earnest. "At SimQuest, we value our developers and their contributions. In addition to the financial stability, you'd have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, expand your skillset, and potentially see your creations reach a much larger audience."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "And of course, we'd be more than happy to provide you with any additional resources or tools you might need to bring your visions to life."

Sam considered the benefits of the offer but was not particularly interested. He felt confident that he could create better simulations in the future, which would address his financial concerns, allowing him to gradually acquire other benefits over time.

"I appreciate the opportunity, Ms. Foster," Sam said, "but I'm not sure joining SimQuest is the right move for me right now. I believe I can continue to grow and improve on my own, at my own pace."

Gail's expression softened as she leaned forward, her voice taking on a more persuasive tone. "I understand your desire to maintain your independence, Sam. But consider this – SimQuest has access to higher-rank Simulation Gems, the kind that are typically out of reach for freelance developers like yourself."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "With our resources and connections, we could provide you with C-rank or even B-rank Gems, opening up a whole new realm of possibilities for your simulations."

Sam's eyes widened slightly at the mention of these rare and powerful Gems. "B-rank Gems? That kind of technology is usually reserved for the top developers."

Gail nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Precisely. And that's exactly the kind of opportunity we're offering you. With our support, your creations could reach audiences across the city, even the country."

She reached into her bag and produced a sleek, white tablet, sliding it across the table to Sam. "Take a look at the data we've collected on the Arkham Asylum simulation. The engagement and downloads are already impressive, but imagine what you could achieve with our marketing and distribution channels."

Gail continued to mention that she could assign bodyguards to Sam if he needed to venture outside the city.

"This is important because monsters roam the areas beyond the city limits, making it essential to have protection," she explained. "Some of our developers have even become Hunters once they've gained enough power and experience."

Sam considered her words, his mind racing with the possibilities. "Hunters, you say? That would certainly come in handy, given the dangers that lie outside the city walls." He paused, his gaze meeting Gail's. "But what exactly would that entail? I'm not exactly trained to take on monsters."

Gail offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we have a comprehensive training program that can prepare you for that kind of work. And as I mentioned, we'd be more than happy to provide you with bodyguards to ensure your safety during those ventures."

Sam leaned forward, his brow furrowed with interest. "That's quite a tempting offer. But can you really provide me an A-rank Gem?"

Gail met his gaze, her expression calm and assured. "Well, as you can imagine, A-rank Gems are reserved for our top developers. The requirements include a proven track record of successful simulations, as well as the Mana capacity to handle the increased complexity and power of those Gems."

Sam nodded, considering her words. "I see. And what about an E-rank Gem? Would that be something you could provide in the meantime?"

"Absolutely," Gail replied, her tone reassuring. "We'd be more than happy to give you access to an E-rank Gem as part of the onboarding process. That would allow you to continue developing your skills and creating new simulations under our guidance."

Sam paused, weighing his options. After a moment, he looked up at Gail, a spark of determination in his eyes. "Alright, Ms. Foster, you've convinced me. I'll join SimQuest, but on one condition."

Gail raised an eyebrow, her expression curious. "And what would that be?"

"I want to retain the rights to any Simulation Gems I create," Sam said, his voice firm. "No one at the company will have authority over those Gems or the simulations I develop using them. They'll be mine to use as I see fit."

Gail considered his request, then nodded. "That's a fair condition, Sam. We're not in the business of taking ownership of our developers' creations. As long as you continue to produce high-quality work for SimQuest, we have no desire to interfere with your personal projects."

She extended her hand across the table. "Do we have a deal?"

Sam hesitated for only a moment before reaching out and firmly grasping Gail's hand. "Deal."