Flight of the Game Creator (逃亡したゲームクリエイター, Tōbōshita Gēmu Kurieitā, Lit. "The Escaped Game Creator") is the 19th side case in Lost Judgment.
Plot[]
Yagami meets the client, Takeshi Okizaki, in Wette Kitchen. He works for the 100-strong God-Tier Games and is making a game for the publisher, Babylon. Okizaki is the publishing manager. The issue is that the director, Ryuichi Shinonome, vanished before the game's completion, causing panic. Shinonome was able to get his idea greenlit at an unprecedented speed, and received a large budget. Unfortunately, his emotional instability leads to him leaving at times, and this time he has made sure he is not brought back. Okizaki suspects Shinonome wanted to escape his large workload and long hours. Eyewitnesses state he was spotted around Sakura River Street recently.
Rookie developer Shinanogawa informs Okizaki that Babylon producer Kinugawa stormed the office looking for Shinonome after receiving news of another production delay. At the homeless camp, Yagami sees a man whose profile matches Shinonome's save for the longer hair and full beard. He asks for food, but states another man is feeding him today, and points to a man whose profile completely matches Shinonome, and Yagami sees he mistook a raisin on the homeless man for a mole. Shinonome takes off in a taxi, and Yagami looks for clues. The homeless man states Shinonome left his laptop behind, and Yagami has Ranpo track Shinonome's scent.
Ranpo leads Yagami to a parking lot in the Red Light District. Shinonome informs Yagami he does not want to work himself to death, and he has already put in 80 hours of overtime this month, not including unpaid overtime. The unreasonable demands from the producer - whom he suspects is a yakuza - combined with the deadline not being pushed back lead to a chaotic workplace. Refusing to return, Yagami decides to Talk it out with the client. Okizaki is called to convince Shinonome to return. During their conversation, the producer, Kinugawa, arrives.
Shinonome stands up to Kinugawa and tells him he has decided to quit. Kinugawa if infuriated and gets violent, but Yagami is able to subdue him. Now calmed down, Kinugawa remembers he was warned that he would be fired should he snap again, and Yagami suggests he and Shinonome talk it out. Kinugawa declines, stating he knows what needs to be done. He drops on his hands and knees in front of Shinonome, and begs him to return. He knows Shinonome is talented, and put in a lot of effort to make sure his project was greenlit quickly. He adds that he himself is a fan of Shinonome's work. Shinonome accepts returning, but he will not work anymore unpaid overtime.
Back at Wette Kitchen, Okizaki states they may be able to complete the game in time for its release in a few days. Because it is a VR game with no need for a physical copy, they have more time to work than normal. Shinanogawa arrives to tell Okizaki that Shinonome decided to redo one of the bosses from scratch, meaning they have to work hard, and Kinugawa will handle any pressure from executives.
People[]
Evidence[]
| Icon | Name | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
  |
Shinonome's Laptop | Find a Clue On Shinonome |
| The laptop that Shinonome left behind. It reeks of his cigarettes. If we're talking smell, I think I know who to call... | ||
Details[]
A certain game director keeps ditching work over the poor environment I'd heard video game development can be tough, but it also can't be done without a director. He's using some slick methods to elude his emmployer, but I still have to catch him somehow.
This guy, Kinugawa (who just has to be yakuza, I mean, c'mon), seems like a real piece of work, but we still found a reasonable conclusion to the case. I'd always assumed the industry was full of artsy types, but I guess there are some real thugs in the scene, too...
Tasks[]
- Meet the Client at Wette Kitchen
- Look for Shinonome on Sakura River Street
- Find a Clue On Shinonome
- Follow the Scent
- Cool Kinugawa's Jets