Billy was talking with Alexa Rilley. The dynamics of League of Legends were an intense challenge, pushing him to a point where he could barely give a simple yes or no without deep consequence.
–It's the scenes—the combat has to be tough yet accessible, uncompromising yet perfect: mechanical and addictive, something that will be replicated again and again by anyone who wants to use their own characters. We need to focus on strategies that appeal to everyone; it's a complexity anyone approaching the game must face, – Billy said as he sketched the map's structure. He wanted to create a perfect game, infused with what he called a permanent effect of life—an experience that left a lasting impression on anyone who played it.
–The jungle allows characters to hide; some are faster, others have better stats. Each of them influences the flow of the game. Players must think carefully about how to use every troop, ensuring each unit contributes meaningfully to the strategy of competing in five-player teams. As long as teams remain balanced, they can achieve incredible things, – Billy continued as he fine-tuned the smallest details. He had already sent part of the project to Pixar's designers for 3D rendering, while ID Software handled character models ranging from 300 to 500 pixels. Thanks to new software capable of calculating motion rather than requiring each frame to be drawn by hand, animation was both challenging and more efficient, as the program could predict much of the movement.
–New theories, – Alexa Rilley sighed.
It was like what had happened with Resident Evil, when the new inventory system—the iconic attaché case introduced in the first season—was added. Out of rivalries or trivial changes, each idea was simple at its core yet advanced in its own time, following its own process.
–I want us to create a truly marvelous game, – Billy said, inspired by the thought of shaping League of Legends into something like Warhammer: thousands of stories breathing life into a universe full of possibilities and imagination, enriched by countless creators. All it needed was a timeline to bring weight and purpose to such a massive endeavor. That was why he had to write and produce the costly art himself every day, under the watchful care of Alexa Rilley, who worked with the fifth team to transform his visions into a framework that pushed the story to its limits.
–This game will sell to the masses like no other product, – Billy declared, raising his stakes. What fascinated people most were the worlds being created—rich, powerful, brimming with identities that seemed forgotten until someone left space for creativity. The boldness to create something lasting, something that endured through time, was itself a challenge in the simplest of forms.
***
Advertising and marketing were the foundations of Billy's strategy—to make people eager to own the product at the earliest possible moment.
–Wow… – sighed Justin, a boy from California, as he bought the latest Van Helsing series and stared in awe at the new portable console. It was almost surreal: the console represented a massive project, with a projected price already featured in commercials running across all the platforms Billy controlled. The elegant design of each game shone brilliantly on its screen.
–It's the new console from Lux Animation. Apparently, it wasn't enough for them to enter the video game industry—they now have one of the most promising consoles on the market. My brother's an engineer, and he says they're going to revolutionize the industry, almost doubling the output of all other consoles combined, – Austin said, standing beside him and admiring the sleek new design.
–It's so incredible, – Justin whispered.
–It really is. They've even set up a payment plan—you can pay in installments starting now. If you send in just $10 every week, you'll have it paid off by June next year, just in time for its release, – Austin replied, flipping open the cover.
–I want the game, – Justin murmured, remembering that his family couldn't afford such a luxury. With three younger siblings—two girls and a boy—he was the eldest. Maybe if he worked hard enough… the minimum wage was $2 an hour. If he could work six hours a week, he might just be able to afford it. It wasn't impossible—he just needed the time.
–We all want it. It's pure gold, – Austin said with a grin, knowing full well that Lux Animation had become the brand to watch. Almost without realizing it, he was already imagining that in the coming months, he wouldn't just be buying comics but also video games. Perhaps a part-time job at the movie theater would help him afford the things he wanted, though at just fifteen, it wouldn't be easy for him to get hired.
–I know what you're thinking, – Austin said suddenly. –You want to buy it, but you don't have the money. –
–Leave me alone. I don't want to hear another one of your ideas, – Justin shot back.
Austin raised his hands in mock surrender.
–In the end, they meet the vampire, – Austin teased, pointing at the Van Helsing comic as he laughed and bolted out of the classroom. It was the free period before lunch, and Justin stayed behind, continuing to read. The print quality was excellent, and each volume was a masterpiece. He always saved up to buy the Omnibus editions—they were $4 cheaper and came in sturdy hardcovers, a necessity in his household where books often got damaged.
…
The message didn't just reach kids—it reached adults as well. Many of them were fascinated by the way the commercials, each barely 30 seconds long, showcased every detail of the games. The main highlights were Halo and Outpost, the ultimate standard for any title.
–I can say it with certainty—it's going to make history, – said William Finnick, one of the most devoted gamers since the days of slot machines. He even had a Pac-Man cabinet in his living room. Curiously, he was a veterinarian but also a wealthy enthusiast of cyber-romance, deeply in love with all things retro.
Now, he held the future in his hands—and he loved it. His shelves were lined wall-to-wall with Lux Animation comics, alongside volumes from Marvel and DC. Interestingly, the Lux Comics editions were sold as individual works and series rather than large collections—something some purists called sacrilegious but others saw as the most innovative idea since television. They loved reading each hardbound volume. A good example was Slam Dunk, which Lux had released in 15 compilation volumes of 900 pages each—each one was truly exceptional.
–A launch of ten games, – he muttered to himself, noticing that some editions were even more elaborate, featuring special colors. A million consoles would be produced in special editions, with unique artwork from DOOM, Lux Party, and Resident Evil.
–Everything keeps getting better—every trace, every detail surpasses what came before, – William sighed to himself.
...