The reporters from Tokyo TV and the Economic News Agency were invited into the sports arena.
As for other reporters, they were welcome to join, and Gamestar Electronic Entertainment had no objections; no one minded expanding the influence.
However, these reporters dared not enter.
Inside the sports arena, excited one hundred players arrived at one of the performance venues.
In front of the door stood two women dressed in classic NPC costumes from Dragon Quest.
They bowed slightly to those entering.
"Great heroes, we have been waiting for you for a long time. Please change into your equipment here."
The two NPC women pointed to the side, where a hundred sets of hero costumes were neatly arranged.
These one hundred loyal players looked very surprised.
This meeting was quite formal; it required players to dress up as heroes. It was really thoughtful.
They immediately walked over and couldn't wait to change into their hero costumes.
It was just a red cloak, a leather double-horned helmet, a shield, and a sword.
This was the classic attire from Dragon Quest 1.
After happily putting on their clothes, the female NPC patiently pinned a hero badge on each of them.
"Um, can I ask, will we be given these things after the meeting?"
A player asked eagerly.
The female NPC showed a beautiful smile. "Of course, great heroes, these are your equipment. Only with equipment can you defeat the giant dragon."
"Wow, today is really worth it!"
This set of clothes wasn't worth much money. Giving lucky players this reward was nothing at all. Instead, players would be happy for a long time because of this reward, and it could also be used as part of the promotion.
"Um... can we take a group photo together? This opportunity is too rare!"
A player holding a sword and shield, looking quite the part, seemed completely immersed in the moment.
The two female NPCs didn't refuse at all. They cooperated very well and took a group photo with the one hundred heroes.
At this time, several characters dressed as monsters also came out and cooperated well with the heroes, taking photos with them. The service provided to these one hundred players was quite considerate.
Reporters from Tokyo TV and the Economic News Agency were also busy taking photos on the side.
This was excellent material; it was estimated that within a day or two, a lot of content could be compiled just using these materials.
The photo session lasted for about half an hour. When almost all one hundred players had finished taking photos, the two female NPCs reminded the heroes that they could enter the main venue.
Now they were all in high spirits, continuously posing with their swords and shields.
If this were outside, it would be something that could lead to ridicule or embarrassment, but in this atmosphere, there was none of that feeling.
Then, one hundred people entered the venue one after another.
As they entered, their eyes widened.
The performance stage of the venue had been decorated to look like a tavern.
Below the stage were seats labeled 'Exclusive for Heroes,' and the chairs were designed like thrones.
"Please, great heroes, take your seats."
In the hall, there were many soldiers in armor, holding spears high, inviting the heroes to sit in the seats.
The 'heroes' eagerly ran to their seats and sat down one by one. Now they were completely immersed.
It was as if they were completely within the game.
The reporters were also assigned seats.
This kind of promotional method was really novel. It wasn't that it hadn't been done before, but it was indeed rare.
When all the heroes were seated, the lights in the venue gradually dimmed, and the lights on the stage slowly lit up. A person dressed like a tavern owner appeared under the lights.
"In the distant, distant past..."
This person began to tell stories about the heroes, the content being the same as that of Dragon Quest 1. The players in the audience listened attentively.
Never before had anyone told them stories about the heroes in this way.
While telling the story, there were also a few people playing monsters and one person playing the hero, fighting on the stage, performing different scenes as the story progressed.
This was a very simple stage play. It only took about ten minutes to summarize the entire story of Dragon Quest 1, and then the actors slowly left the stage.
Soon applause rang out, and the lights in the venue brightened again.
"Welcome, everyone, to this Hero Encounter Event. I am one of the creators of Dragon Quest, Ishigaki Soukura."
Ishigaki Soukura was the tavern owner who told the story. He bowed slightly to the 'heroes' below and then officially announced the start of the event.
Immediately, a host walked out and began to interact with Ishigaki Soukura and the 'heroes' below, increasing the immersion.
For example, asking some questions about the heroes; the first hero to answer would receive a small gift.
And the gifts were basically distributed to everyone; no one was left out.
After the interaction ended, it was time for the real Dragon Quest Q&A session.
Players could finally ask questions to the creators.
"What's the deal with the hero's bloodline?"
"Where did the hero go later?"
"How did you feel when making the game?"
Is it super fun to make games at Gamestar Electronic Entertainment, and so on, a series of questions.
As for spoiler questions, Ishigaki Soukura politely declined, only asking the 'heroes' to look forward to the development of the story.
The entire event lasted for about an hour, during which players could interact closely with the creators and even dress up as heroes.
Today they felt it was really worth it.
However, the real highlight had not yet appeared.
That was the details about Dragon Quest.
This was also the final climax of the event.
"I know all you great heroes are looking forward to it, so we won't hide it anymore. Please, everyone, look at the big screen below."
The lights in the venue dimmed again, and on the curtain behind the stage, the Dragon Quest logo gradually appeared, accompanied by the classic Dragon Quest BGM.
All the 'heroes' instantly felt a surge of enthusiasm.
Dragon Quest 3!
When the title appeared, the rhythm of the BGM also reached its climax.
This time, the BGM of the heroes was no longer electronic rhythm music but a music ensemble full of epicness.
It instantly transported people into a continent full of legendary stories from the medieval era.
On the curtain, monsters began to rampage across the continent, while two men and one woman, three heroes, fought their way through, standing tall against the tide of monsters.
Finally, the three heroes faced the evil Destroyer.
The three heroes cooperated, helping each other, facing the ultimate Destroyer with gritted teeth. The scene finally froze in the most intense battle between the Destroyer and the three heroes.
Then, a subtitle gradually appeared: The Descendants of Heroes.
The one hundred 'heroes' watched the trailer with satisfaction.
However, just as they thought the trailer was over, after the words "The Descendants of Heroes," a new text slowly appeared behind them.
The descendants of heroes, and the legendary story of the original hero!
Immediately after, the silhouette of a person, temporarily indistinguishable as male or female, appeared on the screen.
But this scene flashed by, leaving all the heroes stunned.
What, what? In addition to the descendants of the three heroes, there's also the story of the original hero?
Is that the legendary Loto?