Zoey Parker stared at the fax in WindyPeak's Seattle office, eyes burning through the paper. Four words screamed at her: Big announcement disaster.
IndieVibe had gone nuclear. Permanent ranking placement, splash-screen vote reveals, homepage banners—all for Vampire Survivor, for five days until the expo ended. This wasn't promotion; it was a death sentence for her Investment Rebate plan.
Zoey's heart screamed. I just wanted respect, not a spotlight! She'd toiled to make this game flop—scouring data for the least popular genre, picking pixel art to repel modern players, dodging media hype like a ninja. All for nothing. IndieVibe's "compensation" shoved her into the limelight.
She gritted her teeth, voice trembling. "This is IndieVibe's compensation?"
Chloe Quinn nodded. "They're making up for our lost exposure. Said to add any requests."
Zoey slumped, tearless but crushed. Add requests? They'll plaster us on every pixel of their app. She wanted to kick herself. Why'd she storm IndieVibe's HQ? Letting Marcus Holt's scam slide would've tanked Vampire Survivor quietly.
"Maybe we can… refuse it?" Zoey ventured, desperate.
Chloe blinked. "Why?"
"Because it screws over other games!" Zoey grasped. "We hog the spotlight, it's unfair!"
Chloe shrugged. "Victor Lang cleared it with 80% of the devs. They're cool with it. Plus, our vote count is five times second place. This just boosts our sales, not the contest. It's a done deal."
Zoey's stomach churned. Five times? Her rivals had no fight left. She was the kid in military training, standing still while everyone else stepped back, spotlighted against her will.
She couldn't refuse without looking shady. "Chloe, grab me some chamomile tea this afternoon," she muttered, defeated.
Chloe frowned. "You… stressed or something?"
"Pretty much," Zoey sighed, collapsing into her chair.
…
IndieVibe's plan ignited Vampire Survivor's hype. Already a player favorite, it became the expo's dark horse, dominating gaming circles. Headlines screamed:
"Why Vampire Survivor Slaps: A Mechanics Deep Dive!"
"Gus Harper, Hitmaker Extraordinaire: Who Is He?"
"Vampire Survivor Ultimate Guide: No One's Unhappy!"
Media—big and small—chased the buzz. Streamers piled on:
"Hey, it's OldJ! Today, we're mastering Vampire Survivor!"
"Yo, Sanren here, diving into Vampire Survivor…"
"Mr. C in the house! Let's play Vampire Survivor!"
"Apa's back with pixel chaos: Vampire Survivor!"
Streamers from FPS, music, even board game niches joined Jada, SlickRick, and other indie diehards, hooked on the game's gambling thrill. Players cracked superweapon recipes, fueling the frenzy.
By Sunday, 7:50 p.m., WindyPeak's office—usually dark—blazed with lights. In the conference room, Zoey sat, bun high, looking like she'd been sentenced to death. Her team filed in, ready to face the fallout of their unwanted triumph.