Video Game Tycoon in Tokyo-Chapter 847: The Impact of Fame

Uncharted—yet another game centered around storytelling.

Nearly the entire main storyline revolves around the protagonist, Nathan Drake. Playing the game feels almost like watching a full-length movie, which makes the immersion all the more powerful.

To be honest, Job would love to play a character like that. Unfortunately, his appearance didn't suit the role, and he was already firmly tied to the role of Snake from Metal Gear Solid.

Still, he was quite satisfied with his current situation. As an actor who once hit rock bottom, having a single role that left such a strong impression was already more than he could've asked for.

These days, Job had gained some recognition within the gaming community, and endorsement deals were pouring in.

He had fully stepped into the world of video games.

At first, he didn't really understand games. When he first took on the role of Snake, he was still a bit lost.

He wasn't sure if this whole video game thing was right for him—was it really a viable path?

...

...

Now, he was certain of one thing: the future of video games was enormous—and it was still growing by the day.

Uncharted was proof of that.

Games could be cinematic masterpieces, or they could be completely unique experiences that only games could offer.

From now on, he was determined to stay close to Gamestar Electronic Entertainment—no matter what.

By the way, he still didn't know whether Mr. Takayuki had finished that Metal Gear Solid 2 project he'd hinted at. Job was already itching to dive into another round of Metal Gear.

Although knowing Takayuki's tendencies, he probably wouldn't even call it a "Part 2"—he'd just skip the number altogether.

Ring ring. Ring ring.

A sudden phone call interrupted Job's thoughts. He picked up without thinking.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Job! My friend!"

"Friend?" Job frowned. The voice was unfamiliar. "Who are you?"

"Oh, right—let me introduce myself. I'm Ben Carter, an actor. Not sure if you've heard of me."

An actor...? Got it.

As soon as Job heard the self-introduction, he pretty much guessed what this call was about.

Not because he was psychic, but because lately, he'd been getting more and more of these calls from fellow actors.

They all shared one thing in common:

They were either formerly well-known actors whose popularity had faded with time... actors stuck in a rut... or veteran performers who hadn't had a role in ages.

Ben Carter? The name didn't ring any bells.

Which meant Job's guess was probably right.

There was only one reason people like this were reaching out now.

Because of the buzz around Uncharted and the sudden rise of one previously unknown actor.

Nathan Drake's character didn't use a real face model—Takayuki couldn't find anyone in this world who looked enough like the original Nathan Drake.

And he refused to alter the iconic design from the original universe.

So he just recreated Nathan Drake's original model himself.

But voice acting and motion capture still needed a capable performer.

Eventually, Takayuki asked Tukarev for help.

Tukarev had promised to find the right person. But weeks passed with no result—until one night over drinks, Job casually brought up how picky Takayuki was about finding the right fit.

He wanted a specific voice tone, solid acting chops—the works. Basically, Takayuki wanted a perfect replica of the original Uncharted, without compromising on voice, performance, or character design.

Game mechanics could evolve, sure—but those aspects were sacred.

So one voice actor after another got rejected.

That night, while talking with Tukarev, Job suddenly remembered an old friend.

Someone who'd once worked with him on a set—someone who had treated him kindly, even when Job was still a nobody.

They had clicked really well.

And based on how Tukarev described the voice profile they were looking for, Job thought: Hey, maybe he's the one.

So he recommended his friend.

The rest fell into place. Takayuki found the exact match he was looking for—and even gave Job a rare word of praise. Job had been a little flustered by the compliment.

Now, with Uncharted released on Switch, Nathan Drake's adventures were becoming a hot topic among players.

Although other high-profile game launches slightly diluted the spotlight, Uncharted left a strong impression thanks to its cinematic experience.

And the voice actor behind Nathan Drake was suddenly in demand.

Just a month after release, Job's friend was already getting new VA offers, small acting gigs, and even ad campaigns.

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He wasn't rising as fast as Job, but his success was enough to make others envious.

Ever since that success story, more and more struggling actors had begun to reach out.

Job had become something of a bridge between traditional acting and the video game world. Many now dreamed of using games to revive their careers.

So the calls kept coming.

And truthfully, Job did want to help those in the same situation he'd once been in. But he wouldn't recommend just anyone—he had to be careful not to embarrass himself in front of Takayuki.

Only those who passed a personal vetting process would even be considered.

"Ben, what can I do for you?"

"Job, my friend! Don't you remember? We worked on a project together a while back."

Job had no recollection. But clearly, this was just a tactic to get close—he didn't call it out.

"I heard you helped someone land the role in Uncharted. Do you think... maybe you could recommend me too? Of course, I'd make it worth your while."

"That's something you'll have to earn," Job said calmly. "Even if I do recommend you, you'd still have to meet Mr. Takayuki's standards. Honestly, instead of relying on a recommendation, I'd suggest reaching out to the game studios directly and showing them what you've got."