How to raise a random guy's wife

"You're the stupid one!"

"That's still not as stupid as you."

"Kasumigaoka Utaha!"

"Actually, my idea to make a second part also stems from experimental techniques," Kobayashi Sora changed the subject. "Compared to the first part, the content should be different, and it would be best if there were some breakthroughs in the form of presentation."

Kobayashi Megumi asked curiously, "Oh?"

"This is it." Kobayashi Sora handed Kobayashi Megumi a report.

“This is…” Kobayashi Megumi looked at the report, “Live2D?”

"Developed by the Japanese company Cybernoids, this rendering technology generates a two-dimensional image similar to a three-dimensional model through a series of continuous images and character modeling," Kobayashi Sora explained. "Simply put, it adopts a 2D style, but can move like 3D, and can vividly express the character's expressions and feelings, like an animation."

"Ah," Eriri actually knew a bit about this, "The Dream Club?"

"Yes."

The simulation game "Dream Club Popular Character - Amane" uses Live2D technology, which can change the angle according to the gravity sensor of the player's mobile phone or tablet, and Amane's head will also turn according to the position of the finger when the screen is touched.

In current visual novels, changing a character's facial expressions is essentially just a matter of changing a texture.

Eriri and Megumi Kobayashi both participated in the game's production; this was one of the main aspects of their work.

Eriri was in charge of the artwork, drawing the character illustrations and various expressions.

The character illustrations have blank faces, and the various expressions are simply the facial features.

Then, according to the needs of the plot, the facial expression stickers are applied to the character portrait.

When players make choices, different character portraits can be used to generate different expressions, such as smiling, crying, angry, or frowning.

The difference between this kind of facial expression change and Live2D is that the former only changes the image, or rather, changes part of the image. One second it is one expression, and the next second it is another expression. The character's body does not change, and there is no transition between the changes.

Live2D, on the other hand, provides a performance effect similar to animation, with a transition process between expressions, making the effect more natural.

Kobayashi Sora pointed to the contents of the report, "If we use Live2D technology, we can do many things. For example, when playing voice-over, we can make the character's mouth move and their eyes blink. Even when the player makes a choice, the character can breathe rhythmically."

“We can use it in CG too.” Megumi Kobayashi had an idea. “We can turn static CG into dynamic ones, like fireworks, flowing hair, or waving glow sticks.”

That's exactly what I mean.

“Now that you mention it,” Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow and smiled, “it seems like your expressiveness is even better when performing certain interactive actions.”

Eriri's face turned bright red. "Interact with each other? What?"

Chapter 466 seems right.

"You really need to get your head checked," Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at Eriri. "What are you thinking about?"

"I...I...I...I wasn't thinking anything!" Eriri shook her head, her twin tails swaying. "What are you trying to say?!"

“It’s during intimate interactions between men and women,” Kasumigaoka Utaha gestured, “and regular, vigorous exercise would definitely look great if it were expressed in this way.”

Yingbao was so angry! "Isn't that exactly what I thought?!"

"I didn't say they were different."

"Kasumigaoka Utaha!"

Kobayashi Megumi blushed and smoothed her hair. "We're making something for all ages."

“That’s right.” Kobayashi Sora suggested a future direction: “After being used in the game, the materials can also be put into the mobile game. This way, the card art can also be animated, and the higher the rarity, the greater the animation.”

"It's really good," Kobayashi Megumi said, but she had other concerns: "Wouldn't it be too difficult to make?"

"This is alright. Compared to animation, this method is within an acceptable range in terms of both workload and production difficulty. Plus, it can be used repeatedly, so it's very cost-effective." Kobayashi Sora thought of something, "It can also be used for live streaming."

"live streaming?"

“Now, all of Star Cluster’s live streams feature real people. Some fans who have played the game are not very accepting of real-life appearances, so we directly create Live2D avatars. We use facial capture to express their facial expressions and small movements in 2D, and that’s how we complete the live streams,” Kobayashi Sora summarized. “It’s okay if you don’t like 3D live streams, there are still 2D live streams to watch.”

"There's even such a move..." Eriri was stunned.

Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled, "In this way, the materials used in the game and mobile game can also be used in the live stream... This is really cost-effective."

Kobayashi Megumi carefully reviewed the report. "It sounds good."

“I mean…” Eriri thought of something terrifying, “You’re not going to decide the order in which the members’ Live2D avatars are created through a vote again, are you?”

Kobayashi Sora shook her head. "We're all part of the team. The five of us are a whole. If we're going to release a Live2D character, of course we should all do it together."

"That's more like it."

"However, new clothes and outfits cannot be made all at once; there must be a specific order, and we will have to listen to everyone's opinions on this."

"Isn't that still the same!" Eriri saw through Kobayashi Sora's wolfish ambitions.

He wants to make money from games, light novels, comics, mobile games, viewers watching live streams, and even viewers who don't watch live streams.

Want to see more of your favorite idol's image?

Then let's support them by voting!

Want to see it faster?

Then let's spend more money than others to support them in the rankings!

“You need to think about it from a different perspective,” Kobayashi Sora reminded her. “If this kind of live streaming becomes popular, then more streamers will definitely want to replicate it. At that time, illustrators who can create Live2D characters will become very popular, and the popularity of streamers can also boost the popularity of animators. This way, you can utilize your abilities without spending time and energy on devising storylines. Isn’t this perfect for you?”

Eriri wanted to refute, but then she thought about it... and it seemed to make sense.

New anime series always come to an end. Even if you draw illustrations while keeping up with the popularity of a new anime, once the anime ends and the discussion and popularity decrease, the illustrations you create will hardly have much effect on increasing the artist's fame.

But streamers are different.

As long as there are good results, the streamer will continue broadcasting.

It's practically a treasure trove of popularity.

Eriri felt more and more that this was a promising opportunity, and her azure eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Kasumigaoka Utaha exclaimed, "You're really good at making empty promises."

"A pie in the sky?" Eriri stared at Kobayashi Sora. "Are you kidding me?"

“Kong Qing wouldn’t have said that if there wasn’t a corresponding plan,” Kobayashi Megumi chuckled. “But just because he said it doesn’t mean it can be implemented in the short term.”

"Eh?"

"To put it simply..." Kobayashi Megumi organized her thoughts, "First of all, learning this technology takes a certain amount of time."

Eriri had some understanding of this technique. It was a bit complicated to operate, but she was very good at drawing, so learning the technique separately could save a lot of time. "Hmm...that's true."

"Secondly, it also takes time to produce the finished product." Kobayashi Megumi pointed out the problem, "You have to draw the manga adapted from the senior's novel now, and you also have to draw the manga adapted from the Star Cluster story later, plus your usual notebooks, and some series of illustrations, there is not enough time."

"It seems so..." Eriri realized that she had so many things to do without realizing it. Not to mention creating Live2D characters, it was hard to find time even to learn the techniques for creating Live2D characters.

“In this way, the image of the star cluster will have to be created by someone else. Once the image is put into use, if the effect is not good, many adjustments will be needed. If the effect is good, we will have to determine whether it is due to the image or the original popularity of the star cluster.” Kobayashi Megumi’s thinking was clear. “If it is due to the image, then this kind of live streaming can easily become a trend, and the subsequent development will be as good as Kong Qing said. But if it is due to the popularity of the star cluster, then this kind of live streaming will be difficult to become popular, unless someone else becomes popular with another image and drives this trend.”

"So you're saying..." Eriri finally understood, "It sounds easy, but we're still a long way from real success... no, we're not even sure if we can succeed at all?"

"Well..." Kobayashi Megumi looked away, "I feel like Sora Ao is still pretty confident, right?"

"Of course," Kobayashi Sora replied confidently.

He wasn't just confident, he was extremely confident.

Eriri was speechless. "So, should I believe it or not?"

"You're so stupid." Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Eriri with almost sympathetic eyes. "Anyway, you don't have time to learn the techniques right now, so just stick to drawing manga."

"But what if it works out?"

"Whether it succeeds or not is a matter for later. It's not too late for you to learn then."

"But what if it doesn't work out?"

"You didn't learn it even if you didn't succeed, so you didn't lose anything."

"It seems so." Eriri nodded, then suddenly remembered something and glared at Kasumigaoka Utaha, "Did you just call me stupid?"

Chapter 467 Vivid Metaphors

Kasumigaoka Utaha was speechless. "With your slow reaction time, you're worried about others making empty promises? By the time you realize it, the promises will have already been digested."

"I want you to take care of it!"

"I wasn't planning on getting involved anyway, but I quite like the way you look so annoyed when you realize it too late."

"You dark and gloomy woman!"

......

It's started again.

Kobayashi Megumi pondered what Kobayashi Sora had just said, "If Eriri doesn't have time, then the best candidate would be..."

Kobayashi Sora replied, "Sagara Mayuri."

-

"Mayu~" Fumio Sagara drawled, "Aren't you planning to draw some doujinshi lately?"

"I don't have time." Mayu Sagara also drew out her words, but unlike her brother's pleading tone, hers was more of a helpless one. "The mobile game needs too many illustrations, so I have to work hard to draw them."

"Isn't it a bit too much to push yourself like that?"

"You'll be paid per sheet."

"Go for it!" Fumio Sagara cheered for his sister. "Go, go, go! Try your best!"

“There’s no need for you to rush me…” Mayu Sagara looked at her brother, “Speaking of which, why have you suddenly become curious about my work?”

Previously, her brother only helped with the operations and basically didn't interfere with her creative work.

"You started participating in that project..."

"Superstar Project, at least remember my name!"

"Ah, yes, yes, after the Superstar project, I rarely drew doujinshi anymore."

"so what?"