Aaron had been at his desk for hours, the familiar hum of his computer screen the only sound in the otherwise quiet room. It was a late evening, and the team had long since gone home, leaving him alone to tackle the mountain of work ahead. The glow of his monitor illuminated his tired face, highlighting the stress that had become a constant companion. Eternal Night was a massive success, but with that success came an ever-growing list of demands. New features were needed, bugs needed fixing, and there was always the looming question of how to expand the game’s content in a way that kept players engaged.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Startled, Aaron glanced at the clock. It was well past office hours, and he hadn’t been expecting anyone. His first thought was that it was one of the remaining team members coming back to finish something they’d forgotten, but the moment the door opened, his stomach churned with an unsettling feeling.
A man stepped into the room, tall and sharply dressed in a dark trench coat, his face partially obscured by the collar. His eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, and his presence felt out of place in the otherwise ordinary office. He didn’t speak immediately, just stood there, watching Aaron as if studying him.
“Can I help you?” Aaron asked cautiously, setting aside his work to focus on the stranger.
The man didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a business card. He slid it across the desk toward Aaron with a deliberate slowness.
“The Interpreter,” the card read, with only a phone number beneath it. No other information. No title. Just those two words.
Aaron raised an eyebrow. “The Interpreter?” he repeated, unsure if the man was serious or if this was some sort of joke. He glanced up at the stranger but found his face unreadable, his eyes hidden behind the dark lenses.
“I specialize in... unusual occurrences,” the man said in a deep, steady voice. “Things like missing NPCs, strange glitches, or anomalies that can’t be explained through ordinary debugging.”
Aaron’s curiosity piqued. “And what, you fix these things?”
The man nodded slowly. “That’s my line of work. I’ve helped others in similar positions before—game developers who’ve encountered issues that can’t be solved through conventional means.”
Aaron felt a surge of both scepticism and intrigue. He’d been in the industry long enough to know that sometimes things went wrong in ways that defied explanation. From time to time, there were inexplicable glitches in Eternal Night—NPCs that vanished without a trace, events that triggered without reason, and codes that simply didn’t behave the way they should.
But Aaron had always chalked those things up to coding errors or misfires. The idea of a “fixer” for supernatural game problems seemed absurd, even for someone as open-minded as he was. He reached out, hesitated, then took the card, turning it over in his hands.
“And what do you want in return?” Aaron asked, eyeing the man with suspicion.
“I don’t ask for much,” the Interpreter replied. “If you encounter something beyond your understanding, something that seems... off, give me a call. If I can help, I will.”
Aaron found himself staring at the card, the strange words printed in clean, black ink. The whole interaction felt like something out of a movie—too surreal to believe, but still, it tugged at him in a way he couldn’t explain. After a moment, he slid the card into his pocket. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, trying to sound indifferent.
The Interpreter gave a small nod. “Good. I’ll be around if you need me.”
And with that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Aaron alone with his thoughts. For several moments, Aaron remained frozen in his seat, the air in the room now feeling a little too heavy. The idea of a “supernatural” issue with his game felt ludicrous, but at the same time, a part of him wondered if there was some truth to the man’s claims. The strange glitches in Eternal Night had been growing more frequent lately, after all.
Shaking his head, Aaron tried to focus back on the task at hand. The encounter with the Interpreter was strange, but he had no time to dwell on it now. There was a game to finish, and players were waiting for the next big update.
The success of Eternal Night had brought Aaron more attention than he had ever imagined. What started as a modest indie project had exploded into a worldwide phenomenon. Fans of the game were everywhere, sharing theories, playing obsessively, and flooding social media with their experiences. As Aaron sat in his office, the weight of the responsibility was starting to settle in. The success of Eternal Night was no longer just about the game itself—it was about the world he had created, and more importantly, about making sure that world continued to thrive.
Up until now, Aaron had focused entirely on the creative side—designing gameplay mechanics, fine-tuning the world’s narrative, and fixing bugs. He had spent countless hours in the trenches, making sure everything was perfect. But now, as the game had grown, he knew he had to take on a new role. Eternal Night had evolved into more than just a game—it was a brand, and a strong one at that. It was time to move beyond just game development and start thinking about how to market and expand the brand in meaningful ways.
Aaron had always been someone who loved to create, but marketing and brand-building were areas that he had little experience in. He had no formal training in business or advertising, and the idea of pushing his creation out into the world beyond the game itself was both exciting and terrifying. But as he sat down to meet with his newly hired team of designers and marketers, he knew that the next phase of Eternal Night’s journey was just as important as the one that had come before.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Sitting across from him were several professionals he had brought on board to help with the brand’s growth. There was Sarah, a seasoned marketing strategist who had worked on major campaigns for AAA games, and Mark, a designer with an eye for digital art and branding who had worked on high-profile projects in the fashion industry. Then there was Jenna, a social media expert, who had helped launch viral campaigns for independent game developers in the past.
Aaron leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly on the conference table. “Alright, we’re at a critical juncture now. Eternal Night is bigger than just a game. It’s become a cultural touchstone. We need to build a brand that feels just as immersive and engaging as the game itself. It needs to be something that players can embrace beyond the digital world.”
Sarah nodded, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Exactly. We need to create a comprehensive brand experience. Think about all the ways people interact with a game today—not just in front of their screens, but also in the physical world, on social media, in merchandise. The brand should make fans feel like they’re living in Eternal Night even when they’re not playing.”
Aaron’s mind raced. The possibilities were endless. Merchandising was one area where he knew there was potential, but he also recognized the need to build a strong identity that would resonate with both players and non-players alike. It wasn’t enough to simply throw out T-shirts with the game’s logo. The brand had to connect emotionally with its audience.
“I’ve been thinking about the story behind Eternal Night,” Aaron said, his voice filled with determination. “The world we’ve built isn’t just a game. It’s a living, breathing universe. There’s a lot of lore, a lot of depth to it. I think we can leverage that and create something even bigger. A universe that people can immerse themselves in, whether they’re playing the game or not.”
Mark, the designer, jumped in, already pulling up mock-ups of potential logos on his tablet. “Right, so you want to create a visual identity that ties into the game’s themes of mystery, darkness, and discovery. The logo has to embody that eerie, otherworldly feeling that defines the game. We could also create a set of symbols or sigils tied to the lore that can appear across different types of media.”
Aaron nodded, thinking about the world he had created. Eternal Night was a dark and enigmatic world, full of hidden stories and unanswered questions. But he wanted players to feel like they were part of something larger, something bigger than just a game. He wanted them to feel like they were living in that world, even when they weren’t logged into the game.
“I want something that feels immersive,” Aaron said thoughtfully. “Something that gives players a sense that they’re stepping into a different world. It’s not just about the gameplay—it’s about the experience. So when we think about merchandise, we need to tie it into that experience. Not just T-shirts and posters, but items that make people feel like they are part of Eternal Night—that they are part of the mystery.”
Jenna, the social media expert, spoke up. “We can build on this idea online. We can create interactive experiences for fans, like cryptic clues or puzzles that tie into the lore. You’d be surprised how much people love trying to unlock hidden secrets. Social media can be our playground for that.”
Aaron liked that idea. He had always loved the sense of discovery that came with a good puzzle, and he could see how that might translate into an engaging online campaign. Eternal Night was a game full of secrets, mysteries, and unanswered questions, and he knew that those same elements could fuel social media buzz. Fans would love the challenge of uncovering the game’s mysteries, and Aaron felt confident that his team could develop creative ways to make that happen.
But Aaron knew that there was more to building a brand than just creating cool logos and puzzles. He was starting to realize that the brand of Eternal Night wasn’t just about the game—it was about the culture surrounding it. It was about building a community that embraced the story, the gameplay, and the ideas behind the game.
He thought back to his early days of developing Eternal Night, when it was just him, working in isolation, unsure if anyone would even care about his creation. Now, he was sitting at a table with a team of professionals, all of them equally passionate about making the game into something that could stand the test of time.
“There’s one more thing I want to talk about,” Aaron said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “We’re not just building a brand. We’re building a community. Fans want to feel like they’re part of something. They want to feel seen and heard. So, I think we need to do more than just market Eternal Night—we need to create a space where fans can engage with each other, share theories, discuss the lore, and feel like they’re a part of this larger experience.”
The team nodded, already starting to brainstorm ideas for fan engagement. But Aaron’s mind was racing ahead of them. Eternal Night had already fostered a dedicated fanbase, but he knew that community engagement would be key to sustaining the game’s success. He wanted to give players more than just a game—they needed to feel like they were living in the world of Eternal Night, interacting with other fans and with the creators themselves.
As the meeting continued, Aaron’s sense of purpose grew stronger. This wasn’t just about making money or gaining fame. It was about creating something that people could connect with, something that would resonate with them on a deeper level. The game, the brand, the community—everything had to come together to create a unified experience.
The meeting ended with a clear plan in place. The team would begin working on brand assets, merchandise ideas, and social media campaigns. But Aaron knew that there was still a long road ahead. Building a brand was no small task, and he would have to work hard to make sure Eternal Night remained true to its roots while also expanding its reach.
As Aaron walked out of the office that evening, he felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. He had spent so much time focused on the game’s development that he hadn’t fully realized the scale of what he was about to embark on. But now, more than ever, he was ready to take on the challenge. He wasn’t just creating a game—he was creating a world. And with his team by his side, he was ready to share that world with the rest of the world.
The journey of Eternal Night was far from over. In many ways, it was just beginning. And as Aaron looked ahead, he knew that this next phase would be just as thrilling as the one that had come before. Building a brand was about more than just selling products—it was about creating an experience that fans would want to be a part of, an experience that would stay with them long after the game was over.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Aaron set his sights on the future, ready to take Eternal Night to places he had never imagined. The next chapter in the game’s story was about to unfold, and he couldn’t wait to see where it would take him.
Meanwhile the Interpreter opened his timeline propeller and nodded, head swimming in endless thoughts of every place he’d been to. He opened his communicator and tapped on the bright red button right in the middle of it
“This is 4087 reporting back to the stargate, GD on the semi-original timeline has been briefed. 4087 out.”
The Interpreter activated the propeller and promptly disintegrated from the world.