[Buruaka] It looks like the service will end! ? Looking back at the history of the “miracle” that rose from rock bottom to the top of the game

: “Hey, you guys. Today’s topic is more serious than ever. It’s no exaggeration to say that we’ve now taken over the smartphone game world. We’re going to look back at the history of Blue Archive, also known as Blue Aca. It’s a festival now, but there may not be many Kagu artists who know the despair of the early days.”

: “Wow! Bruaka! Alona! My cute students! It’s now the biggest force at Comiket, and it’s such an amazing game that there’s no day when you walk around town without seeing an advertisement for Bruaka! It was worth it for me to put on Shiroko’s mask every day and do a dry run to check the location of the bank.”

: “Police, this is this. …Well, people who are only watching the current abnormal excitement may not be able to imagine it, but when it was first released, Bulaka was literally on the precipice of service could end at any time.Today, let’s calmly analyze the trajectory of how we built the current golden age from that muddy era.”

1. The beginning of a legend! Long vacation called maintenance

: “Everything started from here on February 4, 2021.The teachers, filled with anticipation, logged in all at once, and what was waiting for them was a hellish long-term maintenance. Just when I thought the maintenance was over, it was again.It felt like I was dancing a never-ending waltz.”

: “There it is! Maintenance archive! I couldn’t log in that day, so I was clutching my smartphone in despair! I was in despair at a world where I couldn’t log in! I fell asleep screaming. If I remember correctly, I didn’t do maintenance for more than 30 hours in total.”

: “To be exact, there was a long server adjustment that took place for a few hours on the day of release, and also immediately after. At the time, there was speculation on social media that even Yostar, the operator, had given up on it, and there was already a four-letter message that the service would be terminated. There were many bugs, and the operation was slow. It was a parade of problems that a low-spec brain like yours couldn’t handle.”

• Early Buraka Despair Point:
• A series of extremely long maintenance sessions where you can’t even log in
• Lack of optimization, such as apps crashing frequently or smartphone becoming extremely hot
• The arrival of a blank period where there is nothing to do due to lack of content

: “Back then, there wasn’t even the slightest bit of the aura of today’s supremacy games.It seemed destined to disappear as just another disappointing new game.But that’s when the real battle began.”

2. The dark void period and the miracle of the bunny chaser

: “But it was the power of girls that saved those dark times! I remember how the world changed after that day. Yes, I am a Bunny Girl. Bunny is justice. Bunny is truth. The moment I saw Asuna and Karin in their bunny outfits, my rationality evaporated!”

: “Your rationality didn’t exist from the beginning. However, it is true that the Bunny Chaser on the Ship, an event held in October 2021, greatly changed the fate of Buraaka. The bunny costumes of Asuna and Karin implemented in this event were spread explosively on Twitter (currently X) and Pixiv, making the existence of Buraaka known even to those who have not played.”

: “Yes, that was the first step towards becoming a god of the new world. Until then, Bruaka was a minor game supported by only a few enthusiastic fans, but the number of users increased rapidly due to the impact of Bunny. The strength of the visuals forcefully swept away the stagnant atmosphere.”

• What the bunny event brought:
• Overwhelming advertising effect due to explosive increase in derivative works
• Massive influx of new users who fell in love at first sight
• The moment the operator fully understands what the user wants

: “That smile on Asuna-san’s face… The moment I saw that, I kept hitting the charge button while saying, ‘Don’t run away, don’t run away, don’t run away.’ Saving money? You can think about that tomorrow!”

: “Tomorrow, you’ll probably be chasing debt collectors.However, it is undeniable that the success of this visual became a source of funding to support the story-oriented direction that followed.”

3. The shock of the Eden Treaty that shook teachers’ hearts

: “This industry is not so easy that one can dominate just by looking at it.What really transformed Buraka is the quality of the main story Treaty of Eden.Writer 3, I think you were surprised by that, too.”

: “I have to admit. Until then, I had a strong image of a bright and fun school life in Buruaka. However, the story that was shown in the Treaty of Eden arc is a story that questions the responsibility of an adult, where there is no salvation, but there is hope in the end. Mr. Isaksan, the scenario writer, wrote the scenario with such passion that he said, “I won’t stop writing the scenario until you cry!”

: “The design of the character Mika was also divine.The teachers’ emotions were crushed by the weight, but on the contrary, it created a strong bond.It was the moment when the game was elevated from just a cute game to a game where you can experience the story.”

• Why the story was rated:
• Cruel and real adult issues hidden within a transparent worldview
• Clarification of the growth of students and the role of the teacher (player)
• Perfect harmony between BGM (Mitsukiyo, Karut, Nor, etc.) and direction

: “Speaking of BGM, famous songs such as Unwelcome School and Constant Moderato also helped turn them into memes on SNS.The trinity of music, art, and scenario was completed here.A common language among fans was established around this time, where when you say “Nurupo”, people respond with “Gah!””.

4. The enthusiasm of the 4th PV and the final part that confirmed supremacy

: “Then, in January 2023, the legendary 4th PV was released. The overwhelming amount of information packed into that two-minute video and the anticipation of seeing all the stories so far converge into one. When I saw that, I was convinced. No one can stop Buraka.”

: “When I saw that PV, my fighting power exceeded 530,000. All the hardships, all the gacha crashes, all the maintenance… I was convinced that all of it had a meaning! It was a shock that made me feel like, “Please sign a contract with me and become my teacher!”

: “Your contract has been cancelled. The final part is the starting point of all the miracles. A raid battle in which all users cooperate to fight against a huge enemy, and an ending that cannot be described without tears. During that period, Blue Aca was definitely at the top of the Japanese smartphone game world. It was also during this period that it reached number one in the App Store’s sales ranking.”

• Factors behind the excitement of the final part:
• Real-time frenzy for all players at the same time
• A cathartic development in which all the foreshadowing so far is recovered
• Shocking facts brought about by the existence of Shiroko and Prenapates

: “On that day, we were all teachers. And we did our best to protect our students. That experience was something you wouldn’t get in any other game. Who would have thought that a game that was threatened with discontinuation would be able to show us so much scenery?”

5. Why didn’t Buraka die? Consider its true nature

: “, in the end, why did Bruaka survive this long and gain supremacy? Was it because the love of pervert teachers like me was too heavy?”

: “You’re just obsessed. If you analyze it calmly, the key is the management’s thorough fan service and maintaining a consistent world view. The collaboration between Yostar and Nexon Games succeeded in overcoming the initial confusion and winning the trust of users. In particular, the festive feel of official live broadcasts and the tolerant attitude toward fan art have made the community huge.”

: “That’s right.Buruaka treated users not as mere customers, but as teachers who created a story together.This attitude created a community with a sense of unity that 2ch’s Kagushi artists were once enthusiastic about.What’s more, let’s not forget the courage to introduce students one after another with designs that were aggressive, rather than adult-flavored as Mr. Oda said.”

• Summary of success factors:
• Operation efforts that acknowledged failure and repeated thorough improvements and optimization
• Encouraging derivative works and creating an atmosphere of excitement with fans
• Overwhelming character design and scenario strength unrivaled

: “I see…The game will end if you give up.” That was the tenacity of the administrators.Even if I hit the ceiling with the next gacha, I won’t give up! Defeat is not in my dictionary!”

: “The word ‘bankruptcy’ is probably the only word left in your dictionary. However, this miraculous reversal is definitely an event that will go down in the history of smartphone games.As someone who knows the rock bottom of the past, I find the current shining blue aca a bit too dazzling.”

6. The future of Buraka and teachers

: “Even after the final chapter ends, the story of Buraaka doesn’t stop. There’s a new school, new students, and a threat we haven’t seen yet. Our work as teachers will continue.”

Writer 2: “I will never quit being a teacher! Even if I run out of stones or credits, I will continue to fight for the smiles of my students. Alona, next time, please bring me a pink envelope instead of a blue one!”

: “Your fate is always up in the air. However, as an observer, I will see how Bruaka evolves in the future and how long this hegemony will last. Including whether an idiot like you can become a real adult someday.”

: “That’s it. Now, if you are a Kagu master who has become interested in Buruaka after reading this article, or a teacher who has given up on it a long time ago, now is the time to return to Kivotos. If you search on the internet, you will find a lot of detailed introduction methods and the latest character evaluations. Do your own research and take the first step with your own feet. That is your first job as a teacher.”

: “Search! Search! I will also be relentlessly searching for Kisaki-san’s costumes from now on! Then, I will prepare to become the god of the new world! Otsu!”

: “…There’s really nothing we can do about it. Disband!”

: “Well then, dear readers. Have a good teacher life. Otsu!”