Takahashi Meijin interview

[exodus]

Hey all. I did an interview with Meijin recently, who you may know as the marketing guy for hudson over the years, and also the inspiration for master higgins of adventure island and saturn bomberman fame.

It's here: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4245/the_game_master_on_then_and_now.php

If you want to jump straight to the PC Engine bits: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4245/the_game_master_on_then_and_now.php?page=4

hope you enjoyzzzzzzz. Interview was conducted in Japanese and then translated after the fact.

P.S. if you want to read my first interview with him one year ago, see here: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3801/the_game_master_speaks_hudsons_.php. Lots more old discussion going on.

[sunteam_paul]

Awesome 

[esteban]

Can't wait to read it, but first I have to go to the jeweler's and resize a watch I got 2+ years ago. My wife thinks I hate the watch. When I told her I was just lazy and forgetful... it didn't makes things any better.

Slightly on topic:

Hudson's original interest in CD as an analog storage medium is neat.

Using CD audio as a step-up from "cassette tapes" (a superior way to store analog audio data) is something I only recently found out about it when I was listening to an interview with the Oliver Twins (Codemasters) using this method for a CD compilation of games.

The idea of CPC, Spectrum, C64 having a "CD Games Pack" is very kool.

/end tangent

Now, it's a lot harder for original kids' games; it's much more based around licenses. Hudson still does some, but what do you think about the transformation of the market? It seems like the drive's been toward doing original games for adults and then kids' games based on movies or whatever.

TT: I think it's really a shame, yeah. I think it'd be nice to see more original characters getting debuted in games and then moving on to other forms of media. I'd like to see that happen, but -- and this is as true in the U.S. as it is in Japan -- the sales department is primarily interested in whatever character sold the most product last year

No matter what you do with an original character, it's always going to have an uphill battle in this respect. Developers want to put out all kinds of new characters, of course, but the marketplace is just not ready to accept them. That's the way things have become, and it is a disappointment.

This is quite true, and something that I'm encountering now that I'm buying gifts for all my friends' kids (and, perhaps one day, my daughter). All the kids want, really, is a licensed game based on their favorite television show, or what have you.

And, if we can dream a bit, I had always hoped that two characters introduced to North American audiences (namely, J.J. and his partner, Jeff) would find themselves starring in a sequel. Or, at the very least, I was hoping that these two wild guys would make cameos in future Hudson offerings (i.e. as shopkeepers in Neutopia 2, or as an unlockable player in Bloody Roar).

Anyway, to get back on topic, I understand that it is risky to develop & promote new IP for big-budget titles. It seems that indie developers are the ones who can take these risks (leaps) in creativity. I am also slowly beginning to acknowledge that digital distribution helps soften the risk, as well.

With this in mind, I am really hoping that Hudson releases (via WiiWare? iPod/iPhone?) an updated version of Blodia/Timeball. Perhaps they should consider re-branding it as a Bomberman spin-off?