https://automaton-media.com/en/author/automaton_en/ AUTOMATON is a website that covers the Japanese gaming world. We bring you the news on video games from Osaka and Tokyo. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:06:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-automaton-sitelogo-120x120-1-32x32.png https://automaton-media.com/en/author/automaton_en/ 32 32 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-official-september-newsletter-for-steams-chaotic-roguelike-elin-has-been-released-the-hamsters-have-been-freed-farewell-to-the-hamster-wheel/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-official-september-newsletter-for-steams-chaotic-roguelike-elin-has-been-released-the-hamsters-have-been-freed-farewell-to-the-hamster-wheel/#respond Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:10:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=72970 Elin State of the Game – September 2026, the 7th edition of Elin's official newsletter.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-official-september-newsletter-for-steams-chaotic-roguelike-elin-has-been-released-the-hamsters-have-been-freed-farewell-to-the-hamster-wheel/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/does-turning-sonic-into-movies-and-anime-benefit-gamers-producer-takashi-iizuka-talks-about-how-the-transmedia-strategy-feeds-back-into-game-development-resources/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/does-turning-sonic-into-movies-and-anime-benefit-gamers-producer-takashi-iizuka-talks-about-how-the-transmedia-strategy-feeds-back-into-game-development-resources/#respond Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73162 Interview with Sonic the Hedgehog series producer Takashi Iizuka.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/does-turning-sonic-into-movies-and-anime-benefit-gamers-producer-takashi-iizuka-talks-about-how-the-transmedia-strategy-feeds-back-into-game-development-resources/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/super-real-mahjong-venus-returns-is-a-faithful-reproduction-of-the-original-series-that-crosses-the-line-in-a-way-young-japanese-men-from-the-80s-could-only-dream-of-we-talk-to-the/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/super-real-mahjong-venus-returns-is-a-faithful-reproduction-of-the-original-series-that-crosses-the-line-in-a-way-young-japanese-men-from-the-80s-could-only-dream-of-we-talk-to-the/#respond Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73030 In-depth interview with Stripjong - Super Real Mahjong Venus Returns producer and infiniteloop chairman Kentaro Matsui. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/super-real-mahjong-venus-returns-is-a-faithful-reproduction-of-the-original-series-that-crosses-the-line-in-a-way-young-japanese-men-from-the-80s-could-only-dream-of-we-talk-to-the/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/former-vanillaware-veteran-takafumi-noma-on-new-action-rpg-dawngazer-and-building-a-transmedia-fantasy-ip-that-will-accommodate-all-kinds-of-stories-and-forms-of-gameplay/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/former-vanillaware-veteran-takafumi-noma-on-new-action-rpg-dawngazer-and-building-a-transmedia-fantasy-ip-that-will-accommodate-all-kinds-of-stories-and-forms-of-gameplay/#respond Fri, 25 Sep 2026 03:03:30 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=72914 Interview with Unicorn Overlord director Takafumi Noma about his new game DAWNGAZER and original IP IGNISPHERE.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/former-vanillaware-veteran-takafumi-noma-on-new-action-rpg-dawngazer-and-building-a-transmedia-fantasy-ip-that-will-accommodate-all-kinds-of-stories-and-forms-of-gameplay/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/monster-hunter-wilds-ascendance-developers-talk-about-revisiting-lessons-learned-from-wilds-making-boost-bracers-work-across-14-weapon-types-and-evolving-returning-monsters/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/monster-hunter-wilds-ascendance-developers-talk-about-revisiting-lessons-learned-from-wilds-making-boost-bracers-work-across-14-weapon-types-and-evolving-returning-monsters/#respond Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:06:04 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=72811 Interview with Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, director Takuro Hiraoka, and executive director/art director Kaname Fujioka,]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/monster-hunter-wilds-ascendance-developers-talk-about-revisiting-lessons-learned-from-wilds-making-boost-bracers-work-across-14-weapon-types-and-evolving-returning-monsters/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/dragons-dogma-2s-major-convenience-updates-were-added-knowing-theyd-draw-divided-reactions-dark-arisen-developers-talk-design-philosophy/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/dragons-dogma-2s-major-convenience-updates-were-added-knowing-theyd-draw-divided-reactions-dark-arisen-developers-talk-design-philosophy/#respond Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:41:30 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=72777 Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen devs talk about the importance of "increasing choices" amidst polarized demands from players.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/dragons-dogma-2s-major-convenience-updates-were-added-knowing-theyd-draw-divided-reactions-dark-arisen-developers-talk-design-philosophy/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/crazy-taxi-world-tour-devs-on-the-miraculous-timing-that-revived-the-series-after-25-years-and-the-challenge-of-making-a-modern-console-game-that-still-feels-like-crazy-taxi/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/crazy-taxi-world-tour-devs-on-the-miraculous-timing-that-revived-the-series-after-25-years-and-the-challenge-of-making-a-modern-console-game-that-still-feels-like-crazy-taxi/#respond Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:20:06 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=72714 Interview with Crazy Taxi: World Tour developers Kenji Kanno and Yo Momotani.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/crazy-taxi-world-tour-devs-on-the-miraculous-timing-that-revived-the-series-after-25-years-and-the-challenge-of-making-a-modern-console-game-that-still-feels-like-crazy-taxi/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/ninjala-2-developers-talk-about-huge-shift-to-open-world-pve-preserving-ninja-gameplay-and-why-the-sequel-isnt-a-live-service-game/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/ninjala-2-developers-talk-about-huge-shift-to-open-world-pve-preserving-ninja-gameplay-and-why-the-sequel-isnt-a-live-service-game/#respond Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=72584 Interview with Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet director Motoki Kaneda about what players should expect from the game.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/ninjala-2-developers-talk-about-huge-shift-to-open-world-pve-preserving-ninja-gameplay-and-why-the-sequel-isnt-a-live-service-game/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/another-eden-begins-dev-says-chrono-trigger-fans-should-find-much-of-scenario-writer-masato-katos-signature-depth-and-complexity-in-the-new-jrpg/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/another-eden-begins-dev-says-chrono-trigger-fans-should-find-much-of-scenario-writer-masato-katos-signature-depth-and-complexity-in-the-new-jrpg/#respond Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:50:23 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=72519 Another Eden Begins launches September 17 for PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/another-eden-begins-dev-says-chrono-trigger-fans-should-find-much-of-scenario-writer-masato-katos-signature-depth-and-complexity-in-the-new-jrpg/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/another-eden-begins-was-rebuilt-from-scratch-in-a-new-engine-so-the-10-year-old-rpg-could-live-on-beyond-its-service-we-want-gamers-who-hate-gacha-to-try-it-devs-say/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/another-eden-begins-was-rebuilt-from-scratch-in-a-new-engine-so-the-10-year-old-rpg-could-live-on-beyond-its-service-we-want-gamers-who-hate-gacha-to-try-it-devs-say/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:56:16 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=72463 In-depth interview with Another Eden Begins producer Shinnosuke Hirasawa about how different the new game is, the value of preserving live-service games, and more.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/another-eden-begins-was-rebuilt-from-scratch-in-a-new-engine-so-the-10-year-old-rpg-could-live-on-beyond-its-service-we-want-gamers-who-hate-gacha-to-try-it-devs-say/feed/ 2 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/why-was-beloved-macross-rhythm-game-uta-macross-able-to-make-a-comeback-former-square-enix-producer-kei-hirono-talks-about-the-challenge-of-preserving-live-service-games/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/why-was-beloved-macross-rhythm-game-uta-macross-able-to-make-a-comeback-former-square-enix-producer-kei-hirono-talks-about-the-challenge-of-preserving-live-service-games/#respond Fri, 04 Sep 2026 03:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=71930 Interview with AUGUST representative and Uta Macross producer Kei Hirono.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/why-was-beloved-macross-rhythm-game-uta-macross-able-to-make-a-comeback-former-square-enix-producer-kei-hirono-talks-about-the-challenge-of-preserving-live-service-games/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/the-hundred-line-last-defense-academys-srpg-gameplay-was-designed-as-the-exact-opposite-of-fire-emblem-the-adrenaline-rush-of-throwing-away-characters-lives/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/the-hundred-line-last-defense-academys-srpg-gameplay-was-designed-as-the-exact-opposite-of-fire-emblem-the-adrenaline-rush-of-throwing-away-characters-lives/#respond Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=71681 Interview with The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academu battle director Akihiro Togawa on the game's strategy RPG design.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/the-hundred-line-last-defense-academys-srpg-gameplay-was-designed-as-the-exact-opposite-of-fire-emblem-the-adrenaline-rush-of-throwing-away-characters-lives/feed/ 0