Japanese game culture event “The Tenth Mosaic” took place on September 22and 23 this year. The event was opened with a talk session between NieR and Drakengard series creator Yoko Taro and Keisuke Okabe, the director of Ender Lilies and Ender Magnolia. As reported by Japanese media outlets 4Gamer and Denfaminicogamer, during the session, the two creators compared their approaches to making games, discussed the future of the Japanese game industry, and their personal goals.
Talking about his aspirations for the future, Okabe said that he would like to create a JRPG. While he expressed the wish to make a 3D JRPG, he also seems interested in making it in 2D, given that it’s the style of visual expression he’s mostly used to. When it comes to 2D JRPGs in particular, he believes that now could be the right time to start developing one, as there “hasn’t been a definitive title on the market since Undertale.”
Yoko Taro, on the other hand, said there isn’t anything he’s particularly set on making going forward. With the original Drakengard being a title where he was able to do pretty much everything he wanted, Yoko considers himself to have already achieved his dreams in terms of game development. Everything after that, he sees just as his “remaining days.”
From the financial side of things, Yoko is starting to feel like he will soon be able to sustain himself with his savings and pension without having to work anymore. “Therefore, speaking from just an emotional standpoint – it’s over. I’m done working, I don’t want to do it anymore,” he said.
On the flip side, Yoko cited “dementia prevention” as one of the reasons he continues make games. He explained that he had heard stories of work-oriented people suddenly developing dementia after retirement, which is what has been motivating him to push through game development, even if it’s stressful. “Even now, there are lot of frustrating things concerning my work, but when they do happen, I overcome them by telling myself – This is good for preventing dementia.” However, considering Yoko Taro is well known for his antics, readers should probably take these words with a hefty grain of salt.
While we haven’t seen a Yoko Taro-helmed game in a while now, it seems that he has been busy working on the brand new Evangelion anime, which was announced earlier this year. The animated series is a collaborative project between Studio Khara and Clover Works, directed by FLCL and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX director Kazuya Tsurumaki and penned by Yoko Taro himself.
Related:
