{"id":42150,"date":"2024-12-27T14:04:24","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T05:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=42150"},"modified":"2024-12-27T14:04:26","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T05:04:26","slug":"metaphor-refantazio-and-persona-series-katsura-hashino-reveals-his-approach-to-directing-and-producing-i-want-to-oversee-the-creative-process-right-to-the-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/metaphor-refantazio-and-persona-series-katsura-hashino-reveals-his-approach-to-directing-and-producing-i-want-to-oversee-the-creative-process-right-to-the-end\/","title":{"rendered":"Metaphor ReFantazio and Persona series’ Katsura Hashino reveals\u00a0his approach to directing and producing: “I want to oversee the creative process right to the end.”\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Atlus\u2019s Katsura Hashino recently gave insight into his approach to directing and producing video games, in conversation with fellow game producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi (known for his work on Capcom franchises like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and the Sengoku Basara series). Hashino\u2019s comments reveal how he balances the different responsibilities of game director and producer (source: Famitsu<\/a>). \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katsura Hashino is known for producing and directing many of Atlus’s games, often taking on both roles at once. As the current head of Atlus\u2019s Studio One and former leader of P-Studio, Hashino has been heavily involved in the Shin Megami Tensei, Persona and Catherine games. He recently served as director and creative producer on the hit 2024 release Metaphor ReFantazio (also coming up with the original concept for the new IP\u2019s story).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Metaphor
Metaphor ReFantazio had four producer roles specializing in different areas: General, Executive, Business and Creative.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Explaining why he took on both roles, Hashino comments, \u201cI want to be responsible for overseeing the creative process right through to the end.\u201d But how does he balance the different roles of director and producer? \u201cFor me, I tend to prioritize the decisions I make as a director. In doing so, I increasingly dig myself into holes,\u201d he jokes. \u201cBut\u00a0I am also the one who takes responsibility as a producer, so I manage to balance the books.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHashino the director makes unreasonable requests, but Hashino the producer somehow manages to adjust them\u201d he adds with a wry laugh. It seems like he switches back and forth between these two different mindsets while a game is being created. Hashino explains that at Atlus, they consider how to make a game that will sell from the very beginning, and work out the entire game\u2019s framework at the planning stage. \u201cFor these aspects, I think about the game as a producer,\u201d Hashino comments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Metaphor<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hashino also came up with the original story concept for Metaphor ReFantazio and wrote the plot for other games like Persona 4 Golden. When creating a game\u2019s story, Hashino first focuses on coming up with the reasons and motivations behind the characters\u2019 actions and establishing a rough outline of the story\u2019s beginning and ending. \u201cOnce you have worked out the beginning and ending, you just need to link them together,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Metaphor<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As for whether Metaphor ReFantazio will get a follow-up game, Hashino reveals that he doesn\u2019t have any concrete plans at the moment. \u201cHowever, I think it would be good to make a sequel.\u201d he adds. \u201cWe started Metaphor ReFantazio with the plan of growing it into Atlus\u2019s third RPG series after Shin Megami Tensei and Persona. So, we would like to develop Metaphor ReFantazio into a signature IP that represents our company.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more insights into Metaphor ReFantazio\u2019s development check out composer Shoji Meguro on how he created the game\u2019s unusual soundtrack<\/a>, and art director\/character designer Shigenori Soejima on the unique appeal of the game\u2019s characters<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Metaphor ReFantazio creative producer and director Katsura Hashino reveals how he approached the creation of Atlus’s hit new RPG.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":42165,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[64,3],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-42150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-development","category-news","tag-japan-related-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nMetaphor ReFantazio and Persona series' Katsura Hashino reveals\u00a0his approach to directing and producing: "I want to oversee the creative process right to the end."\u00a0 - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Metaphor ReFantazio creative producer and director Katsura Hashino reveals how he approached the creation of Atlus's hit new RPG.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/metaphor-refantazio-and-persona-series-katsura-hashino-reveals-his-approach-to-directing-and-producing-i-want-to-oversee-the-creative-process-right-to-the-end\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Metaphor ReFantazio and Persona series' Katsura Hashino reveals\u00a0his approach to directing and producing: "I want to oversee the creative process right to the end."\u00a0 - 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