After the recording, I felt that Mr. Kimura from room6 has a career that intertwines the evolution of the gaming industry with personal passion. Born in 1972, Mr. Kimura aspired to become a game developer despite facing the employment ice age. However, due to the economic conditions of that time, he initially started his career as a business engineer. Nevertheless, his passion never faded and was reignited with the advent of the iPhone.
I would like to recount the story that connects this to his current work at room6.
From Business Engineer to Game Development
Mr. Kimura started his career in the 1990s, engaging in the development of various business systems, including accounting systems, network security systems, and programming systems for television stations. The story of spending New Year's Eve in front of a computer during the "Y2K problem" in 1999 evokes a sense of the times. I believe the technical skills and experience he cultivated during this period became a significant foundation for his later game development.
In 2007, the arrival of the iPhone marked a major turning point for Mr. Kimura. He was deeply impressed by Steve Jobs' presentation and felt a strong desire to challenge himself in iPhone app development. However, his conservative workplace did not accept his proposal. This prompted Mr. Kimura to decide to go independent, and he founded his own company in 2010.
The Impact of the iPhone and Independence
After becoming independent, Mr. Kimura initially continued with business-related work, but around 2013, he began to seriously engage in game development. The catalyst was his fascination with the possibility of creating games alone by utilizing the iPhone framework. The iPhone provided an environment where individual developers could produce high-quality games due to its simple operability and powerful development tools. This allowed Mr. Kimura to find a path to realize his unique ideas.
When I first picked up the iPhone 3G around 2009, I experienced in real-time how various services and possibilities unfolded through applications on a device that fit in the palm of my hand, so I can deeply understand this feeling. The internet and the iPhone felt like the beginning of my life.
However, it can be assumed that the early stages of game development were filled with trial and error. He likely had to relearn programming details and spent a lot of time building design and user interfaces.
New Possibilities for Indie Games and the Importance of Music
While dedicating himself to game development independently, Mr. Kimura became aware of the new possibilities of indie games. Nowadays, indie games, which are free from the constraints of large companies, allow for creative freedom and the maximum expression of individual creativity, serving as a fertile ground for innovative ideas and unique stories. However, at that time, there was still an atmosphere of small-scale, low-budget game development.
When asked about the elements he seeks in games, Mr. Kimura emphasized the importance of music in games. Especially in indie games, incorporating live music is quite rare (due to high costs and technical hurdles), but he strongly believes in its value. From his words, I understood that "music shapes the game's world and has the power to stir players' emotions."
His encounter with composer Daisuke Shiiba, who hails from Nintendo, had a significant impact on Mr. Kimura's game production. Shiiba's music adds depth and realism to the game. Mr. Kimura was strongly drawn to Shiiba's music, and by collaborating with him, he was able to incorporate a unique musical experience into his games. This was not just background music but functioned as an essential element of the game.
Moreover, Mr. Kimura states that in his game development, the four pillars of music, scenario, graphics, and game systems must come together to create works that captivate players. Indeed, the charm of indie games lies in their unique "worldview," which differs from the meticulous graphics and superior game systems of major consumer games, and music and scenarios are elements that cultivate such a worldview.
Distinctive features are sometimes avoided in major commercial games aimed at a large consumer base, leading to a certain degree of similarity in creations. However, in indie games, there are no such constraints, allowing developers the freedom to present a somewhat egoistic worldview.
Games as Interactive Media
In game development, feedback from test players is extremely important. Mr. Kimura, while experiencing the difficulty of judgment, continues to respect the opinions of test players and strives to enhance the game's quality. Feedback from test players plays a crucial role in revealing subtle bugs and points for adjusting game balance that developers may not notice. Since indie game development is often carried out by small teams, flexibility in incorporating external opinions is essential to achieve maximum results within limited resources.
Furthermore, by accepting feedback from test players, not only is the quality of the game improved, but the relationship with the player community is also strengthened. I believe that such a strong community is a characteristic of game platforms. This is also an important asset for indie game developers, as the cooperative relationship with players may lead to long-term success.
The medium of video, which I specialize in, is linear, and viewers passively consume its content. However, games possess interactivity, and they only come to completion when players actively engage. Players' choices and actions directly influence the game's progression, resulting in different experiences for each player, even with the same game. This is one reason why game development is complex, as it requires designing different experiences for each player.
Mr. Kimura also states that game development is the pinnacle of complex systems. While providing players with the freedom of choice, adjustments must be made to ensure that the overall balance of the game is not disrupted, which requires highly advanced skills and insights. To successfully achieve such complex designs, repeated testing and refinement are essential, and this is where the role of test players becomes crucial, highlighting the differences from producing content in the medium of video.
The Miracle of Co-Creation Among Creators
Co-creation among creators is very important. In the co-creation process, the expertise and unique perspectives of each creator merge, creating new value that cannot be produced alone. However, I feel that creating an environment where healthy co-creation can take place is a challenging task. One example of Mr. Kimura's achievement is "Phantom AP." This work was created through collaboration among creators, and he describes how communication flowed smoothly and progressed in an ideal manner. The tension created during that process was something I felt while playing, leading me to think, "So that was the case."
An important point of co-creation is to share each other's visions and collaborate to create new value. The stronger the trust between creators, the greater the effect of co-creation. This is particularly important in indie game development, where small teams can work together to advance projects, resulting in more attractive and innovative games.
Brand Direction and the Importance of Select Shops
The indie game label "Yokaze," led by Kimura, aims to provide carefully selected games like a boutique shop. This is an important strategy to meet consumer needs and avoid wasting time. The modern gaming market is rich in content, making it difficult for consumers to find games that suit them among many options. Therefore, "Yokaze" serves as a guideline for consumers by offering reliable games that have been meticulously chosen.
This boutique-like approach is not only crucial for providing high-quality games but also for building brand reliability. Kimura aims to give players a sense of security and anticipation by ensuring that the games offered by "Yokaze" maintain consistent quality and unique charm. This is key to establishing long-term relationships with consumers and is seen as an important element supporting the future of indie games.
Conclusion of this Editorial
Kimura's career and his creative philosophy provide guidance for success in the indie game industry. By incorporating feedback from playtesters, he enhances the quality of games, understands the complexity of games as interactive media, and creates new value through co-creation among creators. Additionally, by adopting a boutique-like approach and providing reliable games, he builds long-term relationships with consumers.
Kimura's efforts serve as a model and success story for indie game developers. I hope that his passion and strategy contribute to the overall development of the indie game industry and help expand the framework of entertainment content from Japan, fostering an environment where interesting content can emerge.
As someone who creates linear entertainment content daily, I also look to Kimura's movements for inspiration and aim to create engaging content that straddles the line between linear and narrative.
(Written by: Yuki Sakoda)