AppBank 2017 Year-End Creator Survey Vol. 2

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This Japanese-language interview was conducted by AppBank at the end of 2017 as part of a larger survey, split across three volumes and sorted alphabetically by company name, of prominent producers and directors of games. Each creator was asked a series of short questions to provide a retrospective on 2017, as well as about their resolutions for 2018.

AppBank 2017 Year-End Creator Survey Vol.2

December 26, 2017

Arc System Works: Mori Toshimichi (Director/BlazBlue Series Producer)

[Director] BlazBlue series

What smartphone game caught your interest the most in 2017?

I started FGO just this year, but it's probably FGO in the end. Many different people like Fate, and a long time ago I thought I would try it, but recently I've started to become addicted to it. After that, there's SINoALICE, the reason for which I've written below. I'm also interested in the animation style of Destiny Child.

What console game caught your interest the most in 2017?

That would be NieR:Automata. From the beginning I've liked Yoko Taro's worldview. Also, I thought that Platinum Games' action and Yoshida Akihiko's design made for very strong content.

This question is not just limited to games, but what content impacted you the most in 2017?

Disney's acquisition of 21 Century Fox. It was news that opened up the hope of expansion to a Marvel lover.

A resolution for 2018 if you would.

For now, it would be to continue production of BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War. I feel like in just a bit all sorts of information will be released, so please wait just a bit longer.

Arc System Works: Masaomi Kikuchi (BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War Director)

[Director] BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War, Beans 1980

What smartphone game caught your interest the most in 2017?

The Trail. It's completely made in 3D, but the presentation is entrancing. The game design itself might not be anything special, but I never get tired of looking at the background. It's a good feeling when I remember the excitement of being able to climb over whatever mountain you see in the distance in this kind of open world game.

What console game caught your interest the most in 2017?

Rez Infinite. It used to be a PS2 game, but it feels like Sega decided, despite its old age, to exhibit it and turned it into a VR title.

This question is not just limited to games, but what content impacted you the most in 2017?

MUTEK.JP 2017 and Team Lab Jungle (Art Night) (チームラボジャングル（Art Night）). I've presented them together because there's a common thread. They embodied a way of changing the traditional method of just looking at the content on the screen in front of you. They were events that resulted from much trial and error on how to involve the audience in the media with the current technology. Speaking of which, "VR" can be said to be a "plane" rather than a "point" of production. It feels like the age of being able to "hack" the brain has begun to emerge.

A resolution for 2018 if you would.

That would be ASW's title in development, BBDW (BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War). We are working hard so that everyone will be able to play it soon! Thank you all in advance.

Credits

• Translated by Chao

References

• AppBank (JP), 2017 Year-End Smartphone Game Industry Creator Survey Vol. 2 (Year End Plans)