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New Interview with Gouichi Suda

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:27 pm
by 87th
I wasn't sure whether or not to type this up, as it's not terribly relevant, but he mentions working on Revolution and Kojima, a couple of times. I was also aware there were a few Suda fans who wouldn't have been able to read the interview, so I thought I may as well. He seems really glad to finally have a chance to talk to the (few) European gamers who have become fans of his since killer7. He seems like he's a very crazy and fun guy, who's trying to be extremely polite. :lol: He also makes mentions of things that Kojima really likes (Joy Division, Out of This World, etc.), so I think they'll be a great team.
Official Nintendo Magazine (UK)- Issue 2 wrote: SUDA51
[aka Gouichi Suda]

Position: Managing Director

ONM: First, can we say thank you very much for agreeing to appear in the new Official Nintendo Magazine.
GS: Congratulations on the new magazine! I expect your magazine will stimulate the European games market!

ONM: Yeah, we're all about stimulating those Europeans! Our first question is about you. How did you get into the videogames industry?
GS: I'm a big fan of pro-wrestling, and pro-wrestling lead me to the videogames industry. I joined Human (a game development/publishing company that has passed away, now) as a director of a pro-wrestling game. Before that I worked as an undertaker.
At the time pro-wrestling was very, very popular entertainment in Japan - pro-wrestling games were big hits for the Japanese market, and Human was searching for staff who knew a lot about pro-wrestling. Actually, I failed a job interview for Human once, but anyway...

ONM: How do you begin to make a game like killer7? What's the first thing you do when you sit down to make the game?
GS: At the time, Hifumi Kouno, the director of Tekki (you know it as Steel Battalion[/b]), was working with Capcom on the Tekki project. He recommended me to Shinji Mikami [creator of Resident Evil]. I was called to Osaka [Capcom's head office] and met Shinji Mikami there.
He said "Would you make a game for GameCube with me?". I accepted his offer immediately. I had some early plans for a game at the time so I showed them to him. Prototype graphics of killer7 were in these papers; after six month the prototype of killer7 was ready! After that Mikami-san said "please make this game as you like!". He left this roject to me.

ONM: Shinji Mikami seems like a very quiet and reserved man. What was he like to wrk with?
GS: Really? Shinji Mikami is a quiet man!? I think that's far from the truth. European people should change their opinion! He is always powerful and active - he talks non-stop like an assault rifle.
I respect people who create games with great energy like he does. He always analyses circumstances and trends, and uses the results to develop videogames; this is his intelligent side. Also, he challenges people to create games with this ferocious, wild and rough emotion; this is his creative side. He has a multiple personality just like killer7... That's it! The model of killer7 can be him!

ONM: Are there other people in the game or film industry you'd like to work with?
GS: Naturally I want to work with Shinji Mikami again in the future. I've been directing adventure games mainly, so one of my goals is Shinji Mikami and another is Hideo Kojima [Metal Gear Solid Creator].
Both of them represent Japanese videogames and are popular creators all over the world. And if I had the opportunity I would work with Eric Chahi [Another World].
It's difficult to make the others happen but I want to work with New Order on game music, and I would like to get Peter Saville [designer of Joy Division and Suede album covers] to design some sleve artwork.

ONM: What is your favourite and most inspirational videogame?
GS: Another World.

ONM: It seems the DS has revitalised the Japanese market. Did you think it could be so successful when you first saw it?
GS: I have to be honest: at first I thought the PSP would be more successful than the DS. I am really surprised at the success of the DS. When I went to the game shop people were buying two DSes - one for themeselves, one for their sweetheart or children as a Christmas present. It's an unbelievable but delightful situation!

ONM: You've started work on a Revolution game already. What makes you want to make a game for the new console?
GS: It's because I developed killer7 for the GameCube. I experienced a great development environment with the Nintendo machine, so we can use the know-how we gained to develop a Revolution game. Besides, the concept of the controller is excellent. The new input device gives me a chance to invent some great new gameplay ideas.

ONM: Do you have a Revolution development kit and controller? What do you think about it?
GS: I will get one soon, but I had an opportunity to it once. The controller is very comfortable in my hand... more than I thought it would be. I think I can create a game that has a completely new interface by factoring in the exercise aspect and the physical condition of players.

ONM: killer7 was one of our favourite games of 2005. Can we expect something simular from your Revolution game, or will it be a completely different experience?
GS: Thank you very much! killer7 is the first of my games that has been published overseas. I'm absolutely overjoyed that many people could enjoy my world-debut game! I'm developing the Revolution game with a simular ideology to killer7. I always aim to develop unique, incomparable games that no one has played before. My new game will be like that; please look forward to it!

ONM: Do you feel under a lot of pressure to come up with something that's better than killer7?
GS: I think killer7 is a trigger; now people are looking forward to my next work. That is great! I'm 37 years old now but just as New Order and The Cure are still active, both myself and Grasshopper will continue to create new game! I promise to give people in Europe and North America as many games as I can create. We will surprise you with a scenario that no one can imagine!

ONM: This year's E3 was huge, with the unveiling of the Revolution and PS3, as well as new DS games. What do you think will be the most impressive announcement at the show?
GS: Last year PS3 was the focus of the E3 show. But this year I'm sure that the Revolution will be the focus of E3!

ONM: Finally, we hear you're a football fan. What are your predictions for this year's World Cup?
GS: I think England will win the World Cup for certain! I say that because if I choose England in Winning Eleven [Pro Evolution Soccer] I never lose! Owen and Lampard will score a lot. However, you have to be careful about one thing: if Japan beat Brazil, Japan will proceed to the [final] and England will have to play Japan. That may be a tough one for England. I'll support England in the World Cup, and would you please support Japan?


Suda's 37? He only looks 25! I'm certainly supporting Japan in the World Cup for him, though.

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:45 am
by Cyan Garamonde
Suda's cool. I wonder what he and Kojima could come up with if they really start working together.

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:25 am
by 87th
Well, a fantastic Adventure game, basically. It's something that I really can't wait for. Kojima has been looking for a long time to make something truly original, and Suda's exactly the man to help him do that.

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:42 am
by 87th
Oh, by the way, although Suda says killer7 was his first game to be released outside Japan, Michigan: Report From Hell was given a fairly limited Budget release in Europe. I've just ordered it. Any fans of Suda should try and get a copy, as it's going to be rare as hell in a few years time (in fact, it kind of is, already).
This is one of the few places I've seen it for sale at-
http://www.blahdvd.com/Blah/Games_Produ ... ffSection=