Yesterday, Platinum Games CEO Tatsuya Minami reaffirmed his company’s credo that promises to “deliver smiles and surprises around the world.” Feeling that the company has succeeding in building a quality brand name, Minami hopes that they can lead the charge in igniting a renaissance amongst Japanese games studios.
His observations are nothing new. We’ve heardotherindustry figures describe Japanese businesses as unwillingly to pursue originality and instead placing heavier focus on tried-and-true franchises. Sure, these are trends that have affected the global market, but they seem to have impacted Japan most of all.
In my opinion, Platinum Games knows how to take chances and turn the familiar into the exotic. With only four games under its belt and another on the horizon, the company has already explored a breadth of genres and concepts, from beat-’em-ups to space sims and beyond. The games haven’t always been the most commercially successful, but they’ve all been well-received by players who desire something offbeat.
I doubt that expressing a renewed effort to set an example for other Japanese companies is going to instigate a grand revival. Nonetheless, it’s refreshing to hear a company head who isn’t content to maintain the status quo.
