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Audio Inc. talks Sakura Note localization possibilities, Contact sequel hopes, WiiWare interest
A portion of a C3 interview with Audio Inc.'s Akira Ueda...
C3: Will Sakura Note ever be released in Europe (via Rising Star Games) and the US (via XSEED)?
AU: It is hard to say about the release because Audio Inc. doesn’t have the rights. I used to request that Yasuhiro Wada-san release it abroad (when he was still at Marvelous) *laughs* I think as this game has a very Japanese theme, it would be interesting to see how the world reacts to it. Do Americans relax, drinking on a sofa or lying in a bedroom when playing games? I’m very interested in the different lifestyles in each country.
C3: Do you have ideas for a game on Wii or WiiWare?
AU: Yes, I do. I would want to challenge myself on Wii, or any hardware, if I had the chance. When it comes to developing packaged games for retail, I hear that unfortunately most publishers don’t approve the necessary budgets easily anymore. This is a great concern due to the current condition of the economy around the world and the general poor state of the game market, too.
I think it is easy to reach an agreement on the business side for downloads because downloading software can be done at a low cost. Therefore, it might make more business sense to develop Space*Agency for the download market instead. I think we might also make an original game for the WiiWare service, but the problem is what to do in terms of office and staff costs in the meantime.
C3: Will you work with Goichi Suda-san again to make a Contact sequel in the future?
AU: Yes, I will. I’m always ready to work with him! But Suda-san always looks busy *laughs* As for my personal feelings in general towards a second game, I hope that I can indeed release Contact 2 someday. The world of Contact cannot be represented without the Professor and Mochi! Regardless of the business aspects of making a sequel, I think the world would be a better place if there was another Contact game in existence!
Full interview here
C3: Will Sakura Note ever be released in Europe (via Rising Star Games) and the US (via XSEED)?
AU: It is hard to say about the release because Audio Inc. doesn’t have the rights. I used to request that Yasuhiro Wada-san release it abroad (when he was still at Marvelous) *laughs* I think as this game has a very Japanese theme, it would be interesting to see how the world reacts to it. Do Americans relax, drinking on a sofa or lying in a bedroom when playing games? I’m very interested in the different lifestyles in each country.
C3: Do you have ideas for a game on Wii or WiiWare?
AU: Yes, I do. I would want to challenge myself on Wii, or any hardware, if I had the chance. When it comes to developing packaged games for retail, I hear that unfortunately most publishers don’t approve the necessary budgets easily anymore. This is a great concern due to the current condition of the economy around the world and the general poor state of the game market, too.
I think it is easy to reach an agreement on the business side for downloads because downloading software can be done at a low cost. Therefore, it might make more business sense to develop Space*Agency for the download market instead. I think we might also make an original game for the WiiWare service, but the problem is what to do in terms of office and staff costs in the meantime.
C3: Will you work with Goichi Suda-san again to make a Contact sequel in the future?
AU: Yes, I will. I’m always ready to work with him! But Suda-san always looks busy *laughs* As for my personal feelings in general towards a second game, I hope that I can indeed release Contact 2 someday. The world of Contact cannot be represented without the Professor and Mochi! Regardless of the business aspects of making a sequel, I think the world would be a better place if there was another Contact game in existence!