Sony Japan announces that SIE Japan Studio will be headed by Nicolas Doucet

CurryPanda said:
Why is a gaijin taking over a Japanese studio?
Click to expand...
That's all there needs to be said, Sony as a whole is almost ran by foreigners now.
So far everything (anime) HBO?/Warner/Netflix touched AFAIK turned unto shit because they simply don't get it.
The closest thing to Studio Japan is PQube, but even then the games they have released doesn't have that "it" factor.
 
That's a......really interesting hire. Astro Bot's incredible so in theory it's a good mix but we'll see how open the team is to a western influence.
 
Japan Studio can't really get any worse, so it might be a good thing. They barely released games this gen (Astro Bot and TLG), they didn't release anything big (AAA), and they are a big studio.
 
Ar¢tos said:
Japan Studio can't really get any worse, so it might be a good thing. They barely released games this gen (Astro Bot and TLG), they didn't release anything big (AAA), and they are a big studio.
Click to expand...
I'm shocked we got nothing Ape Escape related, even if it was just some weird offshoot. Even PS3 got that Move game.
 
PPIMystaceus said:
Japan Studio to be run by a Japanese person.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, IIRC Rain and Puppeteer to name a few were helmed? by Allen Becker.
Both in my book are what makes Japanese games special, but it's coming to a point where shit is in name only.
It's just another thing people will shove under the carpet and move on in typical fashion.
 
Mista said:
Don't care who runs the show. Just give Fumito Ueda whatever he asks for!
Click to expand...
Ueda is no longer at SIEJ. He had left and formed his own studio Gen Design (which also includes some former members of Team Ico) before The Last Guardian was finished.
 
sublimit said:
Ueda is no longer at SIEJ. He had left and formed his own studio Gen Design (which also includes some former members of Team Ico) before The Last Guardian was finished.
Click to expand...
Yeah, didn't they get some form of outside investment to make a multiplatform game? I thought thatw as a thing lately!
 
Might be a good thing. Some Japanese people are insane. Specially the ones that cry about things on twitter. Specifically phone games.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
CyberPanda CyberPanda ---> Siliconera.

Nicolas Doucet, the director behind Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, is now head of SIE Japan Studio, Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced.

Doucet directed 2007's EyePet for the PlayStation 3. In 2012, he went on to found ASOBI Team, a division of Japan Studio formed specifically to develop games for Sony's PlayStation VR headset.

Aside from Astro Bot, SIE Japan Studio has been responsible for games such as Shadow of the Colossus, Gravity Rush, and The Last Guardian. Japan Studio was also involved in the development of From Software's Bloodborne.

Doucet's takeover of Japan Studio follows other recent announcements of management re-shuffling at Sony Interactive Entertainment. Last November, Sony announced that Herman Hulst, co-founder of Guerilla Games, would be taking over Worldwide Studios. Prior to that, the company appointed former PlayStation Europe head Jim Ryan its new President and CEO.
Click to expand...

He's not a bad choice TBH and the things he were behind were/are success stories I believe.
I can't say I'm surprised, Japan as a whole is falling more and more from grace in practically every sector.
It's why I said some weeks ago that I wouldn't be surprised if Jim Ryan boots Kenichiro at some point, I see a wolf vs. sheep situation.
 
I think they made gravity rush right? I really like those games even though we probably won't see another one. I never actually understood the censorship, like I can shoot someone in the head with blood and everything, but seeing a little tits is bad?
 
Shin said:
That's all there needs to be said, Sony as a whole is almost ran by foreigners now.
So far everything (anime) HBO?/Warner/Netflix touched AFAIK turned unto shit because they simply don't get it.
The closest thing to Studio Japan is PQube, but even then the games they have released doesn't have that "it" factor.
Click to expand...
I'm assuming you referring to the American anime adaptations? Because a lot of adaptations are shit. Most TV shows and movies are shit. I don't think it's about getting the source material. I think it's just that they need to make changes that aren't necessary in order to appeal to the western people and in general most entertainment fails.
 
I don't really recognize Sony anymore. They keep westernizing more and more, at least for PlayStation.

That doesn't have to be a bad thing, mind you, but they're a much different company than they were from PS1-PS3/PSP. I feel like that has both positives and negatives.
 
PPIMystaceus said:
I get Sony's whole westernisation approach (though not a fan of it), but I at least expected Japan Studio to be run by a Japanese person.
Click to expand...

That's kinda dumb to assume though. It's not like a westerner can't learn the language or understand the Japanese work culture.
 
Mista said:
I thought they were under SIE Japan! :(
Click to expand...
Nah they are independent now but they obviously have very close ties with Sony. Maybe their next project could also be a Sony exclusive although in all honesty the more people get a chance to try their games the better.
 
giphy.gif



i feel my heart is broken... should be a Japanese Team.

Astrobot is great... but the honor should be for Keiichiro Toyama or Fumito Ueda.

If he make Gravity rush 3... i will respect him.
 
-Arcadia- said:
Japanese for foreigner. Usually a negative connotation, as I understand it, as the Japanese tend to value their own culture above others.
Click to expand...
so are you telling me the OP is bigoted and racist when sony has no problem with having a non japanese running their studios however the OP saw an issue?
 
EightBit Man said:
Hope this does not imply more censorship for my PlayStation brothers and sisters.
Click to expand...

If anything this will just accelerate that trend.

half-joking.

Hopefully he gels well with Japan Studio and isn't the equivalent of Square-Enix's "Ethics Committee".

SleepDoctor said:
All this restructuring before next gen is a bit scary.
Click to expand...

TBF Microsoft's been doing it, too. Just seemingly not at the same volume. PS-wise tho I think something we need to remember is the original PS4 team isn't there anymore. Andrew, Jack, Shawn...they're all gone :(
 
Last edited:
Agnostic2020 said:
so are you telling me the OP is bigoted and racist when sony has no problem with having a non japanese running their studios however the OP saw an issue?
Click to expand...

Yes. Currypanda must be stopped.

In seriousness, I respect that way of thinking. You should prize your culture above others, strive to make it the best, and keep it pure.

I'm white, but I see no problem in keeping Japanese development teams Japanese. It results in products with a unique flavor, born of a different culture and experiences, just as our western games offer their own style.

One of the most disappointing aspects of the connected age to me, whether due to physical travel or the internet, is that the world is threatening to become this multicultural blob of generic boringness, rather than having all sorts of distinct cultures and histories to enjoy.
 
thicc_girls_are_teh_best said:
If anything this will just accelerate that trend.

half-joking.

Hopefully he gels well with Japan Studio and isn't the equivalent of Square-Enix's "Ethics Committee".



TBF Microsoft's been doing it, too. Just seemingly not at the same volume. PS-wise tho I think something we need to remember is the original PS4 team isn't there anymore. Andrew, Jack, Shawn...they're all gone :(
Click to expand...


Thing is Sony has had a winning team/strategy this gen, no need for much change if any imo.


Ms on the other hand needs to change a lot of things to win gamers back over.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Bloodborne, Demon’s Souls producer establishes new game company Sirius Studio following departure from SIE Japan Studio
News 
12
1K
Roman Empire replied
Sony has become the second biggest company in Japan by market cap
2 3
133
7K
James Sawyer Ford replied
Shu Yoshida: Sony doesn't consider Nintendo competition anywhere except in Japan
2 3
131
773
EN250 replied
Would gaming be dead without Japan?
2 3
133
4K
PlayStaytion replied
Sony Reveals New First Party Org Chart Categorized by Studio Focus
2 3 4 5
224
2K
Clear replied
Top Bottom