Yasumi Matsuno leaves Level-5 [Update: Post #201]
- Thread starter Takao
- Start date
Kageshinzo
Member
Came here to post this.
Could you make a list of evidence from the past five years that he's not, preferably dated? ^_^
Femmeworth
Banned
Is that a threat? >_>
There's nothing wrong with a person whose energy is sapped by working at Japanese companies. Speaking from experience: their corporate culture and its attendant sleep deprivation are almost designed specifically to weed out creative, intelligent, insightful people. Matsuno should form his own company, hire the most interesting people he can find (possibly as freelancers), mandate that everyone sleep eight hours per day or more, and take as much time as they need to make what they want to make.
slaughterking
Member
Hopefully it's not mental issues that are plaguing him.
Lady Bird
Matsuno's Goebbels
There's no evidence that Ito has lost his director title, neither.
And considering his open-ended FF vision is pretty much on par with SE's latest vision since FFXIII got the reception it got, considering that Ito's games have sold better and scored much better than Toriyama's FFXIIIs, and especially considering that Ito is one of the most influential FF game designers, the chances of him NOT directing FFXV are probably very low. After all, who else does SE have for this position? He has the track record, he has the experience, and even his vision is now SE's vision.
Matsuno also had a role in FFTA while he worked on FFXII, and Toriyama and Kitase were also involved, respectively, on FFXII:RW, and Dirge of Cerberus and that music Harmonic game, while FFXIII was being made. It has been normal for FF directors to work on smaller, side-projects while their big games are in production.
yeah, what is mistwalker working on nowadays?
Just take it with you.
Member
I can't say I'm sad to see Matsuno leave Level-5. They seemed like a poor fit for his talents.
Probably a water skiing game, as a sequel to their mega successful surfer game.
leddmonkey
Member
I would love a sequel to Vagrant Story, its one of my all time favorites. Demon's Souls and Dark Souls kind of remind me of a modern day Vagrant Story (apples to oranges I know, especially on the combat system).
This would be the epitome of awesomeness:
From Software + Matsuno + Sakimoto & Iwata = "Vagrant Souls"
This would be the epitome of awesomeness:
From Software + Matsuno + Sakimoto & Iwata = "Vagrant Souls"
I too would love a handheld remake and am luke warm on a sequel.
MagiusNecros
Gilgamesh Fan Annoyance
Do it. Or Lord Vermilion+VS+DS
Amen
You wish it was...
Yasumi joins Grasshopper? I wouldn't mind if that actually happened.
TO proves he still has all his game design chops and then some, that game is the best remake I've ever played, and has some incredibly smart features in it.
I want him enthroned at a company that will let him do the work he wants to do
I'd love to see him collaborate with a (good) western studio on something, just to see what would come out.
I want him enthroned at a company that will let him do the work he wants to do
I'd love to see him collaborate with a (good) western studio on something, just to see what would come out.
lunchwithyuzo
Banned
I thought Matsuno's involvement in TO PSP was pretty minor (consulting or something?) and Minagawa stepped in to do the heavy lifting?
That which doesn't kill you doesn't always make you stronger, sometimes it makes you much, much weaker.
Here's hoping he can someday make a full recovery from whatever he's got, and come out stronger.
pants
Member
afaik Level 5 is only doing publishing
DJSharpeCheddar
Banned
Nintendo should hire him a la Takahashi/Monolith. Gave him some resources and said go nuts, look how that turned out.
Nintendo should just be hiring all of these disillusioned Japanese luminaries. Why the hell not?
Nintendo should just be hiring all of these disillusioned Japanese luminaries. Why the hell not?
This is unfortunately the truth. Be thankful every day if you are hale and hearty of body and mind
Starsunder
Member
I wish we'd get another Ivalice game by him
You and me, friends forever.
MagiusNecros
Gilgamesh Fan Annoyance
Vagrant Story 2 for Wii U.
I don't know that pleading and begging for a sequel to those games is really what he wants at all.
His responses to fan love of the Ogre series in that big interview a few years ago were... evasive.
In fact his responses to a lot of the questions were interesting, he has an unusual perspective on games in general. I wonder how much of that perspective was tainted by his experience at SE and particularly on FFXII.
I'd be happy to see him working on anything substantial though, rpg or no, sequel or otherwise.
Still my favorite designer in japan, and one of my top ten period
His responses to fan love of the Ogre series in that big interview a few years ago were... evasive.
In fact his responses to a lot of the questions were interesting, he has an unusual perspective on games in general. I wonder how much of that perspective was tainted by his experience at SE and particularly on FFXII.
I'd be happy to see him working on anything substantial though, rpg or no, sequel or otherwise.
Still my favorite designer in japan, and one of my top ten period
MagiusNecros
Gilgamesh Fan Annoyance
I don't know that pleading and begging for a sequel to those games is really what he wants at all.
His responses to fan love of the Ogre series in that big interview a few years ago were... evasive.
In fact his responses to a lot of the questions were interesting, he has an unusual perspective on games in general. I wonder how much of that perspective was tainted by his experience at SE and particularly on FFXII.
I'd be happy to see him working on anything substantial though, rpg or no, sequel or otherwise.
Still my favorite designer in japan, and one of my top ten period
He just needs to make more games.
D
Deleted member 20920
Unconfirmed Member
But that's what Matsuno wants. He wants to make games that are small and fast to develop
DJSharpeCheddar
Banned
Link?
I don't know that pleading and begging for a sequel to those games is really what he wants at all.
His responses to fan love of the Ogre series in that big interview a few years ago were... evasive.
In fact his responses to a lot of the questions were interesting, he has an unusual perspective on games in general. I wonder how much of that perspective was tainted by his experience at SE and particularly on FFXII.
I'd be happy to see him working on anything substantial though, rpg or no, sequel or otherwise.
Still my favorite designer in japan, and one of my top ten period
Absolutely agreed.
By "big interview", do you mean the Tactics Ogre "Lover's Voice" fan book? I've got that book and would like to see exactly what he said.
Page number?DJSharpeCheddar said:
It's really not that simple. Monolithsoft is an entire development studio. Takahashi is just one man in that studio, but he is a director and writer who has worked with people in that studio for over a decade. So giving them a larger budget to make games is just one factor there. The familiar environment makes it easier to actually get a good product out of it.
On the other hand, Matsuno is someone who has not led a major project for 6 years now, the core development team he worked with all his career is still at Square Enix, and it doesn't look like any of them are particularly interested in going freelance or leaving their current posts. Sure, you can still throw a pile of money at Matsuno and ask if he wants to form some new team and make a major game again, but he might decline, or worse yet, he might fail to deliver in the end because his ability to handle such a project now remains an uncertainty.
But of course people who go around shouting "XXXXXXXXX should just hire him and give him a ton of money!" probably don't care to think about all that. It's easier to believe in fairy tales that Money + Talent = Automatic Great Results.
DJSharpeCheddar
Banned
Believe it or not, I do understand that games don't spring fully-formed from one man's head. That's why I said "Takahashi/Monolith".
I don't believe in that fairy tale exactly, and call me naive if you want, but I DO believe that Money + Talent + Good Management + Support CAN = Results. It seems like there's a lot of talent out there being wasted at the moment.
DJSharpeCheddar
Banned
And whether these people would come with their teams that helped them make great games in the past or not, there is clearly something that sets them apart, and a capable group like Nintendo *should* be able to find a way to leverage that into something compelling.
Matsuno may be a tough one because of the way he seems to work, I'll grant. But again, I'm speaking more broadly.
Matsuno may be a tough one because of the way he seems to work, I'll grant. But again, I'm speaking more broadly.
So where's the good management and support? Who is Matsuno going to work with? Would they be a good fit? Does it guarantee a good game? There are so many uncertainties. Here's a guy who quit both major developers he previously worked for. I'm going to keep my expectations extremely low from now on. If he proves himself again, then we get another great game. Otherwise, oh well, lots of other shit to play.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
if they made a Dark Cloud 3 then they can reinvigorate my interest in their company
Thanks for that; that's a good one.
I'd have to check the dates, but I think you can even see the genesis of Crimson Shroud there, he makes repeated references to visual novels and choices, as well as smaller mobile games etc, all stuff that points right at CS.
As for why he left L5 and where/if/what he'll do next... wish I knew.
It's frustrating knowing one of your favorite japanese devs isn't working on anything at all. At least Hidetaka is riding on the Souls wave right now :|
Glass Rebel
Member
So where's the good management and support? Who is Matsuno going to work with? Would they be a good fit? Does it guarantee a good game? There are so many uncertainties. Here's a guy who quit both major developers he previously worked for. I'm going to keep my expectations extremely low from now on. If he proves himself again, then we get another great game. Otherwise, oh well, lots of other shit to play.
Not saying his next game will be awesome but I don't get the bolded. So what if he left Level-5? Does that make him indecisive/impulsive in your eyes? I mean, as far as I can tell we don't know what happened, he might have realized during the development of Crimson Shroud that Level-5 just wasn't the company he wanted to work for.
Cornbread78
Member
- Heck yeah, would be nice, maybe he can help SE actually make an RPG for the VITA, or help start/finish the FFX remake.
Did he have anything to do with the White Knight Chroncles series? Still waiting for teh final game of the trilogy to be announced/revealed.
I'm pointing out that he isn't a person who seems to be able to happily work with any developer to create his vision. If he were, then it wouldn't matter where he worked and he would not be leaving. As such, simply getting bankrolled by a big company like Nintendo is not going to change that fact, and it's going to take more than just money to put Matsuno in a position to create the sort of games he was loved and respected for in the past.
Glass Rebel
Member
Ah, gotcha. I took your comment out of context before but I actually agree.
It's funny in a way how certain developers are expected to work on the exact same type of game they've worked on in their past when they join a new company even though they're missing the rest of the team. Valve fans know this very well since we're still waiting on that System Shock style game from Doug Church :lol It's going to be fun when Cliffy finally decides to join a company.
Finally, we'll get the Jazz Jackrabbit sequel we deserve!
SatelliteOfLove
Member
Well, I mean, they've went on record as having had busted their asses at least on Vagrant Story. Sakimoto was talking about how they buzzed like bees, but were smiling often as they worked on it in an interview once. Busting your ass and a soul-sucking work environment though...yeah.
I've heard it surmised that Minagawa acted as buffer between Matsuno and the brass. "Heavy lifting" emotionally, probably.
He can team up with Minaba again at Mobage!
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This generation has been SOOOOOOOOO good, I gonna have to excuse myself gentlemen.
I sort of wonder if letting make puzzle games and whatnot really would've been best. He sounds like he has serious confidence issues, so lightweight stuff to get in the groove again SOUNDS like a good idea. Especially since I doubt that puzzle game would really be in the same league as the crappier mobile stuff purely due to the differing circumstances (and the fact it's not some freemium game).