The highlight of Volume 3 of "Chaser Game" by Hiroshi Matsuyama!Publishing titles and recruitment of new cartoonists also revealed

An interview with Hiroshi Matsuyama, President of CyberConnect2, is posted.

CyberConnect2 is a game developer who develops various titles. In addition to developing game software, he is expanding the range of activities such as working on the manga "Chaser Game".

I asked Mr. Matsuyama about various activities he has been doing recently and the game industry. He talked about publishers (sales companies) and developers (development companies), as well as the future development of the popular "Chaser Game" series and the future development of the company.

Not only those who like the company's title, but also Matsuyama's fans and those who are interested in the game industry should take a look.

If you come to the game industry, you can be an enemy! What is the intention of visiting a school !?

――For the past few years, in addition to SNS, Mr. Matsuyama has been doing various things such as disseminating information through videos, participating in events, giving lectures, and visiting schools. What is your intention here?

Before we talk about why we are doing this, we have a hard time hiring as a premise. It is also an era when newcomers are difficult to grow.

It used to be a lot of effort, guts, and ideas, but in the last five or ten years, the gaming industry is no longer open to anyone. Without solid technology and strategy, companies cannot create titles. And if the title's release is delayed by a month, it can lead to tremendous losses.

――If it's a big project, the number of employees is large, so if you surround the members for a month ...

Yes. Today, the days when children automatically dream about the gaming industry are over.

On the other hand, we think there are two steps to do. First, let the game industry have a dream. The next step is to teach you what to do specifically.

--So that's it.

I go to nearly 100 schools a year, both domestically and internationally. Until now, the main focus was on students aiming for the game industry, such as vocational schools and universities, but recently, as we get older, we are expanding the scope of our activities to junior high schools and elementary schools. It's not so much to remember the name, but to let you know that you have a job to make a game.

There is a big gap between what the average person thinks and the gaming industry. The gap remains silent and unfilled, leaving many children and students unaware of the gaming industry. Furthermore, I try to enter the industry without knowing how to do school.

――It's easy to say, but I think it's hard just to visit many schools ...

Of course, it's difficult, but if you don't do it, people won't grow up and you won't be able to hire them.

I used to be like that, but it's hard to see what game development really is. It's not a job that everyone can do, but it's a gorgeous and fun world. If you challenge yourself with a dream, you can capture it properly, so you need to tell us what you can do to open the way to a game creator and whether your dream will come true.

We think we need to teach it.

--For future human resources.

Yes. We are working to secure our creators three years from now. However, it is also "to get the industry to come" next.

Of course, I want creators with the same aspirations. However, not everyone can join us, so even if we can't become friends, we want them to join other manufacturers and become people who support the industry as rivals.

The reason I do that is that it all fits in a circle. If various staff members, such as producers and directors, share the visit, development will stop during that period. On Saturdays and Sundays, it will lead to work on holidays and overtime. I'm the president, but it's "all-you-can-use" that doesn't cost anything to operate (laughs).

――It's not an unreasonable thing, it's a measure based on your thoughts.

Many game creators don't like to lose. When doing this kind of thing, other manufacturers, such as Level-5's Mr. Hino (Akihiro Hino, President and CEO), asked, "I'm doing various things, but why are you doing it? What's the matter?" I will come. When I tell them what I want to do and what I think, it says, "That's right! We have to do it."

It's gradually being transmitted to the industry and starting to change, so I feel that what I'm doing is meaningful.

――I feel that the editing and writer industry is still in a difficult situation for young people to enter and grow up.

Strictly speaking, writers, editors, manga artists, illustrators, animators, etc. believe that the industry is failing to brand. You don't get any money because you're doing what you love. You may be able to do it when you are young, but it is difficult to keep going.

I think it's a dilemma that every industry has, but first I want to gradually change from the game industry and influence other industries and media. I'm thinking about such a big thing.

"Chaser Game" is a manga that can be drawn because it is Hiroshi Matsuyama!

――On the official channel CyberConnect2 OFFICIAL CHANNEL, I get the impression that you are doing various things, such as calling creators to talk and answering questions from fans.

As a developer, we have been developing game software. However, from now on, I will release the title as a publisher. I'll talk about the reason later ...

In addition to producing good works, we need to launch the CyberConnect2 brand in the future so that it will be recognized as an interesting manufacturer and have expectations.

To that end, we are developing programs and disseminating information on videos. We are launching new content this year, but please look forward to some videos other than me.

――It seems that manga development is one of the various things you are doing. It has been revealed so far, but please tell us how you decided to publish manga.

Many of the titles we have created are based on shōnen manga. Starting with the "NARUTO" series, "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure", the recently released "Dragon Ball Z KAKAROT", and the ".hack" series can be said to be shounen manga.

After all, we are good at this kind of development and have developed with respect for manga culture. During the development process, various people around me said, "If you like manga so much, you should do it." I develop games with manga as a hint, but I have been saying that my main business is a game creator and I do not do manga.

――What happened?

About 20 years ago, the development of the "NARUTO Ultimate" series led me to enter and leave the editorial department of "Weekly Shonen Jump". At that time, a person told me that there are various things such as manga, games, movies, etc., but it is manga that has produced the most IP in the world.

And that is because there are many "Weekly Shonen Jump".

Recent game development costs billions of yen. If it is a TV animation, it needs to move from 3 years ago, and it takes time and manpower. Novel does not have many work processes, but the text is difficult to read and it is difficult to spread.

Manga is the ultimate personal work, and it is easy for children to enter as an entrance to entertainment.

――It's certainly easy to enter.

The titles we make take several years to develop. We will do our best to attract users from all over the world, but it will cost money and time.

My best skill is manga. Game development is made with passion throughout the company, but if it's a manga, I can do it personally, so I can send out new IPs from CyberConnect2 on a regular basis in a short period of time. I wondered why I didn't do it earlier.

――That was the trigger, wasn't it?

A few years ago, I told our staff, "I will make not only games but also manga and anime. And I will do the first manga by Hiroshi Matsuyama." And if I do it, it's easy to understand works set in the game industry.

In the past, there was a manga in the game industry called "Tokyo Toy Box," but more than 10 years have passed since then. The industry has changed in the last 10 years, so I thought it would be better to set the stage in the latest modern industry and create a “slightly harsh expression” that only I can draw. That is the "chaser game".

――I dare to put in the material of the Egu eyes.

of course! When making games, I am aware that only CyberConnect2 can do it. In the same way, as far as I'm writing, I can't help but pick up only the good points of the industry, and I think it makes sense because I'm telling a story that can only be written by me.

――When you posted it, there was a big response from the readers.

It was a great success when I was told that my stomach hurts when I read it. In future developments, we plan to bring out new entertainment.

--Are there any things you are aware of when using the game industry as a subject?

What I'm careful about is that it's not good for content that only people in the game industry can understand, and content that can't be communicated. For example, people who can work but only think about rationally, such as "I understand, there is a type like Uokawa!" That people at advertising agencies can sympathize with when reading. There are people in every industry who lie and who can't meet the deadline.

I think that the evaluation of the work is "80% sympathy, 20% unexpected". First of all, I am careful so that many people will sympathize with me. This is also a measure to broaden the range of readers.

――It's a small story, but I was grinning when ERROR appeared on Mr. Ueda's PC monitor on the cover of Volume 1.

Thank you smile). It's a scene that has a character.

――I feel that it is close to Mr. Matsuyama's idea to consult and think while eating personally, but how about it?

There are two reasons. One is a manga-like technique. Of course I work at the company, but if I just cut out what is happening, the scene will always be in front of the PC. It's boring without a scene change, so I try to prepare at least two scenes per episode.

The other is realism. Game development is done by team production, but there are some things that can be decided in the conference room and things that cannot be decided by reason. At that time, I went out for a drink, chatted and listened to complaints, and my work was done. I draw it naked.

――Three volumes of "Chaser Game" will be on sale. Please explain the highlights here.

"Chaser Game" is roughly composed of three parts. Volumes 1 and 2 depict the present age, and volume 3 goes back 10 years and depicts the young characters. You can see how the characters dreamed and what kind of experience they had when they entered the game industry.

Not only those who enjoyed Volumes 1 and 2, but also reading from Volume 3 is interesting. The members who were bad boys overcame the hardships and entered the game industry, which is close to the reader's point of view, so I wondered if I could embrace emotions.

――The gadgets and titles you are working on also reflect those days. What will the story look like after this?

Entering the 5th to 3rd parts, the time axis will be modern again. Going back and forth between the past and the present, the story progresses toward the goal.

As anyone who has read it for a long time knows, some of the members who appeared in the past edition have not appeared in modern times. What they are doing ... These things will become clear little by little.

――When you go from the present to the past and come back to the present.

If it's an ordinary work, I think I'll start the story from the past two parts and draw from the scene of chasing a dream. However, it takes time to find it interesting. Therefore, I made it so that the reader can easily empathize with it, and then delve into the character.

In the future, we will release game software as a publisher!Recruiting cartoonists at the same time as the announcement of the second and third new manga

――When it comes to game development, what kind of things does the company keep in mind as development costs soar?

Depending on the size of the title, recent game development costs billions of dollars and the project lasts for several years. If a newcomer in his twenties comes in and is assigned to a team and develops from start to finish, he can only make a few titles in his twenties.

Since the project is huge, only a part of it can be grasped, and the growth is slow. I have little experience and I haven't grown much, so I can't leave it to me these days.

If you can make a title in an environment where you can get an overall picture of development, you can grow steadily. If you make one, you will become a Super Saiyan, and if you make three, you will become a Super Saiyan up to about 3, and you will be a candidate for entrusting development. I think it's the same in every industry.

――It's difficult to grow because you can hardly be involved in development.

For the past few years, huge titles have been sought after from all over the world ... We will continue to develop them in cooperation with publishers.

After that, we will go back a little to the development style and release a title with a scale of about 1 year development period from CyberConnect2 with about 20 staff members! Of course, compared to big titles, the budget is limited, so you can't do anything. Instead, we aim for a sharp title with good quality.

――Is it similar to download software or indie titles?

I think it is close in terms of spiritual meaning and direction. We will publish a little selfish title in-house.

The development staff mixes young and veteran. Veterans will launch young people. In addition, young people do everything, so work is difficult, but they can grow by that amount. Then, we will create a cycle in which members who have accumulated a certain process are put into the middle of the project.

――When will the new title be announced?

First of all, I would like to exhibit at small events and monitor it. I'm thinking about a solid announcement around summer.

――As a frequently asked question, what kind of people are you looking for in the game industry as a company or as an individual?

Taking the "Chaser Game" that I just mentioned as an example, I did an internship during the work. Kuroda-kun, who appeared in it, is said to be subtle because he can't read the air, but he has a passion for making amazing things and being recognized. I think that is the true nature of manufacturing.

In the work, he wrote, "Mr. Mita, who can harmonize even with 60 points of ability, is necessary." Of course, such a person is also necessary. However, to be honest, I'm looking for a type like Kuroda-kun.

If you are aiming for the industry from now on, I would like you to first remove the sword of your heart. If you want to do what you want to do, you can do it by any means ... I'm looking for someone like that.

――The internship edition was impressive, including the last one.

My LINE account is shared within the company. Therefore, the staff will send you stories about work and things that don't matter.

Kuroda-kun was the most responsive, and I received many messages. Many said, "I want to work with someone like Kuroda," so I said "I think so too" (laughs).

--Mr. Matsuyama is energetic, but what is the source of that energy?

When I was in elementary school ... When I learned that people would die from a traffic accident or senility, I thought about what I was living for. When I was a kid, I was aiming to become a manga artist, so I thought it would be meaningless if I didn't leave a work as a proof of my life.

After that, as an adult, I now have "I want to do that, I want to do this too" ... When I faced the game at one point, I felt the greatness of comprehensive entertainment and decided to do it for the rest of my life. I decided.

It's not limited to games, but works remain even after a person dies. If you hold an event, it will remain in the hearts of those who participated.

I think "together with or without" is the most sinful thing. I think it was "Weekly Shonen Jump" that created this kind of personality. The main characters of the works I loved and read were all memorable people.

――I heard that there are new developments in manga content. Can you tell us what it is like?

Following "Chaser Game", we will announce the second and third manga developed by CyberConnect2. In addition, we are looking for the manga artist.

--When you recruit a manga artist who works on a new work !?

As some of you may know, Kotaro Matsushima, who draws "Chaser Game", became an employee of CyberConnect2 from a certain kick and draws works with social security. He's an employee, so he gets paid every month and gets a bonus if evaluated. I think it's very rare to be a manga artist in the position of an employee.

It means recruiting the second and third manga artists. I would like to propose attractive manga while discovering talents that I have not yet seen.

――What kind of manga will it be?

The original is almost finished, but please wait until the announcement. Of course, the title includes edges.

Also, in "Chaser Game", I will do the original work, but the original author of the second and third works will not be me, but our employees will work, and I will make it in the role of editing.

One thing to mention is that CyberConnect2 is not about to become a publisher. It is a company that creates content to the last. Therefore, we plan to consult with the publisher regarding the publication medium and search for the optimal location.

--I was surprised. Is there anything missing at the end?

I talked a lot (laughs). …… Dare to talk about publishing. As anyone reading this article should understand, manga is not a charity. When I meet people in the game industry, they say "I'm reading", but when I ask "Did you buy a book?", Many people say "I haven't done it yet."

We want many people to read "Chaser Game", so you can still read all the serials published so far on the Web. You can read all of the main manga for free, but the book contains a wealth of columns and projects in addition to the newly drawn books, and is packed with information and fun other than manga.

If you find it interesting to read, please buy it! If you don't buy it, you won't be able to continue the series.

――Personally, I like the gaiden that depicts the developer's holiday at the end of Volume 2 of "Chaser Game".

Thank you very much. Manga can't become a business unless you buy a book ... I have a decent presence in "Chaser Game" because I'm the original, but the reality is that sales aren't great. I definitely want you to buy it.

It's a difficult story, but it's difficult to sell a single manga and reprint it. In many cases, such as animation and live-action, it spreads at the timing when it is visualized and finally sells and continues, but not all works are visualized. Of course, I will continue to do my best to announce it, but I would like you to face not only reading on the Web but also paying for manga and content.

--Thank you for today.