Keiji Inafune Thinks Idea Factory is Doing Things Right

In a recent interview with Game Informer, Keiji Inafune discussed about his 2 companies, his Capcom days, and what he thought of the Japanese video game industry right now. Though the website admits Inafune-san was rather mild in the interview (his past interviews were very straightforward and has a lot of criticism against Capcom and Japan's video game industry as a whole,) it still provides us with a clear understanding of what's in his mind right now. Among them are the following:

In response to what he thought of Capcom releasing a bunch of Resident Evil and VS games, he exclaimed:

It’s not right to only rely on the big franchises and do nothing else. That’s not the way to go. Of course there are former IPs and former games that the fans enjoy, and for big companies like Capcom, they are obliged to answer to these longtime fans, so it’s important to keep the franchise going. But they also have the responsibility to come up with new IPs along with the strong IPs from the past, and it’s important to keep that balance going. Unfortunately, I can’t be the one to make strategies for Capcom’s future, but I really have strong feelings for the company and hope for the best.

As you can exactly note from that remark, looks like his grudge was over, or is it? At least we can hear some straight talk from him without so much criticism of other companies and people.

Speaking of his 2 companies, this is what he said about Comcept and Intercept:

I wanted to start a company that focuses on different concepts, and that’s why I founded Comcept. This is a company that comes up with different concepts, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be just games. On the other hand, I knew people would expect me to develop video games, so I wanted to clearly answer these expectations, and that’s why I started Intercept, which focuses solely on console gaming production.

Now you can say, that, well, he really can just form one company out of the things he mentioned. I still don't get what's the deal though. Perhaps, more to strategize corporation laws? What do you think my readers?

Now we have heard Keiji Inafune time and time again that the Japanese video game industry is doomed, right? However, there is one company he thinks is doing things right:

It’s a company called Idea Factory. Aside from the fact that we’re working with them, I feel like they’re a very good developer that knows what it’s doing. Some people may say that they’re only creating otaku games, but they’re very focused on what they’re good at. They’re not going too far outside of what they can do, they just know what they’re doing and are enjoying success because of it. They’re a very good company.

Now what is Idea Factory

Idea Factory is a Japanese video game company founded in 1994. They made games such as Generations of Chaos and the more recent Hyper Dimension Neptunia which was published by NisAmerica outside Japan. 

Most of their games in the Nintendo DS are otome games - a game popular in Japan wherein the general consensus is a revised - dating simulation game. It means that like other simulation games out there such as the New Love Plus, otome games are the same, but the general theme is that the player will get the male character(s) in the game to like or develop a romantic relationship with her. These games are popular with female Otakus. And if this is what Inafune meant by Inafune doing things right, perhaps, he really is right. You can check out at Play Asia Hiiro no Kakera, an otome game made by Idea Factory for the Nintendo DS

The article at Game Informer was really informative because Inafune himself is very vocal for so many years now, so I suggest you read on the article too. Of course, from that remark we can tell that he and his 2 companies will be dedicated to bringing new IPs, something that can gain new fans.

Check out my other article about Keiji Inafune where he though Japanese video game companies lack creative vision

My Awesome Source:

Game Informer