Felt the need to share this interview from Gamereactor, at a game development convention in Barcelona.
Thanks to CaVaYeRo from NeoGAF for the time stamps. My thoughts after.
• 00:00 – Brief introduction, Suda means “you sweat” in Spanish.
• 03:32 – Killer 7 memories: Development freedom with Mikami-san, art style and complex, layered story.
• 06:45 – Flower, Sun and Rain: The unique loop-day structure and the tour guide book clues as fresh mechanics. PSOne vs PS2 development and non-action games. Lost (TV series) and Uchikosi-san (Virtue’s Last Reward) vibes.
• 12:56 – No More Heroes 3: What’s left to do and when.
• 15:06 – How to create GhM’s strong and unique characters. Indie creative freedom and publisher tastes. The NMH switch from PS3/Xbox 360 original shooter concept to Wii-focused final design.
• 19:43 – Suda-san as one of the last “Japanese dev stars”, “no more heroes” in game development? Hotline Miami devs as heroes and chemical brothers.
• 24:15 – Shadows of the Damned: Collaboration with Mikami-san and anecdotes, the funniest trip to EA. Mexican and Spanish influences, Latin passion, Suda-san “Spanish blood” and Barcelona inspiration.
• 31:50 – Lollipop Chainsaw: The zombi genre in a unique, B-class fun way. The US school comedy. The pitch trailer.
• 36:48 – The James Gunn involvement & commitment. Collaborating with filmakers, Suda as “the Robert Rodríguez of videogames”.
• 40:21 – Importance of art in GhM, “Art of Grasshopper Manufacture” album personal meaning, how to choose/hire an artist for the studio, team play like in FC Barcelona.
• 46:00 – GhM before and nowadays: grass-hopping from punk/indie style to business and GungHo owned studio, yet gaining creativity.
• 49:22 – Let it Die and concepts to share with young developers as inspiration and advice. Making games you’d like to play, nigh time creative mood, connection with people.
• 54:55 – Q&A from audience and readers:
– Killer 7 prequel or sequel chances.
– Marvel vs. Capcom and DC vs. Grasshopper Manufacture
– 58:20 – Times at Human Entertaiment wearing suit.
– 60:16 – The Silver Case remake chances.
– 61:50 – Opinion on indie games, innovative ideas and big publishers.
– 65:53 – Suda51 last advice for young developers. Three bullet points for game development: passion, finding your own form, finding your own rhythm.
Now, takeaways.
- Suda has no real plans for a Killer7 spinoff or sequel, but wouldn’t mind seeing a fan service game like “DC VS Grasshopper”. No real surprise, it’s no secret he prefers to do new things, i.e. ‘Kill The Past’. This is a constant subject in the interview.
- FSR’s time loop was the result of him wanting to do something different besides all the constant action games of the PS2 era. He’s glad he thought up the idea before Lost and Kotaro Uchikoshi(VLR/999).
- He’s very much aware of the desire for a TSC port, and wants people to play GHM’s first game.
- No mention of Lily Bergamo being changed to Let It Die whatsoever. I bet the topic is taboo. I’m sure he’s as unhappy as everyone else.
- Human made him wear a suit to work, so it seemed fitting that a ‘weird’ company like GHM came about as a result.
Personally? I feel he’s hamstrung by GungHo and it is very unlikely, but with the interest he mentioned in the GHM book(being approached by Spanish companies to localize TSC), I hope it’s possible.