|
Reporter:
Over there, over there... Ooops!
Reporter:
Video games are really entertaining! Did you know that this
game was created in Fukuoka? Actually, many hit products
have been produced right here in Fukuoka.
Reporter:
Have you ever wondered how these games are produced? Well,
let's go take a look.
Narration:
This company, CyberConnect2, was founded in 1996. They have
been producing a string of hits such as ".hack"
and "Naruto Narutimate Accel" series, just to
mention a few.
Reporter:
What is he doing?
Mr.
Niisato: Right now, he's setting
the character's movement on the computer.
Reporter:
That must require a lot of time?
Mr.
Niisato: Yes, it does. Each character
has several dozen -movement patterns, and we have to create
those patterns for each character in the game.
Reporter:
What is this room for?
Mr.
Niisato: Here, we create the music
and sound effects for our games. It can be said that the
BGM makes or breaks a scene, especially if it is a narrative
scene.
Narration:
Including this company, Fukuoka City has a total of 15 companies
producing game softwares.
Narration:
Fukuoka City has abundant talent due to its large number
of universities. Office rents are far less expensive compared
to Tokyo, and the commute is also shorter.
Reporter:
Why do you think Fukuoka attracts so many game software
companies?
Mr.
Hino: In a nutshell, Fukuoka is a
comfortable, low-stress city. I think such characteristics
contribute to drawing many creative companies.
Narration:
Worldwide game software sales amounted to 2 trillion 833
billion yen in 2006, and is expected to continue its growth
at a steady pace. In order to take advantage of this fast-growing
market, efforts are spreading in Fukuoka to promote the
game software industry.
Reporter:
An award ceremony for the 1st Fukuoka Game Contest is being
held here.
Narration:
This contest, which invites the participation of students
and amateurs, aims to discover, and encourage future game
software creators. It is hosted by Fukuoka Game Industry
Promotion Organization, the first industry-academic-government
organization consisting of GFF (Game Factory's Friendship),
a collaborative organization created by local game software
companies, Kyushu University, and Fukuoka City.
Reporter:
What is the aim of Fukuoka Game Industry Promotion Organization?
Mr.
Hino: Since a single outstanding
talent can change the market trend in our industry, it is
important to discover and cultivate such human resource.
By promoting cooperation among government, industry, and
academia, we are trying to foster talent that will shoulder
the future of our industry.
Reporter:
There were 196 entries from all over the country, and "Dreamy
Child" from Kyushu University was this year's winner.
Congratulations!
Dreamy
Child: Thank you!
Narration:
The members of Dreamy Child created a game called "Fu-Fuu."
Let's see what kind of game it is.
Mr.
Nishiyori: This game uses a microphone
and a camera. The camera recognizes the position of the
player. The microphone is used by the player to control
the paper airplane.
Reporter:
It's coming down! Go a little bit lower...!
Mr.
Nishiyori:You collect the stars to
win.
Reporter:
Collect stars?
Mr.
Nishiyori:Yes, you want to collect
as many as you can. This game has an intuitive interface,
so anyone can enjoy it right away.
Reporter:
What kind of job are you interested in after you graduate?
Ms.
Sato: Something in the creative field.
I find it attractive since it's impossible to predict what's
going to happen, and there is a sense of adventure.
Mr.
Nishiyori:I would like to create
an entertaining and innovative game that no one has experienced
yet.
Reporter:
Video games are enjoyed worldwide, and its market is expected
to continue growing rapidly. Just as Hollywood is a synonym
for movies, Fukuoka may one day become a synonym for game
software.
|
