There was a time when for reaching happiness we just needed to turn the TV on and see the giant robots. There is a time when we can delve into the distant, mystical and rural Japan, dreaming about simplicity and carefreeness, and then there is Attack of the Friday monsters which combines all of this in a dreamlike expression of affection to the eternal childhood.
Kaz Ayabe, project developer for Millennium Kitchen, told us about the game, outlook and development struggling for the team.
1) What is the relationship between Millennium Kitchen and Level-5? How it came to be?
“Attack of the Friday Monsters!” is one of the omnibus work called
“GUILD” which produced by Level-5.
My acquaintance involved me in another game of “GUILD”. And he introduced Mr. Hino, president of Level-5.
Until we made “Attack of the Friday Monsters!”, there was no
relationship between the Millennium Kitchen and Level-5.
Even now, there is no relationship, such as capital. Now, Level-5’s
president Mr. Hino is my good friend, he always send me a new game when it comes out.
2) What inspired you for the development of Attack of the Friday Monsters! ( 怪獣が出る金曜日 )?
In my childhood days, there was a Hero TV program called “Ultraman” which I saw in the 1970s.
3) What was the message you had in mind for the players of Attack of the Friday Monsters! ( 怪獣が出る金曜日 )?
People who live correctly, become happy.
Even in videogame, we can do or play so interesting and new things.
4) The set of the game is a small town in Japan, what is left of that rural countryside?
The small town which is the set of this game, is a part of Tokyo that
population swelled up now. The nature of hills and fields has been
decreased, but a lot of people live there and it’s so vibrant.
5) What make you decide to bring the game outside of Japan?
Because I thought that it will be popular in overseas (Actually, how
was it?).
6) What are the current and future plans for Millennium Kitchen?
I want to keep producing unusual games (like keep throwing a curve ball…), such as “Attack of the Friday Monsters!”
7) Can you tell us how it is to develop games in Japan being a small company?
It is a difficult question. Because, it depends on the company.
A game studio which always participated in “Big development scale game” is just has a hard time nowadays.
In our company’s case, we often participated in “Small development
scale game (as indie label games)”, so, nothing has changed in that sense.
8) Are you satisfied on how the gamers received your game in terms of sales and critic?
I am nearly satisfied on the evaluation of overseas, but in Japan, I’m
not satisfied on it.
For many Japanese gamers, the ideal game is enjoying the mechanism of the game, but I think “innovative experience” must be added to it.
I would like to deeply thank Kaz Ayabe, also for the amazing Millennium Kitchen’s photos, for giving us such a moving game.