Hidetaka Miyazaki on Game Design

Summary

The video script delves into the influential role of Hidetaka Miyazaki, a renowned video game creator, featured in Time Magazine's Time 100 list of 2023. It explores his unique 'total direction' approach to game development, where he exercises full control over game design elements, fosters team synergy, and engages in philosophical discussions to align the team with his vision. The script highlights his hands-on involvement in every aspect of game creation, from writing and map design to character and weapon design, and his transition to a 'unified production workflow' to accommodate his dual roles as president and game director.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Hidetaka Miyazaki was included in Time 100, marking his significant influence in the gaming industry.
• 🎮 Miyazaki follows a principle called 'total direction' in game creation, which involves full control over various elements such as story, design, and music.
• 🛠️ He provides creative freedom to team members but maintains the final approval on all aspects of game design, including character and weapon designs.
• 🗺️ Miyazaki has a strong passion for map design, believing it to be the most influential aspect of a player's experience.
• ✍️ He personally writes all the text in his games, including item descriptions and character names, valuing the importance of names in world-building.
• 📖 Miyazaki assumes full ownership of the stories and lore in his games, with the exception of 'Sekiro' where he shared narrative development with a team member.
• 🤝 He actively engages in philosophical discussions with his team to align their vision with his, fostering a deeper understanding of the game's world.
• 🎭 Miyazaki takes a hands-on approach to animation, often acting out scenes for animators to better convey his vision.
• 🏆 Despite his detailed involvement, Miyazaki encourages creative synergy within his teams, allowing individual styles to contribute to the game's world.
• 🔧 After becoming the company president, Miyazaki adapted his 'total direction' approach to a 'unified production workflow', assigning co-directors to manage projects while he oversees creative aspects.
• 🔑 Miyazaki assures fans of maintaining a certain level of quality in his games as long as he is listed as the game director.

Q & A

Why was Hidetaka Miyazaki included in the Time 100 list of the 100 most influential people of 2023?

Hidetaka Miyazaki was included in the Time 100 list due to his significant influence and mainstream impact through his video game creations, marking only the second time a video game creator has been selected for this prestigious list.

What is the principle Hidetaka Miyazaki follows when working with his teams?

Hidetaka Miyazaki follows a principle he calls 'total Direction,' which involves full control of the game's direction, complete accountability for all decisions, and engaging the team in philosophical and conceptual discussions to align with his vision.

How does Miyazaki's approach to game direction differ from others?

Miyazaki's approach, known as 'total Direction,' is different because he maintains complete control over every aspect of game creation, including level design, background music, sound effects, and more, ensuring a unique quality and allowing his unique style to shine through.

What changes did Miyazaki have to implement in his total Direction approach after becoming the company president?

After becoming the company president, Miyazaki had to adjust his total Direction approach by creating a new management model called 'unified production workflow,' where he assigns a co-director for each game to handle administrative and project management aspects, allowing him to focus on creative aspects of development.

Why does Miyazaki take full control of the game's direction?

Miyazaki takes full control of the game's direction to ensure that every aspect of the game aligns with his vision and to maintain a unified and high-quality gaming experience for players.

What role does Miyazaki play in the creation of character names in his games?

Miyazaki assumes complete responsibility for creating character names in his games, enjoying the process and taking full ownership of the decisions, although he occasionally receives hints and recommendations from the team.

How does Miyazaki contribute to the writing of the game's text?

Miyazaki writes all the text in the game, including item descriptions, weapon, location, monster, and armor names, and even the text that shows in the menus, ensuring consistency with his vision.

What is Miyazaki's approach to map design, and why is it important to him?

Miyazaki enjoys designing the connections of the overall map and believes that map design holds the strongest influence on a player's experience, significantly impacting their enjoyment of the game.

How does Miyazaki handle the storytelling and lore in his games?

Miyazaki assumes full ownership of the stories and lore in his games, with the exception of 'Sekiro,' where he maintained primary authorship but delegated the task of fleshing out the details to a team member, allowing for a fresh approach and collaborative story building.

What is Miyazaki's involvement in the design of characters, monsters, and bosses in his games?

Miyazaki actively participates in all design activities, working with individual designers, providing feedback, and making revisions until the output matches his vision. He also takes part in designing specific elements, such as the headgear of the Old Monk boss in 'Demon's Souls.'

How does Miyazaki ensure the quality and consistency of designs in his games?

Miyazaki reviews all designs, including armor, weapon, and location concept art, and none gets into the game without his approval. He looks for a certain quality in the designs that convey feelings or emotions and aligns with his criteria for elegance and refinement.

How does Miyazaki's hands-on approach to game design affect the creative process within his team?

Miyazaki's hands-on approach ensures that his vision is fully realized in the game, but he also fosters and encourages creative synergy within his teams by granting them ample creative freedom, allowing them to enrich the game's world with their individual styles and ideas.