Fumito Ueda is a tyrant - where did I read this recently?

[Sketcz]

In a clear sign that I must be developing some kind of degenerative brain disorder, I can't recall where I read this recently. It was in the last 2 weeks, not sure online or in print - I think in print, but I've combed all the pages in this month's GamesTM and found nothing.

CLUES:
* it was an interview with a western developer, about some new game or breakthrough they've recently done.

* They were discussing differences between western and Japanese design. The other guy said the Japanese work ethic gets great results, but he wouldn't want to work at a company like that.

* He mentioned how you can't leave the office until your boss does

* Then he said something like "I'm not supposed to talk about it, but the guy behind Shadow of the Colossus drives his guys really hard, and if you're not working 10 hours a day he'll just get rid of you"

The interviewee then talked about how he loves SotC, and wouldn't want it to have not been developed, but described how it only came about because of poor work ethics. I've tried all kinds of google searched, but found nothing. I'm 99% certain the words "10 hours" were in the article, since I distinctly recall seeing the numerals for the number 10.

This was a really candid discussion from a developer basically berating Fumito Ueda, which I thought was incredible - great stuff to end up in print. And very apt, given the rumours that he's left Sony.

But for the life of me I can't recall where I read this. Can someone help me out - my brain feels liek it's died and just won't recall the source.

[SuperBeatBoy]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-30-the-last-guardian-creator-fumito-ueda-leaves-sony-rumour

Speaking of which...

Sorry its not an answer to your post. But i thought it was worth mentioning.

[Sketcz]

That news story is precisely why I'm trying to now find the source of the interview. I read that he had left and thought to myself: Hmm, I wonder if it's due to how he ran his team?

Of course I can't say that concretely without the interview close to hand. Well, I could. But it sounds much better to read the original interview... I seem to recall it was to do with some recent big game or something, and the interviewer was definitely questioning the differences between Japanese and Western design styles.

I've spent ages googling but with no luck. Of course it could have been in gamesTM or Retro Gamer, but I've just checked the interviews and seen nothing.

I distinctly recall it was black text on a white background - it could have been print, or it could have been online... Damn my feeble memory.

[Guts]

Interesting that the slave drivers' (Brendan McNamara with L.A. Noire and now this) games always take so long to come out and get delayed repeatedly. Here's a free tip to all companies no need for a consultation fee: happy workers are more productive than miserable ones.

[Sketcz]

Ooh, now I also remember, the guy in question was talking about the industry maturing, and how everyone now has families in the industry, and they're having to cope with this, because before it was young guys, but now they're all becoming fathers. And then it moved on to discussion about Japanese work ethic.

[sj33]

* He mentioned how you can't leave the office until your boss does

This is actually just 'the way' in all Japanese business, regardless of the quality of the working environment. I don't agree with it, but lets be clear here - this is standard in Japan.

[Sketcz]

I realise that, there's actually a couple of articles I've read describing it. And the work hours thing seems a bit low compared to, for example, the Team Bondai situation.

More than anything I'm just frustrated that my mind is drawing a blank regarding this rather interesting industry interview.

I'm calling it a night - perhaps I'll remember better in the morning.

[Neon Ignition]

It's the trouble when a studio is behelden to a single person. Polyphony is suffering through the same thing, axe the ego at the top and the game would likely be better.

Though maybe not in SOTC's case

[Flabio]

Axe the ego at the top and the game likely wouldn't get made in the first place.

A large part of the reason slightly out there experimental stuff gets into production is because there's someone in charge who simply won't take no for an answer.

Miyamoto, Kojima, Jaffe, CliffyB, Itagaki, Molyneux, even Carmack.

[Dogg Thang]

Flabio is right. Ego often drives passion and individual passion is needed for excellence. The problem is when the ego is unchecked. It can soon become very self-destructive. The ideal is someone passionate, who cares to the point where they will refuse to do average and won't accept less but does so not just with personal ego, but has a mission people can follow. People get behind missions, not tyrants. A tyrant may well be a genius but, without the support of those around him or her, can soon find themselves unable to create anything.

Oh, and some people are tyrants, have huge egos and yet are still rubbish.

[Brad]

I must have missed the out there, experimental stuff from CliffyB and Carmack* but I get Flabio's point. Games by committee is never going to produce anything amazing.



*Maybe I really have, enlighten me if so.

[Malc]

What about Gabe Newell with Valve? He seems to leave people to it more so than other companies and they have produced some of the greatest/most fun games to play over the last ten years.

I understand that Valve have Steam supporting them, which makes them a slightly different case.

[Neon Ignition]

It's about having a balance unless your extremely lucky to have a genius at the helm. Sony give Polyphony too much leeway which leads to extended focus on the wrong aspects which I suspect is partly what caused issues at Double Fine until they recieved a commercial wake up call. You want someone with a clear vision but also a studio/management that knows how to reign it in as they're making a consumer product rather than a pet project. Ueda's games have been brilliant though I imagine irritation probably grew as TLG started to overrun

[dataDave]

Only 10hrs a day?