We have exactly one day left before the global release of the highly anticipated next big otome title, “Love and Deepspace”! Papergames/Infold Games initially announced the title’s global servers on November 2, 2023, and the Closed Beta got underway in select countries last December. Since then, the excitement surrounding the game has been overwhelmingly positive, and otome fans have been eagerly counting down the days to its official global release in anticipation—myself included. .
Last night, I saw an article. on 4Gamer.net titled “乙女ゲームのトップランナー対談が実現!オトメイトと 「恋と深空」のInfoldgamesが語る,ときめきの作り方とは”. This article features interviews with two leading developers in the otome genre: Infoldgames (creator of the MLQC series) and of course Otomate, the leading company in Japan (and perhaps worldwide) for the release of Otome titles on consoles.
The article is really fun and interesting to read, with a pleasant sincerity-????That’s why I decided to write about this. (laughs) A must read two very passionate developers happily engage in a discussion about the otome genre and the typical development process when creating games. The article delves into their advance preparations and gives us insight into what goes on behind the scenes during the planning process of creating these games we all love. . Furthermore, I was really touched to see both developers praising each other’s games.
For those interested in the full interview, please visit the article above 4Gamer via link.
Ngl, I intended to translate the entire article so that the international fan community could stay informed about this news but declined to do so as it is strictly prohibited without the consent of the publisher original version. In any case, we’ll keep it cozy (and legal) in this blog (giggles). So, this is my nuance and opinion after reading the entire article!????
PERSONAL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS: Both developers (Infoldgames and Otomate) are huge fans of the otome genre. The developers of Infold Games are huge fans of the Otomate title.
[Infodgames] 小沫(モー)氏:
初めまして, 「恋と深空」ディレクターの小沫(モー)です。 「薄桜鬼」と「AMNESIA」からオトメイト作品にはまり, 「Collar×Malice」 「ピオフィオーレの晩鐘」 「オランピアソワレ」や「幻奏喫茶アンシャンテ」など,最近の作品も好きです。“Pleased to meet you, I’m Mo Komatsu, director of “Love and Deepspace.’I became a fan of Otomate’s works starting with’Hakuoki’and’AMNESIA.’I also enjoyed the titles Recent movies like’Collar×Malice,”Piofiore no Banshou,”Olympia Soiree’and’Gensou Kissa Enchante. br> 初めまして, 「恋と深空」統括プロデューサーの栗子(リーズ)です。今回はオトメイトEnglishんも好きです(笑)。
“’Im Kuriko Rizu, overall producer of’Love and Deepspace.’I’m pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with Otomate today. I have been a fan of Otomate’s works ever since and I have completed the entire “Hiiro no Kakera” series. I also like Ukyo in the series’AMNESIA'(laughs).”
(Opinion)Piofiore’s ‘Meanwhile Stories’ loosely inspired some of the gameplay mechanics for Love and Deep Space, especially in the ‘Anecdotes’ section. Otomate was really impressed with Love and Deepspace in every way, saying it was “a monumental work” in their review. (See quote below) (Opinion) I think it’s important to note that budget plays a very important role in game development. We all know this but I feel like it’s not emphasized and understood properly in the community/fandom (most especially for those new to the genre). When it comes to technology, Chinese games in general are only LEAGUES ahead in certain aspects (I mean, the country got 5G three years before the rest of the world caught up lol) . All in all, it’s unfair to compare JP mobile games with CN mobile games because they’re just on different wavelengths in terms of quality and budget. I may talk more about this in my February Newsletter and add some personal touches to it, lol.
[Otomate] 佐藤氏:
7で……。
Mr. Sato:
It was truly a monumental work on a level that Otomate rarely dared to venture into, so I was also deeply moved. It was an ideal technology that made me think that we would like to create something similar to our company’s capabilities, but unfortunately the budget was quite limited…
(Opinion) When developing a game, having a genuine love for otome games is almost always a top priority for your team. As Mr. Fujiwara from Otomate stated, the difference between “What you like” and “What you can develop” is completely meaningful. While talent is important, having a deep passion for creating something has more benefits than simply liking or being interested in it. Hooray for games made by women, for women! I’m glad that both developers agree on this aspect. I also found the working environment at Infoldgames, during the development of Love and Deepspace, to be extremely cozy! The lovely developers actually have otome shrines on their desks! So adorable!!???? (They are just like us!)
Photo credit: Infold Games/Paper Games
(Opinion) Building on my previous point, it’s really nice (and heartwarming) to discover that the developers actually love what they’re doing—because of their interest in the game. Their playing reflects a lot in the finished product. While playing LaD in the closed beta, I could feel the dedication not only in the stories but also in the various gameplay aspects that the creators implemented throughout the game’s development. . The amount of careful research they did to perfect this title and release it globally in various regions is truly impressive! It’s reassuring to know that the creator cares about their product as well as their audience. And I truly hope this sentiment resonates with everyone (especially the otome community in the West) whenever you start playing this title. Otomate clearly mentioned that “The Japanese otome game market is very promising”, which is not only a good sign but also reassures that more otome console titles will be produced in the near future. So this genre in Japan, although niche, is certainly not going to be ‘obscured’ anytime soon!
[Otomate] 佐藤氏:
Nintendo Switch の時代になって, オトメイトのゲームが世界中で売れるようになっCan you do that? ,よりこれを推進していこうと考えています。“I believe that the otome game market in Japan is very promising, especially with the rise of Nintendo Switch. Otomate games are selling well around the world. We are grateful that many customers, both in Japan and abroad, are enjoying Otomate games, and we plan to further promote this positive trend.”
Audience feedback is very important. That said, if a publisher or developer ever puts out surveys to gather market feedback or gauge interest in their game, make sure to fill them out and be active. Extremely involved. Also, spread the word so other fans can participate too.
There really are a lot of food for thought and very important insights that you will get from this interview. And as a fan of otome games, I highly encourage everyone to read it to stay informed and informed, especially if you’re interested in exploring the nitty-gritty details of the development process. otome game development from a company’s perspective.
Love and Deepspace releases globally on January 18, 2024, 6:00 a.m. (UTC-7) for Europe/Americas and 9:00 a.m. (UTC+8) for Asia.
Are you as excited to play this game as I am? If you read the interview about the article above, what did you think about it? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!