(Image credit: Taito)
The legendary mind behind Space Invaders, the iconic arcade game celebrated for its thrilling battles against UFO invaders, insists that game development “needs to be creatively led first“. This comes at a time when developers face mounting pressure to align with the strategies set by sales teams.
In a conversation with Time Extension, Tomohiro Nishikado reminisced about a period in the gaming industry where his creations “were quickly moved into mass production once completed” and he encountered far fewer constraints. “I feel very lucky about that,” he remarked, emphasizing, “My approach was to conceive a game independently and bring it to life on my own. There were no managerial alterations or top-down interventions. Thus, it’s crucial for creators and developers to undertake their projects with autonomy and assess the fun factor themselves.”
However, as the gaming industry expanded, this methodology swiftly evolved. According to Nishikado, “Within Taito, the process morphed, with us game creators increasingly expected to heed the sales team, who crafted new title concepts they deemed marketable.” He asserted his belief that “this isn’t the proper way to proceed. Creators should initially pursue their ideas independently before evolving them into larger projects, a conviction I’ve carried throughout my career.”
For those curious about hidden gems, explore the best arcade games that never made it to consoles. Stay connected with weekly updates, stories from your favorite communities, and more.