Unearthing Development Documents from the Dawn of Video Game Development Era
1. 1
Unearthing Development Documents from
the Dawn of Video Game Development Era
NAMCO’s Development
Document Archive Project
and Its Application
BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.
Global Innovation Division
Future Design Department
Takefumi Hyodo
Jan. 7 2019
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Studios
2. Introduction
1983 Joined NAMCO Ltd.
■ current - 2015 Open Innovation Related Tasks
■ 2015 - 2012 Overseas Business Department
■ 2012 - 2011 US studio management
■ 2010 - 2000 Oversee Business ( Localization, Marketing, Sales, Counting )
■ 1999 - 1996 US studio management
■ 1996 - 1995 Game Produce
■ 1994 - 1986 HR
■ 1986 - 1983 Game Design
HYODO, “TAK” Takefumi
2
FC ”BATTLE CITY“ (1985) / AC “TOYPOP” (1986) / FC
“Sanma no Meitantei” (1987) / SFC “Tales of Phantasia”
(1995)/ PS “Pacman World” (1999) / XB “Dead to Rights”
(2002)
3. Introduction KISHIMOTO, “KISSY” Yoshihiro
3
President Play and Learning Lab.
■ 2017 - 2012 Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Technology
■ 2010 – 2001 KOEI Co Ltd.
■ 2001 - 1982 Namco Ltd.
“Family Stadium” franchise
4. 1) What is NAMCO's Development Documents?
4
1950s ・Founded. Operating amusement venues on roof floors of a department complex.
Started developing and manufacturing amusement equipment.
1970s ・Acquired Atari Japan from Atari Inc.
・Released arcade video game megahits such as ”PAC-MAN”
1980s ・Started selling NES video game software
- Announced real time 3D CG system “Winning Run”
1990s ・Exhibited “Galaxian 3” at The International Garden and Greenery Exposition(Expo '90)
・Launched “Ridge Racer” for PlayStation console
2000s ・Developed and released games for iMode
・Merger with BANDAI
5. 1) What is NAMCO's Development Documents?
5ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
6. 1) What is NAMCO's Development Documents?
6ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
7. 1) What is NAMCO's Development Documents?
7ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
8. 1) What is NAMCO's Development Documents?
8ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
12. 1) What is NAMCO's Development Documents?
12
Any documents created during the early
evolutionary stages of the video game industry:
Concept Sheets / Game design document / Proposal /
Idea Contest / Research Report / Development
Reference Notes / Game brochures (*from other game
companies as well) / Photos
16. 2) Storage and its Condition
16
NAMCO to “BANDAI NAMCO Games” (merged at 2005)
Separation of BNS from BNG → Documents
remained at BNG (Currently BNE)
☆Uninterested
☆Abandoned
☆Dead Storage
Possibility of Disposal
17. 3) Background
17
Factor 1 Rapid Expansion and Division of
Development Sectors
◆ Electromechanical Machine /
Video Games
◆Programming / Planning
◆Arcade / Console
◆Game Development /
Game Design
◆Program / Sound Development / Visual Arts / Game Design & Production
Historical Background
1983 - Rapid industrial growth with the popularity
of NES
1985 - New genres of gaming such as “Interactive
Gaming” were launched by Sega
1988 - NAMCO releases polygon games
1990 - Launch of Super Nintendo. Big JRPG
becomes extremely popular genre globally
1994 - Progression of console hardware such as
PlayStation
18. 品川区東品川
3) Background
18
Ota-ku
Tamagawa
Factor 2 - Moving and Segmentation of Development Base
1975 - NAMCO Chuo Kenkyujo
1982 - Shimokawa Building
1985 –Yaguchi HQ and
surrounding areas
1987 - Miraikenkyujo (1st gen)
1994 - Yokohama Creative
Center
2007 - Mirai Kenkyujo (2nd gen)
*after merger with BANDAI
Ota-ku Omori
Yokohama-shi
Kohoku港北区
Yokohama-shi
Kanagawa
Ota-ku Yaguchi
Shinagawa-ku
Higashi Shinagawa
19. 3) Background
19
Factor 3 Difference in perspective regarding value
■Game development should be cutting edge
and should always strive for the forefront
■Companies should always maximize their
profits
→ “Do these documents created years
ago have any value and productivity?”
20. 4) Archive Project
20
“NAMCO’s Development Document
Archive Project ”
1) “Preserving” and “Application” of
Development Documents
2) Building Emotional Equity
★2 objectives
for BANDAI NAMCO Studio as
a lead content developer
21. 4) Archive Project
21
★4 Goals
① Store documents as a primary source eternally
② Organize as a database to ensure easy access
③ Utilize the documents for multiple purpose
④ Appeal to external companies
“NAMCO’s Development Document
Archive Project ”
22. 5) Archive Project Phase
22
Organize Process (Mar. 2016 - Aug. 2017)
Research & Organize
by External Vendor
(Shuppan Bunka-sya)
◆ Cost 7,200,000 JPY
(≒ US$ 650,000 )
23. 5) Archive Project Phase
23
- No. of Labeling: 6,928
- Storage Boxes Used: 309
- List in Excel format
28. 6) Development Material Research : MAPPY
28
KV27-14-D “Panic House” (MAPPY Detective’s Memoirs) Game Plan Document
1981/11/25
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
★GROUP A
<Official Documents>
29. 6) Development Material Research: MAPPY
29
KV27-14-D “Panic House” (MAPPY Detective’s Memoirs) Plan Document 1981/11/25
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
★GROUP A
<Official Documents>
30. 6) Development Material Research : MAPPY
30
V14-F “MAPPY” Game Design Document Final 1983/4/15
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
★GROUP A
<Official Documents>
31. 6) Development Material Research : MAPPY
31
V14-F Game Design Document Final Draft “MAPPY” 1983/4/15
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
★GROUP A
<Official Documents>
32. 6) Development Material Research : MAPPY
32
★Group B “Development Notes”
*Correlated documents filed by individuals
35. 6) Development Material Research : MAPPY
35
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
★GROUP B
“Development Notes”
36. 36
① STORE documentations as a primary source eternally
② ORGANIZE as a database to ensure easy access
③ UTILIZE the documents for multiple purpose
④ APPEAL to external companies
“NAMCO’s Development Document
Archive Project ”
PLUS ⑤ COLLECT missing documents
★5 Goals
7) Moving Forward
37. 8) Conclusion
37
A) Documents created for video game development are
a CULTURAL HERITAGE, thus it is an
INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE
B) These documents can be utilized in the present and
in the future
C) Preserve these important documentations should be
our obligation and Joy
38. 38
Q & A
Unearthing Development
Documents from the Dawn of
Video Game Development Era
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
ⒸBANDAI NAMCO Studios
NAMCO’s
Development
Document Archive
Project
and Its Application
kissygame@gmail.com
t-hyodo@bns-g.com