Kazuyuki Yamai, the director of upcoming Atlus RPG Shin Megami Tensei IV, wants to eliminate the notion that video games can’t be serious and complex.
For JRPG fans, Shin Megami Tensei IV is a long time coming; the last game in the core SMT series was the 2003 PS2 title Nocturne, though spin-off titles like the Persona games have helped fill the void since then. Speaking with NicoNico News about the upcoming Atlus title, director Kazuyuki Yamai gave some interesting reasons why SMT IV finally went into development. Describing it as a “bitter and serious drama” and “something that can move people,” Yamai stated that he wanted to eliminate the belief that “social games are good enough.”
Yamai also wants people to stop thinking “games are childish,” clarifying “this title isn’t only for younger people” and saying he hopes adults will play it as well. Considering that SMT titles generally receive Mature ratings in North America, that should be a given, but the mindset of “games are for kids” is certainly alive and well outside of the gaming community.
With Shin Megami Tensei IV‘s North American launch a few weeks away, Yamai expressed how the narrative’s “necessary decisions” that could affect the outcome of its story. “The story you experience will vary according to each player,” he said, and hopes fans will discuss their different experience with the game online. SMT IV was released in Japan last month, where it was met with positive reviews and chart-topping sales. It is due to come out on July 16 in North America, with a European version hitting later this year.
Source: NicoNico via Siliconera
