Can you believe that Tekken has been thriving for three decades, a testament to its enduring appeal? When Tekken first emerged, its significance within the fighting game genre was far from a given. Throughout its evolution from classic arcade beginnings to modern online play, this iconic 3D fighting sequence has witnessed the ebb and flow of gaming trends, persevering across five console generations and adapting to the rise of PC gaming, ultimately forging a global community of passionate fans. Why has this phenomenon persisted for so long, defying the fleeting nature of many other gaming franchises, and where will the series evolve from here?
I sat down with Katsuhiro Harada, government producer on Tekken 8, and Michael Murray, its producer, at Pink Bull Gaming Sphere to discuss the series’ past, present, and future, as well as their thoughts on being the last remaining 3D fighting game franchise. How do they feel about it?
The total eye-opening dialogue is revealed below, with Murray serving as a translator.
What’s going through my mind after three decades of creating and refining Tekken is a mix of nostalgia and gratitude. The journey has been long and arduous, but seeing how the game has evolved and brought joy to millions of players worldwide makes it all worthwhile.
As a carefree youth, I never anticipated my youthful passion would maintain its momentum for so long, even with my limited foresight at the time – a mere 10-year-old’s perspective. I once dedicated myself to a relentless struggle, pushing my skills to the limit in an effort to keep pace with formidable opponents in the competitive world of fighting games. One of my greatest regrets is not having given more consideration to the overall setting and world-building in each episode, as I became so fixated on staying on pace with the characters’ developments that it often felt like an afterthought. If I had known that the story would unfold over a span of 30 years, I would have dedicated more attention to crafting a robust spine for the narrative arc.
Tekken is currently one of the most renowned 3D fighters out there. Being the last one left, I must admit it’s a peculiar sensation – a mix of relief and loneliness. What drives the enduring popularity of Tekken, while other franchises falter, is its ability to evolve and adapt.
As we’re the lone 3D combat game, it’s disheartening to think that our unique experience will be overshadowed by the stark contrast between 2D and 3D gameplay. Throughout the day, additional video games emerged, but their presence eventually ceased to be seen. While independent developers often venture into the realm of 2D fighting games, this trend is less prevalent in the world of 3D fighters. It seems that once a person experiences the thrill of playing Tekken, they become hooked and cannot stop exploring its depth. Is this assumption correct?
It’s undoubtedly the unique blend of three core elements – an intricate storyline, innovative gameplay mechanics, and striking visuals – that makes Tekken stand out from its peers. That will be the precise inventive essence of the endeavour, skillfully brought to life by the dedicated event team. How do we efficiently promote this sport globally, considering factors such as advertising and marketing strategies? With community at its core, the local atmosphere becomes a crucial aspect to consider.
For two decades now, we’ve all had to come to terms with the reality that Tekken has been an integral part of our gaming lives. As distinct from other companies, our unique approach stems directly from being an integral part of the development team. It’s not like an advertising and marketing professional reiterates that something is cool simply because it’s trendy; we can instead respond by saying we’ve attended a major international event and observed a paradigm shift; possibly, arcades aren’t as ubiquitous outside of Japan as they once were; possibly the expectations shifted, and people crave more content via consoles or specific online options that resonate strongly with the local community. What we’ve witnessed firsthand has allowed us to quickly adjust and effectively address these key concerns with the development team.
Do memories of yesteryear ever beckon your nostalgia, drawing you back to a bygone era when life moved at a slower pace, and simplicity reigned supreme? With game development becoming increasingly complex and labor-intensive, it’s no wonder that modern video games come with a hefty price tag and a long production cycle, often requiring teams of hundreds of people to bring their vision to life. Don’t you cherish warm memories of those extraordinary Tekken times?
We often find ourselves nostalgic for those times, due to a multitude of reasons. One of the most significant challenges is that video games, like those you referenced, tend to be much more expensive. Are we actually investing more hours in playing video games as well? Up until this point, having a concept was simplified by iterating on it and integrating it seamlessly into the game design. By the time our audience reaches this point, they will undoubtedly understand that we’ve spent a full year cultivating it, carefully considering every step along the way for the past 12 months. Throughout the day, everyone relished being in the same atmospheric setting, regardless of whether it was an arcade machine or console malfunctioning. Today, there’s an abundance of exciting game options available to play on both PCs and various gaming consoles in the online community. The gaming experience can have vastly differing connotations depending on individual preferences for PC components and cultural nuances within gaming communities across various countries?
It’s often more challenging to identify and resolve problems when someone is experiencing difficulties with a sport than it would be at another time.
Wouldn’t we all love to turn back time and relive those memories? It’s been a whopping 15 years since then, isn’t that crazy? Harada suggests that rather than AI generating artwork or music, its potential applications could be more practical and beneficial in troubleshooting technical issues like network connectivity or PC problems. If we’re able to persuade the board members to allocate additional funds, that would also be a positive outcome. [laughs]
What’s next for Tekken? We’re eager to see how this iconic franchise will continue to evolve and innovate, bringing new levels of excitement and challenge to fans around the world. As I gaze into the crystal ball of time, the subsequent decades unfold before me like a tapestry woven with threads of uncertainty. The next ten years will likely be marked by incremental progress, with tiny steps forward in our collective endeavors. Then, as we approach the midpoint mark, the pace quickens, and the twenty-year milestone arrives, bringing with it a surge of innovation and disruption that reshapes the very fabric of our world.
It’s genuinely challenging to convey this information effectively. As I’ve discussed with Murray, our plan is to limit ourselves to just one more Tekken iteration, considering our advancing age, the game’s performance in Japan, and the natural progression of improvements in the series. The reality is that 20 to 30 years is indeed a significant period of time for a firm to maintain its workforce without needing to hire additional personnel; it’s common practice for businesses to adjust their staff accordingly as they grow or experience fluctuations. The camaraderie among the Tekken team is palpable, regardless of whether we’re taken out of the equation; the director and key leaders share a similar age range with us. A unique aspect of this crew’s dynamics is the fact that every member has spent a minimum of 20 years working together, with many having served for even longer. When we’re long gone, it might just evolve into an entirely new game. Who is even aware of it may be extra informal? It could potentially resemble a game like Super Smash Bros.
As a professional editor, I would improve this sentence to:
“I must admit that my anxiety spikes due to the multitude of elements involved in creating a game.” Clearly, the corporate board and financial stakeholders have distinct objectives and metrics tied to the sport’s financial performance as it relates to the company. One would expect them to be robust by nature. It’s crucial to have an imaginative aspect where people comprehend the game and understand its essence.
There must be a leader on the development team with a voice that commands respect and is strong enough to stand alongside these individuals. I worry that when an innovative individual lacks the same level of experience and familiarity with the corporate world, their unique perspective may not be fully understood or valued by those who are more entrenched in traditional business practices.
Will concerns about the team’s morale and cohesion arise once Murray and other senior creative leaders leave the company, potentially leading to a decline in innovative spirit?
: Yeah. The inherent contradiction lies in striking a balance between innovative drive and corporate governance, as the former often supersedes the latter, ultimately jeopardizing the organization’s sustainability.
What’s behind Tekken’s enduring popularity?
Murray: Okay! Many in the community have expressed concerns about the various problems associated with Tekken. When you try to be everything to everyone, it usually doesn’t work out as intended. With Tekken, we’ve achieved a remarkable balance between catering to dedicated fans and delivering engaging narrative and supplementary content to keep casual enthusiasts invested. We’ve consistently demonstrated excellence in delivering diverse content within a single package.
Unlike others, our company boasts a cohesive core group of crew leaders who can seamlessly direct the sport as an entire, having absorbed valuable insights from visiting numerous tournaments globally, thereby bridging the gap between various stakeholders and the development team elsewhere. As our crew takes participants to high-profile events like Evo and other tournaments, they witness firsthand the joy and excitement of people fully embracing their passion for gaming. It offers a multitude of ideas for engaging with one’s local community. As observed in Tekken 7, the game’s movement was noticeably sluggish. Even the trailers! Once we’ve seen individuals at Evo, we have a keen understanding of their behavior. While striving for excellence may indeed be crucial to achieving success, I do believe that consistently pushing ourselves to new heights is what truly sets us apart from others?
