Murayama Yoshitaka: Difference between revisions

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===Suikoden series===

Committed from the start to make a franchise to rival series such as Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy, Murayama wrote the scenario of the first Suikoden. Unimpressed with their early 3D modeling tests, he opted to make a traditional 2D RPG using sprite graphics. In the winter of 1993, ~~when~~ pitching his idea of an RPG with a great gallery of supporting characters, inspired by Murayama's preference for manga such as Fist of the North Star and Captain Tsubasa he instead decided to use the classic Chinese novel ''[[Shui Hu Zhuan]]'' in order to better illustrate his point. The pitch was a success, and in this short meeting the game was given the name ''Suikoden'', the Japanese reading of Shui Hu Zhuan, and Murayama was tasked with making 108 characters mirroring the 108 outlaws in the Chinese classic.

[[File:Murayama Yoshitaka (1996).png|220px|thumb|left|Murayama Yoshitaka c.1996]]

Committed from the start to make a franchise to rival series such as Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy, Murayama wrote the scenario of the first Suikoden. Unimpressed with their early 3D modeling tests, he opted to make a traditional 2D RPG using sprite graphics. In the winter of 1993, he would begin pitching his idea of an RPG with a great gallery of supporting characters.

[[~~Suikoden~~]] ~~was released in Japan~~ in ~~December 1995~~ to ~~positive reviews and soon garnered a dedicated cult following~~. ~~Murayama personally responded to each and every fan letter that~~ was ~~sent. Konami was also intent on making Suikoden into~~ a ~~franchise~~, and he was ~~asked to develop its sequel, bringing back most of~~ the ~~team from the first game. Deciding what aspects to focus on for [[~~Suikoden ~~II]]~~, ~~response from~~ the ~~fans prompted them to concentrate on further developing the world~~ and ~~its~~ characters ~~over~~ the ~~graphics and mechanics. The game was released~~ in ~~December 1998, like its predecessor to positive reviews and slow but steady sales~~.

Inspired by his preference for manga such as Fist of the North Star and Captain Tsubasa Murayama instead decided to use the classic Chinese novel ''[[Shui Hu Zhuan]]'' in order to better illustrate his point. The pitch was a success, and in this short meeting the game was given the name ''Suikoden'', the Japanese reading of Shui Hu Zhuan, and Murayama was tasked with making 108 characters mirroring the 108 outlaws in the Chinese classic.

A third game in the series was developed, but a month before the release of [[Suikoden III]] in July 2002, Murayama left Konami. In compliance with Konami company policy, his name was taken out of the credits for the game. The reason for his sudden departure has been long theorized on by fans, many believing corporate meddling to be the reason, in part because of the omitted credit for Suikoden III. ~~However, in~~ an interview with Swedish gaming magazine LEVEL in August 2009, Murayama clarified that ~~this was~~ only because it had been exactly ten years since he was first hired by Konami, and his personal goal had always been to stay no longer than ten years before turning freelance.

[[Suikoden]] was released in Japan in December 1995 to positive reviews and soon garnered a dedicated cult following. Murayama personally responded to each and every fan letter that was sent. Konami was also intent on making Suikoden into a franchise, and he was asked to develop its sequel, bringing back most of the team from the first game.

Deciding what aspects to focus on for [[Suikoden II]], response from the fans prompted them to concentrate on further developing the world and its characters over the graphics and mechanics. The game was released in December 1998, like its predecessor to positive reviews and slow but steady sales.

[[File:Murayama Yoshitaka (2001).png|220px|thumb|right|Murayama Yoshitaka c.2001]]

A third game in the series was developed, but a month before the release of [[Suikoden III]] in July 2002, Murayama left Konami. In compliance with Konami company policy, his name was taken out of the credits for the game. The reason for his sudden departure has been long theorized on by fans, many believing corporate meddling to be the reason, in part because of the omitted credit for Suikoden III.

In an interview with Swedish gaming magazine LEVEL in August 2009, Murayama clarified that he had left only because it had been exactly ten years since he was first hired by Konami, and his personal goal had always been to stay no longer than ten years before turning freelance.

===Post-Konami===

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ===Suikoden series===
-Committed from the start to make a franchise to rival series such as Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy, Murayama wrote the scenario of the first Suikoden. Unimpressed with their early 3D modeling tests, he opted to make a traditional 2D RPG using sprite graphics. In the winter of 1993, when pitching his idea of an RPG with a great gallery of supporting characters, inspired by Murayama's preference for manga such as Fist of the North Star and Captain Tsubasa he instead decided to use the classic Chinese novel ''[[Shui Hu Zhuan]]'' in order to better illustrate his point. The pitch was a success, and in this short meeting the game was given the name ''Suikoden'', the Japanese reading of Shui Hu Zhuan, and Murayama was tasked with making 108 characters mirroring the 108 outlaws in the Chinese classic.
+[[File:Murayama Yoshitaka (1996).png|220px|thumb|left|Murayama Yoshitaka c.1996]]
+Committed from the start to make a franchise to rival series such as Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy, Murayama wrote the scenario of the first Suikoden. Unimpressed with their early 3D modeling tests, he opted to make a traditional 2D RPG using sprite graphics. In the winter of 1993, he would begin pitching his idea of an RPG with a great gallery of supporting characters.
-[[Suikoden]] was released in Japan in December 1995 to positive reviews and soon garnered a dedicated cult following. Murayama personally responded to each and every fan letter that was sent. Konami was also intent on making Suikoden into a franchise, and he was asked to develop its sequel, bringing back most of the team from the first game. Deciding what aspects to focus on for [[Suikoden II]], response from the fans prompted them to concentrate on further developing the world and its characters over the graphics and mechanics. The game was released in December 1998, like its predecessor to positive reviews and slow but steady sales.
+Inspired by his preference for manga such as Fist of the North Star and Captain Tsubasa Murayama instead decided to use the classic Chinese novel ''[[Shui Hu Zhuan]]'' in order to better illustrate his point. The pitch was a success, and in this short meeting the game was given the name ''Suikoden'', the Japanese reading of Shui Hu Zhuan, and Murayama was tasked with making 108 characters mirroring the 108 outlaws in the Chinese classic.
-A third game in the series was developed, but a month before the release of [[Suikoden III]] in July 2002, Murayama left Konami. In compliance with Konami company policy, his name was taken out of the credits for the game. The reason for his sudden departure has been long theorized on by fans, many believing corporate meddling to be the reason, in part because of the omitted credit for Suikoden III. However, in an interview with Swedish gaming magazine LEVEL in August 2009, Murayama clarified that this was only because it had been exactly ten years since he was first hired by Konami, and his personal goal had always been to stay no longer than ten years before turning freelance.
+[[Suikoden]] was released in Japan in December 1995 to positive reviews and soon garnered a dedicated cult following. Murayama personally responded to each and every fan letter that was sent. Konami was also intent on making Suikoden into a franchise, and he was asked to develop its sequel, bringing back most of the team from the first game.
+Deciding what aspects to focus on for [[Suikoden II]], response from the fans prompted them to concentrate on further developing the world and its characters over the graphics and mechanics. The game was released in December 1998, like its predecessor to positive reviews and slow but steady sales.
+[[File:Murayama Yoshitaka (2001).png|220px|thumb|right|Murayama Yoshitaka c.2001]]
+A third game in the series was developed, but a month before the release of [[Suikoden III]] in July 2002, Murayama left Konami. In compliance with Konami company policy, his name was taken out of the credits for the game. The reason for his sudden departure has been long theorized on by fans, many believing corporate meddling to be the reason, in part because of the omitted credit for Suikoden III.
+In an interview with Swedish gaming magazine LEVEL in August 2009, Murayama clarified that he had left only because it had been exactly ten years since he was first hired by Konami, and his personal goal had always been to stay no longer than ten years before turning freelance.
 ===Post-Konami===