September 15, 2022 12:36 pm
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai has started a new YouTube channel called “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games.” Check out the latest batch of uploaded content via the embedded videos below:
Game Awards
It’s Grab Bag time again—the category where you never know what you’re going to get. (Though I’ll try to keep it related to games.)
Despite being involved in the Game Designers Award for the Japan Game Awards, I feel conflicted about it. Why do game awards exist, anyway?
Presentations Are All About Speed!
Watch this video, and you’ll have what it takes to make your presentations a one-hit KO!
If you want to get your proposals approved, the most important step is to trim the fat.
Kirby’s Adventure
In the Game Concepts category, I’ll be looking back at how I came up with the ideas for each of my games. For this second entry, we’ll look at Kirby’s Adventure.
Kirby’s Adventure is the first game where Kirby had the power to copy enemy abilities. I’ll talk about where this and some of the other ideas in the game came from, and touch upon the circumstances that led to its creation.
Draw the Light, Not the Asset
In the Graphics category, we’ll talk about making art for games. I won’t be sharing tool tutorials and such, but rather practical points to consider when creating game visuals.
Hmm, that last image of a forest could’ve used a little more emphasis on the shadows…
Squeeze and Release
Isn’t it strange how games stress you out in order to make you feel good? What’s going on there??
Lots of games draw inspiration from other works, but rather than just mimic the rules of other games, wouldn’t it be better to understand what makes them fun at a fundamental level and then use that to create something truly new and innovative? This is what I try to do, at least.
Down with Lag!
In the Grab Bag category, you never know what you’re going to get. Here, we’ll delve into topics that don’t quite fit neatly into any of the other categories—though the conversations will still be largely focused around games.
Today we’ll be talking about how to enhance your game-playing experience by improving your home setup. I hope it makes gaming more enjoyable for as many of you as possible!
Game Development Isn’t a Game
In the Work Ethic category, I’d like to talk about the ways we approach and prepare for our jobs. How we think and feel about our work is important—we’re not robots, after all.
The topics in this category are recommended for all lines of work, not just games!
This time, we’ll be talking about what it means to be a professional.
Risk and Reward
In the Game Essence category, I’ll explore the thinking behind “game essence” and how it impacts the push and pull at the heart of games.
In this episode, we’ll look at a theory I’ve discussed numerous times over the years. It’s become somewhat well-known (at least in Japan), but as the framework for this category of videos, I’d like to take this chance to reintroduce it for those who are unfamiliar.
By the way, the term translated as “game essence” (geemu-sei in Japanese) was a tough one for the translators, and led to a number of long debates. It seems there isn’t a perfect match in English, but I hope you’ll be able to pick up the meaning through context while watching these videos. The fact that a specific word doesn’t exist for it means it’s a concept worth exploring!
Frame Rates
In the Planning & Game Design category, I’ll talk about topics to consider when coming up with game ideas and mechanics.
In this first entry, we’ll explore frame rates, which are the frequency in which a game’s screen is redrawn and a basic concept everyone should understand.
Frame rates can sometimes play an important role in measuring time in games, too, though not as often as in years past.
Kirby’s Dream Land
In the Game Concepts category, I’ll be looking back at how I came up with the ideas for each of the games I worked on, in release order.
I have lots of memories associated with these titles, but I’ll try and focus on the inspirations and thought processes behind them.
We’ll start with my debut game: Kirby’s Dream Land. Have you heard of it?
Stop for Big Moments!
Have you ever heard of something called “hit stop”? The thinking behind it can be applied to more than just hits—in fact, it’d be a waste to only use it there!
By the way, an extra point regarding those additional effects shown at the end of the video: using slow motion only briefly and then returning to normal speed would make the effect even more impactful.
Masahiro Sakurai’s Creative Works
This video offers a brief introduction to my major creative works as of 2022. I’ve been involved in numerous other projects as well, of course, but for games in particular, I chose to only include works that I’ve directed personally.
When you hear the word “director,” you might think of someone managing teams or providing general oversight, but in addition to that, I also come up with ideas and work on the actual game design, too.
About This Channel
Join me as I kick off my new channel, “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games,” with an overview of the kinds of things I’ll be talking about.
Why am I making a channel, exactly?
You’ll find out in this video.
Source: Masahiro Sakurai
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