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In an open letter posted on the PlatinumGames website, studio president and CEO Tatsuya Minami has outlined a mandate which makes the Bayonetta and Vanquish developer the “face of Japanese game studios on the worldwide stage”.
“When we established our company with the credo ‘deliver smiles and surprises around the world,’ our staff at the time were determined that quality should never be compromised,” opened the letter. “We dubbed the new company PlatinumGames with the hope that it would be symbolic of permanent brilliance. Since then, each and every member of PlatinumGames has worked together creating these games.
“Five years later, we have delivered several titles to players worldwide. The effort expended was well worth it; at last, I feel the PlatinumGames brand has truly been recognised.
“Today, we open our eyes and set our sights on a new course, under the auspices of a new guiding principle. As stated, we aim to be the Japanese standard bearer in the competitive global video game market.”
Minami continued: “I believe that games exist to offer fresh surprises to those who play them. As members of the games business, we have always pursued the creation of the new, and we take pride in doing our part to support our industry.
“However, the current games business is struggling. The ‘fresh surprises’ I mention are becoming few and far between, especially in our home of Japan. Not so long ago, Japan lead the world’s games business, and it was not a stretch to call games a uniquely Japanese speciality; however, now it appears that Japanese games companies have lost their vigour.”
Minami bemoaned the regularity of sequels, in turn limiting the number of original titles.
“Games with new at their core are disappearing,” he said. “Japanese games that garner worldwide acclaim are slipping away.
“This state of affairs deeply saddens us.”
Minami added: “I feel it is fair to say that PlatinumGames is currently one of the very few healthy Japanese games companies. I also came to realise that we must now consider our work in creating games to be that of a mandate.
“‘The Japanese Standard Bearer in Global Competition.’ At PlatinumGames, we strive to be the face of Japanese game studios on the worldwide stage. We want our contributions to not only be towards the games industry as a whole, but also be contributions towards our homeland of Japan. That is the principle that will guide our company into the future.”
“We aim to bring happiness to gamers worldwide. We seek to ignite a Japanese games revival. And our troops will have the highest morale,” he concluded. “We’re in this fight for the long haul.”
PlatinumGames has produced a string of well received original titles, turning to a new idea even when titles such as Bayonetta achieved enough commercial success to warrant a sequel.
With such a strong mission statement, fans wishing for more from the ass-kicking witch might be in for a long wait.
