Mega Man Creator Keiji Inafune Calls Capcom a "Communist State"

Greg Tito

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Sep 29, 2005
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Mega Man Creator Keiji Inafune Calls Capcom a "Communist State"



Keiji Inafune quit Capcom last week, but, in an interview he gave right before his resignation was announced, he spouts some pretty awesome quotes about the Japanese game industry..

I guess that we've known for a while that Keiji Inafune was unhappy with his job, even though he's been at it for a while and has made some awesome games including Mega Man and Resident Evil 4. He's gone on record as saying that he "resigned [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104301-Dead-Rising-2-Producer-Hates-His-Job], Inafune doesn't hold anything back. He compares the Japanese videogame industry to a "Communist state" and throws out a crazy sexual metaphor that we all understand. Sorta.

"The reason why I'm quitting is basically because I think that the game industry itself must change the way it goes about making games. You might think I'm being hypocritical, but the really big wall that the Japanese game industry is hitting is the changing of its creators into salarymen," Inafune said. "There are a lot of people who take their company's commitment for granted and don't work as hard as they should. This could be said of the entire industry, and of course Capcom is no exception.

"In short, it's like a communist state. Working as hard as you can is your own loss. Not working hard becomes more advantageous. But doesn't that get in the way of making games? You can't make good games by just taking it easy."

Inafune doesn't just blame the game creators, he also sees the rising expectations of consumers as a problem. But, in true Inafune style, he is not content to express that point without a sexual metaphor.

"In the game industry 20 years ago, no matter what kind of game you made, you could sell 200 or 300 thousand copies. If you even made a decent game, it'd sell 500 thousand or a million copies. But those days are over," Inafune said. "Competition has intensified, and furthermore, players have gotten 'used to' games. To use a simple analogy, any kind of erotic picture will turn on a middle school student, right?"

And I guess, now that we're older, we gamers need hardcore pr0n to get it up, is that it, Inafune?

While it's certainly been a great ride reading Inafune's quotes when discussing Capcom games these past few years, it seems like his departure is the best thing for him. Here's hoping that he ends up making games in a company and situation that will suit his talents.

Source: Wired [http://www.4gamer.net/games/084/G008467/20101029004/]

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Simalacrum

Resident Juggler
Apr 17, 2008
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I never thought I'd see the day when The Escapist used words like "hardcore pr0n".

My life has just become complete, I can now die happy :D
 

MrHero17

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Jul 11, 2008
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That is an awesome sexual reference!

Hopefully he can find a place where he can put his talents to good use.
 

Rosen2012

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Mar 10, 2010
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I hope he ends up somewhere where is talent is put to use. You sir make great games! Don't fade away.

Plus my stash is getting kind of low, know what I'm sayin'?
 

phoenix352

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Mar 29, 2009
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he should go to Activision i hear its all Milk and Cookies there :D


ot: good for him. he should do what he likes the way he likes it ...
 

NickCaligo42

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Oct 7, 2007
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Inafune, you are my new hero. ... Well, you were my hero before, but... dah, never mind. Props to this fella for saying what needs to be said and standing up for his beliefs, even in the face of his own tenure at Capcom.
 

Ultra_Caboose

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Aug 25, 2008
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I'm proud of him. He's been one of my favorite developers for years, and to see him be this honest and break away from all of it is a great sign for his future games.

While this does make me sad that Megaman Legends 3 may never see the light of day, I'll get over it, and I can't wait to see where he goes and does down the road.
 

Ferroto Baggins

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Apr 30, 2010
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Greg Tito said:
"In short, it's like a communist state. Working as hard as you can is your own loss. Not working hard becomes more advantageous. But doesn't that get in the way of making games? You can't make good games by just taking it easy."
Can you forward my application on the way out.
 

XT inc

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Jul 29, 2009
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Different analogies aside thats what I have been telling my friends for ages. Game companies are resting on their laurels and gamers need you game to be uber top tier for our cash. They act like they don't know that their job is to make the 69.99$ price look like they are just giving the ticket to ride away. At nearly a hundred bucks a game as gamers the emotional economics isn't to suffer a loss, or break even or come out on top. Its to hit the entertainment ball out of the park so hard that its memory sears it's self into your mind forever.
 

Brotherofwill

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Jan 25, 2009
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What an awesome guy!
Mr.PlanetEater said:
"No jiggle physics is counter revolutionary!"
Did he say that? What's the story around that, sounds awesome haha.

This guy should be a gaming philosopher.
 

Eclectic Dreck

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Sep 3, 2008
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Mr.PlanetEater said:
Sorry but I have to say this;
"No jiggle physics is counter revolutionary!"
On the one hand, if one wants to replicate reality in a video game and then bend it to their will, implementing the necessary physical models that could lead to the jiggling in this case is necessary. On the other hand, I would point out that women, at least the ones I've noted, when they are knowingly about to engage in some sort of strenuous activity where significant jiggling is expected, will generally make an effort to wear something that reduces the onset of said jiggling.

I mean, any female fencer, runner, boxer or soldier I ever knew would don a sports bra (or something similar) before engaging in the jiggle inducing activity. Apparently, while it does draw the male eye, it can also be intensely uncomfortable.
 

thenamelessloser

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Jan 15, 2010
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His quotes may contradict each other. On one level he is saying that gamers are more critical than ever and yet at the same time he is saying a lot of people working in the industry are slackers? Does that mean the few that aren't slackers are working that much harder or that simply that the dude is just whiny and makes complaints that maybe no real basis in reality.
 

thublihnk

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Jul 24, 2009
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thenamelessloser said:
His quotes may contradict each other. On one level he is saying that gamers are more critical than ever and yet at the same time he is saying a lot of people working in the industry are slackers? Does that mean the few that aren't slackers are working that much harder or that simply that the dude is just whiny and makes complaints that maybe no real basis in reality.
I think the two are related to each other. No boundaries are being pushed anymore so no one cares about a mediocre title; we need AAA title with the standard runny-gunny or magic-stabby gameplay to be GOOD or we pay no attention. If, say, boundaries were being pushed but it was a title with less than stellar production value *coughcough* PSYCHONAUTS then we pay attention.
 
Apr 28, 2008
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The Great JT said:
Hey, Keiji? You want to bring some creative spark to gaming? Here's a thought.

I'm sure if he applied there Tim Schafer would shit brix.

OT: Good for him. Glad to see after all this time, he's still honest and opinionated. Hopefully he gets to make more games in a better atmosphere.
 

thiosk

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Sep 18, 2008
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The longer I live, the more weird japanese hardcore prOn I need just to maintain minimal function.

I'm with you inafune. 100%.

Wait.

What?
 

thenamelessloser

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Jan 15, 2010
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thublihnk said:
thenamelessloser said:
His quotes may contradict each other. On one level he is saying that gamers are more critical than ever and yet at the same time he is saying a lot of people working in the industry are slackers? Does that mean the few that aren't slackers are working that much harder or that simply that the dude is just whiny and makes complaints that maybe no real basis in reality.
I think the two are related to each other. No boundaries are being pushed anymore so no one cares about a mediocre title; we need AAA title with the standard runny-gunny or magic-stabby gameplay to be GOOD or we pay no attention. If, say, boundaries were being pushed but it was a title with less than stellar production value *coughcough* PSYCHONAUTS then we pay attention.
So in other words video games are like film or any most other kinds of entertainment in capitalistic cultures.

Also, I think Psychonauts had fine production values at the time, it didn't do as well as it should have probably due to marketing. I mean, at least for the Xbox it had above average graphics I think.