I was recently invited to visit the headquarters of Onion Games in Tokyo to have a sit-down interview with its founder, Mr. Yoshiro Kimura. Onion Games is the developer behind the recent arcade-puzzle game Million Onion Hotel [$3.99]. They also released the quirky RPG Dandy Dungeon [Free] earlier this year. While Onion Games is somewhat new in the scheme of things, their staff has deep roots in the Japanese game industry. Mr. Kimura's career alone stretches back more than two decades, and he's worked with and for companies such as Square Enix, Marvelous Entertainment, and Sony Computer Entertainment. Many of his games are considered cult classics in Japan thanks to their refreshing approach to what can often be a very conventional form of media.
Like some of my other interviews, this one turned out to be rather lengthy. I've split it into two parts as a result. You can check back tomorrow for the second half. I'd also like to note that Mr. Kimura carried out this interview almost entirely in English, which is his second language. Please keep that in mind if anything seems unusual about his phrasing or the like. The unusual content, however, is all his. Now, let's get on with the interview.
On the Difficult Question of Identity
TouchArcade (TA): Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Who you are, any work people might know...
Yoshiro Kimura (YK): When I introduce myself, I say I am Japanese video game designer, Yoshiro Kimura. I've already spent twenty... twenty-two y...