Japanese gaming icon Goichi "Suda51" Suda, and GungHo Online Entertainment (Ragnarok Online) Kazuki Morishita, sat down with 4gamer (via Edge-Online) to discuss the reasons for Grasshopper Manufacture ceasing their life as an independent development studio.
"I'd like Suda-san to remain focussed on Grasshopper rather than GungHo as a whole. Of course now I'll be involved in Grasshopper's creative output, but since Suda-san is there, in a lot of ways it actually equates to a taking load off my own work. Basically, I'd like Grasshopper Manufacture to continue to make games in the manner they are accustomed to," said Morishita, who according to the article shares a common interest in late night drinking sessions and grilled chicken with Suda51.
"Around 2011, I was thinking about what I should do with the company, groping about in the dark to try and figure out the real purpose, the real value of Grasshopper Manufacture," said Suda51. "So, while we were deciding our next project, I was too absorbed in the management side of business to really focus on the creative. Morishita-san said ‘isn't that my job?', and it put me back on the right path."
Suda51 continued:
"Up until now, we've been lucky enough to have worked with big name clients, and I'm very thankful to have learned all I have from them. However, at the same time, it's also true it was difficult to truly grasp the creative reigns of a project, which is a situation I've been trying to rectify," continued Suda. "That's not the main reason though. For example, in our latest game, Lollipop Chainsaw, the back and forth between us and the client was ultimately a good thing I believe. But I believe as a developer, to stay in this kind of environment is stifling. We really want to go all out in the future, and I think it's necessary for a closer relationship with the publisher in order to do so."
"For example, if we wanted to make a title that was focussed on online play, we wouldn't be able to if publishers weren't interested in funding such a game. But equally, since we've been focussed on single player experiences, we wouldn't have the resources and knowledge base to make such a game on our own anyway. I've always wanted to make use of the strengths of online. It's a layer I've wanted to add to our repertoire."
Suda51 and his Grasshopper Manufacture are currently working on Killer is Dead, and it remains to be seen what effect (if any) the new ownership has on the studio longterm.