Among the various booths exhibited at "Tokyo Game Show 2024 (TGS2024)," one of Japan's largest gaming events, there was a booth that people of all ages, from children to adults, enjoyed playing.
It was the "Osaka Electro-Communication University" booth.
Located immediately upon entering the hall, the booth was very noticeable, especially with its atmosphere, so many of you who attended TGS2024 probably saw it, didn't you?
We interviewed Shugo Takeda, the student representative of "Osaka Electro-Communication University," where students create games from scratch, and Associate Professor Yoshitatsu Mori.
Interview with Takeda and Associate Professor Mori!
(The following block quotes are translated from Japanese.)
Q. Have you exhibited at TGS before?
Takeda: Last year, we exhibited at TGS with a game we created called "Tako Yuusha."
Q. Is this booth participating with all departments?
Takeda: The Digital Games Department is the foundation, but the two game-related departments are central, and works selected through an in-school competition are exhibited at TGS.
Associate Professor Mori: Takeda participated in various titles as an engineer, and the games Takeda participated in this time are lined up in the center!
Q. Are all of them created by students?
Takeda: That's right. The professors give us advice.
Associate Professor Mori: We hold in-school competitions and provide various feedback at that time. But in the end, it's the students who put in the effort.
Q. How do you create them?
Takeda: From the planning stage.
For the games on display, we started planning around February or March of this year, and then proceeded with programming when the first semester began, aiming for BitSummit in Kyoto.
After that event, we polished them up and exhibited them at TGS.
Q. Did you produce them in that amount of time?
Takeda: It took about half a year to produce.
Some other teams have brought their projects to this stage in 4 or 5 months after forming.
Q. What do you learn at school?
Takeda: I specialize in programming, but students can choose what they want to learn depending on what they aim for.
For example, if you aim to be a modeler, it would be design-related.
Q. For those who are unsure what they want to do?
Takeda: There are also students who take various classes and learn from them.
Q. How was the response to the exhibition and trial play?
Associate Professor Mori: We exhibited a single-player version at BitSummit, and at TGS, we upgraded it to offer competitive play. The students worked hard with Takeda's support.
Takeda: I just supported them! The second-year students worked hard (laughs).
Since my first year, I've always wanted to exhibit my own game at TGS at least once. Last year, I wasn't selected for the in-school slot, but I'm happy to have been chosen with my team this time.
Associate Professor Mori: Once it was actually exhibited, we felt a great sense of accomplishment. And when we saw people playing the game, which allows them to compete against Vtubers, and having a blast, we thought we had created something good.
Q. Did you see other booths at TGS?
Takeda: Yes, I did! I looked at the famous ones and the booths of other students and walked around thinking about what they were made with.
Q. Is it like a "student's occupational hazard"?
Takeda: That's right, I do think like that, "I can do this!" or "I can't do this!"
Associate Professor Mori: In my case, I think about the scale of the booth and sometimes think, "I want to be like that."
Takeda: Also, I can only see things from an implementation perspective, so sometimes I find bugs and think, "Yes!" (laughs).
Being able to find bugs means understanding the implementation, like "If it bugs like this, then it's like this!" Or, finding bugs in unseen places feels interesting!
Q. What are your favorite games or memorable games?
Takeda: I've been really into Monster Hunter since elementary school!
I wanted to go to the trial play, but there were too many people, and I lost the ticket lottery... (cries).
Q. What is your dream for the future?
Takeda: I want to be a game engineer.
Associate Professor Mori: I want my students who become game creators to treat me to some delicious sushi!
Reika & Ruipoyo: Professor!?
Takeda: I want to show him how much I've grown (laughs).
Osaka Electro-Communication University Utilizing Specialized Learning
Osaka Electro-Communication University showcased an excellent exhibition at Tokyo Game Show 2024 that stood out, offering cutting-edge classes.
My impression after actually playing the game was that it was perfect for first-time players: The controls are simple, but you can't clear it unless you really think.
A wide range of gamers were trying out the game at the booth, and we hope they will greatly contribute to their future experiences!
Osaka Electro-Communication University's Faculty of Information Science and Arts, Department of Digital Games, will be reborn as a one-department, three-specialization system in April 2026.
While we look forward to the emergence of even more next-generation creators, students considering further education should check the Osaka Electro-Communication University official website.