The "Tokyo Game Show 2024" was held from Thursday, September 26 to Sunday, September 29, 2024.
It was a huge success as Japan's largest gaming festival, with information on the latest games and hands-on device experiences.
Details of a new initiative announced during the event by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA), the "Top Game Creators Academy," have been revealed.
The official website has been launched, and applications have begun.
Recruitment for "TGCA" Creators Has Started
The "Top Game Creators Academy" (hereafter, TGCA) was announced at an event stage within the Tokyo Game Show 2024 on Friday, September 27, 2024.
It is attracting attention as a new talent development program that utilizes the Fund for Strengthening the Foundation for Cultural and Artistic Activities, established within the Japan Arts Council with a subsidy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, to train future top creators.
The official TGCA website has finally been opened, and applications from creators have begun.
The program's objective is to train creators with excellent ideas and technical skills who can create original game IPs and content, and applicants are required to be 30 years old or younger as of the end of March 2025.
Support from Japan's Leading Creators
After the application period from Friday, November 1, 2024, to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025, a selection process will take place, and the selected trainees will be decided and announced around March 2025.
Creators who are successfully selected as trainees will receive support from active Japanese creators, including the program's overall supervisor (principal), Akihiro Hino, the President and CEO of Level-5 Inc.
The TGCA official website lists top-tier Japanese companies such as:
- Capcom
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- DeNA
- Square Enix
- Koei Tecmo Games
- Sega
- GREE
- Konami
Exhibit at Game Events and Aim for the World
The games created through TGCA's activities will aim to be exhibited at both domestic and international events, such as the Tokyo Game Show 2025 and overseas trade shows.
Once you acquire the business know-how gained through real-world experience, there will be nothing to fear as a creator!
The program also covers expenses such as transportation and accommodation costs required for exhibiting at each event, so creators can focus on game production.
Applications Due January 31
The application period for the TGCA program is from Friday, November 1, 2024, to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025.
Application requirements include being 30 years old or younger as of the end of March 2025 and not having a total income from past game production of 5 million yen or more.
Applications from individuals or teams are also accepted.
It is also possible to submit an updated version of a game that has won a past contest.
Creators who think, "I am the one!" should take this opportunity to aim to become a top creator!
A briefing session for TGCA is also scheduled to be held around early December 2024.
For details on the application requirements, please visit the TGCA official website.
Schedule
- November 2024: Start of recruitment for trainees
- January 2025: Application deadline, start of screening
- February to March 2025: First screening (document screening and application requirement screening), second screening (screening by trial play and interviews as needed)
- March 2025: Decision and announcement of trainees
- April 2025: Start of TGCA, game production with support, participation as a viewer in CEDEC, consideration of exhibiting at domestic and international events such as TGS, Taipei Game Show, and gamescom, lectures on business skills required for exhibition, and a 1-day training camp during the period
- March 2027: TGCA graduation, follow-up for approximately 3 years after completion
