Tokyo Game Show 2024, held from Thursday, September 26 to Sunday, September 29, 2024, was one of the largest game festivals in Japan, providing information on the latest games and hands-on experience of devices, and was a great success. During the show, the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Society of Japan (CESA) announced the details of its new initiative, the Top Game Creators Academy. The official website has been opened to the public, and the entry process has begun.
Recruitment of "TGCA" creators has begun.
The "Top Game Creators Academy (TGCA)" was announced on the event stage at the Tokyo Game Show 2024 on Friday, September 27, 2024. The TGCA has been attracting attention as a new human resource development program utilizing the Fund for Strengthening the Foundations for Art and Cultural Activities established by the Japan Arts Council to foster future top creators.
The official website of the TGCA has finally opened and is now accepting applications from creators. The purpose of the program is to " nurture creators with outstanding ideas and technical skills who can create original game IP and content, " and applicants must be under 30 years old as of the end of March 2025.
Support from some of the best creators in Japan
After the entry period from Friday, November 1, 2024 to Friday, January 31, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., the selection process will take place, and the recipients will be chosen and announced around March 2025. The creators who are successfully selected will receive musical accompaniment support from active creators in Japan, including Akihiro Hino (@AkihiroHino), President/CEO of Level-5 Corporation, who is the principal supervisor of the entire program. The official TGCA website states...
- CAPCOM
- Namco Bandai Entertainment Inc.
- DeNA
- SQUARE ENIX
- Koei Tecmo Games
- SEGA
- GREE
- Konami
These are some of the top companies in Japan.
Aiming for the world by exhibiting at game events
The games created through TGCA activities will be exhibited at domestic and international events such as Tokyo Game Show 2025 and overseas trade fairs. If you acquire business know-how through real-life experience, you will have nothing to fear as a creator! The program will also cover the costs of transportation and lodging necessary for exhibiting at each event, allowing creators to concentrate on creating games.
Applications are due by January 31.
Applications for the TGCA program will be accepted from Friday, November 1, 2024 to Friday, January 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Applicants must be under 30 years of age as of the end of March 2025, and the program does not include those whose total income from past game productions exceeds 5 million yen. Entries by individuals or teams of individuals are also accepted.
Works may be updates of previous contest winners. If you are a creator who thinks "I am the one! This is a good opportunity for those creators who want to become top creators!
A TGCA information session is scheduled to be held in early December 2024. For details on application requirements, please visit the official TGCA website.
Schedule
- November 2024: Start accepting applications
- January 2025: Application deadline, screening begins
- February-March 2025: First round of screening (review of documents and application requirements), second round of screening (review by test play and interviews, if necessary)
- March 2025: Determination and announcement of recipients
- April 2025: Start of TGCA, production of works with support, participation in CEDEC, consideration of exhibiting at domestic and international events such as TGS, Taipei Game Show, and gamescom, lectures on business skills necessary for exhibiting, 1-day training camp held during the period.
- March 2027: Graduation from TGCA, with follow-up visits to be held approximately three years after completion of the program.