Interview: Kinou Games Group

Spokesperson Seira of Kinou Games tells us that their group makes dual language releases, with voice actors in both Japanese and English as well as JP and English text Their goal is to encourage the inclusion of both languages in the original version of the game, and work with a Japanese doujin group called ZeroZigen who also supports including an English language version in Japanese games, and, ultimately, doing an exchange; having English-speaking game makers include a Japanese version.

She also said “For our side, my group tries to be inclusive of marginalized people in our games, putting them in starring roles. Papa Pirate, Baby Bandit will be our first release and our focus for this was a strong female protagonist in many different roles, the ever-elusive brown people in major character roles, and gay relationships that are loving and PG.”

Coming at the end of May will be a game reminiscent of Princess Maker; a raising sim where you bring a little kid to adulthood. It’s mostly a lighthearted fantasy game, and is an introduction to the world players will explore in subsequent games. You take the role of the head bandit Kiel and his second-in-command, Shink, as Majin parents to a little Majin girl (Majin refers to a race of people who inhabit the world). As it tends to be with parents, your actions in game will determine her success in life. The potential endings range from Ruling Queen to Day Laborer. She can also choose to get married to one of 15 people, six of whom are women, and decide to have a child.

Geek Woman: It sounds like you are a new game company that is planning dual language releases?

Yes, KinouGames is lucky enough to have staff that speaks Japanese, so while we still get some edits done by our native speaking contact, we’re able to write scripts and assist our contact in determining the best voice actors for our games.

What is your first game?

Our debut game is called “Papa Pirate, Baby Bandit”. It’s a little bit of a hefty name, but we wanted to go with something catchy and light-hearted, and easily turned into an acronym (PPBB~). It takes place in the world of Makai, and the continuity will be continued in our second game, Mitsumata.

What platform or platforms will your game be coming out for?

Currently our plan is to release for Windows, Mac and Linux, however, we’re considering doing our demo on the web on our site and a “lite” version for free on the Droid. But definitely, it will be available to all computer-users.

Will it be released simultaneously both in Japan and the US?

Yes, the plan is for a simultaneous release. The UI is also translated for potential Japanese fans, and as we’re selling the game at conventions in America, our contact is helping us sell the game in Japan.

You have said that your group tries to be inclusive of marginalized people in your games, and you plan on putting them in starring roles?

Absolutely. So many people don’t get shown in games very often, gay people, trans people, brown-skinned people, disabled people, and when they do get shone, they’re usually some kind of novelty who exists only for their “special interest”. We want to eliminate that. Especially for PPBB, which takes place in a very different world from ours; a world inhabited by a non-human, more instinct-based species called Majin. For them, the above things are the status quo, and the social classes are determined best by actual physical strength, or cunning, and at the time explored in the game, veterans of the recently passed war.

You will have leading female characters and playable female avatars?

The main character of the game, Adela (Sanae in Japanese) is indeed a girl. Your normal playable characters are men, her two bandit dads, Shink and Kiel. The game’s focus is on Adela more than anything; she’s in every scene and most of the drama happens to her! (Or is caused by her, she’s definitely a firecracker.) In one part of the game, you take over Adela as she goes travelling through forests, swamps, caves and deserts to fight monsters and bring back treasure.

Will they be customizable?

We cut down on customization in this game to make room for the AI, however, Adela has 30 outfits she can wear about 12 or so weapons you can give her.

What kind of game is Papa Pirate, Baby Bandit?

The game is a raising sim, for those of you who have heard of the very popular Princess Maker series, where you play the two bandit fathers of a little girl and try to steer her down the right direction in life. There’s a bit of an AI aspect in it; while you, as her fathers, can tell her where she should go to work, what classes she should take, and so on, but ultimately she’ll make the decision on what actually goes down.

Also when you say that you want to represent brown people in major character roles, and gay relationships that are loving and PG, how do you plan to market the game in conservative stores North America?

We honestly had no intention of marketing this game to North American stores. Our goal is to get popular and noticed online first, and from there we’ll see if we’re capable of doing something like that.

You’ve mentioned that the endings include that the character can choose to get married to one of 15 people, six of whom are women, and decide to have a child. Can she choose not to get married or have children as well?

Absolutely. The child ending is actually pretty difficult to get, and you can choose to be single the entire game, or date and then choose to be single. There’s also no inherently implied unhappiness with making either choice; she can get married and it can end in divorce, or she can not get married and be the happiest lady ever. She can get numerous ending combinations, whether she ends up happy or unhappy depends on other factors built into the AI.