Bokeh Game Studio, the new studio founded by Quiet hill, SIREN, en Gravity Rush creator Keiichiro Toyama, has released a nine-minute “Focus” video in which he introduces the CEO and creative director, as well as the studio’s first game.
“As for our first game, I have several directions for my works,” Toyama said in the video. ‘The one I took is quite dark, far from my recent titles. It is as if I am returning to my roots, for example in the direction of horror. My ideas started moving in that direction. This is where I take my first title. However, instead of something that is deeply rooted in horror, I want to keep some entertainment notes. While refraining from elements of horror, I want the player to feel excited when he plays the game. ”
Toyama continues: ‘The view I have of horror is the everyday life that is being shaken. Instead of showing narrow-mindedness, it should question our position, but challenge the fact that we live peacefully. I like to bring these types of thoughts into my concepts. I would like that to be the theme of my next game.
‘I often read comics as a form of entertainment, recently you see a trend towards the content of’ death game ‘. These works tend to provide entertainment at somewhat cruel worlds. I enjoy these works and read them regularly. I, of course, followed that approach. These regular people are driven into irrational situations. They are emotionally on the edge while dealing with action or drama. It affected me and I think it will show in my next game. ”
‘One characteristic of my games is the environment, in what city or town we develop, how did these people get there, what is their emotional state. This is how I approach games. I was also inspired by places this time and started with that. I wander through maps and try different methods to build the setting.
“One trigger was a trip I undertook in my private time. My family and I visited this city in Asia. It had these dynamics like the Asian cities, and retained an exotic touch mixed with a sense of modernity. I began to imagine an environment that preserves the sense of evolution and the energy of the people. I thought it was a good theme to take in with my game. ”
Additional concept art is displayed throughout the video. Here are a few more:
Get the full video and transcript below.
“I have always loved games as a player. I play from a young age. Surprisingly, I never thought about making it my job.
‘I went to art school. That was when 3D games started coming out. The game industry was increasingly looking for young people. At that point, I realized that I could consider becoming a creator. It surprised me, but it came naturally. ”
Keiichiro Toyama is the creator behind Quiet hill, SIREN, en Gravity Rush. In 2020, after more than 20 years, he left Sony Interactive Entertainment to establish a new studio, where he holds the position of creative director.
‘I set up Bokeh Game Studio to keep making games in my own style. Games have gotten bigger and bigger over the last few years. The audience grew wider, especially for companies like Sony, where I was. However, my games choose in a way rather than reaching out to the widest audience. They tend to have these weird concepts, and in the end I’m confident it’s a trail behind.
‘I want to create IPs that fans can enjoy even ten, twenty years after they’re released. Since I want to achieve this under the right circumstances, I thought it was a necessity to have my own studio. ”
The first of Bokeh
‘As for our first game, I have several directions for my works. The one I took is quite dark, far from my more recent titles. It is as if I am returning to my roots, for example in the direction of horror. My ideas started moving in that direction. This is where I take my first title. However, instead of something that is deeply rooted in horror, I want to keep some entertainment notes. While refraining from elements of horror, I want the player to feel excited when he plays the game.
‘The view I have of horror is the everyday life that is being shaken. Instead of showing narrow-mindedness, it should question our position, but challenge the fact that we live quietly. I like to bring these types of thoughts into my concepts. I would like that to be the theme of my next game.
‘I often read comics as a form of entertainment, recently you see a trend towards the content of’ death game ‘. These works tend to provide entertainment at somewhat cruel worlds. I enjoy these works and read them regularly. I, of course, followed that approach. These regular people are driven into irrational situations. They are emotionally on the edge while dealing with action or drama. It affected me and I think it will show in my next game.
‘One characteristic of my games is the environment, in what city or town we develop, how did these people get there, what is their emotional state. This is how I approach games. I was also inspired by places this time and started with that. I wander through maps and try different methods to build the setting.
“One trigger was a trip I undertook in my private time. My family and I visited this city in Asia. It had these dynamics like the Asian cities, and retained an exotic touch mixed with a sense of modernity. I begin to imagine an environment that preserves the sense of evolution and the energy of the people. I thought it’s a great theme to include in my game. ”
Engraving Emotions
One motivation I have behind taking photos is to find a way to make records of the emotions I feel. Back in school, I focused more on analog videography. I will shoot pieces of our daily lives. Photos have the aspect of the time machine, which allows you to go back to a moment in time. I enjoy the nostalgia you get from them. I make sure I engrave these moments, it calms me down in a way. That’s why I keep a camera on me at all times to this day.
‘Making games is a group activity, we make it together in a studio. I enjoy it a lot. On the contrary, if I want to express an emotion inside me, I want to create new works as part of my daily life, but it can be quite difficult. Photography is the only way I can easily express my own interpretation of the world. You feel how times change too. I realize how different I saw the world a few years ago. It shows especially in the colors. It’s for me a way to face the world alone in a way. Photography goes well with game creation or other group activities as it is my own axis. ”