Shougai linked to the second part of Sakai’s interview. Here we see some interesting comments regarding us foreign players.

Gamebridge: The latest game have both a domestic and foreign outlook, what do you think is necessary to consider by making Phantasy Star appeal to foreign countries (outside of japan)?

Sakai: For now,  the game wasn’t really directed towards foreign countries. Originally, “Phantasy Star” was a popular title abroad.  But now, that feeling seems to be gone. Maybe it is because of  the failure of PSU. Now when you create Phantasy Star (games) “Things that the Japanese players will accept,” is valued. Yet, we are also put in a position to make something that foreign countries will accept. This is because our company’s policy is to make games for a global audience.  So I do try to aim for a global audience, but there is no use creating something that is not accepted by Japanese players. ”When you make something in Japan, will the rest of the world embrace it?,” is a hugely important thing to think about. [...]

Generally there isn’t much of a story in online games. How do you introduce a story then?  [Inserting a story] was truly the experiment for PSU. [Regarding online games in general]: Is it difficult to have one person developing into the hero?  In PSO, “the view of the world” is the main premise behind the game, it was a story where you could see the mysteries, little by little. In the future,  I think that it would be good to head back towards that direction.

I guess in comparison, taking a look at PSU’s story, the game presents with “you” as a character participating within story events and shaping the world. So you become famous in your own right among the main characters.  The characters actively acknowledge you and may remember you from previous episodes. In PSO you were merely taking part in events that seemed to happen around you. It wasn’t really much of a game to play for the story. I’m still not even sure what the heck happened in episode 4 after beating it so many times. 

Gamebridge:  What are the differences between the Japanese and Foreign gamers?

Sakai: “You can do everything”  from the start is a concept for foreign games. In Japanese games, it was good to say “How do you make it fun within limitations.”  But now that hardware has evolved, “You can do everything,” is now the reality. The Japanese players are very passive, the foreign gamers are pretty active. For example within events, the Japanese players don’t give out much feedback, do they…

Ok? Are we too vocal about events then?

[via shougai]