Wanting to enrich people's lives and hearts through exciting game development.
Hello, I'm Akaiwa from the Business Planning Department. This time, I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Nakatsu, who is actively working as a game planner. Mr. Nakatsu joined Reazon as a new graduate and has been involved in game development, a job he has loved since childhood. He talked about the exciting aspects of creating services, perspectives necessary for game operation and planning, and the environment at Reazon, where significant growth is possible from the first year of employment. This content will be useful not only for those interested in game operation and development but also for those aspiring to grow in venture companies.
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Taiki Nakatsu Game Planner, Social Game Business Division, Rudel
Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Social Sciences
Taiki Nakatsu has had a passion for gaming since childhood, enjoying games of all kinds. During his job search, he found it challenging to fit into the hierarchical culture of large corporations and instead aspired to work for a venture company. Drawn to the environment where talent is recognized regardless of age and the culture allowing freedom in attire and hairstyle, he decided to join Rudel, Inc. After joining, he was assigned to the Dragon Egg team, responsible for game operation. Currently, he is involved in operation and level design for the Sangoku Drive team.
On the topic of being attracted by the culture of freedom, and the opportunity to be recognized based on their skills.
Mr. Nakatsu, you joined Reazon as a new graduate. Could you tell us about what you were focusing on during your university days?
During my sophomore year, I spent a year working as a long-term intern in sales at a real estate company. As a liberal arts student, I had an image of entering a sales position, and since I didn't have any outstanding skills, I thought gaining experience in this area would be advantageous for my job search and future career. Working directly in sales helped me develop my communication skills and experience the sense of accomplishment in my work. However, it was also an experience that made me truly understand the challenges of the job.
A year-long internship sounds quite substantial. What criteria were you using to search for companies during your job hunt?
Since I enjoyed manga, novels, and games, I mainly applied to large entertainment, publishing, and advertising companies. By the spring of my fourth year, I had received job offers from some of these companies. However, I also had doubts, wondering if this path was truly right for me. Frankly, through attending company information sessions and interviews, I realized that the hierarchical culture typical in large corporations, where employees wear suits and work, might not suit me. I reconsidered and decided to start my job search again, aiming for an environment where I could feel more "fun" and "interesting," where I could actively contribute and be recognized for my achievements from a young age.
So, you reassessed your own aspirations and career path. What guided your company search from that point?
I began to look for companies that I found "interesting" among relatively young companies that I hadn't paid much attention to before. Given my background of playing console games and social games since childhood, I became particularly interested in venture companies in the gaming industry. It was then that I encountered Reazon, and through an interview article, I learned about the culture where "even young employees are valued if they produce results." I felt that I could enjoy working here and decided to apply.
What made you decide to join Reazon?
During the interview, I had the opportunity to speak candidly with Mr. Izumi, the current CEO of Rudel, who happened to be from the same university as me. I asked him various questions, and hearing about how Mr. Izumi himself had started as a part-timer and worked his way up to become an employee, and how the environment values talent regardless of age, was very inspiring. Also, being told that "Nakatsu-san would fit well with Reazon's culture," and the fact that hair color and attire were flexible were decisive factors for me. From my university days, I had been working as an intern for about three months as a game planner.
You were attracted to the culture of being able to thrive from a young age! What experiences did you gain as an intern?
I was assigned to the team for our in-house title "Dragon Smash" and learned the basics of game operation. I was involved in various tasks, such as creating actual data and proposing measures, and despite being an intern, I felt that I was contributing significantly. I also realized that the company provided thorough training for new employees, which was unexpected for me. As I had the impression that venture companies primarily focus on learning on the job, I appreciated the detailed instruction on basic manners and business skills during the training.
Perspective gained from transitioning from being a player to being part of the game's management:
It's impressive that you had such an extensive experience during your first year! After joining, which team were you initially assigned to?
I was assigned to the operations team for our in-house title "Dragon Egg." As a game planner, I worked to implement strategies aimed at increasing sales by thoroughly considering how to ensure that users enjoyed the game. I was involved in managing daily sales, implementing campaigns and gachas to achieve monthly and annual goals, and organizing events based on feedback from senior colleagues.
Did transitioning from being a player to being involved in game development give you any insights?
Even as a player of social games, I vaguely understood that games are created by people who approach development from an engineering perspective and those who work towards achieving sales targets. However, I was surprised to learn at Reazon that operations are conducted on a very short cycle, focusing on what actions users might take immediately to keep them engaged. I was also impressed by the deep analysis of user behavior and the deployment of campaigns based on data.
It's remarkable how detailed the analysis is done on a daily basis! You're now part of a different title's operations team. Could you tell us about your current responsibilities?
Currently, I work as a level designer and game planner for "Sangoku Drive," where I create specifications for gachas and missions, and manage daily sales strategies by creating data. I'm also responsible for designing and operating in-game items such as characters and equipment.
Do you have any specific principles you adhere to in level design?
I prioritize designing items that users would want to acquire, even if it means spending gems. While powerful characters are appealing to users, excessively strong characters can disrupt game balance. Therefore, I strive to maintain game balance while ensuring that the items are desirable enough for users to want them. I consider not only existing characters but also future character releases when making these decisions.
So, you're not only considering the present but also the future of game balance. What do you find rewarding about your current job?
The satisfaction of seeing strategies that I've analyzed and thought out being well-received by users and leading to increased sales is what I find rewarding. "Sangoku Drive" features a main campaign where players engage in battles between communities called guilds or troops. Users play the game three times a day for battles, and this time wouldn't exist without "Sangoku Drive." Providing entertainment that becomes an essential part of users' daily lives, impacting their lifestyle while offering long-term enjoyment, is something I value.
Feeling significant growth by actively driving my work from my own initiative since my first year at the company
Considering whether I can feel excited about my work is indeed important. Do you have any unforgettable work episodes?
The first time I saw the gacha I created on my own smartphone and actually pulled it, I was moved. The social games I had been playing since elementary school were made like this, I thought with deep emotion. The sentences I thought up are displayed in the game, and the gacha moves. Each one is made by human hands, I thought honestly, that's amazing. Also, I was happy when the voice actors' voices were applied to the characters I designed. When I see them talking on the actual machine, I feel like a child saying "Wow!", and it also connects to my work motivation.
It must be gratifying to see your work take shape and become content! On the flip side, are there any challenges you're currently facing?
Coming from a humanities background, I'm not very strong with numbers, so I often struggle with level design. Things like status, skill effects, buffs, debuffs—all of these require designing with precise numbers. Right now, I'm still learning to grasp these concepts, and improving these skills would allow me to develop better characters and equipment more efficiently.
Have you felt any growth since joining the company?
Moving from the 'Dragon Egg' team to the 'Sangoku Drive' operations team and getting involved in level design expanded my perspective on game operations. Initially, I focused on how to market characters designed by level designers and how to encourage their use. Now, since I also create products, I think ahead about what would sell well for operations and how to make points that are easily appealing. My understanding of operations has broadened with this wider scope of work.
It might be unique to Reazon to gain such experience in your first year. You probably have opportunities to talk with classmates who work at other companies; do you notice any differences?
There are significant differences. Many classmates have finished their training periods and are mainly doing tasks assigned by their seniors or following them for support. On the other hand, I have a lot of responsibilities where I have to think independently, and I don't see many around me with such autonomy. I deeply appreciate the joy of progressing through work based on my own initiative rather than just following instructions.
I want to improve my skill level and deliver even more value to our users.
It seems like you're feeling daily growth! What do you think is Reazon's strength in creating games?
I believe it's creating surplus elements that change users' daily cycles and stir emotions to some extent. In 'Rudel' game titles, the main content is enjoying battles between communities called guilds or units while communicating with members. Users open their smartphones at specific times each day to play three matches. And during this time, they couldn't experience this without 'Sangoku Drive.' Aside from essentials like food and clothing, the game enters users' lives as entertainment, influencing their daily cycles and providing long-term enjoyment.
The enjoyable playtime and excitement during battles wouldn't exist without this game. Are there any skills you'd like to further develop in the future?
I want to become a hybrid talent with high-level skills in both game operations and level design. Game leaders and those in overseeing positions understand games from various perspectives to develop policies and strategies. I consider these essential skills to deeply understand the game I'm responsible for and ensure users enjoy it.
Finally, what are your future goals?
My immediate goal is to work hard on level design and game operations, striving to achieve sales targets for 'Sangoku Drive.' I enjoy being relied upon and entrusted, so I want to become someone who can handle anything, like being trusted by others. By dedicating myself to my current responsibilities and improving my skills, I hope to expand my capabilities and eventually become a game leader.
Thank you for your time today despite your busy schedule! We look forward to games that will bring even more enjoyment to users thanks to Nakatsu-san's efforts!
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RECRUITBecause of a passion for games, one can discover challenges. The goal is to become a professional in analysis.
Searching for what you really want to do, and going from part-time work to a managerial position. I aim for a workplace where I can work with excitement and enjoyment.