Japansoft: An Oral History

A retrospective of the early Japanese videogame industry, comprising over 30 interviews with developers of the era, and including never-before-seen period photographs, rare press adverts and an illustrated hardware guide.

Comprising interviews with lesser documented developers at companies including Sega, Enix, Capcom, Hudson Soft and Nihon Falcom, Japansoft: An Oral History offers fresh and diverse perspectives on many of the defining games of their time.

A re-edited digest of game journalist John Szczepaniak’s three volume series, The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers, this edition adds brand new, specially conducted interviews with figures including Harumi Fujita (Bionic Commando), Noritaka Funamizu (1943, Area 88), Manami Matsumae (Rockman), Nasir Gebell (Final Fantasy, Rad Racer) and Tomohiro Nishikado (Space Invaders).

This publication is a companion to the critically acclaimed Britsoft: An Oral History, seeing editor Alex Wiltshire (Edge, Minecraft Blockopedia) and leading design agency Julia return with a multilayered and eclectic publication that offers a unique reading experience through interlinked interviews that can be read in any order.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 348
Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd
Publication date: 04/07/2024