"I’m aware that the mobile market is getting bigger, but I feel like the major platform that kids still play games with is the Nintendo 3DS. I want to offer the best quality game on the system that kids still play with. That’s why we’re offering Yo-Kai Watch on the 3DS."
- Akihiro Hino, CEO of Yo-Kai Watch developer Level-5
In a new interview with VentureBeat, the CEO of Yo-Kai Watch developer Level-5, Akihiro Hino, explains what goes into the formation a massive cultural phenomenon, the cross-media nature of the project, and why his studio is sticking with Nintendo 3DS.
The game series, which debuted just recently in the U.S., is a smash hit in Japan -- with the latest title in the franchise dethroning Pokémon by becoming the country's best-selling game for 2014. The dual power of these franchises has assured the continuing success of the 3DS -- even in Japan, well known to be the hottest market for mobile games on the globe.
What goes into making a hit like that?
"... the foundation is the best quality game that kids can play on a game platform. At the same time, we made sure to include features and functionality that adults can enjoy as well. When you combine those two elements, Yo-Kai Watch is something that not just kids, but the whole family can enjoy together," Hino said.
Elsewhere in the interview, he talks about the cross-media nature of the Yo-Kai Watch project, which also spans toys, comics, and animation. If you're curious about the show, you can watch the full first episode on YouTube; if you want to know what the franchise is all about, you can read our explainer from earlier this year. And, of course, there's much more in the full Hino interview at VentureBeat.