Mikami Reveals New Studio Plans, 3D Ambitions

Renowned Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami plans to launch a new Tokyo-based studio, Tango, as soon as his current project wraps. Mikami, currently at work on Platinum Games' shooter Vanquish tells Famitsu (as translated by consumer site 1Up) that he's interested in nurturing new talent: "Game development is often overseen from a pure business perspective here, which is unique to Japan, and I have the impression that environment tends to prune away young talent," he says. "I really want to make Tango a company run from a creator's perspective, one that expands upon new talent," he adds. Although he hasn't decided yet on the studio's first project and talks with publishers are still underway, he says he's interested in "a true-3D horror game, something where you'd use glasses like in the Avatar film." "It's been my goal since the original Resident Evil to be the first in the industry to make a 3D game," says Mikami. "There needs to be a large 3D television-owning userbase before that can happen, but I always like trying out new things first." Mikami left Capcom, where he was employed since 1990, in 2005 and formed his own studio, Straight Story, which he will close on completion of Vanquish.