Difference between revisions of "Aya Kyogoku"
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{{Infobox Personnel | {{Infobox Personnel | ||
| name = Aya Kyogoku | | name = Aya Kyogoku | ||
| − | | image = [[File: | + | | image = [[File:Aya_Kyogoku_2019.jpg|150px]] |
| − | | born = 1981 or 1982<br> {{wp|Osaka}}, {{wp|Japan}} | + | | caption = Aya Kyogoku for [[Nintendo]] (2019) |
| + | | born = 1981 or 1982 (age 41–42)<br> {{wp|Osaka}}, {{wp|Japan}} | ||
| died = | | died = | ||
| − | | occupation = | + | | occupation = Video game director and producer |
| − | | works = | + | | works = {{SER}} |
| − | | title = | + | | title = Manager of {{wp|Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development|Nintendo EPD}} Production Group No. 5<br>(2019–present) |
| family = | | family = | ||
| awards = | | awards = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | '''Aya Kyogoku''' (京極あや, born c. 1981) is a Japanese video game director and producer, who oversees the development of the {{SER}}, as the current manager of {{Wp|Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development}} (EPD) Group No. 5.<ref name="EPD">{{Cite web|author=Brian|date=June 14, 2019|url=https://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-promotes-aya-kyogoku-hisashi-nogami-eiji-aonuma-and-yoshihito-ikebata/|title=Nintendo promotes Aya Kyogoku, Hisashi Nogami, Eiji Aonuma, and Yoshihito Ikebata|site=Nintendo Everything}}</ref> Kyogoku directed {{NL}} and {{NH}}. | ||
| − | + | Kyogoku joined [[Nintendo]] in September 2003 as a scriptwriter for ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda (Series)|The Legend of Zelda series]]'' prior to working on ''Animal Crossing''. Her first entry in the {{SER|nolink}} was {{CF}} in 2008, where she undertook the role of sequence director. | |
| − | She | + | Since {{CF|short}}, Kyogoku has been in charge of development of the {{SER|nolink}},<ref name="CEDEC">{{Cite web|author=CEDEC 2020|url=https://cedec.cesa.or.jp/2020/session/detail/s5e82a006b2e27.html|title=Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Game design that aims to balance tradition and innovation in the series.|site=CEDEC 2020}}</ref> and has been involved in the development of every title since. With Kyogoku as director, both {{NL|short}} and {{NH|short}} broke sales records for the series, with the latter selling nearly as many copies as all titles in the {{SER}} combined.<ref>{{Cite web|author= J. Clement|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112638/animal-crossing-unit-sales/|title=Unit sales of the Animal Crossing franchise worldwide as of December 2020, by title|site=Statista}}</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | ==Biography== | ||
| + | Aya Kyogoku was born circa 1981 in {{wp|Osaka}}, {{wp|Japan}}. She began her career in the video game industry in 2000 working at {{wp|Atlus}}, as an assistant planner and director. After joining [[Nintendo]] in September 2003, Kyogoku served as scriptwriter for ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures|The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures]]'' and ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]'', the latter of which earning her a {{wp|Game Developers Choice Award}} in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Game Developers Choice Awards|url=https://gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_7th | ||
| + | |title=Archive - 7th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards|date=2007|site=Game Developers Choice Awards}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Work on the {{SER|nolink}}=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Kyogoku first began working on the {{SER}} in 2008 with {{CF}} as a sequence director, where she was responsible for scriptwriting and character dialogue.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Satoru Iwata, Aya Kyogoku, Ryuji Kobayashi, Isao Moro, Hisashi Nogami|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/accf/0/0|title=The First New Title in 3 Years|site=Iwata Asks}}</ref> After working on {{CF|short}}, Kyogoku was promoted to oversee development of the entire {{SER|nolink}}.<ref name="CEDEC"></ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Aya Kyogoku New Leaf.png|thumb|left|250px|Aya Kyogoku photographed for {{NL|short}} (circa 2013)]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Alongside [[Isao Moro]], Kygoku jointly directed {{NL}} between 2008 and 2012. Kyogoku made history as the first female director at {{Wp|Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development}} and led to the introduction of a team made up of "half men and half women" for {{NL}}, a revolutionary first for [[Nintendo|Nintendo's]] internal development teams.<ref>{{Cite web|author= L. Hudson|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/03/animal-crossing-director/|title=Nintendo's New Key to Creativity: More Women|date=March 28th, 2014|site=Wired}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Regarding the development of {{NL|short|nolink}}, the new direction of the series sought to challenge the "conventions of ''Animal Crossing''", which Kyogoku states was in direct response to the underwhelming commercial and critical performance of {{CF|short}}.<ref name="GDC14">{{Cite web|author=Katsuya Eguchi, Aya Kyogoku|url=https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1020809/How-to-Turn-a-New|title=How to Turn a New Leaf at the Animal Crossing|date-March 19th, 2014|site=GDC Vault}}</ref> "It was clear the series had challenges we needed to overcome," she explained.<ref name="polygon">{{Cite web|author=M. McWhertor|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/19/5526678/animal-crossing-new-leaf-diversity-aya-kyogoku|title=Animal Crossing: New Leaf director says team diversity, communication core to its success|date-March 19th, 2014|site=Polygon}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Kyogoku states the development team closely examined long-held gameplay conventions from previous titles {{PG}} and {{WW|short}}, and series fatigue, when considering the core of the {{SER}} and "what players found enjoyment in and kept them coming back for long stretches of time."<ref name="polygon"></ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 2015, Kyogoku produced ''Animal Crossing'' spin-off title {{HHD|short}} with [[Hisashi Nogami]], and served as director of {{AF}}. Kyogoku candidly stated that the development of both {{AF|short}} and {{HHD|short}} began solely for the purpose of producing {{SER}} [[Amiibo|amiibo]], "We were confident that if there [were ''Animal Crossing'' [[Amiibo|amiibo]]], it would be really cute. Honestly, we just wanted ''Animal Crossing'' amiibo. We wanted the company to make them, so that's why we made a game that works with them."<ref>{{Cite web|author=J. Parish|url=https://www.vg247.com/honestly-we-just-wanted-animal-crossing-amiibo-nintendos-aya-kyogoku-on-evolving-the-series|title=Nintendo's Aya Kyogoku on Evolving The Series|date=July 9th, 2015|site=VG247}}</ref> In 2016, Kyogoku served as producer of {{NLWa}}. | ||
| + | |||
| + | As of 2019, development had began on the next main-series ''Animal Crossing'' title {{NH|short}}, which Kyogoku was the sole director of. At this time, Kyogoku had also been promoted to manager of {{Wp|Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development}} Group No. 5, a position previously held by [[Hisashi Nogami]].<ref name="EPD"></ref> Kyogoku provided commentary for the first gameplay demonstration for {{NH|short}} at E3 2019.<ref>Nintendo "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEh3MPy4GAU Animal Crossing: New Horizons Gameplay - Nintendo Treehouse: Live | E3 2019"] June 11th, 2019</ref> {{NH|short}} was released in 2020, becoming the best-selling game in the {{SER}}, and the second best-selling game on the [[Nintendo Switch]]. Kyogoku attributed the success of {{NH|short|nolink}} and the {{SER}} as a whole to "its ability to make each instalment different enough from the last, while also retaining the core appeal of the series."<ref>{{Cite web|author=A. Robinson|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/animal-crossings-developers-say-the-series-must-continue-to-evolve/|title=Animal Crossing’s developers say the series ‘must continue to evolve’|date=September 6th, 2020|site=VGC}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Works== | ||
| + | ===''The Legend of Zelda'' series=== | ||
| + | *2004: ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures|The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures]]'' – Scriptwriter | ||
| + | *2006: ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]'' – Scriptwriter | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==={{SER|nolink}}=== | ||
| + | *2008: {{CF}} – Sequence director | ||
| + | *2012: {{NL}} – Director (with [[Isao Moro]]) | ||
| + | *2013: ''[[Animal Crossing Plaza]]'' – Producer | ||
| + | *2015: {{HHD}} – Producer (with [[Hisashi Nogami]]) | ||
| + | *2015: {{aF}} – Director | ||
| + | *2016: {{NLWa}} - Producer (with [[Hisashi Nogami]]) | ||
| + | *2017: {{PC}} – Supervisor (with [[Hisashi Nogami]]) | ||
| + | *2020: {{NH}} – Director | ||
| + | {{Clear}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===''Super Smash Bros.'' series=== | ||
| + | *2018: {{SSBU}} – Original game supervisor | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | {{Reflist}} | |
| − | {{Personnel}} | + | {{Navbox Companies and Personnel}} |
Latest revision as of 16:26, May 6, 2023
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 Aya Kyogoku for Nintendo (2019) | ||||||
| Born | 1981 or 1982 (age 41–42) Osaka, Japan | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Video game director and producer | |||||
| Notable work | Animal Crossing series | |||||
| Title | Manager of Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 5 (2019–present) | |||||
Aya Kyogoku (京極あや, born c. 1981) is a Japanese video game director and producer, who oversees the development of the Animal Crossing series, as the current manager of Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) Group No. 5.[1] Kyogoku directed Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Kyogoku joined Nintendo in September 2003 as a scriptwriter for The Legend of Zelda series prior to working on Animal Crossing. Her first entry in the Animal Crossing series was Animal Crossing: City Folk in 2008, where she undertook the role of sequence director.
Since City Folk, Kyogoku has been in charge of development of the Animal Crossing series,[2] and has been involved in the development of every title since. With Kyogoku as director, both New Leaf and New Horizons broke sales records for the series, with the latter selling nearly as many copies as all titles in the Animal Crossing series combined.[3]
Biography[edit]
Aya Kyogoku was born circa 1981 in Osaka, Japan. She began her career in the video game industry in 2000 working at Atlus, as an assistant planner and director. After joining Nintendo in September 2003, Kyogoku served as scriptwriter for The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the latter of which earning her a Game Developers Choice Award in 2007.[4]
Work on the Animal Crossing series[edit]
Kyogoku first began working on the Animal Crossing series in 2008 with Animal Crossing: City Folk as a sequence director, where she was responsible for scriptwriting and character dialogue.[5] After working on City Folk, Kyogoku was promoted to oversee development of the entire Animal Crossing series.[2]
Alongside Isao Moro, Kygoku jointly directed Animal Crossing: New Leaf between 2008 and 2012. Kyogoku made history as the first female director at Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development and led to the introduction of a team made up of "half men and half women" for Animal Crossing: New Leaf, a revolutionary first for Nintendo's internal development teams.[6]
Regarding the development of New Leaf, the new direction of the series sought to challenge the "conventions of Animal Crossing", which Kyogoku states was in direct response to the underwhelming commercial and critical performance of City Folk.[7] "It was clear the series had challenges we needed to overcome," she explained.[8]
Kyogoku states the development team closely examined long-held gameplay conventions from previous titles Animal Crossing and Wild World, and series fatigue, when considering the core of the Animal Crossing series and "what players found enjoyment in and kept them coming back for long stretches of time."[8]
In 2015, Kyogoku produced Animal Crossing spin-off title Happy Home Designer with Hisashi Nogami, and served as director of Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival. Kyogoku candidly stated that the development of both amiibo Festival and Happy Home Designer began solely for the purpose of producing Animal Crossing series amiibo, "We were confident that if there [were Animal Crossing amiibo], it would be really cute. Honestly, we just wanted Animal Crossing amiibo. We wanted the company to make them, so that's why we made a game that works with them."[9] In 2016, Kyogoku served as producer of Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo.
As of 2019, development had began on the next main-series Animal Crossing title New Horizons, which Kyogoku was the sole director of. At this time, Kyogoku had also been promoted to manager of Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development Group No. 5, a position previously held by Hisashi Nogami.[1] Kyogoku provided commentary for the first gameplay demonstration for New Horizons at E3 2019.[10] New Horizons was released in 2020, becoming the best-selling game in the Animal Crossing series, and the second best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch. Kyogoku attributed the success of New Horizons and the Animal Crossing series as a whole to "its ability to make each instalment different enough from the last, while also retaining the core appeal of the series."[11]
Works[edit]
The Legend of Zelda series[edit]
- 2004: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures – Scriptwriter
- 2006: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – Scriptwriter
Animal Crossing series[edit]
- 2008: Animal Crossing: City Folk – Sequence director
- 2012: Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Director (with Isao Moro)
- 2013: Animal Crossing Plaza – Producer
- 2015: Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer – Producer (with Hisashi Nogami)
- 2015: Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival – Director
- 2016: Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo - Producer (with Hisashi Nogami)
- 2017: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Supervisor (with Hisashi Nogami)
- 2020: Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Director
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
- 2018: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Original game supervisor
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brian (June 14, 2019). "Nintendo promotes Aya Kyogoku, Hisashi Nogami, Eiji Aonuma, and Yoshihito Ikebata". Nintendo Everything.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 CEDEC 2020. "Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Game design that aims to balance tradition and innovation in the series.". CEDEC 2020.
- ↑ J. Clement. "Unit sales of the Animal Crossing franchise worldwide as of December 2020, by title". Statista.
- ↑ Game Developers Choice Awards (2007). "Archive - 7th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards". Game Developers Choice Awards.
- ↑ Satoru Iwata, Aya Kyogoku, Ryuji Kobayashi, Isao Moro, Hisashi Nogami. "The First New Title in 3 Years". Iwata Asks.
- ↑ L. Hudson (March 28th, 2014). "Nintendo's New Key to Creativity: More Women". Wired.
- ↑ Katsuya Eguchi, Aya Kyogoku. "How to Turn a New Leaf at the Animal Crossing". GDC Vault.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 M. McWhertor. "Animal Crossing: New Leaf director says team diversity, communication core to its success". Polygon.
- ↑ J. Parish (July 9th, 2015). "Nintendo's Aya Kyogoku on Evolving The Series". VG247.
- ↑ Nintendo "Animal Crossing: New Horizons Gameplay - Nintendo Treehouse: Live | E3 2019" June 11th, 2019
- ↑ A. Robinson (September 6th, 2020). "Animal Crossing’s developers say the series ‘must continue to evolve’". VGC.
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