Ever since Apple Arcade launched, SEGA has been an fascinating supporter of the service. We’ve seen new unique video games, App Retailer Greats, and even (form of) multi-platform launches like with the return of Samba de Amigo. After a brand-new unique Sonic sport, SEGA’s latest Apple Arcade launch is Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop () out now. Forward of this launch, I had an opportunity to speak to Mizuki Hosoyamada from SEGA who has labored on Sonic, Billy Hatcher, and Puyo Puyo video games over time to debate Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop, the Puyo Puyo sequence, plans for the sport, potential ports, his favourite video games, and much more.
TouchArcade (TA): Inform us a little bit bit about your self and what you do at SEGA.
Mizuki Hosoyamada (MH): I joined SEGA’s Sonic Group in 2002 and from there labored as a planner, director, and reviewer of motion video games, equivalent to these within the Sonic sequence. For the previous 18 years, I’ve been director and producer for Puyo Puyo titles; and now, in my function as normal producer of the Puyo Puyo sequence, I handle the “Puyo Puyo” IP as an entire, in addition to title manufacturing, sport design and reviewing.
(Editor’s be aware: He then listed the video games he has labored on)
- Billy Hatcher and the Big Egg
- Sonic Battle
- Sonic Mega Assortment Plus
- Sonic Gems Assortment
- Puyo Puyo! fifteenth Anniversary
- Puyo Puyo7
- Puyo Puyo!! twentieth Anniversary
- Puyo Puyo!! Quest
- Puyo Puyo Tetris
- Puyo Puyo!! Contact
- Puyo Puyo Chronicle
- Puyo Puyo Champions
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
- Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop
TouchArcade (TA): For lots of newer followers, Puyo Puyo Tetris on Change and PS4 was the primary major sport we had within the West. How has it been for you seeing the Puyo Puyo franchise develop a lot within the West because you began engaged on it a few years in the past?
MH: When engaged on porting and reviewing older titles within the Sonic sequence, I received to see what made the video games so well-known and widespread in The West, and whereas Sonic followers have been conversant in Dr.Robotnik’s Imply Bean Machine, they nonetheless didn’t learn about Puyo Puyo, so I might inform that Puyo Puyo wasn’t very well-known in The West. Feeling that the gameplay and the sport’s setting deserved extra of an viewers, I labored on the event and launch of Puyo Puyo Tetris in Japan, incomes an opportunity to extend the IP’s affect in The West. Understanding that the Puyo Puyo consciousness elevated, and likewise realizing that there are various ardent followers makes me very completely satisfied.
TA: Since then, we had Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 arrive concurrently on a number of platforms worldwide, and it was wonderful. I purchased it on all 4 platforms and have performed it an excessive amount of. What learnings from the unique did you’re taking into this sport?
MH: For the discharge of Puyo Puyo Tetris, we first wanted to create Tetris characters and primary guidelines, which meant it was troublesome to get all of our concepts into the sport. When making Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, we launched a number of options for gamers of the unique to get pleasure from, in addition to listened to suggestions from these gamers whereas creating the sport, permitting us to create a fuller title. Followers of the unique talked about they have been happy to see sure characters return, with the 2 new characters Marle and Squares proving to be widespread.
TA: Inform us a little bit bit about how Sonic received into Puyo Puyo Tetris 2.
MH: The principle cause is that many Puyo Puyo Tetris followers are additionally followers of Sonic, and we heard many requests regarding a Sonic look. On high of that, our SEGA of America employees additionally steered to incorporate him within the sport as a shock. As soon as we received the okay from the Sonic workforce, we went forward and applied him. By the way, lots of people who’ve expertise engaged on Sonic video games－myself included－work on the Puyo Puyo workforce, so in a method the Sonic Group is the Puyo Puyo Group. Additionally, another excuse why we’ve Sonic-esque Puyo skins is as a result of we work proper subsequent to the Sonic Group in the identical studio.
TA: The Puyo Puyo sequence has had many video games throughout consoles and cell platforms over time. You’ve labored on a number of titles, music, and extra for the sequence. Which has been your favourite up to now?
MH: In fact, I’ve an affection for all titles I labored on, proper from my first, Puyo Puyo (fifteenth Anniversary). Nonetheless, I like to recommend our newest sport Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop essentially the most. When designing a brand new sport, we at all times put all of the data we obtained from earlier video games into it and on high of that, we have been capable of create it for the most recent gadgets. We at all times intention to make every new sport higher than the final, so we’d find it irresistible should you performed our newest one first!
TA: Now, I need to talk about Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop, the upcoming Apple Arcade unique. What led to bringing a brand-new Puyo Puyo worldwide on Apple Arcade moderately than different platforms?
MH: A number of SEGA titles can be found on Apple Arcade, and through our conversations, releasing a Puyo Puyo sport for Apple Arcade got here up, too, additionally due to the great reception of video games like Puyo Puyo Tetris and the recognition of the sequence within the esports group. As a non free-to-play service, Apple Arcade’s enterprise mannequin allowed us further room for creativity. Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop introduces a compelling narrative for followers to get pleasure from, so we’ve been very completely satisfied to work along with Apple to carry Puyo Puyo to a world viewers!
TA: Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop additionally contains a new narrative with characters from throughout the Puyo Puyo video games. Are you able to inform us a little bit bit concerning the story and whether or not it’ll be a great entry level into the sequence for newcomers?
MH: The story was designed in order that new gamers can dive proper in, and it begins with Amitie waking up after listening to a voice in her desires. The identical members who labored on the narrative for Puyo Puyo Tetris and different video games labored on the narrative for this title, which is totally voiced in English and Japanese. We’d love so that you can test it out!
TA: How was it engaged on contact, controller, and different enter strategies for Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop? What impressed the brand new picture mode in Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop?
MH: The sport’s controls have been made with the iPhone and iPad contact screens in thoughts, however has additionally been optimized for tvOS and MAC. It additionally helps a wide range of controls, so hopefully you could find the precise management system for you. You can even play at house along with your favourite Bluetooth controller after which use the display straight when you’re out and about.
With reference to the Photograph Mode, we examined an identical mode beforehand, however that is the primary sport to see it applied. As the sport is on iPad and iPhone, we expect gamers could have a good time with the ability to share the sport’s content material with one another, so hopefully they provide it a strive!
TA: The App Retailer mentions that extra characters and guidelines can be added in updates. Would you contemplate Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop a whole expertise with content material akin to a major console title proper now?
MH: Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop has much more content material than a console launch. You may even see data you wouldn’t usually see inside the sport, equivalent to character birthdays, and so forth, making it good for newer gamers.
TA: Are there plans to carry different SEGA properties into Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop like Area Channel 5, Like a Dragon, Sakura Wars, and so forth?
MH: We’ve no plans at current character-wise, however the sport does characteristic particular Puyo designs, equivalent to Sonic from Sonic the Hedgehog and the Morolians from Area Channel 5.
TA: SEGA appears to have an excellent relationship with Apple and has six video games on Apple Arcade. Was Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop at all times deliberate to be made for Apple Arcade from the beginning? Are there plans to carry it elsewhere sooner or later?
MH: SEGA and Apple have a terrific working relationship, releasing Puyo Puyo Fever for Mac, Puyo Puyo Fever Contact for iPhone, and now Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop solely for Apple Arcade.
TA: What ought to we anticipate in the case of the music in Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop: new preparations, new songs, or older tracks?
MH: You may stay up for each new songs and preparations of older ones. Our promotional trailer contains a remix of a Puyo Puyo Solar tune, which followers appear to be having fun with.
TA: The English sequence emblem is used for the sport even in Japan. It appears like that is the primary time that has occurred. Was Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop designed with the worldwide market in thoughts?
MH: Sure, up till now the Japanese and worldwide logos did often differ, however the Sonic IP has at all times geared toward a world viewers. So, taking inspiration we wished to maintain the logos in line with the worldwide launch of a Puyo Puyo sport.
TA: Clearly Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop is the principle focus, however I used to be questioning if SEGA would contemplate localizing Puyo Puyo Quest or prior cell titles within the West. Is that this one thing being thought-about as I’d like to see extra from the Puyo Puyo sequence within the West.
MH: Whereas we wished to launch Puyo Puyo!! Quest to a Western viewers, in the long run it was solely launched in elements of Asia, and at current we’ve no plans to launch it additional afield. Followers can actually have an affect on growth, although, so if sufficient folks love Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop in The West, then that will make it simpler to provide video games for that viewers and have a good time Puyo Puyo titles collectively.
TA: On that be aware, are there any plans to carry a few of the older console titles like Puyo Puyo Chronicle or the older Compile-era video games that we by no means noticed outdoors Japan to the West on cell or different platforms by means of remasters?
MH: At current, we don’t have any plans to provide older titles for Western audiences. I actually did work on porting a number of older video games to fashionable consoles again then, however there are much more hurdles than you would possibly suppose, so for Puyo Puyo, we determined to deal with releasing new video games. In fact, we all know there may be demand, so possibly someday…
TA: Are you or any of the Puyo Puyo sequence employees concerned within the Madou Monogatari 4 by Compile Coronary heart that was lately introduced?
MH: I’m at the moment within the evaluation stage of characters, and so forth. from Puyo Puyo. Personally, I’m actually trying ahead to the sport’s launch!
TA: We discovered a number of months in the past that the Puyo Puyo Tetris sequence crossed 3 million items bought worldwide. This particular crossover is one I really like, however have you ever ever considered working with different puzzle sequence like Panel de Pon, Magical Drop, or Bust-A-Transfer?
MH: I used to be so happy when Puyo Puyo Tetris achieved over 3 million in gross sales. Thanks in your help!
With reference to collaborations, I’m unable to touch upon the IPs of different firms. Nonetheless, I’ll say that I get pleasure from taking part in and researching all types of puzzle video games the world has to supply, and at all times take into consideration how a collaboration with Puyo Puyo would work. Puyo Puyo Tetris was an thought I had again in center faculty, and I had no clue that someday I’d not solely develop into a developer for Puyo Puyo but in addition assist make the Puyo Puyo and Tetris collaboration a actuality.
TA: What are your ideas on the present state of gaming platforms like new consoles (PS5/Xbox Collection X), upcoming {hardware} from Nintendo, Steam Deck, and cell?
MH: Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 has been launched on a number of platforms together with the most recent ones－creating video games on the most recent {hardware} is among the nice enjoyable components of being a developer. So many individuals play video games as of late; I actually hope folks proceed to get enjoyment out of them. I don’t know what releases lie forward, however I’m trying ahead to seeing extra new platforms that make me need to develop video games for them.
TA: What are you at the moment taking part in and having fun with in the case of video games?
MH: On console, I’m taking part in Last Fantasy VII Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, whereas additionally getting a whole lot of enjoyable out of dipping into the classics and new releases accessible on Apple Arcade and smartphones.
TA: What was your favourite sport of 2023?
MH: It must be Tremendous Mario Bros. Marvel, as a result of it actually does characteristic a whole lot of surprise. Additionally, each time I watch Road Fighter 6 tournaments, I get the urge to play.
TA: How do you want your espresso?
MH: The largest dimension accessible of an iced-latte, simple on the ice however heavy on the low-fat milk, please! Oh, and my child would love a heat milk, too!
TA: Do you have got a message for the Puyo Puyo followers and newcomers studying this?
MH: It’s been 18 years since I first began to develop for the Puyo Puyo sequence, and whereas I’ve been fortunate sufficient to launch video games for varied consoles, the scope of Apple Arcade is gigantic, so I actually hope many individuals get pleasure from Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop. If it turns into widespread on a world stage, then we would be capable to carry again older titles, in addition to take the sequence in new instructions, so please help us on this thrilling journey!
I’d wish to thank Mizuki Hosoyamada of SEGA and Jennifer Tam from Apple for his or her time and assist right here.
You may sustain with all our interviews right here together with our latest ones with Dave Oshry of New Blood, Digital Extremes for Warframe cell, Group NINJA, Sonic Dream Group, Hello-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and extra. As common, thanks for studying.
