Washington-based studio Sucker Punch has received criticism in the past that they aren't well-equipped to create a game about the Japanese experience. The Sony-owned studio has recognized that criticism and detailed its research methods for depicting a fictional, historical Japan in an accurate way. The trip has even led to the addition of a game mechanic: vegetable foraging.
"Sucker Punch is an American company and we are well aware that we don’t naturally come equipped with the cultural knowledge to bring feudal Japan to life," wrote co-creative director Nate Fox in a post about their research trip to Japan. "To do that, we need a lot of help. Thankfully we are also part of PlayStation, for Ghost of Tsushima we were fortunate enough to receive steady feedback from our colleagues in Tokyo. As you might have guessed, the same is true for Ghost of Yotei. Only this time we’ve broadened our roster of advisers."
Fox shared a photo gallery of the trip he and his team members took to Hokkaido--the second-largest island of Japan--and their efforts to better understand the culture they were trying to emulate with Ghost of Yotei. They met with an Ainu cultural advisor, travelled up a mountain, and foraged for vegetables.
"That night we resolved to put foraging into our new game," Fox wrote. "We wanted players to be able to share the experience we were lucky enough to have experienced."
Fox gave details on their visits to the Oshima Peninsula, Nibutani Ainu Museum, and Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Fox emphasized that while they hope to accurately depict parts of Japanese culture, their creation would be fictional.
"While our version of Hokkaido is fictional, the feeling of authenticity we strive to create has roots in those real world experiences," Fox wrote.
Ghost of Yotei is coming to PlayStation 5 on October 2. In the meantime, check out GameSpot's video on how Atsu's story in Ghost of Yotei might be the opposite of Jin's In Ghost of Tsushima.
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"Sucker Punch is an American company and we are well aware that we don’t naturally come equipped with the cultural knowledge to bring feudal Japan to life," wrote co-creative director Nate Fox in a post about their research trip to Japan. "To do that, we need a lot of help. Thankfully we are also part of PlayStation, for Ghost of Tsushima we were fortunate enough to receive steady feedback from our colleagues in Tokyo. As you might have guessed, the same is true for Ghost of Yotei. Only this time we’ve broadened our roster of advisers."
Fox shared a photo gallery of the trip he and his team members took to Hokkaido--the second-largest island of Japan--and their efforts to better understand the culture they were trying to emulate with Ghost of Yotei. They met with an Ainu cultural advisor, travelled up a mountain, and foraged for vegetables.
"That night we resolved to put foraging into our new game," Fox wrote. "We wanted players to be able to share the experience we were lucky enough to have experienced."
Fox gave details on their visits to the Oshima Peninsula, Nibutani Ainu Museum, and Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Fox emphasized that while they hope to accurately depict parts of Japanese culture, their creation would be fictional.
"While our version of Hokkaido is fictional, the feeling of authenticity we strive to create has roots in those real world experiences," Fox wrote.
Ghost of Yotei is coming to PlayStation 5 on October 2. In the meantime, check out GameSpot's video on how Atsu's story in Ghost of Yotei might be the opposite of Jin's In Ghost of Tsushima.
Source