Ever since Apple Arcade launched, SEGA has been an attention-grabbing supporter of the service. We’ve seen new unique video games, App Retailer Greats, and even (type of) multi-platform launches like with the return of Samba de Amigo. After a brand-new unique Sonic recreation, 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 slightly bit about your self and what you do at SEGA.
Mizuki Hosoyamada (MH): I joined SEGA’s Sonic Staff in 2002 and from there labored as a planner, director, and reviewer of motion video games, comparable 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 position as basic producer of the Puyo Puyo sequence, I deal with the “Puyo Puyo” IP as a complete, in addition to title manufacturing, recreation design and reviewing.
(Editor’s notice: He then listed the video games he has labored on)
- Billy Hatcher and the Large 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 Swap and PS4 was the primary predominant recreation 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 acquired to see what made the video games so well-known and standard in The West, and whereas Sonic followers have been aware of Dr.Robotnik’s Imply Bean Machine, they nonetheless didn’t find out 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 impression in The West. Understanding that the Puyo Puyo consciousness elevated, and likewise figuring out that there are a lot of ardent followers makes me very pleased.
TA: Since then, we had Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 arrive concurrently on a number of platforms worldwide, and it was glorious. I purchased it on all 4 platforms and have performed it an excessive amount of. What learnings from the unique did you are taking into this recreation?
MH: For the discharge of Puyo Puyo Tetris, we first wanted to create Tetris characters and fundamental 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 take pleasure in, 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 standard.
TA: Inform us slightly bit about how Sonic acquired 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 prime of that, our SEGA of America workers additionally advised to incorporate him within the recreation as a shock. As soon as we acquired the okay from the Sonic crew, we went forward and carried out him. By the way, lots of people who’ve expertise engaged on Sonic video games－myself included－work on the Puyo Puyo crew, so in a manner the Sonic Staff is the Puyo Puyo Staff. Additionally, one more reason why we’ve Sonic-esque Puyo skins is as a result of we work proper subsequent to the Sonic Staff in the identical studio.
TA: The Puyo Puyo sequence has had many video games throughout consoles and cellular platforms over time. You’ve labored on a number of titles, music, and extra for the sequence. Which has been your favourite to this point?
MH: In fact, I’ve an affection for all titles I labored on, proper from my first, Puyo Puyo (fifteenth Anniversary). Nevertheless, I like to recommend our newest recreation Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop essentially the most. When designing a brand new recreation, we at all times put all of the data we obtained from earlier video games into it and on prime of that, we have been in a position to create it for the most recent gadgets. We at all times purpose to make every new recreation higher than the final, so we might find it irresistible for those who performed our newest one first!
TA: Now, I wish 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 relatively than different platforms?
MH: A number of SEGA titles can be found on Apple Arcade, and through our conversations, releasing a Puyo Puyo recreation for Apple Arcade got here up, too, additionally due to the nice reception of video games like Puyo Puyo Tetris and the recognition of the sequence within the esports neighborhood. As a non free-to-play service, Apple Arcade’s enterprise mannequin allowed us additional room for creativity. Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop introduces a compelling narrative for followers to take pleasure in, so we’ve been very pleased to work along with Apple to convey Puyo Puyo to a worldwide 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 slightly bit concerning the story and whether or not it will be an excellent 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 photograph 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 will discover the correct management system for you. You could possibly even play at dwelling together with your favourite Bluetooth controller after which use the display screen immediately whilst you’re out and about.
With reference to the Photograph Mode, we examined an identical mode beforehand, however that is the primary recreation to see it carried out. As the sport is on iPad and iPhone, we predict gamers could have a good time having 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 might be added in updates. Would you take into account Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop an entire expertise with content material similar to a predominant console title proper now?
MH: Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop has much more content material than a console launch. You possibly can even see information you wouldn’t usually see inside the sport, comparable to character birthdays, and so forth, making it good for newer gamers.
TA: Are there plans to convey different SEGA properties into Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop like House Channel 5, Like a Dragon, Sakura Wars, and so forth?
MH: We now have no plans at current character-wise, however the recreation does characteristic particular Puyo designs, comparable to Sonic from Sonic the Hedgehog and the Morolians from House 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 convey it elsewhere sooner or later?
MH: SEGA and Apple have an ideal working relationship, releasing Puyo Puyo Fever for Mac, Puyo Puyo Fever Contact for iPhone, and now Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop completely for Apple Arcade.
TA: What ought to we count on relating to the music in Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop: new preparations, new songs, or older tracks?
MH: You possibly can sit up for each new songs and preparations of older ones. Our promotional trailer contains a remix of a Puyo Puyo Solar music, which followers appear to be having fun with.
TA: The English sequence brand is used for the sport even in Japan. It seems 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 normally differ, however the Sonic IP has at all times geared toward a worldwide viewers. So, taking inspiration we needed to maintain the logos in keeping with the worldwide launch of a Puyo Puyo recreation.
TA: Clearly Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop is the principle focus, however I used to be questioning if SEGA would take into account localizing Puyo Puyo Quest or prior cellular 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 needed to launch Puyo Puyo!! Quest to a Western viewers, ultimately it was solely launched in components 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 individuals love Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop in The West, then that may make it simpler to provide video games for that viewers and rejoice Puyo Puyo titles collectively.
TA: On that notice, are there any plans to convey 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 cellular or different platforms by remasters?
MH: At current, we don’t have any plans to provide older titles for Western audiences. I actually did work on porting a couple of older video games to trendy consoles again then, however there are much more hurdles than you would possibly suppose, so for Puyo Puyo, we determined to give attention to releasing new video games. In fact, we all know there may be demand, so possibly at some point…
TA: Are you or any of the Puyo Puyo sequence workers concerned within the Madou Monogatari 4 by Compile Coronary heart that was lately introduced?
MH: I’m at the moment within the evaluate stage of characters, and so forth. from Puyo Puyo. Personally, I’m actually wanting ahead to the sport’s launch!
TA: We realized a couple of months in the past that the Puyo Puyo Tetris sequence crossed 3 million models offered 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 on your assist!
With reference to collaborations, I’m unable to touch upon the IPs of different corporations. Nevertheless, I’ll say that I take pleasure in 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 at some point I’d not solely turn out to be 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 cellular?
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 without doubt one of the nice enjoyable components of being a developer. So many individuals play video games today; I actually hope individuals proceed to get enjoyment out of them. I don’t know what releases lie forward, however I’m wanting ahead to seeing extra new platforms that make me wish to develop video games for them.
TA: What are you at the moment taking part in and having fun with relating to video games?
MH: On console, I’m taking part in Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, whereas additionally getting quite a lot of enjoyable out of dipping into the classics and new releases accessible on Apple Arcade and smartphones.
TA: What was your favourite recreation of 2023?
MH: It must be Tremendous Mario Bros. Surprise, as a result of it actually does characteristic quite a lot of surprise. Additionally, every time I watch Avenue Fighter 6 tournaments, I get the urge to play.
TA: How do you want your espresso?
MH: The most important measurement 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’ve 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 big, so I actually hope many individuals take pleasure in Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop. If it turns into standard on a worldwide stage, then we’d have the ability to convey again older titles, in addition to take the sequence in new instructions, so please assist 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 possibly can sustain with all our interviews right here together with our latest ones with Dave Oshry of New Blood, Digital Extremes for Warframe cellular, Staff NINJA, Sonic Dream Staff, Hello-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and extra. As ordinary, thanks for studying.
