“There are no games out there that feature people like me.”—Npckc, a game creator who is involved in sexual minorities, points out the current state of the games that are out in the world today.
Mr. npckc is in charge of localization between Japan and the UK (adapting from one language to another) at a game company, and has been working on game development personally since 2017.
On the game sales site itch.io, Haru, a transgender woman (*a woman assigned to be male at birth), Aimi, Haru's childhood friend since kindergarten, and Aimi's high school friend, A trilogy of novel games (commonly known as the Spring Series), including "one night, hot springs" featuring Erica, has been released (external link).
『one night, hot springs』／Image from npckc's Steam page
On September 29, 2021, "A YEAR OF SPRINGS" was announced on "itch.io" and "Steam", a site that deals with PC games/software (external link).
From conversations and behaviors with others that are ubiquitous in everyday life, I learned that there is a "normal" that only applies to a small number of people, and the burden and sense of blockage in life for those who are not included in that normal. Be noticed and be relieved. This trilogy has received a lot of feedback from many players, regardless of whether they are involved or not.
The reaction to the trilogy, which brings a lot of awareness to everyone, has spread overseas, and a review article of the second work "ast day of spring" was published in the US media "WIRED" (external link).
In order to realize the word "diversity" that has become common in recent years in a way that everyone can feel, it may not be easy to imagine and reflect on the innumerable "individuals" that exist. do not have.
However, npckc's "Spring" series, in the form of a very simple novel game, is a stepping stone to give the words a strong sense of reality. The fun of the game itself, which ``suggests all kinds of possibilities and images to the player,'' draws out the reality of the word diversity.
Dr. Soushiki, an animator who plays about 1000 games a year, mainly overseas indie games, is one of the players who was shocked and impressed by the "Spring" series.
Nulbarich Dr. Soushiki, who is known for the full-length animation MV of "LUCK", distributes a live video of the game on his YouTube channel "What's this?".
In the video of playing the "Spring" series, I was impressed by the attitude of superimposing my feelings on the characters and seriously and carefully choosing options.
Dr. Their words about the "Spring" series, as well as how to choose and enjoy the world's abundant content while protecting yourself, are breathtaking.
──In the first place, what inspired you to start making games yourself?
npckcWhile working on various games, I felt that there weren't many games that featured characters like myself (of sexual minorities). All I could do was make games, so I thought, "If you don't have one, let's make one!" Thankfully, many people have played it, and thanks to that, I've managed to keep making it.
──In the three “spring” series, following the first one “one night, hot springs,” sexual minority characters appear, and players experience the positions of various parties.
npckcIn games, you can be the main character, right? Whether you read a book or watch a movie, you can't completely "character = yourself", and you will have an objective point of view. In a game, I think that by allowing the player to decide the character's actions and choices, it becomes a truly personal experience.
"one night, hot springs" was created with the desire to deliver the experience of women everywhere to everyone. As a transgender woman, I hope that through the game you can experience the feeling that your actions can change something.
Dr. SoushikiWhile listening to your story, I was curious, are there any games that influenced you?
npckcThat's "The Bell Tolls for Frogs" from the Game Boy.
Dr. SoushikiAh! It's funny, is not it!
npckc (laughs). This game is about becoming a prince and going to save the princess. I love stories where other people are doing other things, regardless of the main character's goals.
I think it has a big impact on the games I make. Even if society tells you to do something, it's fun to think for yourself whether it's actually the right thing to do and imagine what kind of results it will bring.
Dr. is there?
npckcI play a lot of novel games, but I prefer non-binary (*1) aromatic (*2) I'm asexual (*3), so for otome games, for example, I'm with the guy I like, and in the case of gal games, I'm with the girl I like...
*1 Non-binary (X-gender): Sexuality in which gender identity does not apply to men or women
*2 Aromantic: Sexuality without romantic feelings for others
*3 Asexuality: Sexuality that does not feel sexual attraction or desire for others
Dr.
npckcThat's right. And in the case of yuri games, a lot of them are made by men. It's naturally a story about love between women from a man's point of view, so I didn't really feel comfortable with it. I like novel games, but there are so many rules that I can't afford them.
Dr.
npckcSometimes I play novel games that don't suit me and think "No! I want to play this kind of game!"
Dr. SoushikiI see. This is going to be a bit of a maniac story, but have you played "Secret Little Heaven"?
npckc done! I love it!
Dr. SoushikiI thought so! (smile).
To explain a bit, "Secret Little Heaven" is a story about a transgender female protagonist who finds herself while talking about her favorite otaku culture through chat in the internet culture of the 90's. I felt the same kind of depth as a game in kc's "Spring" series, so I felt refreshed.
npckcYou can play Secret Little Heaven as if you were the main character. "I want to tell my friends about my secrets, but can I tell them?"
Dr. I thought it was amazing.
For example, in games other than kc's "Spring" series, fantasy heroes such as heroes and magical girls also appear. Despite that, I was surprised that I could feel a very familiar existence similar to myself. I'm curious about the awareness and ingenuity in character creation.
npckcMany of the main characters in games are cool and look up to, but I think it's important not to aim for that. Rather than being a character who can do anything, I try to think of my lines with the worries of a realistic human being in mind--for example, when I myself think "This is tough" or "I want to do something like this".
Dr. SoushikiI see! It's not a line that goes along with the character, even if it's a hero-like character, the lines are just what kc-san would say. Certainly, I thought that it was composed of words that everyone speaks in everyday life.
『A HERO AND A GARDEN』／Image from npckc's itch page
npckcSo to speak, "the hero next door".
But I think that the heart of the player who is close to you is also important. I saw a stream where Dr. Soushiki played the "Spring" series, and he thought of the main character's thoughts as his own. I think that it is precisely because of the step-by-step play that people are feeling more things.
Dr. SoushikiThe main characters have a friendliness and subtleties that make them feel like they are really close to you, and I couldn't do it as someone else's problem. If it's a normal game, I think you'll choose while imagining the next development, as symbolized by the word "raise a flag".
But all the options in the "Spring" series are options that (sexual) minorities face every day.
In "one night, hot springs", the moment Haru, a transgender woman, sees the option of "I'm wondering whether I should go to a hot spring when a friend invites me", it's a game, but this is actually happening in reality. I felt it. At the same time, she had a strong feeling that ``she has to think about herself''.
──Dr. I was impressed by the number of comments such as "I want to know, I have to know".
Dr. And of course I didn't want to hurt him. But what I felt keenly about the "Spring" series was that "I don't really know what I don't know in the first place." I realized that if I didn't understand that, I wouldn't be able to be careful not to damage the minimum understanding.