No. 412009.9.9

Players I Met at the Sites

Good evening, folks. It's Takenaka, the programmer.

I'm looking for "Maepa" the criminal in the "Murder of Tetsuo Takahashi at the Future Lab in Shinagawa." I haven't been able to find him at all, and the murder case looks like it might remain unsolved.
Seeing how the situation was turning out, "Maeda Producer" encouraged me saying, "Don't worry. I'm sure the criminal will be found, so don't give up. Hang in there." Gosh, how kind "Maeda" is.

Folks, if you have any information about "Maepa," please let "Detective Takenaka" know.

…This should be enough of playing dumb. (laughs)


When I visit arcades and tournaments, I see various types of players. I'd like to talk about the players who recently stood out in my memory, picking out only a few this time.


[No.1]

The other day, I went to see the Tokai Area Qualifying Tournament for the "2009 JAPAN CHAMPIONSHIP." A player asked me, "Have we met somewhere before??" I responded, "I think that's because you've read Future Lab News, haven't you? (laughs)"
He was a junior high school student. He came all the way from Shizuoka to Nagoya to participate in the tournament, using up all of his allowance.
Gee, devoting himself that much to participate was such a touching story. (touched)

I'm sure there are many other players who came all the way from distant places to participate in the tournaments like him.
After that, I played in VS Player mode with several players including him, and I was badly defeated. (wry smile)
I physically learned my lesson about not only techniques but also about the depth of devotion to Wangan Maxi shown by the players who got through to the Area Qualifying Tournament.


[No.2]

At some arcade. In that arcade, VS Player has caught on, and the level is high.
When Takenaka played VS Player with other players there, I was defeated by a tremendous blocking technique, which I'd never seen before, at the exit of Kitanomaru Tunnel in C1 Outer.
Although I made the program, I'd never thought of that technique. (surprised)
So I was wondering, "Who the heck could use this kinda technique?" Then, I was so surprised to see by my side a second machine apart from mine! The player was a boy, 9 to10 years old, sitting quietly…

Gosh, that little boy could use that kinda consummate skill…
Boy, genius is such a daunting thing!


Among Wangan Maxi players, I feel the number of young players and female players has increased a little more than before.
I thought I should think up a game which can amuse a greater variety of people. Yep.

See you next time.



(Original article in Japanese released on 2009.9.9)