UTILIZING OUR STRENGTHS TO INNOVATE NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES
NTN: Now that not only mobile devices but also console platforms such as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One feature network connection as standard, device connectivity has become a prerequisite in developing games. What are your thoughts on this?
Mr. Hayakawa: Until now, our organization has been structured in such a way that individual production studios would focus on particular genres, to carve out deeper niches once a certain type of game proved to be a hit. In a way, this was like a shopping avenue lined with individual stores, each working on improving only their own product value and range. The advantage of this style is that it gives each "store" increased recognition and attracts more customers.
Now, although it is true that luck may be involved in the success of some hit products, I believe all of our hits have been the product of revolutionary innovation. Tokimeki Memorial, for example, featured chatting with attractive girls while the player relived the high school lifestyle, a significant departure from previous game design that went on to create the entire dating game genre. Equally, a distinctive cabinet design that stood out in arcades, coupled with the freedom for players to invent their own play style, made DanceDanceRevolution the founding example of music games that even entertain the spectators.
I believe this is precisely where our strength as a company lies. Our power to create groundbreaking IPs, and our power to refine them into progressively better products, have been the driving force behind our business. However, whereas platforms to date were very limited, we now need to split our approaches between console, arcade, card, and mobile games to best suit the needs of the customer. Recently we often hear the term "Mobile First," and I want to specify that Konami's idea of Mobile First is not at all to focus purely on mobile games. Our aim is to continue to build up a comprehensive portfolio of console, arcade, and card game titles for each IP while also making the best possible use of the mobile devices that accompany our customers in their daily life, thus expanding the limits of entertainment and appealing to more and more customers.
So if our business to date has operated like a string of individual stores, then this revised approach makes us a major department store. With all of our "stores" under one roof, come Valentine's Day all stores display the same kind of banners and posters, and all enjoy better business as the customers pour in to buy gifts. As Christmas approaches, cakes and toys come to the fore. In the same way, I want us to focus on what the customer usage trends for Konami games are, and be able to tell precisely what customers want from moment to moment, such as which parts they are most interested in, whether they are playing multiple titles, and which platform they spend the most time playing on. With that clarity of vision we can then provide products and services tailor-made to meet those needs. Our domestic and international sales divisions have a great deal of promotional knowledge which they have built-up in their various business regions. I believe that utilizing this power to deliver will become increasingly important as time goes on.