Yasumi Matsuno
Encyclopedia
is a video game designer. He is one of a few designers to have two games receive a perfect score by Famitsu
magazine. Vagrant Story
and Final Fantasy XII
were critically acclaimed by the magazine with a 40/40 score.
ese video game developer Quest
, where he created the Ogre Battle
series of tactical role-playing game
s.
after quitting Quest. His colleagues at Square Enix
usually called him by his nickname "YAZZ".
At Square, Matsuno oversaw the development of Final Fantasy Tactics
, as well as being the sole writer on the project, for the PlayStation
. Similar in design and gameplay to Tactics Ogre
, it was lauded for its highly intricate and convoluted story.
After the release of Final Fantasy Tactics, Matsuno and his team began development on Vagrant Story
. Smaller in scope than Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story was still highly regarded by critics and has gained somewhat of a cult following since its release. The game was one of the best selling games for Square on the PlayStation system.
Matsuno supervised Square's PlayOnline
project prior to its first beta release in 2001. He then produced Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
for the Game Boy Advance
system, which shares the Final Fantasy Tactics
system but has an entirely different storyline.
Final Fantasy XII
was originally co-directed by Matsuno and Hiroyuki Ito
, and written by Matsuno, though his final credits are listed as "Story and Concept". He had to leave the development team around three quarters into production due to health issues.
console in a promotional video. In 2007, Hitoshi Sakimoto
revealed that he was working on an undisclosed project with Matsuno. In 2009, GameSpot
revealed that Matsuno is writing MadWorld's
story. In 2010, it is revealed that Matsuno has been working on a remake of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, titled Tactics Ogre: Wheel of Fortune in Japan, for the PSP
along with the game's original staff.
. His reason behind joining was to make smaller games that he would have complete control over and final say in both their content and development.
Level 5 recently showed Matsuno's new fantasy role-playing video game
, Crimson Shroud, which is a part of the Guild 01 for the Nintendo 3DS
, a collaborative project, which he is making alongside Suda 51, Yoot Saito and comedian Yoshiyuki Hirai.Yasumi Matsuno has stated that the plot is similar to that of "a short story".
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
magazine. Vagrant Story
Vagrant Story
is a Japanese-developed console role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. The game was released in 2000, and has been re-released through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles eleven years later...
and Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
were critically acclaimed by the magazine with a 40/40 score.
Early projects
Matsuno began his career at the JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese video game developer Quest
Quest Corporation
was a Japanese video game company founded in 1988. They were originally known as Bothtec, which had developed The Scheme, a Metroidvania-style open world action role-playing game featuring music by Yuzo Koshiro, that same year....
, where he created the Ogre Battle
Ogre Battle
"Ogre Battle" may refer to:*Ogre Battle , a song by English rock band Queen from their album Queen II.* The Ogre Battle series of tactical role-playing games, which include:**Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen...
series of tactical role-playing game
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
s.
Square and Square Enix
In 1995, Matsuno joined SquareSquare (company)
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
after quitting Quest. His colleagues at Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
usually called him by his nickname "YAZZ".
At Square, Matsuno oversaw the development of Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the first game of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and was released in Japan in June 1997 and in the United States in January 1998...
, as well as being the sole writer on the project, for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. Similar in design and gameplay to Tactics Ogre
Tactics Ogre
is a Japanese tactical role-playing game created by Quest. The game was originally released in 1995 on the Super Famicom in Japan and then re-released on the Sega Saturn in 1996 and the PlayStation in 1997...
, it was lauded for its highly intricate and convoluted story.
After the release of Final Fantasy Tactics, Matsuno and his team began development on Vagrant Story
Vagrant Story
is a Japanese-developed console role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. The game was released in 2000, and has been re-released through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles eleven years later...
. Smaller in scope than Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story was still highly regarded by critics and has gained somewhat of a cult following since its release. The game was one of the best selling games for Square on the PlayStation system.
Matsuno supervised Square's PlayOnline
PlayOnline
PlayOnline is an online gaming service created by Square Co. , and is used as a hub for many of the online PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 games the company publishes. Currently, the only game supported by the service is Final Fantasy XI...
project prior to its first beta release in 2001. He then produced Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The player assembles a clan of characters, and...
for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
system, which shares the Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the first game of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and was released in Japan in June 1997 and in the United States in January 1998...
system but has an entirely different storyline.
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
was originally co-directed by Matsuno and Hiroyuki Ito
Hiroyuki Ito
, also credited with the spelling Hiroyuki Itou, is a Japanese game producer, game director and game designer who has been working for Square Enix since 1987. He is famous for being the creator of Active Time Battle and Active Dimension Battle...
, and written by Matsuno, though his final credits are listed as "Story and Concept". He had to leave the development team around three quarters into production due to health issues.
Freelance Period
In 2006, Matsuno showed his interest for the WiiWii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
console in a promotional video. In 2007, Hitoshi Sakimoto
Hitoshi Sakimoto
is a Japanese video game composer and arranger. He is best known for scoring the games Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, though he has composed soundtracks for over 70 games and arranged music for more than 40 others. He began playing music and video games in elementary school, and began...
revealed that he was working on an undisclosed project with Matsuno. In 2009, GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
revealed that Matsuno is writing MadWorld's
MadWorld
is a video game developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega. It was released for the Wii on March 10, 2009 in North America, on March 20 in Europe, March 26 in Australia, and February 10 in Japan...
story. In 2010, it is revealed that Matsuno has been working on a remake of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, titled Tactics Ogre: Wheel of Fortune in Japan, for the PSP
PSP
PSP most commonly refers to the PlayStation Portable, a handheld game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment.PSP may also refer to:-Computing and programming:*Corel Paint Shop Pro, a graphics editor...
along with the game's original staff.
Level-5
In June 2011, it was announced that he had joined Level-5Level-5
is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka, Japan. The company, which currently employs about 200 individuals, was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from the now defunct Japanese developer Riverhillsoft...
. His reason behind joining was to make smaller games that he would have complete control over and final say in both their content and development.
Level 5 recently showed Matsuno's new fantasy role-playing video game
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
, Crimson Shroud, which is a part of the Guild 01 for the Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
, a collaborative project, which he is making alongside Suda 51, Yoot Saito and comedian Yoshiyuki Hirai.Yasumi Matsuno has stated that the plot is similar to that of "a short story".
Credits
- Conquest of the Crystal PalaceConquest of the Crystal PalaceConquest of the Crystal Palace is a 1990 Nintendo Entertainment System platformer by Quest and the Asmik Corporation of America. It was released as Matendouji in Japan....
: Planner - Ogre Battle: March of the Black QueenOgre Battle: March of the Black Queenis a 1993 real-time strategy role-playing video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, directed by Yasumi Matsuno with artwork by Akihiko Yoshida...
: Director, Game design & Scenario - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together: Director, Game design & Scenario
- Final Fantasy TacticsFinal Fantasy Tacticsis a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the first game of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and was released in Japan in June 1997 and in the United States in January 1998...
: Director & Scenario - Ogre Battle 64: Concept, Special Thanks
- Vagrant StoryVagrant Storyis a Japanese-developed console role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. The game was released in 2000, and has been re-released through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles eleven years later...
: Producer, Director, Battle design, Scenario - Final Fantasy Tactics AdvanceFinal Fantasy Tactics Advanceis a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The player assembles a clan of characters, and...
: Producer, Original concept - Final Fantasy XIIFinal Fantasy XIIis a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
: Story & Concept - MadWorldMadWorldis a video game developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega. It was released for the Wii on March 10, 2009 in North America, on March 20 in Europe, March 26 in Australia, and February 10 in Japan...
: Story - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSPPSPPSP most commonly refers to the PlayStation Portable, a handheld game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment.PSP may also refer to:-Computing and programming:*Corel Paint Shop Pro, a graphics editor...
version): Game design & Scenario - Guild 01: Crimson Shroud; Writer & Director
External links
- 1UP.Com feature on Yasumi Matsuno's career
- Yasumi Matsuno profile, interviews, and photo gallery at the Square Haven People Database
- Madworld Updated Hands-On