Yoko Taro
Yoko Taro | |
---|---|
横尾 太郎 | |
CEO of Bukkoro | |
Spouse | Yoko Yukiko[1] |
Website | bukkoro.com |
Yoko Taro (横尾 太郎, Yokoo Tarō, born June 6, 1970) is a Japanese
Critics have noted Yoko's unconventional game design and writing style. One of the main aspects of his work is exploring the darker aspects of people, such as why they are driven to kill each other, although he typically does not share a common opinion on his story's dark natures. His writing technique, described as "backwards scriptwriting", involves outlining the ending of the story first and building the narrative backward from that point. Due to his disdain for being photographed, he generally wears a mask when giving interviews or presenting games.
Early life and education
Yoko Taro was born in
Career
Initially not intending to pursue a career in video games, his first job a month after graduating was as a 3D CGI designer for
After Drakengard 2 was completed, Yoko started work on a third entry in the series. As the game developed, the initial concept was developed to the point where the game was rebranded as Nier, a spin-off from the series. Despite this, Yoko continued to consider it the third entry in the series.[14] After Nier was released and Cavia was absorbed into AQ Interactive, Yoko left the company and pursued an independent career.[15] During this period, he took an unknown role in the development of Square Enix's social game Monster × Dragon.[16] The majority of his freelancer work involved social mobile games.[17] Many years later, Yoko teamed back up with multiple staff from the production of Drakengard and Nier to create a true second sequel to Drakengard, determining through questionnaires that the main appeal to the fanbase was the dark stories.[14] After the completion of Drakengard 3, Yoko "went back into unemployment".[18] After that, he began writing a short-term special column for Famitsu titled "Taro Yoko's Circle of No Good Thinking".[19] In 2015, Yoko announced that he had started his own company called Bukkoro, staffed by Yoko, his wife Yukiko, and Hana Kikuchi, novelist and scenario writer for Nier and Drakengard 3.[1] His other works include the 2023 anime television series based on Nier: Automata titled Nier: Automata Ver1.1a, co-writing the script with the anime's director Ryouji Masuyama.[20]
Yoko has stated his intense dislike of interviews. His reason, according to his Famitsu column, was that he feels video game developers are not entertainers or commentators on their work and that he thinks the subjects they talk about in interviews would be overly boring to those reading or listening.[21] When he does give interviews, he prefers to wear a mask to avoid being photographed, and in a video interview concerning Drakengard 3, he used a glove puppet.[22] He has also stated that he likes to be blunt when stating his opinions, as he feels that video game fans deserve truth and honesty.[11]
Writing
Yoko is noted for creating games with a dark, disturbing or unusual atmosphere. This was stated as the main reason he was brought in to work on Monster × Dragon.
Yoko was influenced in his style for the Drakengard series by many games of the day: a commonality he noted was that the player got gradings for their performance after killing dozens or hundreds of enemy units in a "gloating" manner.
Works
Video games
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1996 | Alpine Racer 2 | Background designer |
1998 | Time Crisis II | |
2000 | Chase the Express | Planner |
2001 | Phase Paradox | Game designer, visual design |
2003 | Drakengard | Director, scenario writer |
2005 | Drakengard 2[2] | Video editor |
2010 | Director, scenario writer | |
2011 | Monster × Dragon[32] | Scenario supervisor |
2012 | Demons' Score[33][34] | Support planner |
2013 | Drakengard 3 | Creative director, scenario writer |
2017 | Nier: Automata[35][36] | Director, scenario writer |
SINoALICE[37] | Creative director | |
2019 | Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers[38] | YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse scenario writer |
2021 | Nier Reincarnation[39] | Creative director |
Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
| ||
Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars | ||
2022 | Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden | |
Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden[40] | ||
2023 | 404 Game Re:set[41] |
Books and manga
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2013 | Drag-on Dragoon: Utahime Five | Supervisor |
Drag-on Dragoon: Shi ni Itaru Aka[42] | ||
2014 | Drag-on Dragoon 3: Story Side[43] | |
Thou Shalt Not Die[44] | Creator, writer | |
2017 | NieR:Automata: Short Story Long | Writer |
2018 | NieR:Automata - YoRHa Boys | Supervisor |
2020 | YoRHa: Pearl Harbor Descent record – A NieR:Automata Story[45] | Writer |
2021 | Nier Replicant Ver 1.22474487139… Project Gestalt Recollections –File01 | |
Nier Replicant Ver 1.22474487139… Project Gestalt Recollections –File02 | ||
Game Creators of Biography (Yoko Taro-hen)[30] | Writer, himself |
Television
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2023 | Nier: Automata Ver1.1a | Writer[20] |
KamiErabi God.app | Planner[46] |
Stage plays
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2014 | YoRHa Stage Play, Ver. 1.0 | Writer, creator |
2015 | YoRHa Stage Play, Ver. 1.1[47] | Writer |
2016 | Thou Shalt Not Die Zero[48] | Creator |
2018 | YoRHa Musical Ver. 1.2 | Writer |
YoRHa Boys Ver. 1.0 | ||
2019 | Thou Shalt Not Die Zero_KAI | |
YoRHa Ver. 1.3a | ||
2020 | YoRHa Ver. 1.3aa | |
YoRHa Girls Ver. 1.1a | ||
2021 | Bakuken |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | "Antinomy" | Amazarashi | Writer | Ending theme of Nier: Automata Ver1.1a[49] |
Further reading
- Taro, Yoko (2021). "Yoko Taro-hen". Game Creators of Biography (in Japanese). Tokyo: Cycomi.
- Turcev, Nicolas (2019). The Strange Works of Taro Yoko: From Drakengard to Nier: Automata. Foreword by Yoko Taro. Toulouse: ISBN 978-23-7784-048-9.
References
- ^ a b c Sato (June 28, 2015). "Nier Creator Taro Yoko Started His Own Company". Siliconera. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "BUKKORO / ABOUT". Bukkoro.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ Yoko, Taro (April 2, 2013). "【日記】おばあちゃんが死んだ。". Diary of Taro Yoko (blog). Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ a b c "「見えない壁」に取り囲まれたゲーム業界への想い。ヨコオタロウ氏が「ドラッグ オン ドラグーン3」やゲームの未来を語ったインタビューを掲載". 4Gamer. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
- ^ "Yoko, Taro / GDC 2014 Session Scheduler". Game Developers Conference Website. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
- ^ Yoko, Taro (December 8, 2011). ヨコオタロウのインタビュー (in Japanese). TheInterviews.jp. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Cork, Jeff (March 20, 2014). "Drakengard, Nier Director Talks About Making Weird Games For Weird People". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
- ^ a b "『ドラッグ オン ドラグーン』シリーズ座談会でヨコオタロウから飛び出す過去作の衝撃的真実…『DOD1』のアレは神様じゃない!?". Dengeki Online. April 18, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ "ドラッグ オン ドラグーン』シリーズ居酒屋座談会 with ヨコオタロウ on 仏滅。聖地・新宿で語られる『DOD』ぶっちゃけトーク". Dengeki Online. April 15, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "『DOD3』ジョシカイ、開幕。女性視点(映島×名取×白本×サガコ)で語られる『ドラッグ オン ドラグーン3』の狂気の深淵とは?【電撃DOD3】". Dengeki Online. December 27, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ a b Sato (May 16, 2013). "Why Drakengard Had Forbidden Love Between Siblings And Other Insights". Siliconera. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray (June 16, 2015). "New Nier Will Stay Weird, But This Time With Platinum's Combat". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "『ドラッグ オン ドラグーン』シリーズ座談会、佳境へ。ヨコオタロウが暴く『DOD2』安井ディレクターの心の闇&『ニーア』反省話". Dengeki Online. April 22, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
- ^ a b Sato (April 5, 2013). "Drakengard 3 Producer And Creative Director Explain How The Game Came To Be". Siliconera. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- ^ Gantayat, Anoop (November 4, 2010). "NieR Director Quits Cavia/AQi". IGN. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ a b Spencer, Yip (December 12, 2011). "Nier Director Yoko Taro Steps Out Of Retirement To Help Square Enix Social Game". Siliconera. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
- ^ Yoko, Taro (April 2, 2013). "【仕事】モンスター×ドラゴンの話。". Diary of Taro Yoko (blog). Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ Ashcraft, Brian (January 6, 2014). "Drakengard 3's Director Is Keen for Drakengard 4". Kotaku. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
- ^ 【週刊ファミ通 2014年1月9発売号】『ドラッグ オン ドラグーン』シリーズを手掛けたヨコオタロウ氏の短期連載コラムがスタート! (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. January 8, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
- ^ a b Romano, Sal (September 24, 2022). "NieR: Automata Ver1.1a TV anime to begin airing in January 2023; 2B and 9S teaser trailers". Gematsu. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ ""Yoko Taro's Circle of No Good Thinking" (3 of 4)". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1312. Enterbrain. February 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Corriae, Alexa Ray (May 20, 2014). "Drakengard 3 director discuss finding beauty in a bloody story". Polygon. Archived from the original on May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c Corriea, Alexa Ray (March 20, 2014). "Drakengard, Nier director discusses methods for telling powerful, strange stories". Polygon. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ Yip, Spencer (June 18, 2014). "Drakengard 3 Downloadable Stories Made Over Ramen". Siliconera. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ^ Ward, Robert (March 20, 2014). "NieR and Drakengard Creator Says NieR Was Inspired By 9-11". Siliconera. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (March 17, 2010). "NIER Preview". Video Gamer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ Spencer (May 29, 2014). "Drakengard Had Multiple Endings Because Taro Yoko Was Told There Wouldn't Be A Sequel". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ^ 『NieR』の新作は前作を遊んだファンほど混乱する!? ヨコオタロウ氏ら開発スタッフに直撃インタビュー (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. June 19, 2015. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ Wong, Alistair (June 30, 2018). "Yoko Taro Talks About How His Favorite Shmup Ikaruga Has Influenced His Games". Siliconera. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ a b Cygames [@cycomi] (February 16, 2021). "稀代のゲームクリエイター「ヨコオタロウ」の人生がマンガ化!!2月21日より、真説ゲームクリエイター伝 新章「ヨコオタロウ編」連載開始!!" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retweeted by Yoko Taro. Retrieved April 19, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ 『ドラッグ オン ドラグーン』のスタッフが再集結!PS3とXbox360で異なる主人公を描いた『ニーア レプリカント/ニーア ゲシュタルト』に迫る (in Japanese). Inside Games. May 18, 2010. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ Kawasaki, Masaichirō (August 4, 2012). 8月末から大型アップデートが順次実装。ハンゲームのチャネリングも始まる「MONSTER×DRAGON」開発・運営インタビュー. 4Gamer.net. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ 【GDC 2014】ヨコオタロウ氏が語るゲームシナリオの書き方。変わった人のための変わったゲーム. GameBusiness.jp. March 27, 2014. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ "Demons' Score (2012) iPhone credits". MobyGames. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ McWhertor, Michael (June 16, 2015). "Square Enix is making a new Nier with Platinum Games". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- ^ Saito, Yosuke (June 18, 2015). "E3 2015: NieR New Project". Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Romano, Sal (February 16, 2017). "Square Enix and Yoko Taro announce SINoALICE for smartphones". Gematsu. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- ^ Final Fantasy XIV Twitter (February 2, 2019). "Presenting the next alliance raid series: YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse–from the minds of renowned NieR creators YOSUKE SAITO and YOKO TARO!". Square-Enix. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Romano, Sal (March 29, 2020). "NieR Re[in]carnation announced for iOS, Android". Gematsu. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ Romano, Sal (September 1, 2022). "Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden announced for PS4, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ Romano, Sal (February 5, 2023). "SEGA and Yoko Taro to announce RPG 404 GAME RE:SET for iOS, Android on February 10". Gematsu.
- ^ Yoko, Taro (March 2, 2013). "【仕事】コミック「ドラッグ オンドラグーン 死ニ至ル赤」の監修" [Supervision work of the comic Shi ni Itaru Aka]. Diary of Tarō Yoko (blog). Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- ^ "Square Enix e-Store: Drag-on Dragoon 3 Side Story". Square Enix e-Store. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "君死ニタマフ事ナカレ / ビッグガンガン". Square Enix. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- Manga UP! (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the originalon February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- ^ Cardine, Kyle. "Fuji TV Reveals New Upcoming Anime Metallic Rouge, Undead Murder Farce and More". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
Airdate: October 2023
- ^ "ヨルハ" [Yorha Official Site]. Archived from the original on February 26, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ "君死ニタマフ事ナカレ零" [Thou Shalt Not Die Zero Official Site]. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ^ Egan, Toussaint (February 3, 2023). "Nier: Automata's Yoko Taro made a new 15-minute music video based on the game". Polygon.
External links
- "Diary of Tarō Yoko" online blog (in Japanese)
- Dengeki Online interview series about Drakengard and Nier (in Japanese)
- Bukkoro home page (in Japanese)
- Yoko Taro on Twitter