Growing Pains ep. 5 – The Japan Episode - #224 - Game Dev Local Podcast

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Anime Producer Will Feng to discuss everything about life in Japan. Will has been in the Animation space for 20+ years and has been right on the frontlines of the recent Anime boom that has inspired some of the recent transmedia strategies in games. Jay and Will dive deep into everything from life in Japan as a foreigner to the secrets behind building working relationships in Japan.

Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question ‘Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today’s games market?’

Jay Uppal Social https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-uppal-18ab34a5/

Will Feng Social https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-feng-93528a3/

Episode 5 Segments:

00:00 Introduction to Episode Five

01:46 Introduction to Will

03:46 Animation in US vs Japan
11:40 Cultural Differences Working in Japan
16:40 Business in Japan is just Done Differently
24:10 Legal is Still a Nightmare
28:10 Find Your Clan (Networking in Japan)
34:00 Life in Japan as a Foreigner
40:30 Bars in Japan
44:30 Transmedia in Japan
50:50 Are Visual Novels Games?
55:00 Do the Grind
57:00 Netflix – Anime, Games, & Live Action
01:03:15 Korean Webtoons on the Rise
01:05:15 Collaborating with Japanese Productions
01:10:20 Japanese Idol Culture
01:16:20 Ending Segment