Konami says production of LovePlus and Tokimeki Memorial will continue
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
It was recently revealed that Akari Uchida and Mino Taro have left Konami. Both staffers played a significant role in the creation of the LovePlus and Tokimeki Memorial titles.
Konami followed up with an official notice today, and said that the LovePlus series will continue despite the departure of Uchida and Taro. The full message reads:
Thank you for your continued interest in our product line.
Given the resignations of Akari Uchida and Mino Taro as staff members who were formerly in charge of production on the Love Plus and Tokimeki Memorial franchises, we are aware of everyone’s concerns about the future of both franchises.
Love Plus and Tokimeki Memorial are both series of games that are deeply important to us and have earned your love and adoration for many years and as such, production of them will continue unabated and it is our sincere hope that you will likewise maintain your enduring support moving forward.
If there are still any remaining points that you wish to see clarified, you may reach us at our customer service line.
LovePlus producer and character designer leave Konami
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Two primary staffers from the LovePlus series have announced their resignation from the company. Senior producer Akari Uchida as well as character designer Mino Taro have moved on.
Uchida said of his departure:
“I still don’t know yet, but I’d like to keep up the pace and continue doing what I can do. …it was when a fan told me ‘thank you!’ while clenching my hand in tears. In the end, it was the my best decision after thinking about what I can do for such fans from this point on.”
“Now that I have all the time to think about the unlimited things I can do, [the thoughts] of hopes and uncertainty has me jumping up and down like a child. I’d like to have an opportunity to be able to make something together with you all, so when that time comes, please lend me your strength. Let’s cause a commotion together, again!”
Mino Taro also said:
“I have nothing but the deepest feelings for the titles I’ve worked on. In the midst of working in rough conditions as a video game creator, there was a lot I thought about, but I’ve come to my decision after thinking about the last opportunity of being able to do things I wasn’t able to with Konami.”
Since “Mino Taro” was part of Konami, he intends to work under the new freelancer pen name “Minoboshi Taro” to signify the new start.
More: Akari Uchida, Konami, loveplus, Mino Taro
[Famicompendium] LovePlus – Together in electric dreams
Posted on 10 years ago by Patrick(@Patricklous) in 3DS, DS, Famicompendium, Features | 3 Comments
Hey everyone, how was your Valentine’s Day? Maybe you spent the day with your loved ones; maybe you spent it devouring chocolate. Personally I spent the day slaving over a Word document, trying my hardest to convey my true feelings on a truly bizarre romance. No, I wasn’t writing some kind of love letter – I was musing on Konami’s hella heteronormative “girlfriend simulator”, LovePlus. Games tend to stay away from handling romantic relationships, especially when compared to other mediums, so I was curious to see if this Nintendo DS title was really as original (and weird) as I’d heard. So can love truly blossom between a grown man and a DS cartridge?
The answer to that question is no. Absolutely not. But as someone who is fascinated in the potential of games to blend narrative and gameplay in developing fictional relationships, LovePlus is an incredibly interesting, albeit flawed take on interactive romance.
