Final Volume: Koichi Sugiyama’s Game Room
Inside Koichi Sugiyama’s Game Room: A Pioneer of Game Music and Retro Collecting
Nostalgic Consoles, One After Another!!
(Sugiyama) There are quite a few rare items in this room, so feel free to take a look around. This Casio one in particular is hard to find.
(Mana) This is a PV-1000. I just have the hardware, because there’s no software to be found anywhere.
(Sugiyama) Picking up used ones here and there and getting some as gifts, I somehow managed to gather this many.
(Mana) I’m also a collector, but I’m amazed to see an Intellivision here! These never turn up in shops, so I didn’t imagine I’d be seeing one here!
(Sugiyama) I collect games from all sorts of genres, but I especially like airplane ones. Back in the day, I’d often stack up coins at the arcade and play. I even played Scramble against some locals at a hotel in New Caledonia about 20 years ago. Of course, I won! (Laughs) I’ve even got some upright arcade cabinets in here too.
(Mana) I really love Scramble too. I could never beat it when I was a kid, but recently I was finally able to see the ending on the PlayStation version. It’s so cool that you have cabinets, though!
(Sugiyama) I only have six of them, but I’ve got all sorts of different games. You don’t collect boards, Mana?
(Mana) They take up quite a bit of space so I haven’t been collecting any, but seeing this room makes me want some!
Mr. Sugiyama Imparts His Advice For Composing Game Music
(Sugiyama) By the way, what are the most memorable pieces of game music to you?
(Mana) It definitely comes through in the music that I write, but I like Castlevania and horror-themed games. I love the gothic atmosphere. The music in those games has a real classical feel to it, which I enjoy.
(Sugiyama) A classical base is timeless—it will always have an audience.
(Mana) The music of Xevious and Space Invaders is also very well made, though. That sense of tension when you’re being invaded is just irresistible.
(Sugiyama) Since I’ve always loved games, I wanted to work in the field. But making game music is tough—you have to write something players might hear hundreds or even thousands of times while playing, and still not get tired of. In that respect, Space Invaders is a great example: the music is very simple, but the idea of the tempo gradually speeding up is brilliant.
(Mana) Hearing that made me feel that even with minimal notes, it’s possible to write a classic.
(Sugiyama) Even in classical music, there are masterpieces that just contain a single flute. The number of notes just doesn’t matter.
(Mana) Malice Mizer’s new song, coming out on the 3rd of next month, also has a strong classical flavor—it’s a piece we’re really proud of. I hope you’ll give it a listen.
Final Words from Mana
This is the final edition of this column that I’ve been writing for the last year. Going to game shows, talking to creators…so many of my wishes have come true, and it’s been a lot of fun. In particular, I have fond memories of my talk with Kenji Eno, the creator of D, whose direction and world-building deeply impressed me. For me, games are life—I’ll love them for the rest of my days.