Editing Tetsuya Mizuguchi

{{short description|Japanese video game designer, producer and businessman (born 1965)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tetsuya Mizuguchi
| image = Image:Tetsuya Mizuguchi.jpg
| caption = Mizuguchi in 2007
| native_name = 水口 哲也
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|5|22}}
| birth_place = [[Otaru, Hokkaido]], [[Japan]]
| nationality = 
| alma mater = [[Nihon University]]
| occupation = Video game producer, Video game director, Music producer, 
| employer = [[Sega]] (1990–2003) <br>[[Q Entertainment]] (2003–2013)<br>Enhance (2014–present)
}}
{{nihongo|'''Tetsuya Mizuguchi'''|水口 哲也|Mizuguchi Tetsuya|born May 22, 1965}} is a Japanese [[video game]] [[game designer|designer]], producer, and businessman. Along with ex-[[Sega]] developers he is one of the co-founders of the video game development firm [[Q Entertainment]]. He formerly worked for [[Sega]] as a producer in their [[Sega AM3]] 'arcade machines' team, developing games like ''[[Sega Rally Championship]]'' and ''[[Sega Touring Car Championship]]'', before moving on to become the head of Sega's [[United Game Artists]] division, the team responsible for ''[[Rez (video game)|Rez]]'' and ''[[Space Channel 5]]''. Mizuguchi is better known for creating video games that incorporate interactive [[Synesthesia in art|synesthesia]] into his game design, regardless of genre, evidenced by ''Rez'', ''[[Lumines]]'', ''[[Child of Eden]]'', and ''[[Tetris Effect (video game)|Tetris Effect]]''.

He left Q Entertainment in 2013. He is currently the CEO of Enhance, Inc., a company he founded in 2014.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://bitsummit.org/2015/?page_id=3388|title=Bitsummit|website=bitsummit.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-13|archive-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140537/http://bitsummit.org/2015/?page_id=3388|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, he was chosen by [[IGN]] as one of the top 100 game creators of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/top/game-creators/83.html |title=IGN - 83. Tetsuya Mizuguchi |website=IGN |language=en |access-date=2023-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420074056/http://www.ign.com/top/game-creators/83.html |archive-date=2014-04-20}}</ref>

==Early life==
Before entering the game industry, Mizuguchi majored in literature at [[Nihon University]]'s Faculty of Arts.<ref name="NGenInt">{{cite magazine|title=An Interview with Tetsuya Mizuguchi|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=23 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=November 1996|pages=80–81}}</ref> One of the influences for Mizuguchi joining the game industry was a photograph of NASA's view VR headset.<ref name="Mizuguchi-origins">{{cite web |title= How Tetsuya Mizuguchi reinvented video games with his love of synaesthesia |url= https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/games/2017/07/how-tetsuya-mizuguchi-reinvented-video-games-his-love-synaesthesia |work= New Statesman |date= July 28, 2017 |accessdate= June 6, 2018 |archive-date= March 26, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200326085233/https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/games/2017/07/how-tetsuya-mizuguchi-reinvented-video-games-his-love-synaesthesia |url-status= live }}</ref> Asked how he chose a career in video games, he explained, "I preferred doing something in relation to human senses or entertainment - something more in relation with human nature, a field where I could do some research. ... Unlike the arts, where it is often a matter of taste whether something is good or not, creating good interactive entertainment is more easily definable. I chose [[Sega]] because it was using new technology and I was able to study things like human movements."<ref name="NGenInt"/>

==Career==

===Sega===
Mizuguchi worked for Japanese game developer Sega from 1990 to 2003 and began his career – not on a game – but by designing [[arcade cabinet]]s and an interactive 'ride' titled ''Megalopolis,'' combining then-embryonic 3D polygonal graphics and CGI ([[Computer-generated imagery]]) with the physical experience of Sega's hydraulic 'AS-1' motion simulator.<ref name="NGenInt"/> He went on to develop the acclaimed racing simulator, ''[[Sega Rally Championship]]'', which was influential in the racing space, inspiring future racing game franchises like ''[[Colin McRae Rally]]'' (another rally simulator) and the rally segments of ''[[Gran Turismo (series)|Gran Turismo]]''. After forming his own division within Sega, Sega AM Annex,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Sega AM Annex|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=23 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=November 1996|pages=76–79}}</ref> he continued in the racing genre with ''[[Sega Rally Championship 2]]'' and ''[[Sega Touring Car Championship]]''. During one trip to [[Zürich]] in 1998, Mizuguchi witnessed a music festival in which he observed how people were moving toward the music and how the music, sounds, colors, and dancing would change accordingly. Mizuguchi recognized what he observed as synesthesia and decided to focus on rhythm-based music games where he co-created ''[[Space Channel 5]]'', ''[[Space Channel 5: Part 2]]'', and ''[[Rez (video game)|Rez]]''.<ref name="Mizuguchi-origins" /> Both ''Space Channel 5'' and ''Rez'' are referenced in modern gaming media as essential and influential to the development of the modern wave of music-rhythm games, with [[Harmonix Music Systems]] co-founder, [[Alex Rigopulos]] citing Mizuguchi as an influence in Harmonix's history. Mizuguchi's final position at Sega was Chief Creative Officer of Sega's [[United Game Artists]] game division.

In September 2003, Sega performed an internal restructuring of its staff. Among these changes was the dissolution of [[United Game Artists]] and the transfer of its members into [[Sonic Team]]. The following month, Mizuguchi announced that he would leave Sega on October 10, 2003.  He cited the changes in the corporate culture after the [[Sega Sammy Holdings|Sega-Sammy merger]] and viewed that as an obstacle to what he wanted to do.<ref>Kikizo Staff. [http://games.kikizo.com/features/tetsuya_mizuguchi_iv_oct05_p1.asp Tetsuya Mizuguchi Interview 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227045434/http://games.kikizo.com/features/tetsuya_mizuguchi_iv_oct05_p1.asp |date=2005-12-27 }}.  October 13, 2005.  Retrieved October 15, 2005.</ref> He announced that he would work independently in the [[video game]] industry through an – at the time – unnamed company.

===Q Entertainment===
That company would be Meguro-based [[Q Entertainment]] (which he co-founded with a core team of ex-Sega veterans) which initially produced two puzzle games for portable, handheld gaming systems: ''[[Lumines]]'' for the [[PlayStation Portable]] and ''[[Meteos]]'' for the [[Nintendo DS]]. Both games have been released in Japan, North America, and Europe. With Q Entertainment, he later produced ''[[Lumines Live!]]'' which was released for the [[Xbox 360]] through Microsoft's [[Xbox Live Arcade]] service on October 18, 2006. On November 7, 2006, he also produced ''[[Lumines II]]'' for PSP, the sequel to the popular original (this time supplementing the original score with heavy integration of music videos), and a shooter/puzzle hybrid game called ''[[Every Extend Extra]]'' (a heavily modified 'synesthesia' update to an existing PC freeware title, ''Every Extend,'' by indie developer "Omega"), which was released on August 7, 2006.

Later, to coincide with a Microsoft event at [[Tokyo Game Show]] in 2005, Mizuguchi announced that Q Entertainment was working on an action game called ''[[Ninety-Nine Nights]]''. A departure from his focus on musical games, ''Ninety-Nine Nights'' was Mizuguchi's attempt through an action game to tell the story of a massive, international conflict as viewed through the eyes of various factions. To facilitate the completion of ''Ninety-Nine Nights,'' he traveled regularly between Japan and South Korea to work with ''Ninety-Nine Nights'' external developer, [[Phantagram]].

Mizuguchi also oversaw the development of ''[[Gunpey]]'' (for [[PlayStation Portable]] and [[Nintendo DS]]), an update on the puzzle franchise originally created by [[Game Boy]] creator [[Gunpei Yokoi]]'s development team, Koto Laboratory. The PSP version was rendered in a very ''Rez'' style, with vector graphics visuals and an electronic music soundtrack, while the DS version was aimed at a younger audience, featuring a more cartoon-like approach. Additionally, around the same time, a new version of ''[[Every Extend Extra]]'' was produced by Q Entertainment for [[Xbox Live]] called ''[[Every Extend Extra Extreme]]'', which was released on October 17, 2007.

At the 2010 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] in Los Angeles, took the stage at the start of game publisher [[Ubisoft]]'s annual media event to reveal, to the surprise of the assembled media, the spiritual successor to his game ''Rez,'' called ''[[Child of Eden]]''. The game was released in July 2011, one of the marquee games for [[Xbox 360]]'s [[Kinect]] motion control system. In late September 2011, ''Child of Eden'' was released for [[PlayStation 3]], adding high-definition in-game cinemas, and support for motion control via [[PlayStation Move]], as well as [[Stereoscopic 3D]] viewing.

His company's latest game is ''[[Lumines Electronic Symphony]]'', which launched on February 22, 2012, and currently holds an aggregate score of 83 out of 100 with at least 45 out of 50 reviews registering as 'positive.' The game is considered a reboot of the [[Lumines]] series, and the true sequel to the original PSP game. Mizuguchi put an all-new team in charge of the project, with the task of revitalizing the series, and completing the game in time for the [[PlayStation Vita]]'s North American and European launch.

Besides designing video games, Mizuguchi has expressed interest in directing music videos. One of the music videos included in ''Lumines II'' for the song Heavenly Star by [[Genki Rockets]] was directed by Mizuguchi, who also co-wrote the lyrics of the song. He is known for collaborating with various DJs and music producers for the soundtracks of his games, including [[Ken Ishii]], [[Tsuyoshi Suzuki]], and [[Mondo Grosso]].  On July 7, 2007, the character Lumi from Genki Rockets (also the principal character from ''Child of Eden'') opened the [[Live Earth]] concert in Tokyo in a [[Holography|holographic]] performance, and introduced a holographic video projection of [[Al Gore]].{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

On September 20, 2012, a news article reported that "Tetsuya Mizuguchi has stepped away from games production, for the time being, taking on a more delegatory role within Q Entertainment."<ref>Martin Robinson. [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-09-20-mizuguchi-moves-away-from-game-production Mizuguchi moves away from game production] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331024442/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-09-20-mizuguchi-moves-away-from-game-production |date=2020-03-31 }}.  September 20, 2012.  Retrieved September 20, 2012.</ref>

Mizuguchi speaks English, and conducts the majority of his interviews with Western media exclusively in English.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj63ZkonBac |title=YouTube – Interview with Tetsuya Mizuguchi<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[YouTube]] |date=25 January 2007 |access-date=2016-11-28 |archive-date=2017-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714015925/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj63ZkonBac |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZjvNewdmno |title=YouTube – Lumines 2, interview with creator Mizuguchi<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[YouTube]] |date=9 April 2008 |access-date=2016-11-28 |archive-date=2016-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326203655/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZjvNewdmno |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UxcYfLyCag |title=YouTube – Tetsuya Mizuguchi<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[YouTube]] |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=2016-11-28 |archive-date=2016-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326091129/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UxcYfLyCag |url-status=live }}</ref>

He is a specially appointed professor teaching at [[Keio Media Design]] university.<ref name=":0" />

=== Enhance, Inc. ===
{{anchor|Tetris Effect}}
In 2014, Mizuguchi  left Q Entertainment and founded Enhance, Inc., where he is the [[CEO]].<ref name=":0" /> He is the only employee of the company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/12/7/9860396/rez-infinite-tetsuya-mizuguchi|title=Rez producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi on his return to music games|date=2015-12-07|website=Polygon|access-date=2017-05-13|archive-date=2017-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421034550/http://www.polygon.com/2015/12/7/9860396/rez-infinite-tetsuya-mizuguchi|url-status=live}}</ref> His work under Enhance has included supporting updated versions of ''Rez'' and ''Lumines'' for modern systems.

Prior to the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo 2018]], Sony announced ''[[Tetris Effect]]'', developed by Enhance, to be released in late 2018 for [[PlayStation 4]] and [[PlayStation VR]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/06/mizuguchis-tetris-effect-coming-ps4-psvr-fall/ | title = Mizuguchi's Tetris Effect coming to PS4, PSVR this fall | first = Matt | last = Martin | date = June 6, 2018 | accessdate = June 6, 2018 | work = [[VG247]] | archive-date = June 12, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144518/https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/06/mizuguchis-tetris-effect-coming-ps4-psvr-fall/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Mizuguchi had wanted for many years to produce a music-based game around ''Tetris'', but its licensing had been held by [[Electronic Arts]], making it difficult to use, which led him to develop ''Lumines'' instead.<ref name="polygon tetris effect">{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/e3/2018/6/15/17465364/tetris-effect-preview-enhance-games-e3 | title = Tetris Effect has been in development for 6 years | first = Chelsea | last = Stark | date = June 15, 2018 | accessdate = June 15, 2018 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | archive-date = June 15, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180615214308/https://www.polygon.com/e3/2018/6/15/17465364/tetris-effect-preview-enhance-games-e3 | url-status = live }}</ref> Around 2012, Mizuguchi began speaking with [[Henk Rogers]], the founder of [[The Tetris Company]] that now owns the rights to ''Tetris''. Mizuguchi and Rogers spoke to developing a version of ''Tetris'' set to music with a "[[Flow (psychology)|zone]]" that players would achieve while playing, leading to the start of development of the game.<ref name="polygon tetris effect"/> ''Tetris Effect'' is inspired by the phenomenon known as the [[Tetris effect]], where after playing ''[[Tetris]]'' for a long period of time, players would continue to see falling ''Tetris'' blocks for some time after quitting the game, an element related to the zone concept. Mizuguchi said that the goal of the game was "to amplify and enhance that same magical feeling where you just can’t get it out of your head, and not just the falling shapes, but all the visuals, the sounds, the music".<ref name="arstech tetris effect">{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/06/tetris-meets-rhythm-gaming-in-trippy-mesmerizing-tetris-effect-reveal/ | title = The Tetris Effect is the trippy block-stacking game we didn't know we needed | first = Kyle | last = Orland | date = June 6, 2018 | accessdate = June 6, 2018 | work = [[Ars Technica]] | archive-date = June 6, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180606165218/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/06/tetris-meets-rhythm-gaming-in-trippy-mesmerizing-tetris-effect-reveal/ | url-status = live }}</ref> The gameplay follows some of the core rules of ''Tetris'' where players try to place [[tetromino]]s in a playfield to clear complete lines, incorporating themes and music across thirty different stages with gameplay tied to the beat of the music. A "Zone" mechanic allows players to "stop time", allowing them to clear more than 4 lines at once. The game will include a meta-game leveling system for the player that will lead to new challenges as they progress.<ref name="arstech tetris effect"/><ref name="polygon tetris effect"/>

===Genki Rockets===
In 2006, Mizuguchi pursued his love of technology and electronic music, founding the band [[Genki Rockets]] with a consistent group of collaborators, including songwriter and producer Kenji Tamai, as well as singers [[Rei Yasuda]] and [[Nami Miyahara]]. Mizuguchi would write all of the album's lyrics and contribute melodic ideas to Tamai, who would then work on the tracks in the studio. Described as a 'hybrid unit' by Mizuguchi, the vocals of the two singers were digitally combined to sound like one singer, while Rei represented the visual identity of the 'band.' Not unlike the band [[Gorillaz]], Rei's alter-ego, 'Lumi,' was conceived as a 'virtual idol,' except in this instance, unlike [[Hatsune Miku]], Lumi is based on a real human girl (Lumi would later go on to become a character in Mizuguchi's video game, Child of Eden). Genki Rockets has thus far produced two albums, ''[[Genki Rockets I: Heavenly Star]]'' and ''[[Genki Rockets II: No Border Between Us]]'', consisting primarily of electronic pop music, sung mostly in English, with occasional Japanese phrases. Tamai's music company Agehasprings describes Genki Rockets as an early [[VTuber|virtual Youtuber]].<ref>{{cite web |title=アゲハスプリングス/agehasprings on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/agehasprings/status/1036774128861163520 |website=Twitter |accessdate=29 September 2018 |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329151434/https://twitter.com/agehasprings/status/1036774128861163520 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Works ==
{|class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"
|-
!Year
! Title
! Role
|- 
|1994
|''Megalopolis: Tokyo City Battle''
|rowspan="5" |Producer
|- 
|1995
|''[[Sega Rally Championship]]'' 
|-
|1995 
|''[[Manx TT Superbike]]''
|- 
|1996
|''[[Sega Touring Car Championship]]''
|- 
|rowspan="2" |1998
|''[[Sega Rally 2]]''
|- 
|''[[Star Wars Trilogy Arcade]]''
|Project organizer
|- 
| rowspan="3" |1999
|''[[Space Channel 5]]''
|Producer
|- 
|''[[Shenmue (video game)|Shenmue]]''
|Special thanks (main scenario)
|-
|''[[D2 (video game)|D2]]''
|Special thanks
|-
|2001
|''[[Rez (video game)|Rez]]''
|rowspan="6" |Producer
|-
|2002
|''[[Space Channel 5: Part 2]]''
|-
|2004
|''[[Lumines: Puzzle Fusion]]''
|-
|2005
|''[[Meteos]]''
|-
|rowspan="5" |2006
|''[[Lumines Live!]]''
|-
|''[[Lumines II]]''
|-
|''[[Ninety-Nine Nights]]''
|Producer, scenario, acting director
|-
|''[[Every Extend Extra]]''
|rowspan="3" |Executive producer
|-
|''[[Gunpey]]''
|-
|2007
|''[[Every Extend Extra Extreme]]''
|-
|2011
|''[[Child of Eden]]''
|Director, scenario
|-
|2018
|''[[Tetris Effect]]''
|Producer, original concept
|-
|2023
|[[Humanity (video game)|''Humanity'']]
|Executive producer
|}

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://mizuguchi.biz/ Tetsuya Mizuguchi's weblog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217042740/http://mizuguchi.biz/ |date=2012-12-17 }}
*[http://mizuguchi.1up.com/ Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Page on 1UP.com]
*[http://enhance-experience.com/ Enhance Inc. Official site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080703173835/http://q.1up.com/ "Northern Lights: A Week With Q Entertainment" 1UP.com coverstory]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080104225938/http://www.g-wie-gorilla.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131&Itemid=18%2F Interview with Tetsuya Mizuguchi about his games and his music-video "Heavenly Star"]
*[http://www.spacechannel5.org spacechannel5.org – A Space Channel 5 Fansite]
* {{twitter|mizuguchitter}}

{{authority control}}

{{Space Channel 5}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mizuguchi, Tetsuya}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Japanese video game designers]]
[[Category:Japanese male bloggers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Otaru]]
[[Category:Japanese video game producers]]
[[Category:Sega people]]
[[Category:Japanese video game businesspeople]]