Special Feature: The Secret of Success “Resident Evil” (Page 1）

“Resident Evil” went on sale in March 1996. It could not be said that expectations for the game were high by any standard. However, typified by expressionless zombie that turns his head towards the player and zombie dogs appearing as they broke through windows, the horrors which were packed into the game gradually fascinated gamers.

Additionally, a different operating technique was adopted for “Resident Evil” to increase the sense of horror. With ordinary games, the character moves right when you press the right button of the directional pad and left when you press the left button. However, with “Resident Evil” the character turns clockwise when you press the right button and anti-clockwise when you press the left button. This radio-control type of operating technique creates the shakiness of proceeding in fear, unable to move how you want.

Incidentally, even though “Resident Evil” is a Japanese-made game, the characters speak English, and the Japanese is shown in subtitles like it is at the movies. This Hollywood movie atmosphere also produces a sense of tension as a horror game. We did actually record Japanese voices as well, but they were shelved because they did not fit with the “horror set in a Western-style building”.

It was a time when the Internet and mobile phones were not as widespread as they are now, and the attention to this kind of detail spread by word of mouth. As a result, sales rose gradually from 200,000 – 300,000 units immediately after the launch to reach 1 million units in a year.

Based on this success, it was decided to produce the “Resident Evil 2” sequel. Although it was initially scheduled for release in 1997, we couldn’t produce a game that was of the expected quality, perhaps because of pressure from the success of its predecessor, and took the big decision during development to reset everything and re-make it from the beginning. Therefore, the release was delayed by a year to 1998, and features such as the increase in the number of zombies displayed on screen compared with its predecessor and the zapping system in which the actions taken by the players affect the storyline aroused interest, making it a major hit which has sold 4.96 million units* up to the present.

Avant-guard experiments such as increased action elements and the appearance of new foes to pursue players also paid off in “Resident Evil 3: Nemesis”, produced based on the success of “2”, which has cumulative sales of 3.5 million units*. The first three successive titles all achieved million-unit sales.

* As of September 30, 2013.

“Resident Evil” appeared to have consolidated its brand value by achieving consecutive million-unit sellers up to the third game. However, ten years had passed since the series was created, and a downward trend was being observed in sales. The development team decided on a full model change for “Resident Evil 4”, believing that “if the trend continued that way the brand would disappear”.

Nevertheless, having said a full model change did not mean losing the basic “identity” of “Resident Evil”. The search for the “identity” of “Resident Evil” to that point was extremely difficult with plans changing a number of times during development. Relying on horror meant no change from its predecessor, but if the horror element was reduced too much, it would not be “Resident Evil” any more. The development team was required to have this sense of balance.

What did change significantly as a result of trial and error was the perspective. The “behind view” looking ahead from behind the character was changed from the previous top-down view. Additionally, a “shooter element”, which is popular overseas and allows players to aim at and shoot the weak spots and specific areas of their opponents, was incorporated.

As a result of matching these big changes superbly with the horror elements of “Resident Evil”, “4” is credited with being the standout success of the series. This is demonstrated by the fact that although it was originally only released on GameCube, it was subsequently released for PlayStation 2 and Wii as well as iPhone, iPad and other devices and is now the title in the “Resident Evil” series which has been developed for the most hardware platforms.

The elements that gained popularity in “4” were inherited by its sequel “Resident Evil 5”. Breaking away from its previous dimly lit image with a concept of light and shadow opening out under the sun, it achieved sales of 6.5 million units*, an all-time high for the series.

* As of September 30, 2013.