Gravity Game Arise will be released on November 6th, the action RPG “Aeruta” is scheduled to be officially released. In this game, Chaya, a fox-eared girl who aims to become a hero, lives a double life as an adventurer and a baker.
This work will start early access distribution from May 16, 2024.Steam store pageAccording to user reviews, the game received a “very positive” status even before its official release. Reasons for its popularity include the game’s gameplay and other basic features, as well as the cuteness of the characters.
This is a game that features cute characters with so-called furry ears. Therefore, in our magazine,battlefield fugueWe spoke to Cyber Connect Two, which is well-known for making beast games, including “Aeruta,” and Gravity Game Arise, which is responsible for “Aeruta.” In this article, we conducted interviews with Hiroshi Matsuyama, the representative of Cyber Connect Two, and Shinyasu Hayashi, the producer of “Aeruta” at Gravity Game Arise. What is Kemono and what is the difference between Kemonomimi and Kemonomimi? We asked him about his reasons for incorporating them into the game.
Kemono and Kemonomimi are completely different things.
–First of all, please introduce yourself.
Lin Jinan (hereinafter, Lin):
My name is Hayashi and I am the producer for the publishing of “Aeruta” at Gravity Game Arise. Thank you for your continued support today.
Mr. Hiroshi Matsuyama (hereinafter referred to as Matsuyama):
『battlefield fugue” My name is Matsuyama and I am the representative of Cyber Connect Two, who is working on the trilogy series. thank you.
–I’m sorry for all of a sudden. I like both “Fuga of Battlefield” and “Aeruta,” but what is the difference between Kemono and Kemonomimi?
together:
……
――Well, everyone seems to be on edge. Sorry.
Mr. Hiroshi Matsuyama (hereinafter referred to as Matsuyama):
…We have a clear definition within our company. Kemono and Kemonomimi are completely different things.
—I’m sorry.
Mr. Matsuyama:
There are some rules for what we call a beast, and first of all, it’s a beast if it has hair all over its body. So when a beautiful girl has only the ears and tail of a beast, it feels almost like cosplay. It’s perfectly fine to call it kemomimi. However, I think it’s wrong to call it a beast.
Also, the muzzle where the nose extends forward. And what’s called a paw. There’s no paw pad on the thumb, but it’s a little closer to this side.We understand the structure of the beast when designing it. It’s a little too much…so I don’t do it. Female characters also originally had six nipples. However, if you overdo it, it will get stuck in many places, so I try to keep it in a mild manner.
–Oh, I see! It’s educational. By the way, is Chaya, the main character of “Aeruta”, a beast? Oh, it’s a kemomimi, right?
Lin:
“Aeruta” is a kemomimi. However, when he sleeps, he looks exactly like a beast.
–It’s confusing!
Mr. Matsuyama:
You were sleeping as a fox, weren’t you?
Lin:
That’s right. It’s also beautifully drawn.
–It’s quite complicated! It is said that it is a furry ear, but it can also become a beast itself. Officially, what do you call Chaya?
Lin:
This is quite a difficult part…for now, I’m calling her “fox girl.” I feel that if I call her a kemomimi, I’ll be giving away her attributes, so I intentionally don’t say it too much and keep it light.
–But if you’re not sure what to say…I don’t think you’ll be able to successfully target that kind of fan community…
Lin:
That’s a very poignant question. In fact, as Mr. Matsuyama said, I think there is a considerable difference between furries and kemomimi. However, from the users’ point of view, I think that the specific differences between the two are not often expressed in words, so I think that if it is cute, they will accept it. Of course, many people who like furry animals are more attracted to animal-like parts, and I’m the same way, but I think the muzzle and all-body fur are really nice. On the other hand, the kemomimi characters also have human characteristics, so I feel like I’m implicitly conveying that “Aeruta” has both types of cuteness.
Mr. Matsuyama:
If anything, Chaya’s transformation into a beast is a monster fantasy. Originally, she was a beast or a fox, but when she transformed into a human, she was a beautiful girl, but with ears and a tail that wasn’t hidden.I thought she had a cute worldview.
Lin:
I think there is also a difference in whether the character is a beast or a human. Kemomimi is mainly human, with furry elements added to it for a moe feel. However, when it comes to beasts overseas, the main ones are beast-like ones, and those with animal parts are more popular.
–It’s educational. In other words…Kemono and Kemonomimi have completely different targets?
Mr. Matsuyama:
I don’t think so. The beasts that we imagine are from the old animation series “Detective Holmes,” and from the recent manga series “BEASTARS.” I think this is a work that incorporates the worldview and characters of beasts. On the other hand, Kemomimi has a different charm, so I guess Kemono and Kemomimi are actually different styles.
together:
Differences in school (lol)
――I feel like something really doesn’t make sense to me. I would like to ask you what is good about beasts and what kind of charm do they have?
Mr. Matsuyama:
For example, when Hayao Miyazaki directed “Detective Holmes” about 40 years ago, there was no particular need for it to feature anthropomorphic animals. I think it would have been possible to have Professor Moriarty in the world of Sherlock Holmes, design a human character, and create a normal animation as Holmes.
…But in the end, when it comes to how to get people’s attention, it’s important to know where the hook is. The visual impact of a furry character with a muzzle sticking out, wearing a trench coat and a hat, is so unique.
–It’s impressive just by looking at it, and it’s easy to remember.
Mr. Matsuyama:
That’s right. In the end, it’s a matter of where you turn people’s attention. However, if you overdo it, you will feel more discomfort, so it is important to strike a perfect balance. When “Detective Holmes” first aired, Piroshi was a young boy whose uniqueness was pierced right through his heart.
–Is that what you call Kyun?
Mr. Matsuyama:
No, it’s completely crazy.
together:
(lol)
Mr. Matsuyama:
What a wonderful way to cook. And, besides, isn’t it just Holmes, the whole world is a beast? Even as a child, I wondered if there was a way to do that, and I fell in love with it completely and looked forward to watching it every week. However, such a wonderful work did not have much impact on the world at that time, and at that time, the boy Piroshi thought that the world was wrong and that it was too early.
There are some wonderful things that have not yet been discovered in the world, and that become popular later. Even as a child, I felt that “Detective Holmes” was just that, and I thought that the moment would come when the world would become obsessed with it. So, even though we’ve been waiting, no games or anime that feature beasts have come out, so we decided to take over this area. I’ll continue to work with the mindset of being the company’s leading expert on beast games, and although I won’t follow through on my initial aspirations, I’ll be at the forefront with the idea that if I keep hitting the wall, I’ll be able to break down the wall someday.
――“Detective Holmes” had a considerable influence on you, didn’t it?
Mr. Matsuyama:
The artwork and worldview of that work are wonderful. It’s my personal opinion, but as I said earlier, it has the impact of turning people’s heads, but there’s no reason why it has to be that design. “BEASTARS” has a reason, right? This is a story that can only be told by these people who have claws and fangs in that worldview. We are the same as “BEASTARS”, and the world view of beasts advocated by Cyber Connect Two called “Little Tale Bronx” has a proper basis, reason, and meaning, and we have created a logic that allows us to meet the expectations of our customers.
All humans have a beast in their hearts.
――There are a lot of people who like beasts at CyberConnect2, right?
Mr. Matsuyama:
Everyone says that they have always liked works that look like this. And the reason will come later. First of all, I feel like I like it. But everyone hides it at first.
――I guess you end up trying to hide the fact that you love animals.
Mr. Matsuyama:
Even at our company, we hide things like that, and I think that’s more common in the rest of the world. Therefore, we have to work to find people who have a latent love for beasts, including the fan base, and the trigger for forming such a community is the content and our promotional intentions, so I think we have to continue to expand.
–Actually, I’d like to say that everyone subconsciously has a “love for animals.”
Mr. Matsuyama:
That’s it.
–Then, that means I also have the potential to be a furry.
Mr. Matsuyama:
There is.
–Yeah……?
Mr. Matsuyama:
Actually, not everyone realizes it. And for some reason I just can’t bring myself to say it, but when I do, I think I might like it. The reason for this is that such education is not possible because there are few such works. After all, we are mammals, and all humans have a beast inside of them.
— “All humans have a beast inside of them.” Please stop making it sound like a proverb.
together:
(lol)
–by the way. Do you both think that the users of your games are more concerned about the gameplay, or are they more concerned about the character design, animals, and furry ears?
Lin:
Looking at the reactions of users so far, I think that many people are initially attracted to the appearance and character. So in the case of “Aeruta,” I think there are a lot of people who are playing it because of Kemomimi, but the people who have been playing the game for a long time and those who write reviews have also touched on the gameplay and story, so I think that even though the hook is Kemomimi, people are thoroughly enjoying the game itself.
――While “Aeruta” is a roguelite, the game mechanics are elaborate as it also includes a simulation of running a bakery, but I feel that it has loyal fans precisely because of the kemomimi.
Lin:
I feel that thanks to Kemomimi, more people have become interested in it, which is a positive response. By the way, at the beginning of development, I didn’t even think about including the kemomimi element. After creating the basic game system, I thought of something that would be different from other games and would be an appealing point, and since everyone loves animals…I decided to incorporate kemonomimi.
In fact, when the trial version was released in January of last year, it didn’t have fur ears or a tail yet, but in the early access version, it finally got the ears and tail it has now. So subconsciously, the development team also liked beasts.
Mr. Matsuyama:
Look. After all, we all have a beast inside of us.
–It’s not “Here.”
But because we realized that it’s okay to put out something unique, Aeruta was able to acquire an identity. By the way, Mr. Matsuyama, do you think the users of “Fuga Battlefield” get into it because of the beasts, or because of the gameplay?
Mr. Matsuyama:
At our company, we believe that in order to create a work that will be chosen, the system, characters, and story must all work together as gears. So everything is designed simultaneously. I’m working on the system as I work on the script, and once the system has taken shape to a certain extent, I’m also trying to revise the script. So, I think people are looking at both before entering the project.
–Do you think it’s a good idea to try making a Kemono Game or a Kemonomimi Game now in the hope that it will sell? Or do you think it’s okay to add furry/kemomimi elements to what you currently have?
Mr. Matsuyama:
I think it’s good. I think “Aeruta” is the answer to that question. In this day and age, there are a lot of action games and action RPGs, and there are also a lot of cute games. However, in “Aeruta”, there are hooks that have been created to get users interested, including the part where it looks like it’s actually a fox with furry ears. So I think creating reasons for people to choose us is an effective method.
–On the other hand, wouldn’t the increase in Kemono games mean more rivals for you, Mr. Matsuyama?
Mr. Matsuyama:
No, no. In fact, the number of sympathizers will increase, and furry culture will spread to more customers, so that’s definitely a good thing.
–Your perspective is completely that of a missionary.
together:
(lol)
– Mr. Hayashi, do you think it’s okay to make a game about animals and kemomimi now?
Lin:
Of course, I think it’s a genre worth creating. Incorporating animal elements can lead to new actions and develop new stories. You’ll need to know a lot about furries and kemomimi to incorporate them, but I feel that if you use them well, the game could take the game in a new direction. However, recent social games have started to feature animal characters, so we need to think about how to differentiate ourselves from these characters, and while there is potential, it may be a difficult element to handle.
–If you don’t have a love for animals, it might be difficult to get all the details right. I feel like if I take it in casually, I might end up in a bit of trouble.
Mr. Matsuyama:
However, I also played Aeruta, and the first thing that impressed me was how incredibly fun the game was. It’s not just cute. The cycle and design of going on an adventure with action and then running a bakery when you come back has been sublimated to a very high level, which is incredible.
There are a lot of works where nothing seems to work together, or more specifically, where the main action is disgusting or uninteresting. The visuals are good, but when you look at the game screen, it’s disappointing. While there are many works that I don’t understand, “Aeruta” is a masterpiece, as all of them are of high quality. I guess the production team is also young.
Lin:
thank you. As for the development team, “Aeruta” is their first game, so all members are young.
Mr. Matsuyama:
I thought what a group of geniuses they were. He says it must be a lie. In this interview, I would like to know how you can become such a person. Did you originally create games?
Lin:
yes. Originally, they had been making “Aeruta” as their graduation project since their university days. After that, I decided that I wanted to complete this game and release it to the world in the future, so my friends and I started a development studio, which is where we are today. Since it’s my first game, I’ve been working on it with a lot of enthusiasm, which would be quite difficult in a modern company, but I’ve been working on it for about 16 hours a day, and with the exception of sleeping.
Mr. Matsuyama:
(lol)
Lin:
We have a strong desire to deliver something to the world through our games, and we are always thinking about what we can do and deliver to our users. Also, since this is the first game I’m releasing, I’m honestly a little nervous about it. That’s why we have continued to create this game in the form of early access, incorporating the opinions of users and the community. So we’re finally at the stage where we can officially release it.
――Aeruta was particularly characterized by the speed with which it reflected feedback. We quickly fixed the parts that people said weren’t fun, and continued to refine them, and compared to the early days of early access distribution, various mechanics have improved considerably.
Lin:
Both the developer and us attach great importance to the opinions and suggestions from our users. There were some parts where we were actively working to create the work together with the community, and the speed at which feedback was reflected may be a result of that effort.
I want “Aeruta” to be accepted by the furry community as well.
――After making a game about animals and animals, do you have any recommendations on how to appeal to the community?
Mr. Matsuyama:
Basically, I think it’s better not to use the first line as a beast. Because you’ll know it when you see it. So, to be honest, there’s no need to advertise that the game is a beast, but rather to explain what the beast characters are doing in the game. If there is a reason or basis for why it is a beast, customers will naturally smile. So, our company exhibits on stage and sells products at “Japan Expo” and “Anime Expo”, and of course we do PR through that. But actually, the only thing I did that intentionally was “Anthrocon”.
Anthrocon is an event with a lot of customers from the furry community, so we’re trying to expand our fan base by exhibiting and holding panels. Also, if it’s domestic, it’s “Kemonoket”.
–You talked about Anthrocon in a previous interview, and quite a few readers were surprised that Anthrocon was even mentioned in regular gaming media.
Mr. Matsuyama:
I think Anthrocon can continue to grow in popularity and visitor numbers. That’s why I decided to exhibit with the intention of growing it together from now on. I think it’s a great opportunity especially for people who are making indie games, so I think it would be great if it would get some attention.
–What do you think Aeruta can do to expand its fan base?
Lin:
I don’t have the image of Kemomimi fans gathering anywhere. In Japan, there are things like “Kemonoket,” but like Anthrocon, there are many fans of furry characters, so I don’t think “Aeruta,” which is a kemonomimi, will resonate much.
–Because the schools are different.
Lin:
That’s right. I don’t feel comfortable showing my furry ears in front of the furry fans, but I think there are some furry fans who like the characters in Aeruta, so I think it’s important to get close to a community with which we have affinity.
――Certainly, it may be important to read the atmosphere of the community and not be too afraid. Finally, please give a message to our readers.
Mr. Matsuyama:
The “Battlefield Fuga” series is currently on sale. Also, a manga called “Fuga of the Battlefield: Melody of Steel” is currently being serialized, and we are currently getting into the content of “Fuga of the Battlefield 3”, but the content is actually different between the game and the manga. I would be happy if you could enjoy comparing both.
Also, we are holding an exhibition called “Battlefield Fugue Exhibition” in Fukuoka in October, Tokyo in November, and Osaka in December. Each of them will have events, merchandise sales, and autograph sessions, so I hope you’ll come and visit if you’re interested. Also, the second act of the reading performance, in which voice actors will read “Fuga of Steel: Melody of Steel,” is scheduled to be held in December. This was announced by the organizer Tridia, so I hope everyone will enjoy the various Fugue of Battlefield events this year.
–It’s growing steadily as an IP, and it looks like it might even be made into an anime. I look forward to seeing the company make great strides in the future. Mr. Hayashi, please also send a message.
Lin:
It has been a year and a half since the early access launch of Aeruta, and on November 6th, we were finally able to deliver it to everyone in its completed form. To coincide with the release, we are planning to hold a final sale of 20% off the early access price. If you are interested, I would be very happy if you could purchase it at that time.
–thank you very much.
“Aeruta” is a PC (Steam) Scheduled for official release on November 6th. 『battlefield fugue‘ series is on sale for PC (Steam/Epic Games Store)/Nintendo Switch/PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One.
