GamesStrategyIconic dev behind Danganronpa established his own studio so he could work unlimited overtime without bankrupting his companyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesStrategyIconic dev behind Danganronpa established his own studio so he could work unlimited overtime without bankrupting his companyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Aniplex)
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy’s director departed his previous studio - the team behind the classic Danganronpa’s - so he could work unlimited overtime without bankrupting the company.
Kazutaka Kodaka, who you might know as the chief architect of the Danganronpa series, departed developer Spike Chunsoft back in 2017. He then established Too Kyoo Games with just six other developers, including Rui Komatsuzaki, the artist responsible for Danganronpa’s distinct visual stylings.
“The main reason was that I wanted to work on a variety of different projects at the same time, including not only video games but manga and anime as well,” the director and writer continued. “Rather than forming a huge development team, I wanted to bring together a small group of people with the easy-going idea that we could all continue earning a living as freelancers even if the company were to go bankrupt,” Kodaka continued.
Weirdly, this ties into a previous comment from Kodaka earlier this year, thatToo Kyoo Games has gone into debt making The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. The strategy game was actually canceled at a previous publisher, and so in an effort to get it out of the door, Too Kyoo Games borrowed a substantial sum of money via a loan, which it’s still working to pay back.
Elsewhere in the new interview, Kodaka explains that he wanted to do as much overtime as he wanted. Japan’s current labor laws mean that as an employee, he’s only able to work for a set number of hours, but as the boss of his own company at Too Kyoo Games, Kodaka would effectively be able to work whenever he wanted, circumventing the laws.
“Myself, Masafumi Takada (composer), Kotaro Uchikoshi (scenario writer), and Komatsuzaki (character designer) are company directors, so we can work as much as we want,” Kodaka joked.
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Right now, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is set to launch in early 2025 for PC and Nintendo Switch.
Take a look at ourupcoming Switch gamesguide for a dive into all the new titles you can play before Kodaka’s new venture arrives.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”