In this episode I’m joined by Jake Richmond–one of the designers of Panty Explosion and other great games–to discuss anime fans as a potential market for RPGs. We discuss our experiences running games at anime conventions (particularly his experiences at Kumoricon in Portland, Oregon), and how best to design games that can appeal to anime fans.
Yaruki Zero Podcast #11 (46 minutes, 57 seconds)
Show Notes
- Introductions
- See games by Jake (and Matt and Nick!) at the Atarashi Games website
- Jake Richmond Interview on Geekorner Part 1 and Part 2
- RPGs at Anime Cons
- Kumoricon, a local anime con in Portland, Oregon
- GameStorm, a local gaming con in Washington.
- Go Play Northwest
- Designing For Anime Fans
- High School Debut, one of Jake’s favorite manga.
- Tales from the Floating Vagabond
- Mike Holmes talks (rants) about combat systems and photographers.
- Playtest doc for Ewen’s Azumanga Daioh-inspired Raspberry Heaven game.
- SaiKano (Saishuu Heiki Kanojo/She, The Ultimate Weapon)
This podcast uses selections from the song “Click Click” by Grünemusik, available for free from Jamendo.com. If you like the song, consider buying some CDs from Nankado’s website.
Very awesome caricature of Ewen courtesy of the talented C. Ellis.
Yaruki Zero Games 
I guess this means I’ll have to listen to this podcast? ;)
Thanks for the podcast. I enjoyed this one.
I also made the same experiences of how excitable anime con goers are.
Also I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only GM who feels exhausted after a few hours of Random Event play.
Great discussion and a real eye-opener. Kind of depressing for me, actually, as it just further reinforces how conservative and socially fearful it seems the vast majority of gamers are. We’re in the 4th year of our local con Draconis here and we struggle to get 250 gamers. There are way more gamers than that in this area. There is very little cross-over in what games people choose to play from year to year, just a lot of little ghettoes of playstyle preferences. Whereas Otakuthon, the local AnimeCon just keeps growing and growing and the attendants seem really psyched and into it.