Overview
- English outlets on Monday reported a Japanese comedian, Eika (Eiko) Kano, told a TV show that Shinji Mikami said a game that leaves viewers satisfied after a full playthrough “must only be so good.”
- Kano quoted Mikami as saying developers should “make games that make people want to finish them with their own hands,” meaning games should still compel play even after a spectator watches a complete run.
- The account is secondhand: Kano recounted the exchange on TV Asahi’s Mitorizu Jan, Nikkan published the anecdote, and Automaton provided the translations used by English sites, and the remarks have not been independently confirmed by Mikami or Capcom in these reports.
- Kano also said Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii gave a similar reply and his anecdote echoes recent comments from Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi that RPGs risk losing players to streams if they lack agency.
- Industry context: streaming has driven discovery and sales for some games but can spoil story and puzzle beats, and this discussion could prompt developers to weigh design choices that preserve interactivity and completion for players.