"The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers" Book KickStarter

o.pwuaioc · 05/15/2014, 12:46 AM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 01/19/2014, 08:46 PMrolf
wayback.hardcoregaming101.net/metalgear/agnesskaku.htm

Was there a particular reason the interview was removed, anyone know? It can still be seen from Google's cached version.

ClodBusted · 05/15/2014, 02:30 AM

What about that DVD?
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/japandvd/japandvd.htm

Psycho Punch · 05/15/2014, 06:55 AM

Q: Who's telling the truth?
A: Who cares? Make some popcorn and enjoy.
(ps: i bet it is not john)

Quote from: Gao on 05/15/2014, 12:02 AMAnd it just got more interesting. Now there's a lawsuit.

esteban · 05/15/2014, 07:35 AM

I don't know who to believe.

I just hope we gain something from the raw interviews themselves (before translators/John tainted the process).

SuperDeadite · 05/15/2014, 08:14 AM

So it appears he's another French scam-artist. ROLF. Here's hoping he gets what he deserves.

NecroPhile · 05/15/2014, 10:45 AM

Frenchies and failure, they go so well together. Like peas and carrots.

xcrement5x · 05/15/2014, 02:52 PM

Quote from: esteban on 05/15/2014, 07:35 AMI don't know who to believe.

I just hope we gain something from the raw interviews themselves (before translators/John tainted the process).

Hmm, those would be cool to be released.

SuperDeadite · 05/15/2014, 06:44 PM

Quote from: guest on 05/15/2014, 02:52 PM
Quote from: esteban on 05/15/2014, 07:35 AMI don't know who to believe.

I just hope we gain something from the raw interviews themselves (before translators/John tainted the process).
Hmm, those would be cool to be released.

Impossible, if you've ever read anything by this ''professional writer'' it's clear he only includes what works for him. And being a Japanese translation firm, they will sue for damages but not violate whatever original contract they had. They would lose too much face if they just did the old fashioned way, hence the lawsuit.

esteban · 05/15/2014, 08:48 PM

Quote from: SuperDeadite on 05/15/2014, 06:44 PM
Quote from: guest on 05/15/2014, 02:52 PM
Quote from: esteban on 05/15/2014, 07:35 AMI don't know who to believe.

I just hope we gain something from the raw interviews themselves (before translators/John tainted the process).
Hmm, those would be cool to be released.
Impossible, if you've ever read anything by this ''professional writer'' it's clear he only includes what works for him. And being a Japanese translation firm, they will sue for damages but not violate whatever original contract they had. They would lose too much face if they just did the old fashioned way, hence the lawsuit.

Tatsujin · 05/15/2014, 09:38 PM

so that john is now a frenchy? or what do I not get? lol

ccovell · 05/15/2014, 09:56 PM

Quote from: SuperDeadite on 05/15/2014, 08:14 AMSo it appears he's another French scam-artist. ROLF. Here's hoping he gets what he deserves.

In all fairness to the French, John is a Brit.

tggodfrey · 05/15/2014, 10:55 PM

Wow. This seems like nothing more than a get rich scheme. Get 115k US, spend 30K on creating a book (good or bad) and keep the remaining.

I am going to go out on a limb here.....John is fucked.

Emerald Rocker · 05/16/2014, 12:34 AM

On Kickstarter updates, John Sleazepaniak admitted that he spent money out of the book budget (i.e., money that was given by backers) to pay someone to translate emails from the interpreters, so that he could then whine about their unprofessionalism. And had the balls to complain that the interpeters were using up the backers' money by making him do such things. Of course, he did this in the most hyperbolic way -- by calling them sociopaths, the worst people he'd ever known, and whining about "persecution" (I know a lot of people who would take issue with his use of "persecution" there).

After an insult-filled tirade, John Sleazepaniak then said that he intends to include details in the book of how/why the money was spent, so that backers know what really happened. In other words, he's planning to PUT THIS MADNESS IN PRINT.

And then! After basically saying he's going to smear all these people in print, he acts incredulous in a subsequent Kickstarter update when he finds out that the targets of his wrath don't want the book to be published (no doubt because they were reading his updates).

John Sleazepaniak's posts alone provide enough "facts" for me to decide that he is the one at fault in this fiasco. Hearing the story from the other side just reaffirms it. As far as I'm concerned, HG101 is dead to me unless they kick this goon to the curb.

esteban · 05/16/2014, 03:32 AM

Quote from: Emerald Rocker on 05/16/2014, 12:34 AMOn Kickstarter updates, John Sleazepaniak admitted that he spent money out of the book budget (i.e., money that was given by backers) to pay someone to translate emails from the interpreters, so that he could then whine about their unprofessionalism. And had the balls to complain that the interpeters were using up the backers' money by making him do such things. Of course, he did this in the most hyperbolic way -- by calling them sociopaths, the worst people he'd ever known, and whining about "persecution" (I know a lot of people who would take issue with his use of "persecution" there).

After an insult-filled tirade, John Sleazepaniak then said that he intends to include details in the book of how/why the money was spent, so that backers know what really happened. In other words, he's planning to PUT THIS MADNESS IN PRINT.

And then! After basically saying he's going to smear all these people in print, he acts incredulous in a subsequent Kickstarter update when he finds out that the targets of his wrath don't want the book to be published (no doubt because they were reading his updates).

John Sleazepaniak's posts alone provide enough "facts" for me to decide that he is the one at fault in this fiasco. Hearing the story from the other side just reaffirms it. As far as I'm concerned, HG101 is dead to me unless they kick this goon to the curb.

Has this guy written credible stuff at HG101?

I've read a random selection of content at HG101, years ago. I doubt I read much by this fellow (I'm going to verify this in the next few moments)...

Tatsujin · 05/16/2014, 05:41 AM

Quote from: Emerald Rocker on 05/16/2014, 12:34 AMAs far as I'm concerned, HG101 is dead to me unless they kick this goon to the curb.

UBERWORD!!

PCEngineHell · 05/17/2014, 12:57 PM

Kickstarter....sigh.....

Mathius · 06/04/2014, 12:30 AM

I haven't read all this thread so if I am repeating others comments please forgives.

I received the DVD History of Japanese Game Developers that John made. While the DVD has so many interesting interviews and behind the scenes material I can't shake the feeling I have that John just isn't that great of a person. He seems to me to be pretty full of himself and lacks any real journalistic professionalism. His review of the Rayxamber series on HG101 should have been a dead giveaway. But I would caution anyone here from turning their backs on the site as it is still a treasure trove of awesomeness.

HailingTheThings · 06/04/2014, 01:48 AM

Quote from: Mathius on 06/04/2014, 12:30 AMI haven't read all this thread so if I am repeating others comments please forgives.

I received the DVD History of Japanese Game Developers that John made. While the DVD has so many interesting interviews and behind the scenes material I can't shake the feeling I have that John just isn't that great of a person. He seems to me to be pretty full of himself and lacks any real journalistic professionalism. His review of the Rayxamber series on HG101 should have been a dead giveaway. But I would caution anyone here from turning their backs on the site as it is still a treasure trove of awesomeness.

Was considering picking this up, but at that price tag, idk...

jeffhlewis · 08/21/2014, 10:22 AM

The bastard came through after all. Finally got the book in the mail yesterday - the printing is really bizarre (crazy margins and kind of an old-school 'zine / thrown together look to it) but it's HUGE - 400+ pages of wall to wall text. Couple juicy looking PC Engine nuggets in there from the looks of it too. I'll post some pics when I get a chance. Looking forward to reading it.

esteban · 08/21/2014, 02:21 PM

Quote from: jeffhlewis on 08/21/2014, 10:22 AMThe bastard came through after all. Finally got the book in the mail yesterday - the printing is really bizarre (crazy margins and kind of an old-school 'zine / thrown together look to it) but it's HUGE - 400+ pages of wall to wall text. Couple juicy looking PC Engine nuggets in there from the looks of it too. I'll post some pics when I get a chance. Looking forward to reading it.

Dude, post pics/scans ASAP! Or, when it is convenient for you.

ultrageranium · 08/21/2014, 03:07 PM

I did not know about this project and reading quickly through this thread, reddit, kickstarter and a few blogs, it seems to be a first class clusterfuck drama :/

All that said, if the material is good and has been correctly translated, it sounds super nice, I'd also love to hear some feedback about the content, namely if it covers 90s game development workflows and practices!

NightWolve · 08/21/2014, 03:17 PM

Quote from: jeffhlewis on 01/19/2014, 05:19 PMI am, however, surprised by his ranting about it and to me it's extremely unprofessional. This type of behavior in business (at least where I work) would get you sued for libel or fired.

I have to imagine though based on this guy's track record with other people that his attitude/sociopathy is 75% of the issue:

I never got around to doing a full write up about this, but jeffhlewis called it right about Pyscho John motivating a libel lawsuit. It happened!!! I was in touch with the husband of the Metal Gear Solid 2 translator and they were sure about his residence and having started the lawsuit properly.

http://versusjs.blogspot.jp/

They even let me post my story about my experiences with him, always happy to lend a helping hand to a guy like John. ;) He blocked me on his Kickstarter page too. Heh-heh. I just shared my glee about the lawsuit against him, told him I posted my story, and he reported me to the mods, so I got blocked. ;)

jeffhlewis · 08/21/2014, 03:45 PM

Quote from: NightWolve on 08/21/2014, 03:17 PMI never got around to doing a full write up about this, but jeffhlewis called it right about Pyscho John motivating a libel lawsuit. It happened. I was in touch with the husband of the Metal Gear Solid 2 translator and they were sure about his residence and having started the lawsuit properly.

http://versusjs.blogspot.jp/

They even let me post my story about my experiences with him, always happy to lend a helping hand to a guy like John. ;) He blocked me on his Kickstarter page too. Heh-heh. I just shared my glee about the lawsuit against him, told him I posted my story, and he reported me to the mods, so I got blocked. ;)

Yeah I had legit concerns about that lawsuit hindering me from getting my copy of the book. Luckily he got them out the door before any kind of cease and desist. I'm not the biggest fan of this guy personally but I definitely wanted to read the source material because frankly, it's right up my alley (Japanese developer interviews are always must-reads for me and this is a book chock full of them).

But the drama? Off the charts. This whole Kickstarter ordeal has been a non-stop woe-is-me affair with finger pointing, pretentious use of the English language and whiny diatribes. This guy seriously has a screw loose and while I don't know the full extent of what really happened, I tend to side with the plaintiff on this one due to the way he treats people online.

Mathius · 08/21/2014, 07:48 PM

Quote from: NightWolve on 08/21/2014, 03:17 PMI never got around to doing a full write up about this, but jeffhlewis called it right about Pyscho John motivating a libel lawsuit. It happened. I was in touch with the husband of the Metal Gear Solid 2 translator and they were sure about his residence and having started the lawsuit properly.

http://versusjs.blogspot.jp/

They even let me post my story about my experiences with him, always happy to lend a helping hand to a guy like John. ;) He blocked me on his Kickstarter page too. Heh-heh. I just shared my glee about the lawsuit against him, told him I posted my story, and he reported me to the mods, so I got blocked. ;)

Jeez! I didn't really know what was actually going on with this guy. I know Nightwolve had some kind of beef with the guy, and that the MGS2 translator did was well but didn't know specifics. I have only watched about half of the DVD as I just get a bad vibe from the guy. Wish we could remove him from the DVD and insert someone else through CG. I applaud the guy's love for the industry that we obviously love just as much. I just wish the man would get some help. This is ridiculous.

esteban · 08/21/2014, 07:51 PM

Quote from: Mathius on 08/21/2014, 07:48 PM
Quote from: NightWolve on 08/21/2014, 03:17 PMI never got around to doing a full write up about this, but jeffhlewis called it right about Pyscho John motivating a libel lawsuit. It happened. I was in touch with the husband of the Metal Gear Solid 2 translator and they were sure about his residence and having started the lawsuit properly.

http://versusjs.blogspot.jp/

They even let me post my story about my experiences with him, always happy to lend a helping hand to a guy like John. ;) He blocked me on his Kickstarter page too. Heh-heh. I just shared my glee about the lawsuit against him, told him I posted my story, and he reported me to the mods, so I got blocked. ;)
Jeez! I didn't really know what was actually going on with this guy. I know Nightwolve had some kind of beef with the guy, and that the MGS2 translator did was well but didn't know specifics. I have only watched about half of the DVD as I just get a bad vibe from the guy. Wish we could remove him from the DVD and insert someone else through CG. I applaud the guy's love for the industry that we obviously love just as much. I just wish the man would get some help. This is ridiculous.

Send me DVD, I'LL PAY SHIPPING.

NightWolve · 08/21/2014, 08:01 PM

Yeah, rip that DVD for us, Matt. ;)

Mathius · 08/21/2014, 08:14 PM

I won't rip it but if you guys want to treat it as a "Community DVD" then by all means please. It's full of interviews with the people we love and respect. Esteban has dibs, then he can send it to Nightwolve, then NW can send it...well you get the idea. All recipients pay shipping.

esteban · 08/21/2014, 09:56 PM

Hell yes! Community DVD. But someone should rip it just in case it breaks in transit.

ccovell · 08/21/2014, 11:54 PM

The DVD was really interesting, but as always, left me wanting more, more!

The OutRun video tapes segment was just a cock-tease tho! "Yes, here is that historical footage of Sega's trip through Europe, but I'll never let anyone see it" :-(

jeffhlewis · 08/22/2014, 10:34 AM

Read through the first few pages of the book yesterday. It's like reading the unibomber manifesto interspersed with REALLY AWESOME developer interviews. It's kind of insane and looks like it's going to be a really good read.

Medic_wheat · 08/22/2014, 02:18 PM

Quote from: esteban on 08/21/2014, 07:51 PM
Quote from: Mathius on 08/21/2014, 07:48 PM
Quote from: NightWolve on 08/21/2014, 03:17 PMI never got around to doing a full write up about this, but jeffhlewis called it right about Pyscho John motivating a libel lawsuit. It happened. I was in touch with the husband of the Metal Gear Solid 2 translator and they were sure about his residence and having started the lawsuit properly.

http://versusjs.blogspot.jp/

They even let me post my story about my experiences with him, always happy to lend a helping hand to a guy like John. ;) He blocked me on his Kickstarter page too. Heh-heh. I just shared my glee about the lawsuit against him, told him I posted my story, and he reported me to the mods, so I got blocked. ;)
Jeez! I didn't really know what was actually going on with this guy. I know Nightwolve had some kind of beef with the guy, and that the MGS2 translator did was well but didn't know specifics. I have only watched about half of the DVD as I just get a bad vibe from the guy. Wish we could remove him from the DVD and insert someone else through CG. I applaud the guy's love for the industry that we obviously love just as much. I just wish the man would get some help. This is ridiculous.
Send me DVD, I'LL PAY SHIPPING.

Or...you know.....torrent that sucker

Psycho Punch · 08/22/2014, 04:11 PM

ISO that fucker!

Medic_wheat · 08/22/2014, 04:54 PM

Quote from: jeffhlewis on 08/22/2014, 10:34 AMRead through the first few pages of the book yesterday. It's like reading the unibomber manifesto interspersed with REALLY AWESOME developer interviews. It's kind of insane and looks like it's going to be a really good read.

See now I want to read that book...I take it, it will never get a republishing....sigh. Cry cry

jeffhlewis · 08/22/2014, 04:57 PM

Quote from: Medic_wheat on 08/22/2014, 04:54 PM
Quote from: jeffhlewis on 08/22/2014, 10:34 AMRead through the first few pages of the book yesterday. It's like reading the unibomber manifesto interspersed with REALLY AWESOME developer interviews. It's kind of insane and looks like it's going to be a really good read.
See now I want to read that book...I take it, it will never get a republishing....sigh. Cry cry

Like most Kickstarter books, it'll be available on Amazon soon enough (he said it was going up for sale after all backers receive their copies). There's no real clear advantage to being a book backer any more, except that you might get it a month earlier than everyone else:

http://www.amazon.com/Untold-History-Japanese-Game-Developers/dp/0992926009/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408740979&sr=1-3

Medic_wheat · 08/22/2014, 05:01 PM

Quote from: jeffhlewis on 08/22/2014, 04:57 PM
Quote from: Medic_wheat on 08/22/2014, 04:54 PM
Quote from: jeffhlewis on 08/22/2014, 10:34 AMRead through the first few pages of the book yesterday. It's like reading the unibomber manifesto interspersed with REALLY AWESOME developer interviews. It's kind of insane and looks like it's going to be a really good read.
See now I want to read that book...I take it, it will never get a republishing....sigh. Cry cry
Like most Kickstarter books, it'll be available on Amazon soon enough (he said it was going up for sale after all backers receive their copies). There's no real clear advantage to being a book backer any more, except that you might get it a month earlier than everyone else:

http://www.amazon.com/Untold-History-Japanese-Game-Developers/dp/0992926009/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408740979&sr=1-3

Seems he still has DVDs for sale as well. £40 a DVD set (2 DVDs). I don't know. $66!USD feels steep for a home made project...hmmmm

Any pics of the DVD itself?m is it pressed? Well let me put it this way. Is it worth the $64 bucks?

Considering he claims he won't make more once he sales out.

Medic_wheat · 08/22/2014, 05:11 PM

A cover for the book like this would have been so much nicer to look at.

Instead he went with THIS? I'd feel so uncomfortable reading the book in public...

Medic_wheat · 08/22/2014, 05:15 PM

Ok I don't know if I am being nit picky or just a dick but this is his DVD case art? It is fugly....why couldn't he just use a tastefully black and white picture of an actual developers studio from that time period that would have been much more eye catching...

xcrement5x · 08/22/2014, 06:03 PM

Quote from: Medic_wheat on 08/22/2014, 05:11 PM
Instead he went with THIS? I'd feel so uncomfortable reading the book in public...

Yeah that looks really weird. It's like some sort of Panzer Dragoon Azel/Ghost in the Shell fanart....

esteban · 08/22/2014, 08:08 PM

Quote from: Medic_wheat on 08/22/2014, 05:15 PM
Ok I don't know if I am being nit picky or just a dick but this is his DVD case art? It is fugly....why couldn't he just use a tastefully black and white picture of an actual developers studio from that time period that would have been much more eye catching...

I could have pooped out a better cover.

But, and you will kill me, but I like the DVD better than the book.

The DVD has a cheesy 80's aesthetic to it. It's lame (it was lamee in the 80's, after all), but at least it fits the source material better (IMHO).

The book cover is just sad...a pathetic attempt to sexy sexy-up the content of a book. I'm sure 12-year old's will love it.

Psycho Punch · 08/22/2014, 08:36 PM

Not only the cover for the book is weird but also the DVD looks unprofessional to the max (not only cover but also layout and stuff).

Medic_wheat · 08/22/2014, 10:19 PM

Quote from: esteban on 08/22/2014, 08:08 PM
Quote from: Medic_wheat on 08/22/2014, 05:15 PM
Ok I don't know if I am being nit picky or just a dick but this is his DVD case art? It is fugly....why couldn't he just use a tastefully black and white picture of an actual developers studio from that time period that would have been much more eye catching...
I could have pooped out a better cover.

But, and you will kill me, but I like the DVD better than the book.

The DVD has a cheesy 80's aesthetic to it. It's lame (it was lamee in the 80's, after all), but at least it fits the source material better (IMHO).

The book cover is just sad...a pathetic attempt to sexy sexy-up the content of a book. I'm sure 12-year old's will love it.

I have seen porno dvd covers with more appeal.

NightWolve · 08/22/2014, 10:33 PM

Quote from: jeffhlewis on 08/22/2014, 10:34 AMIt's like reading the unibomber manifesto interspersed with REALLY AWESOME developer interviews.

He does fancy himself a "guerrilla journalist" (his words) and I guess that's what you're seeing. Also what got him slapped with that lawsuit of course. ;)

Ya know, I've kind of taken a liking to occasionally reading articles on HG101. Nothing by him, that I've seen, but from Kurt and other contributors. Sometimes they're so massive though, I don't think I could dive into them, like this recent mega MegaMan article...

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/mega-man/

Comes in at about 55,000 words, and I think it's still ongoing; the pieces of it were being added piecemeal. Might be almost finished though. I actually caught 2 typos that Kurt quickly fixed on the first page of it, but most of the time he doesn't when they're pointed out. As a matter of fact, quite a bit of their articles need editing I noticed (maybe a dozen that I've looked at), like the last one I read of the Legendary Axe series which has about 4 typos I caught and pointed out. I'm assuming this is a frequent enough problem (have heard it from others too).

ccovell · 08/23/2014, 01:21 AM

You're being overly harsh about the DVD cover... I like it, definitely an inspired mix of Hokusai [edit: oops, actually a direct copy!], Peter Max, and Heinz Edelmann.

(The back of the DVD sucks aesthetically, and so does the book cover... but sometimes publishers take away control of this from the writer, so, y'know...)

NightWolve · 08/23/2014, 02:32 AM

Quote from: Medic_wheat on 08/22/2014, 10:19 PM
I have seen porno DVD covers with more appeal.

Quote from: ccovell on 08/23/2014, 01:21 AMYou're being overly harsh about the DVD cover... I like it, definitely an inspired mix of Hokusai [edit: oops, actually a direct copy!], Peter Max, and Heinz Edelmann.

(The back of the DVD sucks aesthetically, and so does the book cover... but sometimes publishers take away control of this from the writer, so, y'know...)

Oh, his porno comment. Yeah, I think that cover really sucks too actually.

Medic_wheat · 08/23/2014, 09:39 AM

Quote from: NightWolve on 08/23/2014, 02:32 AMOh, his porno comment. Yeah, I think that cover really sucks too actually.

The dvd cover art honestly reminds me of a learn to speak Japanese cover.

But yes maybe he didn't have a say on the layout of either item. But I would think with my vast knowledge of the publishingwworld that something he was doing on hisbown with backer money he would retain complete control over from its editing page layout and so forth.

MrFulci · 08/23/2014, 09:56 AM

Quote from: Medic_wheat on 08/23/2014, 09:39 AM
Quote from: NightWolve on 08/23/2014, 02:32 AMOh, his porno comment. Yeah, I think that cover really sucks too actually.
The dvd cover art honestly reminds me of a learn to speak Japanese cover.

But yes maybe he didn't have a say on the layout of either item. But I would think with my vast knowledge of the publishingwworld that something he was doing on hisbown with backer money he would retain complete control over from its editing page layout and so forth.

I know nothing of this author, or how the book was put together. I just want to say who knows what agreement the guy had with the publisher.

I knew of someone, she had some books published, non-fiction stuff. Her main complaint, about one book in particular, was that the title of her book was changed.

NightWolve · 08/23/2014, 11:10 AM

I remembered seeing a post with that shitty cover from his Facebook account. Looked it up:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=457670467655694
He says, "Artist's impression of a game development studio circa the 1980s." And there's a copyright "Szczepaniak 2013" on the bottom left.

I could swear I read Kurt Kalata saying his dad contributed artwork for the project, so it might be from him, not for sure on that though, but whatever, regardless of whoever did it, it sucks... ;)

Psycho Punch · 08/23/2014, 12:25 PM

There's some stuff on PCE. I might end up buying the dvd and book when available to the general public.

Medic_wheat · 09/02/2014, 02:24 PM

http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2014/08/mitchell-corporation-arcade-games.html

Mitchell Corporation arcade games available to license
"I'm going to take 90% credit for giving Mr Ozaki and Mr Yotsui this idea."

Well at lest the guy is humble.

xcrement5x · 09/02/2014, 06:15 PM

Quote from: Medic_wheat on 09/02/2014, 02:24 PMhttp://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2014/08/mitchell-corporation-arcade-games.html

Mitchell Corporation arcade games available to license
"I'm going to take 90% credit for giving Mr Ozaki and Mr Yotsui this idea."

Well at lest the guy is humble.

Interesting, in the comments at least a rep from Marvelous pipes up about trying to contact them to work out a deal. Could be very cool.