Interview
Grounding: Voices
Kentaro Yoshida
What is special about the Kyoto Studio?
This is the youngest studio in the company. Prior to joining Grounding Inc. I worked at a Kyoto-based game developer. The CEO of that company was British, and the employees were very international, with staff hailing from Europe, America and Asia. I learned a lot there and I saw first-hand how popular Kyoto is as a place to live for non-Japanese people. Regardless of nationality, if you are a good fit, you will contribute to the team - these are the lessons I wish to bring to the Kyoto studio.
What type of person are you looking for to join your team?
I am always looking for creative people, with a passion for making things. Self-starters, who will get to work on making something without being told to do so. I think those sort of people make for good game developers. I also think the artisanal approach to game development is important, so I would welcome someone that had a very clear idea of what it was they wanted to create. I really enjoy working with younger people and helping them develop their own careers in the industry.
Positives about working at Grounding
I was not lying when I mentioned how passionate we are about making things. If you have a passion for something and really want to see it get made, then that will resonate with the other members of the studio and people will come together to make it happen. I think this is the most positive aspect of working here.
What is a typical Grounding person like?
Not really the stubborn craftsman type. I don't think you can make games if you are difficult to get on with. On our team, you need a generous spirit and a desire to give people joy through what you create. Team members need to be able to balance these different aspects, which can be challenging.