吉田の日々赤裸々
(Yoshida no Hibi Sekirara)
by 吉田直樹 (Naoki Yoshida)
Author: 吉田直樹 (Naoki Yoshida)
Japanese Level: JLPT N2 ~ N1
Genre: Non-fiction, essays, video games
Pages: 192
Amazon Japan (Kindle): 吉田の日々赤裸々
BookWalker: 吉田の日々赤裸々
Japanese Summary
『ファイナルファンタジーXIV』奇跡の復活劇を綴る!
週刊ファミ通で好評連載中のコラム“吉田の日々赤裸々。”が、待望の単行本化!
まさに崖っぷちプロジェクトであった『ファイナルファンタジーXIV』が“新生”するまでの過程を、
プロデューサー兼ディレクターの吉田直樹氏みずから振り返る。
連載の加筆再収録だけでなく、吉田氏がプロジェクトを引き継ぐことになるまでの顛末を、
開発スタッフコアメンバーである高井浩氏と皆川裕史氏で回想する特別鼎(てい)談も収録。
『ファイナルファンタジーXIV』のすべてのプレイヤー必見の1冊! “ゲーム業界”の現状を
リアルに垣間見られる比類なき書籍をお楽しみください。
English Summary (translation by Japanese Talk Online)
The miracle of the revival of Final Fantasy XIV now on paper!
The popular column “Yoshida no Hibi Sekirara” from the weekly game magazine Famitsu is now in book form!
The events that led Final Fantasy XIV from the brink to its “rebirth” are retold by the Producer/Director Naoki Yoshida himself.
With details covering not just the revision and re-release, but how Yoshida planned for the game to survive. Including a special interview with Yoshida, Hiroshi Takai, and Hiroshi Minagawa.
The number one book that all Final Fantasy XIV fans should read! Enjoy this collection of essays on the reality of the gaming industry that’s unlike any other!
Why You Should Read 吉田の日々赤裸々
If you love video games, especially if you love Final Fantasy XIV, then you’ll want to read this book.
It’s a series of essays written by producer and director of Final Fantasy XIV Naoki Yoshida that he did for the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. There are 45 essays (and a bonus interview) which were written from January 9th, 2014 to June 22nd, 2016, all focusing on how Yoshida came in and saved the project from disaster after its initial release!
At least, that’s what it’s supposed to be. The majority of the essays focus on FFXIV development but a number of them are about marketing, travel, and the international audience of the game. (I get the impression it was because Yoshida only had time to write these when he was travelling. Another reason it took two and a half years to write 45 essays!)
赤裸々 (sekirara) means “butt naked” but also “frank” or “candid” and that’s really what these essays are. Yoshida’s writing is some of the most genuine I’ve ever seen from a Japanese person. I found his essays to be incredibly funny and personable, and I really enjoyed reading them! (Even the ones that weren’t about the game.)
Why Japanese Learners Should Read 吉田の日々赤裸々
If you’re interested in working in the games industry in Japan, then you’ll want to read these books! (Seriously, go get them right now, read them a few times and study their vocabulary!)
I’ve been working at game companies in Japan for about three years now and a lot of terms that I learned on the job appear in this book. Of course you have a few words to do with game creation, but honestly the most useful ones are to do with the business behind making games.
For example, there’s a whole essay (number 17 on p.g 63) on the different services online games have and how they make money through subscriptions vs pay-to-play that’s really insightful.
The essays themselves aren’t hard to read, but they have a lot of N1-level and industry specific vocabulary. Saying that, each essay includes asterixis which explain industry specific information, such as games or events the average reader might not be familiar with.
Summary
I am not a fan of non-fiction. I get board easily and the lack of plot means that I can get easily distracted, but I was able to finish this book and I really enjoyed it!
This is a great book for anyone who wants to work in the Japanese game industry, and for anyone who loves Final Fantasy XIV.
Highly recommended!
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