276 Koei and Nobunaga: A Casual Chat on the Forty Years of Nobunaga’s Ambition
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the strategic game IP “Nobunaga’s Ambition.” What kind of charm does this game possess that allows it to retain a group of die-hard fans despite technological iterations? Over the course of forty years, what explorations has “Koei” made in gameplay and design? Unlike the console market, the Japanese PC game market in the 1980s was still an untapped “Wild West.” Through this game, “Koei” established its position in the gaming industry. Rather than saying “Nobunaga’s Ambition” is a strategic game, it is better described as a romanticized simulation of history. From the stylistic differences between Japanese and Western strategic games, we can also see different preferences for historical perspectives in different cultural circles. “Human life of fifty years is like a dream, like an illusion.” As “Koei” becomes confused and declines, can we still wait for the next decade of “Nobunaga’s Ambition”? Please listen to the wonderful sharing from this episode’s guests, Gao Lin and Sha Qingqing.