Hello, I’m Mob. I am part of the Negolove team at SKOOTAGAMES, typing away on my keyboard daily and occasionally brewing coffee.
Recently, I participated in the first offline game event, Burauri Kawagoe GAME DIGG, held in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture.
By the way, this event is a bit unique. Instead of having a specific venue, it was notable for being an “open town type,” using the entire historic city of Kawagoe as the stage. When I first heard about this, I was personally curious and wondered what kind of experience it would be to encounter games throughout the town.
However, the weather was unfortunately not on our side that day… During the event, it was raining steadily all day, which was a bit challenging for an open town type event. Still, with an umbrella in hand, I cheerfully explored the booths that were on display undeterred by the rain, and I indeed encountered some interesting games.
In fact, I feel that it was precisely because of the weather that the experiences left a stronger impression and became memorable encounters. In this report, I will share the atmosphere of that rainy Kawagoe GAME DIGG and focus on the four indie games that particularly caught my attention.
Yuzuri Ninja: Regional Love and Fixed Ideas in a Bowl of Udon
It also mentions a certain event described below.
The first booth I stopped at during the rainy Kawagoe GAME DIGG was this ‘Yuzuri Ninja’ booth. First, let me introduce the catchphrase: “We turned the fierce battles in the back yard until Kagawa’s udon reaches the customers into a non-fiction game (just kidding)”… Just this one line gives a sense that something interesting is about to happen.
In terms of game content, players become a ninja who makes udon, defeating approaching enemies (assassins aiming for the secret of udon making) while providing freshly made udon to customers waiting on the other side of the counter. It’s a simple action game. The controls are intuitive, with movement using the arrow keys while performing the “draining” of udon. While moving, players drain the udon to defeat enemies, and in front of customers, they serve udon using the Z key.
However, what should be etched in mind about this game is that the ultimate goal is “service to customers.” The attack method of “draining” requires the essential “udon,” and without it, neither combat nor serving is possible. Therefore, it’s not just about the refreshing feeling of defeating enemies; it also challenges players to balance how to fulfill “service to customers” while managing the resource of udon. This unique perspective was quite impressive.
When actually playing, the simple controls and brisk action make it enjoyable for anyone, embodying the charm of a mini-game. The comical movements of the characters and the inherent humor of the udon theme are also wonderful. It truly deserves the evaluation of being “small yet thoroughly entertaining.”
In fact, this game has been available on Unityroom since 2018, so there may be voices asking, “Why now?” However, this ease of access, where “anyone can casually play right away,” is very important in the context of this event. The reason for this game being showcased here lies in that.
When I spoke directly with the creator at the booth, I learned that this ‘Udon Ninja’ was born from a community of game creators in Kagawa Prefecture. It’s not just a product of a game jam; it embodies the regional characteristics of “Kagawa” and the feelings of the creators rooted there. The reason for the udon theme became clear from this background.
In fact, this game has experience exhibiting at the community-focused game event “SANUKI X GAME” held in Kagawa Prefecture, and this time, the organizer “Sanuki GameN” was also exhibiting. I heard that they hope this will spark interest in Kagawa and the activities of local creators. “It would be great if this encourages people to come visit Kagawa!”… I couldn’t help but nod in agreement with the passionate words of the creator.
Just hearing the thoughts of this creator made me feel, “I’m really glad I came all the way to Kawagoe.”
Looking back, I feel that my perspective on my own game has been skewed too much towards that of a gamer while participating in several game events recently. However, after engaging with this work and the story behind it, I felt as if the complicated reasoning and fixed notions I had about “what indie games should be” were refreshed like freshly made udon. “Perhaps this approach is a true aspect of indie,” I thought. This work reminded me of an important perspective that I had almost forgotten.
Above all, the creator’s enthusiastic and joyful discussion about the game and their love for Kagawa was very impressive. I felt as if I caught a glimpse of the service spirit underlying ‘Yuzuriha Ninja,’ which aims to deliver the best udon (i.e., game experience) to customers. “When I stand at a booth, I need to have this level of passion and sincerity,” I thought, feeling as if I had received a little homework to reflect on as I made my way to the next booth.
MeloMisterio -play your melody-: A Quiet Resonance of Melodies and Improv for Everyone
It seems to mean “to return to the place of the sign called Seño.”
Melodies flow from both speakers.
After reminiscing about Kagawa at the booth of ‘Yugiri Ninja’, the next destination was ‘MeloMisterio -play your melody-‘. This was a new sensation 3D platform game that allows for improvisational performance (!) with just simple operations of jumping and dashing. Even from this introduction, the uniqueness of the game can be sufficiently conveyed.
However, the controls are ingeniously designed. Jumping and dashing are each assigned to “two buttons,” and every time a button is pressed, a specific sound (like a beautiful xylophone) plays. The pitch of the sound is set for each button, allowing players to create their own melodies improvisationally every time they perform a movement action.
Of course, this variation in sound pitch is not just for atmosphere. It is closely linked to the core 3D platform puzzle of the game. To overcome obstacles in front of you, it is also possible to manipulate blocks that change position according to the pitch of the sound. Once you understand the system, it can be applied intuitively, making the puzzle aspect quite challenging. This game not only balances the novelty of the game concept but also the fun of being a platform puzzle.
When I actually played it, to be honest, the difficulty was somewhat higher than I expected. There is a need to get used to this scale gimmick, and the inherent severity of a 3D platformer, where you have to be careful not to fall off the platform, made me a bit confused at first. Nevertheless, the interactivity of creating music every time I took an action, which directly connects to game progression, naturally sparked a desire to challenge “just one more time!” The screen had a sparkling digital space feel, but it was not overly flashy to the point of being painful to the eyes, maintaining a pleasant balance, which left a good impression.
provided the perfect setting.
However, what cannot be overlooked when discussing this work is that it was exhibited in the historic building called “Koetoko (former Kawagoe Textile Market).” Being able to play in this charming place was a luxury unique to Kawagoe GAME DIGG and a special experience. Amidst the sound of rain and the tranquility of the building, the clear and beautiful sounds resonated in response to the players’ actions. Moreover, since the melody differs for each player, listening from the side evoked a certain “emotionality.” The fact that new live performances continuously flowed in the venue was truly clever, and being able to listen without getting bored was a significant advantage.
Indeed, it felt as if “the organizers intentionally placed it here.”
It’s a simple impression, but beyond the fun of the game itself, it was an invaluable experience to think that someone like me, with no musical instrument experience (just able to play castanets), could “improvise.” I felt nothing but respect for the pure intention of the creator, who graduated from a music university, saying, “I wanted everyone to experience the joy of improvisation through this game.” Although I usually don’t play in this genre, it made me feel like I want to create my own melody when it’s released… it was a work that evoked that feeling.
Still: The Games Encountered in Kawagoe and What Lies Ahead
So, this is the report from Kawagoe GAME DIGG in the rain, introducing two works as the first part: ‘Yugiri Ninja’ and ‘MeloMisterio -play your melody-‘.
To be honest, the rain that continued all day might have been a bit harsh for fully enjoying the unique “open town” format. However, because of that, each game experience encountered under the roof or at specific venues was likely to remain in memory more deeply and vividly along with the scenery of that time.
In ‘Yugiri Ninja’, through warm dialogue with the developer, I was able to touch on the enthusiasm of the local community embedded in a bowl of udon and the potential connections that games can have. In ‘MeloMisterio’, the special space of the cultural asset “Koetoko” synchronized miraculously with the sound of rain, allowing me to experience the “emotion” of improvisation that resonates deeply in the heart, something that could never be experienced elsewhere.
These special encounters, which stood out precisely because of the situation, could be seen as one of the reasons that made me think, “I’m glad I came after all.” Perhaps it is the “thoughts” of the individual games and creators encountered there, separate from the event format itself, that ultimately determine the nature of the event experience.
Now, the report continues to [Part Two]. There, I plan to deliver about the remaining two wonderful works that surprised me with their different personalities and brought genuine smiles to my face. So, please look forward to it.