Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami is to open a new development studio in Tokyo later this year once he finishes his work on Platinum Games shooter Vanquish.
"One of the reasons I'm building a company is to raise the game makers of the future, people who haven't gone pro yet," Mikami told Famitsu (via 1UP). "Game development is often overseen from a pure business perspective here, which is unique to Japan, and I have the impression that environment tends to prune away young talent. I really want to make Tango a company run from a creator's perspective, one that expands upon new talent."
Mikami’s new studio will initially employ 13 staff members, including sound director Masashi Takada (ex-Grasshopper Manufacture) and art directors Ryosuke Aiba (Final Fantasy XI) and Naoki Katakai (Okami).
"We're going to handle all development within the company, so I think one development team will be the limit," Mikami said. "I'd like to see it grow to 100 people or so in five to seven years."
He added that the team hasn't decided on its first project, but admitted that it’s a personal desire “to make a true-3D horror game, something where you'd use glasses like in the Avatar film”.
We recently travelled to Tokyo to meet Mikami and see Vanquish, which is featured in E213, out now.