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Unconventional Tomak Creator Interviewed

Posted by simoniker on from the boxing-bill-and-ben dept.

Thanks to InsertCredit.com for posting a translated interview with Seed9 president Gun Kim about his Korean company's success in Japan with their extremely bizarre dating sim, Tomak: Save The Earth. The Playstation 2 version of this PC game, which was instructively previewed by The GIA back in 2001, "..is a combination life/love simulation starring a girl's head in a flowerpot." The object of your affection can appear contented, glum, or even ecstatic, and The GIA also ran an earlier interview with Gun Kim, in which he explains possible inspiration: "..maybe I was looking at the plant pot and our graphic designer in the office when I got the idea." Seed9 are also responsible for the retro and fun Tomak 2D shmup for the Korean GP32 handheld.

11 comments

  1. Inspiration by Glytch · · Score: 3, Funny

    Somehow, I think more than one kind of pot was involved in the making of this game.

    1. Re:Inspiration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      semper ubi et ubi

  2. The best bit by Przepla · · Score: 4, Funny

    By giving Evian six distinct moods, each with its own unique (and frequently contradictory) likes and dislikes, developer Seed 9 has become the first game designer to accurately capture the tone of interactions with a normal human female.

    Indeed.

    --
    When in doubt, go to the library. - Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    1. Re:The best bit by Acts+of+Attrition · · Score: 1
      First of all I'd be weary of any man who says he understands women enough to simulate one in a game. He's either very arrogant or just full of crap :)

      "The tone of interactions with a normal human female"
       Do not underestimate the intricacies and fun there is to be had interacting with a girl that's good and crazy.

  3. Demo version by tigersha · · Score: 3, Informative

    Google turned up a demo version. After struggling with the download it turns out to be in... Japanese!

    Anyone knows if there is an English/German/Dutch version somewhere??!!

    --
    The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
    1. Re:Demo version by simoniker · · Score: 1

      As far as I know, the only English-language demo version was the one handed out on CD-ROM at E3 in 2001 - the GIA article talks about it.

      I don't think it's ever been made available online, because there's never been an English-language publisher for the game :(

    2. Re:Demo version by Brandon+Sheffield · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, there is. But it may not be online, it was distributed at E3 2001. If you look, you may find it. But that Japanese demo is far more complete, allowing you do do much more. It's just as good as the Korean demo in that respect.

  4. Dear Lord... by Man+In+Black · · Score: 0

    I think this has to be the single most Japanese game I have ever seen... It even beats out all the RPG's that I've seen.

    I think I'll keep my mindlessly violent games thanks.

    --
    -"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
  5. reminds me... by Paul+d'Aoust · · Score: 1

    ha! I can't believe nobody's said this yet: reminds me of a Louis Prima song. I-i-i-i-i-i-i ain't got no body...

    --
    Standing at the very edge of my imagination, I peered into the inky void and realised -- I couldn't think up a new sig.
  6. Japanese?? by Brandon+Sheffield · · Score: 1

    Huh...I wonder how all those Koreans made this Most Japanese Game You've Ever Seen. Must be a hidden talent.

    1. Re:Japanese?? by jspoon · · Score: 1

      Or extensive market research. Parent has a point, the designers may have been Korean but this game is sooooo Japan.