Last Day in Japan (DNP and Square-Enix)

DNPenguins, the official mascots of DNP.

Today was my last day in Japan, and though it felt bittersweet at times, overall it was a memorableday filled with some very insightful presentations.  Our group first visited Dai Nippon Printing (DNP), which presented us with a variety of futuristic technology.  First they showed us an interactive museum kiosk where we could zoom in and out to detail on artifacts from ancient Greece.  The kiosk also had a Q&A feature where you could access frequently asked questions and find answers.  Instead of listening to a tour guide or audio guide, people nowadays prefer information that is easily accessible in front of them.  Both of these features are extremely useful because they will attract much more attention to museums if they are adapted.  Additionally, DNP presented a new texture editing software and a route planner that could plan your subway route to the exact minute.  These inventions are extremely useful and should help attract more business to the places they are instituted.

The next place we visited was the world renowned Square-Enix HQ of Shinjuku!  This was the moment that everyone had been waiting for!  The atmosphere at SE was very relaxed and lively.  The employees were very welcoming and offered us some delicious chocolate snacks.  They also showed us video previews of current games that they’ve developed such as Dragon Quest X.  In the main presentation, Jacob Navok, Director of Business Development, outlined the ecosystem of videogames in the market and talked about the way that companies try to market games by adding DLC, virtual releases, and subscriptions.  By offering these different payment methods, gamers can get the full gratification out of what they’re paying for games abd even pay to skip levels, such as in games like Angry Birds.

Another amazing point that they talked about was the procedure they used to develop the tech demo for Agni’s Philosophy with Luminous Engine.  Though originally criticized for being off-kilter, what may people don’t realize is all the work that went behind it being developed in real time.  The 3D artists modeled the main female character’s hair off a real hair model that was professionally styled and unlike anything else, and the shading and pre-rendered like graphics took over a year to perfect.  The landscapes looked beautiful with the new particle systems they used, and when compared to pre-rendered images, they looked almost identical.  I look forward to seeing more real time capabilities being developed for the next gen consoles.

Navok giving an awesome presentation on games in the market!

Though my trip to Japan is coming to a closure, I can’t wait to catch up with friends, share some hilarious stories, and reflect on all of the unforgettable memories that I’ve made here.  I love the technology, the food, and the overall friendly atmosphere that Japan has.   Thank you to all of my colleagues and professors that made this trip possible!  I enjoyed traveling with all of you, and plan on coming back to Japan in the future.

Waseda University and Square-Enix Cafe

Today was another busy day filled with our final university tour to Waseda University and some Shinjuku shenanigans.  The campus of Waseda seemed relatively small compared to MSU, but the interior of the university was amazingly futuristic and had many bright-minded students.  I enjoyed talking to them and comparing different aspects of culture and technology.  For instance, I learned that Japanese people watch a lot more mobile TV than Americans do that has somewhat to do with the amount of subway travel.  I also learned that the majority of students don’t have cable and instead choose to stream media using Over the Top Technology.  It was truly interesting to compare the pros and cons of both applications and learn more about how technology is integrated into different cultures.  Personally, I prefer streaming over the internet on a laptop over watching programs on TV.  Overall I like where Japan is going with their easily accessible technology.

A beautiful painting of Waseda’s campus.

Our nightly outing consisted of some Shinjuku shenanigans involving an iconic videogame company that we have the privilege of visiting this Wednesday–Square-Enix.  We decided to visit the Square-Enix cafe “Artnia” and sample some of their drinks.  I tried a Shiva cocktail and a cappuccino that both tasted amazing!  The atmosphere was very laid back and the bartenders were extremely professional.  From the napkins to the coasters, everything was personalized to a specific Square-Enix series such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.  There were slimes and chocobos all throughout the cafe and a gallery of various concept art and expensive jewelry.  We had a lot of fun hanging out there and living up our final week in  Japan!

FFVII themed coffee, yes please!