Go! Game! Music! (GGM):
How did you become involved in the game music business? How did you get involved with Taito?

Yasuhisa Watanabe:
I had been loving games for long years and I wanted to get a job involved in making games. It didn't matter to me which game company I would work for. But I never expected to be in charge of game music, because I had no expertise of that field. I've been loving soundtracks of movies and anime, I think they might affect me.

GGM:
What is your favorite Zuntata music that you composed?

Yasuhisa Watanabe:
Hmm, I can't say which one is absolutely the best. I like every pieces when I am working on with them, otherwise I would not let them on the market. But after the project over, sometimes I think such as "Bah, what's this? There might be a another way"

GGM:
What is your process of creating music?

Yasuhisa Watanabe:
Enough sleep...joking, hehe. Well I try to take interest in many things. Besides movies, TV programs and books, the scene which we will not pay attention usually has some hints(for example, scenery from train windows), and they give me drive. So when I'm stuck, I will go for a walk. As my walking time is mainly around midnight, I may look like a zombie.

GGM:
How would you describe your music? How has your music changed over the years?

Yasuhisa Watanabe:
The way of arrangement or tone of sounds might have been changing little by little, but my basic stance to the music has never changed. I'm a grown-up who has childish mind as it were, and a mischievous man. (*grin*)

GGM:
Please share your thoughts and experiences on the following:

Yasuhisa Watanabe:

Syvalion

Hmm, sorry, I would like you not to listen these tunes. These are very first pieces in my composer career, you know, they make me feel embarrassed, now.

Runar

I think I was becoming to make my own sounds satisfactory since this title. In those days, plenty of rock'n'roll taste sounds were heard in game music, but I thought "No, that is not my way!" Then I made Runark with a different taste. I was pleased to know some fans followed me.

Metal Black the 1st

Metal Black is a kind of perfect one for me, so it was difficult to arrange it. Just arranging it to be showy would make it boring, as I thought, I tried not to change original sounds too much but wanted it to be a fresh one. I always cared about holding the balance between original and arrangement.

Kaiser Knuckle

This is one of my favorite. You know, setting music to game characters is a really great work. As I wrote in liner notes, I created background stories for each characters to make their tunes.

Majokko De' Go Go

Wow, amazing, I never expected that overseas fans would listen this title. And in fact, I recommend this very much. I am good at making not only serious tunes, but also this kind of light ones, hehe. I worked up this job with Megaten Hosoe and that was a interesting experience. (Ed. one of our favorites here)

GGM:
How did you get involved with Shinji Hosoe?

Yasuhisa Watanabe:
Shinji and I have been good friends with each other since I became involved in the game business, but when we worked together for the first time, I found a ton of freshness between us.(*grin*) It was very exciting. His basic way of making music is a different one from me, but both of us are "just-a-game-freak", you know, working with him is really fun. So, even now, after I became independent, I'm still working with him.

GGM:
What advice can you share with those who want to create music in the game business?

Yasuhisa Watanabe:
The most important thing for all creativity, not only for composing, is how enthusiastic you can be. Learning a lot and expressing a lot. Facing up to what you make and working on with it. People won't accept it unless you like it.

And then, don't go with a trend too far.(*grin*)

Thanks to Mr. Watanabe for chatting with us.