Gacha Games: Producers Spend Money on Their Own Games

The Gacha mechanic refers to a system of randomly awarding prizes: the name comes from the gadget vending machines widespread in Japan, called gachapon, where you insert a small amount (usually one or two coins) and get a random prize from those in the bin. In video games, a similar system has been found for several years now in loot boxes, but now games where Gacha mechanics are an integral part of the gameplay experience and the main source of revenue for the producer are widely diffused – especially in the mobile landscape.

One such game is Monster Strike, a title developed by the software house Mixi, which has continued to be a great success since 2013 and has generated figures around 8 Billion Dollars for the company throughout its history. Mixi and the game itself are headed by Yoshiki Okamoto, a developer who previously worked for Capcom and Konami as a producer of titles such as Street Fighter II and Gun.Smoke. Other Mixi games include the more recent Meteor Arena Stars and Outrankers.

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Okamoto was recently interviewed by Fuji TV and revealed a rather interesting backstory: when asked about the secret behind the success of a Gacha title, Okamoto explained that it is necessary to put oneself in the shoes of the end-user and find the right balance between spending and prizes received. Indeed, if prizes are too difficult to obtain, players experience frustration and abandon the game; if they are too generously awarded, there is a reaction of boredom.

To do this, believe it or not, it is necessary to spend out of one's own pocket, trying to replicate the experience of the common player. Okamoto states that in his career he has personally spent something like 80 Million Yen – about €440,000, a little over Half a Million $ – on his own games to personally experience the emotions of any player.

"I am always diligent in my work – Okamoto explains – Even though I have access to things like administrator privileges, if I used them, it would be difficult to understand the feelings of the players."

Of course: some might note that the money spent in one's own company, one way or another, at least partially returns to the pockets from which it came, but how many business people are willing to do the same?