The first time I heard about the puzzle game Madorica Real Estate was when it was released in the Japanese Nintendo eShop some weeks ago. The idea of combining floor plans with a video game intrigued me. I was pretty sure the game would eventually reach our shores as well, as one of the supported languages in the Japanese version was English.
So when it was released in the European and American eShop I was very quick to jump in. What I found in the game intrigued me even more. You can read my review of the game here.
Time to meet the man behind these inventive puzzles that really get the grey cells working!
Meet Takashi Hamada
Takashi Hamada is the developer of the video game Madorica Real Estate on the Nintendo Switch. Together with artist Toshi Murase he founded Gift Ten Industry 4 years ago, an independent gaming company in Tokyo.
At first, the company made board games. You can imagine having international customers for board games is kind of expensive in shipping! Later on he started combining them with digital devices such as smartphones.
I am very interested in mixed-media of digital and analog.
For the first time now, Gift Ten Industry has developed a game for the Nintendo Switch. And Takashi Hamada was the game designer and chief programmer for the game we now know as Madorica Real Estate. He made the game together with artist Toshi and freelance creators: at the beginning 2-3 people were working on it, and in the end, 7 people had a hand in bringing the game to the eShop.
Going from Kirby to buttons to floor plans
Takashi graduated from art university and got his first position at game studio HAL Laboratory, Inc. There, he learned how to code and even created some levels in Kirby series.
It was good learning how to make games in production. However, it may be difficult to create new concept games, especially in big studios.
After he quit at HAL he had to make a living, and decided to draw on his eduction at Art University on working with ceramic. He earned money selling ceramic artworks for a few months, mainly ceramic buttons.
These days he doesn’t work with ceramic anymore. He gave his oven to his friend. But he kept his turntable to play with his kids in the future.
Madorica Real Estate is quite unlike any other game on the the Switch. The idea to use pen and paper while playing a video game came from an unexpected source.
Sherlock Holmes was an inspiration
Takashi played “Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective: Game Book” this February with friends. Spreading the map of London on the table, looking for clues in the book and then doing the quiz together was a fantastic experience for him.
He wanted to make a new game which had the same fun mechanics to the Nintendo Switch. Using home plans as a theme for the game came from the fact that everyone is familiar with them from their own home.
Japanese people love maps and floor plans
Takashi made all the puzzles himself, taking roughly one day to create on stage. That took a month to make, after which he started testing them with his friends. Based on their feedback, stages were adjusted, which took another month.
As the game is aimed at the world outside of Japan too, English was added as a main language. That proves to be a bit of a challenge: the English isn’t accurate in the game. The accompanying website pages, to use when you’re stuck, are in Japanese. Updates are in the works for both. 
Are there more games in the future?
Being an independent gaming developer certainly has its benefits for Takashi. Choosing where you work, making sure your offices are close to home is a bonus. With two children, he is very happy that he can manage his own time and be flexible.
As for the future? He is considering releasing Madorica on Steam as well, but hasn’t decided yet. He is however already working on
A new project. During his stay in Denmark this September as an artist in residence program, he started a new project. This project also uses physical books to play the game. He is planning to release it on Nintendo Switch in early 2019.
When I asked Takashi if he felt Madorica Real Estate is a game women might like, he gave the right answer.
I do not make games for a specific gender, I made this game for players who like party games, board games, and real escape games
Thank you Takashi, for doing this interview with us!
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