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{{nihongo|'''Yūji Horii'''|堀井 雄二|''Horii Yūji''}} (also written as '''Yuuji Horii''') (born January 6, 1954 in [[Awaji Island]], [[Japan]]) is a Japanese [[video game]] designer and scenario writer best known as the creator of the ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series of [[role-playing video game]]s,<ref name="npnov"/> as well as the [[visual novel]] [[adventure game]] ''[[Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken]]''.<ref name="gspot_kasavin"/>
{{nihongo|'''Yūji Horii'''|堀井 雄二|''Horii Yūji''}} (also written as '''Yuuji Horii''') (born January 6, 1954 in [[Awaji Island]], [[Japan]]) is a Japanese [[video game]] designer and scenario writer best known as the creator of the seminal ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series of [[role-playing video game|console role-playing games]],<ref name="npnov"/> as well as the first [[visual novel]] [[adventure game]] ''[[The Portopia Serial Murder Case|Portopia Serial Murder Case]]''.<ref name="Retro-85">{{cite web|title=Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken|work=[[Retro Gamer]]|issue=85|author=John Szczepaniak|date=February 2011|url=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kGAOBLrWIr4/TUgMtkSB28I/AAAAAAAACyk/oj3PBRY70HM/s1600/DSC01599.JPG|accessdate=2011-03-16}} (Reprinted at {{cite web|title=Retro Gamer 85|author=John Szczepaniak|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|url=http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2011/02/retro-gamer-85.html|accessdate=2011-03-16}})</ref><ref name="gspot_kasavin"/>


==History==
==History==
Horii graduated from [[Waseda University]]'s Department of Literature. He also worked as a freelance writer for newspapers, comics, and magazines, including a [[video game journalism|video games column]] in ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fujii|first=Daiji|authorlink=|coauthors=|date=|year=2003|month=|url=http://www.e.okayama-u.ac.jp/~dfujii/Option.pdf|title=Entrepreneurial Choices of Strategic Options in Japan's RPG Development|format=PDF|work=|publisher=|accessdate=2006-08-12|curly=|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081230090342/http://www.e.okayama-u.ac.jp/~dfujii/Option.pdf|archivedate=2008-12-30|page=13}}</ref> He then entered in an [[Enix]]-sponsored [[game programming]] contest, where he placed with ''[[List of Enix home computer games|Love Match Tennis]]'', a tennis video game, motivating him to become a video game designer. Horii then created the first [[visual novel]] game, ''[[The Portopia Serial Murder Case|Portopia Serial Murder Case]]'', a game that later inspired [[Hideo Kojima]] (of ''[[Metal Gear]]'' fame) to enter the video game industry.<ref name="Retro-85"/><ref name="gspot_kasavin">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6120427/p-2.html|title="Everything is Possible": Inside the Minds of Gaming's Master Storytellers|accessdate=2007-08-15|last=Kasavin|first=Greg|date=2005-03-21| work=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CNET Networks]] |page=2}}</ref> It is the first part of the ''Yuuji Horii Mysteries'' trilogy, along with its successors ''[[:ja:北海道連鎖殺人 オホーツクに消ゆ|Okhotsk ni Kiyu: Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin Jiken]]'' (1984) and ''[[Karuizawa Yūkai Annai]]'' (1985).<ref>{{cite web|title=Yuuji Horii Mysteries|url=http://vndb.org/r10837|publisher=Visual Novel Database|accessdate=15 June 2012}}</ref>


''[[Dragon Quest]]'' is recognized as the first role-playing game to posit the idea of spendable ''[[magic points]]'' for the resolution of spells and actions. As such, Mr. Horii is acknowledged as the "Father of Mana."<ref name="npnov">{{cite book|title=Nintendo Power November 2007|year=2007|publisher=Future US, Inc.|pages=77–80}}</ref>{{Dubious|date=March 2011}} ''Dragon Quest'' is said to have created the blueprint for Japanese role-playing video games, after being inspired by Origin System's ''[[Ultima (series)|Ultima]]'' franchise.<ref name="npnov"/> He was fan of Apple PC RPG games and was motivated to create ''Dragon Quest'' for ordinary gamers, who found such games difficult, and thus he worked on an intuitive control system.<ref>{{cite journal |year= 2011 |journal= [[Retro Gamer]] |issue=97 |pages=72–73 |publisher= [[Imagine Publishing]] |accessdate=12-29-11 }}</ref> Horii is also credited with creating one of the earliest [[visual novel]]s, ''[[Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken]]'', a game that inspired [[Hideo Kojima]] (of ''[[Metal Gear]]'' fame) to enter the video game industry.<ref name="gspot_kasavin">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6120427/p-2.html|title="Everything is Possible": Inside the Minds of Gaming's Master Storytellers|accessdate=2007-08-15|last=Kasavin|first=Greg|date=2005-03-21| work=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CNET Networks]] |page=2}}</ref>
After creating several more visual novel [[adventure game]]s, Horii went on to create ''[[Dragon Quest]]'', which is recognized as the first role-playing game to posit the idea of spendable ''[[magic points]]'' for the resolution of spells and actions. As such, Mr. Horii is acknowledged as the "Father of Mana."<ref name="npnov">{{cite book|title=Nintendo Power November 2007|year=2007|publisher=Future US, Inc.|pages=77–80}}</ref>{{Dubious|date=March 2011}} ''Dragon Quest'' is said to have created the blueprint for [[History of Eastern role-playing video games|Japanese console role-playing games]], taking inspiration from ''Portopia'',<ref name="1UP.com">{{cite web |title=East and West, Warrior and Quest: A ''Dragon Quest'' Retrospective |publisher=1UP.com|accessdate=July&nbsp;5, 2011|url=http://www.1up.com/features/dragon-quest-retrospective}}</ref> as well as ''[[Wizardry]]''<ref name="1UP.com"/> and ''[[Ultima (series)|Ultima]]''.<ref name="npnov"/> He was fan of Apple PC RPG games and was motivated to create ''Dragon Quest'' for ordinary gamers, who found such games difficult, and thus he worked on an intuitive control system,<ref>{{cite journal |year= 2011 |journal= [[Retro Gamer]] |issue=97 |pages=72–73 |publisher= [[Imagine Publishing]] |accessdate=12-29-11 }}</ref> influenced by his work on ''Portopia''.<ref name="1UP.com"/>


Horii graduated from [[Waseda University]]'s Department of Literature. He also worked as a freelance writer for magazines, newspapers, and comics. He placed in an [[Enix]]-sponsored [[game programming]] contest with ''[[List of Enix home video games|Love Match Tennis]]'', a tennis video game, motivating him to become a video game designer. His works include the ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' games, ''[[Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken]]'', and the ''[[Itadaki Street]]'' series. Horii was also a supervisor of the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] game, ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''. ''Chrono Trigger'' had multiple game endings and Horii appeared in one of the endings with the game development staff.
His works also include the ''[[Itadaki Street]]'' series. Horii was also a supervisor of the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] game, ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'', which had [[Multiple endings|multiple game endings]], with Horii appearing in one of the endings with the game development staff.


Horii currently heads his own production company, '''Armor Project''', a company that has an exclusive production contract{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} with [[Square Enix]], a contract established with Enix before the company merged with [[Square Co.|Square]]. He is currently working on ''[[Dragon Quest X: Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku Online]]'' for the [[Wii]]. He is on the selection committee for the annual [[Super Dash Novel Rookie of the Year Award]].
Horii currently heads his own production company, '''Armor Project''', a company that has an exclusive production contract{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} with [[Square Enix]], a contract established with Enix before the company merged with [[Square Co.|Square]]. He is currently working on ''[[Dragon Quest X: Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku Online]]'' for the [[Wii]]. He is on the selection committee for the annual [[Super Dash Novel Rookie of the Year Award]].
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! Title !! Year of release !! Primary platform !! [[Scenario|Scenario writer]] !! [[Game design]] !! [[Game producer|Producer]] !! Other
! Title !! Year of release !! Primary platform !! [[Scenario|Scenario writer]] !! [[Game design]] !! [[Game producer|Producer]] !! Other
|-
|-
! ''[[List of Enix home video games|Love Match Tennis]]''
! ''[[List of Enix home computer games|Love Match Tennis]]''
|| 1983 || [[NEC PC-6001]] || - || - || - || Developer
|| 1983 || [[NEC PC-6001]] || - || - || - || Developer
|-
|-
! ''[[Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken]]''
! ''[[The Portopia Serial Murder Case|Portopia Serial Murder Case]]''
|| 1983 || [[NEC PC-6001]] || - || - || - || Developer
|| 1983 || [[NEC PC-6001]] || {{y}} || - || - || Developer
|-
! ''[[:ja:北海道連鎖殺人 オホーツクに消ゆ|Okhotsk ni Kiyu: Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin Jiken]]''
|| 1984 || [[NEC PC-8801]] || {{y}} || - || - || -
|-
|-
! ''[[Karuizawa Yūkai Annai]]''
! ''[[Karuizawa Yūkai Annai]]''

Revision as of 09:53, 15 June 2012

Yūji Horii (堀井 雄二, Horii Yūji) (also written as Yuuji Horii) (born January 6, 1954 in Awaji Island, Japan) is a Japanese video game designer and scenario writer best known as the creator of the seminal Dragon Quest series of console role-playing games,[1] as well as the first visual novel adventure game Portopia Serial Murder Case.[2][3]

History

Horii graduated from Waseda University's Department of Literature. He also worked as a freelance writer for newspapers, comics, and magazines, including a video games column in Weekly Shōnen Jump.[4] He then entered in an Enix-sponsored game programming contest, where he placed with Love Match Tennis, a tennis video game, motivating him to become a video game designer. Horii then created the first visual novel game, Portopia Serial Murder Case, a game that later inspired Hideo Kojima (of Metal Gear fame) to enter the video game industry.[2][3] It is the first part of the Yuuji Horii Mysteries trilogy, along with its successors Okhotsk ni Kiyu: Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin Jiken (1984) and Karuizawa Yūkai Annai (1985).[5]

After creating several more visual novel adventure games, Horii went on to create Dragon Quest, which is recognized as the first role-playing game to posit the idea of spendable magic points for the resolution of spells and actions. As such, Mr. Horii is acknowledged as the "Father of Mana."[1][dubiousdiscuss] Dragon Quest is said to have created the blueprint for Japanese console role-playing games, taking inspiration from Portopia,[6] as well as Wizardry[6] and Ultima.[1] He was fan of Apple PC RPG games and was motivated to create Dragon Quest for ordinary gamers, who found such games difficult, and thus he worked on an intuitive control system,[7] influenced by his work on Portopia.[6]

His works also include the Itadaki Street series. Horii was also a supervisor of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game, Chrono Trigger, which had multiple game endings, with Horii appearing in one of the endings with the game development staff.

Horii currently heads his own production company, Armor Project, a company that has an exclusive production contract[citation needed] with Square Enix, a contract established with Enix before the company merged with Square. He is currently working on Dragon Quest X: Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku Online for the Wii. He is on the selection committee for the annual Super Dash Novel Rookie of the Year Award.

Published works

Title Year of release Primary platform Scenario writer Game design Producer Other
Love Match Tennis 1983 NEC PC-6001 - - - Developer
Portopia Serial Murder Case 1983 NEC PC-6001 Green tickY - - Developer
Okhotsk ni Kiyu: Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin Jiken 1984 NEC PC-8801 Green tickY - - -
Karuizawa Yūkai Annai 1985 NEC PC-8801 Green tickY - - -
Dragon Warrior 1986 NES Green tickY - - -
Dragon Warrior II 1987 NES Green tickY - - -
Dragon Warrior III 1988 NES Green tickY - - -
Dragon Warrior IV 1990 NES Green tickY - - -
Itadaki Street 1991 NES - Green tickY - -
Dragon Quest V 1992 Super NES Green tickY Green tickY - -
Itadaki Street 2 1994 Super NES - Green tickY - -
Dragon Quest VI 1995 Super NES Green tickY Green tickY - -
Chrono Trigger 1995 Super NES Green tickY - - Supervisor
Dragon Warrior Monsters 1998 Game Boy Color Green tickY Green tickY - Executive director
Itadaki Street: Gorgeous King 1998 PlayStation - Green tickY - -
Torneko: The Last Hope 1999 PlayStation Green tickY - - -
Dragon Warrior VII 2000 PlayStation Green tickY - - Scenario director
Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 2001 Game Boy Color Green tickY Green tickY - Executive director
Itadaki Street 3 2002 PlayStation 2 - Green tickY - -
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart 2003 Game Boy Advance Green tickY Green tickY - Executive director
Dragon Quest VIII 2004 PlayStation 2 Green tickY Green tickY - -
Itadaki Street Special 2004 PlayStation 2 - Green tickY - -
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime 2005 Nintendo DS - - - Executive producer
Itadaki Street Portable 2006 PlayStation Portable - Green tickY - -
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2006 Nintendo DS - Green tickY Green tickY -
Itadaki Street DS 2006 Nintendo DS - Green tickY - -
Dragon Quest Swords 2007 Wii - Green tickY - -
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies 2009 Nintendo DS Green tickY Green tickY - -
Itadaki Street Mobile 2010 Mobile phone - Green tickY - -
Fortune Street 2011 Wii - Green tickY - -
Slime MoriMori Dragon Quest 3: Taikaizoku to Shippo Dan 2011 Nintendo 3DS - - - Executive producer
Dragon Quest X: Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku Online 2012 Wii, Wii U ? ? ? ?

Awards

In 2009, Horii received a special award at Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association Developers Conference for his work on the Dragon Quest franchise.[8]

References

  • "Square Enix Co., Ltd. 2004 Annual Report" (PDF). Square Enix. 2004-03-31. p. 70. Retrieved 2006-09-18.
  1. ^ a b c Nintendo Power November 2007. Future US, Inc. 2007. pp. 77–80.
  2. ^ a b John Szczepaniak (February 2011). "Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken". Retro Gamer. Retrieved 2011-03-16. (Reprinted at John Szczepaniak. "Retro Gamer 85". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 2011-03-16.)
  3. ^ a b Kasavin, Greg (2005-03-21). ""Everything is Possible": Inside the Minds of Gaming's Master Storytellers". GameSpot. CNET Networks. p. 2. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  4. ^ Fujii, Daiji (2003). "Entrepreneurial Choices of Strategic Options in Japan's RPG Development" (PDF). p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2006-08-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month=, |curly=, and |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "Yuuji Horii Mysteries". Visual Novel Database. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "East and West, Warrior and Quest: A Dragon Quest Retrospective". 1UP.com. Retrieved July 5, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ Retro Gamer (97). Imagine Publishing: 72–73. 2011. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ Graft, Kris (2009-09-04). "CEDEC 09: Dragon Quest Creator Yuji Hori Headlines Awards". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-02-14.

External links

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