NetEase has revealed it has opened PinCool, a new studio based out of Tokyo with Ryutaro Ichimura helming the location as part of its NetEase Games division. Ichimura is best known for his work on the Dragon Quest series.
A press release mentions PinCool is comprised of “industry experts with extensive experience in different facets of the interactive entertainment field, including video games, movie creatives, live events and IP licensing.”
Studio head Ichimura has over 20 years of experience including working on Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King and Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies as lead producer. Additionally, he also worked on The Adventure of Dai and worked on other Dragon Quest projects including live events and exhibitions.
“‘Creativity to make life more enjoyable’ encapsulates our philosophy. The company name comes from the Japanese phrase ‘pin to kuru,’ expressing when an idea clicks. The English name ‘PinCool’ is pronounced similarly and is stylized to include the English word ‘cool’ as well.” said Ryutaro Ichimura, President PinCool. “We offer something you won’t find anywhere else. We aim to deliver fun experiences to people across the globe through projects that take advantage of the kind of new ideas that come from untethered creative freedom. We also aim to release smaller titles while we continue our work on large-scale titles. I’m looking forward to what lies in store in the adventure of PinCool!”
“As a company that is passionate about creating immersive gaming experiences, we recognize the significant role that Ichimura-san played in the development of the Dragon Quest series. We believe that his commitment to quality and to building innovative experiences is one of the reasons why the Dragon Quest franchise has endured for so long,” said Simon Zhu, global president of investments and partnerships at NetEase Games. “He has shaped the RPG genre and inspired countless game developers around the world so we’re very excited to see him join NetEase Games and begin a new journey with PinCool. We are committed to creating an environment at NetEase Games for Ichimura-san to thrive, explore new ideas, and continue creating unforgettable gaming experiences for game lovers.”
NetEase mentions that Takashi Ogura joins PinCool as a board member. Previously, Ogura worked in branding, marketing, business development, strategy, and more, working on Doraemon and Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai.
