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|  "Re(3):Harada retires" , posted Thu 11 Dec 01:41  
quote:
I wonder if this is related to Nintendo buying Bandai-Namco in some shape and form? It is kinda sad that Harada chose to leave after Tekken 8 season 2 drama. Love him or hate him he deserves a bit better than that.
I feel Harada had been planning this for quite a while.
My guess is that Harada wanted to ensure Tekken's future and create a smooth transition within Tekken 8's development. He stepped back, putting others in charge, but stayed around to remain the public face and to be an internal guide. Unfortunately, the people put in charge weren't up to the task, and for whatever reasons he either didn't correct them enough or they didn't listen if he tried. And everything fell apart.
If Harada had left before Tekken 8, while his own reputation would have been safely intact, Tekken 8 likely would have seen even greater criticism for the "new management" that were "ruining the game".
If Harada had kept a firm control throughout the life of Tekken 8, and Tekken 8 had actually been better for it, then he'd just have been pushing the potential transition fallout to the next game.
I didn't know that he might have stepped out behind the curtains before the retirement announcement. That opens to a lot of speculation and to be honest, if that's the case, future of Tekken (8) is a bit safer. Who wouldn't want their failure happens in a project when they are most shielded? Especially where they took over (rumour).
Another possibility is this scenario: I remember years ago there was a discussion about Miyamoto despite not being in the development team except for maybe some kind of honorary position at top, he managed to block said title from the new ideas the team came up with, maybe someone with better memory could give more details but basically it was fans and possibly younger development team complaining that Miyamoto was choking the title with blockage. This could be the case with Harada, too. Whatever the case best of luck for upcoming new team who will publicly take over the role for the betterment of the franchise.
quote:
People like Harada, or the rudderless post-Soul Calibur II series, are a good way to remind people not to think in terms of "franchises" like they were being sold a sporting event, but to think in terms of creative teams and their leaders. Maybe Tekken will luck out with Harada's successor---though the producer is a fairly unpopular personality---or maybe it'll get washed away like Soul Calibur. We really don't know!
Wait, you mean the new producer or Harada being the unpopular producer? Not a shocker if it's Harada that you refer to, haha. But anyway I agree with you hundred percent. Ir's not that the teams should forget about tournaments since balance is critical for the game's survival however creating the distinct "feeling" of the said franchise, whatever direction it would potentially take is crucial.
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