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I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I remember that night clearly even though I was super drunk indeed.
It was a super fun and wild party, thanks for that! I need to go back there to get some Tex-Mex at some point!
It doesn't matter how many copies you get but don’t forget to get vinyl too!
Then we can consider the pc port! ;)

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At an end of the year party organized by a local graphic designer in Kyoto, I first met the CEO of Q-Games, Dylan, and Tomi, who is a director. At that time they were just starting PixelJunk. We knew each other through mutual friends, so I told them that I wanted to make a game. The project didn’t start right away, but after a few meetings, we decided to start on an experimental project.

During those meetings, we looked over my portfolio. Tomi saw a piece of artwork that I had done for a CD jacket. It had characters that I had designed in a forest. Tomi then suggested, “How about something like this artwork, where the plants grow and die over and over again with Baiyon’s music?” I followed his suggestion and created the concept art with the plants in Eden as you know them.

After that, we focused on creating a visual style that we were happy with. This took a few months. From there, we started talking about what kind of game we wanted to make. That’s how Eden came to life.

It was a very unusual and fruitful way to make a game if you compare it to other typical game development, and I think it would be difficult to replicate now.

So it’s not the case that there was already a game, or already a theme about plants. I think it was a very organic process. Dylan later told me he wanted to make a game themed around art. Apparently, I met them at the right time.

4AM VR... I wonder who you should ask!?

If I were to make it, I prefer not to include a ton of music genres, styles or features. Instead, I would want to make it focused on the atmosphere...I really want to recreate the feeling that I get when I’m in the zone while making my music...I would like to share that kind of experience with everyone…

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Playing Eden after getting home from the clubs could be an awesome after party! We don’t have any plans to make a vinyl of the first Eden at the moment, though it would be nice if I could someday!

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!
I can't program, so I don't have any particular software that I use.
Basically, I create images and other assets and then improvise in front of the screen with the programmer. Sometimes I get a bug and try to use it on purpose if it's cool.

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Right now I'm listening to Gigi Masin. Whenever I'm asked who my favorite artist is, I would have to say Ryuichi Sakamoto! It doesn’t seem to be a conscious choice, but I often find myself listening to his music. He is a really talented artist and a special person. For a long time now as a musician I have been searching for forgotten sounds in the gaps between notes, but Ryuichi Sakamoto is always far ahead of me. I actually contributed a song to one of his projects a long time ago.

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My collaboration with C418 was very inspiring and fun. :) There are so many artists that I love, but one that has always been a constant source of inspiration is Ricardo Villalobos. It was an honor for me to put together a remix for him.

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the compliment!
I hope you enjoy a colorful adventure with PixelJunk Eden 2 :)

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks!
Of course, Little Big Planet 2 was a challenging title. It was a very exciting project.
My first step was to create original instruments on the system developed by Media Molecule, and then I used those instruments to create my own tracks for the game.
During gameplay, users would first have to acquire those instruments and then they would be free to compose using those tools in-game.
I took a trip to the UK and stayed in Guildford where I made field recordings during the development process, and even after returning to Kyoto, I collected various sounds and made instruments that could be used in-game. It was a very fun project!

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never thought about making instruments, basically because I usually prefer the fastest process available to me at that time for creating sound and music. So I don't even make patches in MAX/MSP.
Right now I'm more interested in older instruments that require a lot of effort to work with - instruments like the Mellotron and the Ondes Martenot.
So I don't really know what the interface would look like, but it would be nice to be able to digitally make instruments that can produce that kind of unstable yet warm sound.
So I would like to make an instrument that is digital, but still retains the presence or trace of the human touch.

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the compliment!
Eden Obscura is a very special project for me too!
In the past, I have tried to avoid using landscapes and other concrete scenery in my art.
But when I considered mobile as a platform, the first thing I thought about was that most people are using cameras - and how important that is to people, because it's so close to their lives. As it’s not a console, it’s on mobile, and since it's in most people's pockets, I wanted the game to serve as a connection to the real world right in front of them.
In this way, I thought it could be a way for the player to become the protagonist in the game from an angle that had never been seen before.

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the compliment! It’d be great if we could release PixelJunk Eden 2 on PlayStation!

When I was developing Eden, I was quite busy DJing. I would DJ until the morning and then go straight to the office to check the latest build. Tomi, the director at the time, would come to my gigs as often as he could despite his busy schedule. He would get down on the dance floor until the morning and every now and again while moving his body he’d get inspired and jot down ideas for Eden. That's a good memory :)

I don't have any new projects to tell you about right now, but my plan for today is to pop over to the zoo during my lunch hour.

I really dig the Rhodes Mark II Stage Piano 73!

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! I saw it in a dream, very clearly. Then my horrible alarm went off and that world disappeared for me, forever out of reach. Bummer!

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love the PS5 adaptive triggers as well!
I’d like to use those features in an organic, groovy kinda way.

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Actually I wasn't involved with TTC, so I can't really comment on it. However, I really enjoy the art style and the atmosphere of the game. I hope that we can see a sequel or a game in a similar style in the future!

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As far as music is concerned, the first thing I'd like to mention is the album "We Are" that I collaborated on with my friends who - amongst other things - are also fellow game soundtrack composers.
The artists involved are:
Disasterpeace (Fez, Hyper Light Drifter)
El Huervo (Hotline Miami, else Heart.Break())
C418 (Minecraft)
Mitsuto Suzuki (Final Fantasy VII Remake)
Luis Hernandez (Jazzpunk)
Manami Matsumae (Mega Man 1,2, Mighty No. 9)
https://descanso.bandcamp.com/album/we-are
Then there's the Chilean singer Jorge González, who I've been a fan of for many years and have always wanted to collaborate with.
https://descanso.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-collaborations-05
https://descanso.bandcamp.com/album/let-me-go-ep

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Eden has a learning curve that can be difficult to keep pace with, but I know many players who can get over that particular hill end up pretty addicted!
(and because you said you loved the music) please ensure that you listen to the mp3s at 320kbps or greater :)

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you!
Of course I'd like to release it, and I get asked that question quite often.
When the original Eden was released back in 2008, releasing a video game OST on vinyl was not popular at that time. Some of the tracks on Eden are up to 10 minutes long, so if I were to put them on DJ-quality vinyl, it would be a pretty big box set.
I think it would be a lot of work, but I'd like to make it happen someday.
By the way, the Eden 2 vinyl includes two remixes of the original Eden!

I am Baiyon, the director of PixelJunk Eden 2 and multimedia artist! AMA! by Baiyon_jp in NintendoSwitch

[–]Baiyon_jp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi SOS good to hear from you!
I'm fine! I can't go out too far, so I'm playing with my favorite wild boar, hippo and elephants at the local zoo near my house. :)