๐ŸŽค Interview with Motteke

2024ๅนด 3ๆœˆ 23ๆ—ฅ
This article was featured in our 2024 March-April issue. Check out more articles and interviews in the full issue.

We got to speak with puzzle maker Motteke about creating challenging mobile games like the competitive word game, Battle Crossword!


English (translated)

Translated by Renkon

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello! I mostly make puzzle games. It's nice to meet you.

How did you get started making games?

When I went to Zentame in 2017, I saw people who were exhibiting the games they had made and it looked so fun, so I decided to try doing that myself.

(2024) 3ๆ–‡ๅญ—้™ๅฎšใƒปๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰
(Three-Character Limit: Battle Crossword)

Please tell us about Battle Crossword!

In this game, players lay three-character words over each other. The game gradually limits the number of words that can be used, and the real fun comes when all of the squares are filled and the pressure is on. It is a battle of vocabulary against your opponent. Please enjoy this game.

Can you tell us about the process of making Crossword Fight? Was it different from the way you approached making your other games?

I made a prototype using pen and paper, then recreated a digital version. For this game, there was a lot of work involved in creating the dictionary, which was very hard.

What was your greatest influence when making Crossword Fight?

I was influenced by games like Wordle, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Genkai Shiritori. I was also influenced to remain distinct from Scrabble and Mojipittan.

What was the most challenging part of making Crossword Fight?

Keeping it simple enough so that it can be played with paper and pen.

I enjoyed playing Crossword Fight at Zentame and Dejigehaku. What was the reaction like at those events?

I was very happy to see that it seemed to really click with the people who enjoyed it.

Did you see any players do something that made you go, "That's amazing!"

There was a person at Dejigehaku who played silently and with intense concentration for more than 30 minutes, it was amazing.

Is there anything in Crossword Fight to which you want to draw the player's attention?

When all the squares are filled, I was particular about applying pressure on players to generate the sense of having their eyes swim over the board.

(2019) ใ‚ฟใ‚ทใƒ†ใ‚ฑใ‚น (Sum Puzzle Plusris)

I know that you previously worked on Sum Puzzle Plusris. What draws you to making these kinds of puzzle games?

First, I create something that I would want to play for myself. Then I adjust it so that others can enjoy it as well.

Do you have any indie games that you'd like to shout out? What do you like about them?

14 Minesweeper Variants: You are guaranteed to solve them if you think about them enough, and that's very good.

PaintOut!: A minimalist one-stroke game that uses XOR logic. It is very good.

Can you tell us about other games you worked on in the past?

ใ‚ฟใ‚ทใƒ†ใ‚ฑใ‚น (Sum Puzzle Plusris) and Hiitekesu (Subtract and Add) are interesting. Subtract and Add needs to be rebalanced, so I think I will do something about that in the future.

Can you tell us about anything you are currently working on?

Right now I am concentrating on my work with Battle Crossword.

Do you have any messages for your players?

This game can also be played with paper and pen. I think it would be fun to play during times like your recess breaks at school, and have fun playing with your friends. Thank you so much.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!


ๆ—ฅๆœฌ่ชž

่‡ชๅทฑ็ดนไป‹ใ—ใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ใ€‚

ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใฆใ€‚ไธปใซใƒ‘ใ‚บใƒซใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใ‚’ไฝœใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ไฝœใ‚Šใ‚’ๅง‹ใ‚ใŸใใฃใ‹ใ‘ใฏใชใ‚“ใงใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

ใœใ‚“ใŸใ‚๏ผˆ2017๏ผ‰ใซ่กŒใฃใŸใจใใซๆฅฝใ—ใใ†ใซๅ‡บๅฑ•ใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใ‚‹ไบบใ‚’่ฆ‹ใฆใ€่‡ชๅˆ†ใ‚‚ใ‚„ใฃใฆใฟใ‚ˆใ†ใจๆ€ใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚

(2024) 3ๆ–‡ๅญ—้™ๅฎšใƒปๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰

ใ“ใฎๅบฆใฎใ€Œๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰ใ€ใจใ„ใ†ไฝœๅ“ใซใคใ„ใฆใ”็ดนไป‹ใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใ“ใฎใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใฏใ€ใŠไบ’ใ„ใซ3ๆ–‡ๅญ—ใฎ่จ€่‘‰ใ‚’็ฝฎใ„ใฆใ„ใใพใ™ใ€‚ๆฌก็ฌฌใซไฝฟใˆใ‚‹่จ€่‘‰ใŒๅˆถ้™ใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใใ€ใƒžใ‚นใŒๅ…จ้ƒจๅŸ‹ใพใฃใŸใ‚ใจใฎใƒ—ใƒฌใƒƒใ‚ทใƒฃใƒผใŒ้†้†ๅ‘ณใงใ™ใ€‚ๅฏพๆˆฆ็›ธๆ‰‹ใจใฎใƒœใ‚ญใƒฃใƒ–ใƒฉใƒชใƒผๅ‹่ฒ ใ€‚ ใฉใ†ใžใŠๆฅฝใ—ใฟใใ ใ•ใ„ใพใ›ใ€‚

ใ€Œๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰ใ€ใ‚’ไฝœใ‚‹ใจใใซใ€ใฉใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใชใƒ—ใƒญใ‚ปใ‚นใงไฝœๆˆใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ‹ใ€‚ไป–ใฎใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใ‚’ไฝœใ‚‹ใจใใจไฝ•ใ‹้•ใ„ใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

็ด™ใจใƒšใƒณใง่ฉฆไฝœใ—ใ€ใใฎๅพŒใซใƒ‡ใ‚ธใ‚ฟใƒซ็‰ˆใ‚’ๅฎŸ่ฃ…ใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ“ใฎใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใซใคใ„ใฆใฏใ€่พžๆ›ธไฝœๆˆใฎไฝœๆฅญ้‡ใŒๅคšใใฆๅคงๅค‰ใงใ™ใ€‚

ใ€Œๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰ใ€ใ‚’ไฝœๆˆใ™ใ‚‹ใซใ‚ใŸใ‚Šใ€ๆœ€ใ‚‚ๅฝฑ้Ÿฟใ‚’ๅ—ใ‘ใŸใ‚‚ใฎใฏไฝ•ใงใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

ใ€ŒWordleใ€ใ€ใ€ŒTic Tac Toeใ€ใ€ใ€Œ้™็•Œใ—ใ‚Šใจใ‚Šใ€ใซๅฝฑ้Ÿฟใ‚’ๅ—ใ‘ใ€ใ€Œใ‚นใ‚ฏใƒฉใƒ–ใƒซใ€ใ€ใ€Œใ‚‚ใ˜ใดใฃใŸใ‚“ใ€ใ‹ใ‚‰้›ขใ‚Œใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใซๅฝฑ้Ÿฟใ‚’ใ†ใ‘ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใ€Œๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰ใ€ใ‚’ไฝœๆˆใ™ใ‚‹ใซใ‚ใŸใ‚Šๆœ€ใ‚‚ๆŒ‘ๆˆฆใ—ใŸใ“ใจใชใฉใฏใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

็ด™ใจใƒšใƒณใงใ‚‚้Šในใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใซใ€ใ‚ทใƒณใƒ—ใƒซใชใพใพใซใ™ใ‚‹ใ“ใจใงใ™ใ€‚

ใ€Œๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰ใ€ใ‚’ใœใ‚“ใŸใ‚ใ‚„ใƒ‡ใ‚ธใ‚ฒใƒผๅšใงๅฑ•็คบใชใ•ใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใจใ“ใ‚ใ‚’ๆ‹่ฆ‹ใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใƒ—ใƒฌใ‚คใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใ‚‹ๆ–นใฎๅ้Ÿฟใฏใฉใ†ใงใ—ใŸใ‹ใ€‚

ๅˆบใ•ใ‚‹ไบบใซๅˆบใ•ใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใงใจใฆใ‚‚ๅฌ‰ใ—ใ‹ใฃใŸใงใ™ใ€‚

ใƒ—ใƒฌใ‚คใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใ‚‹ไธญใงใ€Œใ“ใ‚Œใฏใ™ใ”ใ„ใช๏ผใ€ใจๆ€ใ†ใƒ—ใƒฌใ‚คใ‚’ใ•ใ‚ŒใŸๆ–นใฏใ„ใ‚‰ใฃใ—ใ‚ƒใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ‹ใ€‚ใฉใ‚“ใชใƒ—ใƒฌใ‚คใงใ—ใŸใ‹ใ€‚

ใƒ‡ใ‚ธใ‚ฒใƒผๅšใฎๅฑ•็คบไธญใซใ‚‚ใฎๅ‡„ใ„้›†ไธญๅŠ›ใง้ป™ใ€…ใจ30ๅˆ†ไปฅไธŠ้Šใ‚“ใงใใ‚ŒใŸไบบใŒใ„ใฆๅ‡„ใ‹ใฃใŸใงใ™ใ€‚

ใ€Œๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰ใ€ใซใŠใ„ใฆใ€ใƒ—ใƒฌใ‚คใƒคใƒผใซไผใˆใŸใ„ใ“ใ ใ‚ใฃใŸใƒใ‚คใƒณใƒˆใชใฉใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

ใƒžใ‚นใŒๅ…จ้ƒจใ†ใพใฃใŸใจใใซใƒ—ใƒฌใƒƒใ‚ทใƒฃใƒผใ‚’ใ‹ใ‘ใฆใ€็›ฎใŒๆณณใใ‚ˆใ†ใซใ“ใ ใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸใ€‚

(2019) ใ‚ฟใ‚ทใƒ†ใ‚ฑใ‚น

ไปฅๅ‰ใซใ‚‚ใ€Œใ‚ฟใ‚ทใƒ†ใ‚ฑใ‚นใ€ใชใฉใ€่„ณใฟใใ‚’ใƒ•ใƒซๅ›ž่ปขใ•ใ›ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใชใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใ‚’ไฝœๆˆใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใพใ™ใŒใ€ใ“ใ†ใ„ใฃใŸใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใ‚’่ฃฝไฝœใ™ใ‚‹ใ“ใ ใ‚ใ‚Šใชใฉใฏใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

ใพใšใฏใ€่‡ชๅˆ†ใŒ้ŠใณใŸใ„ใ‚‚ใฎใ‚’่‡ชๅˆ†ใงใคใใ‚‹ใ€‚ใใฎๅพŒใงใ€ไป–ใฎไบบใซใ‚‚ๆฅฝใ—ใ‚ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใซ่ชฟๆ•ดใ™ใ‚‹ใ€‚

ใŠใ™ใ™ใ‚ใฎใ‚คใƒณใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใƒผใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใฏใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ‹ใ€‚ใŠใ™ใ™ใ‚ใฎใƒใ‚คใƒณใƒˆใ‚‚ๆ•™ใˆใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ใ€‚

ใ€Œ14็จฎใฎใƒžใ‚คใƒณใ‚นใ‚คใƒผใƒ‘ใƒผใƒใƒชใ‚จใƒผใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใ€๏ผš่€ƒใˆใ‚Œใฐๅฟ…ใš่งฃใ‘ใ‚‹ใ“ใจใŒไฟ่จผใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใฎใŒใจใฆใ‚‚่‰ฏใ„ใงใ™ใ€‚

ใ€Œใƒšใ‚คใƒณใƒˆใ‚ขใ‚ฆใƒˆ๏ผใ€๏ผšXORใ‚’ไฝฟใฃใŸใƒŸใƒ‹ใƒžใƒ ใชไธ€็ญ†ๆ›ธใใฎใƒ‘ใ‚บใƒซใŒใจใฆใ‚‚่‰ฏใ„ใงใ™ใ€‚

ใ‚‚ใ—ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใ‘ใ‚Œใฐใ€ใ“ใ‚Œไปฅๅค–ใซไฝœๆˆใ—ใŸใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใซใคใ„ใฆใ”็ดนไป‹ใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใ€Œใ‚ฟใ‚ทใƒ†ใ‚ฑใ‚นใ€ใจใ€Œใƒ’ใ‚คใƒ†ใ‚ฑใ‚นใ€ใŒ้ข็™ฝใ„ใงใ™ใ€‚ใƒ’ใ‚คใƒ†ใ‚ฑใ‚นใฏๅ†่ชฟๆ•ดใฎๅฟ…่ฆใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใŒใ€ใ„ใคใ‹ใชใ‚“ใจใ‹ใ—ใ‚ˆใ†ใจๆ€ใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚

ไปŠใฏใฉใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใชใƒ—ใƒญใ‚ธใ‚งใ‚ฏใƒˆใ‚’้€ฒใ‚ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ‹ใ€‚ไปŠไฝœใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใชใฉใ‚’ใ‚‚ใ—ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใ‘ใ‚Œใฐใ”็ดนไป‹ใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ไปŠใฏใ€Œๅฏพๆˆฆใ‚ฏใƒญใ‚นใƒฏใƒผใƒ‰ใ€ใฎ่ชฟๆ•ดใ‚’ใฒใŸใ™ใ‚‰ใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใƒ—ใƒฌใ‚คใƒคใƒผใฎ็š†ใ•ใ‚“ใธไฝ•ใ‹ใƒกใƒƒใ‚ปใƒผใ‚ธใŒใ‚ใ‚Œใฐไธ€่จ€ใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใ“ใฎใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใฏ็ด™ใจใƒšใƒณใงใ‚‚้Šในใพใ™ใ€‚ๅญฆๆ กใฎไผ‘ใฟๆ™‚้–“็ญ‰ใ€ใŠๅ‹้”ใจ้Šใถใฎใ‚‚ๆฅฝใ—ใ„ใ‹ใจๆ€ใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ—ใใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

ใ“ใฎๅบฆใฏใ‚คใƒณใ‚ฟใƒ“ใƒฅใƒผใซใ”ๅ”ๅŠ›ใ„ใŸใ ใ่ช ใซใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚

Visit Motteke's homepage for more of their works and the latest news on their upcoming games.

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