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[wrowa]

What shock me in this avegrage salary is that they work at Monolith Soft, making games that generates millions of $. I earn more than that (particularly because of the €) in a shitty web agency in Paris. I do think being a 3D artist for Nintendo games is way more valuable.

This is truly a game of telephone. The OP states it as the "absolute minimum" and a few dozen posts later it's become the "average salary".

Anyway, it comes as no surprise. Video game salaries are known to be rather low in Japan. It's the not the kind of industry you want to work in if you don't love what you are doing.

 

[StreetsAhead]

The studio is NOT confirmed to be working on a 3DS game. Let's not continue to spread that rumor just because they had a 3DS system on the recruitment page years ago.

I just read the article myself, and it seems to confirm our worst fears. There were about 20 people in the studio, and they just hired another 10. This is a very small graphic artist driven studio, and the article clearly says that the staff hired this round will be working on graphic assets for "main Nintendo IPs".

In a small graphic studio with 30-odd staff, I don't think it's realistic to expect that Monolithsoft Kyoto is working on an original game of their own anymore. Especially not when those staff appear to all be graphic artists.

They said they had a 3DS project on their site. It wasnt a rumor. In retrospect I suppose that could have just been Animal Crossing.

 

[duckroll]

They said they had a 3DS project on their site. It wasnt a rumor. In retrospect I suppose that could have just been Animal Crossing.

I'm talking about the rumor that they're actively developing a 3DS game, and that all the artwork from various places are for that game. I don't think that part is true at all.

In 2012, the recruitment ads for Tokyo said they were working on a "WiiU Project" specifically, and the Kyoto one said they were on a "New Project" but the image was of a 3DS, so everyone (including me!) expected that they were both working on new original games.

But now in 2013, Tokyo's recruitment ads are totally pushing X, while Kyoto is doing more generic ones asking for more artists. The CGWorld interview seems to make it pretty clear that the Kyoto studio is a graphics house for Nintendo's own games too. They also confirm that it was Kyoto which worked on Animal Crossing 3DS. So, as much as I would love for Honne to be producing some new game, I think that's the least likely possibility, and we're probably going to see Monolithsoft in the credits for some of the upcoming Nintendo games coming at the end of 2013 instead.

 

[anaron]

^ you're bringing me down dude! I've been hoping Honne+Soraya were handling a new 3DS IP together or something.

 

[Sinople]

185,000 yen is low but more than enough to live comfortably.
If you're alone and don't waste your money you can live with around 80,000 yen (including rent, food, electricity/water, internet and phone) per month in the Osaka/Kyoto area.

Anyway, I really hope Honne is working on his own project and not just doing outsourcing.

 

[OccamsBlender]

That's horrible.

That's par for the course here. Japan has a system where you can pay for overtime in advance so most devs have rock bottom base salaries adjusted to something above the poverty line through these overtime advancements.

But to their credit, in their interview they say they really bust arse to make sure employees go home on time.

 

[Ikael]

That's horrible.

That's cute. I have Informatic engineer friends of mine working for 800 eur per month here in Spain. They would totally give blowjobs to get paid like this, not to mention the whole "overtime gets paid as well" part of the deal.

 

[IceDoesntHelp]

1. Map
2. Armor, or person model
3. Looks like weapons but I can't tell.
4. Someones Email.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

They don't compare.

The cost of living in Japan is much higher. I was paying about $500 / month for a smaller 2-bedroom apartment in college, but you'd be very lucky to get 2 rooms (total) at that price in Kyoto / Osaka.

As for $1200 / month, you will definitely have a VERY hard time living off that amount in Japan, even on your own unless you make drastic lifestyle changes.

The fact is that the starting salary at this company is low - yet comparable to other game companies for someone fresh out of school. Having a bonus is nice, but it's the first thing that goes when money gets tight. Employers *can* use it as a way to give money to employees when times are good without raising their base pay.

It can be pretty liveable, actually. 185,000 salary probably means around 140,000 ~ 150,000 take-home pay (so around $1,500). Just because the office is located in Kyoto doesn't mean everyone actually lives within the city (even if they did, it would be more affordable than Tokyo). There are plenty of cheaper apartments to be had in the outskirts of Kyoto and, as is standard in Japan, the company will pay for your train pass so you don't have to worry about transportation costs.

It's really not a bad starting wage, and plenty of newly grads in Japan would be happy to have it.

 

[Divvy]

Sounds like a rare, really great place for artists to work. If I were in Japan, I'd be applying asap.

 

[aravuus]

For quite a few months now (concept art)

Edit - looks like there wasn't an official confirmation, but they were recruiting handheld developers in Februrary

I think I remember seeing this picture and thinking "I hope it's shit so I wouldn't be forced to buy a 3ds"

Funnily enough, I now own one. So I hope it's gonna be good.

 

[PhoenixDawn]

It sounds like they're set up just to help with art assets for various Nintendo games (mainly 3DS?), especially based on their work on New Leaf already. The team seems to have a disproportional amount of graphic artists which also supports this idea, along with the "outsourcing of programming/code".

 

[Sammy Samusu]

Monolith working on Animal Crossing... it begins.

Last thing we know they are making Kirby games.

Spoiler

Half joking.

Can't wait to see their 3DS game!

 

[Deleted member 17706]

It sounds like they're set up just to help with art assets for various Nintendo games (mainly 3DS?), especially based on their work on New Leaf already. The team seems to have a disproportional amount of graphic artists which also supports this idea, along with the "outsourcing of programming/code".

From the article, it reads as if the entire studio consists of artists who create assets for games. I don't think they have anyone working on game design in Kyoto, or have any projects of their own. I'm pretty sure they're just an asset generation house.

 

[faridmon]

Hope other Japanese companies go into that sort of work environment. Working overtime or at home is not very productive to your business and will end up burning your workers.

Japan are notorious for their harsh work environment and I hope it improves.

 

[Darryl]

It sounds like they're set up just to help with art assets for various Nintendo games (mainly 3DS?), especially based on their work on New Leaf already. The team seems to have a disproportional amount of graphic artists which also supports this idea, along with the "outsourcing of programming/code".

could be a way of funneling funds into the studio for fast growth (kyoto + tokyo)? they've been working on known hits, zelda and animal crossing. if a portion of the revenue goes into monolith based on sales, that'd be a great way to bulk up the studio quickly. nintendo doesn't outright own them so they can't just give them the money to expand, i don't think? they could loan them money but that fails to provide incentive to the heads of studio that they're obviously trying to keep around. dunno, could be missing something there. sounds like one explanation at least.

this side of the studio being an art studio is curious either way. it makes sense though because art was honne's thing so him getting his own studio for his own thing is cool. maybe they'll position themselves to go into stuff like anime or doing cg shorts like this.. any word on who did that short?

 

[Mildudon]

For quite a few months now (concept art)

Edit - looks like there wasn't an official confirmation, but they were recruiting handheld developers in Februrary

The trees reminded me of Namo from Lord of The Sword. A seqel to Lord of The Sword confirmed. I would love that it if true. But sadly no.

 

[StreetsAhead]

Hope other Japanese companies go into that sort of work environment. Working overtime or at home is not very productive to your business and will end up burning your workers.

Japan are notorious for their harsh work environment and I hope it improves.

My office has begun 'no overtime days' where people are forced to go home at 6, but it's still pretty bad. One woman goes home between 10PM ~ 3AM almost every day.

I'm talking about the rumor that they're actively developing a 3DS game, and that all the artwork from various places are for that game. I don't think that part is true at all.

But now in 2013, Tokyo's recruitment ads are totally pushing X, while Kyoto is doing more generic ones asking for more artists. The CGWorld interview seems to make it pretty clear that the Kyoto studio is a graphics house for Nintendo's own games too. They also confirm that it was Kyoto which worked on Animal Crossing 3DS. So, as much as I would love for Honne to be producing some new game, I think that's the least likely possibility, and we're probably going to see Monolithsoft in the credits for some of the upcoming Nintendo games coming at the end of 2013 instead

I am starting to agree. I think the end goal may be to work on a game, but I don't know that they are working on one now. To be fair, though, Tokyo wasn't pushing X until the project was announced, so if they were to be working on one, it wouldn't necessarily be obvious from the application materials, although the lack of a platform being mentioned is telling.

Although Tokyo worked on Skyward Sword, I expect that this team might be helping out with A Link Between Words, based on a hunch. It's really the last big game we know EAD is working on for 3DS. The credits will be telling when the game comes out though.

 

[TunaLover]

I wish I could have a 9am-6pm work ;(

 

[batbeg]

This has turned out way more depressing than my imagination had set it up to be. If Honne isn't working on something substantial then I'm going to be severely disappointed

could be a way of funneling funds into the studio for fast growth (kyoto + tokyo)? they've been working on known hits, zelda and animal crossing. if a portion of the revenue goes into monolith based on sales, that'd be a great way to bulk up the studio quickly. nintendo doesn't outright own them so they can't just give them the money to expand, i don't think? they could loan them money but that fails to provide incentive to the heads of studio that they're obviously trying to keep around. dunno, could be missing something there. sounds like one explanation at least.

this side of the studio being an art studio is curious either way. it makes sense though because art was honne's thing so him getting his own studio for his own thing is cool. maybe they'll position themselves to go into stuff like anime or doing cg shorts like this.. any word on who did that short?

Nintendo owns 97% of Monolith Soft, and I'm 97% sure Nintendo has paid for all of their expansion thus far (including this Kyoto studio in its entirety).

 

[Darryl]

Nintendo owns 97% of Monolith Soft, and I'm 97% sure Nintendo has paid for all of their expansion thus far (including this Kyoto studio in its entirety).

well that's what i thought as well until i realized that they'd literally be giving money away by doing that and the amount of money involved in monolith is becoming significant

 

[Smiles and Cries]

ah the 3DS team they worked on New Leaf and Skyward's

I want to see their own project seem like Nintendo keeps them busy doing odd jobs

 

[duckroll]

I am starting to agree. I think the end goal may be to work on a game, but I don't know that they are working on one now. To be fair, though, Tokyo wasn't pushing X until the project was announced, so if they were to be working on one, it wouldn't necessarily be obvious from the application materials, although the lack of a platform being mentioned is telling.

Although Tokyo worked on Skyward Sword, I expect that this team might be helping out with A Link Between Words, based on a hunch. It's really the last big game we know EAD is working on for 3DS. The credits will be telling when the game comes out though.

I think they might be working on Zelda 3DS too. Helping with Smash is another possibility if there are single player campaign stages again, but Namco might not need manpower assistance since they're a pretty big developer on their own.

I really want to see another Honne RPG with lots of 2D artwork and backgrounds, but it doesn't look like it's happening anytime soon.

ah the 3DS team they worked on New Leaf and Skyward's

I want to see their own project seem like Nintendo keeps them busy doing odd jobs

It was the Tokyo studio which helped with Skyward Sword's cutscenes. Kyoto didn't even exist back then. Kyoto worked on New Leaf's graphics.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

I think they might be working on Zelda 3DS too. Helping with Smash is another possibility if there are single player campaign stages again, but Namco might not need manpower assistance since they're a pretty big developer on their own.

I really want to see another Honne RPG with lots of 2D artwork and backgrounds, but it doesn't look like it's happening anytime soon.



It was the Tokyo studio which helped with Skyward Sword's cutscenes. Kyoto didn't even exist back then. Kyoto worked on New Leaf's graphics.

Thanks for clearing that up I thought it was some of the same people that split to form this studio I do not know the history or reason for the different teams I was not expecting this one to be only 30 people

I am enjoying New Leaf even if it was just the eye candy they worked on

 

[RurouniZel]

Wow, nice to see a business that doesn't force it's employees to mandatory overtime death marches. Granted that's because they do the opposite and enforce no overtime without manager approval, but that's still a much healthier practice and (most likely) keeps employees healthier and gives them more time to spend with family.

1. Map
2. Armor, or person model
3. Looks like weapons but I can't tell.
4. Someones Email.

4 looks more like GAF OH MY GOD THEY'RE WATCHING US!! ;P

Just kidding, I can tell it's not GAF but I couldn't resist. ^^;

 

[RurouniZel]

dp

 

[jj984jj]

So it's exactly as I feared in these threads before, it's really unlikely that Honne is working on his own game.