Unconventional Tomak Creator Interviewed

Thanks to InsertCredit.com for posting a translated interview with Seed9 president Gun Kim about his Korean company's success in Japan with their extremely bizarre dating sim, Tomak: Save The Earth. The Playstation 2 version of this PC game, which was instructively previewed by The GIA back in 2001, "..is a combination life/love simulation starring a girl's head in a flowerpot." The object of your affection can appear contented, glum, or even ecstatic, and The GIA also ran an earlier interview with Gun Kim, in which he explains possible inspiration: "..maybe I was looking at the plant pot and our graphic designer in the office when I got the idea." Seed9 are also responsible for the retro and fun Tomak 2D shmup for the Korean GP32 handheld.

Inspiration

[Glytch]

Somehow, I think more than one kind of pot was involved in the making of this game.

The best bit

[Przepla]

By giving Evian six distinct moods, each with its own unique (and frequently contradictory) likes and dislikes, developer Seed 9 has become the first game designer to accurately capture the tone of interactions with a normal human female.

Indeed.

Re:The best bit

[Acts of Attrition]

First of all I'd be weary of any man who says he understands women enough to simulate one in a game. He's either very arrogant or just full of crap :)

"The tone of interactions with a normal human female"
Do not underestimate the intricacies and fun there is to be had interacting with a girl that's good and crazy.

Demo version

[tigersha]

Google turned up a demo version. After struggling with the download it turns out to be in... Japanese!

Anyone knows if there is an English/German/Dutch version somewhere??!!

Re:Demo version

[simoniker]

As far as I know, the only English-language demo version was the one handed out on CD-ROM at E3 in 2001 - the GIA article talks about it.

I don't think it's ever been made available online, because there's never been an English-language publisher for the game :(

Re:Demo version

[Brandon Sheffield]

Yes, there is. But it may not be online, it was distributed at E3 2001. If you look, you may find it. But that Japanese demo is far more complete, allowing you do do much more. It's just as good as the Korean demo in that respect.

Dear Lord...

[Man In Black]

I think this has to be the single most Japanese game I have ever seen... It even beats out all the RPG's that I've seen.

I think I'll keep my mindlessly violent games thanks.

reminds me...

[Paul d'Aoust]

ha! I can't believe nobody's said this yet: reminds me of a Louis Prima song. I-i-i-i-i-i-i ain't got no body...

Japanese??

[Brandon Sheffield]

Huh...I wonder how all those Koreans made this Most Japanese Game You've Ever Seen. Must be a hidden talent.

Re:Japanese??

[jspoon]

Or extensive market research. Parent has a point, the designers may have been Korean but this game is sooooo Japan.