Umamusume Achieves an Incredible Milestone in Game Development

The visionary behind one of Japan’s most significant horse racing simulation series has expressed his astonishment at the success of the game Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Tsuyoshi Kaneda, developer of the renowned Derby Stallion franchise, acknowledged the considerable challenges faced by the Umamusume team, particularly in securing the rights to utilize real horse names in their viral game.

According to a report by Automaton, Kaneda highlighted the intricate negotiations required to bring real-life racehorses into the game. These negotiations involved coordinating with the Japanese Racing Association, horse owners, trademark holders, and various other stakeholders within the industry.

Impressed by Umamusume’s Achievements

Reflecting on the complexities of these arrangements, Kaneda stated, “Personally, I was amazed that they actually managed to pull it off from the start. It’s already challenging enough to feature the horses as they are, but turning them into girls adds another layer of complexity. I deeply admire their achievement and how well they are currently performing in the market.”

Kaneda also reminisced about his experiences while developing Derby Stallion, which he initiated in 1991. He explained, “For us to utilize the actual names of horses, we had to negotiate with the JRA. While they were open to the idea, we were directed to approach the horse owners for further discussions.”

Despite being granted permission to use names, assigning specific ability statistics to those horses proved challenging. Fortunately, support from professional jockeys, who were familiar with Derby Stallion, played a pivotal role in moving negotiations forward.“It was a rocky journey. However, having actual jockeys advocate for us, stating that it would be ‘beneficial for the industry, ’ helped us a lot in our discussions, ” Kaneda explained.

The turning point for Kaneda’s team came with the release of Derby Stallion ’96, which marked the series’ first successful integration of real racehorses and jockeys, five years after the inception of the original game. Given his own struggles, Kaneda is incredulous at how Cygames appeared to effortlessly execute a horse racing game centered around realistic legendary figures, not to mention the innovative twist of transforming them into female characters.

For those captivated by the intersection of gaming and real-world sports, Kaneda’s insights underscore the dedication and complexity involved in crafting authentic experiences in digital environments. The immense success of Umamusume stands as a testament to the creative possibilities within the gaming industry.

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