Interest

Industry Insiders Offer Reality Checks on Directing Erotic Games, Voice Acting

Three industry insiders recently offered insights on the sometimes dispiriting workings of the erotic game and voice acting fields.

On March 15, Kei Mimasu, founder and CEO of the adult visual novel developer AKABEiSOFT2 (Boku no Hitori Sensō, G Senjō no Maō), related the dropout rates for various positions in the erotic game industry based on his experience: "Directors: about 95%, scenario writers: about 75%, advertising: about 50%, sound creators: about 25%, CG artists: about 15%, programmers: about 10%. I omit key artists because they're usually freelancers. 10% of the directors who quit do so in their first week." Mimasu attributes the high attrition rate among directors to their overestimation of how much power they have over artists and writers (and over their budget). In reality, they must "negotiate on their hands and knees with all creators," and must sometimes face rejection from artists whom they admire.

On the same day, two voice actors gave their perspectives on the shady practices in their field. Kousuke Takeuchi (Tesshin in Ginga Densetsu Weed, minor roles in The Prince of Tennis and Eyeshield 21) tweeted that a younger acquaintance hoping to be a voice actor had signed up with an agency, but on the condition that they hold concerts every month and sell at least 20 tickets at a rate of 2,500 yen a ticket. "Please watch out, all those hoping to be voice actors. Most agencies that let anyone join who pays them are frauds."

Satomi Akesaka (Teruha in Girls Beyond the Wasteland, Futaba in Mitsudomoe, Esdeath in Akame ga KILL!) concurred, and offered a story from when she was entering the business. She was accepted to audition with the talent agency Space Craft, but her mother was shocked to find out that her contract was free (but with renewal fees). "'Why did you take my girl?' she asked, finally questioning her own daughter's success," Akesaka remembers. She went on to advise rookie voice actors to take whatever work they can get because it's a "narrow gate," but suggests "researching online and asking around about what kind of works you'll be starring in."

[Via Yaraon!, 2; Image from Naver Matome]