The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook Astro Bot Director Nicolas Doucet
Mar 3, 2025
Nicolas Doucet, the talented director behind the Astro Bot series, shares his fascinating journey in game development. He reveals how his early QA days shaped his career path at Japan Studio. The discussion dives into the innovative design strategies that brought 'Astro Bot Rescue Mission' to life, emphasizing community feedback's role in its success. Doucet also talks about the collaboration with third-party partners to integrate iconic PlayStation characters, showcasing creativity in enhancing player experiences while maintaining simplicity.
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Early Japanese Influence
- Nicolas Doucet's childhood in France was heavily influenced by Japanese culture, especially animation and video games.
- He learned to play Japanese games without understanding the language and developed a deep respect for Japanese game development.
From QA to Producer
- Doucet started his game development career in QA, testing localized versions of games, and later worked at Eidos, EA, and Bullfrog.
- His QA experience exposed him to various aspects of game development and sparked his interest in becoming a producer.
Joining PlayStation
- After working at Lego, Doucet applied to Sony, Sega, and Ubisoft, ultimately joining PlayStation in 2004 during the PS2 era.
- He joined the London Studio, known for its work on EyeToy and SingStar, which focused on accessible gaming experiences.