​An Interview with Tetsu "Tez" Okano - the Mastermind behind Cult Dreamcast RPG Segagaga

​An Interview with Tetsu "Tez" Okano - the Mastermind behind Cult Dreamcast RPG Segagaga

Game development; Japanese video game industry; Developer interviews; Segagaga; Dreamcast

Conducted by Lewis Cox and published in Dreamcast Junkyard in January 2025, this interview features an in-depth conversation with Tetsu "Tez" Okano, creative director and writer for Segagaga. Okano reflects on the game's satirical tone, its roots in Sega's turbulent history, and the personal and corporate contradictions that shaped its narrative. He candidly discusses how Segagaga is both a desperate swan song and a self-critical take on labor practices and corporate culture in the Japanese game industry.

The interview reveals how the game was developed under difficult conditions with a limited budget and visibility, and how Okano incorporated his personal frustrations into the game's design. He also discusses the game's niche appeal, initial obscurity, and surprising cult resurgence in the years since its release. The source provides valuable insight into Segagaga's motivations behind creating the game, the risks of releasing such a disruptive game, and the importance of protecting games that challenge industry norms.

​Lewis Cox​

https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2025/01/an-interview-with-tetsu-tez-okano.html

The Dreamcast Junkyard

2025-01

​Tetsu "Tez" Okano

​Used under fair dealing for educational and archival purposes. Original rights held by The Dreamcast Junkyard.

Part of the exhibit "Segagaga: A Lost Sega Satire"

Text/HTML​

English

Text

https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2025/01/an-interview-with-tetsu-tez-okano.html

Japan, America

https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2025/01/an-interview-with-tetsu-tez-okano.html