The Tenth Mosaic event explores development of Rez and Persona

At the “The Tenth Mosaic” event held at the Institut Français du Japon in Tokyo, prominent game creators shared insights into the development of influential titles.

Tetsuya Mizuguchi discussed the 25-year journey of the game “Rez.” He explained how the concept was inspired by a street parade in Zurich in 1997, aiming to create a synesthetic experience where music, visuals, and player input merge. Mizuguchi detailed how the developers used quantization and rhythmic interaction to transform the act of “shooting” into a musical performance, creating a sense of “groove” through call-and-response mechanics.

Additionally, a panel featuring Persona series creators Kazutaka Hashino, Shigenori Soejima, and Shoji Meguro explored the evolution of the Persona franchise. Hashino revealed that the development of “Persona 3” began during a period of financial instability for Atlas, serving as a critical project for the company’s survival. The discussion covered the series' thematic shifts, character design, and the creative philosophy behind building RPGs that leave lasting memories in a content-saturated era.