Shinji Mikami, creator of franchises like Resident Evil and Viewtiful Joe for Capcom, is currently working with Hideki Kamiya’s Platinum Games on Vanquish, a shooter due out by the end of the year. He’s got even bigger plans in the works, though — in an interview printed in this week’s Famitsu magazine, the designer revealed that he’s moving from Osaka to Tokyo in order to create a brand-new development studio of his own.

“One of the reasons I’m building a company is to raise the game makers of the future, people who haven’t gone pro yet,” Mikami told Famitsu. “Game development is often overseen from a pure business perspective here, which is unique to Japan, and I have the impression that environment tends to prune away young talent. I really want to make Tango a company run from a creator’s perspective, one that expands upon new talent.”

Mikami, who left Capcom in November 2005 to go freelance, will fold up Straight Story (his current company) after development work on Vanquish wraps up later this year.
His new studio currently employs 13 people, including sound director Masashi Takada (formerly of Grasshopper Manufacture) and art directors Ryosuke Aiba (Final Fantasy XI) and Naoki Katakai Okami). “We’re going to handle all development within the company, so I think one development team will be the limit,” Mikami said. “I’d like to see it grow to 100 people or so in five to seven years.”

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