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Masato Kato

{{Short description|Japanese video game screenwriter}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Masato Kato

| birth_name =

| native_name = 加藤 正人

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|03|28}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| years_active = 1988–present

| other_names =

| occupation = Video game artist, writer

| alma_mater =

| employer =

| notable_works =

}}

{{Nihongo|Masato Kato|加藤 正人|Katō Masato|born March 28, 1963}} is a Japanese video game artist, scenario writer and director. In the early days of his career, he was credited under the pseudonyms of "Runmaru" and "Runmal".{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9008133 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629035726/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9008133 |title=The Chrono Trigger - Ninja Gaiden Connection |last=Parish |first=Jeremy |date=October 28, 2009 |work=1UP.com |publisher=UGO Entertainment, Inc. |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=March 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He then joined Square, and was most famous for penning the script of Chrono Trigger (based on a story draft by Yuji Horii), as well as Radical Dreamers, Xenogears, Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy XI and parts of Final Fantasy VII.

Biography

=Early years=

Kato first worked for Tecmo on Captain Tsubasa and the Ninja Gaiden series. On his first three games, he moved from graphics, to graphics and scenario writing, to also directing the action elements. He went on to work for Gainax.

=Square Co.=

Masato Kato's first title at Square was Chrono Trigger as the game's story planner and script writer. The game's composer Yasunori Mitsuda have considered Kato to be one of the game's directors.

Kato stated that Chrono Cross development encountered difficulty in expanding the game world due to hardware limitations, and that they crammed as much data as they could onto the game disk.{{cite web|url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/GamePro_Interview.html|title=Interview with Masato Kato|access-date=2013-03-01|publisher=GamePro|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325204759/http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/GamePro_Interview.html|archive-date=2012-03-25|url-status=live}} Conversely, developing the multiple game endings was seen as easier, on par with Chrono Trigger as a bonus for players who finished the game.

=Freelance works=

Kato left Square after designing the plot of Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart to become a freelance scenario writer. In addition to games for different companies, he has continued to work on Square Enix projects such as the World of Mana series, an enhanced port of Chrono Trigger for the Nintendo DS, and three more expansion chapters for Final Fantasy XI.

In 2017 he released a spiritual successor to the Chrono series for iOS and Android, titled "Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space." Similar to the SNES hit Chrono Trigger, Another Eden also involves time travel, where players get to explore three time periods out of ancient, contemporary, and the future. Additionally, the game features an opening theme created by Yasunori Mitsuda, who also worked on Chrono Trigger‘s music.{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/09/09/chrono-trigger-xenogears-writers-smartphone-rpg-another-eden-tgs-2016/ |title=Chrono Trigger And Xenogears Writer's Smartphone RPG Another Eden To Be At TGS 2016 |date=September 9, 2016 |access-date=December 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502202233/http://www.siliconera.com/2016/09/09/chrono-trigger-xenogears-writers-smartphone-rpg-another-eden-tgs-2016/ |publisher=Siliconera|archive-date=May 2, 2017 |url-status=live }}

=Writings=

In 2005, Masato Kato also collaborated with Yasunori Mitsuda, longtime friend and music composer, to write a short story titled Five Seasons of kiЯitɘ, which Mitsuda accompanied with music on his album kiЯitɘ. The story and soundtrack have also been presented in opera form.{{cite web |url=http://www.procyon-studio.com/kirite/kirite_and_endless.html |title=Five Seasons of kiЯitɘ |access-date=February 16, 2007 |author=Procyon Studio staff |publisher=Our Millennial Fair |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206073211/http://www.procyon-studio.com/kirite/kirite_and_endless.html |archive-date=February 6, 2012 }} Prior to this, Mitsuda composed the soundtrack for several of Kato's games, including Chrono Cross and Xenogears.

Games

Kato has been credited for the following games:{{cite web|url=http://mitsuda.cocoebiz.com/friends/kato.html |title=This month's friend… Masato Kato |access-date=November 22, 2008 |author=Procyon Studio staff |date=November 1999 |publisher=Procyon Studio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724162937/http://mitsuda.cocoebiz.com/friends/kato.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}

= Early games =

=Square=

  • Chrono Trigger (1995): director (uncredited), story planner, script writer
  • Radical Dreamers: Nusumenai Hōseki (1996): director, scenario and script writer
  • Final Fantasy VII (1997): event planner, script writer
  • Xenogears (1998): event planner, script writer, lyricist
  • Chrono Trigger (PlayStation enhanced port) (1999): supervisor{{cite book|year=1999 |editor=Studio BentStuff |title=Chrono Cross Ultimania |url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Ultimania_Developer_Interviews.html |pages=476–477 |language=ja |publisher=Square Enix |isbn=4-925075-73-X |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418044713/http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Ultimania_Developer_Interviews.html |archive-date=April 18, 2009 }}
  • Chrono Cross (1999): director, scenario and script writer, event planner, FMV storyboard {{cite book|year=1999 |title=Chrono Cross Ultimania |url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Supporting_Material_Translation.html#Developer_Interviews |pages=478–481 |language=ja |publisher=Square Enix |isbn=4-925075-73-X |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119231921/http://chronocompendium.com/Term/Supporting_Material_Translation.html |archive-date=2010-11-19 }}
  • Final Fantasy XI (2002): plot conception and events, lyricist
  • Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart (2003): plot conception and events

=Freelance=

  • Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (2003): scenario writer, screenplay{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/previews/baten-kaitos |title=Baten Kaitos Preview |access-date=October 11, 2004 |last=Smith |first=David |date=November 22, 2008 |work=1UP.com |publisher=UGO Entertainment, Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523072401/http://www.1up.com/previews/baten-kaitos |archive-date=May 23, 2011 }}
  • Deep Labyrinth (2006): scenario writer{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/deeplabyrinth/ |title=Deep Labyrinth |access-date=November 22, 2008 |last=McCarroll |first=John |date=August 16, 2006 |publisher=RPGFan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022939/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/deeplabyrinth/ |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |url-status=live }}
  • Dawn of Mana (2006): scenario writer
  • Children of Mana (2006): scenario writer{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2005/100305a.html |title=Children of Mana's Development Team Announced |access-date=February 16, 2007 |last=Boulette |first=Bryan |date=November 22, 2008 |publisher=RPGamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525092343/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2005/100305a.html |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
  • Heroes of Mana (2007): scenario writer{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-2006/091306a.html |title=Square Enix Unveils Final Fantasy XII Sequel, Three More Games |access-date=November 22, 2008 |last=Boulette |first=Bryan |date=September 13, 2006 |publisher=RPGamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030533/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-2006/091306a.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead }}
  • Sands of Destruction (2008): scenario writer{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2008/1149.html |title=Sega Announces Original DS RPG |access-date=April 23, 2008 |publisher=RPGFan |last=Winkler |first=Chris |date=April 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308020641/http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2008/1149.html |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |url-status=live }}
  • Chrono Trigger (Nintendo DS) (2008): supervisor{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2008/10/07/a-clearer-look-at-chrono-trigger-ds-additions/ |title=A Clearer Look At Chrono Trigger DS' Additions |access-date=October 7, 2008 |publisher=Siliconera |author=Spencer |date=October 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425190712/http://www.siliconera.com/2008/10/07/a-clearer-look-at-chrono-trigger-ds-additions/ |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |url-status=live }}
  • A Crystalline Prophecy: Ode to Life Bestowing (2009): plot conception{{cite web

|url=http://blog.square-enix.com/ff11/2008/11/the_adventure_continues_with_t.html

|title=The Adventure Continues With Three All-New Final Fantasy XI Expansion Chapters!

|access-date=November 22, 2008

|date=November 22, 2008

|publisher=Square Enix

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106013829/http://blog.square-enix.com/ff11/2008/11/the_adventure_continues_with_t.html

|archive-date=January 6, 2009

}}

  • A Moogle Kupo d'Etat: Evil in Small Doses (2009): plot conception
  • A Shantotto Ascension: The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born (2009): plot conception
  • Shiren the Wanderer (2008): scenario writer{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/504552656|publisher=Kotaku|access-date=June 3, 2020|title=Final Fantasy VII Writer Sees End of The Nintendo Era|date=May 31, 2010|author=Ashcraft, Brian}}
  • Shiren the Wanderer 4 (2010): scenario writer{{cite web|last1=Ashcraft|first1=Brian|title=Final Fantasy VII Writer Sees End of The Nintendo Era|url=http://kotaku.com/5551618/final-fantasy-vii-writer-sees-end-of-the-nintendo-era|website=Kotaku|date=31 May 2010 |access-date=25 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526041846/https://kotaku.com/5551618/final-fantasy-vii-writer-sees-end-of-the-nintendo-era|archive-date=26 May 2018|url-status=live}}
  • Ninja Gaiden 3 (2012): story{{cite web |url=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/716536/team-ninjas-yosuke-hayashi-talks-ninja-gaiden-3 |title=Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi Talks Ninja Gaiden 3 |access-date=2013-03-01 |first=Heidi |last=Kemps |date=September 21, 2011 |publisher=G4TV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011032300/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/716536/team-ninjas-yosuke-hayashi-talks-ninja-gaiden-3/ |archive-date=October 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}
  • The Legend of Legacy (2015): writer{{cite web|url= https://kotaku.com/the-legend-of-legacy-doesn-t-live-up-to-its-pedigree-1686229651|publisher=Kotaku|access-date=May 23, 2020|date=February 17, 2015|title=The Legend of Legacy Doesn't Live Up to Its Pedigree|author=Eisenbeis, Richard}}
  • Another Eden (2017): director, scenario, script writer, concept artist{{cite web |url=http://gamebiz.jp/?p=169447 |title=Tokyo Game Show 2016: Another Eden draft illustrations by Masato Kato |date=September 17, 2016 |access-date=December 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220155836/http://gamebiz.jp/?p=169447 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |url-status=live|publisher=Gamebiz.jp }}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Ninja Gaiden series |state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kato, Masato}}

Category:1963 births

Category:Japanese video game directors

Category:Japanese writers

Category:Living people

Category:Square Enix people