The Battle Cats was born as an i-mode application game during the feature phone era. At the time, it didn’t generate a major response, but we had solid confidence in it. That’s because the creators themselves, along with our internal team members, were completely obsessed with the Cats! As a result, the moment smartphones became widespread, we decided to port it to a smartphone app. Incidentally, at PONOS, anyone is free to propose an idea. Game logic, character design… everyone immediately jots down ideas as soon as they think of them. Thanks to this, our internal idea file, which we’ve dubbed the ‘X-FILE,’ is filled with loads of planning concepts! And every time a planning contest is held, everyone is highly motivated. This dedication of everyone being obsessed with game creation is one of the defining characteristics of PONOS.

Simplicity and clarity are key to creating games that players will love.” We adhere strictly to this policy throughout the development and design phases. While upholding this core principle, our designers and engineers advance development by paying close attention to details, aiming to “create intuitive and stress-free UI/UX” and “eliminate tedious tutorials as much as possible. Our teamwork is exceptional. Designers and engineers often get excited and propose ideas to the planner, such as, “Wouldn’t it be fun to put a hidden character here?” We are always imagining the users’ smiles and developing games with a grin. This is a common thread not just for The Battle Cats but for all titles produced by PONOS.

Before the launch, there is one major task that requires the involvement of every employee: “Playtesting.” This involves “test-playing” the game while trying out every conceivable operation, including basic checks like design flaws and usability, as well as more exhaustive tests such as rapid-tapping, and swiping in all directions (up, down, left, and right). While some game companies outsource this testing work, this is unthinkable for PONOS. We believe that the creators themselves should see the project through to the very end. For the launch of The Battle Cats, all employees also participated in the playtest. Every member who took part at that time was reportedly very surprised, the reason being: “It was unbelievably fun!” The game’s potential was unmistakably clear.

The game’s journey begins after its release. Under the producer’s direction, the marketing team performs data analysis, engineers implement improvements, designers continuously pitch new character concepts, and planners develop new stage concepts, allowing the game to evolve day by day. Speaking of character concepts, even members outside the core team frequently contribute their ideas. The team bursts into laughter every time we see everyone’s unique and often hilarious suggestions! Proposing character and stage title ideas has pretty much turned into a game of Oogiri. The reason The Battle Cats continues to be loved, even more than three years after its release, is likely because the entire team genuinely enjoys the process of making the game.