Why is Ju-On: The Grudge labeled as a haunted house simulator?
Ken Berry: That is because we did not want this game to be mistaken for a survival horror type of game. There is no combat, and basically, the game is designed to just give you quick and multiple scares. So it forgoes any deep story-telling elements and complicated controls just so that anyone can jump right in and hopefully within a minute or so, they're jumping out of their seat. This game is sort of weird, saying that a Mature-rated game is supposed to be a pick and play game, but that is how we see this game. You can play it, and it's fun getting scared, but it's even more fun handing the controller to somebody else and watching them get scared.
Does the game include elements from the earlier movies, or is it based on The Grudge specifically?
KB: I'm not too familiar with the movies myself. I do know that the original writer and director of Ju-On did help oversee the development process of the game. It takes place in the same general universe where once you get the curse, anybody you come in contact with, especially your family, is cursed. That is sort of the plotline of this game where one person is cursed, and then the rest of their family is cursed. So you're basically playing the game from five different viewpoints, of different members of the same family.
If the Vitality Sensor gets released, do you think that would be a good peripheral for Ju-On?
KB: I would have to know what it does first. I saw that E3 presentation, and I still wasn't clear what exactly it does, but I think Ju-On would be a good fit for it.