Jenova Chen

“What I find the most interesting about games is the feeling of accomplishment. I think this is an emotion that cinema can't do and books can't do. You feel like you've personally accomplished something. You feel you get better at something.”

“Every artist wants his or her work to connect with someone. I think that's why people make art.”

“I studied Computer Science when I was in my undergrad and minored in Digital Art & Design.”

“'Journey' is a way for us to explore the crossing, the intersection of our lives between each other.”

“When I was a teenager, I felt my life was constrained by rules, school, my parents. I wanted to feel like I was empowered and different; that's why superheroes, comics, manga, and video games filled my needs. When I got older, I realized power is not free; it comes with responsibility.”

“I'm a game designer, so I care about the whole experience.”

“I feel, as a game maker, we are responsible to make content that stretch the ruling structure and emotions so that everyone can enjoy.”

“I grew up with games. It changed my life. It changed my social relationships with my friends. It defined my childhood. It's something I really cherished.”

“I like technology, but the blockbuster games use it for the same thing over and over again.”

“Our vision is for games to offer a wide variety of different experiences and attract all kinds of gamers and nongamers.”

“For 'Journey' to create a sense of smallness and a sense of awe will encourage the players to be together and exchange emotions. When you put the two players together online and put them in a difficult environment, they will create a bond.”

“When I read a good story, I often start thinking, 'Should I live my life according to what this character chooses and values?' It makes me think. I feel like I grew up to be a more mature person while thinking about character development in these fictional situations.”

“We are all born alone and die alone. The loneliness is definitely part of the journey of life.”

“We try really hard to avoid those conventional experiences, these adrenaline rush, anger, competition, violence. We intentionally avoid that. We try to create a game that's serene and tranquil and filled with love.”

“Language is very deceiving. In certain languages, there is certain vocabulary that doesn't exist in other languages. It totally changes how people feel about things.”

“I just feel like I'm on a quest to fail if I try to even compete with myself.”

“With 'Journey,' we created an emotional arc for two different scenarios. So, if you play alone, it's a good game. You have what we think is a complete emotional arc. You will feel, I guess, a sense of transformation in the single-player. Because it's a hero's journey.”

“In the free-to-play industry, the most money-making games are often coming from making people fighting against each other and really hating each other and wanting to revenge, so they spend more money to dominate.”

“'Journey' was very much inspired by Joseph Campbell's work for 'The Hero's Journey,' but, from among his works, I like 'The Power of Myth' best.”

“Thatgamecompany was founded with the philosophy that games are a form of entertainment, and entertainment is the food for emotion.”