Epic opens doors to new office in Japan

By Stephany Nunneley

Epic has announced that it’s thrown open the doors to its new office in Japan.

It’s been a busy week for Epic, what with the announcement of Gears 3, the formal reveal of Bulletstorm, and now the new digs.

With the new office, Epic now conducts operations in: Cary, North Carolina; Provo, Utah; Warsaw, Poland; Seoul, Korea; Shanghai, China and now Tokyo, Japan.

Per the PR: “Taka Kawasaki, territory manager of Epic Games Japan, will discuss Epic’s vision for opening a new office in Japan and will provide insight on how the office will work to increase and enhance support for Unreal Engine 3’s Japanese partners”.

Tim Sweeney, CEO and founder of Epic along with Jay Wilbur, vice president, attended the event and offered remarks. Cliff Bleszinski, design director, delivered an address via video message.

Special guests at the opening included: Goichi Suda, and Joseph Chou, producer of Halo Legends

A reception was held at Akiba Hall immediately following the event.

Sounds like it was the place to be.

Epic originally announced the Tokyo Offices back in September.

Thanks Syrok for the awesome pic.

PR’s below.

April 13, 2010 – CARY, N.C. AND TOKYO – Epic Games, Inc. today announced the company will officially open its new office in Japan at a launch event set for April 15, 2010.

The celebration, to be held in Tokyo at Akiba Hall, marks the expansion of Epic Games to include primary operations in Cary, North Carolina; Provo, Utah; Warsaw, Poland; Seoul, Korea; Shanghai, China and Tokyo, Japan.

At the launch event, Taka Kawasaki, territory manager of Epic Games Japan, will discuss Epic’s vision for opening a new office in Japan and will provide insight on how the office will work to increase and enhance support for Unreal Engine 3’s Japanese partners.

Tim Sweeney, CEO and founder of Epic Games, and Jay Wilbur, vice president of Epic Games, will attend the event and offer remarks. Cliff Bleszinski, Epic’s design director, will deliver an address via video message.

Special guests include Goichi “Suda51” Suda, CEO of Grasshopper Manufacture, who is currently working on a horror action game with Electronic Arts using Unreal Engine 3, and Joseph Chou, producer of smash hit “Halo Legends,” “Apple Seed: Ex Machina” and “The Animatrix.”

A reception will be held at Akiba Hall immediately following the event.

Schedule:
Name: Epic Games Japan Launch Event
Date: April 15, 2010
Times:
-Doors Open – 16:30
-Event – 17:00 – 18:00
-Reception – 18:00 – 20:00

Agenda:
17:00 Epic Games Japan Launch Event
17:05 Greetings – Presentation by Tim Sweeney
17:07 Greetings – Presentation by Jay Wilbur
17:10 Video Messages – Cliff Bleszinski and Epic Games President Mike Capps
17:12 Congratulatory Address by Special Guests (Goichi Suda, Joseph Chou)
17:20 Presentation and Business Overview by Epic Games Japan Territory Manager – Taka Kawasaki
17:30 Presentation by Epic Games Japan Support Manager – Jun Shimoda
17:45 Special Announcement by Jay Wilbur
17:55 Closing
18:00 Reception Begins
18:30 Toast by Jay Wilbur
20:00 Reception Ends

Event Location: Akiba Hall in the FUJISoft Akihabara Building – 5th floor
Event Host: Epic Games Japan