{"rewrite":{"id":"r_371bec7c229d6bd669e9c2b2","clusterId":"c_3f3b73647f80482bb5abfd4e","slug":"to-the-moon-creator-kan-gao-reflects-on-rpg-maker-and-series-end","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"To the Moon Creator Kan Gao Reflects on RPG Maker and Series End","summary":"In an interview with Automaton, Kan Gao of Freebird Games discusses his long use of RPG Maker, the upcoming final entry in the To the Moon series, and why the tool's simplicity helps him focus on creation. He started using RPG Maker around 2005 and released To the Moon in 2011, with the series spanning over a decade.","whyItMatters":"Kan Gao's ongoing use of RPG Maker highlights how a simple, coding-free tool can sustain a creator through a decade-long narrative series, even as more complex engines dominate the industry.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eKan Gao, director and composer at Freebird Games, began using RPG Maker around 2005. His series To the Moon, which started in 2011, follows two doctors traveling through a dying man\u0026#39;s memories to fulfill his last wish. The upcoming final episode, The Last Hour of an Epic TO THE MOON RPG, will tie the series together and return to its origins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the interview, Gao said the slow development progress might sound like an excuse, but he wants the finale to be compact and meaningful rather than dragging on. He also spoke about how RPG Maker\u0026#39;s \u0026#39;just right\u0026#39; simplicity lets creators focus on the act of creation itself.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Kan Gao on the end of To the Moon: mixed feelings, slow progress, but a finale that ties the series back to its roots. RPG Maker's simplicity keeps him focused on creation.","twitterPost":"To the Moon creator Kan Gao talks RPG Maker's appeal and the upcoming final entry: 'I want to make it a compact and meaningful work.'","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Kan Gao, creator of To the Moon, reflects on his decade-long series and its upcoming finale. He explains why he still uses RPG Maker and how its simplicity supports his creative process.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/interviewsjp/to-the-moon-20260828-463781/\",\"title\":\"Interview with the Developer of RPG Maker Classic 'To the Moon': Why We Keep Making Games with 'RPG Maker' - The 'Just Right' Simplicity That Lets You Focus on Creation\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4677,"outputTokens":515,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1787972052,"createdAt":"2026-08-29T02:49:13.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-29T02:51:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:49:13.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_3f3b73647f80482bb5abfd4e","canonicalTitle":"ツクール名作『To the Moon』開発者に訊く、「RPGツクール」でゲームを作り続ける理由。制作に集中できる“ちょうどいい”シンプルさ","representativeArticleId":"a_e4909527f3e766b9c5338774","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"To the Moon\",\"RPGツクール\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-28T03:00:14.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-28T03:00:14.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-29T02:51:47.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/interviewsjp/to-the-moon-20260828-463781/","title":"ツクール名作『To the Moon』開発者に訊く、「RPGツクール」でゲームを作り続ける理由。制作に集中できる“ちょうどいい”シンプルさ"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["To the Moon","RPGツクール"],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}