Hironobu Sakaguchi is a name unknown to many outside his native Japan. But he is something of a legend in his homeland, having created the original Final Fantasy games.
The fortunes of Microsoft's new console, the Xbox 360, in Japan, rest largely on his shoulders.
The original Xbox has fared badly there, struggling to sell in one of the world's liveliest video games market.
Only 1.7 million have sold in Asia. That compares with more than 13 million in the US and another five million in Europe.
Microsoft has turned to Mr Sakaguchi to help make the sorts of games that will ensure the 360 meets a better fate.