Demand for Online Short-Time Voice Sessions of Golden Sky Stories: Japan

The rise of online tabletop role-playing game (TRPG) sessions, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has created a distinct demand for "short-time" voice sessions. Focusing on the Japanese TRPG Fushigi Mononoke RPG Yuyake Koyake (Golden Sky Stories), this analysis examines the preferences of players who seek to engage in gaming during weekday evenings after completing work or household responsibilities. The primary thesis is that there is a significant, unmet need for concise, structured scenarios that fit within a specific time window, allowing players to enjoy social interaction without compromising their sleep or next-day obligations.

Methodologically, the findings are based on two online surveys conducted in early 2022 via Twitter. The first survey (21 respondents) established that for Yuyake Koyake, a "short-time scenario" is defined as lasting two hours or less. Participants identified the ideal weekday window as 21:00 to 24:00. The second survey (6 respondents) evaluated the satisfaction levels of players who had participated in such sessions. While players reported high satisfaction with the convenience and emotional fulfillment of these sessions, some noted a desire for more time for role-playing and interaction, highlighting a tension between brevity and depth.

The analysis concludes that effective time management is the critical factor for game masters (referred to as "storytellers") in this format. Recommended strategies include meticulous tracking of session segments, proactive pacing, and collaborative time-keeping between the storyteller and players. Ultimately, the author advocates for the creation and sharing of more compact, high-quality scenarios designed specifically for this two-hour timeframe, as the current official materials often require longer durations that may not suit the schedules of working adults.