Mistwalker

[Desi]

Ew I hate making topics but here it goes....

Famitsu also had an interview with Sakaguchi, some highlights (stolen from Gaf)(and then shamelessly stolen from gametrailers.com by Malvado):

- In the opening movie for Lost Odyssey you can seamlessly input commands for the battle scene.
- Combat is not action driven but command menu driven.
- The playable demo lasts for 40-60 minutes.
- The final game will have even higher quality than the demo(running in 30fps for some reason).
- The modeling for the movies are almost identical to the realtime models.
- Inoue (the character designer) is personally checking all the models.
- The demo's battles will just the most basic part of the system. The more indepth systems will be excluded.
- The character growth systems and so on will be in the final game only.
- Surviving enemies inherit the powers of those who are killed.
- Since the main character cannot die either there will not be a possibility of game over.
- The final game will use a physics engine.
- The final text message on the playable demo was written by Shigematsu (scenario writer for the various short stories that make up the game).
- Lost Odyssey will be playable at TGS, with the demo disc being released with Famitsu in early November.
- Lost Odyssey will be out in 2007.
- Blue Dragon will DEFINITELY be released within 2006.
- ASH is being targeted for the first half of 2007.
- There will be more titles being announced from Mistwalker.

Battle picture (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/61314_LostOdyssey_122_567lo.jpg) <---Clicky
mag scan1 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/LostOdyssey02.jpg) <--Click
mag scan2 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/LostOdyssey03.jpg)<---you know what to do
mag scan3 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/LostOdyssey04.jpg)<--You better click
just for the view (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/LostOdyssey01gg.jpg)<--notice the same pic in mag scan1 with the menu though? Must be the interactive cutscene.

Next Generation link (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3818&Itemid=2)

[Enedok]

So I guess own a 360?

FFXIII still looks better

[Kadaj]

Oh nice, that first screenshot looks so cool!

[Desi]

Truthfully I created a japanese xbox live profile just so i can get a chance to download whatever they show at TGS. Better safe then sorry.
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/6161(longer and shows battle system)
http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=1694 Maybe hard to see but a great video of the cinemas and gameplay and how it flows.

*Merged* - Kitmitsu

[Kitmitsu]

Wow! :D That looks pretty good! I've seen alot of those massive scale battle games before but i've never seen a turn based one before. The graphics and the whol style of it look pretty cool. I do wonder why the rest of the army doesnt just throw their swords at him XD

[Desi]

Sakaguichi had a new interview with Computer and videogames: THE SITE (www.computerandvideogames.com).

Some things I found interesting:
Seeing as you appear to already have English voices in the game, are you aiming for more of a simultaneous worldwide release for Lost Odyssey?

Sakaguchi: Right now the voice recording session is taking place in English - lip-sync is actually in harmony with that. So the Japanese dub version is actually going to follow the English lip-syncing.

So Japanese will actually see kind of like Hollywood movies that they see in Japan where characters actually speak English and they see the dubbed versions with the subtitles.

With respect to the release plans, the current plan is for this game to be released simultaneously including Europe - so great news for you guys! We're shooting for the holiday this year - It's really going to be a global title.

So its main language is English and it has a simultaneous release (not counting half of asia, africa, and maybe south america).

What do you think the biggest differences are between Japanese RPGs and Western RPGs?

Sakaguchi: I'm not too familiar with Western RPGs! I'm a big fan of Gears of War and also EverQuest the online game, so Final Fantasy XI is an online game.

I really want to stick to what I want to create and what I envision, not depending on the trends that have been happening in the industry. I love trying to create a game that has he warming effect after you finish it. I want to kind of make the gamers warm-hearted, that's what I'm trying to create.

Gears of War is great but after you finish playing there's a great deal of exhilaration, but there's no warm-heartedness there. So that's what I'm trying to create.
Someone hand this guy Baldur's Gate 2, Fallout, or Planescape: Torment. Wait he has a 360, get him Mass Effect!


The whole interview can be viewed here (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=160652)

[Hitoshura]

I kinda miss Sakaguchi because he was around when the FF days were unbelievable/amazing/breathtaking (FF7, 9, 6, 4, 8, 10, 5)

...but NOOOO he had to leave because he screwed his job up *cough*Spirits Within*cough*

[Flint]

I kinda miss Sakaguchi because he was around when the FF days were unbelievable/amazing/breathtaking (FF7, 9, 6, 4, 8, 10, 5)

...but NOOOO he had to leave because he screwed his job up *cough*Spirits Within*cough*


Sakaguchi chose to retire from Square-Enix, he was not fired or anything like that. There is no conspiracy. I read in an interview that when he left SE he planned to retire from the industry for good, but after a year he found he was bored and felt the need to create games again. He could have gone back to Square, but chose to create Mistwalker because instead of being in an executive managerial position (as he was at Square) he wanted to focus on the creative design aspects of game production.

If I can find the link to this interview again, I'll post it here.

[Hitoshura]

Thats sort of true, but the main reason why he retired was because his piece of @$$-cheese movie Sprits Within.

[Desi]

New Famitsu Scan with a interview:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/79032_viploader452212_122_907lo.jpg

[Desi]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/LO007.jpg
So Midgar/Nibelheim Reactor/that Shinra place outside of Coral
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/LO008.jpg
Junon
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/LO009.jpg
Midgar

The Famitsu scans without the angry Japanese overlay.

Souce: Famitsu, NeoGaf, xboxygen?

[Flint]

Nice scans, Desi.

But why is it that Famitsu scans always have that red Japanese writing all over them?

[Desi]

Nice scans, Desi.

But why is it that Famitsu scans always have that red Japanese writing all over them?
Because some angry 2chan goer(i believe) doesn't want the US and EU posting these copyrighted pictures over our interweb. Why he post them? I don't know.

[Kitmitsu]

lol 2channers. Nice scans, the game is looking pretty good so far.

[Desi]

NeoGaf has reminded me that there should be some new footage of Lost Odyssey at the "Play!" musical event today.

http://www.play-symphony.com/

[Desi]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/lo1.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/lo2.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/lo3.jpg


Someone call the Sex police because Takehiko Inoue has entered the building! Good thing by the way. Now if they just get rid of the instanced battles and maybe take out the third immortal I'll be oh so grateful.

Source: You already know. NeoGaf

edit: bigger
http://xs117.xs.to/xs117/07274/lo1.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs117&d=07274&f=lo1.jpg)
http://xs117.xs.to/xs117/07274/lo2.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs117&d=07274&f=lo2.jpg)
http://xs117.xs.to/xs117/07274/lo3.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs117&d=07274&f=lo3.jpg)

[Desi]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/00.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Marsalis/01.jpg

http://xs317.xs.to/xs317/07275/154960_1.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs317&d=07275&f=154960_1.jpg)

Official Site Link (http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/yasj/index.html)

* - The story is about Aisha. She is the Empress as well as the Protagonist.
* - The battle has RPG flair.. The Party is becoming one
* - The upper screen shows the Party the touchscreen shows the Monsters
* - Many CG movies
* - They put a lot of effort in the environments
* - The Battle system is very strategic you have many party members and colleagues that can be used for free strategic moves
* The Battle screen
* - Shows fight, item, wait and escape
* - There is a HP and MP barometer
* - 3 members in one party
* - 6 new characters
I believe the graphics are still going to be pre-rendered throughout the game. I have no proof to back this other then old released information though. THIS IS A.S.H. FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW

[Xion]

the best on the DS? lol Desi, that info is probably from A.S.H, mistwalkers DS game, obviously not Lost Odyssey

as for LO-

and aside from CG, its all real-time, have you ever seen/played the old demo? this is 2007, that old CG background trick was used in FF7-9, this game is more like FFX, where the camera is fixed, but its not pre rendered backgrounds

[Desi]

the best on the DS? lol Desi, that info is probably from A.S.H, mistwalkers DS game, obviously not Lost Odyssey
Thank you Doctor obvious. Would you also like a cookie? I mean I didn't make this thread because I thought it would be a good idea. I would have took the time to edit the Lost Odyssey post if the information was for that game.

[Xion]

Thank you Doctor obvious. Would you also like a cookie? I mean I didn't make this thread because I thought it would be a good idea. I would have took the time to edit the Lost Odyssey post if the information was for that game.


well dont you think that for someone that doesnt know, they would ASUME its LO related since its posted directly after the scans?:crazy:

doesnt hurt to mention what your talking about man.

[Desi]

if they read they would have known it wasn't Lost Odyssey when the word "touchscreen" was brought up. but because you want me to so bad, I will mention it is A.S.H again.

edit: Blue Dragon Demo coming to Xbox Live July 20th

Blue Dragon demo set for July 20

Posted Jul 5th 2007 9:30AM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: News, Xbox Live Marketplace
If you've been on the fence about Blue Dragon, then we have some good news for you. According to Dengeki Online (helpfully translated by Siliconera), an international Blue Dragon demo is slated for July 20. Weighing an impressive 1.1GB, the demo will apparently contain a whopping 2 hours of available gameplay. We hope you've grown accustomed to the English voice-overs though, as Japanese will not be an option in the demo. There may be a few different subtitle options, depending on the language settings of your Xbox. Finally, be sure to grab the demo as soon as you can, as it will fly away from Marketplace on August 3rd, giving just over three weeks to save up for the real thing.
Source: Xbox Fanboy (http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/07/05/blue-dragon-demo-set-for-july-20/)

[Desi]

http://xs117.xs.to/xs117/07294/57638_ASH_VJ_2007aug_1_122_200lo.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs117&d=07294&f=57638_ASH_VJ_2007aug_1_122_200lo.jpg)
http://xs117.xs.to/xs117/07294/57644_ASH_VJ_2007aug_2_122_856lo.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs117&d=07294&f=57644_ASH_VJ_2007aug_2_122_856lo.jpg)
V-Jump originally posted by Mutou Yugi

[Shana]

It's too small for me to even see the gameplay/images .. >_<

[Flint]

Thanks Desi, at long last we finally get some new pics and info about A.S.H.! Shame it's in Japanese and I can't understand a word of it, but I've been waiting for anything new about this game for ages, so I'll take what I can get.

[Desi]

The Lost Odyssey site is up. It is only in japanese so far awkwardly enough.

http://lostodyssey.jp/

[Flint]

My enthusiasm for Lost Odyssey took quite a hit after that last trailer, unfortunately. After the inclusion of random battles and a turn based system that seems like something from the stone age dressed up in pretty graphics, it was Kaim's line: "I have survived here for a thousand years...but I can recall none of it". So he's yet another cliche RPG amnesiac? It disappoints me that they seem to be using one of the most generic plot/character devices ever conceived.

Also, Blue Dragon turned out to be mostly mediocre, so I'm approaching this one with more caution. Same goes for ASH on DS as well, although what worries me more about that is that it's supposed to be released in Japan in the next couple of months and yet they still haven't shown any actual video footage of the game.

[Desi]

My enthusiasm for Lost Odyssey took quite a hit after that last trailer, unfortunately. After the inclusion of random battles and a turn based system that seems like something from the stone age dressed up in pretty graphics,Thank you! I was against that for so long. This isn't even just Lost Odyssey but most Japanese RPG's period. Why the hell do you only have one (or in LO's case two) attack animation? I mean the hell is up with those lazy fucks. You alredy program the game to have random battles that take place on instanced field (this is 2007 same field please, ok thanks) but that is not enough, is it? You have to show your developer prowess by having a couple animations per character per action 'WOW'!it was Kaim's line: "I have survived here for a thousand years...but I can recall none of it". So he's yet another cliche RPG amnesiac? It disappoints me that they seem to be using one of the most generic plot/character devices ever conceived.
I was pretty upset when I heard that too. I was like, "1000 year journey kind of similar to Venus and Braves but good; sounds great...wait Kaim doesn't remember? The fuck did your talented scenario writer go? Get Matsuno!"

I am still looking forward to the game a lot. Seth is hot and the artist only does excellence so I want to know if he tarnishes his grand record.

[Flint]

Thank you! I was against that for so long. This isn't even just Lost Odyssey but most Japanese RPG's period. Why the hell do you only have one (or in LO's case two) attack animation? I mean the hell is up with those lazy fucks. You alredy program the game to have random battles that take place on instanced field (this is 2007 same field please, ok thanks) but that is not enough, is it? You have to show your developer prowess by having a couple animations per character per action 'WOW'!


I guess they think they are being true to the 'old-school' style of JRPG design with the random instanced battles and limited attack animations, but personally I think that kind of thing should be left to Dragon Quest. The DQ games can get away with it because they practically invented those kinds of features in the first place, but Lost Odyssey is being promoted as a 'next gen' RPG and from what I've seen so far the only next generation thing about it is that it uses Unreal Engine 3 for the graphics.



I was pretty upset when I heard that too. I was like, "1000 year journey kind of similar to Venus and Braves but good; sounds great...wait Kaim doesn't remember? The fuck did your talented scenario writer go? Get Matsuno!"



Is it right that the game is supposed to be comprised of a series of episodes that take the form of flashbacks to Kaim's past? If so, I can only assume that the story would be something like Kaim lived through a thousand years of pain and suffering and repressed it all as some kind of coping mechanism, and then the game would be about him facing up to the memories of his past and coming to terms with the suffering he has seen. That's my guess based on current info, could of course be completely wrong!

[Desi]

I guess they think they are being true to the 'old-school' style of JRPG design with the random instanced battles and limited attack animations, but personally I think that kind of thing should be left to Dragon Quest. The DQ games can get away with it because they practically invented those kinds of features in the first place, but Lost Odyssey is being promoted as a 'next gen' RPG and from what I've seen so far the only next generation thing about it is that it uses Unreal Engine 3 for the graphics. Yes, random battles are fine whatever. Instanced battles are a waste of existence. Two attack animations with one for multiple enemies and other for single is shameful. Even FF does this shit (except FFXI which has about 4 per weapon per race) and it is getting on my nerves. I expect more from a genre that can get away with so much. AI and graphics being examples




Is it right that the game is supposed to be comprised of a series of episodes that take the form of flashbacks to Kaim's past? If so, I can only assume that the story would be something like Kaim lived through a thousand years of pain and suffering and repressed it all as some kind of coping mechanism, and then the game would be about him facing up to the memories of his past and coming to terms with the suffering he has seen. That's my guess based on current info, could of course be completely wrong!God I hope not. That is even more like Venus and Braves. I personally hope we live out Kaim's and maybe Seth's life from the begining (or before) of their temp. imortality to the end or at least start in the mid 200 years. The game should connect pieces together with lack of major events so Kaim would seclude himself or try to seperate himself from others. After all living that long allows you to see the deaths of so many.

[Flint]

God I hope not. That is even more like Venus and Braves. I personally hope we live out Kaim's and maybe Seth's life from the begining (or before) of their temp. imortality to the end or at least start in the mid 200 years. The game should connect pieces together with lack of major events so Kaim would seclude himself or try to seperate himself from others. After all living that long allows you to see the deaths of so many.

I don't actually know anything about Venus and Braves so if what I wrote sounds like that, I can assure you it is completely a coincidence!

As far as I understand it, Lost Odyssey opens with the battle scene that was shown in those first trailers, which from what I can tell takes place in the present with Kaim already having lived for a thousand years, and then flashes back to key events in his life. I doubt very much that it would reveal at the start of the game the reason why he is an immortal, that would probably be an ongoing mystery that would be solved at the end.

I just hope that the main bad guy doesn't turn out to be Kaim's father as that is pretty much the cliche to end all cliches.

[Desi]

Gamersyde has a 15min gameplay video of Lost Odyssey that should appear at TGS's 07.

http://www.gamersyde.com/news_5028_en.html

I have to head out soon so I have to watch it later. Then I will most my impressions.

souce: NeoGaf

[Xion]

OMG must have now! this is EXACTLY the kind of game ive been waiting for since FFX... an awesome looking classic style RPG

[Shana]

Impresssed:
- ... it's an RPG with good graphics by Sakaguchi?

Disappointed & WtF:
- Japanese Voice Acting
- Asian Characters
- The odd nude "aahhhh" scene
- Frame rate issues (which they have time to fix or else)
- In Game Battle Camera
- Battle pace is slow
- Sakaguchi being an idiot on his very own game during the boss battle

>_>; Disappointing 15 Minute video, in my opinion.

[Desi]

Ok watched it. My time to put in my input.

Best to start with positives I believe. The art direction is great and supports the graphics well. Lost Odyssey really done well with mixing up its own fantasy realm. Same with many of the spell and ability effects. Well done and short, short being the main point. Tired of games with spells that make using them a test of your patience with overly spectacular drawn out showcases for if you are lucky 'great' damage. The camera used during the cutscenes is really well done. The one during running around was good too but obviously not as superb. Battle camera had a lively feel to it. I wish for more angles and such but this keeps it from being a chore to select enemies like it is in a few FF's when you fight with a awkward angle. The wizard character being wild and silly does make him much more interesting. I was expecting a wise silent one aka the average. Reacting to the rain is also a major plus.

On to the more disappointing parts. Kaim's running animation is horrible and so is a ton of animations elsewhere, the battle screen being the only thing safe. A lack of animations in battle. The same attack swing can and will get very tiring. The cutscene shown was way to long and filled to the brim with cliche things I could see from a mile away. Battles with field transitions, I am pretty sure it is the year 2007 and with it being 2007 battles should take place on the in-game map. Wow at the high encounter rate, cut that out right this moment. Lots of chatter also filled up his playthrough.

Misc. type of things: Seth is sexy though weak. Kaim needs more muscles, the guy has been living 1000 years. The screen with pop-up boxes isn't bad just strange. I believe they could do without it and still keep the camera the way they want. By golly Kaim is fast must be the immortal thing. Give me demo on xboxlive now! Those fifteen minutes went by too fast.

[Flint]

Gametrailers has another version of this video, except it's longer and has an introduction from some Microsoft guy and a longer end bit with Sakaguchi talking about the game, it's release date and the cover artwork - all of which has english subtitles. Unfortunately the in-game dialogue has not been translated so still no idea what exactly is going on at that bit at the end when they're looking out over the cliffside.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24982.html

[Flint]

Now this is what I've been waiting for... Gametrailers has the first video footage of ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat for the DS!

TV Spot trailer (shows FMV sequences from the game):

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/25081.html

And the first proper trailer with actual in-game footage!

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/25082.html

This game looks amazing and it's Fire Emblem style SRPG gameplay should be really great - Sakaguchi said in an interview once that SRPG games were his favourite genre, so this will hopefully be something really special. And if nothing else, the FMV and battle graphics look stunning.

I really hope this game sells enough copies in Japan to secure a western release and convince Mistwalker to make more DS games.

[Desi]

There's an interview with Sakaguchi about Lost Odyssey in the latest Famitsu Xbox360, here are some details from 2ch posters who got the mag:

- The game is about 40 hours long, 20 hours of which are taken up by event scenes or FMV.
- The MS Briefing portion that Sakaguchi played is the first dungeon.
- The trigger timing for physical attacks can add special properties to the attack.
- Equipment-wise there's only weapon, ring and accessory.
- The encounter rate is low, instead you're supposed to grow stronger from each series of fights.
- The Dream of 1000 Years short stories are just text.
- They're presented in short 5-10 min segments of text with no voice but with BGM.
- There are 34 of these short story episodes in total.
- There will be a world map, with a vehicle to move around in it.



Originally Posted by Ikael though fixed:
;_; I hate that they are still with that 90s mentality of "the more FMVs the better". Learn how to tell a story with the particular strenghts of this medium instead of wanting the game to be fourteen hollywood movies.

Pretty much said it best. I don't need Metal Gear, Xenosaga, The Bouncer type cutscenes fucking with my game. Super Metroid and Prime show you up. At least the encounter rate is low huh?

[Neal]

Im interested in seeing how the vehicle on the world map works.

[Xion]

world map? God if i wasnt sold allready..also, are you shure this is translated correctly? im shure i read previously that there were 8 hours of FMV, 1 of those in CG and the rest in-game..20 hours is way too much, and the presentation at microsofts conference was no dungeon, so that's weird

anyway, can't wait to see Mistwalker's next project, Cry On

http://aycu29.webshots.com/image/28348/2002377379673022186_rs.jpg

[Desi]

world map? God if i wasnt sold allready..also, are you shure this is translated correctly? im shure i read previously that there were 8 hours of FMV, 1 of those in CG and the rest in-game..20 hours is way too much, and the presentation at microsofts conference was no dungeon, so that's weird



I read the 7 hours of cutscenes too (which is still too damn much) several months ago. I am hoping this is just a bad translation as well but I just thought to post this.

A dungeon is just a name for a area you battle on that is separate from a world map.

[Xion]

oh i see, well im pretty shure were both right on the Cinematics, for such a big game alot of cinematics is expected (if you look back at the older FF games like 7 8 and 9, they all had around that many hours of cutscenes), and i want it to be very cinematic thats a big part of the appeal to an RPG, but 20 hours is too much and there is no way it went from having 8 hours to 20, so there is certainly a translation error there.

**EDIT**

Ive found the original Quote


"RN: We had 400 levels we had to make, so some had to be cut to make others better. Characters are fine. We've got about 300 characters. There's a little more than seven hours of real-time cutscenes. We determine priority: there are A Cutscenes, B Cutscenes, and C Cutscenes. There were too many A Cutscenes - the ones where we make them really good. We had to reduce the number of A Cutscenes and make more B Cutscenes.

Gamasutra: Are they all real-time?

RN: Out of those seven hours, one hour is prerendered, and six hours are real-time. They don't really look different, though, it’s almost the same. The prerendered scenes are for better lighting and for more visual effects like explosions or when a tower falls down. We needed prerendering for those scenes, but characters look almost the same. "


There is no way, again, that the cutscenes INCREASED in amount (especially so dramatically), so there is a mistranslation somewhere, no doubt..anyway, the game should take an average of 40-50 hours to complete. With the direction games are taking, of being shorter and shorter, this is great knowing ill have a game that will have me going for a good while, and ill ofcourse be playing more than once (first time straight throught the story, second time really in depth getting all items, level ups, hidden stuff ect) im very excited. With Lost Odyssey, The Last Remnant and Ninja Gaiden 2 alone, 2008 is secure for me, Cry On probably will come out in 2008 too, or maybe just past

[Neal]

They don't really look different, though, it’s almost the same.

Umm.. bullshit. That trailer with the CG in when the meteor or whatever hits the planet has REALLY different graphics to the CG and the game play graphics havent changed since then. Unless they made the CG shitter...?

[Xion]

Umm.. bullshit. That trailer with the CG in when the meteor or whatever hits the planet has REALLY different graphics to the CG and the game play graphics havent changed since then. Unless they made the CG shitter...?


actually, the games CG cinemas are made mostly from in-game assets that were given alot of additional polish, the ending result is a game that looks consitant between CG and in-game..the character models (wich is what he was refering to BTW) look similar in quality between in-game and CG..

Top Row is In-Game, bottom row is CG
http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/9/9/30/f_fflostosgscm_937ec54.jpg
http://img32.picoodle.com/img/img32/9/9/30/f_flostosgscxm_ddcfaa3.jpg

[Desi]

Some more LO stuffs

I don't care if ethelred believes me or not, but Sakaguchi definitely said this in the interview. It's being widely reported among other details. It's interesting that no one else disputes the rest of the information, but only chooses to cling on Sakaguchi's estimate that the game is 20 hours gameplay and 20 hours event scenes and movies. :P

Here's some more information:

- There is a high density of events, the idea is that instead of having fight after fight, there is event after event.

- Sakaguchi is especially excited that the game will feature many, many event scenes that take place between the party members, adding to the character development and relationships.

- Kaim's lifetime of 1000 years is "lost" from amnesia. This is a plot device that also allows them to strip all his skills so he can slowly remember them for use in battle.

- There are 9 party members in total, and you can set the front and back rows.

- There will be a scene that very realistically depicts what a real funeral is like.

- He feels that Lost Odyssey's approach is very different from FF. LO focuses heavily on strong human emotions and drama.


- Regarding the Dream of 1000 Years, Sakaguchi hopes that people that do not usually read novels or books take the time to read these short stories.

- After the release of the game, the short stories will also be compiled into a book form and sold.The game only takes place in a span of 30 years. Amnesia is for pussies. People should already be reading books you savage bastards!

[Xion]

"- There will be a scene that very realistically depicts what a real funeral is like.

- He feels that Lost Odyssey's approach is very different from FF. LO focuses heavily on strong human emotions and drama."

Im feeling that!

Most FF games i played took place over the span of what? a couple weeks? so it didnt bother me at all that the game doesnt take place over 1000 years, how convoluted would that have been? I know the amnesia thing has been done to death, but considering what they are working with, they could really make it interesting. 1000 years of backstory? the game better be gripping! I like things like when he remembers his Daughter commiting suicide right before him, that kind of thing is very impacting, sounds like the game will be full of such moments. They have so much to work with i really hope there will be sequels/prequels

I wonder if any scans came with these? until i see a scan for myself and see some proper translation, im going to call bullshit on the 20 hours of cutscenes! its either 40 hours gameplay + 20 or w/e hours of cutscenes, or 40 hours of gameplay + the previously stated 7. Sakaguchi clearly said this very last TGS that the game was 40-50 hours in length! im going to wait for something coming from either Sakaguchi or someone from Feel Plus that was definately NOT a mistranslation.

**EDIT**

IGN posted an article detailing Sakaguchi's comments from famitsu, it seems to be true that the game is split evenly between Cutscenes and Gameplay

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/824/824004p1.html

i dont know if im dissapointed or glad to be honest. For one, i like that they made the game more streamlined so there is less time walking or grinding before the next event, but that also cuts down the amount of time that youre actually playing. As long as the game is not boring in between, and there are other things to do like side quests if i want to do other things before heading for the next event, then thats good. "game scenes (including battles) and event scenes (including movies)" I guess event scenes he isnt just counting as cutscenes but also time spent talking or reading the short stories. Seeing as there are 34 Short Story scenes, all of wich are about 5-10 minutes in length, that cuts down the number quite a bit. I think its probably closer to the original estimate of about 8 hours in downright non-interactive CUTSCENE, so it does make more sense now.


"The actual game will begin with Kaim arriving in a large city"..hmm..i know this is true considering ive seen the opening cutscene, but whatever happened to that massive battle shown in the early trailer and demo? my understanding was that Kaim arriving in the city took place after the end of the first demo where he gets on the train, and looks out the window, very much like he is at the beggining of the opening cutscene. I hope that entire scenario was not cut from the game because that whole thing was friggin awesome! I hope that part is still in there wherever in the timeline it might be.

[Desi]

Yeah yeah I will post the same thing.

I actually bought the mag on Saturday, but just read the interview now, so I can confirm and elaborate on stuff.

Yes Sakaguchi says 20 hours of events and 20 hours of playtime. Not a lot of regular encounters, and a rather high proportion of mid-boss-type encounters. Because of the low number of encounters, characters will develop quite quickly over the course of a few battles. Sakaguchi is not a fan of long games so he wanted to keep it relatively short.

The player learns skills from the equipped rings. It sounds like FFIX's system, where you'll gain points per battle which go towards the skill, then you equip a new ring to learn a new skill.

The demo at the Media Briefing was the first dungeon in the game, but there's a bit of gameplay before that. You start off as Kaim and you walk around the city to meet up with Seth and the other dude (sorry don't remember the name off the top of my head) and then go up that mountain. I am just guessing, but I assume all that stuff in the old demo last year comes before that too (not really a dungeon per se, but that train ride at the end of the demo is the official intro sequence anyway).

Of course light users can do the minimal number of battles to play through it, but there are some things you can only get if you play the hardcore way. Not sure how this will affect the playtime though.

Voice actors will be announced in the next issue.

[Xion]

"Of course light users can do the minimal number of battles to play through it, but there are some things you can only get if you play the hardcore way."

good, thats what i wanted to hear, sidequests

[Desi]

Blue Dragon DS (already known) (http://ir.nikkei.co.jp/irftp/data/tdnr2/home/oracle/140/2007/4a02005/4a020050.pdf)

Away somthing (http://ir.nikkei.co.jp/irftp/data/tdnr2/home/oracle/140/2007/3a02005/3a020050.pdf)


AWAY ~Tsuresarareta Hitobito~ (Kidnapped People) (http://ir.nikkei.co.jp/irftp/data/tdnr2/home/oracle/140/2007/3a02005/3a020050.pdf)
Japanese release date: January 31st 2008
Scenario: Sakaguchi
Music: Nobuo Uematsu
Character Design: Naoto Ōshima
Developer: Artoon

Blue Dragon (http://ir.nikkei.co.jp/irftp/data/tdnr2/home/oracle/140/2007/4a02005/4a020050.pdf)
Japanese release date: March 2008
Developer: FeelPlus+
Not based on the anime.

Both are being published by AQ Interactive. Thanks to mutsu, icecream, and Takuhi for the details. :)

source: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195326

[Xion]

looks like its published by both AQ and Mistwalker... cool for DS owners, showing some love! also interesting that this Blue Dragon is being developed by Feel Plus and not Artoon..i wonder how that will turn out. I just want info on Cry On...

[Flint]

"The actual game will begin with Kaim arriving in a large city"..hmm..i know this is true considering ive seen the opening cutscene, but whatever happened to that massive battle shown in the early trailer and demo? my understanding was that Kaim arriving in the city took place after the end of the first demo where he gets on the train, and looks out the window, very much like he is at the beggining of the opening cutscene. I hope that entire scenario was not cut from the game because that whole thing was friggin awesome! I hope that part is still in there wherever in the timeline it might be.


I have a theory about this: So it starts with Kaim on the train, then he goes to report to the commanding officer/superior (or whatever he is) - the one in the trailer who says to him "there were almost no survivors when the meteorite hit the highlands - how did you survive?". Then by way of explanation the game flashes back to the battle scenario and you play through the events showing how Kaim survived the destruction and then made his way to the train afterwards. It's probably something like that, I doubt very much they would have cut that entire sequence from the game!


Originally Posted by Duckroll
AWAY ~Tsuresarareta Hitobito~ (Kidnapped People) (http://ir.nikkei.co.jp/irftp/data/tdnr2/home/oracle/140/2007/3a02005/3a020050.pdf)
Japanese release date: January 31st 2008
Scenario: Sakaguchi
Music: Nobuo Uematsu
Character Design: Naoto Ōshima
Developer: Artoon

Blue Dragon (http://ir.nikkei.co.jp/irftp/data/tdnr2/home/oracle/140/2007/4a02005/4a020050.pdf)
Japanese release date: March 2008
Developer: FeelPlus+
Not based on the anime.

Both are being published by AQ Interactive. Thanks to mutsu, icecream, and Takuhi for the details. :)



For a big DS fan like myself the news of these two games and their imminent releases (in Japan at least) is pretty amazing! I just hope that both games (and ASH) get picked up by a publisher for release in the west.:)

Is AWAY really coming out in January?? If so, Mistwalker have really been playing their cards close to their chest on that one! Does anyone have any proper information on what the game is actually about?

[Desi]

The Official North American Site is up now.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/l/lostodyssey

Flash site with some background puzzles.