Built for it's great existence, a "shell" stays afloat in Heaven
which encompasses a closed society, called Cocoon.
There, protected by the enormous machines and living beings
invented by the Crystal, the city fluorishes.
In the midst of a time of long lasting peace,
the inhabitants of Cocoon feared the "outsiders".
Outside of the shell, the underworld Pulse awakens,
and the invisible invaders frightens the people.
Slowly, people started suspecting each other,
and started harboring hatred for one another.
The "Holy Goverment", wishing for the peace of Cocoon,
took emergency countermeasures.
Suspicous people and those who have been influenced by the "outsiders"
were apprehended, announcing their forced migration to the underworld Pulse.
People were in virtual banishments, but awaiting for the truth to come was more ruthless than being banished.
Also as a symbol of peace, the Crystal chose people,
determined their fate, and with that intention, led the world.
And then, she was chosen.
As the enemy of mankind who will destroy the world,
she never speaks of herself, only referring to herself as "Lightning".
Interview from Famitsu:
[A Crystal that Invents -- FF XIII]
Katou:What kind of place is "Cocoon"? Are the streets in the trailer part of Cocoon?
Toriyama: Yes. That is a part of the world protected by the Crystal. Cocoon is a space for the Crystal to invent many things that make life easier for its inhabitants.
Katou: What exactly does the Crystal invent?
Toriyama: The Crystal invents things like machines for the people to use, produces living beings and raises them, amongst many other things. The Crystal closely looks after its people's livelihood.
Katou: I understand the "closed" part, but am I right to say that Cocoon created itself and is progressively growing, while self-containing a closed-off society on its own?
Toriyama: It's an isolated space, but not completely. Outside of Cocoon is the underworld called Pulse. Pulse is a world filled with the monster's menace. First there was Pulse, then the Crystal thought "If humans were to live in this world, what kind of environment would be suitable for humans to live in?" The Crystal created Cocoon as the answer to that question.
Katou: So you're saying, that anything outside of Cocoon is considered Pulse? Is it dangerous to go outside?
Toriyama: That is correct. That is how the inhabitants of Cocoon percieve the outside world.
Aizawa: Earlier when the words "protected by the Crystal," "invents things", etc. arose, meant that the Crystal itself is personified by having conscious thought. Is that how the Crystals are like in FFXIII?
Toriyama: Yes, it's different from the Crystals we've had so far that only possessed magical powers. Changing the forumula a bit with Fabula Nova Crystallis, the crystals in FFXIII have the ability to invent things.
Aizawa: In the latest trailer there was an enormous thing being hanged and got blown up. Is that also something invented by the Crystal?
Toriyama: Correct. That is also something invented by the Crystal. It's one of the "outsiders", which has a name, but we can't reveal that yet.
Katou: The outsiders are...?
Toriyama: "Outside" refers to the underworld Pulse. Basically, things that came from Pulse or invented by Pulse's Crystal, or anything that does not belong within Cocoon, are referred to as "outsiders". A Crystal exists in Pulse as well, complementing the things within Cocoon.
Katou: There are different types of Crystals as well?
Toriyama: Yes, there are. Those who've been influenced by the "outsiders" are quarantined by the "Holy Government". The ones in shackles and wearing prison uniformers seen in the trailer are the ones currently being deported.
Katou: I get it! So the trailer shown this time completes the E3 trailer by filling in the front and back of it. Now we're able to see bits and pieces of the prologue.
Toriyama: With the E3 trailer, we focused on wowing the audience, but this time we decided to introduce the story a little. We inserted a long narration so that people can have an idea of what kind of a person our heroine is, and in what way does she live and breathe in this world.
Aizawa: Let's settle this once and for all. Is "Lightning" her name?
Toriyama: It is not her name. She refers to herself as "Lightning", and is called by that by others. We don't want to reveal her real name because you will find that out in the game. So please look forward to that.
Aizawa: We really want to know though, but all we can do is wait (laughs).
Toriyama: That's because we finally started to introduce the story (laughs). Please use future trailers and the trailer shown this time to your imagination in how we will incorporate them into the game. Look forward to it.
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
An isolated nation protected by an ancient line of kings.
A modern civilization alive with the Crystal's songs of swords and sorcery.
A lone kingdom fighting to forestall the outer world from imposing its heretic order.
The struggle for the final Crystal is merely a prologue to the chronicles of a new era.
[The Only Crystal -- Versus XIII]
Katou: The battle scene was expanded, showing an overwhelmingly powerful protagonist.
Nomura: Being able to control him like that would be ideal. But that doesn't mean you'll be using that many weapons at the start of the game.
Katou: So, he'll start off weak?
Nomura: This is an RPG after all, so we have to make the player level up the character themselves (laughs).
Katou: (Laughs). In the end will we be able to flaunt our weapons like our hero does in the trailer after progressing through the story and obtaining all the weapons?
Nomura: That's what we have planned. If you're motivated to obtain the weapons, you will obtain them. The trailer gives you a feel of what it'll be like. Of the things we're considering, this trailer portrays the hero in a fairly strong state. We want to make it so that players can control him the same way, just like in the trailer.
Aizawa: Regarding the story's setting, what is the Crystal's role in this?
Nomura: Many things do not exist in this world. Being the only one in the world, the Crystal in the protagonist's country was the center of a cold war that has continued on for so long, but finally welcomes the thawing of the cold war.
Katou: The soldiers who came to attack are after the Crystal and plan to disturb the peace, correct?
Nomura: That is correct.
Katou: So that means the Crystal holds certain powers that are beneficial to the military?
Nomura: Yes. It was only briefly shown, but enshrined in a pillar-like object behind the protagnist seats the Crystal. You can't see it, so no one knows what the Crystal inside looks like.
Katou: The room with the throne has a shallow bed of water that's kind of suspicous (laughs). The words "in slumber" shown by the Crystal is explained, but is that the heart of the story?
Noruma: Yes. That is a very important point. There's a part in the Fabula Nova Crystallis myth that talks about "slumber", which is where Versus 13 comes from. We're planning to show real-time footage of the game in 2007, so please look forward to that then we can delve deeper into the game.
lol it wont let me post the rest, so get it
here.
Famitsu interviews translated D:
i still need more info on versus character though his so intriguing
I just found this on FF-XIII.net. I'll add it to the interviews section and credit Chas for it.
