6. “Let’s Make a ‘VII’ That Everyone Can Finish”

Iwata - Well then, I’d like to finish up with a message from each of you to all of the players who are looking forward to the game’s release. Sugimura-san, let’s start with you.

Sugimura - Sure. For this version of “VII” I think players will be able to play the game with a fresh perspective - even those who played the original. The puzzle solving portion at the beginning has changed quite a bit, the graphics have also all been revamped, and I’m sure there are a lot of people that have become mothers or fathers since playing the original, so it would make me happy if they played with their children this time.

Iwata - Having 12 years pass since the original version, of course people can play again with a fresh perspective, but I’m sure that there’s actually quite a few people who will be playing for the first time. So as you mentioned, now they also have he opportunity to play together with their kids as well.

Sugimura - Right. I’m sure there are a lot of homes with multiple 3DS’s, so I’d love for them to go out and adventure together.

Fujimoto - We put in the effort to include kana readings of all of the kanji as well.

Sugimura - Which meant now we had even more words to check, giving us even more work. (laughs)

Fujimoto - But thanks to that, small children can enjoy the game, and I’m hoping to even have my daughter who just turned seven play as well!

Iwata - Nice (laughs). Well then, Mashima-san, if you please.

Mashima - It turns out that after 12 and a half years there are quite a few things that even the developers forget, places where we’re like - “Wait, was it like this?” In that sense, we’ve remade the game as if we were making a brand new entry in the series, so I hope the players also think of it as a brand new game. (laughs)

Iwata - That being the case even for the developers, there’s no doubt that players will also feel just how fresh an experience it is.

Mashima - Right. Also, we’ve made it easier, but it still has plenty of that fun searching that’s distinctive to “Dragon Quest” games, so I hope people feel at ease knowing that. And of course battles are as they always are, where plenty of different combinations of monsters will show up, and if you’re not careful you’ll find your party wiped out.

Sugimura - As far as battles are concerned, I’d like people to pay attention to the “enemy death animations.”

Mashima - Ah, that’s right. When you take out an enemy they’ll fly backwards into the screen - boom! We paid special care to visuals like that that just feel good to watch. You have a mix of that kind of comical element in addition to the serious episodes like “the poisoning woman”…

Iwata - Um, Mashima-san, what’s with you and your obsession with “the poisoning woman?”

Everyone - (explodes in laughter)

Mashima - It’s just that, I guess that episode just really struck a chord with me (laughs). I must have really felt its believability.

Iwata - That kind of story pops up a lot in fairy tales, and perhaps things like that sticking with you is part of the “strength of ‘Dragon Quest.’” As we would say in Japanese, “A story without poison” is just boring, no?

Mashima - That in and of itself isn’t using particularly hard logic to get its point across. I’m sure there are a lot of episodes that stay with people specifically because people can have their own interpretation of the story based on their experiences.

Iwata - Now then, Fujimoto-san.

Fujimoto - We paid special attention to the music this time around as well - you know it’s fully orchestrated. We asked Sugiyama-san’s company, Sugiyama Workshop (※19) to make the music and they put a lot of care into it.

※19 Sugiyama Workshop＝ Music Orchestration company of Kouichi Sugiyama, who handles the sound for the “Dragon Quest” series.

Iwata - I’m sure they went into fine detail adjusting the music for consumption. Normally when you record with an orchestra the difference in volume between quiet scenes and more dynamic scenes is way too wide, meaning you can’t just record it and put it in the game as is.

Fujimoto - Yes. Actually each separate part had each separate phrase level adjusted, and we spent a lot of time optimizing for the 3DS speakers. As such, we hope people will enjoy the grandeur story with this grandeur music.

Iwata - Ok. Finally, Horii-san, if you please.

Horii - Sure. Let’s see. I think “VII” had a lot of content. A massive number of people played the game, but I bet that there were quite a lot of people that may be thinking, “I’m pretty sure I beat that one… or did I?”

Iwata - I have a feeling that that phrase in particular - “I’m pretty sure I beat that one,” actually sums up the thoughts of people who played “VII” quite well (laughs).

Horii - Ha ha ha (laughs). But this time around we’ve made the tablets easier to find, and even if you get lost I think we’ve made it so that you won’t get stuck. Although there is quite a bit of volume to the game, since it’s on a handheld I think people should be able to finish, playing in short bursts.

Mashima - One thing we thought was indeed - “Let’s make a ‘VII’ that everyone can finish.”

Sugimura - And we’ve put a lot into the ending!

Fujimoto - Ah - she went and said it (laughs). If you make it to the end, something good might happen at some point.

Horii - With that, let’s change the topic… Now that I think about it, “Pokemon” (※20) was announced for the 3DS, wasn’t it? The graphics are incredible aren’t they, in 3D.

※20 “Pokemon” on 3DS＝ “Pokemon X” “Pokemon Y”. Scheduled for release worldwide in October 2013.

Iwata - Yes, the staff put a lot of work into reinventing the look of the game. So this year we have “Dragon Quest VII,” “Tomodachi Collection” (※21), “Monster Hunter 4” (※22) and “Pokemon” scheduled for release. It all kicks off with “Dragon Quest VII.”   This time we got to hear how “Dragon Quest VII” has been reborn from the version that was released 12 and a half years ago, once again centered around Horii-san’s principles for development. I think players who have played “VII” before and those who haven’t will be able to enjoy a fresh new perspective on the game together, thanks to new aspects possible specifically thanks to the 3DS. Being able to create tablets this time, perhaps we’ll see new ways in which the game becomes a topic of conversation throughout the world. Thank you all for coming today.

※21 “Tomodachi Collection”＝ “Tomodachi Collection” (Working Title). Planned for release in spring 2013. ※22 “Monster Hunter 4”＝ Planned for release from Capcom in Summer 2013.

Everyone - Thank you.