TAN
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Hello everyone! Today's topic of discussion is SOULCALIBUR III, so let's take a look back at the project as a whole.
Let's first start with Mishina-san.
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３４７
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Hello, this is Mishina.
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TAN
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I wonder if 'Soul History' had an impact. As you know, the concept was to get people who don't know SOULCALIBUR to understand the story and the world.
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３４７
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Yes, we first talked about making 'Soul History' look like an old library or den. I unfortunately didn't have such material, so I actually used high resolution screenshots from the 'South France Mansion/Library' stage from SOULCALIBUR II. I had to ask someone to load up the data from SOULCALIBUR II.
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TAN
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That's right, it was still in the early stages of development of III and you could still load data from SOULCALIBUR II.
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３４７
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Yes, we also looked over the story from the beginning and made sure that it made sense.
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TAN
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You know, it was great because we had a chance to straighten out the story. We also had the music staff create new music and sound for the web site.
What about the character page?
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３４７
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Well, with the profiles and story, there was a ton of text data--plus it was in two languages. But above all, there were so many characters! |
TAN
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Yes, almost too many. What was it like making the characters? |
TAKE
SAMURAI
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It's always a challenge, especially because some of the characters you work on never make it into the game. I had one such character for SOULCALIBUR III.
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TAN
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That's right, Edgardo!
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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Yup, I had finished modelling Edgardo but the animation was behind schedule and we had some other problems and he never made it into the game.
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TAN
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We had a similar situation with Setsuka. Her animation was also behind schedule, but we worked around that by releasing her screenshots at a later date.
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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Speaking of Setsuka, her high resolution publicity artwork wasn't coming along as planned so we asked our neighboring Tekken team for help. So that was actually created by a Tekken designer.
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TAN
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That's right, both Setsuka and Tira.
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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And Setsuka's eyes had to be fixed after it was completed.
Before |
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After |
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TAN
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Hahaha, yes even the U.S. Marketing department said there was something wrong with her eyes. But that artwork was used as huge panels at E3, so I am really glad we got it fixed.
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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Talking about big, those E3 life-sized figures were absolutely huge!
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TAN
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We had Zasalamel sent over, and he's standing over there in the corner (laughs).
Unfortunately, he fell over because of an earthquake last year and broke his scythe....
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３４７
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Yes, I'm supposed to be fixing that.
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TAN
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Impressive! Working as a carpenter a long time ago certainly helps.
We just have to make sure that it doesn't fall again from another earthquake. It's standing in front of Yotoriyama-san's desk, and it almost got him last time!
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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If it falls again, it falls again.
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TAI
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Right.
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TAN
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If the showcase next to Zasalamel is alright, it should be fine. There are a lot of important items and trophies in there, so we don't want that falling over. We certainly won a lot of awards for SOULCALIBUR II, and we also won many for SOULCALIBUR III.
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TAI
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And we drank that bottle of Dom Perignon.
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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What happened to that bottle? |
３４７
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I washed it and put it back in the showcase.
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TAN
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Hahaha, you washed it? Hey, but it's not in the showcase. I wonder where it went.There are a lot of things in here, though.
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KUNI
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A lot of licensed goods.
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TAI
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And a lot of guide books!
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TOMMY
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Of course, I worked hard.
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３４７
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It's because of all the food you got.
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TOMMY
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Well, yes, that might have something to do with it.
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KUNI
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Sweets?
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TOMMY
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Yes, and other things as well, like rice crackers. Didn't I give you some?
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KUNI
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Really? Oh yeah, maybe.
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TAN
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Yeah, Tommy was surviving on those crackers, haha.
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TOMMY
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Surviving.... Not really, hahaha.
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TAN
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The time difference didn't stop you from doing the North American official guide.
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TOMMY
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Well, I had a lot of help.
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KUNI
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That was a tough schedule.
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TAN
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The game and official guide were on sale the same day in the States, so yes, it was tough.
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TAI
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The North American game cover looked great!
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TAN
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This time, the design and characters are different for each territory. One interesting thing about that package is Tira's breasts on the back cover. Her breasts are concealed with screenshots because of the rating.
Europe |
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North America |
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Japan |
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Korea |
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TAI
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Yeah, Setsuka's too.
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TOMMY
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What’s this?
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TAN
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Hmm, those are the scripts for the voice overs.
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TOMMY
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It's signed by the voice actors and Yotoriyama-san!
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TAN
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Yeah, it was a prize for the fans, and those others are for safekeeping.
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TOMMY
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I have to make sure to get Yotoriyama-san's signature.
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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Yeah, I actually wrote that signature.
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TOMMY
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Really?
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３４７
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Is that true?
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TAN
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Yes, Yotoriyama-san asked Takeda to make a cool looking signature.
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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It was originally a brush style signature, which was also my....
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TAN
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Sshhhhh!
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TOMMY
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What?
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TAN
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Yes, well, ahh, it's difficult to write with a brush all the time, so we needed one for a magic marker.
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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And we had Yotoriyama-san practice.
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３４７
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I like it. I think it looks good.
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TAI
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What happens when we start on 4?
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KUNI
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...
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TAN
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Haha, yeah, how should we write that?
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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I guess, when the time comes we can think about it.
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TAI
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Are we going to be doing '4' next?
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TAN
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I really don't know, we really haven't thought things through yet.Since we're on the topic, why don't you all give your opinions on where the franchise should head.
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TAKE
SAMURAI
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J*di Knights as guest characters, and titled "SOULPAST."
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TAN
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Oh no, not another joint project....
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TAI
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"SOULOLYMPICS"-- SOULCALIBUR becomes an Olympic competition!
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TAN
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You definitely went in a random direction...Olympic competition?
Mishina-san, how about you?
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３４７
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SOULCALIBUR becomes a racing game called "SOULRUNNERS." Not an ordinary car racing game, but a foot race!
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TAN
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Interesting, might be fun with Zasalamel and his slow legs.
How about you?
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KUNI
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The franchise no longer continues as a fighting game.
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TAN
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Right...well, everybody already said things that are not fighting games, so I guess that's alright.
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TOMMY
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How about an ice hockey game? Doesn't that sound fun?
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TAN
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Sports? If you're going to go that route, basketball and golf are also options. Although that would make it like M*rio....
I think I will have to go with a shooting game. A fantasy shooting game, hahaha!
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３４７
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An action adventure game might be fun.
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TAN
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We're getting farther and farther from SOULCALIBUR. I have no idea where the franchise is heading....
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