Yasue talks KH3 world selection, wanting to be involved with future titles/saga, & dealing with the complex story

[Sora96 17,256]

Following the interview reveal last week that Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX could be coming to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, IGN has posted the second half of their interview with Tai Yasue, the co-director of the Kingdom Hearts series.

 

This full interview covers when we might see Kingdom Hearts III, the world selection process for Kingdom Hearts III and future entries, both fans and development staff alike dealing with the series' complex story, Yasue's personal wish to be involved with future Kingdom Hearts titles ("especially if it's a new saga"), and the team's goal to have Kingdom Hearts III help with expanding and revitalizing the Japanese video game market.

 

Check out the full interview at IGN, or read it below, in full.

 

Yasue: “Nomura has always been working on Kingdom Hearts III full-time, so nothing’s really changed there. Nomura is really the visionary, so he doesn’t work on the nitty gritty details. That’s something we do in Osaka; alongside development, we do the technology. That hasn’t really changed. We get Nomura’s input but it’s not a day-to-day thing, he just has these big ideas sometimes he tells us about. The pace really depends on how our team’s doing and that was never affected.”

 

Yasue: “I can’t make any announcements on the Disney worlds but, even there, there are so many that we’re studying."

 

[Yasue explained to me that two teams of programmers were employed, one focusing on 2.5 Remix and the other on Kingdom Hearts III, while the designers split their time evenly between the two projects. Now 2.5 is out the way, it’ll enable them all to focus on Kingdom Hearts III but he doesn’t believe there was ever really a slowdown. Admittedly, getting to grips with Unreal Engine 4 took some getting used to, but he believes the dividends are already paying off.]

 

Yasue: “We’ve shown some videos of what Kingdom Heart III looks like and it does look a bit different but it’s still clearly Kingdom Hearts. UE4 was introduced and there’s a lot of stuff that we didn’t have to do previously, like lighting and shading, which we now have to do. The technology is vastly different but it’s exhilarating to have all this stuff to learn. There’s so much we can do, the consoles are so fast. Some of the videos with Sora, with individual strands of his hair moving? That stuff is a real leap in technology. I can’t make any announcements on the Disney worlds but, even there, there are so many that we’re studying. They do a lot of new stuff as well so we’re figuring out how to incorporate them as well.”

 

[As everyone’s well aware at this stage, however, Disney has been busy growing its portfolio since the last game in the franchise launched. With both Marvel and LucasFilm now sequestered inside the walled garden of the House of Mouse, speculation has been rife that Avengers or Star Wars-themed playgrounds could make an appearance in the upcoming title. The look of fatigue that crosses Yasue’s face when I ask the question he’s clearly heard a million times before isn’t unexpected, but his answer should give fans some hope.]

 

Yasue: “I can’t really go into any specifics or say anything about Star Wars, but when we come up with worlds we really want variety and to make sure that there’s a lot of different types of worlds. Any world that looks special is definitely a consideration; everything from the characters, to how they look and the differences between them. We think Star Wars is great but I’m not going to relate that to Kingdom Hearts III yet! We want a wide variety of worlds and when we come up with ideas, it’s the differences and the originality of each that’s really important.”

 

Yasue: “Any world that looks special is definitely a consideration; everything from the characters, to how they look and the differences between them. We think Star Wars is great.

 

[Alongside this hint, Yasue said that just because a world has previously appeared in the series doesn’t mean it won’t do so again. Square Enix is taking it’s time to evaluate which worlds will best suit the story and create a diverse experience for players and, until they’re ready, we shouldn’t expect any announcements. What he would admit, however, is that the non-linear structure we’ve come to expect won’t change, saying we’ll be able “to play them as you want”.]

 

[Of course, just because Endor or Iron Man don’t end up making it into Kingdom Hearts III doesn’t mean they’ve missed their shot for good. It’s been confirmed before now that Kingdom Hearts as a franchise will continue on beyond the conclusion of The Dark Seeker saga as the games up to this point have been called. Yasue explains he’d like to be part of whatever’s next, especially if it’s a new saga, though he acknowledges one or two issues may need to be addressed.]

 

[i first brought up the common complaint that, with so many different instalments on different platforms, a major problem with the franchise so far is how obtuse the story can be. It’s a complaint he acknowledges as fair, joking that even some of the development team find it hard to keep track of the story.]

 

Yasue: “Honestly, a lot of the developers, me included, are also sometimes confused. Nomura has all this stuff in his head and sometimes doesn’t tell us. He keeps it secret. So there’s a lot of stuff he says in interviews that surprises us. I think he wants to shock us as well as fans, but a lot of it is hidden from us too!"

 

Yasue: “What we do next time around largely depends on the hardware, too. It’s changing so rapidly."

 

Yasue: “What we do next time around largely depends on the hardware, too. It’s changing so rapidly and we obviously don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ll be sure to consider the ones that most of our players are using though. We don’t even know the business model or how to sell it. That’s changing rapidly too, so we may have to adjust to that as well.”

 

[Despite this, it seems unlikely Square Enix is prepared to let one of its most-loved franchises languish when there’s an opportunity for money to be made. Yasue, however, argues it’s something much nobler that motivates the developers based on the ground. There’s a general consensus this year’s Tokyo Game Show was much more exciting than it has been in previous years thanks to the strong presence of titles like Bloodborne. With the Japanese games industry having been labelled as a dying behemoth for years, the new consoles seem to have offered a second lease of life. According to Yasue, Square is under no illusions about how all the big Japanese developers need to do their bit.]

 

Yasue: “With the development of Kingdom Hearts III we want the market to become bigger. We want to be responsible for moving it forward. There’s a lot of stuff, technology-wise, that we have to play catch-up to as well but I think right now we’re doing a lot of new stuff. By making, developing and publishing Kingdom Hearts III, hopefully the Japanese market will change. I think everyone from Square Enix feels that responsibility. We think we’re maybe even the people who are most responsible for doing that. We’re the only people in the right position who are able to change the market."

 

Yasue: “As a whole, the market isn’t getting smaller. It’s getting bigger, but it’s going towards smartphone apps. Personally, I enjoy making big budget, huge development games with long cycles so for me it’s exciting and hopefully that translates to the player.”

 

[Kingdom Hearts III may still be some way off, but it seems like Square Enix is fully aware of the pressure on it to deliver. As our interview draws to a close, I ask Yasue one more time if we’ll maybe see the game before 2015 is out? “We will make sure to make Kingdom Hearts III as quick as possible,” he says with a tired smile. It seems that’s as good an answer as I’m going to get.]

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[Hero of Winds 2,576]

What hope is the Star Wars/Marvel question giving us fans? Most of us don't even want either in the series, but we'll live with it if we have to.

[hearts of hearts 5]

“Honestly, a lot of the developers, me included, are also sometimes confused,” he laughs. “Nomura has all this stuff in his head and sometimes doesn’t tell us. He keeps it secret. So there’s a lot of stuff he says in interviews that surprises us. I think he wants to shock us as well as fans, but a lot of it is hidden from us too!

 

This is a little weird. Is Nomura shy with his team too?, lol

[Master Keeper 687]

This is a little weird. Is Nomura shy with his team too?, lol

There is a difference between being shy and keeping your own secrets for a better timing.

But I am partially with you on this point, I've never knew that Nomura hides some of his ideas from his team.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

WHAT

POSSIBLE 2.5 TO PS4 AND XBOX ONE?

[Blaze27 40]

I hope the team doesn't rush this game, I hope they take there time with it. I hate these people that want a game out so soon, let the developers work on the game for crying out loud. Sorry for rambling on just I'm tired of these people that want it out so soon.

 

I liked this interview it's kind of shocking to see Nomura keeps secrets from his own team. Thanks Sora!

[Zachy1993 65]

What hope is the Star Wars/Marvel question giving us fans? Most of us don't even want either in the series, but we'll live with it if we have to.

 

Speak for yourself.

[Soravids 1,056]

I hope the team doesn't rush this game, I hope they take there time with it. I hate these people that want a game out so soon, let the developers work on the game for crying out loud. Sorry for rambling on just I'm tired of these people that want it out so soon.

 

I liked this interview it's kind of shocking to see Nomura keeps secrets from his own team. Thanks Sora!

You're welcome.

[Sora96 17,256]

What hope is the Star Wars/Marvel question giving us fans? Most of us don't even want either in the series, but we'll live with it if we have to.

 

I know plenty of people that want them in KH3.

[Hero of Light XIV 2,381]

"Yasue explained to me that two teams of programmers were employed, one focusing on 2.5 Remix and the other on Kingdom Hearts III, while the designers split their time evenly between the two projects."

 

Huh, I guess that's why there were a few problems with 2.5.

 

Kingdom Hearts III may still be some way off, but it seems like Square Enix is fully aware of the pressure on it to deliver. As our interview draws to a close, I ask Yasue one more time if we’ll maybe see the game before 2015 is out? “We will make sure to make Kingdom Hearts III as quick as possible,” he says with a tired smile. It seems that’s as good an answer as I’m going to get.

 

Haha, awww, isn't that cute? The IGN interviewer thinks he knows what he's even asking. X)

[Sora96 17,256]

You're welcome.

 

He's thanking me....

[RikuFangirl2008 1,368]

So, Nomura is also hiding secrets from his team as well? I guess he's like Xehanort then. lol

He did say something about him scheming in that message in that book. 

 

Whatever secrets he's hiding from both his team and us fans, I would probably guess it's a great big shocking surprise. So freaking big, it would blow ALL of our minds. His team and us fans. Something like what Xehanort is doing right now... 

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

I know plenty of people that want them in KH3.

I know way more people that don't want it than I do the opposite.

[Sora96 17,256]

I know way more people that don't want it than I do the opposite.

 

Well that's you personally. But they obviously gauge the Japanese market more.

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

Well that's you personally. But they obviously gauge the Japanese market more.

Of course, it's their main branch to market in. 

 

My problem with Marvel/Star Wars is that they are not Disney. People get this thought in their head that Disney bought it, so now it's Disney. No, that's not how things work. Disney didn't create the original content. Disney didn't employ any values that they fill their original content with into these franchises. It's not Disney, but Disney owns it. Marvel and Star Wars are pretty damn cool. But no matter how hard I try to wrap my head around it, neither fit. There's just not a possible way to put them in and expect it to fit. They'll just be there, awkwardly standing out among the rest. 

Edited December 13, 2014 by Hero of Winds

[Sora96 17,256]

Of course, it's their main branch to market in. 

 

Yep, and Square Enix are MASSIVE Star Wars fans.

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

Yep, and Square Enix are MASSIVE Star Wars fans.

Hence the reason Kingdom Hearts shares an almost entirely similar theme and setting. Hell, Assault on Dreadnaught in KH2 is literally the whole Death Star destruction set up from Star Wars Episode IV. A series with the exact same themes being in a series influenced by it just doesn't work.

[Sora96 17,256]

Hence the reason Kingdom Hearts shares an almost entirely similar theme and setting. Hell, Assault on Dreadnaught in KH2 is literally the whole Death Star destruction set up from Star Wars Episode IV. A series with the exact same themes being in a series influenced by it just doesn't work.

 

Or you look at Final Fantasy, it's loaded. FFIV and XII being prime examples. Not to mention Biggs and Wedge in nearly every game. Lol.

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

Or you look at Final Fantasy, it's loaded. FFIV and XII being prime examples. Not to mention Biggs and Wedge in nearly every game. Lol.

I'll need a better example. I have no care for the majority of FF, so I'll completely miss your point here. 

[Sora96 17,256]

I'll need a better example. I have no care for the majority of FF, so I'll completely miss your point here. 

 

Well a lot of characters are inspired by Star Wars characters. The creators have even admitted to being fans.

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

Well a lot of characters are inspired by Star Wars characters. The creators have even admitted to being fans.

Ah. Well could you picture them mixing Star Wars into that? I know FF is totally different from this possibility happening, but just imagine dealing with two series of the same theme in one experience. Does that seem right to you?

[Sora96 17,256]

Ah. Well could you picture them mixing Star Wars into that? I know FF is totally different from this possibility happening, but just imagine dealing with two series of the same theme in one experience. Does that seem right to you?

 

Seems right to me.

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

Seems right to me.

So it's totally cool to put the same story into one world of a game completely filled with those themes and story?

Edited December 13, 2014 by Hero of Winds

[Skyace 65 75]

So it's totally cool to put the same story into one world of a game completely filled with those themes and story?

I'm pretty sure they've done that with Disney multiple times.

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

 

This here is comforting. He acknowledges that KH3 is desperately desired and promises that he will make it and then release it as soon as possible. Bravo to you Mr. Yasue!

 

I ask Yasue one more time if we’ll maybe see the game before 2015 is out? “We will make sure to make Kingdom Hearts III as quick as possible,” he says with a tired smile.

Edited December 13, 2014 by KingdomHearts3