Raxaimus

While this isn't part of the SE conference, I'm really excited for Mana Collection (out now!) and the new Seiken Densetsu 3 remake! Combined with FFVII-R, FFVIII, Re:Mind, Avengers, and a whole bunch of other stuff, I think it's safe to say that SE stole the show for me.

Hot Topic and Fan Factory are currently running a contest where Kingdom Hearts fans can submit an original t-shirt design, to potentially be sold at Hot Topic locations. Submissions are accepted until June 11th at 11:59 PM PST, while the voting period for the contest takes place from June 12th at 12:00 AM PST until June 18th at 11:59 PM PST. The grand-prize winner of this contest will be awarded $2000 USD, and will have the opportunity for their design to be sold through Hot Topic. In addition, four runners-up will be awarded $300 each. This contest is limited to residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Entrants must be above the age of 18. According to the contest's guidelines and FAQ, t-shirt submissions must adhere to the following: Designs cannot use intellectual property that has not been featured in the Kingdom Hearts series. This includes Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm franchises, as well as material that infringes on non-Kingdom Hearts copyrights and brands. In addition, for legal reasons, elements from Tarzan, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Final Fantasy cannot be used in any capacity, despite their inclusion in the Kingdom Hearts universe. Furthermore, obscene/inappropriate content or content touching upon polarizing topics will not be considered. Lastly, entrants must not copy existing artists or artwork. Each individual entrant can submit up to 10 designs, so if you have plenty of ideas, don't feel as though you have to narrow it down to a single choice! Hot Topic and Fan Factory have stated that designers are also free to promote their submitted work to friends, family, and followers, so let people know that you've entered! We look forward to seeing upcoming submissions, and we would be thrilled to share the news that your shirt design has won and is available for sale! Good luck, everyone! You can view winners of previous Fan Factory contests here. Are you going to enter this contest? Do you have any other ideas for Kingdom Hearts-related products that you want to see in the future? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

In an interview conducted after the premiere of the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres- in Tokyo, Kingdom Hearts series composers Yoko Shimomura, Takeharu Ishimoto, and Tsuyoshi Sekito were asked about how it feels to work on live music for an orchestra. Among the topics covered, they talked about the creative process that goes into the Kingdom Hearts concert tours. They revealed that they experienced difficulties in choosing a setlist and arranging each track, ultimately settling on 77 tracks which represent the entire series and Kingdom Hearts III in particular. They also discussed what they found appealing in each others' musical styles, and expressed gratitude toward the fans for continuing to enjoy their concerts. Following this interview, series director Tetsuya Nomura wrote a short comment, where he described the editing process for the concert's video footage and talked about his previous appearances at the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra performances. Here, Nomura noted that it's no longer a surprise when he appears. Hinting that he may no longer show up, he told fans to be eager about the next event. You can view a translation of the full interview below. Translations for this interview have been provided by KH13 staff member Mio-chan as well as Katie Armstrong. What did you think of this interview? Are you excited for the upcoming international performances of -World of Tres-? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! View full article