Want to see an interview with G.Rev's president? I need help

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:39 am

I contacted Hiroyuki Maruyama, and asked if he would participate in an english-language interview for got-next.com. He agreed, but he said that he would need us to provide a translator. I know a few people with a few years of japanese experience under their belt, but no one I'm sure would be up to this task.

Now I know there's a few nihongo speakers amidst this board, and I'm sure there's also plenty of people who would be interested to see this feature, so I'm hoping there's somebody who could work with me, or put me in touch with someone who could help.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:43 am

paging gaijinpunch to this thread

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:02 am

Sweet. And I know it goes without saying, but be sure you have the translator ask him to please make Senko No Ronde region free.

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:27 pm

What language did you contact him in?

zinger · Post by **zinger** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:20 pm

Sweet! Really looking forward to this interview, good luck Frogacuda!

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:25 pm

icycalm wrote:What language did you contact him in?

English. He said he was able to understand and respond using automatic translation, but he wouldn't be comfortable doing the interview that way.

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:33 pm

Shit man, you are my hero. We should do more of this.

edit: it would also be very cool if you posted here the emails...!

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:43 pm

How is the interview being conducted? Email? I don't really have enough confidence to sit there and conduct an interview in Japanese, or I would've solicited a few of my gaming heroes as well.

If it's a written interview, I can most likely help.

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:02 pm

GaijinPunch wrote:How is the interview being conducted? Email? I don't really have enough confidence to sit there and conduct an interview in Japanese, or I would've solicited a few of my gaming heroes as well.

If it's a written interview, I can most likely help.

It will be an email correspondence interview. I wouldn't need anything in real-time.

Email me at [email protected] if you're interested and I can fill you in.

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:14 pm

I am not familiar with that "got-next.com" website, but would it it allow people to send in some questions or the man so you/they can ask them?

I for one would love to know if they'd consider Senko no Ronde or any new to be made game for the Dreamcast.

And possibly some details about their connection to Treassure and possible new cooperation on titles (like in Ikaruga and Gradius V).

But even (most likely) if this is not allowed I'd love to read your interview with the man.

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:25 pm

Super Laydock wrote:I am not familiar with that "got-next.com" website, but would it it allow people to send in some questions or the man so you/they can ask them?

I for one would love to know if they'd consider Senko no Ronde or any new to be made game for the Dreamcast.

And possibly some details about their connection to Treassure and possible new cooperation on titles (like in Ikaruga and Gradius V).

But even (most likely) if this is not allowed I'd love to read your interview with the man.

I wouldn't mind taking a few requests for questions. I would like to avoid asking questions nagging for a release or anything as this seems unprofessional, but apart from that, yeah, fire away, and I'll relay any that look interesting.

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:38 pm

Frogacuda wrote: I wouldn't mind taking a few requests for questions.

That's great!

I would like to avoid asking questions nagging for a release or anything as I'm sure they will say what they can on the matter when they can.

You are probably right on that, no need to offend or annoy them.

I am sure there are more than enough burning intelligent questions that you and maybe some other people can come up with.

Oh and I almost forgot to congratulate you on this. Great work!

jp · Post by jp » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:04 pm

Awesome Frog! I look forward to seeing this!!!

As for questions, I have a few (you probably already know them though):

Will they consider continuing support of the Dreamcast?
Will they consider un-region-locking Senko no Ronde: Revision X?
What do they think about the consoles coming out now? Which are they most likely to support (if any)?

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:09 pm

Email sent!

My vote for some standard questions:

-How they came to choose _____ game (probably Under Defeat in this case)
-Any technical/development obstacles w/ the 3 games they've made.
-Plans for the future
-Can any of the staff 1CC both loops of Under Defeat

ahnslaught · Post by **ahnslaught** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:43 pm

Some Q's I have are:

What goes into deciding how many copies to make of games for DC - how do they estimate the number of people who still use a 7 year old console like the DC and, more importantly, be willing to buy games for it?

What convinced G.Rev to port Senko no Ronde to the X360, with its small user base (especially in Japan, from what I've heard), over the PS2, which many shooter fans have and many more individuals own?

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:03 am

What does he think of the future of the arcades in Japan?

Does he like pure 2D shooting games and do they ever plan on making any?

Does he have any clue of the rabid fanbase for Japanese STGs among the international community?

I would also propose we send him a list of western websites devoted to Japanese STGs. A damn long list.

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:11 am

Some of G.Rev's staff did a terrific job in helping to revitalize the Darius franchise for Taito with "G-Darius", and assisting Konami and Treasure in revitalizing the Gradius franchise with "Gradius V".

There would likely be significant press and fan excitement internationally if G.Rev were able to acquire the defunct franchise rights to the classic "Thunder Force" shmups, from defunct company Techno Soft. This is the only major shooting franchise not to receive a modern revision yet, and the demand for a new title in the series has yet to be exploited on modern hardware.

G.Rev's high quality horizontal style established by "Border Down", might be a perfect fit for the "Thunder Force" name, and might also boost sales figures. Fans of the "Thunder Force" intellectual property would probably be thrilled if such a project were possible, and it seems ideally suited to G.Rev's talents.

Valgar · Post by **Valgar** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:12 am

Frogacuda wrote: I wouldn't mind taking a few requests for questions. I would like to avoid asking questions nagging for a release or anything as this seems unprofessional, but apart from that, yeah, fire away, and I'll relay any that look interesting.

What about, "WILL G.REV PORT A CAVE COMPLIATION PACK TO DREAMCAST?"

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:51 am

Some good suggestions. I will definitely be asking about future plans, about bringing their games to the west, and about the relationship with Treasure.

dai jou bu · Post by **dai jou bu** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:59 am

This would be my only question to them, since the Senko no Ronde region-free thing was already covered:

"Is Senko no Ronde's release on the 360 going to be the last update you'll make for this game, or will there be future revisions?"

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:09 am

I'm not going to ask them about region free simply because I know they are aware of the demand already and will surely do what they can.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:39 am

Please tell him that we are more than grateful for Under Defeat. We need more shooting love!

KBZ · Post by **KBZ** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:39 am

you should read these to make sure you aren't asking the same old questions over again.

http://www.dreamcast-scene.com/index.ph ... tInterview

http://www.dreamcast-scene.com/index.ph ... eInterview

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:12 am

Kingbuzzo wrote:you should read these to make sure you aren't asking the same old questions over again.

http://www.dreamcast-scene.com/index.ph ... tInterview

http://www.dreamcast-scene.com/index.ph ... eInterview

I hadn't seen these before, but I'm releived that they have virtually no overlap with my questions whatsoever. My questions are more about the company itself than the games in particular. I'm sort of of the feeling that their games speak for themselves, and more interested in learning about the company behind them.

ResOGlas · Post by **ResOGlas** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:18 pm

Frogacuda wrote:I'm not going to ask them about region free simply because I know they are aware of the demand already and will surely do what they can.

That's the one question everybody cares about...

I don't feel it's rude to ask, merely if all it does is solidify the american demand in his eyes. Japanese business is built upon the foundation of horrible decisions, and they need any input they can get.

If you still don't want to ask about the region-free, at least ask if there are plans to bring Senko no Ronde to American 360. We're all willing to buy the game, even if it means we have to wait an extra 6 months for a stateside release.

Seriously, ask.

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:09 pm

ResOGlas wrote:
Frogacuda wrote:I'm not going to ask them about region free simply because I know they are aware of the demand already and will surely do what they can.
That's the one question everybody cares about...

I don't feel it's rude to ask, merely if all it does is solidify the american demand in his eyes. Japanese business is built upon the foundation of horrible decisions, and they need any input they can get.

If you still don't want to ask about the region-free, at least ask if there are plans to bring Senko no Ronde to American 360. We're all willing to buy the game, even if it means we have to wait an extra 6 months for a stateside release.

Seriously, ask.

But he already knows. They read all of your email, and they are company that has proven themselves very loyal to their fans. IF it is their decision to make (and truly, we don't know that it is, as there aren't any documented region free games in japan for 360), I KNOW they will choose to make the game region-free (unless they have concrete plans for a domestic release that they don't want to undercut, but I think that's unlikely). They know that they got a lot of business on imports from Border Down and Under Defeat, and they appreciate this market. There's nothing to be gained from bringing it up in an interview. Your voice has been heard, and we will know for sure in a couple months anyway.

I will be asking questions about the western market and their fans in the west during the interview in a way that I think will create something more interesting to read than a fact that will soon become apparent whether I ask or not.

If G.Rev wasn't interested in their fans in the west they wouldn't be doing this interview, would they? Have a little faith.

Guardians Knight · Post by **Guardians Knight** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:30 pm

ask him if he'd like to marry me or our lass and come to live in England.

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:59 pm

Can you ask him if there are any references to Matsumoto (Leiji) in Border Down?

Frogacuda · Post by **Frogacuda** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:11 pm

Randorama wrote:Can you ask him if there are any references to Matsumoto (Leiji) in Border Down?

Explain to me better what that means.

stellarola · Post by **stellarola** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 10:25 pm

This will be great.