E3 2005: Yoshinori Sasaki Interview
Wanna know what one of Konami's head producers is toiling away at these days? You'll have to check out our exclusive interview.
Published: June 13, 2005
PSX2.com: About the Playstation 3, were you at the Sony Press Conference?
(YS) CM: He actually didn’t make that one -- it coincided just when the master submission of the PSP version of Ys was going through, so unfortunately we had to take care of that.
PSX2.com: Did you have a big the port of Ys for the PSP?
(YS) CM: Not only is he (Yoshinori Sasaki) helping he is also the producer and chief director for the PSP version of Ys.
PSX2.com: Do you intend on focusing more efforts on the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3 in the future?
(YS) CM: Most likely, it will be for the Playstation 3, but in reality, he would like all systems to have his titles.
PSX2.com: Do you think there will be a lot of support in the future from Konami, despite the lacking sales in the U.S. for Ys?
(YS) CM: He personally would like to continue the series (laughs), however, it’s not ultimately his decision. But he will go, actually, next week he’s going to Falcom to talk and see what they can do. At the end of June, the next installment, The Oath of Falgana is coming out, which is a remake of Ys. 3 using the Ys. 6 engine. (laughs) so, take that as you will.
PSX2.com: Are there any original titles you think you’d like to do for the PSP that would take advantage of the Wi-Fi or any features specific to the PSP?
(YS) CM: Would you like him (Yoshinori Sasaki) to get into the PSP version of Ys?
PSX2.com: Sure.
(YS) CM: One of things he’s included for the new PSP version is, that since it is a portable and sometimes you want to play it quickly, there are going to be new mini-games included into the PSP version. So, in the Playstation 2 version, well, the PC version didn’t have Alma’s Trials in it, but in the Playstation 2 version that was included. That’s not in the PSP version, but in its place, there will be something brand new, and they’re thinking of new content for that. So in Japan, Ys. 6 has come out for PC, so those core fans really wanted a PSP version rather than a Playstation 2 version, because they already have a home console version, so that’s why the PSP version will be closer to the PC version than actually the Playstation 2 version and for the Playstation 2 version they’ve made the most changes to grab more of a wider audience – the PSP version will be for the harder-core while the Playstation 2 version will be for more the wider audience that’s why they added the CG scenes the voiceovers and such like that.
PSX2.com: Do you have any plans to release any of the Japanese iterations of Ys that didn’t make it to the U.S. either for PC or any other systems?
(YS) CM: Currently, there aren’t plans to do so, currently Taito has the rights to the old Ys titles, so it becomes difficult in that respect, but that, he’s sure, is still a possibility. So, actually, Falcom was very pleased with the conversion of Ys for the Playstation 2 so they actually asked us if we would like to make it into a PC version of that and asked if we’d like to sell that to Europe and places like that.
PSX2.com: What are your personal feelings on the American game market, as opposed to the Japanese game market?
(YS) CM: (laughs) The Americans tend to be more “exciting” as an audience the Japanese fans are very quiet and subdued, but Americans get much more into it, so it’s a lot more exciting.
PSX2.com: Well, American fans, I mean, I saw the lines for Dragon Quest VIII in Japan, people sleeping outside and the like, I find that fans in America are typically just more vocal if anything.
(YS) CM: (laughs) that’s true, but it’s still very interesting seeing them so vocal.
(YS) CM: He actually didn’t make that one -- it coincided just when the master submission of the PSP version of Ys was going through, so unfortunately we had to take care of that.
PSX2.com: Did you have a big the port of Ys for the PSP?
(YS) CM: Not only is he (Yoshinori Sasaki) helping he is also the producer and chief director for the PSP version of Ys.
PSX2.com: Do you intend on focusing more efforts on the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3 in the future?
(YS) CM: Most likely, it will be for the Playstation 3, but in reality, he would like all systems to have his titles.
PSX2.com: Do you think there will be a lot of support in the future from Konami, despite the lacking sales in the U.S. for Ys?
(YS) CM: He personally would like to continue the series (laughs), however, it’s not ultimately his decision. But he will go, actually, next week he’s going to Falcom to talk and see what they can do. At the end of June, the next installment, The Oath of Falgana is coming out, which is a remake of Ys. 3 using the Ys. 6 engine. (laughs) so, take that as you will.
PSX2.com: Are there any original titles you think you’d like to do for the PSP that would take advantage of the Wi-Fi or any features specific to the PSP?
(YS) CM: Would you like him (Yoshinori Sasaki) to get into the PSP version of Ys?
PSX2.com: Sure.
(YS) CM: One of things he’s included for the new PSP version is, that since it is a portable and sometimes you want to play it quickly, there are going to be new mini-games included into the PSP version. So, in the Playstation 2 version, well, the PC version didn’t have Alma’s Trials in it, but in the Playstation 2 version that was included. That’s not in the PSP version, but in its place, there will be something brand new, and they’re thinking of new content for that. So in Japan, Ys. 6 has come out for PC, so those core fans really wanted a PSP version rather than a Playstation 2 version, because they already have a home console version, so that’s why the PSP version will be closer to the PC version than actually the Playstation 2 version and for the Playstation 2 version they’ve made the most changes to grab more of a wider audience – the PSP version will be for the harder-core while the Playstation 2 version will be for more the wider audience that’s why they added the CG scenes the voiceovers and such like that.
PSX2.com: Do you have any plans to release any of the Japanese iterations of Ys that didn’t make it to the U.S. either for PC or any other systems?
(YS) CM: Currently, there aren’t plans to do so, currently Taito has the rights to the old Ys titles, so it becomes difficult in that respect, but that, he’s sure, is still a possibility. So, actually, Falcom was very pleased with the conversion of Ys for the Playstation 2 so they actually asked us if we would like to make it into a PC version of that and asked if we’d like to sell that to Europe and places like that.
PSX2.com: What are your personal feelings on the American game market, as opposed to the Japanese game market?
(YS) CM: (laughs) The Americans tend to be more “exciting” as an audience the Japanese fans are very quiet and subdued, but Americans get much more into it, so it’s a lot more exciting.
PSX2.com: Well, American fans, I mean, I saw the lines for Dragon Quest VIII in Japan, people sleeping outside and the like, I find that fans in America are typically just more vocal if anything.
(YS) CM: (laughs) that’s true, but it’s still very interesting seeing them so vocal.