New Hayashi interview with G4

[D Glock]

This interview was obviously conducted before the Akira reveal trailer. Nothing major was mentioned or anything that we don't already know, but there were a few interesting tid-bits that should still keep our minds intrigued.

http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/po...ith-yosuke-hayashi-future-of-dead-or-alive-5/

Here are the important key points (IMO) taken from the interview:

Is this approach being adopted to appeal to a broader audience than the genre generally attracts?

YH: Yes, that's true...that's one thing. Some fighting games are very hardcore, which we have in here. We're not ignoring our hardcore audience; they will still get the same experience they've gotten in the past. We have the deep fighting game systems, but we also wanted to make it so the more casual crowd could also have fun with the game.

Fighting games typically don't focus on narrative. Will DoA5 's fresh approach also translate into a deeper story mode?

YH: Yes, it will. It will be more like one whole intertwining experience rather than just little cut scenes.

Can you talk a bit about what you have planned for online multiplayer modes?

YH: We'll obviously have multiplayer as we've had in the past. We're planning a huge online mode, but we're not talking about it just yet. We're also still experimenting to see what will fit best. We'll also have lots of the favorite characters from the franchise, but I will put some new ones in there as well.

Okay, great, and when can we expect to see more of DoA5?

YH: Well, we’ll have the demo that you just saw included with Ninja Gaiden 3 pre-orders. It will also be in the collector’s edition. Before that, at the end of March, we’ll also have some new announcements.

 

[Tenren]

hmm well wonder whats happen the end of march. I like how they say they are not ignoring the hardcore but I feel DOA4 was pretty much for casual players

 

[Master_Thespian]

We're not ignoring our hardcore audience; they will still get the same experience they've gotten in the past.

As in DOA3.1? Because if it's DOA4...

 

[grap3fruitman]

"We have the deep fighting game system." Great, the new head of Team Ninja doesn't know anything about DOA either! New boss, same as the old boss. I love that Seinfeld reaction gif, it's so fitting.

 

[Matt Ponton]

You guys have to keep in mind that the directors and producers are aware that 98.3% of the audience who will read these interviews are the casual. The hardcore will nitpick the engine, no sense in telling the casual that the game has gotten more hardcore and difficult - especially when they're still experimenting with game system changes. Nothing is set in stone there.

Lastly, this interview was taken before the akira trailer so obviously the game was made "More hardcore" since.

 

[DrDogg]

Interviews are always limited by the information currently available. It's one of the things that kind of makes gaming journalism a joke.

I will have faith in the new Team Ninja until I play the E3 build. At that point I will be able to express my own opinion about the game instead of all this guessing and wondering.

 

[Raansu]

Interviews are always limited by the information currently available. It's one of the things that kind of makes gaming journalism a joke.

I will have faith in the new Team Ninja until I play the E3 build. At that point I will be able to express my own opinion about the game instead of all this guessing and wondering.

Sadly, even then its hard to put an opinion on the matter given how DoA4 literally changed completely within a few weeks before launch.

 

[DrDogg]

Sadly, even then its hard to put an opinion on the matter given how DoA4 literally changed completely within a few weeks before launch.

True, but after playing the E3 build we'll at least know if the game is heading in the right direction.

 

[R4712-VR88]

You keep talking about this E3 build. Is it even confirmed that it'll be playable at E3?

 

[grap3fruitman]

You keep talking about this E3 build. Is it even confirmed that it'll be playable at E3?

Why wouldn't it be? Why wouldn't they demo their game at the biggest gaming expo in the world?

True, but after playing the E3 build we'll at least know if the game is heading in the right direction.

See, I think it'll be too late then to make very serious changes to the game. I know, I know, "DOA4 changed significantly in the last two months of development" but it didn't really. They just changed all the move properties, sure, but the grapplers' move-lists were still neglected and lacking. There weren't any new game mechanics that hadn't already been introduced during those earlier months.

Drastic changes like that are introduced very early in a game's development because they're what the new game's being based around. I see people asking TN on Twitter for significant changes like side throws and what not but I'm fairly certain that it's even too late now to make changes like that to the gameplay because of just how much reworking of the code would be required. This is especially true with them pushing a release date of September.

Look at NG3, it has the same flaws now as it did at E3. What did TN do with all negative criticism they got over QTEs? Did they get rid of a game mechanic they introduced so early on in the development? No, they simply got rid of the on-screen prompt and you still mash the same button to perform the action; Nothing actually changed. What about the lack of decapitation, weapons and all the other complaints? Why would DOA5 be any different? Especially given that they have even less time from E3 to release than with NG3. They can't make significant changes without risking a severe delay, missing their release schedule and pissing off their stockholders. They want to release in September so they can get in there before the rest of the big fall releases: Halo, Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, etc. They picked September for a very specific reason and that's it.

I'm also almost certain that the grapplers are going to get neglected again. Heck, they're being neglected now. Why? They're not getting anything new that can be shown off. They're going to have the least amount of moves, throws and have no new mechanics introduced. The most significant change we've seen in the newest trailer with Akira is the wall game, which is definitely an improvement but I don't see anything else that makes me less concerned about the gameplay. Do you? "Just wait until E3" is going to turn into "Just wait until DOA6." I wish I was wrong.

 

[R4712-VR88]

I think you need to calm down Grap3.

 

[Rikuto]

He's not wrong.

 

[DrDogg]

*snip*

Unfortunately, we're not part of Team Ninja. All we can do is nudge them in the right direction, offer some detailed feedback, and hope for the best. You're absolutely right that we won't see any major gameplay changes from our feedback.

We'll be lucky enough if they truly listen to our post-E3 feedback. There's no use getting worked up about grapplers lacking or Hayabusa remaining stupid tier because we can't do much about that. Team Ninja has a plan and all we can do is remove some of the bumps along the way.

If the original plan for DOA5 would have resulted in a bad game, all we can do is make it an average game at best. We have to hope that the original plan created at least an average game, so we can hopefully massage it into an above average game.

I get the fact that the competitive DOA community really needs DOA5 to be solid. However, from my standpoint I'm hoping for the best, but if DOA5 turns out like DOA4, I'll just play Tekken Tag 2, VF5: FS or some other quality fighting game (or maybe FFXIV v2.0).

 

[R4712-VR88]

He's not wrong.

But he's just guessing and assuming the worst. The demo hasn't hit yet and there could be more great things to come in DOA5 that Team NINJA just has yet to show.

 

[Belinea]

Damn, well said.

 

[Rikuto]

But he's just guessing and assuming the worst. The demo hasn't hit yet and there could be more great things to come in DOA5 that Team NINJA just has yet to show.

Well if you want to call it the "worst", I suppose you could.

The reality is though, only so many things can be done at each stage of development. The sooner you act, the more you can fix. If you go into something expecting to only get real feedback at the absolute latest stage possible, you were never planning on changing much to begin with. That's little more than a courtesy nod to "appease" the fans.

Wish it was just a guess, but what else can you call it? At this stage, they aren't going to remove power blows or cliff hangers despite the community saying nothing but negative things about it. Too much level design, animation work, and press related bullshit has been done around that already. The decision to forward that agenda was made with the community specifically left out of it.

Since major decisions like that were already made and with anyone knowledgable of the game specifically being blocked from press related events, you almost have to assume the worst case scenario.

 

[x Sypher x]

While it is true that not much can be changed in the latest stages possible, at the same time isn't that exactly what they did with DOA4 post E3? Before they released it they basically fucked it all up, whether by a little or a lot idk. But of course it is easier to break something than to fix it, so I see where you're coming from. I find it kinda funny that pre-DOA4, in a time where community interaction was low, TN did fairly well in creating good games. But NOW they need the community to put them back on the right track, haha.

 

[Berzerk!]

Lots of hand wringing and lack of faith in a developer who have changed a lot and seen all the changes in fighting games over the last few years. A bit early to make firm predictions and the negativity is tiresome without a more reliable basis.

 

[grap3fruitman]

But he's just guessing and assuming the worst. The demo hasn't hit yet and there could be more great things to come in DOA5 that Team NINJA just has yet to show.

I'm hardly guessing. I'm making assumptions based on information we have like the lack of significant improvements in the game and my general knowledge of how video game development works. It may be a "worst case" scenario but it's the reality right now. You're the one guessing and relying solely on faith based on the post I quoted.

While it is true that not much can be changed in the latest stages possible, at the same time isn't that exactly what they did with DOA4 post E3? Before they released it they basically fucked it all up, whether by a little or a lot idk. But of course it is easier to break something than to fix it, so I see where you're coming from.

They didn't change significant items, they just broke all of the ones that were already there.

 

[EMPEROR_COW]

I dunno man ...
I can understand the worry about power blows ... but .. No one has really experienced this first hand yet so it might acctually be alright ...
and the game DOES show alot of promise in terms of:
- visuals (although not a gameplay factor but you cant dismiss the great job they've put in)
- fluidity of movement (apart from the transitions into the hanging scenes .. i need to experiment more on that when the demo comes)
- new moves that look great ...
- obvious revbalances (such as old holds like hitomi's mid K hold that would give her a free combo ..
- the amazing interactive backgrounds... just makes me wanna bash my opponents everywhere to see every possible option ... lol (imagine a secret .. or semi secret location when you bash someone into someplace specific .. that would be awesome .. something like the great wall stage back in the day ... where you drop down into that big dragon statue .. )
- the fact that they picked VF for the crossover cast is just amazing ... and it makes more sense than any other game considering the similarities in the way they work ... and as we know akira will not be the only one in ...
- doa4's online surpasses alot of exsisting online games despite being an almost launch title in terms of creativity of lobbies .. the interactivity ... and connectivity issues.. (just try kof 13 and you'll thank god for what you have) ... and I have faith that they will make sure that that area of development does take a priority to maximize connection potential ...

team ninja are putting alot into this game (alot more than ng3 it seems) ... and i dont know how people feel about itagaki not being there .. but i think from what we're seeing they arent doing a bad job at all ... and they WANT it to be a good game... and i think despide DOA having some flops here n there ... I'm sure they wont repeat the same mistakes ( for example ... never have the AI control your damn tag partner >__> ... dumbest idea ever) ... I'm sure we were heard loud and clear about that one ..

my only concern about powerblows is not the fact that they're there ... I'm just curious if anyone knows the excecution method ... in the button layout they were placed as a trigger button and that worries me... does that mean the layout is now 4 buttons ? or is it acctually a specific combination of the exsisting buttons (H,P and K) ? if its just a button combination then im absolutely fine with it ... i dont wanna have to deal with another VF3 >__> (although i loved that game so much )

right now i just want to get my hands on the demo to rinse it out until it bleeds ! lol