Found this from ACF.net
Thanks to Vilaeth :)


Dengeki PS Vol.396

- How CCFF7 came to be

Kitase: "When we decided to make something for the PSP, I pictured getting a lot more users to play a game like BC. So first off I talked it over with Tabata, who had gotten good results with BC."

Tabata: "After Kitase came to me with the idea, I wanted to talk it over with Nomura, who worked with me on BC, so I asked Kitase to give me some time."

Nomura: "Then the next day we got to the idea for a story about SOLDIER with Zack as the main character, and we decided to go with that and the project started from there. At first the title was "Before Crisis Core", but some people thought that since it isn't a port having BC in the name didn't make sense, so we changed it to Crisis Core."

- So you didn't make to initials of the title CC to follow on from AC and BC.

Nomura: "No. After we decided against BCC, we thought about keeping it uniform and went with CC."

- Did you decide from the start that it would be an ARPG?

Tabata: "That was settled on from the beginning."

Kitase: "Although it was a winding road deciding on the finer points of the gameplay system, like being able to move your character during battle.

Tabata: "We were starting from scratch as far as developing for the PSP goes, so it took quite a long time to get the kind of rendering effects we wanted. At one point we even got rid of the movement controls for the character."

Nomura: "Then I showed the team another game I had tested. I said that since you can move the character like this in this game, then we should have them move around more in ours."

Tabata: "As well as that, we got a lot of advice from Nomura, like how to emerse people into the game. We did have a pretty hard time with the DMW system, people in-house didn't really understand it. It was quite a battle getting people to accept it."

- Was the reason you went to so much effort to impliment the DWM, because you had a strong attachment towards it?

Tabata: "Because it was interesting, and thought it would turn out to be something meaningful."

Kitase: "It's one of the few systems that remained from beginning of development to the end. But since there's only one playable character, we were worried as to whether the DMW would make it fun or not."

Tabata: "Having one character is precisely the reason that the basic system needs something extra. Besides lining up portraits on the DWM, when numbers line up it changes Zack's status. So say if you got "no MP cost", you can go all out with magic, or with "no AP cost" you can make use of Guard and Evade without worry. The DMW really changes the flow of battles."

Nomura: "It not the battle situation which changes, but more of a sense that it's the player's situation that changes. For starters, the greatest significance of the DMW will be revealed in the last battle."

Tabata: "The DMW was originally Nomura's idea, and his intention was for it to make the last battle more exciting."

Nomura: "In the impressions from the test players there were several who said that they understood the meaning behind the DMW, and I was happy that my intention had gotten through to them."

Kitase: "It's refreshing to see what had until then just seemed like a simple gameplay system turn out to be tied to the emotions and the drama of the story."

Tabata: "There were several test players who said that they started to cry while playing it as well. Speaking of which, after having not given his thoughts on the game at all, Kitase complemented me after seeing the sequence of scenes from the last battle to the ending (laughs). I hope people will play it all the way to the end. I think you'll definitely realize why the DMW is there."

- I've heard that you were in charge of the direction on some cutscenes, Mr. Kitase. Which parts of the story were they?

Kitase: "The turning point in the middle of the story, the parts that lead on to the second half of the game. It was an important scene in FFVII as well, and although I had suggested letting a new staff have a go at creating a new FFVII, in the end I took the reins. Since fans have such strong feelings towards FFVII, the younger staff members seem to have felt pressured by it. They were hesitant about changing the original FFVII even a little bit. I took over, as I was one of those who originally made it. Nomura does the final checks on the work, but the young staff wouldn't stand a chance. People seemed to think I'm probably the only one who could do battle with Nomura on an equal footing. Even so, I still had my ideas rejected sometimes (laughs). I said I wanted to involve Jenova in the Sephiroth vs. Zack fight scene, but I got a one word answer: No."

Nomura: "Because there wasn't any scene like that in the original!"

- It must have been hard to write the scenario. With Zack as the main character, the ending is going to be a bleak one.

Tabata: "It's not a bleak ending. Of course, Zack's fate has with its share of tragedy. But even so there's a lot of meaning to Zack's life, and his will is succeeded and kicks off FFVII. That's the kind of future you can feel in the end of CC."

Nomura: "It ends with hope for the future. I think you will see what we were aiming for when you watch the ending."

Tabata: "We've made the ending in such a way that everyone who watches it will want to play FFVII."

- This is going to raise people's expectations for a remake of FFVII, isn't?

Tabata: "With the game I've tried to sent a message to Nomura and Kitase: Please remake the game (laughs)"

Kitase: "Hmm, I don't know (laughs). If you're that insistent, why don't you make it? (laughs)"

- Finally, do you have any scenes you're particular fond of?

Kitase: "I guess it has to be the scenes I was in charge of. Zack and Sephiroth's battle scene. Though I don't know which I liked better, the one Nomura rejected or the one used in the game (laughs)"

Nomura: "It's already been featured in the trailers, but for me it's the scene where Zack is angry and says, "a SOLDIER should fight!" Also, I like Zack's little reactions. In the scene where [they] burst out laughing in Nibelhem, I could really feel the good rapport the voice actors have with each other."

Tabata: "Genesis' debut scene, which we'd thought up a lot of idea for during production. Originally we had in mind to focus on portraying the characters to give them presences, and through trail and error the directing staff captured the feel of the game, of these characters and their movements, and static camera angles and so on, that we were striving for in CC with the Genesis debut scene. And while it's not a very original thing to say, the ending is a must-see."
_________________________________________________________________________

Gamaga October issue

Interview extracts


- Zack was chosen as the main character as a representative of a BC era SOLDIER. Sephiroth is already the strongest in the world so there's no room for growth, and we couldn't possibly see ourselves making a game over type situation where he loses (Nomura)

- Nojima also had strong feelings from the start about what kind of character Zack is, and as a result of him combining those feelings with Nomura's image of Zack to construct his character, they've given him depth (Tabata)

- Tseng is an important character too. However, Lazard appears more often (Nomura)

- The DMW started out by wondering if we could successfully implement the element of luck and the enjoyment of something like pachinko into a game (Tabata)

- The DMW didn't go down well at all with the staff at the company initially (Nomura)

- Right up to the very end we've been meticulous in making the game, so please try to get all the way to the ending. There were a lot rejected ideas for the sequence from the climax to the ending before completing it (Nomura)

- In the end it went through 20 retakes. When it was completed it came out in such a way as to make me glad that we made it (Tabata)

- (About the demand for a remake)
"You're quite positive about this, aren't you?" (Tabata)
"I am! But we're don't have the staff..." (Nomura)

- Originally they were only going to produce 10000 limited edition PSP sets, but they pushed for it and upped the number to 77777. Make-to-order would bring the master up period forward drastically, and the development wouldn't be ready in time. At present they haven't been able to find an effective countermeasure against resale, so for the manufacturer too this is their limit. Nomura tried to reserve one at S-E's e-STORE, but couldn't get one. Tabata preordered his at a convenience store. "I'm going to be queuing up to buy one on release day!" (Nomura)

- While on missions or travelling around, you can get messages to Zack's mobile phone from various people, from friends to just company newsletters. Aerith doesn't own a mobile phone, so you don't get messages from her

- There are some extremely difficult missions, so it's recommended you load your clear data from the end of the game and try them on a second cycle

- Angeal: "Listen Zack, if you want to make it to 1st..."
This is a DMW flashback scene.

- An item called "Soma" which restores AP has been added

- Evade is a forward rolling action. You become momentarily invincible and avoid attacks.

- Cissnei is described as being born in Wutai (since she's an orphan, perhaps her past will be revealed??)

- The one the ground next to Tifa ("This man protected me... ") is Cloud

- The Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal fight scene. Something happens here and sets off an incident.

- There's magic materia, ability materia, and support materia.

- Fire magic is a projectile, Thunder has a short range but pierces, and Blizzard is slow to cast but does high damage. There's also Barrier, Gravide/Demi, etc.

- Ability materia include Steal, Blast Sword, Spin Attack, etc. You use MP to execute abilities

- Support materia include HP Up and MP Up, and you get the effects just by equipping them. There's also materia that affect the DMW and make it easier to call a particular summon, etc.

- In between missions you can move freely around the Shinra Complex and Midgar

- You may be able to understand the meaning of the wings as you play through the game

- Cloud talks about his dreams of joining SOLDIER with Zack

- The 'baka ringo/stupid apple' is an important item. The logo on Hollander's T-shirt also relates to it.

- During the story there are scenes where the interactions between members of SOLDIER deepens

- Zack's swinwear design comes from his name (based on the sun?)

- Cissnei joined the Turks at age 16 (the youngest ever)

- Lazard also worries about his subordinates and may sometimes appears on the battle field?

- DMW flashback scenes sometimes cut out half way through, and if that happens [the ability] doesn't level up. When you see all of the flashback scene the ability levels up

- Sephiroth's "take down the enemy with one fell swoop" flashback is a scene from when they were training together

- Cissnei's "Zack, about the furlough, actually I..." flashback plays after the events in Costa del Sol.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Dengeki PSP Vol.397

- Where do you usually use your PSP?

Kitase: "I've got kids, so it's when I'm dropping off or picking up my kids from their after school lessons. I play it in the car while I wait for them. You can access the internet with the PSP, so if I'm in an area with a wireless LAN I often use it for other things besides games like surfing the web. I usually don't carry things around, so when I'm walking around I keep it in my pocket. It's a useful item for a father to have (laughs)"

Tabata: "I've got it going full out at work for test playing CC."

Nomura: "I play against other people online a lot, so at work it's either Monster Hunter Portable 2 or SOCOM. As for carrying it around, I have a black PSP, but I usually put have it in the snakeskin case that game with the Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops boxset. I've got the camo PSP that was in the box set safely displayed at home (laughs)"

- What appeals to you about the PSP?

Kitase: "I guess how clear the LCD screen is? When you're using the internet you can see the letters nice and clear, so that's useful. And when going abroad, using LocationFree to watch TV shows you've recorded at home is a handy feature.

Tabata: "That it's a portable console that has a lot of value to create for. You can see the results of your dedication, so it's enjoyable being able to develop something while maintaining a balance between a casual sense of play and subtle forms of artistic expression matching what is possible on a home console. It's a console that I'd like to make another game for, using a different approach."

Nomura: "I think the biggest draw is how it basically has the specs of a home console but you can carry it around with you. No one ever dreamed when the PS2 was released that there would be a handheld like this. So I think being able to play high spec games anywhere is a big attraction."

- What points sets it apart from other game systems?

Kitase: "That in addition to games, you can use in a lot of ways, like the LocationFree or 1seg compatibility with the new model. In one machine you can have a UMD, videos on the Memory Stick, and net access in area with wireless LAN, you can pass the time with a single device. It's that point that makes it different from other portable systems."

Tabata: "That it has the good points of both home consoles and portable consoles."

Nomura: "It's the multifunctional aspect of it too. The only thing it needs now is release a keyboard. Then if they bring out Word and Excel you can do your work on it, and it'll be perfect (laughs)"

- You've given Zack a surname, which is also related to weather. Do you have any attachment to that theme?

Nomura: "It wasn't anyone's attachment in particular, we just found ourselves continuing on with that theme. Cloud and Squall were my ideas, but after that it wasn't so I didn't mind if we didn't carry on with it. With FFXIII as well Toriyama said he wanted to have something related to weather, and so we named the main character Lightning."

Kitase: "Just like with Biggs and Wedge, even if you say that it doesn't matter people around you will still pay mind to it."

Nomura: "But when we were deciding on Zack's name, since it had gone on it this long we decided to make it weather related as well, and picked 'Fair (weather)'."

Kitase: "We'd already settled on the logo, so we picked a name with an image of a 'blue sky' based on that. We had three potential names lined up."

Nomura: "We were almost going to go with a different name that Kitase was pushing for, but there were too many objections to it so we went with Fair (laughs). But there are some sunflowers on the swimming trunks Zack wears at Costa del Sol, those are remnants of it."

- In the beach scene there's a good atmosphere between Zack and Cissnei, but what's kind of relationship did they have?

Nomura: "There was a scene in FFVII where Aerith says something about Zack having other girlfriends."

Tabata: "It's meant to allude to that. Besides that, she's also one of the people who gave Zack support along the way. Some of those feelings are depicted in the DMW memory scenes."

- I've heard that you were in charge of directing some of the cutscenes, Mr Kitase. Which part of the story was that?

Kitase: "The turning point in the middle of the story. At first I suggested that the young staff member use their own sensibilities and try creating a new FFVII, but in the end it fell to me to take command. And I'm not even young. FFVII is a title that fans feel very strongly about, so I think the young staff felt pressured by it. They were anxious about changing the original FFVII even a little."

- Which part specifically?

Kitase: "Zack and Sephiroth's fight scene. It's a moment that wasn't really covered in FFVII. It's an important scene for finding out what happened to Zack and Cloud. At first I tried to involve Jenova into the battle, but that idea got rejected by Nomura (laughs)"

Nomura: "But there wasn't any scene like that in FFVII, was there? (laughs)"

Kitase: "Everyone's so strict about these things (laughs)"

Nomura: "But there are some scenes where interpretations differ depending on how you look at it. For these parts, we've added our interpretation. In the later stages of CC there's a scene where Cloud speaks to Zack, I think there's people who will be curious about this scene."

Tabata: "Like, what happened to his memory of that moment. But I think that will be the creators' answer, that as a story this is how we interpretated it. At the root of CC is the feelings the entire staff towards FFVII, so I think it will feel like after CC's time has passed, you come to FFVII. Of course we've made it so that even if you don't know about FFVII you can still enjoy it, but I think when you see the ending people will want to play FFVII."
______________________________________________________________________________

Famitsu vol. 972

Interview with Nomura and Tabata

- Is Zack's change of hair style when he moves up to 1st Class a sign of a change in his mental state as well?

Nomura: Yes. Something happens which greatly changes his mind-set, and he kind of grows up a bit.

- You've also reveals some scenes with Zack and Aerith. But to people who know what the future holds for them, they must be quite sad to watch.

Nomura: There are a lot of scenes that explore what kind of relationship they had. If you take note of Zack's changing hair style
I think you'll have realized this, but Zack meets Aerith when he's still 2nd Class, so it's safe to say he spent a long time with her.

- Tseng, who is in charge of monitoring Aerith, has a couple of scenes in FFVII which hinted that he felt something for her...

Nomura: Tseng watches Aerith due to his duty to monitor her, but perhaps seeing the way she lived her life changed how he felt.

- Modeoheim is a place name which wasn't mentioned in FFVII. Are there going to be new locations in the game?

Nomura: There aren't a lot, but there will be some.

- Hojo was practically the root of all evil in FFVII, but will he have an important role in Crisis Core as well?

Nomura: There is a chain of events in the game in which Hojo will be involved with in one way or another. But not as someone directly
involved; more as someone who knows something about it. Though I think everyone probably knows that he's not exactly the cooperative type (laughs).

- If I may ask about the battle system, when you get the Reach screen Zack can level up, but what conditions do you need to fulfil to get this?

Tabata: On the Reach screen [when the reels enlarge and fill the whole screen] when you line up 3 7s Zack's level increases. Materia also levels up if you line up different number. Materia growth changes too, depending on how the numbers line up.

- Angeal's limit (Hard Rush) also has a level. How do Limit Breaks level up?

Tabata: Limit Breaks level up when you get a special scene during the Reach mode. Normally the level is determined by the sum or combination of the three numbers.

- It looks like, in addition to materia growth, you can power them up through synthesis. That should make collecting materia more fun.

Tabata: You can tell what materia will be produces before you synthesise them, so I hope people will try out a lot of different
combinations to find out which make powerful materia.

What do you think, guys?

I'm a bit worrying about what Nomura said about Zack & Aerith relationship..
What is so special about that? :(

What stood out for me is this -

Now remember what Aerith said in Maiden ;)

I also saw there was some Aerith/Tseng references in there and also that it's noted how Zack's hairstyle changed whilst he was with Aerith - they were together for such a long time :lmao:

I wouldn't worry about that sha - remember that whilst a lot of CC is from Zack's point of view he was knocked back by Aerith in Maiden :huggle:

Thanks for the interviews, sha! :huggle:

Hmm, I just skimmed through this (stopping only when I saw names I recognised :lol: ), but I reckon they're just saying Aerith and Zack spent time together as a couple. What it can mean is that she will come to know the "ladies' man" side of his personality. :whistle: But I think it's also a sign that these two know each other well by the end of CC, and it's not some distant, on-off, simple puppy love sort of relationship.

It looks like Nomura sort of brushes off Tseng's rumoured love for Aerith. But only vaguely. XD

:lmao: :lmao: Poor newbie team members! Yes, FEEL our fan-wrath at ANY butchering of canon! >O

And Nomura always makes me laugh.

Okay, Tifa had BETTER only have a short moment with unconscious!Cloud. Like, "This man protected me..." "Tifa! We gotta go!" *Tifa runs off, casting a worried glance at the fallen soldier*

Otherwise it's gonna take some seriously persuasive arguments to convince me she honestly didn't know Cloud was at Nibelheim. :o

*is a little pissed off at the possibility*

Honestly though, I think so long as they make sure Tifa remains in to dark as to who that man was, the whole: "Tifa didn't know Cloud was at Nibelheim" thing should stay intact. I think that aspect of FF7 is too important to screw up, because it would make Cloud's descent into madness, handing the black materia over to Sephiroth, and eventual finding of his true self, completely nonsensical (since he wouldn't have done it had Tifa known for sure he was there).

They don't have a choice. I know they won't take it as far as Last Order did and have Tifa talk to Cloud. But I'm sure she'll see a soldier protecting her and comment on it before passing out or something.

Still, though it pisses me off, I'm sure they're going to give them a lot of little interactions in the game during the Nibelheim scene (without Tifa knowing who it is of course) much to the appeasement (or annoyance) of the fans.

Thanks sha :)

ThankGod they've noticed that!! Now I'm at ease to look forward to CC~ :lol:

OMG~~~Plz make it an ending with Cloud's first meet with Aerith!!!(*Cleris' mind explodes~)

Auuuuuuch!!! So all our previous guesses are ended here.... :cry: i'm also a little unconfortable about this,nyrin. But I personally think SE just fears to enrage some Clotis' fans for not mentioning the details(you know how little part involves Tifa in CC~ :shh: )...but since they've ensured us nothing new will appear in that episode, I can't imagine there'd be any special contact between them.

:woot: Wuaaaa! Is's gonna be another LT in CC??(Damn you SE.....) Well, I have interest at the reason why Nomura did this if somany Zerith/Clotis praise CC as canon for ZXA... :whistle: Well, if that does happen, I'll support ZXA's relationship in CC rather than ZXCsnei ~ :P



Thanks again for sharing, sha!! This interview helps us a lot in realizing the whole game!

:D You're welcome, guys.. I just copy and paste, that's all.. :P
You guys are amazing!! Thanks for clearing my fear :huggle:

Nomura is a fabulous guy!
But still, how long must I wait for the ending?
I really hope it'll end this way:
Cloud's first met with Aerith :)

How did Aerith know about that other girl? 0.o;

And I'm glad the whole "she never got to talk to Zack because she has no cellphone" thing. I was sick with the whole "Zack's protecting her regardless of the fact TSENG of the Turks knew where she live" theory.

Yeah. I was so pissed at Last Order, where it's clearly shown Tifa recognized and aware that he's Cloud.

Look at Japan now.. :P

http://ff7ac.hotcafe.to/index.html

Or go straight to these websites..
http://gemaga.sbcr.jp/
http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1210456_1124.html
http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1210461_1124.html

OMG~~I wanna be one of them!! :cry:

Did u see that amazingly BIG poster on one of the shops??(*pointing to the pic with two guys happily show off their purchase) It's just coooool!! :woot:

thanks, sha! :huggle:

OMG!!! ME TOO!!! :hyper:
Damn, I want that, reallllly bad..

You're welcome.. :huggle:

About the main topic..
So, Nomura and friends really knew about our infamous triangle debate, huh?
No wonder he always being vague about this..
I once heard from Clotis that Nomura didn't know about LTD.. That's why he just said 'koibito' in reunion files.. :puke: