A new Iwata Asks focusing on Dragon Quest X has been released. This could be one of the final interviews based on a Wii game, as DQX is one of the console’s few remaining high-profile titles.
Director Jin Fujisawa, producer Yousuke Saito, Dragon Quest series creator/game designer Hori Yuuji, and Nintendo president Satoru Iwata participated in the discussion.
The interview is only available in Japanese at present, but a few highlights have been translated into English. More Iwata Asks interviews featuring Dragon Quest could be on the way, so stay tuned. But for now, take a look at the summary below.
– For Dragon Quest X, the game is meant to give the message of “It’s okay even if you don’t play every day”
– The title was designed so that players may not necessarily play every day
– Hori wanted to make sure that DQX wasn’t a game that would destroy people’s daily lives
– Dev team made three systems in response to this request
– First system: “Support Allies”
– Other players can use your character in their party when you’re not playing
– You’ll receive experience and gold
– The system allows your character to grow even when you’re not playing
– Second system: “Energy Balls”
– Meter charges when you’re not logged in
– If you hit a certain amount, you’ll gain an energy ball
– This ball gives you double experience and gold for thirty minutes
– Ex: players who play only on the weekend will receive enough energy balls that they’ll be able to play continuously with double gold and experience
– Iwata joked that this system means players won’t have to worry about sleeping
– Third system: “Support Gold”
– Gain a certain amount of gold every week if you reach a certain location as part of your progress
– Dragon Quest X can be played individually
– Hori joked that he’s shy and isn’t particularly good at making friends, allowing for individual play
– Hori played Final Fantasy XI all by himself
– Fujisawa confirmed a rumor mentioned by Iwata that Hori would run away when people spoke to him during the DQX beta test
Thanks to 4Him for the tip.
