KH3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
- Details
- Published on May 21, 2018 @ 03:21 pm
- Written by Cecily
The KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere Event was held in Santa Monica, California on May 17~18. Press, influencers and VIP guests were invited to attend and had the opportunity to be one of the first in the world to play the game. Staff members Cecily, PJ and Arielle were fortunate to receive an invitation to go hands-on with Kingdom Hearts 3. Over the week, we will publish recaps, impressions, and critiques, so please look forward to it.
To start off, here is a summary of the developer's panel held at the KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere Event on May 18th. Producer Shinji Hashimoto provided an opening statement. Participating in the panel were Community Manager Sunil Godhania, Translator Aileen Matsuoka, Director Tetsuya Nomura and Co-Director Tai Yasue.
(This does not include the presentation by Pixar's Jason Katz and Tasha Sounart, which was held the previous day.)
Series Executive Producer Mr. Shinji Hashimoto kicked things off by welcoming us and thanking everyone for arriving!
Next, the panel with Kingdom Hearts series Franchise Director Mr. Tetsuya Nomura and Kingdom Hearts 3 Co-Director Mr. Tai Yasue truly began. Here are some tidbits from that panel!
The theme of the Kingdom Hearts series as a whole is heart. For Kingdom Hearts 3, the theme is resolution. Nomura believes you'll see all the problems set up in the series so far come to a resolution.
When asked if Kingdom Hearts III would be darker than previous entries, Nomura had this to say:
Nomura: The series as a whole has had a serious storyline so it'd make sense if you think Kingdom Hearts 3 will have a serious storyline as well. But because it is a resolution of things that have been happening until now, I think there will be many surprises that you may not expect to happen.
If you have been playing Kingdom Hearts Union X[Cross] on your mobile platform, you would know that we have foreshadowed that light will be defeated by darkness. So you may see what happens with that being foreshadowed. I actually do believe it may have some kind of a "difficult ending" that you may find a bit difficult to grasp.
It depends on whether or not everyone can go against all odds and overcome what's being foretold.
When asked about the inclusion of Pixar, Nomura stated that having pixar worlds in KHIII was a necessity to him. Yasue said the worlds were developed to both be large enough to hold the fun things they wanted to do but to also be totally unique.
Next, they showed the development BTS video from D23 Japan. Yasue walked us through how a cutscene is created and showed off unfinished areas in the Monsters Inc world and the Tangled world. Rapunzel's hair was incredibly difficult, but thanks to Disney and a special middlewear made just for Rapunzel's hair physics, it's working out beautifully.
They directors closed off the panel stating that there were plenty of surprises to find in the demo, even if we'd been following the coverage from that morning.
Yasue said that he loves watching the American youtubers because they're so expressive and he was happy they were there. Nomura said that they're going to be revealing so much information next month that it'll be hard for daily vloggers to keep up.
COMMENTS
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
So information is gonna start flowing pretty soon. How much more do we need to learn? We know how attraction flow, athletic flow, links, keyblade transformations, and reaction commands work!
I'm worried all we are to learn is gonna spoil too much story :o
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Man, I cannot wait for the big info dump Nomura is speaking about. Only about 3 more weeks and the floodgates will finally open.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Literally, I think SE will kill us with information. We will beg for the dead days of not knowing anything.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
News blitz eh?
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
So the "hard to swallow" ending was referring to Union cross and not KH3. Good to get some clarification
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
So the "hard to swallow" ending was referring to Union cross and not KH3. Good to get some clarification
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Do y'all ever think of how the Youtubers built their careers on your hard work and just laugh?
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Oh, this version of the KH III finale will clear up a bunch of ongoing misunderstandings and discussions.
Thanks for the hard work, as always.
Literally, I think SE will kill us with information. We will beg for the dead days of not knowing anything.
Yup.
I'm *already* kind of full and needing nothing more, so... I can only dread.
Do y'all ever think of how the Youtubers built their careers on your hard work and just laugh?
Dear sir I will not stand for this mockery, especially in the thread of TGJ's future 100% original content.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Nomura's comment about Pixar worlds being a necessity makes me wonder if there will be a third Pixar world. It might not stop at just Toy Story and Monster's Inc.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Literally, I think SE will kill us with information. We will beg for the dead days of not knowing anything.
Eugh, honestly seeing this much of Toy Box was a bit much for me tbh. I don't want to see 30% of any of the other worlds, and certainly no more of that one in particular lol.
I really want to know all the worlds and like a bit more of story but yea I am worried they will go too far.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Eugh, honestly seeing this much of Toy Box was a bit much for me tbh. I don't want to see 30% of any of the other worlds, and certainly no more of that one in particular lol.
I really want to know all the worlds and like a bit more of story but yea I am worried they will go too far.
I'm of the opinion that Toy Box may be the exception to the rule, because of what it represents as the first Pixar world to make an appearance when they've wanted it for so long, and having recreated that world and its characters so faithfully.
I think SE may be aware of possible overexposure though, which is why they established recording limits in the event embargo. Attendees could record up to 30 minutes of footage, but it can't be posted in its entirety (like, it needs to be spliced). Of course, most people don't seem to remember this though :\
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Calling it right now: The KH team are going to pull an Infinity War-style ending on us.
SPOILER ALERT BELOW!!!!
Not necessarily that everyone will die, but judging from what they're saying, I'd bet cash money that they're going to fulfill the prophecy and have the darkness take over, and the new dark universe will be the setting for the next saga of Kingdom Hearts. Actually, that could be incredibly interesting.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Calling it right now: The KH team are going to pull an Infinity War-style ending on us.
SPOILER ALERT BELOW!!!!
Not necessarily that everyone will die, but judging from what they're saying, I'd bet cash money that they're going to fulfill the prophecy and have the darkness take over, and the new dark universe will be the setting for the next saga of Kingdom Hearts. Actually, that could be incredibly interesting.
I mean, was it ever said darkness prevailing changes the worlds? I always thought worlds would just get erased again, which sorta makes it hard to set the next saga in a universe like that lol. Maybe if it happened slowly like in Kh1.
I do expect Xehanort to win at first for what its worth, that's a super obvious way to finally show us what its like for him to achieve the true Kingdom Hearts. But I also kinda figured they would defeat him after, snatching away his victory. Dunno if that would just undo any darkness that spreads or yea maybe there will be left over issues for the next game.
I'm of the opinion that Toy Box may be the exception to the rule, because of what it represents as the first Pixar world to make an appearance when they've wanted it for so long, and having recreated that world and its characters so faithfully.
I think SE may be aware of possible overexposure though, which is why they established recording limits in the event embargo. Attendees could record up to 30 minutes of footage, but it can't be posted in its entirety (like, it needs to be spliced). Of course, most people don't seem to remember this though :\
Yeah, that's true. I do hope that's the case. I guess, I didn't see 30% of the world in videos really lol. I know there is an area with a Pizza Planet truck and stuff but never saw it, for instance. And no one really showed much gameplay of the 3rd floor where the doll boss is.
But yeah, people are ignoring a few regulations it seems...that doesn't help.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Clusterf*** ending confirmed. I really wish they'd clarify if it's 30% of Toy Box's story or size. The world looks small but if there was 70% more, I think it would have been shown.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
So the "hard to swallow" ending was referring to Union cross and not KH3. Good to get some clarification
I swear if they just kill of everyone not named Ven and Laurium. Besides the only thing that would be hard to swallow is if everyone isn't what they really seem.
Skuld is a mass killer and was in cahoots with Ven this whole time. Ephemer was really Kairi this whole time. Brain was literally a brain in disguise.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
So information is gonna start flowing pretty soon. How much more do we need to learn? We know how attraction flow, athletic flow, links, keyblade transformations, and reaction commands work!
I'm worried all we are to learn is gonna spoil too much story :o
I feel like we think we know more than we actually do, like regarding the plot we all have a basic notion of its direction from previous games and a couple of tangential assertions of concepts like the Key to Return Hearts, but we still haven't been provided with a concrete framework for how the ensemble cast slots into that broader story. Even with Sora, we know from 0.2 that he heads to Olympus in order to regain his strength, but beyond that we don't know what his specific mandate or plan is to combat the New Organization.
I feel like almost all of the material which has been provided prior to the KH3 premiere was proof-of-concept, focusing on isolated big ticket reveals like the confirmation of Pixar worlds, and we're heading into the stage of marketing where we start to see the overall shape of the game come gradually into view. In that sense, I'd imagine there's still a lot of ground to cover: we still need those plot details filled in, there's the Gummi Ship mechanic, all of the remaining world reveals, clarification as to which key characters will (and won't) be appearing and in what capacity, as well as all of the things we don't even know we don't know because the KH team hasn't talked about them up until this point.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Clusterf*** ending confirmed. I really wish they'd clarify if it's 30% of Toy Box's story or size. The world looks small but if there was 70% more, I think it would have been shown.
Why would they show it? They showed even less of the Olympus world in the demo?
And I mean we have seen at least 2 more areas of Toy Box for what its worth.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Nomura's comment about Pixar worlds being a necessity makes me wonder if there will be a third Pixar world. It might not stop at just Toy Story and Monster's Inc.
A bugs life to keep with the new Sora transformations.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
A bugs life to keep with the new Sora transformations.
Poor Gexus may lose his mind if that were to happen (do it SE!)
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
A bugs life to keep with the new Sora transformations.
I think that world could work if you keep it independent from Xehanort or Maleficent(can't imagine a reason for either of them to be there.)
Wonder what insect SDG would be?
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
A bugs life to keep with the new Sora transformations.
If I were to pick another Pixar world, it would be this. Jason Katz and Tasha Sounart are the Pixar consultants and both worked on that movie. Also, it is one of Pixar’s first three IPs with Toy Story and Monster’s Inc.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
If I were to pick another Pixar world, it would be this. Jason Katz and Tasha Sounart are the Pixar consultants and both worked on that movie. Also, it is one of Pixar’s first three IPs with Toy Story and Monster’s Inc.
Really? Okay now I really could see a Bug's Life being used in KH3. Even if it is just a filler world
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
I mean, was it ever said darkness prevailing changes the worlds? I always thought worlds would just get erased again, which sorta makes it hard to set the next saga in a universe like that lol. Maybe if it happened slowly like in Kh1.
The series has always been pretty vague about it, but I think if Darkness prevails it should all look like End of the World, or like the Realm of Darkness.
Maybe with just one huge Traverse Town as this universe's only city.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Personally, I feel that we have all the Pixar worlds confirmed. For Kingdom Hearts II, the evolution was Live-Action properties like Pirates of the Caribbean and Tron, and for this game, the evolution definitely seems to be Pixar with Toy Story and Monsters Inc.
A Bugs Life is arguably the most niche feature film in Pixar's library right now (outside The Good Dinosaur but that was a commercial flop). So I really don't see it making it in this game against all the blockbuster properties that have been confirmed thus far.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
I hope not. If we didn't have Toy Story and Tangled then it would be fine for the most part but i just can't take anymore similar themed worlds.
The Ship in Wall-E seems like it would make a great level and it'll at least be completely different environment.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
If not Bug's Life what about Finding Nemo? We could get a second underwater world since Atlantica isn't returning
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
If not Bug's Life what about Finding Nemo? We could get a second underwater world since Atlantica isn't returning
I'm not sure how a Finding Nemo world would even work. Got any suggestions?
Clusterf*** ending confirmed. I really wish they'd clarify if it's 30% of Toy Box's story or size. The world looks small but if there was 70% more, I think it would have been shown.
The entire context of that quote was referring to the size and scale of the world.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Aww come on! You guys don't want Sora to turn into a car? Cars is CLEARLY the better option
Note: that was intended to be sarcastic. Having a cars world would suck.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
If not Bug's Life what about Finding Nemo? We could get a second underwater world since Atlantica isn't returning
Keyblade transformations would have to be totally reworked or just not used at all. As cute as a fish Sora would be, I'm not sure how much fun it would be to play. An underwater world in UE4 sounds amazing though.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
With all these gameplay mechanics i just have a hard time seeing how finding nemo could work. You'll pretty much be locked from using the vast majority of your abilities. Doesn't really sound fun.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
I just want Winnie the Pooh back. Such cute friendship.
Also I used to dread having Frozen be in KH3 because I hated the movie and thought the world would be super boring, but after seeing this demo I'm looking forward to any and every world, regardless of my opinion on the movies.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
I would love it if they'd announce an Incredibles world at E3. It's just in time for the opening weekend of Incredibles 2, and as long as they set it on the island from the first movie it wouldn't have to be all urban/industrial. We could have jungle ruins and lava pits and lakes~ Plus, I would just die to see Edna Mode designing Sora, Donald, and Goofy super costumes.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
I just want Winnie the Pooh back. Such cute friendship.
Also I used to dread having Frozen be in KH3 because I hated the movie and thought the world would be super boring, but after seeing this demo I'm looking forward to any and every world, regardless of my opinion on the movies.
[SPOILER]The Monsters Inc. sreenshots that were leaked in December 2017 had a debug menu which confirmed Winnie the Pooh and Frozen assets.[/SPOILER]
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Keyblade transformations would have to be totally reworked or just not used at all. As cute as a fish Sora would be, I'm not sure how much fun it would be to play. An underwater world in UE4 sounds amazing though.
With all these gameplay mechanics i just have a hard time seeing how finding nemo could work. You'll pretty much be locked from using the vast majority of your abilities. Doesn't really sound fun.
That's true, I didn't give much thought to how much fish Sora would affect gameplay, lol.
I'm not sure how a Finding Nemo world would even work. Got any suggestions?
The entire context of that quote was referring to the size and scale of the world.
Gameplay issues aside, you could have Maleficent or Pete search the ocean to find clues for the Black Box. They could kidnap Nemo if he happened to find anything useful while straying from his dad.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
I would love it if they'd announce an Incredibles world at E3. It's just in time for the opening weekend of Incredibles 2, and as long as they set it on the island from the first movie it wouldn't have to be all urban/industrial. We could have jungle ruins and lava pits and lakes~ Plus, I would just die to see Edna Mode designing Sora, Donald, and Goofy super costumes.
No it'll be too similar to the Big Hero 6 World.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
I would love it if they'd announce an Incredibles world at E3. It's just in time for the opening weekend of Incredibles 2, and as long as they set it on the island from the first movie it wouldn't have to be all urban/industrial. We could have jungle ruins and lava pits and lakes~ Plus, I would just die to see Edna Mode designing Sora, Donald, and Goofy super costumes.
Here for this too. So much could be done with Nomanisan Island. Volcano, jungle, lakes, underwater caverns, secret entrances in and out of Syndrome’s Lair all over the Island, the monorail system. It’d be epic. Most people just don’t want more superheroes. But I say bring them on as Big Hero 6 and Incredibles are two very different takes on the genre, in my opinion.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Here for this too. So much could be done with Nomanisan Island. Volcano, jungle, lakes, underwater caverns, secret entrances in and out of Syndrome’s Lair all over the Island, the monorail system. It’d be epic. Most people just don’t want more superheroes. But I say bring them on as Big Hero 6 and Incredibles are two very different takes on the genre, in my opinion.
As superhero movies, they are two very different takes. Visually, the Incredibles are like The Fantastic Four whilst Big Hero 6 is more akin to Power Rangers. But fundamentally, they're both still superhero properties with conemporary city locales. They're way too simiar to each other thematically.
I say don't bring them on. There's plenty of untapped Disney Animation properties that would provide more thematic and gameplay variety than any of the Pixar cinematic slate.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
[SPOILER]The Monsters Inc. sreenshots that were leaked in December 2017 had a debug menu which confirmed Winnie the Pooh and Frozen assets.[/SPOILER]
[SPOILER]YESSS I remember seeing that!! I just wanna see it in front of my own two eyes and probably cry tears of joy at how beautiful the world's gonna look. Also, Frozen assets being leaked is probably what made me start to prepare for it being in KH3. Now I'm just excited to see it tbh!![/SPOILER]
edit: my friend would DIE if Incredibles was in KH (in a good way), and I'd usually be excited for it since I love the movie, but I also think they should maybe leave it for another game since we already have Big Hero 6.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
A Nemo world would be stunning for sure.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Oh wow! This was such a good read! I had no idea... And hearing that the creates of KH actually watch us crazy fans is just too much! It's killing me! HAHA! I like hearing about the making details too, that's a cool topic.
Right now, after reading the end I am over my average 100% hype for KH III! NEXT MONTH'S EVENT...I mean it's so near guys! I'm putting my predictions on the next news showing us some real KH storyline...all focusing on Xehanort and his darknesses, and Sora and all the defenders of light. Yes!!!
Thank you, Nomura-San, Yasue-San, and the team, for this event, the upcoming E3 next month, and EVERYTHING! I can't wait to learn more about "HEART," as quoted. This year BELONGS to KH! 2018KH3 lol
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
A Nemo world would be stunning for sure.
or The Incredibles! The perfect, yet late compliment to the upcoming The Incredibles 2.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Well, the world's that are left to be revealed are probably the following if we take level diversity and uniqueness into account.
Frozen: This is just too obvious. Whether we like that property or not, it WILL definitely be in KH3 and I personally don't mind it! It's a great marketing hook that will probably bring a lot of newcomers to the franchise, but the fact that we can have a world based on ice is just a great concept that this series has yet to fully tap into it.
Agrabah: This and Olympus will probably be the only returning worlds. I can see Nomura and his team just like with Olympus, wanting to give Agrabah some "justice" in terms of using the power of the UE4 to represent it how they wanted to in the first games but couldn't because of hardware limitations. That and the fact that no world would clash with the unique desert setting that Agrabah brings.
Treasure Planet: Maybe not in a form of a world, though. Someone on another thread made a great post on how TP could be implemented by having its story be divided into different Gummi Ship sections. I would personally love that to be the case and again, another type of level design that wouldn't clash with any other world in the game, but most importantly... You have Roy FREAKING Conly helping the team with two properties that he produced, so him being asked to work on something TP related doesn't seem to be farfetched to be quite honest.
That would make 8 Disney Worlds (not counting THAT possible minigame world) leaving room for probably 2 more? My hopes of a Wreck-it Ralph world have been severely hit since it might appear that the world would be in KHUX since they showed Ralph as a summon and I can't seem to find another world that i would say "yeah, I can TOTALLY see them using this IP!" Like the ones I just mentioned.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Here's what the Remaining Disney Worlds that should be announced...
Jungle Book
Frozen
Treasure Planet
and
Hawaii (Lilo and Stitch)
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
The series has always been pretty vague about it, but I think if Darkness prevails it should all look like End of the World, or like the Realm of Darkness.
Maybe with just one huge Traverse Town as this universe's only city.
Tbh to me Nomura's statement didn't sound too much different from what we already know from the Young Xehanort/Young Eraqus chess scene with Xehanort being confident the foretold outcome will happen and Eraqus challenging that notion and proposing it can be changed.
In regards to Union Cross it is also more or less obvious when one goes by the old proverb of "The best things come in threes.", going in conjunction with it being the third numbered KH main title.
The first attempt to avert the foretold outcome (with the original Foretellers) failed spectacularily but set up the second attempt.
The second attempt with the new Leaders around Ephemer will do some things better but ultimatively also fail, yet set the stage for the third attempt (in KH III) which will finally succeed.
How all this comes eventually to be is what will hold probably some things "difficult to grasp" as I remember Nomura talking about DDD's plot also being "difficult to grasp" and this time around Dream Eaters, "Unchained realm" aka different worlds/split worlds etc. are also again a theme so it is gonna get head scratching time.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
[Moves to the port, approaching the lighthouse. Everyone laughs at the floating sitting man chilling in the area.]
Yasue: This stage is not really done yet, but it's very close. When it comes to this type of stage, we have to include the lighting...
Wait a sec! So does he indicate that this area isn't finished as of present or what? How come they wouldn't be finished with Corona at this point if that's the case?
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
Wait a sec! So does he indicate that this area isn't finished as of present or what? How come they wouldn't be finished with Corona at this point if that's the case?
It wasn't finished at the time when the presentation was put together, which was early February. Yasue commented that all they have to do to it now is implement the lighting. The floating man, whether he was a glitch or where he was suppose to be sitting wasn't finished yet, should be fixed.
Throughout the February presentation they also used a bunch of in-development assets and screens which were recycled for this event, so don't take anything presented this month as being an accurate reflection of where development stands.
Re: KINGDOM HEARTS 3 Premiere: Part 1: The Developer Panel
It wasn't finished at the time when the presentation was put together, which was early February. Yasue commented that all they have to do to it now is implement the lighting. The floating man, whether he was a glitch or where he was suppose to be sitting wasn't finished yet, should be fixed.
Throughout the February presentation they also used a bunch of in-development assets and screens which were recycled for this event, so don't take anything presented this month as being an accurate reflection of where development stands.
Oh good! I thought it meant for the D23 from Japan. All good then.
Square Enix has asked us to remove the transcript, so Dandelion has kindly replaced it with a summary.
gosoxtim
May 21, 2018 @ 03:39 pmOffline