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[Jonnyram]

Best Miz/Lumines interview yet, and it was done as a text-based Q&A. Even includes the original Japanese responses.
http://psp.ign.com/articles/592/592124p1.html

First look at US Lumines:

This skin is NOT in the Japanese version, to the best of my knowledge.
He also confirms that Lights is in there, there have been improvements made to load time, a retry option has been added etc etc. He also says that Lumines may well be ported to other platforms in the future.

 

[demi]

DREAMCAST!

REZ IS REBORN

 

[android]

I hope that last answer doesn't means he wants to start making cell phone games.

 

[Wario64]

Lumines on consoles please!

 

[KyotoMecca]

Thus must be the "let's wank over anything Mizuguchi touches -- again" thread.

Lumines is just not that spectacular. Face it, lovers!!

 

[neptunes]

I hope that last answer doesn't means he wants to start making cell phone games.

well it seems in line with the studio's goal (qb?)

Mobile phone or PC game markets have been expanding. Q ENTERTAINMENT wants to go beyond the world borders, jump into the media future first, and be a pioneer.

Mizuguchi: Of course, I think it would be great if we can make Lumines for various consoles or other platforms such as mobile phones or the PC since I want more players to play Lumines.

 

[Wario64]

Thus must be the "let's wank over anything Mizuguchi touches -- again" thread.

Lumines is just not that spectacular. Face it, lovers!!

Well I love Space Channel 5 and Rez so screw u!

 

[android]

Thus must be the "let's wank over anything Mizuguchi touches -- again" thread.

Lumines is just not that spectacular. Face it, lovers!!

Did you just call us your "lovers"

 

[Bebpo]

Upgrades sound great, especially the 'retry' option (I take it that's for vs. mode).

At what point is a US industry person going to get a hold of an official US UMD disc so that they can put it in their Japanese PSP and see if it loads with no region issues?

 

[Wario64]

Upgrades sound great, especially the 'retry' option (I take it that's for vs. mode).

At what point is a US industry person going to get a hold of an official US UMD disc so that they can put it in their Japanese PSP and see if it loads with no region issues?

I recall someone from 1up.com posting here saying reviewers should get US PSP game builds last week? WHY HAVENT THEY POSTED YET?

And I think the no region thing has been confirmed a billion times already

 

[Particle Physicist]

He also says that Lumines may well be ported to other platforms in the future.

cool.. ill wait for the DS version.

 

[Bebpo]

And I think the no region thing has been confirmed a billion times already

Of course it has, but until someone has tested a US PSP game on Jpn PSP or vice versa there's no way to be 100% certain. Now as people are getting reviewables this test can be made and that's why I'm asking.

 

[aoi tsuki]

Some players actually cried when they finally reached Lv100 and heard "Lights". I think it is wonderful that you can cry with a puzzle game.

It's funny, because Lights isn't the best vocal house track ever, but is really catchy and dynamic. i kept hearing the song at work in my head, and just listening to it made. When i got home that night and actually listened to it, i actually felt really emotional towards the end of the song. It was like saying goodbye to a good friend.

 

[Particle Physicist]

what the hell is lights and why is it so special ??

 

[john tv]

So far, the US UMDs mags and sites have received for review work on Japanese PSPs. HOWEVER, it's always possible they purposely didn't encode the reviewables so people could use their Japanese PSPs for review purposes. We can't be truly certain until actual retail copies are available.

 

[aoi tsuki]

what the hell is lights and why is it so special ??

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=36334&highlight=lumines

Downloads available there.

 

[tetsuoxb]

Thus must be the "let's wank over anything Mizuguchi touches -- again" thread.

Lumines is just not that spectacular. Face it, lovers!!

As opposed to furiously masturbating over Itagaki? I will take the experimental game designer to the deriviative otaku designer anyday. (Ninja Gaiden being to Itagaki's credit)

 

[Vibri]

I can personally assure you that the US Lumines UMD plays very nicely on a Japanese PSP. And that will not be changing.

Rule of thumb: region coding is up to the publisher, but actively discouraged by SCEA. And from what I hear no one is using it (outside potentially Europe).

 

[tetsuoxb]

I can personally assure you that the US Lumines UMD plays very nicely on a Japanese PSP. And that will not be changing.

Rule of thumb: region coding is up to the publisher, but actively discouraged by SCEA. And from what I hear no one is using it (outside potentially Europe).

WOOHOO!!!! This means I wont have any trouble when I warranty repair my JPN PSP for dead pixels after I get my US PSP!

Good news indeed Mr. Vibri.... Good news indeed.

 

[Amir0x]

excitement

 

[Jonnyram]

I can personally assure you that the US Lumines UMD plays very nicely on a Japanese PSP. And that will not be changing.

Can you personally assure us about any of the changes in the game too? Like did they change any music or are the changes just graphical? Some people seem to think they'll change the fylfot in puzzle mode too :lol

 

[duckroll]

Some players actually cried when they finally reached Lv100 and heard "Lights". I think it is wonderful that you can cry with a puzzle game.

Sounds more like some players took Lumines out of sleep mode, finally got to Lights, then the game's obscure memory load prompts causes them to lose that record and then they break down and cry. :lol :lol :lol

 

[neptunes]

Yeah, developers are sending out preview/review copies now.

Untold Legends preview

 

[olimario]

I really want Lumines in a bad way.
How do I play an m4a file? WMP wont recognize it.

 

[aoi tsuki]

Winamp plays them. Are you talking about the file on my host? If so, and WA still won't play it, i'll up an MP3 version of it.

 

[olimario]

Winamp plays them. Are you talking about the file on my host? If so, and WA still won't play it, i'll up an MP3 version of it.

Thanks! It would be much appreciated.
Would you mind if I mirrored on olimario.com? I'll give you credit, of course.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Given the way the PSP works, I'll be able to download saves when the game inevitably kicks my ass and won't let me hear the magical Lights, yes?

 

[Amir0x]

Given the way the PSP works, I'll be able to download saves when the game inevitably kicks my ass and won't let me hear the magical Lights, yes?

Yes. In fact, you can find saves of certain games already online.

 

[Hero]

Wow. Lights is a beautiful song. Very catchy, the melody is just so passionate and the singer does a great job as well.

Is there a translation of the lyrics available somewhere?

I hope it doesn't get taken out of the US version.

 

[Troidal]

IGN also has the original Japanese comments for the Q&A. Nice little touch. Great interview.

 

[Greenpanda]

I don't plan to purchase a PSP at launch since I have a huge backlog of games to play as it is, but I'm almost tempted to buy a copy of Lumines anyway just to ensure that I get a copy

 

[Lord Error]

This skin is NOT in the Japanese version, to the best of my knowledge.

I don't have a game with me, but I think that's either the second to last, last regular (Lights) or the very last one (that you get at 999.999).

a retry option has been added etc etc.

Very nice. Puzzle mode and time attack modes need it. I am half torn if it should be implemented in the vs. CPU mode. It's maybe too tough without it (but it's not impossible, hell even I finished it and my score is small potatoes compared to the best out there) but I think it will be too easy with it.

Here's hoping for the "single skin shuffle" mode, I hope that wasn't just a rumor.

 

[aerodynamik]

I don't have a game with me, but I think that's either the second to last, last regular (Lights) or the very last one (that you get at 999.999).

It's Lights, if I recall correctly, it's just that the background is dynamic.

I'll go read the interview now.

 

[Folder]

Thus must be the "let's wank over anything Mizuguchi touches -- again" thread.

Lumines is just not that spectacular. Face it, lovers!!

Agreed.

There is a game company which has dedicated itself to pushing new boundaries, and exploring new worlds in the artform that is videogame creation.

Or makes an aveage puzzle game...

"Mummy, emperor of Q Entertainment isn't wearing any clothes!"

 

[aerodynamik]

That's nothing more than the moronic writing IGN graces us with every so often. What are you trying to prove?

 

[krypt0nian]

Pure creator's always have their detractors it seems.

<shrug>

 

[Jonnyram]

Or makes an aveage puzzle game...

Care to explain what exactly is "average" about Lumines?

 

[Ironclad]

Care to explain what exactly is "average" about Lumines?

He probably cannot even justify his statement. I am, at the moment, trying to think of what could possibly make Lumines average, but nothing comes to mind. Oh well.

 

[Wario64]

Given the way the PSP works, I'll be able to download saves when the game inevitably kicks my ass and won't let me hear the magical Lights, yes?

That's whats cool about PSP...downloading/sharing game saves. Just go to gamefaqs.com...you can already download game saves for PSP games!

 

[CamHostage]

Care to explain what exactly is "average" about Lumines?

It is one of those things where it's more a feeling than it is a reality. The game is a puzzle game. It has a fun twist with the music bar. The twist brings you in differently. The music is eternal in your head...put enough together, and it is something far beyond average, but not everybody will get all of those elements to hit them.

Oh, and a little bit of US edition details are also from IGN, although not on the site yet.

 

[Wario64]

It is one of those things where it's more a feeling than it is a reality. The game is a puzzle game. It has a fun twist with the music bar. The twist brings you in differently. The music is eternal in your head...put enough together, and it is something far beyond average, but not everybody will get all of those elements to hit them.

Oh, and a little bit of US edition details are also from IGN, although not on the site yet.

Need IGN registration. Mind summarizing the post for us?

 

[segasonic]

Lumines is just not that spectacular. Face it, lovers!!

What the hell are you talking about? Lumines is awesome!!!


You probably suck at it or something... or, alternatively, you're completely out of your mind. Choose wisely.

 

[CamHostage]

Need IGN registration. Mind summarizing the post for us?

Sure.

Just a few details -- seems exactly the same, but here's what I've noticed...

-Instant song loading. None of the stutter-steps or music cut-out that the Japanese edition had. Menus are also slightly faster, but there are still loads jumping between sequences.

-US edition and Japanese edition cannot interplay. Sad!

-Ubisoft and Bandai and Q logos at start-up, although it is bummy that Q is last instead of first (and also, it seems you can't skip the logos, although they are fast.)

-Introduction sequence on wait menu to show how game works (although this may be in the J-version and the text just looks different to me.

-Music shuffling is in the same order, so I dunno what the deal is supposed to be there. No new feature that I can see.

-Japanese songs, obviously, are in!


We'll play some more tonight and put it on the site tomorr'r.

 

[Jonnyram]

Instant song loading - good or bad?
Personally, I like the gab between songs when skins change, but the delay when you come out of pause mode is a pain.

 

[BuddyC]

-Instant song loading. None of the stutter-steps or music cut-out that the Japanese edition had. Menus are also slightly faster, but there are still loads jumping between sequences.

Nice touch.

-Music shuffling is in the same order, so I dunno what the deal is supposed to be there. No new feature that I can see.

I remain ever hopeful that there is an all-singing all-dancing all-inclusive shuffle mode that'll randomize any unlocked skins.

 

[Jonnyram]

Good point raised on GameFAQs. Allowing for random sequences of skins would skew the high score ranking. Imagine if you started off with "I feel the music..." or "Lights" - instant massive scores thanks to the slow tempo. Although it could be added as a separate mode, I guess. It would be nice to have a playlist mode too where you could queue up skins.

 

[Defensor]

Get ready for a suprise with the US version of Lumines.

 

[aoi tsuki]

Thanks! It would be much appreciated.
Would you mind if I mirrored on olimario.com? I'll give you credit, of course.

Sure, you can mirror all the music in that directory. But please also give credit to those who contributed in the thread as well.

 

[Jonnyram]

Get ready for a suprise with the US version of Lumines.

Are you withholding information or supposing? If a fan of the Japanese version like me were to buy the US version too, would I be happy?

 

[FortNinety]

Are you withholding information or supposing? If a fan of the Japanese version like me were to buy the US version too, would I be happy?

I need to know to. I'm still on the fence about just picking up the import version for the hell of it.