1UP: What was the reasoning to show the same playable version of the game again at TGS?
Kobayashi: At these trade shows, more than anything it's the consumer that we need to look at, and the most important part of the game in order to get people to understand what this change in Resident Evil is all about and how it is going to be different from other Resident Evils is the introduction -- the first 10 or so minutes of the game. That's the ideal part to appeal to everybody, and unfortunately not many Japanese gamers went to E3, so this is their first opportunity to get to touch the game. Resident Evil has always been a very popular series here in Japan [in addition to the U.S.], so we need to pay heed to those gamers as well.
1UP: Has there been any thought to releasing a demo disc in the U.S. like the one [that featured a playable Resident Evil 4 demo] in Famitsu this week?
Kobayashi: Basically, we are going to take the E3 version -- the U.S. localized E3 version -- and set that up in different retail shops around the country. So if you want to play, you're going to have to play it there. It's not going to be something that a user can get their hands on anywhere other than that.
1UP: What was important for you to reveal in the new [Tokyo Game Show] trailer?
Kobayashi: In the trailer, one of the two areas we really wanted to focus on is the complex relationship between Luis, Leon, the main character, and Ashley, the President's daughter who he's there to save. So the video shows a lot of the discussion and some action between those three characters. In addition to that, you'll notice there's one scene where Leon keels over as if something has happened to him -- that's another key hint we want to try to tease gamers with.
Actually, there's one other secret that snuck its way into the trailer. We really didn't intend to put it in the game at all, but [game director Shinji] Mikami snuck it in while I wasn't looking -- there's a shot of a lady's bust this size (makes hand motions from shoulders to waist) that you can see in the video. I wish I could show you from the neck up -- which is the most interesting part of that character -- but that's something that's going to have to wait. It will be revealed eventually.
1UP: Will there be more trailers like this [before the game comes out]?
Kobayashi: Yes, and that's where I'm going to show who this character is.
1UP: Did the trailer show that Ashley is a playable character?
Kobayashi: I'm going to have to leave that one up to your imagination.
