More info on
THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU -LIVE Remix- continues to come out, this time as an interview with Producer Ichiro Hazama, Director Tatsuya Kando, and Co-Director Hiroyuki Ito by
Famitsu! Along with the interview are some new screenshots from the game that will be released later in the year on iOS and Android devices.
We will update this article with translations of the interview soon!
■ Background of development and direction
- In August 2012, the iOS version "The World Ends with You -Solo Remix- has been released, is there any history developed in this work?
Tatsuya Kando: During the production of the iOS version, we were thinking about adding a new social element, and I had planned an axis mode that ultimately played a part in battle. The project had expanded more than expected, and it was good judgement to release it separately as there is a history that led to this decision. So, when developing the original version we shelved, I included a play based on "treasure hunting" or "playing tag" using the stage of Shibuya, and I was able to showcase it as this social app, -LIVE Remix-.
Ichiro Hazama: Since it was planned as -Solo Remix- first, and then I heard that we were planning to separate the two works, I thought “What?”. (laughs) But, because these works are divided into two, the appeal of each stands out. I think it was the right decision for Tatsuya Kando to work on them separately.
- Divided into two works, why have you decided to release the other one with GREE?
Hazama: While working independently on -LIVE Remix-, I decided to consult GREE. Then, it happened to be that somebody was a big fan of “The World Ends with You” for the Nintendo DS. The conversations went smoothly from there, and I was happy to be together with GREE. In this title, with me being the creator of course, I think it’s important for everyone to love the work of the people who are involved.
Kando: In “The World Ends with You”, there is collecting pins, working with a variety of people in order to survive, and since there are many elements from the original that lean towards being social, it was easy to blend it as a social game.