This week’s update is entitled “Greetings from Niinou Kazuya”:http://jrpg.jp/voice/?vid=69.

In brief, he discusses the switchover to 3D and how they’re targeting a “PS1″ style of sorts, from the days when 3D was brand new to the world. Compare and contrast to the first installment, which was built around an SNES-styled world. That said, he doesn’t just want it to be retro–they are aiming for a game that players can enjoy. (No specifics–just says they’re working hard on it.)

He further adds that there are a lot of things he can’t talk about right now (Shirou’s art, Koshiro’s new style, the voice acting), but he hopes that you will take an interest in such a unique game.

Computer overheated, laptop is on its last legs D:

But it’s back up and running for now, so it’s weekly update time!

“Music update this week from Yuzo Koshiro”:http://jrpg.jp/voice/?vid=68.

When starting the composition work for 7D 2020, Niinou had a few ideas in mind.

Though the game is a sequel, because of the huge leap from 2D to 3D and from DS to PSP, he feels the music should make a similar jump. So along with the change from the world of Eden to that of AD 2020 Tokyo, Koshiro is going to have a more upbeat, techno soundtrack.

* It won’t be an orchestral +/- ethnic styled soundtrack like last time
* Things to avoid: touchy-feely music, lively upbeat playing style.
* They’re aiming for music more suitable for a club, with a ‘speed’ and ‘solid’ style (OK now it sounds like they’re just tossing out random music jargon.)

So essentially Koshiro is approaching this as an entirely new project, starting all over with a more urban style. Now it’s time for more music jargon: stylish with bits of hardcore, dub, and a taste of underground (_with a bouquet of cherries, charcoal, and moist underwear?_). Koshiro feels that this matches the intimidating environment of the dragon-infested game world.

But having said all that, there will also be a number of arranged tracks based on the original 7D music, so players of the last work will be able to feel the connection to the current game.

Finally, the update mentions the mystery question marks re: “theme song”:https://pent.semilunar.org/dragon/theme-song, and it seems that we’ll be seeing more info about both the music and the theme song in the next few updates.

Anyway I’m OK with all that. I really enjoyed the orchestral stuff last time (the two end-boss themes were incredible), but isn’t this essentially *Streets of Rage 2 x 7th Dragon*? And doesn’t that translate directly into *fuck yeah*?

Looks like the staff listing has an extra entry now:

!https://pent.semilunar.org/images/23.jpg!

*Producer*: “Kodama Rieko”:http://twitter.com/#!/phoenix_rie (Phantasy Star, 7th Dragon)
*Direction*: “Niinou Kazuya”:http://twitter.com/#!/Nino_Kazuya (Etrian Odyssey, 7th Dragon, Last Ranker)
*Sound Composer*: “Koshiro Yuzo”:http://www.ancient.co.jp/ (Etrian Odyssey, Y’s series)
*Character Design*: “Miwa Shirow”:http://mmm-gee.net/
*Theme Song*: ???

“Weekly update 6/16″:http://jrpg.jp/news/?nid=124.

Starts with some stuff about character creation – same as before, no new news. You create your own party, this time any appearance can be matched with any job and (new to the series) any set of voices. And, some new screenshots. Take note that the screenshots are development versions and may not be consistent with the final products.

Some NPC introductions and character portraits:

*Hikasa Natsume*
!https://pent.semilunar.org/images/21t.jpg!:https://pent.semilunar.org/images/21.jpg
The president of Murakumo–the only organization capable of mounting a counteroffensive against the Dragons. She has devoted herself to development of the organization, and serves as a guide to the protagonist and the members of Murakumo.

*Kirino Ayafumi*
!https://pent.semilunar.org/images/22t.jpg!:https://pent.semilunar.org/images/22.jpg
A young man who works as Natsume’s aide. Although he lacks the special powers that the members of Murakumo have, he has remarkable talent as a scientist. He provides invaluable aid to Murakumo through his role in the study of Dragons.

Can’t recall if these images from imageepoch’s site jrpg.jp are new or not, but I don’t recall seeing the class description before, or I just never attempted to translate it. Either way it’s late so I’m gonna hold off on translating for a little bit…

!https://pent.semilunar.org/images/20.jpg!
短刀や銃器を用い暗躍戦術士
火力こそ低いものの、巧みなトラップで
戦場をかきまわし戦いを有利にする

_Tactical masters of trickery, wielding short swords and pistols. Though their firepower is low, through the use of carefully placed traps they cause chaos in battle to their advantage._

!https://pent.semilunar.org/images/19.jpg!

Well it’s not really news, but Kodama just tweeted info that last week’s impression movie is now posted on “niconico”:http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/1307354847.

So if you wanna read some Japanese comments and gauge the reaction over there, well, now you can.

The 6/9 official site update includes mostly old screenshots from the last two weeks, but also has an impression movie:

Transition to 3D seems a little odd at first, but I’m hoping the gameplay movies will be more impressive.

But hey, English subtitles!!!

西暦2020年
“A.D. 2020.”

東京
“Tokyo.”

ドラゴン来襲。 (Dragon invasion.)
“Dragons came out of nowhere.”

“Human was defeated.”

残された最後の希望 (Our remaining, final hope)
“However,”
“There is an only hope.”

異能力者(ムラクモ) (Espers [read: Murakumo])
“People called them Murakumo.”

それは、ドラゴンを狩る物語(RPG) (This is the Dragon Hunting RPG:)
“Hunt all dragons, or die.”

7th Dragon 2020
セブンスドラゴン2020

And the staff as previously listed.

“6/2 Weekly update”:http://jrpg.jp/news/?nid=113

Notes from this week’s post

* Random encounters like before
* Large Dragon symbols, similar to previous installment
* Chibichara attacks, now in 3D!

!https://pent.semilunar.org/images/18.jpg(Whoaaaa)!

* Battle result screen is showing a character design I don’t think we’ve seen before
* Item drops: Nanomedica, “iron gigamouse”?. Instead of cash, there are “materials” of 0 Et, 0 Me, and 13 Cb … which looks awfully like periodic table element abbreviations, but I don’t believe there is an Et or a Cb…
* Gather materials and bring them back to base to strengthen your party, sounds like the old system from 7D and EO (loot = money + unlocks weapons, though no specific confirmation)
* Video coming Soon™ – 6/9 now
* Chara creation details coming soon

“GPara has an article today”:http://www.gpara.com/article/cms_show.php?c_id=25580&c_num=14 with some new screenshots I don’t recall seeing elsewhere before.

The images look and feel like a 3D update to the last 7D, don’t they?

Of note, the Government Office appears to be at your main base of operations, with a weapons factory that is asking for 300 Fe to produce titanium weapons. Is “Fe” a kind of currency, or some special resource that you’ll have to collect?

Not much else worthy of news lately, wonder if there is less marketing budget this time around, or if they are waiting to reveal more later?