Monolith Soft's Kyoto studio is hoping to develop original titles

Momo · Feb 13, 2018

For the record, the Kyoto branch acts as a supplementary studio for the Tokyo studio and Nintendo. At least as of right now, the majority of its employees are artists.

https://www.monolithsoft.co.jp/interview/vol03.html

The interview is in Japanese, so no English translation. I promise to give a thousand kisses if a kind soul could translate the interview. Thank you!

Neoxon · Feb 13, 2018

Original as in their own games in general or original as in new IPs? I'd be down for either one.

Harpoon · Feb 13, 2018

Isn't Baten Kaitos's creator at the studio? Time for a spiritual successor!

tsab · Feb 13, 2018

Momo said:
For the record, the Kyoto branch acts as a supplementary studio for the Tokyo studio and Nintendo. At least as of right now, the majority of its employees are artists.

https://www.monolithsoft.co.jp/interview/vol03.html

The interview is in Japanese, so no English translation. I promise to give a thousand kisses if a kind soul could translate the interview. Thank you!

They could tap into the Visual Novel Game market then

Oregano · Feb 13, 2018

Harpoon said:
Isn't Baten Kaitos's creator at the studio? Time for a spiritual successor!

Why a spiritual successor when they're still on great terms with Bandai Namco?

ILikeFeet · Feb 13, 2018

Hope it happens. Feels like this will be more dependent on Monolith Soft themselves, rather than Nintendo. MS just needs to decide to staff programmers in Kyoto

Neoxon said:
Original as in their own games in general or original as in new IPs? I'd be down for either one.

All their games will be owned by Nintendo regardless (unless they work on an external company's IP, like SRW)

jakoo · Feb 13, 2018

tsab said:
They could tap into the Visual Novel Game market then

I mean, this isn't a niche Nintendo has really filled themselves before right? I wouldn't hate this idea.

ILikeFeet · Feb 13, 2018

jakoo said:
I mean, this isn't a niche Nintendo has really filled themselves before right? I wouldn't hate this idea.

Nintendo has funded niche ideas before

But not this niche.

megaStryke · Feb 13, 2018

Yes, please! With the success of Xenoblade 2, I'm wondering if they'll be allowed to try their hand at a major original project, or they'll be limited to experimenting with small titles.

Jump_Button · Feb 13, 2018

Love seeing games from more artists base teams, like Team Ico " or what ever they called now days"

ps is this the artwork we saw?

Hero of Legend · Feb 13, 2018

ILikeFeet said:
Nintendo has funded niche ideas before

But not this niche.

Cing's games?

sinonobu · Feb 13, 2018

tsab said:
They could tap into the Visual Novel Game market then

I'd be all over this, but I don't see it happening.

Even if it happens, it'll probably be Japan only title or sth....

Harpoon · Feb 13, 2018

Oregano said:
Why a spiritual successor when they're still on great terms with Bandai Namco?

Because it just feels more likely to me. It's not like being on good terms with Namco means they're still making Xenosaga.

fiendcode · Feb 13, 2018

Hero of Legend said:
Cing's games?

They also did a bunch of ADV games in the 80/90s (Famicom Detective Club, Shin Onigashima, etc).

Deleted member 2793 · Feb 13, 2018

Oregano said:
Why a spiritual successor when they're still on great terms with Bandai Namco?

Because this is about original titles.

jakoo said:
I mean, this isn't a niche Nintendo has really filled themselves before right? I wouldn't hate this idea.

Nintendo has a bunch of visual novel IPs. I would be day 1 for a Tantei Club revival.

Dark Cloud · Feb 13, 2018

Omg yessss please! Twice the amount of Monolith Soft games is what this world needs!

ILikeFeet · Feb 13, 2018

Jump_Button said:
Love seeing games from more artists base teams, like Team Ico " or what ever they called now days"

ps is this the artwork we saw?

no, that's for MS Tokyo's title. MS Kyoto doesnt even have job postings for programmers

Hero of Legend said:
Cing's games?

Cing's games (in addition to Telltale and DontNod) are what I envision VN becoming if they had a budget and more depth

Oregano · Feb 13, 2018

Heartskips said:
Because this is about original titles.

Nintendo has a bunch of visual novel IPs. I would be day 1 for a Tantei Club revival.

original titles being new games, not necessarily new IPs.

Harpoon said:
Because it just feels more likely to me. It's not like being on good terms with Namco means they're still making Xenosaga.

Monolithsoft were still working on Bandai Namco as recently at 2016 though, it's not like it's off limits. It would also mean they could have Tri-Crescendo co-develop again.

Ephonk · Feb 13, 2018

megaStryke said:
Yes, please! With the success of Xenoblade 2, I'm wondering if they'll be allowed to try their hand at a major original project, or they'll be limited to experimenting with small titles.

Xenoblade 2 is Monolith Tokyo.
Monolith Kyoto is a separate support studio for Nintendo (and monolith tokyo) doing 3D models, textures and art assets. It opened in 2011 and is closer to the main Nintendo studio's making it easier to collab on first party titles. They did art/assets/work on titles like Animal Crossing, Zelda BoTW, Splatoon 1&2, Pikmin etc

Anaron · Feb 13, 2018

God yes please!

Honne <3

Muu · Feb 13, 2018

Half assed the pertinent bits. They're not announcing anything anytime soon, just saying they'd love to do something if the opportunity comes up.

E: the rest of the interview reads like a recruitment piece for new hires, touting its no overtime policy, how their scheduling system is great, etc etc.

東京と同じように、将来的には京都スタジオにプログラマーやプランナーを置いたりするというお考えはあるのでしょうか。

Do you plan to hire programmers and planners in the future in Kyoto studio, similar to Tokyo studio?
本根
そうですね。ゆくゆくは京都スタジオでもオリジナルタイトルを開発したいという希望はもちろんあります。

Of course, my hope in the long term is to develop original titles in Kyoto studio as well.
それは単独でタイトルを作りたいということでしょうか。
You would like to develop titles on your own?

本根
はい。もちろんです。あくまでも将来的な話ではありますが。一応どんなことが起きても動ける体制にはしておきたいと考えています。

Yes. Of course. We're only talking talking about the hypothetical future though. I do want to be ready for when a situation presents itself.

SageShinigami · Feb 13, 2018

So wait, Monolith Tokyo are just wizards? How'd they create XBX then turn around and do XB2 with just 30 months development time?

Gambit · Feb 13, 2018

Yes, please. Ready for another Baten Kaitos or anything else Honne decides to make.

Give me a smaller-scale title with pre-rendered background for all I care

DXB-KNIGHT · Feb 13, 2018

Yes please go ahead!

Comic Obsessed · Feb 13, 2018

Come on Honne, people need you, more importantly, Baten Kaitos needs you.

Tribal_Cult · Feb 13, 2018

A Nintendo visual novel IP is honestly the stuff of dreams for me, but do not think they'll ever go that way.

mindsale · Feb 13, 2018

I hope Monolithsoft really stops working on Xenoblade titles. X and 2 have shown that they cannot replicate what I loved about the original game.

I'm excited for new IP's coming from their teams.

rzmunch · Feb 13, 2018

More games is always good. I hope Nintendo gives them the opportunity.

Instro · Feb 13, 2018

That would be nice. I always thought it was a waste that Honne was running an asset studio and not directing games. Baten Kaitos 3 would be lovely.

Deleted member 1413 · Feb 13, 2018

I'm not sure what they're capable of, usually seem to lend support but hiring and expanding the Kyoto studio could lead to some interesting things.

Dinobot · Feb 13, 2018

Do it. Make a Xenoblade spinoff where it's just mechs and you build them up and get parts for them and make the mechs stronger over time.

Pasokon Deacon · Feb 13, 2018

fiendcode said:
They also did a bunch of ADV games in the 80/90s (Famicom Detective Club, Shin Onigashima, etc).

Which "they"? If you mean Rika Suzuki, that's correct. She did her best to evolve the detective-mystery formula back at Riverhill Soft back when there was more competition (from Data East's Jake Hunter series and some advanced mysteries from Thinking Rabbit, the studio which originally designed Sokoban). But the rest of Cing's staff hails from different developers, the vast majority of whom had no connection to that kind of classic late-'80s/early-'90s graphical command-menu adventure games.

ILikeFeet said:
Cing's games (in addition to Telltale and DontNod) are what I envision VN becoming if they had a budget and more depth

Suzuki and Taisuke Kanasaki basically had to add mechanical innovations to get Nintendo's greenlight approval, so I bet Monolith Soft Kyoto would end up doing the same if they wanted to make a graphic adventure or VN using their art expertise.

ACL · Feb 13, 2018

Would be really nice if they pull through. Ideally that's a hint of actual plans. Unfortunately it looks like that a project will be completed late in Switch's life at best, a game during Switch's height really would increase chances of Honne working regularily on new projects.

Mandos · Feb 13, 2018

SageShinigami said:
So wait, Monolith Tokyo are just wizards? How'd they create XBX then turn around and do XB2 with just 30 months development time?

And 60% of the studio were working on BOTW during XB2 as well. They did a good amount of outsourcing on artwork and designs

Crow Pudding · Feb 13, 2018

Give me that Disaster: Day of Crisis 2

Cinemikel · Feb 13, 2018

Yes! DO IT! I'd love to see what kind of new things they would make!

Kaitos · Feb 13, 2018

Baten Kaitos 3 kthnx

FantaSoda · Feb 13, 2018

Kaitos said:
Baten Kaitos 3 kthnx

YES PLEASE

ReitStuff · Feb 13, 2018

SageShinigami said:
So wait, Monolith Tokyo are just wizards? How'd they create XBX then turn around and do XB2 with just 30 months development time?

I believe both games were in development at the same time.

FiXalaS · Feb 13, 2018

They can make a beautiful Visual Novel

RampagingSoul · Feb 13, 2018

I wouldn't mind Monolith Soft's Kyoto Studio working on their own games instead of just being a support studio.

FormatCompatible · Feb 13, 2018

Pasokon Deacon said:
Which "they"? If you mean Rika Suzuki, that's correct. She did her best to evolve the detective-mystery formula back at Riverhill Soft back when there was more competition (from Data East's Jake Hunter series and some advanced mysteries from Thinking Rabbit, the studio which originally designed Sokoban). But the rest of Cing's staff hails from different developers, the vast majority of whom had no connection to that kind of classic late-'80s/early-'90s graphical command-menu adventure games.

Suzuki and Taisuke Kanasaki basically had to add mechanical innovations to get Nintendo's greenlight approval, so I bet Monolith Soft Kyoto would end up doing the same if they wanted to make a graphic adventure or VN using their art expertise.

I think by ''they'' Fiendcode is talking about Nintendo themselves in the case of Famicom Tantei Club, maybe together with Pax Softnica for Shin Onigashima (my personal dream was that Sakamoto would be willing to work with Cing to make a new FTC, but that will never happen now).

But really, if we are talking about Nintendo VN, they should probably get together with HAL and Monolith to produce a new Metal Slader Glory again. That game had decent story and characters, it can easily be modernized to tap into the same otaku market that something like XB2 did considering it was pretty otaku oriented in the first place.

00%20-%20METALSLADER%20GLORY%20Original%20Soundtrack%20(Limited%20Edition)-2014-Back.jpg

Enduin · Feb 13, 2018

Kaitos said:
Baten Kaitos 3 kthnx

I concur.

A proper sequel to BK would practically be a whole new world anyway. Just give me that next gen visuals and continuation of that sublime BKO combat.

SageShinigami · Feb 13, 2018

ReitStuff said:
I believe both games were in development at the same time.

So a single studio is big enough to do two games at once? That's impressive.

ILikeFeet · Feb 13, 2018

SageShinigami said:
So wait, Monolith Tokyo are just wizards? How'd they create XBX then turn around and do XB2 with just 30 months development time?

cutting a lot of corners

Pasokon Deacon said:
Suzuki and Taisuke Kanasaki basically had to add mechanical innovations to get Nintendo's greenlight approval, so I bet Monolith Soft Kyoto would end up doing the same if they wanted to make a graphic adventure or VN using their art expertise.

I'd doubt it'd be a tradition VN anyway, given how 3D-focused the staff is. much like Another Code, it'd play more like a 3D Adventure game than anything (I find VN/adventure games/point & clicks an interesting comparison)

gordofredito · Feb 13, 2018

I hope Monolith as a whole (not just this small studio) makes new IPs. They are talented but seeing the massive quality drop from Xenoblade 1 to XCX to Xenoblade 2 has made me wonder if they know what to do with the IP. Let it rest for now

Ephonk · Feb 13, 2018

ReitStuff said:
I believe both games were in development at the same time.

That's partly true, as in: the story etc was apperently written at the same time. But the technical part of the development seemed to start after they finished XBX

Plans for the game began as early as July 2014, during the latter half of development of Xenoblade Chronicles X, out of the negative fan reaction from changes implemented in the title.[5] While the original Xenoblade Chronicles followed the typical structure of a general story-driven JRPG, Chronicles X received far less emphasis on story, and was organized in more of a mission-based structure, focused primarily on exploring the game's open world.[4] The development grew impatient upon hearing the fanbase complain about the changes, and started work on another story-driven title.[5] Because the gameplay was more of a continuation of the first title, they decided to title it Xenoblade Chronicles 2.[5] Initial work on the game was difficult because the technical specifications of the Nintendo Switch were not yet finalized or known yet,[5] but once it was finalized, the game featured a shorter development period compared to the prior titles, with executive director Tetsuya Takahashi citing being able to use the technological foundation established in Chronicles X as a means of speeding up development time

Another quote:

The ease or speed of developing Xenoblade Chronicles 2 stems a lot from our having already created this architecture with Xenoblade Chronicles X. The game portion of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is kind of overlaid on top of that fundamental architecture. I think that made the biggest contribution to why development went so fast.

Instro · Feb 13, 2018

gordofredito said:
I hope Monolith as a whole (not just this small studio) makes new IPs. They are talented but seeing the massive quality drop from Xenoblade 1 to XCX to Xenoblade 2 has made me wonder if they know what to do with the IP. Let it rest for now

For what it's worth, their next game is being billed as a new IP.

Ishaan · Feb 13, 2018

A couple quick notes:

This sounds as though Monolith Kyoto is still a ways off from developing original games. Honne says that he would like to be prepared for that eventuality but it doesn't seem to be the case at present.
At present, Monolith Kyoto appears to mainly employ artists/design people, with few (or no) programmers
They note that employees moving between the Tokyo and Kyoto studios is a possibility, which might be a way of attracting talent to the Kyoto studio (with the promise of working with the "main studio" if you do good work)
Honne notes that he would like to employ more young people at the Tokyo studio
They talk about effective scheduling and overtime, and the idea of putting in overtime only when it's really needed
They point out that Monolith Soft is a place where there is free communication among peers (and management)

Deleted member 2793 · Feb 13, 2018

FormatCompatible said:
I think by ''they'' Fiendcode is talking about Nintendo themselves in the case of Famicom Tantei Club, maybe together with Pax Softnica for Shin Onigashima (my personal dream was that Sakamoto would be willing to work with Cing to make a new FTC, but that will never happen now).

But really, if we are talking about Nintendo VN, they should probably get together with HAL and Monolith to produce a new Metal Slader Glory again. That game had decent story and characters, it can easily be modernized to tap into the same otaku market that something like XB2 did considering it was pretty otaku oriented in the first place.

Problem about Metal Slader Glory is that the mech design is so amazing I kinda want an action game with it! lol Wouldn't complain about a new ADV game tho.

Monolith Soft's Kyoto studio is hoping to develop original titles

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