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Kaname Fujioka talks Monster Hunter World: no westernization/casualization

JP_

Banned
On westernization and why they've changed some gameplay mechanics:
We're not taking things that people in the west hate and fixing them to make western players buy it. People sometimes make that assumption, or they've got that fear, but that's not the case at all."

...

”The seamless nature of the maps really has a ripple effect on the gameplay," explains Fujioka. ”We have to decide based on that what to fine tune, what to leave alone."

...

If you want to ask where we draw the line between 'change this' and 'don't change that'," says Fukioka, ”then that's what the difference is: do our new seamless gameplay design and seamless monster interactions necessitate a change, or do they not? It certainly isn't appeasement to get sales to a casual western audience - the new gameplay has to mesh with the new concept or else it would just be a mess."

...

”You can trust us. We've been making these games for over a decade. We know action, we know Monster Hunter action, and we want players not just to enjoy the game, not just to buy the game, but we want Monster Hunter fans to feel like this is a Monster Hunter game through and through when they play it. That it one of our key goals, and we're never going to lose sight of that, so don't worry."

Some of us had theorized that, for example, drinking potions while moving was put in because now that there's no loading between zones, you can no longer go to the next zone to heal safely. These quotes seem to support that idea and the author at IGN also uses it as an example.

On moving to current gen consoles:
”We really wanted to go further than ever before to portray a living, breathing ecosystem, a world that looks like even if you didn't turn up, it would still be getting on with its business without you - the interactions between monsters and creatures, predator-prey, survival of the fittest stuff.

”To do that, it became clear to us that the current generation of home consoles was the place to be, not just visually. It lets us enhance the AI behaviours and use that extra computational power to make the actual interaction between all the monsters, creatures and hunters more believable than ever in terms of feeling alive."

More: http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/26/dont-worry-capcoms-not-dumbing-down-monster-hunter
 

Chauzu

Member
I'm happy to read this for the Monster Hunter fans! I understand this is like a dream come true for many.

Let's just hope Capcom can still increase their western fanbase with this game, because they'll need it.
 

Chauzu

Member
Idk why people wouldn't trust the monster hunter team. Its not like capcom outsourced the game

I'm just not sure if a traditional Monster Hunter experience will get the sales needed in the west to cover for lost domestic sales.

Looking forward to following the sales of this game!
 

spineduke

Unconfirmed Member
”You can trust us. We've been making these games for over a decade."

This is what I've been saying as well - they know what they're doing, and they're finally doing what we've been asking for years - to evolve the series. Being stuck in a spot while drinking a potion was never what the series was about, and you're missing the forest for the trees if you're nitpicking about such aspects.

Are you seriously asking why people don't trust capcom?

Trust the MH dev team, and pray that management doesn't interfere too much

I'm just not sure if a traditional Monster Hunter experience will get the sales needed in the west to cover for lost domestic sales.

What makes you believe it will not sell as well in Japan? edit: okay, as a primarily handheld market, you have a point.
 
Now people will stop acting like this is western garbage, right? Surely now with such explicit confirmation we can let that rumor die a horrible death?

QOL is all the series needs to be more attractive to a Western audience. Don't mess with the combat because it's already great.
 
Dunno. I'm worried and sad. :(

YVr4urH.gif


what I've seen so far, really looks like MH to me, so, let's give them for now the benefit of the doubt
 

zoukka

Member
It's sad that they have to parrot this over and over again. The fan base just can't let go of the lineage of hardware these games have been released on. Get over it, this easily looks like the best Monster Hunter ever.
 

foxuzamaki

Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
Wait, they gung-ho on western sales but didn't really do anything to make sure it will get large sales?
 
Wait, they gung-ho on western sales but didn't really do anything to make sure it will get large sales?
Releasing it on hardware Westerners actually own seems like a good place to start (as in, not only on the Switch at the moment). Marketing (such as having it at Sony's E3) will also help. A global release should do some work for Western sales as well.

Hopefully they actually run ads. Also a demo.
 

Rappy

Member
Now people will stop acting like this is western garbage, right? Surely now with such explicit confirmation we can let that rumor die a horrible death?

QOL is all the series needs to be more attractive to a Western audience. Don't mess with the combat because it's already great.
It won't die as long as people keep bringing it up, such as you just did. But item use is part of the combat. But also, westernization doesn't mean that's it's a bad thing and is very subjective. Radial menus are definitely prominent in Western games and I'd like that inifinitely better than the old style of changing items. However, from a "elitist/purist" POV that's a change and a Western change at that to their classic pure game.
It's sad that they have to parrot this over and over again. The fan base just can't let go of the lineage of hardware these games have been released on. Get over it, this easily looks like the best Monster Hunter ever.
What does "the lineage of the hardware" have to do with this? This is a purist vs change argument, not a console war.
 
"Sure"

It's sad that they have to parrot this over and over again. The fan base just can't let go of the lineage of hardware these games have been released on. Get over it, this easily looks like the best Monster Hunter ever.
if best means shit animations and worse impact reactions, then I take the worse games.

Trust the MH dev team, and pray that management doesn't interfere too much
Funny, because one of the producers is management.
 

Chauzu

Member
Releasing it on hardware Westerners actually own seems like a good place to start (as in, not the Switch at the moment). Marketing (such as having it at Sony's E3) will also help. A global release should do some work for Western sales as well.

Hopefully they actually run ads. Also a demo.

You seem to imply not releasing the game on Switch too will lead to bigger sales? Probably not true, just trying to understand that sentence.
 
It's sad that they have to parrot this over and over again. The fan base just can't let go of the lineage of hardware these games have been released on. Get over it, this easily looks like the best Monster Hunter ever.

It's not the Monster Hunter fanbase that has a problem with this. It's primarily been the Nintendo diehards within the fanbase that have the problem, made obvious by the posters on GAF who've tried to downplay this game since announcement. Those people and some of the more extreme purist fans of the franchise.

That rumour from a while back also didn't help either.
 

Chauzu

Member
It's not the Monster Hunter fanbase that has a problem with this. It's primarily been the Nintendo diehards within the fanbase that have the problem, made obvious by the posters on GAF who've tried to downplay this game since announcement.

That rumour from a while back also didn't help either.

Oh please, it's in no way such a clear thing. It's a mix of silly Nintendo die hards, people upset about not having a portable version, and general concern for going too far from Monster Hunter gameplay: which is an understandable concern because World needs to do numbers in the west that a MH game has never been close to do before.
 
You seem to imply not releasing the game on Switch too will lead to bigger sales? Probably not true, just trying to understand that sentence.
No, I'm implying that releasing a Switch/Nintendo exclusive would not be a smart move if they want a Western audience. I should've put "only" there, I'll edit it in now.

Also, this game has been in development for 4 years. They would have to delay if they wanted a simultaneous Switch release.

I fully expect a mobile version of this game on the Switch in a year or two.
 
It's not the Monster Hunter fanbase that has a problem with this. It's primarily been the Nintendo diehards within the fanbase that have the problem, made obvious by the posters on GAF who've tried to downplay this game since announcement. Those people and some of the more extreme purist fans of the franchise.
.

Yeah, sure. Try to drive that narrative again.
 
After so many clone attempts by other devs of which none of them have really lived up to the standard of MH, I'd be an idiot to doubt the MH Team in delivering a next-gen MH experience.

I'm optimistic that they can deliver on this.
 

Chauzu

Member
No, I'm implying that releasing a Switch/Nintendo exclusive would not be a smart move if they want a Western audience. I should've put "only" there, I'll edit it in now.

Also, this game has been in development for 4 years. They would have to delay if they wanted a simultaneous Switch release.

I fully expect a mobile version of this game on the Switch in a year or two.

That makes more sense then, cheers for clarification! I agree not keeping the franchise Nintendo exclusive is the best move. I can also see a port happen later to Switch but who knows how the minds of Capcom work!
 

Chindogg

Member
The game will probably be fine but it's having issues with messaging due to multiple factors:

-The 4chan rumor got the name and platform right. The truths mixed in with the most likely falsehoods is enough for many to believe the whole claim.

-Capcom failed in the worst way possible in messaging off the bat. They're mostly recovered but those first impressions made a lot of people skeptical.

-Lack of portable option. Yes MH started as home console, but since has moved to portables. A significant audience has built around that principle and the lack of portable option along with the neglect to localize XX made many fans upset and confused with the decisions.

-The QoL changes. Some look fine, some may be looking like they're dumbing the game down. The tracking fireflies in particular bother many and fuel the notion of westernizing the game.

-Capcom's track record in general of terrible DLC and monetization with their latest games. RE7 hopefully should have alleviated those fears but the stench of SFV along with the information about MvCi has kindled that skepticism.

Hopefully the game will be great and sell well, but many will remain skeptical. I myself am cautiously optimistic.
 
Once again, much of this conversation would not be needed if not for that bs 4chan rumor. The game is Monster Hunter 5 in all but name, and not a casual spinoff. It doesn't help that Monster Hunter fans seem to have forgotten the similar reveal to Monster Hunter 4, which was basically a scripted encounter specifically to overemphasize new features and mechanics.

I think people will warm up significantly as we see new trailers that show the various weapons in action, a couple fan favorite monsters reimagined and returning, and some more exotic new monsters.
 
Sounds promising!
I hope the western audience like it... I can already imagine what Capcom will do to the next one if this title do not sell well.
 

Pila

Member
what I've seen so far, really looks like MH to me, so, let's give them for now the benefit of the doubt

Let's hope for the best. I really don't feel it but I don't wanna shit up the thread, sorry folks. People are excited it seems so whatever. :)
 

Oreiller

Member
It's sad that they have to parrot this over and over again. The fan base just can't let go of the lineage of hardware these games have been released on. Get over it, this easily looks like the best Monster Hunter ever.
Yeah, this whole shitshow proved to me that the MH fanbase is much worse than the Souls fanbase.
To be fair, I'm sure a large part of this mess was due to console warriors but still.
 
Yeah, sure. Try to drive that narrative again.

So there hasn't been a load of Nintendo fans on the forum saying "bah, spin off, will wait for real MH5 on Switch"? Yeah, sure. Try to drive that narrative again. I'm a Ninteno fan myself, but the way some other fans, emphasis on some, have reacted to the World announcement has been embarrassing.

Regardless, it's also a mix of extreme MH purists as well, which I mentioned in that very same post if you cared to read it properly. People upset that there's no local co-op or that the heavy bow gun gameplay "looked like Uncharted". Nonsense all round. This announcement has brought out the worst in gaming side.
 

Chauzu

Member
So there hasn't been a load of Nintendo fans on the forum saying "bah, spin off, will wait for real MH5 on Switch"? Yeah, sure. Tty to drive that narrative again.

Regardless, it's also a mix of extreme MH purists as well, which I mentioned in that very same post if you cared to read it properly. People upset that there's no local co-op or that the heavy bow gun gameplay "looked like Uncharted". Nonsense all round. This announcement has brought out the worst in GAF.

Seems like you backflipped after all on this being a mainly Nintendo fan agenda then? ofc there are a few silly and salty Nintendo fanboys who want MH to be exclusive but the majority issues have been the other issues you also bring up here. Unless you see wanting a portable MH as being the same as being a Nintendo fanboy.
 

Chindogg

Member
So there hasn't been a load of Nintendo fans on the forum saying "bah, spin off, will wait for real MH5 on Switch"? Yeah, sure. Try to drive that narrative again. I'm a Ninteno fan myself, but the way some other fans, emphasis on some, have reacted to the World announcement has been embarrassing.

Regardless, it's also a mix of extreme MH purists as well, which I mentioned in that very same post if you cared to read it properly. People upset that there's no local co-op or that the heavy bow gun gameplay "looked like Uncharted". Nonsense all round. This announcement has brought out the worst in GAF.

It's mostly purists but throwing in that console wars shade basically muddled your point into shitposting.
 
Seems like you backflipped after all on this being a mainly Nintendo fan agenda then? ofc there are a few silly and salty Nintendo fanboys who want MH to be exclusive but the majority issues have been the other issues you also bring up here. Unless you see wanting a portable MH as being the same as being a Nintendo fanboy.

Not back peddling at all really. But there's no point arguing this as it'll further derail the thread. You disagree with my assessment of the situation. That's fair. Let's end it there.

It's mostly purists but throwing in that console wars shade basically muddled your point into shitposting.

Console wars eh? What side am I on then?
 
So there hasn't been a load of Nintendo fans on the forum saying "bah, spin off, will wait for real MH5 on Switch"? Yeah, sure. Tty to drive that narrative again.

Regardless, it's also a mix of extreme MH purists as well, which I mentioned in that very same post if you cared to read it properly. People upset that there's no local co-op or that the heavy bow gun gameplay "looked like Uncharted". Nonsense all round. This announcement has brought out the worst in GAF.

You're trying to sell us on the game for months, Capcom PR. Nintendo fans are upset, because Capcom won't localize MHXX, while the new entry is on another platform again. Shit, you'd think Capcom had learned their lessons with Tri when they pissed off the Sony fanbase. Will I can't deny the games core gameplay seems intact, the animations etc. look worse. With a strong focus on things I don't give a fuck about.
 

JimPanzer

Member
Look up the released footage, when they mount the monster, lmao.

as if mounting ever was some deep mechanic only the hardcore crowd could master...

I really can't see how going from MH4/X mounting to what basically is Dragons Dogma mounting could be seen as casualization (does this word exist?)

I have yet to see anything making me worry about the game and I have easily 1000+ hours across monster hunter games. Even being able to drink potions while walking/running makes sense if you can't exit an area easily w/o being chased by the monsters. These changes are not due to casualization (there it is again), but reflect the (very necessary) gameplay changes, which in itself have nothing to do with a more casual approach.

People were upset when they thought Bloodborne would take a more casual approach to the Souls-Formula and it turned out to be one of the best Souls games.
 
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