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[Bloodborne] 4Gamer Interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki - [Fully Translated]
Ghost_Protocol
Member
Fully expect to see Patches.
Imru al-Qays
Banned
I'm not sure you could really implement a combat system as intricate as the Souls' games with a first-person view. Maybe you could and I'm just biased.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
Mad kudos to OP for doing this!
Interesting tidbits so far, and I think it was a really good decison not to make Demon's Souls 2. There's a possibility of Souls fatigue, especially since DS2 frankly is a bit disappointing honestly.
Interesting tidbits so far, and I think it was a really good decison not to make Demon's Souls 2. There's a possibility of Souls fatigue, especially since DS2 frankly is a bit disappointing honestly.
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
I disagree. How many Kings Field games have we got or ones of a similar style. Now how many Souls games do we have? I certainly consider the Souls series to be more fresh.
Now you may prefer first person dungeon crawlers, but I have yet to see one with great combat (real time). Thats my only hunch against first parson rpg's that aren't fps.....their combat is really lacking.
Bloodborne only shares the fundamentals of Souls. I expect and believe the gameplay will be quite different in terms of battle tactics, perhaps online integration and progression through the levels.
Stillmatic
Member
Thanks for translating! This will be a perfect read on my way in to work. 
John Harker
Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
I trust no one this generation with launch dates.
At least, not within the first 2 years.
Imru al-Qays;117161759 said:
From was on the right direction with Shadow Tower Abyss and it's sad that they'll probably never revisit those ideas. You could dismember enemies limbs in that game and the enemies would react differently depending on which part you took off. For example, you could use a sniper rifle to shoot a harpy's wings and they would fall back down to the earth and crawl/stumble their way towards the player. That shit was cool! There are SO many ways to play with those ideas.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
It's starting to get less about the specifics of Bloodborne and more about Miyazaki and From Software in general, but I'll still translate the rest of the interview. There's still a bit more after this, but it might take me some time to finish. Anyway, here's part four: approaching network systems from a social science perspective.
Approaching Network Systems from a Social Science Perspective
Miyazaki:
The third concept I mentioned, “new online elements,” is something I can’t talk in detail about right now. The key phrase would be “free sharing of exploration,” but I can’t say any more about it, so please wait for future announcements.
4Gamer:
New online elements, you say?
Miyazaki:
Yes. Just like with Demon’s Souls, we want to do something cool with the network features.
4Gamer:
I wondered this when I first interviewed you about Demon’s Souls, but do you come up with these new network features all by yourself?
Miyazaki:
Yeah. I mean, I like to bounce ideas off trusted members of the team, and I get a low of new ideas by doing that, but when you’re first thinking of network features, it can be very conceptual and abstract, so I spend a lot of time, comparatively, thinking of them by myself. This may apply to all aspects of my games, but especially with the network features, it can be very hard to get other people to understand my ideas (laughs).
4Gamer:
Interesting… So, do you have a pretty deep knowledge of how network services are designed?
Miyazaki:
No, not really.
4Gamer:
But you always come up with features that really use the network features in a good way. In Demon’s Souls, you had the bloodstain system that showed how other players died, and the more seamless cooperative and PvP gameplay. Those types of systems have become more commonplace now, but when Demon’s souls came out, and especially when you were still in the planning stages, I don’t think most people would have been able to come up with those ideas.
Miyazaki:
You’re definitely right that it was hard for people to understand at the time. I have a lot of bitter memories from that time.
4Gamer:
The online multiplayer systems and features of the day tended to come from a much simpler way of thought—like, “this would be much more fun if we could play together!”—but that’s where a lot of those ideas seemed to stop. A lot of games didn’t seem to fully take into account the merits and demerits of those systems.
But you, on the other hand, even a long time ago would say that “playing together is fun, but playing together at the same time can be a pain.” I remember you saying, “There has to be more possibilities with asynchronous mutliplayer gameplay.” Those words left a strong impression on me.
Miyazaki:
Yeah, I remember saying that.
I’m the same way now, but at the time—and this may sound a bit pretentious—I was thinking about network systems in video games from more of a social sciences standpoint.
4Gamer:
Social sciences?
Miyazaki:
Yes. When I was in university and later graduate school, I was interested in studying social sciences on the side. At the time, the Internet had really just entered the world. Looking back, it was a very interesting era—a time that really made me think about a lot of things. Of course, I was always playing video games and wasn’t a very serious student, so I don’t mean to say I’m some kind of expert, but I think I was influenced in a way.
4Gamer:
Interesting. So that formed the backbone for your later work.
Miyazaki:
Nothing so grandiose as that. I just had academic leanings in that direction. I think a lot of people from my generation will know what I’m talking about.
4Gamer:
Hmmm…
Miyazaki:
I find network systems to be very interesting, both in general and when applied to games. Whether it’s an experience in a game or some kind of value, it can be expanded across a multitude of layers. This may sound a bit dramatic, but I feel that I’m very lucky to be able to create games in an era like this.
4Gamer:
Well, I don’t know what kind of network systems we’ll find in Bloodborne, but in terms of it being a new challenge for you, you certainly have me excited.
Approaching Network Systems from a Social Science Perspective
Miyazaki:
The third concept I mentioned, “new online elements,” is something I can’t talk in detail about right now. The key phrase would be “free sharing of exploration,” but I can’t say any more about it, so please wait for future announcements.
4Gamer:
New online elements, you say?
Miyazaki:
Yes. Just like with Demon’s Souls, we want to do something cool with the network features.
4Gamer:
I wondered this when I first interviewed you about Demon’s Souls, but do you come up with these new network features all by yourself?
Miyazaki:
Yeah. I mean, I like to bounce ideas off trusted members of the team, and I get a low of new ideas by doing that, but when you’re first thinking of network features, it can be very conceptual and abstract, so I spend a lot of time, comparatively, thinking of them by myself. This may apply to all aspects of my games, but especially with the network features, it can be very hard to get other people to understand my ideas (laughs).
4Gamer:
Interesting… So, do you have a pretty deep knowledge of how network services are designed?
Miyazaki:
No, not really.
4Gamer:
But you always come up with features that really use the network features in a good way. In Demon’s Souls, you had the bloodstain system that showed how other players died, and the more seamless cooperative and PvP gameplay. Those types of systems have become more commonplace now, but when Demon’s souls came out, and especially when you were still in the planning stages, I don’t think most people would have been able to come up with those ideas.
Miyazaki:
You’re definitely right that it was hard for people to understand at the time. I have a lot of bitter memories from that time.
4Gamer:
The online multiplayer systems and features of the day tended to come from a much simpler way of thought—like, “this would be much more fun if we could play together!”—but that’s where a lot of those ideas seemed to stop. A lot of games didn’t seem to fully take into account the merits and demerits of those systems.
But you, on the other hand, even a long time ago would say that “playing together is fun, but playing together at the same time can be a pain.” I remember you saying, “There has to be more possibilities with asynchronous mutliplayer gameplay.” Those words left a strong impression on me.
Miyazaki:
Yeah, I remember saying that.
I’m the same way now, but at the time—and this may sound a bit pretentious—I was thinking about network systems in video games from more of a social sciences standpoint.
4Gamer:
Social sciences?
Miyazaki:
Yes. When I was in university and later graduate school, I was interested in studying social sciences on the side. At the time, the Internet had really just entered the world. Looking back, it was a very interesting era—a time that really made me think about a lot of things. Of course, I was always playing video games and wasn’t a very serious student, so I don’t mean to say I’m some kind of expert, but I think I was influenced in a way.
4Gamer:
Interesting. So that formed the backbone for your later work.
Miyazaki:
Nothing so grandiose as that. I just had academic leanings in that direction. I think a lot of people from my generation will know what I’m talking about.
4Gamer:
Hmmm…
Miyazaki:
I find network systems to be very interesting, both in general and when applied to games. Whether it’s an experience in a game or some kind of value, it can be expanded across a multitude of layers. This may sound a bit dramatic, but I feel that I’m very lucky to be able to create games in an era like this.
4Gamer:
Well, I don’t know what kind of network systems we’ll find in Bloodborne, but in terms of it being a new challenge for you, you certainly have me excited.
Does From have a history of delays?
Bucket Mouse
Member
Cheers Zefah.
The active vs. passive combat sounds like the biggest change to the formula. The passive style pretty much defined the Souls games, so hopefully the new system is just as nuanced.
EDIT: The talk of new online features is really intriguing!
The active vs. passive combat sounds like the biggest change to the formula. The passive style pretty much defined the Souls games, so hopefully the new system is just as nuanced.
EDIT: The talk of new online features is really intriguing!
Jimmyfenix
Member
Thank you Zefah !!
Appreciate the translation - thank you.
I love the direction this is going. It's awesome to me how the game was built from the ground up for a next generation console, and planned as far back as it was. No cutting corners to put it on PS3. Couldn't ask for much more as a huge fan of the series, even though this is different (and also the same).
I love the direction this is going. It's awesome to me how the game was built from the ground up for a next generation console, and planned as far back as it was. No cutting corners to put it on PS3. Couldn't ask for much more as a huge fan of the series, even though this is different (and also the same).
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
On why he chose the new Victorian setting:
This is music to my ear! That's how you do it
This is music to my ear! That's how you do it
Imru al-Qays
Banned
That actually does sound pretty cool. Aiming your sword slashes to cut off limbs or whatever. But that kind of thing has never really worked that well on traditional controllers (see MGR:R).
Imru al-Qays
Banned
I love this guy.
Great job and thank you on the translation! That leaked gameplay trailer from the other day got me to get serious into these games finally, and I'm about one level away from finishing my first run of Demon's Souls, then gonna be playing Dark Souls on PC to get caught up in the games before Bloodborne comes out. I'm really excited since I heard others say that Bloodborne seems to take some inspiration from the Tower of Latria area which was by far one of my favorite levels of the game, especially 3-2. Everything about that level was just creepy, and the fact that it had no music playing and just the sounds around you just amplified how tense and creepy the area I was exploring was. I'm down for whatever you throw at me Miyazaki, I just want Bloodborne to be as great as what I'm playing right now. Demon's Souls is honestly becoming one of my favorite PS3 games from last gen.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
"Free sharing of exploration" through online features. What do you guys think this means, besides the message and hint system already in place ?
If anything, they could stand to use a few extra months on some of their games!
King's Field IV, the last console KF title, launched in Japan in 2001. It's been 10+ years since we've seen a home console title. If you want to get technical, it's been about 8 years since the PSP spinoff titles (which doesn't really count). The only other "similar style" KF-like games we've gotten were Eternal Ring (which was a launch game for the PS2) and Shadow Tower Abyss (which was released only in Japan). We're, what, 4 Souls-games in now?
On the original Playstation they released three KF titles total. For PS2, they nearly launched with King's Field IV. I guess you could say Bloodborne is the King's Field IV of the Souls series, release-wise. So, I wouldn't say we're drowning in first-person dungeon crawlers let alone King's Field itself, ha!
You say you haven't played a first person dungeon crawler with great combat...well, who says there can't be and what's stopping someone from trying to make one? As I've said, they were on the right track with Shadow Tower Abyss and with all of their new found experience/fame, I think they've got the resources/know-how to do the genre justice. That's all I'm saying.
Imru al-Qays
Banned
Welcome, traveler, to our camp!
I'm curious to see if you'll prefer Dark Souls to Demon's Souls. I still go back and forth as to which was the game of the generation, though I tend to wind up favoring Dark Souls. It's a wonder how the two games can be so similar mechanically yet so different tonally and in terms of what it's like to make your way through their worlds.
Uncle Rupee
Banned
Thanks for the translation, I'm curious about the new features.
Interesting that you can use the weapon mid-transformation and that it has some other effect.
Interesting that you can use the weapon mid-transformation and that it has some other effect.
This part makes me think of the network features Sony was talking about back during the ps4 reveal,having a friend drop in items to help you defeat a boss or if you are stuck they can take over from their console and get you past a tough part.
Could bloodborne be the first game to support this feature?
Zekra Dezivad
Member
thank you for the traslation!
throwawayname
Member
Thanks for the translation.
We are only 3 in. Bloodborne seems to fit that same lineage, but it's not even out yet. So we can't count it.
PensivePen
Member
This seems to support what we've seen so far about them moving away from blocking and more toward outright avoiding or preventing enemy attacks.
Muscle Wizard
Banned
I hope Bloodborne will feature that Twitch thing where commentators can affect the game, like if enough people say "Capra Demon" it will summon him.
Red Liquorice
Member
Thanks Zefah.
DustyVonEric
Member
Loving this quote with regards to continuing with a Demon's Souls sequel or making something new:
Miyazaki:
"Thats a difficult question and I cant really say for certain. Working on an all new game is definitely appealing, but on the other handand I felt this way while working on Artorias of the Abyss Editionbut there is a unique kind of fun when youre working on a sequel. You can make lots of straightforward additions to what youve already built, and there are a lot of things you can take for granted, allowing you to really expand on the scope of the game."
I ain't gonna lie; I'm greedy.
I want both Bloodborne and Demon's Souls 2! >
Miyazaki:
"Thats a difficult question and I cant really say for certain. Working on an all new game is definitely appealing, but on the other handand I felt this way while working on Artorias of the Abyss Editionbut there is a unique kind of fun when youre working on a sequel. You can make lots of straightforward additions to what youve already built, and there are a lot of things you can take for granted, allowing you to really expand on the scope of the game."
I ain't gonna lie; I'm greedy.
I want both Bloodborne and Demon's Souls 2! >
Rogue_Ledr
Banned
They have? NIIIIIIICE!!!!!!!!!
I'm surprised they are showing it at both of those events. This game may be further along than we thought. I could see this releasing in like March or April of next year. Around one year after DS2's release.
reptilescorpio
Member
Awesome work Zefah!
The mid-transformation attacks have me super hyped now lol
The mid-transformation attacks have me super hyped now lol
They showed gameplay behind closed doors at E3 and it seems like there was going to be a trailer released in 2013 as well. Seems very much on track for the first half of 2015!
WonderCheese
Banned
Thank you Zefah, this was really great.
Beeblebrox
Member
Thanks Zefah, great work on those translations!
I found this tidbit interesting
It seems like this was lost upon the directors/new members that made DaS2. Instead of making bosses that are interesting and satisfying to overcome, they focused on making bosses hard, often by just adding grunts around plain and hard bosses which didn't really translate to satisfying/interesting boss-fights in my opinion.
It seems like this was lost upon the directors/new members that made DaS2. Instead of making bosses that are interesting and satisfying to overcome, they focused on making bosses hard, often by just adding grunts around plain and hard bosses which didn't really translate to satisfying/interesting boss-fights in my opinion.