Next Dragon Quest will continue 3D design
Designers say the follow-up to Dragon Quest VIII will stick with the game's anime-esque graphics.
TOKYO--Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii has confirmed that the next game in the Dragon Quest series will continue the 3D gameplay featured in Square Enix's latest installment, Dragon Quest VIII. Horii made the announcement at a recent Digital Entertainment Academy seminar, held in Japan, focusing on production of Dragon Quest VIII.
Until Dragon Quest VII, the games in the series were designed in a classic 2D style. Dragon Quest VIII features anime-style, 3D-rendered versions of artist Akira Toriyama's Dragon Quest characters.
Horii said he has been considering a 3D Dragon Quest since the NES days, adding that he was impressed by the prototype developed by Studio Level 5 for Dragon Quest VIII. When asked about the future of the series, Horii said, "I want to make it [Dragon Quest] again in 3D. Dragon Quest VIII was well done, but I believe that it's the starting point for more things."
Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino said his studio worked hard to give Dragon Quest the right atmosphere, optimizing code to smooth loading times and to match magic effects with those of previous releases. To accurately mimic Toriyama's style, developers studied his art in episodes of the Dragon Ball anime series.
"Dragon Quest still has a lot of potential in 3D. We have a lot of ideas for it," Hino said, hinting that his studio will most likely be developing the series' next installment as well.
Dragon Quest VIII was released in Japan on November 27. The game will be released in America at an as-yet-undetermined date.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Command & Conquer 4 Q&A - Exclusive First Details
Get the first details on the final chapter in the Tiberium series from designer Samuel Bass. Full Story
- Posted Jul 9, 2009 4:59 am PT
- 245 Comments
-
Dragon Age: Origins Interview with Ray Muzyka
We chat with Ray Muzyka about some of the features in Dragon Age: Origins. Full Story
- Posted Jul 8, 2009 4:06 pm PT
Featured Stories
-
BioShock 2 delayed
[UPDATE] 2K Games pushes 2K Marin and codeveloped dystopian shooter out of its current fiscal year, CEO confirms 360, PS3, PC launch during first half of 2010; new multiplatform GTA in doubt for fiscal 2010. Full Story
- Posted Jul 13, 2009 1:41 pm PT
- 512 Comments
-
EA passed on UFC game - Report
Executive says sports publisher scoffed at creating MMA brawler a year and a half ago; UFC 2009: Undisputed nears 2M shipped. Full Story
- Posted Jul 13, 2009 3:54 pm PT
- 197 Comments
-
Analysts lower gaming growth expectations, project price cuts by October
EEDAR's Jesse Divnich and Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter now believe gaming industry will grow only 5% in 2009; $50 PS3, Wii discount, 360 response possible. Full Story
- Posted Jul 13, 2009 12:02 pm PT
- 131 Comments
-
New MechWarrior marching onto 360, PC
Jordan Weisman's Smith & Tinker and Piranha Games confirm original installment in acclaimed giant-robot combat franchise; MechWarrior 4 going free. Full Story
- Posted Jul 10, 2009 4:08 pm PT
- 295 Comments
-
BioShock 2 zaps fourth dev house
2K Games taps Arx Fatalis creator Arkane Studios to lend "design, animation, and art" expertise to story-driven FPS. Full Story
- Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:55 am PT
- 206 Comments
Related Game
Related Games
Recent News
Site Blogs
-
Madballs, Secrets of Monkey Island sail onto XBLA
It's a week of comebacks on Xbox Live Arcade this week. Headlining the downloadable game service's Wednesday update is a revamp of an...



1 Comments