360 Resident Evil 5 far off, Chromehounds coming along

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 30, 2006 10:03 am PT

Japanese publishers talk Xbox 360 development: Konami targeting US audiences, AQ Interactive considering 2-3 more titles, Capcom cautious.

While the Xbox 360 may be off to a slow start in Japan, publishers in the country aren't about to abandon the console. The latest issue of Famitsu Xbox 360 magazine interviews developers at top companies, and they've revealed what's in store for the console for 2006--and beyond.

One of the first Japanese publishers that announced Xbox 360 support was Capcom. Producer Keiji Inafune, best known as the creator of Mega Man, is currently working on Dead Rising for the Xbox 360. He revealed to Famitsu Xbox 360 that the project's development has entered its final stages and that his staff is currently fine-tuning the game. Inafune also commented that the basic components have been completed for Capcom's second Xbox 360 title, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. Both games are scheduled for release during 2006 in Japan, and Dead Rising is set to hit the US in May.

When asked about Resident Evil 5, Inafune revealed that development on the game still hasn't begun in earnest. He explained that his developers are working on the game's graphics and going through a lot of trial and error to come up with ideas to make it play as an all-new game. Inafune hinted that RE5 wouldn't be coming out anytime soon, commenting that Capcom has no plans to release it until it's satisfied.

When asked about other Xbox 360 projects at Capcom, Inafune commented that the company is waiting to see how the Xbox 360 fares at retail before it makes its next move. He commented that making a next-generation game costs a lot, especially in terms of human resources. Inafune explained that Capcom currently has four next-generation games in development, and each requires a team of at least 50 staffers, or 200 total employees--nearly half the company's designers. Inafune thinks that the game industry may be entering into a new stage where it has to turn to outside investors to fund ballooning next-gen budgets, much like the film industry does.

Konami also feels the need to prepare for the changing game market, and it's starting to reorganize. Konami game software company president Michihiro Ishizuka told Famitsu Xbox 360 that Konami will be establishing development studios in four regions of the world in an effort to shift from a primarily Japanese company to a global enterprise. Up until now, Konami created all its games in Japan, but Ishizuka told the magazine that times have changed, and the markets in various regions have different demands and business practices.

Ishizuka admitted that 360 sales in Japan have been slow, but he hopes to release games that will help the console penetrate the traditionally Xbox-resistant market. However, he also commented that strong demand for the next-gen machine in North America and Europe means that Konami's Xbox 360 games will be fundamentally catered toward consumers in those two regions.

In terms of global expansion, Square Enix has been the first Japanese publisher to offer a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for the Xbox 360. The publisher has begun a beta of Final Fantasy XI in Japan, America, and Europe. In particular, Europe has been a major target for Square Enix since FFXI hasn't been previously released in the region. FFXI producer Hiromichi Tanaka revealed to Famitsu Xbox 360 that official services for FFXI will be announced soon, and gamers can expect it to launch within the next few months.

Tanaka also talked a bit about Square Enix's next MMORPG project, which is about to go into full-scale development. While Tanaka didn't reveal details, he confirmed that it will take advantage of the technologies shown in Square Enix's demo trailer during Microsoft's Pre-E3 conference last year. When asked about its release period, Tanaka hinted that it might take at least another year and a half.

There's no doubt that many Japanese publishers will be announcing new Xbox 360 games at this year's E3, and one company that's already confirmed it is Sega. Sega consumer division sub-chief Hiroyuki Miyazaki commented to Famitsu Xbox 360 that his company will be announcing a number of new titles at E3 2006 targeted toward the European and North American market. Miyazaki also said that development on Chromehounds is going well, and it should come out before Mistwalker's Blue Dragon.

When asked whether Virtua Fighter 5 and House of the Dead 4 would come out for the Xbox 360, Miyazaki commented that both are currently under consideration, given their popularity in arcades worldwide.

Famitsu Xbox 360 also spoke with Naohiko Hoshino, vice president of AQ Interactive. AQ Interactive has been getting a lot of attention as an Xbox 360 game publisher, ever since it announced its three big titles at the end of 2005. The company is currently working with Mistwalker's Hironobu Sakaguchi on a new role-playing game named Cry On, and it's also developing two other games: Bullet Witch and Vampire's Rain.

Cry On, Bullet Witch, and Vampire's Rain are all large-scale projects, and Hoshino confirmed to Famitsu Xbox 360 that there's a lot of money being invested into each of them. Although it's a huge risk to throw a great deal of cash into original games that aren't sequels, Hoshino said he feels people are getting tired of the same old titles. He thinks that the launch of a new console provides the biggest opportunity to start a new franchise from scratch.

Hoshino said his aim is to expand Cry On, Bullet Witch, and Vampire's Rain into successful series. Aside from making sequels, he also hopes to expand them into arcades, mobile phones, and online content if possible.

Hoshino also revealed that AQ Interactive is considering two to three other midsized Xbox 360 projects. Whether the projects will be accepted will depend on the console's success in Japan, he said.

76 Comments

  • poio1982

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 6:48 am PT

    Cant wait!!! i guess RE5 should come in a special edition box, with the Xbox360 a special package for both of them! i promise i will be the first to buy it, doesnt matter i will have 2 X360!

  • blink-jfg

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 9:39 am PT

    Its original and looks and sounds great

  • bclagrange

    Posted Feb 22, 2006 8:42 pm PT

    Resident Evil 4 4 for the xbox 360. Why dosen't Capcom make some imrovements and launch resident evil 4 for xbox 360, if they are launching it on the pc why dosen't it come to xbox 360. Capcom hasn't started 5 yet and it would not take them that long to make a version for the 360, a good way to make money and add improvements.

  • bclagrange

    Posted Feb 22, 2006 8:41 pm PT

    Resident Evil 4 4 for the xbox 360. Why dosen't Capcom make some imrovements and launch resident evil 4 for xbox 360, if they are launching it on the pc why dosen't it come to xbox 360. Capcom hasn't started 5 yet and it would not take them that long to make a version for the 360, a good way to make money and add improvements.

  • bclagrange

    Posted Feb 22, 2006 8:39 pm PT

    Resident Evil 4 4 for the xbox 360. Why dosen't Capcom make some imrovements and launch resident evil 4 for xbox 360, if they are launching it on the pc why dosen't it come to xbox 360. Capcom hasn't started 5 yet and it would not take them that long to make a version for the 360, a good way to make money and add improvements.

  • bclagrange

    Posted Feb 22, 2006 8:34 pm PT

    Resident Evil 4 4 for the xbox 360. Why dosen't Capcom make some imrovements and launch resident evil 4 for xbox 360, if they are launching it on the pc why dosen't it come to xbox 360. Capcom hasn't started 5 yet and it would not take them that long to make a version for the 360, a good way to make money and add improvements.

  • nev70

    Posted Feb 6, 2006 6:52 am PT

    kaziechamleon i could not agree more ! I own a top end pc a 360 a xbox and a game cube for resi evil and my kids but no ps2 because theres not 1 decent fps on it

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Feb 5, 2006 4:12 pm PT

    anyone who likes fps needs one of the following, and microsoft console, or a computer. otherwise you are a bastardised fps fan who doesn't know the meaning of fps(it's Frames Per Second, daaa)jk, so get a xbox of some kind and get halo, or halo2, or condemend, or something, or go pc, and get battlefield 2, farcry, fear, half-life 2, call of duty2, chronnicles of riddick.

  • nev70

    Posted Feb 5, 2006 8:08 am PT

    gcn49 you like fps and you have not got an xbox or xbox 360 ! get real ! never played HALO ! ! ! !

  • mezonesxbox

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 1:59 pm PT


    I reeallly need RE5 for the XBOX 360!!! CAnt breath, feelling weak.....

    Seriously though i think we are all really interested into seeing what this baby can do.

  • lookbehindyou

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 11:32 am PT

    you guys make me laugh about wanting it on the rev.....what fanboys

  • killa-k

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 8:34 pm PT

    this should b a wicked game 4 the 360, trust me

  • andrewtyen

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 8:33 pm PT

    i hope its even better

  • moori_moori

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 7:47 pm PT

    2 production house said that making game for next-gen console required lots of money and resources. And they meant for X360; what about PS3 with the massive data storage media(Blu-ray). Won't they gone bankrupt before making a release of one game?
    And Capcom said they should need "outside investor funding" like in film industry. Will Sony fund them? You know, sony's film department make losses for several years.

  • Destiny_Smasher

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 7:14 pm PT

    Heheh. If RE5 hasn't even really started development, it still is quite likely that Capcom could be creating two versions of the game--one for PS3/360, and one for the Revolution.
    And Capcom seems to know what they're doing lately.

  • stewiegriffin78

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 5:34 pm PT

    Chromehounds in going to be awesome, and I rarely ever play mech games. Based on what I have seen, it looks amazing. Plus, with XBox Live, Chromehoounds could be the best mech game to date.

  • SnowFarmer

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 5:33 pm PT

    "When asked about other Xbox 360 projects at Capcom, Inafune commented that the company is waiting to see how the Xbox 360 fares at retail before it makes its next move. " - Well that makes a lot of sense from the Japanese point of view. If I were a Japanese developer/publisher, I wouldn't be racing to hop on the 360 bandwagon just yet. Better to put your efforts towards the Rev and PS3 since those will both be successful in Japan.

  • grey_fox1984

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 1:07 pm PT

    I think i can put this in a way that will be hard for anyone to disagree with. Resident Evil 4 took a long time to come out. The numbered RE games almost skipped the xbox/ps2/ngc generation, they took so long to come out. and what was the result? Resident Evil 4. So think of it this way- if RE4 took forever to come out, but ended up being as good as it was, then i hope they take ALL THE TIME THEY NEED for RE5. It'll suck if we have to wait 3 years for it, but i think it'll be worse if we wait 1 year for it and it sucks.

  • Orgil220

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 10:54 am PT

    RE5 RE5 RE5 RE5 RE5 RE5 RE5

  • redxwarriorxxx

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 8:43 am PT

    The plot thickens.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 8:03 am PT

    Things sound good so far. We'll see how they pan out.

  • cyprus646

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 6:06 am PT

    Japanese games for japanes conoles !!! long live the revolution !!!!!

  • shrum91

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 3:46 am PT

    reggie says that games can be easily ported from one machine to the rev...though i will prolly buy resi 5 for PS3....i want to get it with REALLY amazing visuals....not that rev wont have that

  • forever_blank

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 2:40 am PT

    C'mon Capcom... I was playing RE0 an they go so well on the gamecube.... PLEASE KEEP IT ON THE NINTENDO REV

  • E M I N 3 M

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 1:50 am PT

    Cant wait for RE5 but the one thing that caught my eye was how SEGA said VF5 was "under consideration" for the X360 given the popularity in the arcades. Boy, thats gotta be a blow to the cows. Not that its huge cause they're getting it also but they were all hyped thinking it wasn't coming to X360 as well. hMMmMm interesting....

  • ROCKINGFOOL

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 1:41 am PT

    xbox360 is great console and you freaks should accept the fact ^^

  • Kruza

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 11:52 pm PT

    Go Go AQ

  • ben_grasso

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 11:50 pm PT

    Com'on Capcom, if your worried about costs just develop it for the Revolution already! Never trust Capcom.

  • sydneylostarot

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 11:24 pm PT

    that optimusv2 guy is so full of it. unless he's somekind of technology medium that has foreseen the future, or a time traveler.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 10:02 pm PT

    I want RE5 now!!!

  • greks224

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 7:22 pm PT

    "Microsoft should focus on other zones like Brazil (South America), Mexico, India, South Africa, and China." ... You guy's have to remember that video game companies wouldn't want to concentrateon countries with a very low percentage of their customers. Many people in these kind of countries just can't afford the luxury of video games. Sure they can make Mexican themed games, but they should make sure that Americans enjoy these games as well.

  • greks224

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 7:20 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Kenzo287

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 6:53 pm PT

    RE5 better come out on Revolution other wise...well then no body will be able to afford it by the time it comes out. Unless development costs drop of course.

  • SH_guY

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 6:52 pm PT

    this just isnt right, if resident evil 5 is a sequel to the other resident evils how the hell will any of the 360 owners know who, who is? theres been more than 6 in the series itself and none have had any afflication with xbox and now all of a sudden xbox gets it and nintendo (the first console/console company to host a resident evil game) is being denied the 7th in the series. its just stupid.

  • Microsoft1234

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 6:32 pm PT

    i can see house of the dead 4 for revolution. since in the games you only control the aiming of the gun, you would only need the remote and there it is..

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 5:14 pm PT

    Capcom are old hands at promising exclusive content for a platform ... then noooot quiiiiiite delivering ..... RE5 is on the way to next gens. it's not even been started yet so who knows how it'll all pan out ??

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 4:55 pm PT

    As long as they make great games the console will live. Microsoft should focus on other zones like Brazil (South America), Mexico ,India, South Africa, and China. These zones are worthy enough to diserve games that have themes that relates to them.

    Japanese developers are not the only ones who can make games that sell well in Japan anyway, Don't the other houses get any experience from the industry anyway.

    I hope they take forever developing RE5, because I don't want the series to fall in the same commodity like before. RE evolved very slowly from RE1to Code Veronica. From Code Veronica, it only did a superb step with RE4. I know it's not easy, but it hurts me to see my favorite series, Street Fighter, evolving so slow in the last six years. That is if it really did evolve, even though I'm that it changed.

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 4:50 pm PT

    Wow, game timetables aside, this was a really good interview. There's a lot of info presented here that you usually only see on the inside of a game company, like staffing and costs of next-gen game developement. Nice job GameSpot.

  • davahsa

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 4:35 pm PT

    SE doing amother 360 MMORPG?!?! I don't like RPG's at all but this is great for the Japaneese market. And "HEY, Capcom!" get you head out of the gutter and give xbox owners at least ports of Devil May Cry! Why spend all that money on just developing for one system? And "Hey SEGA!" Release VF and HOTD for 360! Arcades are dead over here ya REE-REE's!

  • 247k

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    Capcom developers will be real busy this year,atleast they are looking ahead for future development for games, but I can't wait for their current generation game: Onimushaawn Of Dreams.
    It looks like a good game to carry the onimusha series to the next-gen status, I quess they probably have their sights on making onimusha for the PS3 when they are finished with the U.S version of the onimusha game.

    It's exiciting to think how games we know and love will look on the next-gen consoles, and how much new gameplay mechanics and the capacity of the games.It should be a good year this year for the two next-gen consoles coming out later this year. I HOPE!!

  • LordOfMidnight

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 4:05 pm PT

    Of the two games mentioned I'd like to see RE5 first but rushing it would be silly.

  • SLAYERPSP

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 4:01 pm PT


    chrisdojo re5 is for ps3 and 360 not that toy nintendo is making

  • mhder

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    I remember a lot of people saying " who cares about Sales in Japan, I live in America." Well this is why it matters. Many companies are based out of Japan and they may look at alternatives to the Xbox360 to reach a wider audience because it hasn't done that well in Japan. If the 360 was selling well, I'm sure most Japanese companies would be going all out to bring out games.

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 3:11 pm PT

    I can't wait to play RE5!

  • mattbyrnes

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 3:01 pm PT

    I think MS is so determined to win the Asian market, and not just Japan. With many Asian countires coming into their own, Japan is small peanuts. China is where the future is. Korea is where the future is. You get my point. That is why MS has released/are releasing into new countires.

    Also look for titles that have been exclusive on other consoles to appear on all of them. All 3 console makers are stepping up to the table with solid machines which will result in solid sales. Developers cannot afford to sell to only 33% of the market. If games dev. cost are really going up the way they all claim, they need to offer their product to as many people as possible. That is just smart business.

    I would only count on 1st party developers to give us different content. Exclusive deals this time around will be too much for the Console makers to take (rationally)

  • coolcool23

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 2:27 pm PT

    There you have it. The fate of Capcom games for the 360 rests within its completely rock solid sales. (AHEM!, Japan, shortages, etc...)

  • gamingfreak47

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 2:22 pm PT

    Obviosly and of course like they have done with all of the other RE titles there will be a Rev version.

  • mikekare79

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    They probably don't want to mess up the sequel to the game of the year.

  • DarkSan00

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    REVO RE5!!!! (meanwhile, I'll play twilight princess)

  • LinconSixEcho

    Posted Jan 30, 2006 12:49 pm PT

    I think Capcom will release RE5 on 360 and PS3 first and THEN consider the Revolution port since they have been burned with the GameCube exclusive contract deal a few years back.
    I interested in seeing what the Rev has to offer in interactive gameplay and hope it to be a cutting edge system. But here in America, they are sadly a distance third compared to Sony and Xbox.
    Yeah, yeah, this is the part where the flaming fanboys cry out Viva Revolution or whatever "catchy" slogan is being dispensed this week.

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