Capcom producer talks Resident Evil 5

Jun Takeuchi discusses the next installment in the survival horror series, explains the African setting and team's approach to combat, lighting effects.

Since the game's original announcement, nearly every aspect of Resident Evil 5 has been shrouded in darkness. That's mildly ironic, given that the next installment in the survival horror franchise will be bringing the zombie-hunting action out into the light of day like never before.

In a 13-minute video interview conducted by Famitsu and translated for the official Capcom blog, Resident Evil 5 producer Jun Takeuchi discussed the development team's approach to certain aspects of the game, starting with the decision to set the game in Africa. If Takeuchi was aware of the controversy that has been stirred up, he didn't show it.

"We settled on the fact that we really wanted to show the origins of the virus," Takeuchi said. "So for the setting, we thought how about using the place where humankind was born?"

That decision--combined with a desire to take the player outside as much as possible at different times of the day and in different weather--necessitated that the team emphasize improved lighting effects in the graphics engine.

"In all of the games up until now, light and darkness have been used as abstract concepts," Takeuchi said. "This time we wanted to realistically create that light and shadow, and use it in combination with the abstract concept."

One such realistic tweak involves mimicking the way that the human eye works with the graphics engine. When you're in brightly lit areas, you won't be able to see into the shadows. If you then walk into a darkened hut, it will take a few seconds to adjust to the dark before you can see what's actually inside.

"It's those few seconds where you can't see that really fans the fires of panic," Takeuchi said.

Amid clips of the previously released trailer for the game and scant sections of never-before-seen gameplay, Takeuchi also talked about other aspects of Resident Evil 5. The gameplay and controls will be built largely off of Resident Evil 4, although Takeuchi said there would be some tweaks to the formula.

"Biohazard was originally based somewhat on the idea of fighting enemies with a limited amount of weaponry," Takeuchi said. "But when the number of enemies gets this large, things would be a bit tough with just the handguns and shotguns that we've used up until now, so we have greatly increased the number of weapon variations."

For gamers who still hunger for Resident Evil 5 news, the clip closes out with the simple message to "wait for the media summit," presumably the E3 Media & Business Summit, set for July 15-18.

434 Comments

  • einstein_13

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 5:29 pm PT

    i want this for wii

  • B1G_DADDY

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 11:24 am PT

    how is it racist? i mean in gta theres alot of races and they slam out racail comments towards them. im not gonna say any of them dont wanna upset any1 but that was ok????? get over it

  • cyborg9

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 12:20 am PT

    wow sigh... Im black I find it funny that in resident evil 1 2 3 and 4 zombies were white and spanish now all of a sudden people see black zombies and say its racist ITS IN AFRICA WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ORANGE ZOMBIES if this game gets canceled im gonna beat someone

  • k9dogmigz

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 3:33 am PT

    how can this be racist? it's shot in africa so u HAVE TO kill black people. cause if u were killin' white people in africa, the game ain't as authentic and realistic as it's supposed to be. (and why would there be a massive group of white people in africa? it's just weird people think this game is racist..) any1 dat reads dis comment plzz comment back.........

  • mikeyg756

    Posted Jul 12, 2008 8:59 am PT

    I think its getting to the point that people are just saying its rascist to annoy people. It is quite funny how when someone says "this looks rascist" people begin to write huge explanations of how its not rascist, and how the last game was the same. Anyone who thinks a game where you can shoot black people is rascist, is way too paranoid about rascism.

  • xXxilluzioNxXx

    Posted Jul 11, 2008 7:57 pm PT

    excellent! Looks great with the new lighting and darkness concept.

  • carlind1

    Posted Jul 11, 2008 6:27 pm PT

    dean_gustafson Try thowing some commas and periods in there somewhere buddy, that paragraph gave me a freakin' headache.

    You guys are a bunch of freakin' marks.

  • cheeseman242424

    Posted Jul 11, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    in the original DOTD about 20% of the zombies were black

  • PrimeLazarus

    Posted Jul 6, 2008 6:54 am PT

    This game is gonna be awesome! The dynamic lighting is so intriguing and adds another layer of realism to this game. It has the makings of being movie-quality. Those guys across the pond at Capcom know how to juice up their environments it seems. RE4 was truly brilliant. I just loved kicking in doors, and the times where you could barricade a door or jump out a window those played out so smooth in the game engine it was like playing an action movie ALL THE TIME. This one is going to be even better.

    Everyone on here that has some sort of problem with the setting or races involved; get over yourself. GET OVER YOURSELF.

    You are fighting a war of attrition because if someone is actually racist, how are you going to ARGUE them out of it?

    The only reason you argue, is because you either WANT to be mad and try to make some righteous point; or because you like to play the victim whatever the circumstance.

    Racism exists all over, and ironically enough--Africans know best that it isn't always skin color that draws hate from one group of people to another. This however, is a game. @Serious As far as GTA games, most of the GTA characters have been white, so no race card to play there. The basketball games you talk about are based off of the real-life players so I don't know what you are trying to get at there either. Sounds like you might have some personal reservations about the subject which is understandable---because a lot of people have had to deal with some harsh racism. It's moot on this subject, however. The game is made by Japanese folks; who aren't completely ignorant to racial issues, being they have had racism directed towards them as much as any other race.

    This didn't happen when you killed hordes and hordes of white-europeans in the last game.

    Double standard, maybe?

    Don't buy it if you find it that offensive. You are the one that is just going to miss out on an interesting story. A story which perhaps is built largely on PEOPLE no matter the race working together against a completely inhuman infection. If the main chracter were really racist, why would he even be in Africa?

    Realistically speaking, everyone ignores the fact that shooting people in games seems to be ok, but then take into account what color the people you are shooting and the whole thing changes for certain people. Like I said, double standard.

    I thought Lando Calrissian and Han Solo had already proved that race TRULY doesn't matter when you are fighting aliens, monsters, tattooine gang lords, sith lords, masked stormtroopers, and Boba Fett.

    The original Dawn of the Dead had both a white and black protagonists, gleefully plugging every zombie they saw (that were mostly, if not all, white...can't recall) as they trapsed through the mall. In Star Wars, the rebels had whites, blacks, asians, and aliens of even more variety. The empire was entirely white besides the alien bounty hunters they used. I didn't write Lucas a letter because of it--and in fact-- maybe he did it for the exact reasons a white person should possibly get upset. Hey, this is life though. You got to roll with the punches and stand your ground.

    You also have to choose your battles wisely too. I'm just defending the game and it's makers. I'm not saying racism isn't a problem, just not worth fighting about in this particular circumstance. The game is getting made whether you like it or not. Play it or don't. Put this garbage behind you and find something more worthwhile to spend your energy fighting for.

  • gordanfreeman53

    Posted Jun 30, 2008 9:09 pm PT

    RE4 was really,really,really good. but RE5 is going to be F#@^ing AWESOME!!!!!

  • LegkyGolod

    Posted Jun 30, 2008 8:12 pm PT

    RE4 was excellent!!! If 5 ll be just half interesting, i`ll pee my pants 1 more time for it!!!

  • awesomo379

    Posted Jun 29, 2008 7:06 pm PT

    i cannot wait 4 this game. i liked the last 1 and this time around it has a really original setting. not that the last one didn't. but has it occurred 2 any1 else that were not really fightin zombies anymore?

  • bum32

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    i'm starting to doubt that the game will be able to live up to the hilarity of these comments. i'm looking forward to this game for sure, and i also cant wait for Fox News and every other American new outlet to pick up this story and run with it. the fact that anyone can get upset over a video game astounds me to this day. everyone should just chillax.

  • dean_gustafson

    Posted Jun 21, 2008 5:42 pm PT

    Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater was my tied favourite game on Playstation 2 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was good and just know Resident Evil 5 won't be just as good as Resident Evil 4 but better like Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots it will start to tie the saga up together however long it takes for this game to be released no doubt it’d be worth the wait!

  • KingARod1324

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 4:56 pm PT

    It's in africa noob. what no one would get offended if a african guy shhots a white guy right it wont offend its just shooting a mutant zombie and a white guy killing hispanics and im hispanic (dominican) i didnt get mad someon e shooting hispanics i actually think it was funny what they where saying RE4* so RE5* aint races so stop it saying its racist cause you are the ones making it racist the haters below so SHOOTING a mutant white guy or hispanics or african aint racist .

  • codecks

    Posted Jun 11, 2008 3:05 pm PT

    "For the people who stated that people get easily offended, I totally agree with you. For one, someone stated earlier that in Resident Evil 4 that you kill a bunch of hispanic zombies, why didnt the hispanic community gripe and complain." - FireCrossHalo

    Um...maybe because they weren't hispanic? Spain is in Europe...those zombies were all white. I love how ignorant people are...

    About RE5 being racist...it's not! It's in Africa, are the zombies supposed to be Asian or something? LMAO

  • Testament

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 6:11 am PT

    I seriously doubt the game is racist, its just the setting of eviornment its takin place in. If you look at the screen shots you will see theres still other nationailites that are zombie like that Chris R is fighting and on top of that his new partner is of africa decent. I realize the fact many might feel ofended about a white man killin africans, but you have to realize that the game takes place in africa and there's still a lot of more nationailites involved. Please take time and look at the screen shots people.

  • lovo_023

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 12:22 pm PT

    Its In africa What u gonna kill white guys
    its not a racist Its just a video game
    oh i see so killing arabs in cod4 isn't a racisum get real its just a video game

  • refreak-1

    Posted Jun 6, 2008 9:01 am PT

    Anyone ever play Saints Row? They had every race under the sun killing each other along with degrading slang terms for each of them, and it was an amazing game. RE5 isn't racist, it's just being true to it's setting. If the game had a bunch of white villiagers, people would complain about Africa being misrepresented. I love all races, we're all Gods children and we need to put our differences aside and stop delaying the release of what could quite possibly be one of the greatest games of all time.

  • x3b6ox0

    Posted Jun 5, 2008 1:27 pm PT

    This Game Looks Bad!! [Cool] Those Any One Know When It Comes Out?

  • dingdongdanman

    Posted May 31, 2008 2:32 pm PT

    i have just watched the new trailer posted on the offical website and have to say 'WOOOOOOOW' but wen the zombies/posesed people's jaw opens it looks like the vamps from Blade 2, still looks sick as, and another point the new lady character looks like Zafina the new Tekken Characater, i was hopin it to be Billy Coen as he metions he was in Africa in Resident Evil 0

  • necronaux

    Posted May 31, 2008 10:50 am PT

    People, relax, It's just a game. I doubt there could be any racial ballance that everyone would agree on. If all the agent's were black, and all the zombies were white, they're be complaints that there weren't enough black zombies. If the characters were half white, half black (quantity wise, not Star Trek alien wise), there'd be complaints there were no asians (or other nationality).

    I loved playing Def Jam Fight for NY, even though rap isn't my forte, and there weren't any white guys. And, I loved playing The Godfather Game, even though there weren't any blacks. If you like the series, or the game, play it. If not, don't buy it, don't play it. Stop complaining about the color of the characters.

  • bulletwaster

    Posted May 23, 2008 11:53 am PT

    This game is no more racist than Resident Evil 4. Why is it that to you shooting black people is way more offensive than shooting a hundred spanish people in thier faces. Racism means all races not just black people. It wouldnt make a lot of sense to have a million white people in africa.

  • yunalescax2

    Posted May 21, 2008 9:24 am PT

    Its this one based on the mission that was mentioned by Billy Coen in RE0 ?

  • Xxfantazmx13xX

    Posted May 19, 2008 8:37 am PT

    I really hope they keep the button mashing and matching cutscenes that RE 4 had. Those were some of my favorite parts of the game i.e. The Knife Fight, Running from the Boulder, etc. I really enjoy that in RE and GOW... Can' Wait for RE5!

  • d1ckenson

    Posted May 17, 2008 7:53 pm PT

    phototype & serious, the fact that you're getting so wound up over a bloody computer game, well that says more than words ever could. but here's a few words anyway, you are both gimps. enjoy them. x

  • nf1994

    Posted May 17, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    cant wait for this one

  • murano28

    Posted May 15, 2008 5:12 pm PT

    damn i wished it came out end of this year, but it wont. This game is gonna be the bomb!

  • jknight5422

    Posted May 14, 2008 11:58 am PT

    When the hale is this game going to be released!!! Jumpin' Bejeebus!

  • heand

    Posted May 11, 2008 3:00 pm PT

    Dark and lighting effects are going to make this game good. I wonder if they're going to make new gameplay actions.

  • FireCrossHalo

    Posted May 6, 2008 10:43 pm PT

    For the people who stated that people get easily offended, I totally agree with you. For one, someone stated earlier that in Resident Evil 4 that you kill a bunch of hispanic zombies, why didnt the hispanic community gripe and complain. If you put the series in Africa we get a big fuss about the protagonist killing Africans. Why dont we set the bulls*&^ aside and let Capcom work their magic.

  • Howard666

    Posted May 3, 2008 12:00 pm PT

    dont you all see they chose africa for a reason they were bored at work one day and decided to cause a fuss lol they tried to do it with resi 4 but no one took any notice heheh am kidddin is no one else not like really really scared of the resident evil games the remake of resi one was the scariest thing ive ever played on and when i saw the new demo for resi 5 when he smackes that guy in the face a little bit of wii came out hehe

  • zimaking

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 10:04 pm PT

    Please give at least an estimated release date soon..TBA just ain't cutting it

  • bswitch420

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 9:09 pm PT

    Yeah, I''m cool with this game. White guy killing a bunch of black guys... whats wrong with that? Seems about time someone made a game this awesome.

  • pain4ever

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 6:26 pm PT

    there is nothing racist about this game, if you think there is then you are racist

  • Saren_Arterius

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 2:56 am PT

    As michael jackson so wonderfully put it "it doesn't matter if your black or white" and look, to be honest i dont care about the people saying its racist, the setting is there and the culture is there, they didn't say lets go kill african people - get over it and play the game.

  • rebadguy

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 9:46 am PT

    hey i'm black and i cant wait to play this game. Keep dreaming about it. I dont mind whose killing the zombies when i'm the one controlling him. God bless Capcom and the resident evil series

  • Howard666

    Posted Apr 26, 2008 11:46 am PT

    i agree with 6monkey1 its taking soo long to come out at least give us a release date and a little demo pleeeeaassseeee im not putting anything on the racism issue cuz last time i did i got done and got put down a full level all ill say is everyone needs to just whooosaaaaa hehe WHOSE WITH ME!!!!

  • FlameBeast4000

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 3:32 pm PT

    Is this suposed to be the last game in the series?

  • 6monkey1

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 2:53 pm PT

    Nice commet BladeVampero.I totally agree wit u. And to answer your question(or at least try),the reason ppl get so worked up over videogame storylines is cuz the gaming industry is getting bigger and bigger just about every year. On another note, the only thing pissing me off about this game is its release date. I hate this TBA crap.

  • devilkiller21

    Posted Apr 22, 2008 8:24 am PT

    Dude, just wait till the game comes out for comments. An' sides, it's just a game, so get over it. And besides, how is this racist and not GTA: SA, were you were a black guy killin whitey for no reason, and now we're whitey, we have a reason, and it's bad?? *Note-No Africans were harmed in the making of this game.*

  • mciver166

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 8:50 pm PT

    yeah i am with jammerraqui

  • Jammerraqui

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 8:24 pm PT

    call me racist but i just wanna play this game

  • PHOTOTYPE615

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 7:27 pm PT

    Uhh i just made a long ass retaliation reply...but their was a error on the page so ill keep it simple BladeVampero go back read and comprehend my comment and the post a reply see im not going to engage in attacking others opinions caues it solves nothing..you basically repeated what i said with more elaboration. I didnt say it was racist i just said it was a horrible place for a game btw the gay reference wasnt meant to be intelligent sorry if it didnt reach your standards but i had already stated that is was ignorant pay attention before you attack someone and stop half-ass'n cause it makes you look like a dumass

  • BladeVampero

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 4:32 pm PT

    Wait...did Phototype615 compare zombies to homosexuals? That just doesn't work. Zombies, in their common manifestation, are more instinctual and act on the basic natural desire to feed. Regardless or race, sexual preference, gender, or anything for that matter, if a dead body becomes a Zombie its going to try and eat your head. Plain and simple. If I'm being attacked by Zombies, regardless, I'm going to defend myself. Placing a homophobe in San Fransisco (which is a rather ignorant statement in itself) is not a similar situation. Groups of homosexuals don't get together and hunt for homophobes. Everybody is blowing this way out of proportion. The game is set in AFRICA. If the T-Virus were to originate from Africa, and it were to infect the people there, there's a very strong chance that the hordes of Zombies won't be white. Its just the demographic there. Now, if the T-Virus originated in Europe, then there would be a good deal more white Zombies, but again that doesn't matter. A Zombie is a Zombie. It no longer associates itself with race, nationality, sexual preference, or whatever. It just wants your brain.

    Why is it that society gets worked up over a story in a video game more than what gets published in books, made into movies, or gets on TV? There's a hell of a lot more racism and ignorance in those mediums that nobody cares about, but once you get to a game the whole world turns their sights to it with an itchy trigger finger. This is nothing more than a form of storytelling. Enjoy the story, and move on.

    Its like people from Greece getting worked up over God of War. (That hasn't happened, has it? I hope not.) Or people from Italy castrating Mario. (Not literally, people.) Like it or not, there are other races and nationalities in this world, and if a game's story takes place where a certain race is more prevalent, then don't be so surprised if you see that race. How do you think White people feel about everybody saying it would be better if they were killing white instead of *insert race here.* That's nothing more than a racist statement, and people fail to see that because White people are apparently the media scapegoat for "equality." "Oh, we're killing Blacks or Mexicans or Asians, that's not okay. You can make them White? Sure! That's fine. Much better."
    HOW IS THAT BETTER?
    So, guess what. We are people. This game has Zombies. The Zombies are trying to kill you. Stop them. That's all there is to it. If you see anything deeper than that, then YOU are the rasict, not the game.

  • JustinMatthew

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 4:19 pm PT

    I think the funny thing is, the game is being made by a bunch of Japanese folk. That, and Resident Evil 4 had a white as the driven snow main character shooting a bunch of Hispanics. Oh but I guess black africans are victims and hispanics are just a-holes.

  • sonik1489

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 8:11 am PT

    It's only a game....
    But i'm it will find its way to Fox News the closer it gets to the release date

  • Wopenka_11

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 6:34 am PT

    Isnt the majority of people living in Africa, African? so you would expect alot of the shooting would be directed at Africans. Some people need to stop finding ways and things to take offence to something.

    I take strong offence to Dynasty Warriors for the games focus on killing lots of asians even though its set in asia!!!!!!

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