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Shinji Hashimoto

Square Enix Managing Director



Representative works: Kingdom Hearts series, Final Fantasy series

Q. Among the games released in 2018, which title was the one that impressed you?

"Battlefield V. I think that the sensation of World War II’s battlefield was very well done."

Q. What was the most impressive entertainment content released in 2018 according to you?

"Bohemian Rhapsody. With extraordinary singing and acting skills, it was a work that aroused a lot of surprises, even to myself. In one word, it was impressive."

Q: In 2018, which personality did you paid attention to?

"Women’s figure skating, Rika Kihira."

Q: Tell us your resolution for 2019, as well as a message for the 4Gamer readers, please.

"Kingdom Hearts III and LEFT ALIVE will finally be on sale. I want to be healthy and make sure to do my best to show you those two new works.

"I think that I got a game that will make everyone happy, so please look forward to it.”

2019 Keywords: "Kingdom Hearts III release"

What I'm paying attention to in 2019: "Avengers: Endgame"

Yōko Shimomura

Composer



Representative works: Street Fighter II, Live A Live, Legend of Mana, Kingdom Hearts series, Mario&Luigi RPG series

Q: Among the games released in 2018, which title was the one that impressed you?

"So... sorry... I was too busy to have time to play and check games other than my own works…"

Q: What was the most impressive entertainment content released in 2018 according to you?

"I was writing the music for it, and it feels like I’m doing some advertisement but… there is a TV anime called High Score Girl. As the game was too realistic like a play in play, it was remade as an anime, and I was shocked. And it was also shocking that the songs I composed several decades ago and the ones I made recently alternated in it (laughs)."

Q: In 2018, which personality did you paid attention to?

"Mystery writer Atsuhi Shimomura. I love reading mystery genre stories, it’s an author that shares a family name with me so I picked (the book) it up, read it, and it was fun!!

"I just started reading his work, and I would like to read more of it."

Q: Tell us your resolution for 2019, as well as a message for the 4Gamer readers, please.

"This year was a challenge, we provided music for the Takarazuka Revue [an all-female musical theater troupe], for the TV anime High Score Girl, but also continuing from last year, producing music for genres other than video games. It seems that both were popular and that pleases me. People who produce games were also fulfilling this year.

"Next year, Kingdom Hearts III will finally be released and hopefully the players will enjoy the music as well. I would like to participate as much as time allows me to, going to concerts, events and such, as well as composing next year."

Yōsuke Shiokawa

Delightworks Swallowtail

Creative Officer, Studio Head



Representative works: Fate/Grand Order, Kingdom Hearts (game), Dissidia Final Fantasy.

Q. Among the games released in 2018, which title was the one that impressed you?

"Answer: Pac in Town ». As a MR attraction using HoloLens, it is a game that was deployed for a limited time. Players become Pacman, collecting dots floating on the field while avoiding monsters, competing for points. Although I still felt the experimental aspect, the game which puts elements of mixed reality in play has finally come out, meaning that new forms of games emerged, and this was greatly inspiring. I was impatient and busy playing this, it’s a good memory."

Q. What was the most impressive entertainment content released in 2018 according to you?

"It’s MANGA Performance W3. It’s a stage without any dialogue, but with a manga-like production by projection mapping. The performance of the actors intermingles perfectly, and the storytelling method makes us feel it without words, it was very impressive. "It’s a sensitivity that has yet no name" - this printed catchphrase begins to change, as there is certainly something fresh to it.”

Q: In 2018, which personality did you paid attention to?

"Akira Nishino led the Japanese delegation as a coach at the 2018 Fifa World Cup. I think that the World Cup was a sequence of scenes that required an ample amount of energy to make big decisions, including before the event. Regarding the comparison between football and the video game, the fields and scales are different. Just leading a team or a project […] what should you think about, how do you steer toward the right decision and why? There are many aspects to be learned in such a short amount of time."

Q: Tell us your resolution for 2019, as well as a message for the 4Gamer readers, please.

"In November 2018, I started a development studio called DELIGHTWORKS SWALLOWTAIL Studios. I will design entertainment works that will crush the philosophy of “design” and move people’s minds in various ways. In accordance with the establishment of the studio, a new original video game project has also been started. I couldn’t tell you the news earlier, but thank you for your continued support!"

Tetsuya Nomura

Director



Director of the Kingdom Hearts series and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

2019 Keyword: "7"

2019 resolution: "Various plans will be announced."

What I'm paying attention to in 2019: "Avengers: Endgame"