In an interview with GameSpot, Star Ocean 5 producer Shuichi Kobayashi was asked a few questions about the development changes the game has gone through and the reaction these changes received.
When asked about the visual changes happening to the game, more specifically, the bigger underwear a character received. Kaboayashi replied:
It’s fundamentally just a ratings issue. But as for Star Ocean, it’s not that different–it’s unfortunate that a lot of people took the change in a bigger way than intended and interpreted things in a way that haven’t actually happened. But the game hasn’t changed, and the size [of the character’s underwear] hasn’t really changed, it’s really not that different than what was originally created. The essence of the game is not that part, and I really want players to not focus on that, but the rest of the gameplay. The Japanese rating system is different from that in the West and that is why these changes have to happen. Rating checks and submissions happen after most of the game is finished, so it’s inevitable that changes occur after some things are done. That’s why we had to make that kind of change this time, but it’s not that different, as much as people want to make it sound that way.
GameSpot followed up with a question on why these changes have become such a big deal to gamers:
I think that at least for Star Ocean, it was because of what we were depicting. What players were picking up [the larger underwear] was a lot easier to make fun of. At least for Star Ocean, that’s why they blew it up the way they did.
It’s not that different. The users actually wouldn’t know what the original size is [from the game], so they picked it up and made fun of it. Normal users wouldn’t even worry about it, or look at it even, so…
Going off the difference in ratings, even gestures and hand signs are really different from culture to culture. For instance, in Star Ocean 5, when you first meet Relia, Miki pats her head to reassure her. In Japan that a reassuring motion, like what you do to little kids. But in some countries it was not taken that way, so that’s been changed in the game to fit the different cultures. It was picked up during QA, and we changed it.
It’s good to mention that Kaboayashi doesn’t mention whether this change has been made to one version of Star Ocean 5 or both.
The interview ended with a question about whether or not Kaboayashi would be interested in doing another Valkyrie Profile, Kaboayashi responded:
I really want to. I really like Valkyrie Profile too. It’s just that it’s a bit difficult to do because a lot of the players like Valkyrie Profile 1 the most. The difference between players for the first game and its sequels is so different that it’s difficult to think about what makes the series good.
Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness is coming to the PlayStation 4 on July 28 in NA and July 1 in EU. The game is available now for the PlayStation 4 in Japan and will be releasing on the PlayStation 3 on April 28.
So what do you think are these changes necessary between cultures? And would you like another Valkyrie Profile? Let us know in the comments below.
