The latest issue of Japanese publication Famitsu has revealed interesting details about the development process of Xenoblade Chronicles X on the Wii U.
Being such a huge task for Monolith Soft, executive director Tetsuya Takahashi explained the many challenges the developer was required to overcome and how Nintendo was able to offer a helping hand being so closely linked to the project.
The development team originally used basic technology for online functionality and Nintendo then stepped in to assist with the sci-fi role playing game’s online portion.
Takahashi noted the vital experience gained and how it could be applied to Monolith Soft’s future projects:
We were able to implement online elements by cooperating with Nintendo and I’d like to use that feedback in making the next title. Originally we used very basic technology for online elements of this game...we decided not to use cutting edge technology. HD and online were new experiences for us and rushing has no use. It’s a bit similar to boxing: if you stand till the end, you will win. We faced the development with this in mind.
The executive director of Xenoblade Chronicles X also discussed the challenges of creating a map five times the size of the original Xenoblade Chronicles game on the Wii, along with the requirement of incorporating a large amount of quests and equipment:
As the volume was large, the most troublesome thing was debugging (laughs). As this was our first HD title, it was decided from the start that we won’t use cutting edge technology. When I considered what is the strength of Monolith Soft, I came to the conclusion it’s the ability to neatly put together huge volume.
Xenoblade Chronicles X for the Wii U is currently on target for a local release in the later half of 2015. Let us know how excited you are for the game's arrival in the comments below.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 23
They are even behind on how boxing works, Lol
Isn't Monolith Soft a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo? This is like saying Nintendo stepped in to help Nintendo with online functionality. Not sure how it's news. Or why it was even a distinction made by the development group to begin with. One would assume Nintendo is deeply involved in the development and functionality of their own games.
@errantrazor its not 100% owned by nintendo yet if i recall and nintendo didn't own most of them originally but somewhat recently in years if i recall and they are getting support now since they never got it in the past since nintendo didn't own so much.
@errantrazor @edgedino Nintendo owns the entirety of Monolith Soft. Even if they own the studio that does not mean Nintendo also manages the company specifically. Monolith is still a separate entity from Nintendo in one way or another. It still goes without saying that anything Monolith makes, there will still be approvals and discussions and whatnot with Nintendo. Of course, as a 2nd party studio, they still need to work closely with Hitoshi Yamagami, w/c handles production and relations with 2nd and 3rd party developers.
So I guess my Wii U will blow up if I try to use XBX's online features then?
@Zyph Technically they are a 1st party since they are owned by Nintendo. Even though 2nd party has no technical definition dev-wise, it's usually referred to a partially owned studio that still does exclusive work with one of the big three.
There is a pretty good chance that my internet won't be able to handle this game online regardless of the online features, but that's okay. For me, this game will be all about the epic single player exploration. I'm sure this game will end up being just as good as Xenoblade Chronicles in that part of the experience. I just hope the story can live up to my expectations too.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Confirmed?
@DreamOn He pretty much said the last one standing wins.
@LztheQuack Yeah I forgot. A good example of 2nd party would be NLG.
That was to be expected. Monolith never really worked with online functionality on such a grand scale before, so it's not surprising Nintendo helped them with that - otherwise, the release window would probably slip to the end of 2015 for japan alone...
"Nintendo Assisted Monolith Soft With Xenoblade Chronicles X Online Functionality"
Now I'm worried...
@AVahne The only thing you have to fear... is fear itself, not the game. Thanks to the Nintendo Network, you can tag along with 3 more of your friends on Miiverse and play Quest Mode.
@edgedino Nintendo owns 96% of Monolith Soft while the remaining 4% is owned by the two founders of Monolith Soft.
@whiteninja18
Not necessarily. in boxing you go a number of rounds, and assuming nobody is knocked out, it goes to decision. So even if you were the last one standing if you were outboxed then it can go to the other guy. I honestly think it's a bad analogy.
2) If they weren't going for cutting edge technology how can you expect to grow and learn as a company? if nobody didn't try anything new we'd all still be stuck with NES, Windows 95, VHS, and the Walkman. Not that I didn't like that era but still....
Haven't played the 1st one yet. Is it worth getting on 3DS or Wii? Not sure whether to go for bigger screen or HD... Ahhh decisions
@HorniiGremlin Well, neither of those are HD, but the Wii version DOES have better resolution and is more beautiful overall. The 3DS version however does have the advantage of being portable and giving you a vast world-type game on the handheld, something that the 3DS was lacking before. That said, this game doesn't require any knowledge of the previous game, but if you still want to try it out I'd go ahead and get it on the Wii.
@Boidoh I... think... hope... YES. IT IS. I think.
But when... When are we getting it...
Almost finished xenoblade chronicles 3d and I'm super pumped for this one!
Not the best move based on nintendos track record. They probably told them to remove voice chat and any form of online contact with other beings!
@erv The Nintendo Treehouse may have a release date launch of this game next month at E3.
Not surprising since they haven't done anything with online before. And also it seems like it works fine. I really like the fact that you can do all the squad missions with your normal party members as well. Forced multiplayer content in mainly singleplayer games are.. mehhh.
@Lord Not the best move for children saying foul and graphic language in a game chat.
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