Interview with KCET/KTYO, regarding WE7 International due for release on the 19th of Febuary 2004, in Japan, from a Hong Kong gaming magazine:
Q: Why have you decided to use "International" as the suffix to the game?
A: That's because in addition to the usual improvements that come with a "Final Evolution"-type game, multiple languages will be suported.
Q: Given that the medium will be DVD-ROM this time, what changes will be made to the game?
A: We will be able to add more stadia and players, so as to create an even broader game world. In addition, there will be some improvement to loading time.
Q: With DVD-ROM as medium, we will naturally expect having more teams available ......
A: That's right, we will have additional teams, including the ones that were eliminated in the Master League of WE7.
Q: Players' transfers will be fully reflected in WE7I, right?
A: Yes. One issue, however, is that even if we know what team a player is heading to, we still won't know what position in the team he will play exactly; in that case, there is some room for reflection. In the end, we just decided to effect the transfer first. If fans see players staying with that old clubs, that would pretty pathetic wouldn't it. In any event, because the game is coming out in February, we won't be able to get all the January transfer activity incorporated, which is a bit of a shame.
Q: Can you get around this issue with online updates?
A: You could have. But we are really sorry, due to licensing reasons we cannot do that.
Q: A question on the Master League. What changes will be made to the ML?
A: There won't be much change to ML. You can consider this to be a period of "hibernation" for ML, only after WE7I will there be more drastic changes. Of course, we have considered adding the element of player aging to successive seasons of running ML.
Q: Sorry, a personal question: what will happen to the frequency of handballs being called ......
A: It will be drastically reduced. Initially, we added the concept of the handball so as to eliminate the "Hand of God"-type plays ...... aside from that we now aim to cut back on the use of the handball. I trust there will now be much less complaint about this issue!
Q: Will there be any differences in the way fouls are called?
A: Only to a limited extent, though you will definitely see a difference in the calls on tackles. As long as you tackle properly in WE7I, you won't be slapped with a yellow card.
Q: There will be further room for improvement of the WE series, is that right?
A: Yes, we still have many many ideas (duh!)
Q: Is there anything you are not happy with?
A: As you know, we are game players too! We actually have held big meetings for WE; as we play the game, we will make comments like "next time we can have this, or that". Maybe we are watching the Champions League, and we say, "hmm, doing this could be interesting. Unlimited number of ideas can be generated from this kind of discussion.
Q: Hmm, as football in real life gets more exciting, surely so too will WE?
A: Yes. Up till now, we have included lots of basic moves. However, we are now contemplating adding "super plays" which are above and beyond the current knowledge and skill of existing players. For example, in WE players usually can't get away a powerful shot if they are turning around, but I will make Pele capable of doing it. We are still working out these types of concepts, but the basic idea is to add more "personality" to individual players to a certain degree.
Q: In other words, the concept of simply assigning numerical values to different skills is no longer adequate ...
A: Yes. If we only pay attention to skill gradings, then in the end even if we have a player like Pele, he won't be that much different from the others. This is a great source of frustration for us. Now we are spending a lot of effort to figure out ways to solve this problem without focusing too much on skill levels.
Q: What would you like to have us pay attention to this time, what should we look out for?
A: The balance between attacking on the flanks and breaking through in the center. This really is very tricky; I would go so far as to say we didn't get it right in all of the previous versions of WE.
Q: I assume the frequency of attacking down the wing has come down?
A: Yes, so we have better balance this time. Both in terms of attack and defense, headers are now more difficult, so you will likely find it more satisfying to have a header executed properly. In addition, headers preceded by a run-up ought to be more powerful, right? It will be so this time around. In addition, the curvature of centering lobs will be different.
Q: What do you mean exactly by that?
A: They will be faster. [?]
Q: So, in this game, dribbling down the middle and centering from the wings will be a different experience depending on the player being controlled ...?
A: Yes. So, this time it will be more difficult to sustain success using just one particular strategy; although we feel a bit nervous about this change, because we haven't had it tested by a broad base of WE fans ...
Q: In closing, what would you like to say to WE fans?
A: WE7I will be better than previous "Final Evolution" type improvements. We hope everyone will enjoy the game.
Some initial WE7 International details:
- Languages available: Japanese, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish
- Real club / player names, shirts and logos for Juventus and Feyenoord (in addition to existing ones of AC Milan, Roma, Parma)
- Club jerseys updated
- Total of 129 facial types for editing
- 2 new styles of Adidas boots
- Editing of jerseys for goalkeepers
- Editing of stadium names allowed
- Club names, announced names, English names, and 3-letter abbreviations can be transported from previous WE games
- New animations for penalty kicks: some players won't run up to the ball but will simply stand beside the football, take one step and shoot
- Ability to view records of previous 3 matches in ML and league modes
- 45 players will be available for the Japanese national team
Q: Why have you decided to use "International" as the suffix to the game?
A: That's because in addition to the usual improvements that come with a "Final Evolution"-type game, multiple languages will be suported.
Q: Given that the medium will be DVD-ROM this time, what changes will be made to the game?
A: We will be able to add more stadia and players, so as to create an even broader game world. In addition, there will be some improvement to loading time.
Q: With DVD-ROM as medium, we will naturally expect having more teams available ......
A: That's right, we will have additional teams, including the ones that were eliminated in the Master League of WE7.
Q: Players' transfers will be fully reflected in WE7I, right?
A: Yes. One issue, however, is that even if we know what team a player is heading to, we still won't know what position in the team he will play exactly; in that case, there is some room for reflection. In the end, we just decided to effect the transfer first. If fans see players staying with that old clubs, that would pretty pathetic wouldn't it. In any event, because the game is coming out in February, we won't be able to get all the January transfer activity incorporated, which is a bit of a shame.
Q: Can you get around this issue with online updates?
A: You could have. But we are really sorry, due to licensing reasons we cannot do that.
Q: A question on the Master League. What changes will be made to the ML?
A: There won't be much change to ML. You can consider this to be a period of "hibernation" for ML, only after WE7I will there be more drastic changes. Of course, we have considered adding the element of player aging to successive seasons of running ML.
Q: Sorry, a personal question: what will happen to the frequency of handballs being called ......
A: It will be drastically reduced. Initially, we added the concept of the handball so as to eliminate the "Hand of God"-type plays ...... aside from that we now aim to cut back on the use of the handball. I trust there will now be much less complaint about this issue!
Q: Will there be any differences in the way fouls are called?
A: Only to a limited extent, though you will definitely see a difference in the calls on tackles. As long as you tackle properly in WE7I, you won't be slapped with a yellow card.
Q: There will be further room for improvement of the WE series, is that right?
A: Yes, we still have many many ideas (duh!)
Q: Is there anything you are not happy with?
A: As you know, we are game players too! We actually have held big meetings for WE; as we play the game, we will make comments like "next time we can have this, or that". Maybe we are watching the Champions League, and we say, "hmm, doing this could be interesting. Unlimited number of ideas can be generated from this kind of discussion.
Q: Hmm, as football in real life gets more exciting, surely so too will WE?
A: Yes. Up till now, we have included lots of basic moves. However, we are now contemplating adding "super plays" which are above and beyond the current knowledge and skill of existing players. For example, in WE players usually can't get away a powerful shot if they are turning around, but I will make Pele capable of doing it. We are still working out these types of concepts, but the basic idea is to add more "personality" to individual players to a certain degree.
Q: In other words, the concept of simply assigning numerical values to different skills is no longer adequate ...
A: Yes. If we only pay attention to skill gradings, then in the end even if we have a player like Pele, he won't be that much different from the others. This is a great source of frustration for us. Now we are spending a lot of effort to figure out ways to solve this problem without focusing too much on skill levels.
Q: What would you like to have us pay attention to this time, what should we look out for?
A: The balance between attacking on the flanks and breaking through in the center. This really is very tricky; I would go so far as to say we didn't get it right in all of the previous versions of WE.
Q: I assume the frequency of attacking down the wing has come down?
A: Yes, so we have better balance this time. Both in terms of attack and defense, headers are now more difficult, so you will likely find it more satisfying to have a header executed properly. In addition, headers preceded by a run-up ought to be more powerful, right? It will be so this time around. In addition, the curvature of centering lobs will be different.
Q: What do you mean exactly by that?
A: They will be faster. [?]
Q: So, in this game, dribbling down the middle and centering from the wings will be a different experience depending on the player being controlled ...?
A: Yes. So, this time it will be more difficult to sustain success using just one particular strategy; although we feel a bit nervous about this change, because we haven't had it tested by a broad base of WE fans ...
Q: In closing, what would you like to say to WE fans?
A: WE7I will be better than previous "Final Evolution" type improvements. We hope everyone will enjoy the game.
Some initial WE7 International details:
- Languages available: Japanese, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish
- Real club / player names, shirts and logos for Juventus and Feyenoord (in addition to existing ones of AC Milan, Roma, Parma)
- Club jerseys updated
- Total of 129 facial types for editing
- 2 new styles of Adidas boots
- Editing of jerseys for goalkeepers
- Editing of stadium names allowed
- Club names, announced names, English names, and 3-letter abbreviations can be transported from previous WE games
- New animations for penalty kicks: some players won't run up to the ball but will simply stand beside the football, take one step and shoot
- Ability to view records of previous 3 matches in ML and league modes
- 45 players will be available for the Japanese national team
