[Multiplatform] The Official Armored Core 4 thread. Gentlemen, start your boners.

Ahh.... Armored Core, one of my all time favorite series. The 11th installment looks great, I just hope it's not over simplified (leave the button mashing to ZOE >.>).

Am I the only one that actually likes the recent AC games? Last Raven was awesome (I started playing from Silent Line on). Nexus had an to-quick-to-overheat problem, but that's about it. And on another note, I really enjoy the AC designs, I don't think 'organic' designs would fit so well in AC.

One thing I really hope for is entertaining missions, the missions in LR, NB, N, etc. were extremely lame. It seems the VS. maps were redone also, which is a good sign. And the graphics, :-)

I definitely have to get this game soon (and a 360 or a PS3 along with it -_-). Whether the reviews are good or bad, there hasn't been a HUGE disappointment yet in the AC series (except Nine Breaker didn't add enough stuff to make it 40+ dollars).

On a final note, I downloaded the Soundtrack, and well, it wasn't the best (not as bad as LR thank goodness). None of it compares to the older AC songs from Kota Hoshino, it seems Tsukasa Saitoh is taking over (he's not that bad though, his Silent Line and AC3 soundtracks were great).

EDIT: Interview with Toshifumi Nabeshima

Spoiler:

Neues_Eisen: How did the idea for AC4 emerge as opposed other AC titles From Software was considering?
Nabeshima: “We inevitably needed to re-create the existing resources since it turned out that we would release the title on new consoles, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Moreover, it was also determined that the game would bear a new series number “4”, so we had a policy from the start that we would create what would be new as a mech-based action title intending to innovate everything from the previous series, not with an idea like ‘we have to do this way because it has been always like this so far’.”

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SouthernRaveness: What are From Software’s goals for AC4 in the US market?

Nabeshima: "This is not particularly limited to the U.S, but hopefully, new game contents and platforms will trigger as many new users as possible to experience this game.This time, as one of the goals from the beginning was to support the online gameplay, we hope that communication among the players from Japan, U.S., or other territories will be generated via that environment.”

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Rambopanda: Is the game speed going to be increased to match the first Armored Core or continue to be as slow as the other versions?

Nabeshima:“That is what we focused on most this time. It is convenient to expect the greater speed than in the first Armored Core. “’

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Hoppy + Raven_Flau: Will there be From Software sponsored online tournaments in the US or any other countries besides Japan?

Nabeshima: “I guess it is fairly difficult for us to organize online tournaments outside Japan, but we will consider it if we receive a lot of demand.”

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DarkRaven: Series producer and From Software CEO Naotoshi Zin noted in an interview with IGN that creating the same version of Armored Core 4 for Xbox 360 and PS3 platforms was something he was not interested in doing, Should we expect to see any difference between the two versions besides Xbox Live support?

Nabeshima: “Regarding the policy in the title development, we make judgments properly depending on the situation, which means that we came to the conclusion that it would be best to release the title on multiple platforms.

...Hmm, this is a fairly needling question. (laugh)

As to the both versions’ contents, there are basically no big differences. You can choose either one based on a console you own. “

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Roadwulf: Will FROMSOFT institute Clan/Team support like they did with Chromehounds, even though AC's one player storyline does not deal with it?

Nabeshima:“AC4 allows the team-based VS gameplay, but I believe it seems to be fairly favorably accepted in Japan.

Because AC and Chromehounds are the games whose directions are each different, we do not think about introducing similar mechanisms, but I hope we will develop them both with each different fun elements in the future. “

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ZZ-Raven: What is your favorite project that you have worked on thus far?

Nabeshima:“Not a favorite project, but the title I have a special feeling for is the first Armored Core, which was released on PS.

This is partly because it is the original of the still on-going, long-standing series, and mainly because it was with this title that I was involved in the work called the game development for the first time.”

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RavenJP: What is a typical work day like for you?


Nabeshima: “There are not so special things, but…

I come to the office by 10:00 AM since you are supposed to so due to an office regulation. As I am living near to the company, I often sleep up to the last minute. I spend most of my time writing and answering mails in the morning.

As to the afternoon, it differs from day to day, but typically I am not at my desk since I have to meet visitors and attend meetings, etc.

On the evening and after, things calm down slightly if I do not have any plan in particular, so I sort out and confirm contents and schedule of a title with the team members. When talk with the team members is prolonged, we sometimes go out somewhere for dinner and continue the discussion.”

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SK7731: What was the most difficult challenge developing Armored Core 4 compared to Master of Arena, AC2 and AC3?


Nabeshima: “This is always the same when we develop a title for a new console, but we have no choice but to develop one with little know-how.

·You cannot tell if you can really do what you think you are going to do.

·Even if you can do, you cannot exactly measure how long it will take or how much work will be required.

·You must create something new that will surpass a thing of the past on that basis…

·These factors put enormous pressure on us. “

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Devmani + DarkRaven: You are a producer of Chromehounds as well, is there a possibility for Chromehounds 2 in the near future?

Nabeshima: “As Chromehounds is the title I personally have a very special feeling for, I would like to realize its sequel. I would appreciate it very much if we get your support.”

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Outlaw: With the shift towards faster game play Armored Core was changed a lot. Were there any other proposed changes that were cut or didn't make it?

Nabeshima: “Since we had a concept that we wanted to create what gives a great sense of speed as an action game, we built the title giving the first priority to it.

As I also mentioned in the above question, we did not have a thought like “we are going to change things this way because they were like this before”, so we consciously tried not to think like “this is XX compared to before”.

To stretch a point, we positioned the mech called AC as very special and extremely powerful arms in the settings this time. It may be a big difference from before that we were aware of how we would express such point in the game. “

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GambitRaven: What was the reasoning behind some of the major changes in Armored Core 4 compared to other Armored Core games?

Nabeshima: “In the previous AC, due to the issues of hardware specs and game systems, it was in part difficult to implement new elements, and even though there were interesting ideas, we had to give them up since we need fundamental innovations to realize them

This time, with the change of platforms, we had an inevitable requirement to attempt to renovate the franchise, so we felt like trying various ideas taking advantage of this opportunity.”

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Pechorin: If you had more time and money to work with, is there anything else you would have liked to have seen in AC4?

Nabeshima: “I try not to think that way so much since it will have no limits. (laugh)

If there is one thing, I feel we could have implemented more varied contents in the online aspects if we had more time.”

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Pechorin: Will we see a return of older weapon types (Linear guns, back mounted chain guns, slug guns) in future AC games?

Nabeshima: “As the system underwent a huge change, I suppose there are some parts that would cause discordance (i.g. parts of no use), but it is possible those other than such useless parts could return.”

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Spartan-251: Are we able to change the booster and blade color in AC4? If not, are you planning to place this option in future AC games?

Nabeshima: “Unfortunately, you cannot. We would like to consider it next time if we have a lot of requests.”

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EJRaven: With AC4 becoming a more popular video game here in the U.S. will From Software consider our "balancing recommendations" and implement these as you have done with the Japanese player's recommendations? If so, what tweaks will you make considering the different views of Japan/USA on balancing?

Nabeshima: “Of course, we welcome opinions from abroad.

Although we currently do not have special contact persons, we would be happy if you send them via mail etc.

Because we rarely receive direct comments, we would like to use ones as references.”

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Zilas: What are your thoughts on creating an Armored Core MMO?

Nabeshima:“There is no specific plan at this moment.

In my personal opinion, I consider the MMO style to be one ultimate form as games, so I would definitely want to realize it if given the chance.

However, it is partly true that the style is not really suited to a strict action game like AC, it would be a very big challenge if we would do it.

We will have to review the system itself to make it appropriate to the MMO style.”

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EJRaven: Will we see From Software use the same game engine for the next installment and will the blurry effects be reduced?

Nabeshima:“It is difficult to affirm this at this point, but we are going to improve it as much as possible.”
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Pechorin:Will the next AC game be an AC4 expansion?

Nabeshima:“I think it would be like that, but we are not at the stage for now where we can clearly tell how we will expand it in what sense.”

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TOSHIFUMI NABESHIMA BIOGRAPHY:


Toshifumi Nabeshima
From Software, Inc.
Producer of Product Planning, CS Development Dept.

In 1996, he joined From Software and started his career as a designer for 1st Armored Core (Playstation).

After that, he produced "Armored Core: Master of Arena" and worked for "Echo Nights" series and "Eternal Ring" as the producer and the chief designer.

Other recent produce titles are:

"Shadow Tower Abyss" (PS2), "Nebula - Echo Night" (PS2), "Armored Core Nexus", "Armored Core Nine Braker" (PS2), "Armored Core Formula Front" (PSP, PS2), "Armored Core Last Raven" (PS2)

He also worked for "Chromehounds" (Xbox 360), a cooperative project with Sega.

His latest work is "Armored Core 4" (PS3, Xbox 360)

Interview taken from acravens.com

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Heh, it's interesting to see so many people hate the AC control's, etc. When I first picked up the series, I found the gameplay to be easily controlled and fun. If you wanted to move fast you made a light weight AC, if you wanted high damage, a heavy tank/quad/'fat' AC, etc.

There is one thing I can believe though, lots of the parts in AC are pretty much useless, which is a bad thing. I hope in AC4 they change this.

Anyways the fluidity of AC is a weird thing to get, but it's definitely there. Take this vid for example (from the most recent ps2 installment, LR): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVlaVqnNh5w

Enough about that.

After watching plenty gameplay video's it seems the gameplay is different, and I assume the controls are different also. I wonder how different legged AC's will play in this one, since all cores have Over Boost, and all AC's can fire Back Mounted Weapons while moving (iirc).

EDIT: Just read Taxiarkhos Skills' Post on the Demo, seems like the game looks promising, I just might get a 360 for this (I'll wait on the PS3, too expensive).

Most amazing jew boots

:-(

All this discussion is making me want AC4 more and more. How is the Customization in AC4 (possibly compared to the older installments)? I heard there was significantly less parts, but the tuning was much more in-depth.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.