This is making me want to steal my ex boyfriends playstation 3 now and purchase this ;3;

I'm definitely in.

I really like what Akhiro Hino has to say about his aims and beliefs with the game and gaming in general as a platform.

Here's a quick translation of his comments.

He mentions that though you can gain an understanding of the big world in the DS version, for the purposes of creating a movie like experience the advantages of the PS3 version is clear to see, by making the cutscene camera angle changeable in real time for your pleasure. It's a small effect, but is very satisfying - changing a normal 2D anime to a 3D anime movie with you controlling the camera.

He also talks about the difficulties he faced making this game, namely creating the different movements, emotional states and injuries the boy can be inflicted with.

He was then asked what messages can be told through games.

'Messages through games as a media, usually invoke some sense of emotion. In movies the time given to them to invoke some emotion is around 2 hours. But this game has around 40 hours worth of content. At the end of the game, when looking at it, the feelings that are left behind in my heart is that as I thought games have the potential to leave stronger feelings on a person than a movie does. Games allow you to act through your own thinking, the results of that will be reciprocated in the game - that's a big thing...

...Therefore the emotions you feel when playing a game compared to other media are not odd or stupid, and that it can have a permanent effect on people is interesting, and being able to achieve that I think would be nice.'

That's my rough translation of the interview. Hope it helps.

Looks gorgeous.

If this isn't translated in English soon I will cry a river.

Also, makes me wish this world was in The Matrix universe just so I could learn Japanese in a heartbeat, at least.

Its just like in Dragon Quest VIII, in terms of going into first person view to look at the nice environment.

Thank you again Level-5, and congratulations on appearing on Top Runner.

I am looking forward to experiencing this collaboration between Level-5 and Ghibli, if the game comes over to the US.

Another title that will be considered too niche to localize in the west. Maybe if it was a ghibli designed first person shooter?

gorgeous. too bad i'll never be able to play it.