Chairman and Representative Director, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Capcom Co., Ltd.
🎤 Special Talk: Tsujimoto ✕ Hamamura - Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G | Capcom 25th Anniversary「2/34」
📀 Media Details:
A DVD celebrating 25 years of Capcom. Came free with Weekly Famitsu #1008 (2008/04/11).
▫️ Media Name:
Capcom 25th Shūnenkinen Special DVD
カプコン25周年記念 スペシャルDVD
Capcom 25th Anniversary Special DVD
▫️ Format: DVD Video
▫️ Availability: Magazine Cover Disc
▫️ Region: JPN
▫️ Publisher: Enterbrain
▫️ Release Date: 2008-03-28
▫️ Catalogue No.: WF1008
About Kenzo Tsujimoto
In a 2008 special talk to commemorate the release of *Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G*, Kenzo Tsujimoto stated that the game had finally reached players and described it as a "confident work." He mentioned plans to hold events such as Monster Hunter Festa and other summer activities, expressing a goal of continuing to promote the Monster Hunter series.
Transcript (106 segments)
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Narrator0:00
On March 27, 2008, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G was released to great anticipation. About two months before the release, a completion celebration premium event drew fans from across the country, packing the venue. As a special feature, a conversation was arranged between Capcom producer Tsujimoto and Famitsu correspondent Hamamura. With the event excitement still lingering, in a room in Tokyo, they dive deep into Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G.
H
Hamamura1:00:00
So here we are with Number 2!
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto1:01:00
Yes, finally the release schedule is set, but...
H
Hamamura1:05:00
It's been a little over a year since the first one, hasn't it?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto1:09:00
About a year and one month since the PSP version.
H
Hamamura1:13:00
Speaking of Second, the opening video has a very different atmosphere now, doesn't it?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto1:17:00
Yes, well, Second was more of a straightforward approach. But this time with G, we wanted to show what hunters do in their daily lives - things you can't express during gameplay.
H
Hamamura1:30:00
Right, so with Second there were a lot more hunters. I was wondering what those new hunters would do first.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto1:39:00
Thinking about that, there are things we can't express in-game, and we wanted to convey those through high-quality video. That was the concept. The world view was supervised by our staff, who decided all the content.
H
Hamamura2:02:00
Talking about the armor they're carrying, right?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto2:16:00
The video is interesting - we packed in lots of details. In the factory scene, it's filled with Kelbi horns being processed. There are three hunters carrying them, and those are actually the same three hunters from the first game's opening.
H
Hamamura2:45:00
That's so detailed - it's on a completely different level.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto2:49:00
They go on a quest and when they return, you can see the results. The story connects through the world.
H
Hamamura2:53:00
So it's all connected?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto2:55:00
Yes, the story is connected, or rather, the world itself is connected. If there were outsiders, it wouldn't work. Felyne cafés are not available, though.
H
Hamamura3:15:00
The number of monsters is incredible, isn't it?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto3:19:00
Yes, it's definitely increased. The world view from the previous game is maintained - we brought those monsters over. Honestly, it was extremely difficult on the portable hardware. The specs are limited, but our programmers worked incredibly hard to fit them all in. There are monsters with a lot of pride that we absolutely had to include.
H
Hamamura3:49:00
They really went all out with that.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto3:50:00
Our programmers, when thinking about the world, said 'we absolutely must include this monster.' They really pushed through and made it happen.
H
Hamamura4:12:00
Right.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto4:13:00
And there are quite a few subspecies added as well.
H
Hamamura4:17:00
From a player's perspective, the number of genuinely new monsters didn't seem that large, I thought.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto4:23:00
Like Yian Kut-Ku and Blangonga - when you add them all up, the numbers really do add up.
H
Hamamura4:30:00
The numbers add up like that, yeah.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto4:34:00
Yes. Second G, as we conceived it, has the G-rank difficulty level fully included. We changed quite a bit from the original.
H
Hamamura4:50:00
I checked it out.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto4:54:00
When a monster hits you from behind, normally you get knocked onto it. The positioning during fights has been adjusted. Some monsters suddenly process your health and cause instant cart. The Felyne's beam attacks are now three shots, and they've become quite aggressive.
H
Hamamura5:11:00
The monsters have become much more aggressive, haven't they?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto5:20:00
Fundamentally, we've tweaked them quite a bit. The behaviors have been partially changed, and most monsters have some modifications mixed in.
H
Hamamura5:35:00
For those starting with G for the first time, I think so too. Of course, many people have been playing since the beginning, and those who have will be really surprised.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto5:46:00
Like how Achilles is different, or the crab acts a bit differently - there are subtle changes everywhere.
H
Hamamura5:50:00
Even after playing a lot, there are still surprises.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto5:52:00
Many people have played Second for a long time, so veteran players will notice monster behavior changes. It's like they're playing tricks on you from behind - when a Seregios suddenly appears behind you... that was fun. We've really put effort into those surprises.
H
Hamamura6:16:00
That was really interesting. Those kinds of surprises weren't there before. You've really put your body into this one.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto6:24:00
About the double-screen movies - Second was aimed at being a straightforward game. The flagship monster this time is Tigrex, which represented that approach.
H
Hamamura6:32:00
So it was aimed at newcomers?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto6:36:00
The representative monster is Tigrex. It's more calculated in its behavior now. Very tricky movements - more about being troublesome than raw strength.
H
Hamamura7:05:00
That sounds really impressive.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto7:13:00
Very tricky movements. In that sense, it's less about sheer power and more about being a real pain to deal with.
H
Hamamura7:19:00
I kept thinking 'how troublesome!' when fighting it.
Nargacuga too - the monsters have really increased and gotten stronger and more difficult. There's something from G that helps with this...
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto7:39:00
We came up with that idea. It had been a concept for a long time - we wanted to take Felynes on quests. I think the timing was right to introduce it now. We've always wanted people to enjoy multiplayer, and we've been building toward that. After the message got across to some extent, we realized that even when playing multiplayer, there's still time spent playing alone. So we introduced the Felyne companion system to add that multiplayer feel, even in single-player. I'm glad we did it at this timing.
H
Hamamura8:55:00
So that's how it came about.
It's like a miracle when they show up!
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto9:03:00
If you're not paying attention, you might miss it, but the moment they appear...
H
Hamamura9:07:00
And there they are! You're really not alone out there gathering mushrooms. It's amazing - it really made a difference.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto9:16:00
They'll heal you and such. They have personality and training.
H
Hamamura9:19:00
That's really something.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto9:20:00
Yes, they have personalities. Players can do armor training with them, and through that, attack power and defense increase. They can also attract enemy attention. Skills are separate from personality - for example, healing rice balls work the same way.
H
Hamamura9:37:00
They can draw aggro?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto9:38:00
Yes, they can attract attention. The training increases their stats. Skills and personality are separate - for example, there's healing rice ball support and other abilities.
H
Hamamura9:58:00
So the skills work the same way?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto10:01:00
Well, small bombs are included from the start. They have distinct personalities - some are bold and like throwing bombs, for example. There are about 22 different personality types. If you bring a Felyne with a different personality, the same quest feels completely different.
H
Hamamura10:29:00
For example, there's a timid one - it says 'I'm timid' and hides behind its partner when a Barrel Felyne appears.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto10:36:00
After taking a certain amount of damage, it burrows underground to recover, then pops back up. That adds real depth to the gameplay.
H
Hamamura10:44:00
It really amps things up! As a luxury, you can bring them along. There might even be ones that really try hard and fight to the bitter end.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto10:56
Some don't heal quickly at all - they wait until the last moment. The recovery interval is short though, and they heal you up nicely.
H
Hamamura11:04:00
That's great. Is that in the game already?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto11:08:00
Yes, personality traits. That's what we're calling them. You can use timid ones and other types.
H
Hamamura11:11:00
So you can use timid Felynes and such. It's basically a copy of your companion Felyne.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto11:15:00
Yes. You can give copies to friends via ad-hoc. It's a system where you share Felynes.
H
Hamamura11:31:00
That's right, I see.
And there's one more thing - this is a bigger system change.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto11:52:00
Just for us?
H
Hamamura11:53:00
We haven't gone there yet, but I'm curious how many people will actually use it.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto11:59:00
Felynes can be shared even when not connected online. When you're waiting somewhere or meet someone with the same game state, you can exchange Felyne data. Even on the train, if someone nearby has the same game situation, the data transfers. You bring back the Felyne and it matches up with your game. With 1.7 million copies sold, there are quite a few Felynes out there - roughly one per train carriage.
H
Hamamura12:21:00
On the train too? Even with strangers?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto12:23:00
Yes, if someone in the same game state is nearby, the data transfers automatically.
H
Hamamura12:31:00
So you bring back the Felyne and see what you got? That's a nice feeling.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto12:42:00
With 1.7 million copies, there are plenty of cat companions out there.
H
Hamamura12:48:00
About one per train, huh? That's amazing.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto12:53:00
And one more thing - using the data file, we've created a new communication system. Someone raised a Felyne, and suddenly it appears in your game. There might be a note attached from the original owner - it's a pleasant surprise. You realize where you diverged and what happened. It creates a natural, fun sense of connection.
H
Hamamura13:11:00
You discover where things went differently - that's a nice touch. It seems like a lot of fun.
I heard that new weapon and armor types have been added as well.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto13:29:00
Yes, the normal ones and upgraded versions. Armor spheres are easier to use now, and you can continuously upgrade. The ranks have been adjusted accordingly, with matching armor sets for each tier. Defense values are higher overall, and the armor has been rebalanced for G-rank content. You'll need to progress from lower to upper ranks, crafting appropriate armor along the way.
H
Hamamura14:01:00
Working hard to get that better defense. You need to raise your gear to a certain level.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto14:06:00
Yes, to some extent you need to upgrade, though that can be a bit of a grind. When moving from lower to upper ranks, you'll want to craft armor that matches each tier.
H
Hamamura14:20:00
Right, if you can think of it as natural progression.
The monsters have increased to an incredible level.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto14:46:00
For example, the composition has changed. What we've shown so far is just the beginning - there's more content coming. When you inherit data from Second, we want you to review what's available and plan your upgrades from there.
H
Hamamura15:07:00
There's even more to discover.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto15:08:00
We want people to review their options and think about what to strengthen next.
H
Hamamura15:19:00
Touching on other improvements - there are many places where the controls have become more convenient.
There are quite a few quality-of-life improvements to the controls, aren't there?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto15:31:00
Yes, the controls and overall comfort have been improved significantly. From this time, shopping and item management have been streamlined. After clearing a quest, the results screen is much more satisfying now.
H
Hamamura15:55:00
The post-quest screen has a much more luxurious feel to it.
There are quick menu shortcuts and other conveniences too.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto16:20:00
In the previous Second, there was background loading between areas, which helped. But this time, we've gone further by allowing partial data installation onto the Memory Stick. When you start the game, it loads from there, so area transitions are much faster. It's become significantly more comfortable.
H
Hamamura17:00:00
Right.
It's really become much more comfortable. There's also been an increase in content, hasn't there?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto17:11:00
Yes. Last year's event was really trial and error. When we first saw it, we couldn't imagine how many people would show up. Last year was really about providing a network play experience. We wanted everyone to gather and try multiplayer together. The turnout exceeded our wildest expectations - honestly, we wondered if this many people would actually come.
H
Hamamura17:23:00
So many people came that they couldn't all fit. It was really something.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto17:26:00
We were truly happy. The original idea was to have everyone gather and experience network play.
H
Hamamura17:50:00
It exceeded expectations by a lot. Was the concept decided in advance?
Was the content decided beforehand, or was it just an image?
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto18:04:00
There was a plan, of course, but it was really interesting. Another goal was to hold a world tournament - to find the best hunters in Japan and the world.
H
Hamamura18:16:00
We wanted people to compete - and there was absolutely incredible gameplay on display.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto18:21:00
But at this timing, having the tournament... it really was something.
H
Hamamura18:32:00
The single-player competition was like art. Just watching was entertaining. You can enjoy it again this year too.
So with the release, everyone in Japan is playing. The first event is April 26th.
K
Kenzo Tsujimoto18:56:00
It's like the launch event, right? From there, we'll be going on a one-month national tour.
H
Hamamura19:04:00
That's right.
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Narrator19:07:00
Starting April 26th this year, events will be held nationwide. For details, please visit the official website.
H
Hamamura19:16:00
So, with the release, everyone in Japan is playing. Please share a message with the fans.
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Kenzo Tsujimoto19:22:00
Yes. Well, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G - we've finally been able to deliver it to everyone. The content is a work we're fully confident in. In the future, we have Monster Hunter Festa and summer events planned. We want to keep building up Monster Hunter through the game and events. Thank you very much for your support.
H
Hamamura19:57:00
Thank you very much.