Tetsuya Mizuguchi Lumines webchat

Lumines, Lumines and more Lumines

Posted by Staff
As you may have been aware, former Sega UGA chief Tetsuya Mizuguchi had been forced to enter into a webchat with milk-smelling Euroteens as part of the agreement with Ubisoft to publish his canny puzzle game Lumines.

As you’ll begin to notice as you pick through the Questions from CoffeeMan, Domstercool, Binjuice and Overlord, the conversation was strictly limited to Lumines, though the transcript, reproduced below in full, is well worth a look nonetheless.

[Mizuguchi] Hello everyone !
* Ryosan sets mode: +v Mizuguchi
[Mizuguchi] Wow... so many people here...
[Binjuice] Anyone from UK:R?
[Robbo] who?
[Overlord] He means UK Resistance
[Mercenary] wtf is that?
[Robbo] are they the ones in Allo Allo?
[Overlord] hahaha]#
[Mercenary] hahaha
[Robbo] FACE
[Mercenary] Rene!
[Binjuice] "There is a bum in my pants"
[UbiRazz] UK:R is an interesting website, quite enjoy it. rllmuk's also fun, interesting
read
[Ryosan] all right, just a few minutes before we start
[Ryosan] you can ask questions related to Mizuguchi-san's work, but we will mainly
focus on Lumines
* Ryosan sets mode: +m
[Ryosan] Hello and welcome to today’s Lumines chat!
[Ryosan] My name is Ryosan, I’ll be your host during this session.
[Ryosan] Thanks for joining us. Our guest today is Tetsuya Mizuguchi, creator of
Lumines, and also well-known games such as Space Channel 5 and REZ.
[Ryosan] Thanks for taking the time to be with us Mizuguchi-san.
[Mizuguchi] Hi everyone
[Mizuguchi] thanks for having me tonight
[Ryosan] Let’s begin, then. The session will be moderated: only Mizuguchi-san and I
may post.
[Ryosan] This is how we’ll proceed: you may send your questions only to me and I will
relay them. Please do not send them directly to Mizuguchi-san, he will only answer to mine.
To send me a question double-click on my nick (Ryosan) on the right hand column and a new
window will open in which we may chat. We will then choose the questions according to their
interest and relevance.
[Mizuguchi] I'm in TOkyo now !
[Ryosan] [PlayDevilcom] Where did Tetsuya get the idea behind Lumines ? Did he
had it already years but never found a decent platform to develop
[Mizuguchi] Well...
[Mizuguchi] I had the idea for a long time...
[Mizuguchi] but when i saw a PSP, i just saw a new type of game with music
[Mizuguchi] that's Lumines
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [Prism] So, why did you limit the high score in Lumines to 999,999 points?

[Mizuguchi] I just simply thought...
[Mizuguchi] no one could reach that high score...
[Mizuguchi] how many of you have reached the MAX already ?
[Mizuguchi] *
[UbiRazz] A fair few of the more hardcore gamers seem to have reached it. Big fans of
the game
[Mizuguchi] I'm very happy to hear that
[Mizuguchi] *
[Mizuguchi] Back to the question...
[Mizuguchi] Maybe I should change the MAX to 999,999,999 for the next Lumines...
[Mizuguchi] Anyways... the reason for 999,999 is...
[Mizuguchi] I was thinking how long PSP battery would last...
[Mizuguchi] I thought it would last about 2 hours... so i kinda calculated from it...
[Mizuguchi] then I decided to pick 999,999 =)
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [Mercenary] Lumines is great, but I just dont get it. When playing in
challenge mode what actually causes your level to raise and the skin to change?
[UbiRazz] (Please excuse the delay while we translate )
[Mizuguchi] If you manage to delete a certain number of blocks, you can get next level
and skin
[Mizuguchi] *

[Ryosan] [yosh] How did you start working with Mondo Grosso?
[Mizuguchi] While making Lumines...
[Mizuguchi] I went to a Southern Island...
[Mizuguchi] it's called "Okinawa", located in Japan
[Mizuguchi] I was thinking about Lumines on the beach...
[Mizuguchi] then I heard Mondo Grosso's song...
[Mizuguchi] Dawn, then night... lots of stars were at the sky...
[Mizuguchi] it was very beautiful...
[Mizuguchi] then i was thinkin...
[Mizuguchi] if stars shine coresponding to music, that would be really interesting...
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [JPinOsaka] How hands on were you during the actual play mechanics of
Lumines? What were some of the changes Hattori-san made to your vision?
[Mizuguchi] Hattori is sitting next to me now...
[Mizuguchi] we've been creating games together for 15 years...
[Mizuguchi] He was with me when I was struggling to create Rez...
[Mizuguchi] We can share and understand each other with less words...
[Mizuguchi] He's a great staff who can understand my ideas very well...
[Mizuguchi] *
* Solidusnakeater has left #Lumines
[Ryosan] [Hades0] Can you briefly explain us what is your game, Lumines, for the
players who don’t know this title?
[Mizuguchi] Sure...
[Mizuguchi] This is a puzzle game...
[Mizuguchi] But, all the control/play sounds are on the music sheet...
[Mizuguchi] the sound you play will become a song...
[Mizuguchi] just like... making music by playing puzzles...
[Mizuguchi] fusion of puzzle game and music...
[Mizuguchi] sorry... kinda very normal explanation...
[Mizuguchi] haha =)
[UbiRazz] hehe
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [BryterLayter] What inspirered you when making the sound and visual
presentation of Lumines?
[Mizuguchi] Well...
[Mizuguchi] there is a drama behind it...
[Mizuguchi] after the sunset... stars started shining... then i had a dream...
[Mizuguchi] when i realized... it was already sunrise... then morning...
[Mizuguchi] it was like a show...
[Mizuguchi] i asked our art director Yokota to create such a "show" with music and
visual
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [PlayDevilcom] Where do you basically get your 'game' ideas from?
Spending time on your desk and waiting until something is on paper or ... ?
[Mizuguchi] that's a good question...
[Mizuguchi] i always think about different ideas simulteniously in my head...
[Mizuguchi] but while i'm thinking, usually i cannot come up with good ideas...
[Mizuguchi] but after i think a lot, when i start doing something totally not related to
game development, usually great ideas come to me !
[Mizuguchi] for instance...
[Mizuguchi] talking to people from different industories...
[Mizuguchi] while driving... or on airplane...
[Mizuguchi] when just watching outside from the window...
[Mizuguchi] but the important thing is to talk to people...
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [zoti] how big was the team that worked on Lumines ?
[Mizuguchi] 6 people
[Mizuguchi] the smallest team ever
[Mizuguchi] but since i didn't really work hard... so i should say 5.5 people =P
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [Domstercool] I heard that Meteos only took three days to get a working
version on the Nintendo DS. I was wondering how long did it take you to get Lumines running
on the PSP? Is it a lot more difficult to work on the PSP than the Nintendo DS?
[Mizuguchi] In case of Lumines...
[Mizuguchi] We created 3 prototypes in a month
[Mizuguchi] I don't think PSP is more difficult than DS...
[Mizuguchi] I think not different...
[Mizuguchi] however...
[Mizuguchi] when we started Lumines development, PSP hardware itself wasn't
available yet...
[Mizuguchi] so we had to proceed Lumines development on PC for a while...
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [Prism] Did you expect the US and European versions of Lumines to
outsell the Japanese edition?
[Mizuguchi] Honestly...
[Mizuguchi] we wanted to change music for each territory...
[Mizuguchi] however...
[Mizuguchi] so many people suggested me that US and European fans would like the
music we selected...
[Mizuguchi] of course, i want to create different music version of Lumines...
* Jordi has joined #lumines
[Mizuguchi] but I believe US and European fans would love the music and game more
than Japanese fans!
[Mizuguchi] *
[UbiRazz] I love the music myself
[Mizuguchi] Thank you =)
[Ryosan] [Hyoushi] At Q!, are you going to keep focusing on music and rhythm-driven
games for the games you direct yourself, or are you also going to direct other efforts?
[Mizuguchi] To continue to create a fusion of game and music or a game with a solid
style is one of things we always want to do
[Mizuguchi] however,,,
[Mizuguchi] we will continue to challenge new things other than that...
[Mizuguchi] We are currently working on Xbox360 game called N3 (Ninety-nine Nights)
is one of the challenges
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [CoffeeMan] do you play your own game, after they are release? if so which
one do you play most, meteos or Lumines?
[Mizuguchi] that's a... mean question =P
[Mizuguchi] honestly...
[Mizuguchi] i've played Lumines quite often recently...
[Mizuguchi] I've traveled a lot recently...
[Mizuguchi] and on airplane, i just keep playing Lumines until a flight attendant tells
me... "we're landing now!"
[Mizuguchi] but... i still cannot stop playing it !
[Mizuguchi] =)
[Mizuguchi] *
[UbiRazz] What's your highest score on Lumines?
[Mizuguchi] 999,999, of course !
[Ryosan]
[Ryosan] [Dere] What genres of music, bands and songs do you like yourself? Are
there artists whose music you would like to have in the next Lumines?
[Mizuguchi] I like all kinds of music really...
[Mizuguchi] if possible, i'd like to use Beatles songs for next Lumines !
[Mizuguchi] All need is love...
[Mizuguchi] classics sound good, too...
[Mizuguchi] Recently...
[Mizuguchi] i've listened to Chemical Brothers and Far Boy Slim a lot
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] I think the most frequently asked question today is about Lumines 2 so...
[Ryosan] [McCloud2] Will there really be a Lumines 2, if yes.. what are gonna be the
major changes ?
[Mizuguchi] We haven't announced about Lumines 2 yet...
[Mizuguchi] but we've been trying out many things for Lumines 2...
[Mizuguchi] well...
[Mizuguchi] sorry... i cannot tell you more than that at this point...
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [yosh] Apart from Mondo Grosso and Eri Nobuchika who provided two
songs each, who else contributed to the game soundtrack? How many songs are available in
Lumines?
[Mizuguchi] The rest of the songs were created by Takayuki Nakamura and Yokota
[Mizuguchi] Takayuki Nakamura was in charge of Vertur Fighter 1's music at Sega...
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [BossG] when making games, how often do creators consider the high
level players when tuning their games?
[Mizuguchi] When i create games, i always try to make the entrance very wide but
make it so deep...
[Mizuguchi] Entrance is wide... which means, everybody can easily try out the games...
[Mizuguchi] but it will be difficult to reach further...
[Mizuguchi] it sounds easy, but actually it is really difficult to make a game...
[Mizuguchi] It always give me headaches !
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] Because you're so many and so enthousiastic, I'm glad to announce you the
live chat will last 10 more minutes! =)
[Ryosan] [gloone] What is your favorite game released in the last year or so?
[Mizuguchi] Of course Lumines !
[Mizuguchi] I made Lumines because I wanted to play it =)
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [^Simon] In Rez (awesome game, by the way) the last level (5) was really
special, very specific and different from the other levels, and that really made a huge
impression on me. In Lumines the same can be said for the "Lights" level with, as you
describe, a sunset. Is this a very concious decision on your part, to hold some stuff back for
the finale? Michel Ancel said surprise is very important to a game, do you agree with that?
[Mizuguchi] I'd like to thank you, who asked this question...
[Mizuguchi] Indeed, Rez 5th level and Lumines Lights have something in common...
[Mizuguchi] if some of you don't really understand how they are similer, sorry...
[Mizuguchi] but... the point is...
[Mizuguchi] i always want to put some message in games...
[Mizuguchi] it could be a small message, but i want players to feel something...
[Mizuguchi] from now on...
[Mizuguchi] more games will be like that...
[Mizuguchi] Once games become Hi-Def completely, it will be definitely like that...
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [Robbo] My favourite skin in Lumines is probably Shake Your Body
because of the intense background changes. What is your favourite Track / skin from the
game?
[Mizuguchi] Shini' and Lights are my favorites
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] [Awwe] Question: Why not make a remake of REZ for the PSP, beacuse of
the high popularity with Lumines on the system?
[Mizuguchi] Umm...
[Mizuguchi] I created Rez when I was at Sega...
[Mizuguchi] Sega has all the copy rights...
[Mizuguchi] *
[Ryosan] Mizuguchi-san, do you want to say something to your fans to finish this live
chat?
[Mizuguchi] It's 11 pm in Tokyo...
[Mizuguchi] A big tyhoon hit Tokyo and it was very windy...
[Mizuguchi] but now it's completely fine... just like the sky of Shinin'...
[Mizuguchi] I think it's around 3pm there...
[UbiRazz] 3:15pm in the UK
[Mizuguchi] I think this is great that I can get to know you guys through a game...
[Mizuguchi] i'm very happy about it...
[Mizuguchi] Let's meet somewhere, sometime !
[Mizuguchi] I'm going to Paris on 9/22
[Mizuguchi] I'll attend the Game Hotel event there...
[Mizuguchi] See you everyone there !
[Ryosan] I guess that’s it then. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, especially at that hour for you. And a special thanks to Michiko, our marvelous translator ^__^
[Mizuguchi] Thank you!
[Ryosan] A full transcript of the live chat will be posted on the Lumines official website in the coming days. Stay tunned!
[Mizuguchi] Goodbye, everyone
[Mizuguchi] Thank you, all !

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Comments

Pilot13 8 Sep 2005 13:15
1/2
I had always thought Lumines was a one off. A sequel eh.
tyrion 8 Sep 2005 13:46
2/2
Pilot13 wrote:
I had always thought Lumines was a one off. A sequel eh.

Oh god! I'm destined to play this game to the grave already, don't tell me there's a second one!
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