Developmental Diary Part III

The third part is already up! Shibata-san talks more about the game, and get's more deeper into it! This is spoilerish.
He talks about the tattoo and a little bit about Topless. (Aka Reika Kuze).

Read it here.

Thanks to BCL!

Interview with Kikuchi-san!

SPOILERISH!

KikizoGames has meet Kikuchi-san!

That's true! Kikizo talked with Kikuchi-san about Trapt and Fatal Frame III: The Tormented. They interviewed him, so let's check out what they asked about! ^_^

After a little talk about the other game, Trapt, Kikizo starts:

Kikizo: Cool. So, please tell us about what's new with Fatal Frame III: The Tormented...?

Kikuchi: As this is the third title in the series, I wanted to make it the scariest yet. The characters come and go between the world of reality and the world of nightmares. There are three playable characters available, and each of them has specific abilities.

Kikizo: We see a sinister looking pattern on the girl's shoulder in the trailer, what exactly is that?

Kikuchi: Yes, it's kind of sinister! There's this mystery in the game, the Curse of the Tattoo. The ghosts that appear in the world of nightmares wear tattoos on their bodies. It spreads over the body, and once it fully covers the body, you can't come back from the world of nightmares to realiuty. The player has to find out the secret and mystery of the Curse of the Tattoo, and try to stop it spreading.

Kikizo: The previous games have been set in older, traditional Japanese-style settings, whereas now we can see that the girl lives in a more modern environment and that the place where she is encountering all these horrors is a dream world. What made you make the switch?

Kikuchi: So this time we have adapted, because of this peaceful world of reality, and the world of nightmares. I have prepared such two different worlds as a contrast; in the world of reality it seems peaceful but, as a contrast, the world of nightmare looks more horrific and fearful. But as the story proceeds, the nightmares start blurring into reality, little by little.

Kikizo: Fatal Frame II: Director's Cut was quite well received by gamers - but were there any areas you wanted to improve for this third game?

Kikuchi: The basic system is almost the same. However, I tried to prepare a totally new story and the special effects, to establish the atmosphere in this game.

Kikizo: Were there any Japanese horror films, maybe like 'The Ring', that were inspiring for the development of the series?

Kikuchi: When I created the game, I collected a lot of information. I started by checking old stories. In the course of the research, yes, there were certainly a few movies that had some influence.

Kikizo: The visuals are very pretty for PS2, maybe even to the standard of some next-gen stuff - is it all real-time or are there pre-rendered FMV elements?

Kikuchi: Basically, it's all real-time, although a few parts are adapted - pre-rendered.

Kikizo: What's behind the decision having these cute, young girls as the lead characters in such a scary game?

Kikuchi: In Japan, it is said that the female, or also the young, have stronger spiritual power. That's why I chose young girls. And the cuter the better, right?! [laughs] Also, the reactions of the girls look scary, and that makes you more frightened.

Kikizo: Would you describe the kind of horror that we see in this game as more psychological, as in the Silent Hill series, or is it more immediate horror that makes the game scary?

Kikuchi: We made a deep analysis on the feelings of fear. When you see something bad, you may have this feeling of disgust; maybe the feeling of tension when walking alone in a graveyard; maybe even the feeling you could be cursed. There are these various feelings. When I started creating this game, the basic concept was to create the ultimate horror game. So, what is the scariest thing? It's a psychological thing; the imagination creates the scariest things in the players' minds. So it's often psychological, but I tried to combine many things. Frightening with different techniques, and trying to combine these different aspects of horror - this is how we've done it.

Kikizo: What are the main differences between the three playable characters?

Kikuchi: Primarily, the way you attack and the way you move. As well as the main character, Rei Kurosawa, there is Miku Hinasaka from the original Fatal Frame, who is playable. She's a small girl, so she can hide in places where other characters can't. Kei Amakura is also playable, he's a male character who is a journalist, but has better physical powers. So while Miku has stronger spiritual power, with the ability to move furniture and cause damage - she can't move about and jump to places like Kei is able to.

Kikizo: All the Fatal Frame games have had a camera that has been used in various means. Now, since a lot of the action takes place in the nightmare world, what use will the camera be?

Kikuchi: The camera's function is something you are meant to see - so you can still use it in the world of nightmares.

Kikizo: Erm, correct me if I'm wrong, but was there a point in the trailer where we see hands reaching down over her breasts? Was that intentional? Is there a more adult theme that goes with the horror?

Kikuchi: No, there is no sexual theme! [laughs].

Kikizo: OK then! Thanks again for your time, and good luck with both games!

Thanks to Beyond the Camera's Lens for telling us this!

The Whole update thing!

Yeah, I feel behind now.O.o
Anyway, Beyond the Camera's Lens has updated once again! Which means? BEST NEWS!

Great ones:
Cheers to IGN about releasing a full english video - Compilation Video. The video is a complilation of beginning scenes and gameplay footage..not what I would call spoiler material. Just a head's up for those who are waiting until the big release day!You can view the video here.
(I'm very----- sad over Rei's english voice. I though it was very light, but sadly no. If you ask me, she sounds like she is 40 years old. OMG? Yes! *whispers* She is 23!>.<) Bad ones:
JEERS and utter annoyance to IGN's preview article of Fatal Frame III: The Tormented.
He makes fun... of the ENTIRE game!
He questions Rei's reckless driving that got Yuu killed.. and pretty much makes fun of the entire opening plotline. Sure, as experienced players..we can kinda chuckle a bit, but for people who don't know the game at all...this makes FF3 look like a JOKE and waste of time survival horror...instead of rank #3 in top survival horror games it has come to be known for.So instead of an actual...preview...we have a sarcastic...non-funny...annoying article that would make any fatal framer want to cry out in injustice. If you didn't like the game THAT much..and obviously didn't want to write an article on it...you should have passed it off to someone else. We've had joking articles before (just to start off with a great punchline)...but never to this needless and unprofessional extreme. OK, nice joke IGN, where is the real preview? Before IGN has brought us several enlighting and fantastic fatal frame articles..only to have a great literary legacy ruined by such a disappointing review.

PS. Kei Amakura is NOT Miku Hinasaki's brother. Mafuyu Hinasaki is Miku Hinasaki's brother. Please get your facts straight on game articles you write and wish to critize.


(Special thanks to Eiko82 and BCL for the following IGN information)

More news!

Tecmo Japan's Zero ~Shisei no Koe~ website has updated with another interview with the Fatal Frame director.

The Japanese interview is a little more indepth and personal. Shibata-san shares some of his ghostly experiences and how they effected him and made it into the fatal frame games. He also explains a little bit about the idea behind the 'Voice' and overall theme in ~Shisei no Koe~ and some of the reasoning behind setting up the ingame story the way he did.

WARNING! The interview does contains ending spoilers!!!

Read it here!

Site update!

... But not for this site.






My other site, Tormented Dreams, is finally up!
It does ALSO contain spoilers!
It's only about Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented and yes... click on the picture to visit the site! You are WARN!

Not only that, but FrameZero has some great theme pictures of Rei Kurosawa, Miku Hinasaki and Kei Amakura as cosplays! Check them out, everyone! :)

New wallpaper!

A pretty new wallpaper of Reika Kuze, the Topless woman, there is the Tattooed Shrine Maiden in Fatal Frame 3! I really like this one.*uses as background*

There is also news on Voice Over.

And GameSpy has also updated with new sceenshots! And also a part II of the diary by Makoto Shibata.

Thanks to BCL for this!

Makoto Shibata's developer diary!

Gamespy.com have up Makoto Shibata's(worked with the FF games as well) developer diary of Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented!! Mostly he talks about the fear element of the Fatal Frame series. He also talks about having personally experienced poltergeists since he was young. Fatal Frame 3 is inspiration from his own nightmares, which is pretty creepy. (I can't wait for the game!XD)Shibata talks about having come up with all of the game elements and also directed the series. Click here to read the article.

Wallpapers and scans!

Tecmo's Japanese site for Fatal Frame 3 has a new cool wallpaper! Check it out!

This is very spoilerlish for (many already knows) Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented
Emi-san from Beyond the Camera's Lens has being so nice to share some scans from the Fatal Frame 3 Guidebook!!













































Again... Many thanks for sharing these, BCL. Sorry, because the picture is small, but I couldn't upload them without taking the size down of them. If you wanna have the right site, please take a look at BCL's forum.

"Picture of Courtney Webb as Miku"

Before I post it, I will like to say, there is something wrong with the picture. Either had they edit it with somehow, or else it is a really weird picture. Sorry for that.

"Finally got the Courtney as Miku picture up thanks to Anime Guy for the graphic. Its not too bad either click on the thumbnail or click here to see the fan art. I'm also contacting her agency to find out the truth about these rumours. Thanks to Techmo for the promotional photo."
If you ask me, I don't know if it is the fanart or if it is Courtney. First they say it's her, and then that the picture is from Tecmo. Oh well... Here is the picture.



Thanks to Ablazingly Courtney Webb.

It's on it's way!

The creator of Ablazingly Courtney Webb has posted a little more about Courtney will maybe play Miku Hinsaki in the Fatal Frame movie.

"Not much news about Courtney appearing in Fatal Frame movie, but someone (don't know who) sent me a fan photo of Courtney as Miku, I'm in the process of editing it, to make it smaller and making a thumbnail. "

When the picture comes it will be showed here.


Source - (Ablazingly Courtney Webb)


The release of Fatal Frame III: The Tormented to the states of course! I have changed the date above to the 25th of October, since most game sites have been agreeing on THIS as the date now. (go fig). I'm trying to get confirmation on an actual official date.


Fatal Frame 3 in OPM. This month's issue of Official Playstation Magazine has a one page article on Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented! (It also has a page article on Trapt, Kikuchi-san's other game also coming out fairly soon!) Pick up your copy of OPM if you can! :D It's the most recent issue (I think?)
Chelsea, who sent Emi the OPM scan, also sent me this ad for the game! Which I have to say, looks pretty sweet! Here's what it says on the ad:

"The Creepiest game on the immediate horizon. Period." - (something) Games
"It's a bone chiller in every regard." - IGN
"Tecmo's Photographic horror series returns in its slickest and scarest incarnation yet!" - Gamespy
"The sharpest, most graphically accomplished iteration in an already stunning series" - 1up.com
"...one of the scariest games ever made making the silent hills and resident evils looking like sunshine and bunnnies." - CVgames



Wilwarin of Frame O was very kind to provide BCL a very pretty scan from the Guidebook of Fatal Frame 3!

And also some information on what is contained within the guidebook itself.
Some interesting things to note:

Ruri (the cat) was given as a gift to Miku from her parents. (Apparently from beyond the grave...since both of Miku's parents are dead by FF1. I think this is a continuity error on Famitu's part.)
Mio Amakura was originally supposed to be the third character. Yes fangirls, instead of Kei, we would have had Mio, however the producer (Shibata-san I think?) said that Mio's story was over with FF2: Crimson Butterfly. Hence, Kei Amakura was created!
Rei originally was going to have a skirt, however the costume designers for the game thought it would be cooler for Rei to wear pants!

The book itself is broken into 5 chapters.
chapter one:知之章(chapter of knowledge):system
chapter two:探之章(chapter of search):scenario walkthrough
chapter three:指之章(chapter of point):mission mode
chapter four:魂之章(chapter of spirit):spirit data(map and spirit files)
chapter five:錄之章(chapter of record):data list(item and files)appendix: interview, gallery,report of dream and tattoo rituals by Aso Yuu.(modified by Kei Amakura, ofcourse)

Again, for US or European fans who would like the book you can purchase it off of Amazon Japan.

Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented official info
Emi was able to ask the PR rep at Tecmo USA some questions concerning the third game that some fans have been asking me for a while.

1. Will Fatal Frame 3 come out with any promotional merchandise such as posters (like the game did in Japan and in the US with the previous installment of Crimson Butterfly)
Answer: There is no Fatal Frame merchandise this time around.

2. Is there any plans for an official guidebook (in English) for Fatal Frame III?

Answer: There is no official guide planned for Fatal Frame III. We usually only do this with the much bigger games (such as Dead or Alive). Your guess was right -- we simply don't have much demand for guides and merchandise for smaller niche titles like Fatal Frame.

Special thanks to Kate Mitchum, Tecmo USA's Public relations representative for Fatal Frame III: The Tormented for taking the time to answer Emi's questions.

Thank to Beyond the Camera's Lens for this!

Enterbrain.co.jp has published an image (with content information and a release date) of the next Zero 3 Guidebook (in Japanese).

The only issue is that it's listed title is the SAME as the old one. So if you're a crazy fan (like me) and must have the book. Look it up by th ISBN number: ISBN4-7577-2499-3.The book is scheduled to be available for sale on October 7th 2005 a a price of 1,680 yen. (A little less than $20 US)

Thanks to Beyond the Camera's Lens for this!

FF movie and more FF4 rumours

The creator of Ablazingly Courtney Webb mentioned on her website wanted to mention that the rumour of her asking for a part in the movie "its only a rumour and probably not true." And for fans who were questioning Courtney not being hired because she isn't Japanese, she's actually 1/4th Japanese. Also Starpages.net also seems to be covering the circulating rumours about Courtney Webb's role in the Fatal Frame Movie. See here for more info

- source (Beyond the Camera's Lens)

More Fatal Frame 4 rumours?

Actually, this is an older article by CVG, but it hadn't caught it until now. 4players.de is also reporting the same article. Here's what it says:

In an interview with Japanese website IT Media, producer Keisuke Kikuchi disclosed that his team is busy designing a further instalment for the next band of consoles, which will allow them to throw twice as many enemies at players. With Project Zero 3 currently set for PS2, it looks like the unnamed title in question could well be Project Zero 4. See, we knew that maths GCSE would come in handy one day.

It's much the same as IGN had said, which still could be a mistranslation or misinterpretation of what Kikuchi was saying!

- source (Beyond the Camera's Lens)

A little note

If you wanna see more Amano Tsukiko news, then please visit Voice Over. I don't post anymore news here, since that Double Shot is a Fatal Frame blog. Voice Over has got a new look, but still needs sections to come up. It's one of my other sites, that's why I know it.

But AmanoTsukiko.net has updated again with new photographs of Amano in her jedi outfit! Check it out!

Thanks to BCL for this new!