Ace Combat series producer Kazutoki Kono recently expressed thanks to the fans for supporting Ace Combat 7, alongside a heartfelt story across several Tweets that detail just how hard it was to get the game made.
Here are the highlights:
エースコンバット7は、12年ぶりのナンバリング。
発案してから2年眠った。
「F2P最優先」の大号令があったから。幸いにもインフニティは4年半応援されて、その間にチームは新しいハードであれば、7が実現できると確信できた。
でも創り初めて一度は死んだ。見てくれだけのものだったから。
— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“Ace Combat 7 is the first numbered title in 12 years.
From its inception, the project laid dormant for two years.
Because I had orders to prioritize F2P.
Thankfully, Ace Combat: Infinity was supported by fans for 4.5 years, and the team became certain that if it was on new hardware, Ace Combat 7 would be possible.
But the project died once. Because it was only something to be looked at.”
「エースコンバットのナンバリング」を、ずっと待ち続けて、望んでいただいたファンの皆様に、
届けられるものではなかった。とても辛かった。苦しかった。
でも、止めるだけは避けたかった。PSXで発表された時にファンの方々の
叫び声が耳にこびりついていたから。やり直さなきゃ。だった。
— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“It wasn’t something that could be presented to the fans that had thirsted for a new numbered Ace Combat title for such a long time.
It was a painful and bitter time. But at the very least, I wanted to avoid stopping development.
But the voices of the fans at the PSX announcement echoed in my head.
So I thought, we must redo it properly.”
PSXの連続出展をネタに笑われることもあった。
ホントに飛ぶのか？って冗談にされた。
でも、その間にもしっかりと
VRという可能性を手に入れた。
でも、それも最初は失望の塊のようなデキだった。もう何もかも、苦しいだけの日々があった。
僕もチームもゴールが想像できなくなっていた。
— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“We were laughed at for appearing at PSX several years in a row.
People were making jokes like, “Is this really going to fly?”
But during that time, we were able to gain the possibility of adding VR. However, our first shot at it was a massive disappointment.
The days of suffering would pass by, one after the other.
The team and I became unable to see what lay at the other end of the goal line.”
『仕切り直そう』って決断した。
ファンの皆様の為とは言え、
会社、いや、関係する全ての人々に、
とんでもない大迷惑をかけた。何度も頭を下げ、膨大な量の資料を作り、説得、お願い、説明、
プレゼン、ありとあらゆる、
動いて、喋って、前に進むためだけに、狂っていた。一昨年のクリスマス。
— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“I made the hard decision to reboot development.
Even if it was for the fans, I caused my company, no, everyone related so much trouble.
Bowing my head, compiling a massive amount of info, persuading, pleading, explaining, presenting, and all that – I went crazy just working and speaking in order to move the plan ahead.
Then during Christmas two years ago.”
整理が始まった。
エースコンバット7は大規模プロジェクトになった。
オフショア開発を引き上げたから。
でも、少しずつ少しずつ前進し始めた。
心強かったのは、かつての同僚、
かつてのメイン開発者、こぞって、
チームに合流したこと。「えっ？エースやってくれるの？」
何度も言った言葉。— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“Things began to come together.
Ace Combat 7 became a large-scale project. Because we were able to rely on outsourced development.
But slowly and surely, things started moving forward.
What gave me confidence was the former colleagues and main developers, who all came back together to form the team.
“Wait, we’re really doing Ace Combat?” That was a line I heard many times.”
ファンの皆様にはお馴染みになった、
2人のPも合流した。正直、それまでは世界で1人だけ狂っていたのかもしれない。
これが最後になっても良いからって。進めることだけしか考えられなかった。
僕の上司に直電話で、開発に出入り禁止、河野を外せ。というのもあった。
要望が高すぎる。って。— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“The two producers that fans are familiar with also returned together.
Honestly, up to that point, you could say it was one person being crazy all on his own.
“It’s fine even if this is the last one” I became unable to think about anything other than progressing forward.
There was one time where staff called my boss to get me off the project, and to ban me from entering the dev room. They said I demanded too much.”
でも、「そんなコトを言っているとは思えない」って庇ってくれる上司がいた。
そこからまた、苦しかった日々が始まっていた。
クオリティが上がらない。ツマラナイ。これ以上作る意味が分からない。
このまま出しても、作り込んでも変わらないはず。真っ向の対立。会社だから、時間もお金も有限。
— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“However, there was a superior who covered for me, saying that I wouldn’t say such things.
And from there, the days of suffering began once more.
The quality isn’t improving. It’s boring. There’s no reason to work on this part more than we already have. Even if we release it like this, it won’t make a difference. Opposition was everywhere.
And because we were part of a company, time and money was limited.”
ある日、庇ってくれた上司に呼び出された。
「エース、今、中止して、解散。このまま続行。どちらにブランドの未来がある？エースの為になる？」
食い気味に僕と下元は
『このまま続行です。』と即答。突然の呼び出しと質問だから、
前ウチなんてない。2人だけはゴールが見え始めていた。
— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“One day, the superior who covered for us asked to meet us.
“If you were to choose between cancelling or continuing Ace Combat right now, which option would be better for the future of the brand? Which option would be better for Ace Combat?”
Shimomoto and I immediately answered, “Continuing onwards like this.”
It was a sudden question, so we didn’t prepare for it.
The two of us began to see the finish line.”
「よし、続行しよう。」
客観的に見てどん底でも信じてもらえた。でも、信じてもらえただけ。
そこからまた吐きそうな苦しさを味わう。「このまま続行」を会社に承認してもらわなきゃいけない。
一言一句間違いない、でも簡潔な資料。
エースの魅力を詰め切った極短い映像。それだけで臨んだ。
— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) March 6, 2019
“Right, then continue.”
Even if from an objective standpoint we were at our lowest point, they believed in us.
However, it was nothing but belief. We had to endure another round of suffering afterwards. We had to get the approval from the company for the project to go on.
I prepared a clean and concise document, where every word counted. And a short video that showed off the charm of Ace Combat.
Armed with nothing but those two things, I went to meet the executives.”
Ace Combat 7 is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
