Pre-3p5-Famitsu-Interview

Translation by User:Reika

This interview was conducted and published by Saji-san, a hardcore player who also writes for Famitsu. He has some pretty interesting gameplay vids on his Twitter page, do give him a follow here! https://twitter.com/sajiy1

Translation starts here

SEGA's Dx2 Shin Megami Tensei Liberation (henceforth shortened as Dx2) will be celebrating its 3.5th anniversary on 22nd July 2021! We sat down (remotely!) for a chat with the Producer Tanabe-san, who is joined by his two newly minted directors Iwasaki Tomoki-san and Yamamoto Hirokazu-san, who will be in charge of development and management respectively!

Let's hear what they have to say about the future of Dx2!

From left, the Producer Tanabe-san, Development Director Iwasaki-san and Management Director Yamamoto-san

Changes starting May

Saji: Dx2 is entering it's 3.5th year soon! What do you think about that?

Tanabe: It's all thanks to the players that we managed to operate for three and a half years in the cut-throat mobile gaming market, thank you so much!! We are in the midst of preparing a big summer update along with a 3.5 Anniversary campaign, which we hope will be able to satisfy everyone! More details will be unveiled during our live stream on the 13th of July.

Saji: Any major changes to the 3.5 Anniversary (compared to the past ones)?

Tanabe: For starters, the management structure will be overhauled starting May.

Saji: Could you elaborate?

Tanabe: Moving forward I will be undertaking more challenges (TL note: Likely means he will take a more active role in other SEGA games), so I have appointed two new directors to oversee development and management! Development will be helmed by Iwasaki-san, while management will be lead by Yamamoto-san.

Saji: I see! Seems like we'll be shifting into high gear with these young directors!

Tanabe: They might be young, but these guys have been part of the Dx2 team since launch, so rest assured they have plenty of experience with the game.

Saji: Could you explain the difference between producer and director for our readers?

Tanabe: To put it simply, the producer is in-charge of the business-side of the game, while the directors are in-charge of the game's fun and quality. This doesn't mean they're only in-charge of greenlighting stuff but rather, they are involved in (and hence responsible for) the entire process from conception to eventual release. Iwasaki-san will be joining us in the next livestream to directly reveal what is in store (as the development director).

Saji: Well then, Iwasaki-san could you please introduce yourself?

Iwasaki: Hello everyone, this is development director Iwasaki speaking. I was born in 1992, the same year Shin Megami Tensei was released! While I wasn't able to play it the moment it was released, I'd like to think of us both being the same age (lol). I've been working at SEGA for 7 years, every day has been a blast working on such a popular title!

Saji: Yamamoto-san, you're up next.

Yamamoto: I joined SEGA about five years ago, but even before then I've been involved in other (smartphone) titles and works involved with demons and such.

Saji: I don't think we can publish what those titles are lol. I take it that you have lots of knowledge on demons as a result?

Yamamoto: Ever since I've become a member of society it feels like I've been involved with demons lol.

Saji: The two of them are in-charge of development and management respectively. Could you explain what the difference are?

Tanabe: In a nutshell, development involves contents and updates, while management plans out events and summons (TL note: Development folks made Battle Tower, Management folks made Angra). Both are highly involved with each other, with a lot of discussion between the two divisions. There are also various department leaders under each director - basically I outline the roadmap overview for the year, and the directors decide how to best plan and execute it.