#ruliweb

[meetingplacenet]

한국은행: 이제부터 각자 도생해라 | 분리수거 보관 2024년 9월 25일 04:04:24 UTC

[lopposting]

Lies of P interviews compilation

[Masterlist]

Mostly just a reference/archive for myself. a lot of cool little anecdotes/clarification from the team, or otherwise interesting details.

Links are in korean/japanese/english.

I will keep updating as I go along! This is a work in progress:

[currently very messy!]

Justin Carnahan (publishing manager) and Neowiz heads: (kor)

https://m.thisisgame.com/webzine/nboard/5/?n=180372

QA (Quality assurance) team interview [thisisgame] (kor)

https://www.thisisgame.com/webzine/nboard/5/?n=177995?n

Art team, art director [thisisgame]: (kor)

https://m.thisisgame.com/webzine/help/nboard/11/?page=8&n=174446

choi pitched pinocchio souls

this is where they mention there was very little left on the cutting room floor

Choi + Core team [thisisgame]: (kor)

https://m.thisisgame.com/webzine/special/nboard/11/?category=2&n=176072

jogging lol

Naver - dir choi, dir Noh (Kor)

https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.naver?volumeNo=32854956&memberNo=49631020

director choi, director park [thisisgame] (kor)

https://m.thisisgame.com/webzine/nboard/263/2522675?n=175190

korea game awards [stream]

choi [gamevu] (kor)

https://m.gamevu.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=21904

choi pitched pinocchio souls :)

4gamer set: (pre-release) (japanese)

[update]

dir noh changyu:

https://www.4gamer.net/games/571/G057139/20221119009/

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2022/11/20/124601.html

https://www.4gamer.net/games/571/G057139/20221118128/

japan press event (japanese)

https://www.4gamer.net/games/571/G057139/20230904030/

Director Choi interviews (english) (prerelease):

https://www.prankster101.com/articles/interview-with-choi-ji-won-of-lies-of-p/

sportskeeda (ENG)

https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/i-m-excited-witness-players-react-lies-p-director-ji-won-choi-favorite-moments-player-feedback-pinocchio

fandomwire (ENG)

https://fandomwire.com/heres-why-lies-of-p-felt-easier-than-bloodborne/

the demo was never patched

fandomwire 2 (ENG)

https://fandomwire.com/lies-of-ps-game-director-choi-jiwon-discusses-the/

it was too late to switch to unreal 5

Director Choi interview (post-release):

https://gamerant.com/lies-p-post-launch-interview/

Dorothy cameo was chosen in Summer of 2022.

btw, can someone tell steamy biscuit (I'm pretty sure it was steamy) that the director saw their playthrough

choi rare 2020 interview about the gaming industry (ruliweb users dug this one up because they are (unfortunately) pretty much obsessed with him):

https://www.jobkorea.co.kr/company/1616277/interview/view/?ItvNo=21764&ListNo=21764

also interesting to note, that at this time (2020) there were actually two projects under Round8, one being lies of P and the other I can only imagine was Bless Unleashed.

some background on working at neowiz and round8 studios in the past. interesting knowledge if you are interested in joining the game development industry in south korea or the gaming industry in general.

mentions BTS (again)

says the process is more important than the end result

less on the development side of things, there was another interview mentioning the devs studying cults and cult mentality, especially surrounding laxasia. I thought that was really interesting and I have to dig it up again, unless I just made it up

some notes on the interviews +

some more interviews I remember reading but have to source -

more interesting development note, it looks like the project being pitched was a Fairytale Soulslike. Choi came on board to direct. Choi and other team members pitched the idea of Pinocchio independently.

[prankster101]

Choi thankful to neowiz for allowing them to do a console game (IGN) and that they had a hard time even finding developers to do a console title in korea in the first place. I remember him referencing this a couple of times but I have to sift through some stuff again.

Re: The confusion surrounding Neowiz/Round8/Team Nough. Round8 is a studio currently signed/owned by Neowiz. Looks like there are actually two teams within Round8, one of them being Team Nough, who were responsible for Lies of P.

Re: the amount of people working on Lies of P, other interviews reference starting with thirty people and ending at around 60. The latest interview (near release) mention that they had currently reached 120. (to update)

So what was interesting/confusing to me about the job postings that came out later that year following the success of LoP was why they didn't just pull team members from within the studio or merge [unless they probably already did]. Unless the game that Choi was referencing in 2020 wasn't Bless Unleashed, the other game under Round8 has been in production since LoP has been in production, and has (seemingly) not been released since LoP has been out.

more on the djmax soundtrack:

https://gamerant.com/lies-p-sound-design-puppets-interview/

they worked on getting a bandoneon, not an accordion, even though it was hard to find, because it was period-accurate.

https://gamerant.com/lies-p-audio-design-djmax-bandoneon/

there is another korean interview somewhere where he mentions having to ask Neowiz for the rights to use the djmax soundtrack. I gotta dig around for it

korea game awards win:

inven win

https://m.inven.co.kr/webzine/wznews.php?idx=290442&hotnews=2&site=console&iskin=console

NAVGTR win:

https://www.kukinews.com/article/view/kuk202402280213#_wider

neowiz stock rising:

https://biz.sbs.co.kr/amp/article/20000156888

https://www.thelec.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=25468

Lies of P having a remarkable effect on the stock

Jason park and studio 8 and the console market in korea:

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/11/17/business/tech/Korea-GStar-2022-Neowiz/20221117175024136.html#google_vignette

namu news

https://namu.news/article/2013434

gamescom win (to be very honest i have always been perplexed by this because the game wasn't out yet??) KOR

https://m.thisisgame.com/webzine/news/nboard/4/?utm_source=naver?utm_source&utm_medium=outlink&utm_campaign=thisisgame&utm_content=93273&fbclid=IwAR1CwMMoA3mKm_k2SgM3AOe5iK046AUl8olN7WSg5CT6MDz5BJEaF9VT050&page=69&n=156755

misc

https://www.gameinsight.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=25231

[gacha-incels]

Arknights Korean server (published by Yostar) has modified the art for the character “Jessica the Liberated”, changing her hand shape because apparently it was too close to 🤏

you can see misogynists discussing the hand here on this ruliweb thread- “I think it’s megal?” (megalia) “the strange hand shape” etc

korean fans have encouraged everyone to write Yostar and Hypergryph expressing disappointment regarding this change, especially after Arknights KR removed a woman’s art because incels were angry she expressed support for basic women’s rights and enjoyed an international women’s day google doodle.

the google doc just explains some ways to write an email to Hypergryph and Yostar, you can click the link and translate it if you need to. The contact emails were posted at the bottom

[satoshi-mochida]

Silent Hill 2 remake ‘Story’ trailer, hands-on previews - Gematsu

Publisher Konami and developer Bloober Team released the official story trailer for the Silent Hill 2 remake.

Several outlets have also gone up with hands-on previews. English previews are available at GameSpot, IGN, PlayStation Blog, Polygon, Screen Rant, TheGamer, and VG247. Japanese previews are available at 4Gamer.net, Famitsu (2), Dengeki Online (2), and Gamer.ne.jp, GAME Watch (2).

Here is an overview of the game, via Konami:

About

Having received a letter from his deceased wife, James heads to where they shared so many memories, in the hope of seeing her one more time: Silent Hill. There, by the lake, he finds a woman eerily similar to her… “My name…is Maria,” the woman smiles. Her face, her voice… She’s just like her. Experience a master-class in psychological survival horror—lauded as the best in the series—on the latest hardware with chilling visuals and visceral sounds.

Key Features

High-end Graphics and Sound – With ray tracing and other cutting-edge technical enhancements, the world of Silent Hill and its unsettling ambiance is even realer than before. And with the inclusion of new, immersive soundscapes, you’ll feel like you’re standing in the thick of it.

Larger Environments – Explore locations and buildings that were once inaccessible, or are newly added in the remake. Enjoy the same acclaimed story, even while you experience the town of Silent Hill with fresh eyes across an expanded map.

Over-the-Shoulder Camera – The remake moves from the original’s fixed-camera viewpoints to an over-the-shoulder perspective, putting you closer to what James sees, for a more thrilling, more immersive experience as you explore the town and come face-to-face with monsters.

Evolved Combat Gameplay – Familiar weapons like the steel pipe and handgun make their return, but now with an updated combat system. Avoid attacks with carefully timed dodges, aim down sights, and more, making monster encounters more engaging and nerve-wracking then ever.

Silent Hill 2 is due out for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam on October 8.

Watch the trailer and some new gameplay footage below.

Story Trailer

English

Japanese

Gameplay

Bahamut

Famitsu

IGN

Ruliweb

[i-luv-queen]

Found more Dr. Katamari content! These are panels that go with Dr. Katamari’s book on the old Katamari website. For a long time, we had zero images to go with the chapters of the books. However, I uncovered chapters 2 and 3 on the Korean gaming website, Ruliweb!

[heronetworkgg]

Creadores de Stellar Blade apuestan por juegos para un jugador a pesar de desafíos en la industria

Shift Up, el estudio detrás del esperado hack and slash de ciencia ficción Stellar Blade, ha confirmado su firme compromiso con los juegos para un jugador en medio de la creciente incertidumbre en la industria del videojuego. En una reciente entrevista con el medio coreano Ruliweb, el CEO de Shift Up, Hyung-Tae Kim, dejó en […]

Ir a la noticia completa

[jcmarchi]

Stellar Blade Director Reveals New Game Plus Mode, Says No Microtransactions With One Exception

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/stellar-blade-director-reveals-new-game-plus-mode-says-no-microtransactions-with-one-exception/

Stellar Blade Director Reveals New Game Plus Mode, Says No Microtransactions With One Exception

Stellar Blade director Kim Hyung Tae has announced that developer ShiftUp’s upcoming action game, Stellar Blade, will get a New Game+ mode sometime after launch. Plus, Tae says there will be no microtransactions in the game, save for one theoretical exception. 

This news comes from a new interview with Korean publication Ruliweb, where Tae explained that while Stellar Blade will have a New Game+ mode at some point, it won’t be available at launch, as translated by Genki_JPN on Twitter. Tae also told Ruliweb that players should not expect any microtransactions in Stellar Blade, but notes that one exception would be paid collaborations with another company’s IP. 

[embedded content]

“We want to make it clear at this point that Stellar Blade will not require any additional expenses that gamers are not aware of beyond what they paid for the package,” Tae told Ruliweb. “The only exception is if we create collaboration costumes with another company’s IP; those may be sold for a fee. Also, there is no New Game+ in the launch version, so please look forward to it being updated very soon.” 

Given that no collaborations have been announced at this point, Tae is likely just checking bases for hypothetical collaborations ShiftUp may or may not be pursuing. At any rate, given the popularity of ShiftUp’s Goddess of Victory: NIKKE game on mobile devices, it’s possible we see an internal collaboration between those two properties. 

Stellar Blade is an action game launching on PlayStation 5 exclusively on April 26. It was announced in 2021 as Project EVE. There is a demo for Stellar Blade available on PSN that you can download right now if you’re curious about how the game plays. 

For more, read Game Informer’s Stellar Blade feature for behind-the-scenes details and new insight from Tae. 

[Source: Ruliweb]

Are you excited for Stellar Blade? Let us know in the comments below!

[genshinresource]

Genshin Impact KR: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 & Galaxy Buds2 Pro Ganyu Edition Booth Overview from Global Game Exhibition (G-STAR) 2022

Sources: various Ruliweb posts & @gen_sanjyu on Twitter

[gamingpark]

Sembra che il Team Ninja voglia fare un reboot di Ninja Gaiden e Dead or Alive

Sembra che il Team Ninja voglia fare un reboot di Ninja Gaiden e Dead or Alive

Se cliccate su un link ed effettuate un acquisto, potremmo ricevere una piccola commissione. Leggi la nostra politica editoriale. “Il futuro del Team Ninja – Reboot della popolare serie”. Il Team Ninja starebbe per riavviare entrambe le serie Ninja Gaiden e Dead or Alive. Sito web coreano Ruliweb riporta che Fumihiko Yasuda ha confermato i piani di resurrezione dei due franchise inattivi…

[meetingplacenet]

Ruliweb Archive

[lopposting]

Korea Game awards Game Director interview transcription <Lies of P>

Source (KR)

Hey so, I went through some Korea Game Awards stuff. It looks like there was a lot of content recorded for the event, but it doesn't really seem available online. I did find this interview with the director uploaded by a ruliweb user. It ended up being more of talk related to the industry and not all that related to LoP, but I figured I might as well share it since and I had gone through it anyway [and who knows, this could all be lost media one day!].

On LOP winning GOTY - South Korea

The Metacritic score was honestly higher than he expected

Talk about expanding the console games industry in Korea. Again, in South Korea - a leading world of PC Bangs and E-Sports, MMORPGs reign supreme! [Reading around the k-net supposedly LoP is notably one of the first major south korean developed single-player console title? I want to write about this more]

Influenced by other console, single player titles like Naughty Dog's Uncharted Series. [me: I love you, NG's The Last of Us.]

I'm pretty sure that based on his answers he will continue to spearhead the Lies of P IP

Send me an Inbox if you have a correction or see possible error/clarification needed!

[The "footage" doesn't seem available so it's a little hard for me because we can't hear the phrasing, so it's my best guess]

[VERY ROUGH TRANS]

ENG

Hello, nice to meet you, I am Choi Ji-won, general director of Lies of P [Jiwon Choi]

What games have you participated in developing so far? Asker Online, and just recently I was in charge of Lost Ark. [note: MMORPG and he did combat direction]

What do you think are the virtues of a good developer?

Above all, I think it's being clear and unwavering in direction

To what extent have I achieved compared to my goal? I think I've achieved about 80% of it.

I think the remaining 20% area

I want to at least overcome that level of fun I had, and the remaining area is one where the goal is to explore new fun

To do that, you have to put in a lot of effort, enjoy the game a lot, and talk a lot with your fellow development colleagues to achieve the fun you want

I want to get into that zone This is really honest

What advice can you give to juniors who want to become developers? Above all, you must become a gamer 'Does that fun really move you?' And do you want to give this feeling to yourself by becoming a developer?' I would like to take this opportunity to tell you once again that it is more important than anything to make an effort just to have fun

Why did you become a game developer? I've been a console game fanatic since I was young So, while enjoying famous masterpieces in console games, I also want to create a game that can provide this kind of fun I think it would be The Uncharted Series at that time I think I was able to analyze why this was fun while playing So I decided to become that kind of developer

What do you think about the Metascore rating results? [note: I'm assuming they're talking about the metacritic score, which is a critic aggregate (Lies of P currently sits at an 80)]

I'll be really honest about this too I thought it was a better score than the score I received. [Note: This is what he says, but I think what he means is "It was a better score than the one what I was expecting"] When I saw the evaluations of the metascore I realized I was only thinking about a small aspect and thought, 'I was [too] focused on the completion of just this area' But now, 'I need to think about a broader field and focus on it again.' It was that kind of experience

What is your ultimate goal as a developer?

Rather than being a developer who receives positive reviews from users, I actually want to remain as a developer who has a positive influence on other fellow developers in the field I hope to become someone who can serve as an opportunity to further improve and develop the development culture and development capabilities of our country's game industry

How do you feel when you receive positive and negative feedback?

(If you think positively) Thank you But I think we should never be satisfied with that (When receiving negative feedback) More and more, there were instances of reflection from a gamer's perspective like ‘Okay. I should have been more in his shoes.’

Any last words you would like to say? I don't think this award is ever meant for me I think this is an award given to everyone on the team I will take this as a sign to work even harder in the future We will continue to do our best to become a developer that can provide only fun and emotion

KOR

안녕하세요 반갑습니다 <> 총괄 디렉터 최지원 입니다

Q: 그동안 개발에 참여하신 게임은 ?

<애스커 온라인>, 직전엔 <로스트아크> 프로젝트를 담당했습니다

Q: 좋은 개발자의 덕목은 무엇이라고 생각하시나요?

무엇보다 뚜렷하고, 흔들리지 않는

방향성을 제시하는 것이라고 생각합니다

Q: 내 목표정에 비해 어는 정도까지 달성했나요?

약 80% 정도는 달성했다고 생각을 해요

남은 20% 영역

본인이 느꼈던 그 재미 이상을 넘어서

새로운 재미를 추구할 수 있는 영역이라고 생각을 합니다

그러려면 정말 노력도 많이 해야 되고

��임도 많이 즐겨야 되고

같은 개발 동료분들과도

원하는 재미를 정말 많이 한 방향이 되도록

대화도 많이 해야 되거든요

저는 그 영역에 도달하고 싶습니다

이게 정말 솔직한 겁니다

Q: 개발자가 되고 싶은 후배들에게 해줄 수 있는 조언은?

무엇보다 게이머가 되어야 됩니다

그 재미를 통���서 본인에게 정말 감동이 되는가?'

그리고 이 감동을 본인도 개발자가 돼서 선사하고 싶은가?'

진짜 재미만을 위해서 노력하는 게

무엇보다 중요하다는 것,

다시 한번 이 자리를 빌려서 말씀드리고 싶습니다

Q: 게임 개발자가된 계기?

저는 어렸을 적부터 콘솔 게임 덕후였습니다

그래서 콘솔 게임에서 유명한 명작들을 즐기면서

나도 꼭 이런 재미를 줄 수 있는 게임을 만들고 싶다

그때는 <언차티드 시리즈>일 것 같아요

플레이하면서 이게 왜 재밌는지를 분석을 할 수 있었던 것 같아요

그래서 그러한 개발자가 되기로 결심을 하게 됐습니다

Q: 메세타스코어 평점결과 에 대해서 어떻게 생각하시나요?

이것도 정말 솔직하게 얘기할게요

받은 점수보다는 더 나은 점수라고 생각을 했었어요

그 메타스코어에 대한 평가 내용들을 봤을 때는

납득이 가더라고요

작은 영역에서만 생각을 했었고

'그 부분에 대한 완성도만 봤었구나...'

근데 이제는 '더욱더 넓은 분야까지도 생각을 하고,

또 정진해야겠다.' 그러한 계기가 됐었습니다

Q: 궁극적인 개발자로서의 목표가 있다면?

유저들에게 좋은 호평을 받는 개발자이기보다는

현업에 있는 다른 동료 개발자들에게

긍정적인 영향을 미치는 개발자로 사실 남고 싶어요

우리나라 게임업계에 대한 개발 문화나

개발력이 더욱더 개선되고 발전하는

그러한 계기가 될 수 있는 사람이 되었으면 좋겠습니다

Q: 긍정적 & 부정적 피드백을 받을때의 기분은?

(긍정적으로 생각해주시면) 감사하죠

하지만 그것으로 만족해서는 절대 안 된다고

생각을 하고 있습니다

(부정적 피드백을 받으면) 더욱더 게이머 입장에서

'아차, 제가 더욱... 더 그분의 입장이 되어야 했었구나'라고

반성을 하는 경우도 많았었습니다

Q: 마지막으로 하고싶으신 말은?

이 상은 결코 저에게 주는 상이 아니라고 생각을 해요

팀 모든 분들에게 주어지는 상이라고 생각을 하고

앞으로도 더욱더 열심히 하라는 뜻으로 받아들이겠습니다

오직 재미와 감동만을 선사할 수 있는

그런 개발자가 되도록

계속 최선을 다하도록 노력하겠습니다

[rivaltimes]

A reboot of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive to come? Team Ninja would have already chosen a reputable studio

A reboot of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive to come? Team Ninja would have already chosen a reputable studio

Present at G-Star 2022, which ended this weekend, our colleagues from Ruliweb attended a Team Ninja keynote during which the Japanese studio reportedly confirmed that it was working on a reboot of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive via a slide distributed at the very end of the conference. Regarding the demanding and bloody beat’em up created by Tomonobu Itagaki (now boss of Apex Game Studios), this…

[satoshi-mochida]

SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada first hands-on previews, gameplay, and screenshots

Gematsu Source

Japanese media outlets have gone up with the first hands-on previews of the SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada demo playable at Tokyo Game Show 2023, which include new gameplay footage and screenshots.

Previews are available at the following links: Dengeki Online, Famitsu, Gamer.ne.jp, GAME Watch, and PlayStation Blog Japan.

Here is an overview of the game, via Bandai Namco:

SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada takes place in 2222, years after a mysterious poisonous rain called “The Tears of the New Moon” wiped out most of humanity and birthed deformed creatures that now hunt the population. Amidst the calamity, humans build an underground haven named Amasia, where they discover and begin to collaborate with forms of artificial intelligence called Magus. In the game, players will step into the shoes of the Drifters, people who make a living collecting AO crystals, a rare resource available on Earth. In this quest they must face xenomorphic creatures known as Enders, while counting on Magus, their AI partners, to guide them through their journey, help them in fights, and provide directions, hints, and warnings. All the while, they will be developing and strengthening the bond between player and AI. Gameplay and combat in SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada centers around Cradle Coffins, armed vehicles in which players can fully control and personalize, from appearance to weapon loadouts, to fit their own playstyle. Players can also join other Drifters online to either help them in their missions or hinder their progress by fighting to loot their precious resources.

SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam. A release date has not been announced.

Watch the footage below. View the screenshots at the gallery.

Gameplay

Bahamut

Dengeki Online

Ruliweb

[rachel-koo-grad505]

References:

Visit Seoul. (2016). Seoul Arts Center. Visit Seoul. Seoul Arts Center | The Official Travel Guide to Seoul (visitseoul.net)

Yeong. (2020). Old Photos of Seoul from the 1960s to 1980s. Creatrip. Creatrip: Old Photos of Seoul from the 1960s to 1980s

Solska. (2021). 80년대에 지어진 아파트들 개판인건 당연한건데. Ruliweb. 80년대에 지어진 아파트들 개판인건 당연한건데 | 유머 게시판 (ruliweb.com)

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[yujachachacha]

Interview: Aqours In Seoul (December 2016)

TL: Yujacha

QC: Mega (Team ONIBE)

Special thanks: KuuRin (@kuuxkat​); shout out to Kuu for doing a complete TL of this from Weibo (which used the Ruliweb article) before I even saw the article myself. He graciously stepped aside and let me take over since KR–EN is kinda my thing, haha. Huge thanks to him for letting me know about the interview!

Sources: There were multiple reporters at the interview, and so each media outlet had its own article of the interview. Due to various reasons (mainly the JP–KR TL lacking in some areas), I’ve opted to merge articles from Ruliweb and Inven for my translation.

Ruliweb: “Love Live! Sunshine!!”—Meeting 3 Members of Aqours, by Reporter Jang-won Lee (x)

Inven: [Interview] “We want to go to Korea as a full group next time!”—“Love Live! Sunshine!!” Seiyuu Interview, by Eun-bi Kang and Yong-wang Moon (x)

Context: There was a “Love Live! Sunshine!!” special event titled “Aqours in Seoul” held in Korea at SM TOWN@coexartium on December 10th, 2016. Rikyako, King, and Ainya were the Aqours representatives for the event. On the next day, they had an interview with Korean media outlets at Dormy Inn Premium Seoul Garosugil.

Please introduce the character that you voice in “Love Live! Sunshine!!”.

Rikako: Riko, the character that I’m responsible for, plays the piano extremely well, and has a mature and calm image. However, she’s actually the type to jump to conclusions, and she has a bit of a childish side.

Kanako: Hanamaru, the character that I voice, is a very gentle girl who likes books. She uses unusual phrases like “ola” and “zura” from the dialect of Numazu, where “Love Live! Sunshine!!” takes place.

Aina: Mari is a very mature, lively, and “shiny” character. She’s a cute girl who can take good care of others, but she gets a little clumsy when the other third-year characters are involved.

What point do you pay particular attention to when voicing your Aqours character?

Rikako: I feel that Riko-chan is a gentle girl who would get along very well with her friends, and she has a personality that would make her very amiable to others. To properly convey this part, I’m always trying hard to make my voice more gentle and endearing.

Kanako: Hanamaru also has a lot of scenes in the anime where she speaks gently, so I do my best to bring out my inner gentleness in my acting. Also, since she has a lot of lines with “zura~” in them, I work hard to bring out a variety of “zura”s.

Aina: Since Mari mixes a lot of English into her sentences when she’s talking, I pay special attention to pronouncing those words well when I voice her.

Are there any similarities between you and your respective character; if so, what are they?

Rikako: I definitely think that our names are the most similar. Since my real name, Rikako, and my role, Riko, even use the same kanji*, I was overjoyed when I first saw her name.

* Translation note: The kanji for Rikako’s name (梨香子) is nearly identical to the kanji for Riko’s (梨子). Also, Rikako says “real name” here because she’s had several stage names.

Kanako: Hanamaru and I are both gluttons. You can even see in the anime that Hanamaru is always eating something, so during the past three days that I’ve been in Korea, I’ve been constantly eating. That’s why the staff has been telling me that I’ll probably have to go on a diet when I return to Japan (laughs).

Aina: I think we resemble each other in our “shiny” passion and our tendency to do things at our own pace. I was already the type to be easily excitable when I was younger, but after voicing Mari, I became even more excitable.

Which of your character’s scenes from the anime left the biggest impression on you?

Rikako: The scene from Episode 10 where Riko told Chika, “I love you.” Although it was a straightforward expression, it left a very deep impression on me because all of the feelings and emotions that Riko held for Chika were contained in that one line.

Kanako: There are many scenes that moved me and scenes that I enjoyed, and I even voiced Hanamaru in comedic scenes. However, what surprised me the most was how Hanamaru is so unfamiliar with technology that she can’t even use a computer properly. Since I found out about this aspect of her through the anime, I was taken aback by it.

Aina: For me, Episode 10’s “We’ve Got Stewshine” was the most memorable. The phrase “Stewshine” was decided on by fans, during a live broadcast where Mari was given a title for a game*. When that phrase appeared in the anime, I really felt that this was “The Story We All Realize”**, so I was very happy.

* Ainya’s actually a bit off the mark here—rather than from “Debate Time”, the corner where the character with the most votes receives a nickname from the viewers, the pun actually came from the “Are Your Hearts Connected?” corner. This is because Mari failed to get a title during the third years’ first niconama on February 20, 2016. Instead, after the trio finally managed to match on the prompt “What dish would you compare Mari to?”, the “Stewshine” pun popped up in the congratulatory comments sent by the viewers. See here (x) for a subbed video of the moment—backtrack to 8:53 if you want to start watching from the start of the prompt.

** Reference to the tagline of µ’s.

Is there an episode that you would like fans to pay particular attention to?

Aina: For me personally and the other members as well, the episode that left the deepest impression on us was Episode 9’s “Mijuku DREAMER” (Young DREAMER). It’s a very crucial episode since Episode 9 is when Aqours finally assembled with nine members and started their activities from then on. It also has the scene where Aqours first sang together as nine members with the song “Mijuku DREAMER”. It’s a really important episode to me, so I would love it if everyone took special care in watching it.

What is your favorite “Love Live! Sunshine!!” song?

Rikako: My favorite song is the titular track of the first single, “Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteru kai?” (Is Your Heart Shining?). With such a bright, lively, and refreshing feel to it, this song is really the essence of Aqours, and I think that it expresses a happy feeling.

Kanako: King: I definitely like that song as well. The last line of the anime was “Is your heart shining?”, and with this, Aqours began. The seiyuu also felt that things were beginning after we recorded this song, and we gained a lot of connections because of it.

Aina: I like “Mattete Ai no Uta” (Song of a Waiting Love). It’s the coupling song for the second single, and there are many of us in Aqours who have “Ai” in their name. I hope that this song can really convey the feeling of love.

There are Korean fans who visit Numazu City and Uchiura, the setting for “Love Live! Sunshine!!”. What are the charms of Numazu and Uchiura? Which sightseeing spots would you recommend, and why?

Kanako: Uchiura is a small town by the sea, and it’s a beautiful village within itself. The scenery of the landscape has been captured exactly as it is in the anime and illustrations. When you personally visit it, you’ll really get the feeling that the Aqours members are actually living there. Numazu has three aquariums, of which I particularly like Awashima Marine Park and Izu Mito Sea Paradise, which was used as the setting for the second single’s PV. I think that just touring there would be enough for sightseeing.

In the mobile game “Love Live! School Idol Festival”, which song do you have the most confidence in?

Rikako: The song that I have the most confidence in is the opening song “Aozora Jumping Heart” (Blue Sky Jumping Heart). Though, rather than being good at it, you can say that it’s a song that you can have fun playing.

Kanako: It’s the first collaboration song between Aqours and SIF, “Jingle Bells ga Tomaranai” (Can’t Stop the Jingle Bells). It’s a Christmas song that’s very fitting for the winter season, so I really enjoy playing it.

Aina: I keep playing the song “Aqours☆HEROES”. It’s a coupling song for the first single, and I have lots of fun playing it as I follow the beat.

What are your feelings on the upcoming 1st Live? What kind of Live do you want to have?

Rikako: We’re working hard to make it a performance that will impress the fans who attend. I’d really like if it was a Live that expressed a very Aqours-like feel.

Kanako: In the anime, the Aqours members participated in the Love Live! competition while carrying with them the feeling of wanting to go from 0 to 1. I don’t know if we’ll go from 0 to 1 in the upcoming Live as well, or even from 1 to 2, but I want to have a Live where we’ve upgraded one step further.

Aina: We’re holding our Live for two days at a large venue like Yokohama Arena, and I want to give everyone who comes to see us a “shiny” smile. We’ll do our best to have a beautiful Live where all nine of us in Aqours can shine.

We’ve heard that Rikako has been to Korea before. Please tell us if there were any places you wanted to visit or foods you wanted to eat this time around.

Rikako: I’ve eaten a variety of dishes in Korea, but I unfortunately haven’t been able to try any desserts yet. Yukhoe bibimbap was really delicious. Eating rice in seaweed soup was quite a novel experience for me, and was tasty as well.

* TL note: Mixed rice bowl with raw beef. Refer to the Wikipedia article on yukhoe for details.

Looking back over the activities that Aqours has done in 2016, what are your thoughts?

Kanako: 2016 was really the year of beginnings. If 2015 was the year of our birth when we made preparations, and 2016 was the year we began, 2017 might be the year of our growth. We’ve done a lot of activities this year, but the start of the anime was the most meaningful for me. I saw many different sides to the character I’m in charge of for the first time time year, so I was able to reduce the gap between me and my role.

Aina: There were many things that I tried for the first time. I experienced a recording for the first time, and dancing as well was something that was a first for me. Because of this, I think that this year was the year that I took on the most challenges.

After starring in “Love Live! Sunshine!!”, what part of yourself would you say has changed the most?

Rikako: As I’ve had to face various challenges, my will to take on challenges has gotten stronger. I’d like it if I could try even more things from now on.

Kanako: There was an enormous change—a lot of people became aware of me on social media. It still doesn’t feel like reality, to the point that I can’t believe that this is my life. Being cast as Hanamaru and participating in activities as a member of Aqours really feels like fate.

Aina: I’ve always liked “Love Live!”. When I got the role of Mari for “Love Live! Sunshine!!”, I thought that I was now able to show everyone courage, so my mindset was changed a lot.

What were your feelings when you first met the character you were cast as?

Rikako: My first impression was of a beautiful girl with a graceful image. I felt like she embodied what I thought of as the ideal girl.

Kanako: The first time that I saw Hanamaru, as she’s a small and cute bookworm-ish girl I thought that she was the complete opposite of me, so I was unsure whether I would be able to voice her well. However, we also shared many similarities, like our vast curiosity, so now we’ve become synchronized to the point where I can’t tell whether I’m similar to Hanamaru or if Hanamaru is similar to me.

Aina: When I first met Mari, my biggest impression of her was of her mature side. Even the way that she styles her hair is cute, and I felt that she was a child with gorgeous looks.

Through this event, you must have seen how there are many fans who love Aqours in Korea as well—were you aware of this fact?

Rikako: I’ve received many messages from Korean fans on Twitter, so I’ve always thought about meeting the fans in Korea as part of Aqours. After being able to meet so many fans in person, I’ve been able to realize how much the fans love us.

Aina: This is my first visit to Korea, so seeing all these people welcoming us warmly and greeting us with lively cheers made me really happy.

If you were to brag to the members who couldn’t come to Korea this time about something related to meeting your fans in Korea, what would it be?

Kanako: There are so many things that I want to brag about that I’d want to tell them everything that happened during these past three days. Since the fans were so happy when we told them that all 9 of us would come next time and seemed to be really looking forward to it, although we don’t know when it’ll be, we promised that all 9 of us would definitely come.

Recently, a Love Live! arcade game* has been launched in Japan. If you’ve played it before, what are your thoughts on it?

Rikako: Since you can play while watching the µ’s members sing and dance, it’s a very fresh experience. It’s something you can enjoy through both sight and sound, and I think Love Live! fans had been waiting for a game like this.

* The articles don’t mention it by name, but the question is referring to “Love Live! School Idol Festival ~after school ACTIVITY~”, also known as SIFAC.

Lastly, please say a few words to your fans in Korea.

Rikako: Through being invited to come to Korea, I feel that I’ve been able to receive a lot of love from Korean fans. Because of that, next time I’d like to return with everyone in Aqours. I’m looking forward to the day we meet again.

Kanako: Annyeonghaseyo*~ I had lots of fun meeting everyone on this trip to Korea. Everyone is so good at Japanese that it made me think that in return, I should study Korean when I go back home. I’ll do my best so that I can speak Korean more fluently next time. Saranghaeyo**, zura~ (laughs)

* TL note: Korean for “Hello”.

** TL note: Korean for “I love you”.

Aina: Although this is my first visit to Korea, the unity during yesterday’s talk show was so good, such as in the call and response, that it really made me think that everyone has been watching over our activities. After feeling such warmth, I think that if I get another chance to come to Korea, I would like to participate in another event like this.