Blue Dragon sequel planned

By Tom Bramwell Published 21 November, 2006

With first game now finished.

Hironobu Sakaguchi has said that he's already looking toward a sequel for Xbox 360 exclusive RPG Blue Dragon, which is due out in Japan on 7th December.

Speaking to Famitsu, in an interview partly translated by IGN, Sakaguchi also said that Japanese RPG fans who buy Blue Dragon can look forward to free downloadable content in the first few months of next year.

The first game is now finished, he revealed, and will ship on three DVDs - uncompressed, it actually takes up a whopping 30GB of disk space.

IGN also reports that Sakaguchi said he's currently working on Cry-On (X360), A.S.H. (DS) and is involved in three other as-yet unannounced projects.

Microsoft has yet to reveal when Blue Dragon will be released in the west.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (61) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • EmiliasHorse #1 5 years ago

    Fingers crossed the Japanese feel the love and actually buy this game.
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/06 @ 17:09

  • Steroyd #2 5 years ago

    With Dragon Quest I didn't mind the DBZness but everything about this game seems DBZ-ish from characters to music to special moves.

    The game has garnered decent interest in Japan.

  • bdc #3 5 years ago

    'We have free downloadable content planned for this game that isnt out yet'.

    ...... what ? How lame that you *must* have the online service to get the full retail content.

  • EmiliasHorse #4 5 years ago

    @bdc
    So if they charge you for content you moan, if they give it to you for free you STILL moan.

  • myiagros #5 5 years ago

    The first game is now finished, he revealed, and will ship on three DVDs - uncompressed, it actually takes up a whopping 30GB of disk space.

    maybe now all the BlueRay bashing will stop. sony's claims that more than a single DVDs space is needed for some games has now been proven, and by a microsoft published game.

    we all know this isn't sony's only reason for pushing BlueRay, but it seems to be a valid one.

  • mikewl #6 5 years ago

    I would rather have a game over 3 DVD's than pay over the odds for Bluray, if anything Microsoft shows DVD is fine by being able to use multiple DVD's instead of some expensive technology thats not needed.

  • BillGaitas #7 5 years ago

    @Myiagros
    unless you dont want to pay 500/600$ and dont mind changing the dvd
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/06 @ 17:35

  • myiagros #8 5 years ago

    I would rather have a game over 3 DVD's than pay over the odds for Bluray, if anything Microsoft shows DVD is fine by being able to use multiple DVD's instead of some expensive technology thats not needed.

    perhaps you are right, but maybe going by this theroy we should be demanding that Hi-Def movies ship on multiple DVDs also (just a thought)

    Edit: also maybe we should just ask for the game to ship on 30 odd CD's so we don't have to pay for the newfangled DVD thingys ;-)
    Edited by 2 at 21/11/06 @ 17:38

  • The-Bodybuilder #9 5 years ago

    Let's not forget it's uncompressed. UNCOMPRESSED.

  • Dr.Mott #10 5 years ago

    Plus, it does say uncompressed, so compressed it would be noticeably less.

  • BillGaitas #11 5 years ago

    @Myiagros

    DVd's are as cheap as CD's

  • EmiliasHorse #12 5 years ago

    I have no problem at all with changing a disc once in a while.
    The multiple discs of FFVII were a selling feature not a hinderance.

  • JediMasterMalik #13 5 years ago

    Changing discs a selling feature? Are you joking? Crazy people...

  • EmiliasHorse #14 5 years ago

    Cast your mind back to the release of FFVII and YES the multi disc was a selling feature. Also Panzer Dragoon Saga and even Resi 2!
    If you think people are crazy maybe they are.

  • Psychotext #15 5 years ago

    I don't get it... 30 gb uncompressed but they needed to put it on 3 dvds (27gb of space)? That doesn't make any sense at all.

  • deepmenace #16 5 years ago

    "Plus, it does say uncompressed, so compressed it would be noticeably less."

    Yeah, 30gb uncompressed and 3 dvds compressed ( 15 gb? )

    Ok, so that's the first "told-you-so" that Sony have actually got completely right. i eagerly await the next one.

  • Kostabi #17 5 years ago

    perhaps you are right, but maybe going by this theroy we should be demanding that Hi-Def movies ship on multiple DVDs also (just a thought)

    Changing discs every 5-10 hours in a game is a forgiveable and minor experience. Changing discs every hour or less for a movie would have people reaching for the flaming torches.

    Remember the stink people kicked up over the early flipper-disc DVDs?

  • Psychotext #18 5 years ago

    "Yeah, 30gb uncompressed and 3 dvds compressed ( 15 gb? )"

    3 DVDs is 27gb. 15gb would fit on 2.

  • NthSimulachum #19 5 years ago

    Hell at least it aint riven!

    I need to change the disc for every bloody island? Everytime I switch between them? AUGH!

    Since it's a JRPG, and will hence be rather linear, doesn't sound like there will be much disc swapping.

    First to mention Oblivion will be first against the wall come the revolution.

  • Xerx3s #20 5 years ago

    Fingers crossed the Japanese feel the love and actually buy this game.

    Doubt that it will even be enough to get remotely close to covering the costs. Only what? 80K 360's in Japan? Bet that it will do a lot better in the west though.

  • peterfll #21 5 years ago

    Comparing changing discs for a movie vs a game is not a fair comparison. If you had to change the game disc after 30 minutes of gameplay it's not very practical. But that's what you'd be looking at if you wanted to use DVD to carry HD. Perhaps even less, I don't know the exact HD content a DVD can hold.

    So, changing DVD discs (like on this game) is OK for most I would imagine, it's going to happen several hours into the game and not be *that* intrusive.

    How predictable this would bring out the fanboys arguing over whether the PS3 needs BluRay for games.

  • EmiliasHorse #22 5 years ago

    I read the 360 had sold 160k since launch is this true or is 80k nearer the mark? Either way the Japanese continue to avoid feeling the love. I'll bet there are a few Japanese Xbox fanboys who never get invited to any parties.

  • Shinji #23 5 years ago

    I don't get it... 30 gb uncompressed but they needed to put it on 3 dvds (27gb of space)? That doesn't make any sense at all.

    You need to duplicate massive amounts of data on each disc of a multi-disc game - basic textures, models, code, sound, music etc which are used in multiple segments of the game.

  • Steroyd #24 5 years ago

    Pay £500 so i dont have to swap discs, i couldnt care less how many discs it comes on, final fantasy 7 came on three and its still the best game ever.

    Not just that but in theory and hopefully Resistance pioneers the idea devs should be able to put in all languages on one disc, so for example Europe would get Blue Dragon the exact same time as Japan and we get to listen to the Japaneese voices which would be sweet.

    Unless Blue Dragon is being launched worldwide at the same time, then all i can say is Why the **** can't Square Enix do that for the past ten years.

  • strobrod #25 5 years ago

    nice. perhaps they can maintain the gameplay, which seems to be great, and get an artist who doesn't make it look like alex kid in miracle world 3d.

    granted, the art direction is a matter of preference. but it turns me off completely.

  • spongebob #26 5 years ago

    Look at me, I am a Sony hater! Sony sucks even though they like to make things easier for the developers and the gamers! I'd rather swap games 10 times per gaming session than use some stupid FORCED format I never wanted. I'd rather still use cassettes if you ask me! They're cheap, too.

  • Psychotext #27 5 years ago

    Steroyd: The language idea is nice, but I can't see it ever happening for something like an RPG. Makes more sense for them to get their money back as fast as possible in one region whilst doing the localisation for the other regions. But it would be great... and thanks Shinji - That makes sense. I wonder if they'll allow some installing to the HDD? That would be pretty cool.

  • Steroyd #28 5 years ago

    This idea benefits devs as well think about it, it would literally kill the need for say Square Enix to hire BVG to localise Kingdom Hearts 2 to Europe, a matter of one size fits all.

    Sure it screws that dev from starting out in the world, but SE saves money and time on localisation (or at the very least less time for me waiting for the damn games to arrive).

    At least i hope that's the reason Sony setup a SCEWWS.

    I only say this because of <a href=h ttp://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?url=http:// www.jeux-france.com/news18181.html&lp=fr_en&tt=url>a glimmer of hope</a>

  • mendo #29 5 years ago

    I'm going to buy the x360 when this game will arrive here. Hope we'll have a deluxe pack similar to the one the Japanese will have, with special plate and action figures

  • Foxclose #30 5 years ago

    For goodness sake MSFT. Make the HD-DVD a permanent feature!

    I told people here that more than 9GB were needed in this gen and guess what I was RIGHT!!! :)

    And now watch all the MSFT fanboys spin it on how great it is to swap discs! LOL!!
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/06 @ 21:05

  • Mr_Brown #31 5 years ago

    Japanese should eat this up. This should shift a load of 360's in Japan no doubt. But I'm more interested in a European release for this. Videos from TGS for this look apsolutly outstanding.

  • UncleLou #32 5 years ago

    It will happen that there will be a non-linear game/game with a sandbox-like structure where changing discs is not an option, which needs more space than one DVD, I don't get what's so hard to understand there. And this game won't be on the 360.

    And no, I couldn't care less about Sony, or Microsoft, or Nintendo, it's just so bloody obvious.

  • Steroyd #33 5 years ago

    It's bloody amazing on how this turned into a Blu-ray vs DVD debate.

  • UncleLou #34 5 years ago

    Actually, it's the one of about 2985792857 threads recently where I am not amazed that it turned into that debate. ;p

  • Dire #35 5 years ago

    seriously who besides fanbois f****** cares?

  • UncleLou #36 5 years ago

    Generally caring about which format is a suitable one hardly has anything to do with fanboyism. I agree that a reasonable debate is pretty much impossible because of fanboys from both camps, that doesn't make the topic unimportant though.

  • NegativeZero #37 5 years ago

    @Steroyd: It doesn't look much like DBZ at all. If anything, it looks very much along the same vein, design-wise, as Chrono Trigger. Which isn't too surprising given that that was the game that was produced last time Sakaguchi and Toriyama collaborated.

    @Xerx3s: I'm pretty sure they've sold more than 80k X360s in Japan - I think it's closer to 120k - but even so, they apparently sold 100k preorders for the limited edition of this game in the space of a few hours, and I heard that they were going to produce another 90k LE copies because of the unexpectedly high demand.

    Really, if MS markets this properly in Japan there is no reason why it couldn't be a big success. Especially given that no one can buy a PS3.

  • Drakron #38 5 years ago

    Character design of Chrono Trigger and Blue Dragon is by the same person that done DragonBall, HARDLY a suprise it looks like DBZ ...

    That alone is enough to turn me off, I developed a alergic reaction to DB ... never got DQ VIII for 2 reasons, cell shadding and character design.

    The multi disk is something I could not care less, I am not lazy enough that I cannot get up, open the tray, switch disks, close tray and press a key on the controler ... what the hell are you? europeans or lazy fat americans?

  • Foxclose #39 5 years ago

    "The multi disk is something I could not care less, I am not lazy enough that I cannot get up, open the tray, switch disks, close tray and press a key on the controler ... what the hell are you? europeans or lazy fat americans?"

    Maybe in an RPG it won't be bad. But RE4 on the Gamecube was. (after you finish the game and go through the extras).

    Still prefer everything in one disc.

  • Psychotext #40 5 years ago

    NegativeZero: As of last week there were pretty much exactly 164k 360s sold in Japan. (Those are actual sales numbers not shipping numbers).

    [Edit - Unrelated. I don't really mind swapping discs. I did it for Final Fantasy 7 and others. I'd like to see options to install to the HDD though, especially if bigger ones are released or MS makes a caddy. I'm actually glad to see they're willing to go multidisc rather than just not make the game.]
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/06 @ 23:08

  • Foxclose #41 5 years ago

    You mean 164k sold in that week?

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #42 5 years ago

    Is this the first multi-disc release for the 360?? (Bonus DVDs excluded)

    Disc changes, hell yes. Disc changes were a big part of the PSX-era Final Fantasy/JRPG games.. They were like act breaks in the story, and they were a great reference for gaming conversations ("how far into the game are you, man?" "oh, about two hours into disc 3";). Also, the multi-disc packages felt like a bigger and better deal.

    I'd rather take an odd disc change than pay out of my a** for a drive I don't really need. Size is a restriction, sure, but CGI cutscenes excepted, you won't really need a size bigger than a DVD-9 for quite a few years yet. (Yes, I'm playing the Oblivion card.) In five years, the situation will most probably be a different one, but for now, Microsoft did the right thing. Multi disc games are going to be the odd exception, not the rule.

    So, sequel eh? Is Blue Dragon going to be a new Final Fantasy scale franchise now? I bet so, if it sells well. If it's good, I'll jump in.

  • Foxclose #43 5 years ago

    Well, the PS2 was a success in Japan because it got RPG after RPG every week. I think the PS3 will achieve a similar output in a couple of years but will the X360?

  • Steroyd #44 5 years ago

    Yeah but on the PS2 i've grown too used to 100 hour RPG's on a single disc.

    /tries to runaway from discussion.

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #45 5 years ago

    Jonathan_Fakenham: Disc changes aren't that awful, it's kinda cool to see a game divided up into different 'Acts' and having to insert that new disc gives it a feeling of wow this is a huge game.
    Yes, that's what I'm saying too. They do add to the charm.


    Oh, s**t! -- Play is having a sale on "Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King"!! £12.99/€19.49

    Just grabbed myself a copy. :D

  • UncleLou #46 5 years ago

    Why do people keep talking about disc changing when noone is actually arguing about that?

    The point is that GTA III would hardly have been possible on CD-Roms.

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #47 5 years ago

    Yes, that is true, Lou.

    But it's also true that there's still plenty of space to play around with on "just" a DVD-9 (I'm playing the Oblivion card, again).

  • Drakron #48 5 years ago

    Stop playing that card then since Oblivion resues the same models so many times its not even funny.

    Like it or not the DVD in the XBox 360 will either lead to multi disks or short games and as I said, if you have a problem with multi disks you are nothing but a fat lazy american.

  • UncleLou #49 5 years ago

    And if you look at Oblivion, you'll notice that you have the same content again and again. You'll find exactly the same segments in every dungeon, and behind every portal. It's a copypaste game that uses the same assests again and again. Now that might have to do as much with actual development time as it has with disc content, but it's just not a very good example. And even then, make the world a bit bigger, have a few more characters with more voice acting, and it might become a problem.

    Now I am not saying the 360 is DOOMED, I just think people should be openminded enough to acknowledge that it could be a problem.
    Edited by 2 at 22/11/06 @ 00:03

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #50 5 years ago

    Sure, it could be a problem, but not for a few years yet. I'm thinking, Microsoft will conveniently be there with a new xbox at about the same time that problem starts being a problem. But that won't be for a few years, yet.

    And as far as camps go, the above words were spoken by a proud three-feeted man. ;)

    Footed?? Nah, I got it right, didn't I?
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 00:12

  • Psychotext #51 5 years ago

    "Like it or not the DVD in the XBox 360 will either lead to multi disks or short games and as I said, if you have a problem with multi disks you are nothing but a fat lazy american. "

    I really doubt it will lead to short games. I have trouble believing that developers will suddenly be spending months more developing extra levels etc to take advantage of the extra space. Budgets are budgets and deadlines are crushing. =)

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #52 5 years ago

    Now I'm just wondering how many discs the galaxy-spanning Mass Effect is going to be released on. Four? I could see a twelve-disc trilogy, for sure. :D "What's the disc? Which one is it? Awwhhr."

  • Drakron #53 5 years ago

    I serious doubt Mass Effect will be the galaxy-spanning as some people expect it to be, KotOR was also "galaxy-spanning" and it was ... what? 6 planets?

    Oblivion was "cut and paste" because the level design and space considerations forced it, that is the biggest issue with the Xbox 360 since it only have a DVD and the HDD is something optional, in ways its a step back from the Xbox and at a disavantage with the PS3.

    Mass Effect can spawn multi disks because its level design (the only common area that is needed to be in all disks is the ship) allows it but something with Oblivion level design cannot.

  • NthSimulachum #54 5 years ago

    Exaclty how much of the DVDs will be taken up with FMV I wonder?

    *mumbles something about procedural synthesis*

    *hides in a box till the shells stop flying*

    *dies of starvation and syphilis*
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 01:40

  • Scimarad #55 5 years ago

    "And if you look at Oblivion, you'll notice that you have the same content again and again. You'll find exactly the same segments in every dungeon, and behind every portal."

    Which is one of the main reasons I stopped playing. Now compared that to something like FFXII (where every location is different and full of unique details) if that had hi res textures - That's a lot of data.

    "...Microsoft will conveniently be there with a new xbox at about the same time that problem starts being a problem..."

    And you don't think THAT is a problem after how they dropped the Xbox so quickly?
    Edited by 1 at 22/11/06 @ 07:00

  • Darren #56 5 years ago

    I've no complaints about the game being on three DVDs either. I remember playing Final Fantasy VII and how you could just start from disc 2 and load your save game if you'd reached that point so it's hardly a pain having to swap discs. You have to insert and remove them in the first place so another disc change every 15-20 hours is hardly a sign that Microsoft should have used HD-DVD from the onset.

    Multiple disc games will still be rare overall and likely just restricted to the larger RPGs which tend to be heavy on plot and cutscenes. And I wouldn't complain if say Halo 3 came on two discs either with the single/co-op campaign on one disc and the multi-player on the other.

  • fizzer25 #57 5 years ago

    Personally I get bored very easily so if games get too huge, then it will become a big turn off for me!!!

    I prefer loads of fun packed into a short game which I can return to and still enjoy ie gears of war!!!!

  • johnboy_johsnon #58 5 years ago

    Now, back on topic. Really looking forward to this game, has great graphical charm and the soundtrack is sure to be great. Having only a GC and Xbox in the last generation I was starved of quality RPGs. Hopefully this game will remedy the situation:)

  • sharpfish #59 5 years ago

    Nothing wrong with 3 discs (it's not the first game to do this) and as anyone who has played a multi disc game knows, you don't spend all your time swapping at all. You swap to disc two when you reach that point in the game and then never go back to disc one, you probably spend weeks with the same disc in the drive and will probably swap 3 times during the course of the entire game.... unless there is a lot of free roaming/back tracking. I imagine most of it is for the cutscenes and that so the base code will be on each disc with the new cutscenes and animations/assets.

    Conversely there is even less wrong with having it all on one disc (Blu Ray) however, if you have to pay through the nose to get a machine that has Blu Ray and then have very long loading times there is something wrong.

    In which case the 3 Discs choice is a no brainer and simply not a problem.

    Blue Dragon looks great btw, I have high hopes for this.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #60 5 years ago

    Multiple DVDs are only going to be an issue for Japanese RPGs with screeds and screeds of high-def prerendered video, and as many have said multiple disks for these sorts of games is practicaly a tradition.

    How many Western console games have ever needed multiple DVDs, or even CDs on the PSOne, or 1.5gig mini-DVDs on Gamecube?

    Not many.

    I am starting to think that this "DVD9s are big enough" / "Blue Ray is absolutely necessary for games" thing is coming entirely from the West / East cultural perpective of the platform holders.

  • UncleLou #61 5 years ago

    I don't think so. There are Western developers who said they are concerned about space problems, like Starbreeze.

    PC games start appearing on multiple DVDs, too. Medieval 2, for example - not a game that has any HD FMV videos, btw. Or the new Flight Simulator - the prime example of a sandbox game where disc swapping wouldn't be really possible, and not exactly a game where any FMV HD videos could take up any space, either.

    It's pretty obvious that they start running out of space on the DVD format.