428: Shibuya Scramble - 'Welcome to Shibuya' trailer, PSN demo available tomorrow
Spike Chunsoft has released a new trailer for 428: Shibuya Scramble, the live-action visual novel which finally makes its way westward after its original release in 2008 in Japan. Additionally, a demo of the PS4 version will also be available on PSN tomorrow.
For those in Europe, Spike Chunsoft is working with Koch Media to release the title in the region. While the Steam and NA PS4 release is set for September 4, the European PlayStation 4 version will see a physical and digital release on September 21.
PR Manager Ari Advincula of Spike Chunsoft also took to PlayStation Blog to interview localization lead David Kracker and his work with the team at Kajiya Productions, who previously worked on Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age and Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. We have the first two questions quoted below, and be sure to check out the rest of the interview at the link.
Today we have David Kracker, 428: Shibuya Scramble’s localization director, for a special interview. First off, how did this project come together?
David Kracker: My favorite Japanese video games have a certain sensibility that you don’t find in Western titles. They’re off-kilter, but in a good way, you know? 428 is the most “Japanese” game in our back catalog, so when I joined Spike Chunsoft, I made it my mission to localize it. The titular Shibuya Scramble crosswalk is a Tokyo landmark, something like the Times Square of Japan, and the game captures the vibe of the city that anything could happen at any time.
Eventually, I convinced my producer that there’s a demand for niche Japanese titles and somehow got the green light. Help prove me right, everyone!
AA: I believe there’s a demand for niche Japanese titles! So, tell us about your role as localization director.
DK: Well, it started with digging through thousands of photo stills and deciding how each scene should be handled… but nobody wants to hear about that, so I’ll say my most important contribution was bringing on Kajiya Productions as the localization team. The English script from editor Alexander O. Smith and translator Kevin Frane had me laughing and crying at all the same places as the Japanese original, which I think is the hallmark of a great localization.
You can find more information and the previously released Overview trailer here.
