"I was planning to announce my new project within this year but it's a little late," Sakaguchi blogs. Sorry about that. I imagine announcement will be starting around next spring."

The game developer goes on to say that he is working "really hard" on this new game and that its title has been decided. "I'm concentrating on creating something really good!" Sakaguchi adds. "I am working on condensing valuable time of my short life and the valuable energy of my staff without any regrets." Heavy stuff!

Last we heard from Sakaguchi, his new project was in the finishing stages. Sakaguchi also said the unnamed game for an unspecified platform "makes tactical use of 'confusion and order on the battlefield' in real time" previously.

The game is not believed to be a LEGO surfing RPG. Unfortunately.

mistwalker [Official Site]

Sakaguchi notes in his latest Mistwalker update that he is "working hard on a new project" and that it's almost done. Of course, he said it's "almost done" in June as well, but we're ready to believe him this time.

"Now we are being rushed into the "finishing" stage," Gooch says, adding "No matter what, I will make it really good."

Sakaguchi said the unnamed game for an unspecified platform "makes tactical use of 'confusion and order on the battlefield' in real time" previously. While we're entertaining best guesses about Mistwalker's latest, we're guessing it's not another Blue Dragon game (Blue Dragon: Ikai no Kyoju was just released), not Cry On and not based on this lovely concept art.

LEGO Surf [Mistwalker via RPGSite via Joystiq]

Upcoming PSP game Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep features a new character with the name "Master Eraqsu". Eraqsu backwards in Japanese is close to "Square". But there might be going on than a simple word play. Oh yes, much more.

Some on the Japanese internet believe that "Master Eraqsu" is referring to former Square Co. employee and Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi — the original "Square Master" or Square teacher. Geddit?

Respectful hat tip or wonderful kwinky dink? YOU DECIDE.

『キングダムハーツ』最新作にFFの生みの親である坂口博信氏が登場！ [オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

But hey, she married that comedian! No big whoop. She was at the Tokyo presser for the latest Blue Dragon title, Blue Dragon: Ikai no Kyojyuu. The title was developed by Sakaguchi's Mistwalker Corporation and tri-Crescendo.

Ikai no Kyojyuu is a real-time role-playing-game that lets players create a customized hero that joins the Blue Dragon characters as they go exploring and on adventures. The game was originally slated for release on October, but was pushed back to October 8 for last minute polishing.

At the event, Sakaguchi stated that the title was the culmination of five years of work on the Blue Dragon franchise. According to Kotaku Japan, Sakaguchi said, "This Blue Dragon is the final chapter." However, don't take this to mean Sakaguchi is necessarily no longer making Blue Dragon games. If this latest title is a hit, we imagine that he and Mistwalker would certainly be up for more BD.

Also at the event was Kazuhiko Torishima, one of the giants of manga editing. Torishima edited both Dr. Slump and Dragonball and even appeared in Dr. Slump as the evil scientist "Mashirito", a word play on his last name "Torishima".

When asked why Blue Dragon has gone from Microsoft to AQ Interactive and now to Namco Bandai, Torishima explained that they wanted players to enjoy video games, manga and anime — and those cost money!

Hironobu Sakaguchi is best known for creating Final Fantasy while working working at Square. Click through the links below for more photos of Miki Fujimoto, Kazuhiko Torishima, Hironobu Sakaguchi and Hironobu Sakaguchi's mustache.

Miki Fujimoto [Kotaku Japan]
Blue Dragon Talk Show [Kotaku Japan]

Originally slated for release on October 1, the game will summons it way onto retail shelves on October 8. The reason is to polish up the title before release.

Ikai no Kyojyuu is a real-time role-playing-game that lets players create a customized hero that joins the Blue Dragon characters as they go exploring and on adventures.

Blue Dragon was created for the Xbox 360 by Hironobu Sakaguchi, best known for designing Final Fantasy.

『ブルードラゴン 異界の巨獣』が1週間の発売延期 [ファミ通.com]

Sakaguchi is having meetings in Tokyo about the game, and the title's game system is "almost done". According to the designer, "It makes tactical use of 'confusion and order on the battlefield" in real time."

The designer goes on to say he's pouring 120 percent of his energy into the title. He sounds optimistic about the game and working with the development team. Wonder what his 'stache thinks.

上方向への斜光 [Mistwalker]

"Making Legos is when I'm troubled with something," Sakaguchi blogs. "What I'm troubled with is graphic settings for the next new game project." While he says the project is going well, Sakaguchi makes LEGO when he needs to work out his ideas.

What about the game itself? "Planning to basically put importance on having seamless control of the overall direction of the game, mixed with CG spectacle scenes," he continues." Controls will have a bit of a trick to it, while having a blend of RPG-type strategy and growth." Behaviors, he adds, are based on interaction with the situation around the player.

Sometime later this year, Sakaguchi plans on announcing the project as well as posting model artwork and staff introductions. "With all the different elements and staff putting their 'heart and soul' into it," he writes, "it feels different from projects until now, but in a good way."

LEGO4 [Mistwalker via 1Up]

Writing on his company's blog, the creator of the Final Fantasy series writes:

These days I feel the hard economic times are a kind act for the planet to restrain human activity. Economic activity is as important as blood flowing. However, the blood should be flowing smoothly, which I suppose means the quality of what flows in that stream must be as important.

There is a lot of business behind creating a game, yet I would like to keep 51% towards "creation" rather than "merchandise." I feel it shouldn't go over 75%, though. Setting sights on where the good blood flows.

Yeah man. Yeah.

A Cloudy Sky [Mistwalker, via Siliconera]

The show's first 13 episodes are also up on iTunes for sale. The Blue Dragon anime is based on the Xbox 360 game from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and Dragonball creator Akira Toriyama. It follows young Shu and his friends whose shadows are powerful blue dragons.

Blue Dragon's 1st Episode Posted on iTunes for Free [ANN]

Since Microsoft Game Studios published Blue Dragon, we don't have our hopes up for the game appearing on the PLAYSTATION 3. When asked what are the chances of a Wii version, Sakaguchi replied, "I think the Wii is a wonderful system. It's very unique, starting with its iconic controllers. We have no plans at the moment, but I would love to make a Wii game in the future."

So no Wii Blue Dragon at the moment, but Sakaguchi would like to make a Wii game someday. A magnificent Wii mustache game, we hope.

Interview with a Legend [IGN via Go Nintendo]

Kou dai xi yuu isn't an officially licensed Blue Dragon game, and is what its developers would call a "kwinky dink." (Mistwalker would call it a rip-off!)

Check out the trailer below for the animated version of the game, complete with Akira Toriyama-esque art stylings. Hey, Akira Toriyama did the character design for the Mistwalker Blue Dragon, but not Kou dai xi yuu.

What. Are. The. Odds.

We're glad they left out the original game's hair metal. What was that all about, anyway?

Chinese anime and online game stuff [Canned Dogs]

The Hironobu Sakaguchi produced RPG was released in Japan in October of 2007, doing well with critics, but underperforming in the sales department. In its debut week, only 50,000 copies were sold to Japanese consumers, with ASH falling off the charts soon after. Here's hoping that Sakaguchi and crew have more luck in the West.

ESRB Game Ratings

With Lost Odyssey I had a desire to make a game which could evoke the player's emotion. To pursue that desire, I decided to adopt my traditional style in game system rather than taking a risky attempt.

A Courageous Soldier's Return

In a post town pub, Kaim sat in the corner, alone, sipping on his drink. A man entered the pub. A big and strong man - his clothes give away that he is a soldier, coming from a long journey. His clothes were covered in dust, and he had a look of exhaustion on his face, yet the gleam in his eyes remained sharp. He had the serious look of a "soldier on active duty".

For a moment, the pub became quiet. All the drunken people who happened to be there stopped and stared at the soldier with eyes of both fear and gratitude. The war with the neighboring country had at last come just to an end and all the soldiers that had been at the front were each on the road to their homes. This man, he was one of those soldiers.

The soldier sat at the table next to Kaim and starting gulping down drink after drink - his manner of drinking being that of a man full of immense suffering. He drank a second drink, then a third, and a fourth...

Another person glared at him and smiled, then walked over to his table with a bottle in his hand. He looked like a dirty, local thug.

"Brave soldier, who defended our ancestors' country, let me buy you a drink!"

Without expression, the soldier raised his cup and was poured a drink.

"How was the front line? How many great deeds have you performed?"

The soldier, saying nothing, finished the drink.

The thug poured him another glass, and glared at him once more.

"Seeing as I'm here, why don't you tell me some of your heroic tales? How many men have you killed with that big arm of yours..."

Without a word, the soldier smashed his cup against the thug's face.

The thug suddenly pulled out a knife - at that moment Kaim swiftly knocked down the thug's knife with his clenched fist.

The thug, overpowered by both Kaim and the soldier, said something over his shoulder and ran away. After chasing the thug off, Kaim and the soldier looked at each other and chuckled. Without even talking to him, Kaim knew from this soldier's shadow that he was wallowing in sorrow. Conversely, the soldier could tell that Kaim knew this from the expression on Kaim's face.

After a moment of silence, the pub returned to normal. Kaim and the soldier decide to share a drink together.

"You know, I have a wife and daughter... I haven't seen them in the 3 years I've been on duty." The soldier said, showing the hint of a smile on his face for the first time.

He opened his locket, took out pictures of them, and then showed them to Kaim.

The picture showed a neatly dressed wife and a young daughter.

"I only survived these 3 years because I have them. The only thing that kept me going was to return home to them".

"Is your home far from here?" asked Kaim.

"Nah... My village is just beyond the mountain pass. Both of them should have heard the news that the war is over and must be waiting for me."

The distance was close enough that he could go there overnight if he wanted to.

However, the soldier groaned and continued to speak.

"I'm scared... to go home."

"Why?" asked Kaim.

"I want to see my wife and daughter's face. But I'm afraid... to show them mine. I have killed countless enemies over these 3 years. I had to in order to survive. I had to keep killing if I were to return home to my family."

That was the code and duty of a soldier. "Kill or be killed" - this is what it meant to survive a battle.

"I didn't have time to think about it on the front line. I was so desperate to stay alive. But now that the war is over I realize what I have done. My face is engraved with three years of "sin". My face... is the face of a killer. I can't... show this face to my wife and daughter..."

The soldier reached into his leather pouch and pulled out a small stone and showed it to Kaim, telling him it was a gem he found on the first battlefield he was on.

"That's a gem?" asked Kaim with a puzzled expression on his face.

The stone sat on the table - a pitch-black stone that didn't sparkle in the slightest.

"It sparkled at first. When I found it, I decided to take it home to show my daughter. I was sure she would love it."

However, over time, it lost its color and sparkle.

"Each time I killed an enemy soldier, the stain of blood changed the stone. Over the three years, it has turned pitch-black as you can see. My sin is chiseled in this stone... This has become my "Stone of Sin"..."

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself" said Kaim without thinking.

"You killed because you had to in order to survive."

"I know. I know, but... the soldiers I killed also had homes to go back to and families waiting for them..."

"Surely you have a family yourself, right?" the soldier asked Kaim.

"I have no family" said Kaim, slightly shaking his head.

"How about a home?"

"I have no home to return to" answered Kaim.

"...so you're stuck on an endless journey?"

"Yes, something like that."

The soldier, the extent to which he took stock in Kaim's words being unclear, took the "Black Stone" and put it back into his leather pouch.

"I've been thinking... if this "Black Stone" turns black each time I take a life, maybe I can restore its color and sparkle by saving a life..."

Kaim, keeping quiet, finished his drink and stood up. He looked at the soldier, who was still seated, and tried to reason with him one last time.

"If you have a home to go back to, you should go. No matter what's on your conscience, you should go home. I'm sure your wife and daughter will understand. You committed no sin. You did what you had to do to survive - you are courageous."

"It makes me feel better... to meet someone who will tell me that."

The soldier reached out his right hand and gave Kaim a handshake.

"Have a good journey" said the soldier.

"Your journey is almost over." Kaim said and chuckled as he started walking towards the exit of the pub. Suddenly, the thug from before appeared behind Kaim with a pistol in his hand.

"Watch out!" yelled the soldier as he ran towards Kaim.

As Kaim turned around, the thug said, "How dare you make a fool of me earlier!" and got ready to pull the trigger.

The soldier ran in between the two, blocking the shot from Kaim with his own body. The soldier is shot in the stomach as the thug pulls the trigger.

Just as the soldier had wanted, he had saved a life. The life of Kaim, whose body would never rot, and life would never end. This was the "life" for which he sacrificed his own.

The soldier lay on the floor, and with a dim consciousness reached for his leather pouch.

"Look... at the "Stone of Sin"... Is it sparkling again?"

With a weak laugh, blood started to pour from the soldier's mouth.

Kaim peered into the leather bag and said to the soldier, "It's beautiful. It's sparkling again."

"Really... I'm so glad... I'm sure my daughter will love it..."

With a smile of satisfaction, the soldier opened his hand and took the pouch. However, at that moment the soldier stopped breathing and the pouch fell from his hand to the floor.

The soldier's face was peaceful as he died.

However - the "Stone of Sin" that fell from the bag when it hit the floor, was still pitch-black.

Excerpt [Xbox.com, Thanks Adam!] [Image]

Another clip after the jump.

We could do it all in real time [on the Xbox 360].