Pleasants Hints at Kingdom Hearts Online
- Details
- Published on November 12, 2013 @ 10:07 pm
- Written by Arielle
On Monday, Walt Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger selected Jimmy Pitaro to become the sole head of Disney Interactive, pushing John Pleasants out of his spot as co-president and into a consultant role. Pleasants, who currently has no plans to leave Disney Interactive at the moment, held an interview with the Wall Street Journal to discuss his accomplishments at the company and the future of the gaming division as they continue to adapt to the expanding mobile market.
While discussing the success of Disney Infinity, recently launched earlier this year, Pleasants also briefly touched on the company's focus on mobile game developments along with their work with Asian developers. Currently Disney Interactive has a studio in Seoul, South Korea working on an online Kingdom Hearts game, not to be confused with the browser game, Kingdom Hearts χ[chi], that was developed by Success Corporation in cooperation with Square Enix.
Late last year, it was reported by AllThingsD that the Walt Disney Company had purchased South Korean developer Studio EX to begin their push into the Asian free-to-play gaming market. Following the acquisition announcement, S. Korean news site iNews24 reported that Studio EX would be developing a multiplayer online Kingdom Hearts title for smartphones and the web utilizing the Unity Engine.
At the moment, there is no official announcement about "Kingdom Hearts Online" or any word if Square Enix is involved with its development, but the fact remains that it does exist in some shape or form.
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Source: The Wall Street Journal [2], AllThingsD, iNews24
COMMENTS
South Korean gaming companies have collectively come up with a lot of online games, most of them being wonderful from my experience and what I've seen. I'm therefore interested to see what kind of game that they are currently brewing in their studios, and the fact that I live in the Asian region just makes me more excited.
Thanks for this piece of news! Here's another thing to wait for and be excited about in our wait for KH3.
First off I think we should all pat ourselves on the back for being the only ones who remember that KHx is being developed by Success Inc.
This is the second time a Korean-made Kingdom Hearts online title has been mentioned. I'm kind of skeptical considering it looks like Square Enix has no hand in this and Disney is just going off on their own again, and things didn't work out very well last time (KH VCast).
Will be interesting to see what comes of this :O
The hype only exists if Nomura's in on this, and if it's not a buy-to-win game.
I really hope it's a more canonical approach to the Keyblade War than χ[chi] is.
(KH VCast)
I think what bothers me the most out of this is that I don't know any games made by Studio EX to even get an impression of their work from...
I've noticed one comment on our facebook page, as well as a share that said the same thing.
We don't know if Nomura will be involved in this. We won't know if this will be bad. We don't even know if there will be a real game. Saying this will suck because Nomura isn't a part of this is illogical, and frankly, downright stupid due to making these assumptions based on nothing.
Interesting, wonder if it's based on KHX's system.
Interesting, wonder if it's based on KHX's system.
Probably not since it is two different developers.
Probably not since it is two different developers.
I see. Then that only makes me more curious.
I've noticed one comment on our facebook page, as well as a share that said the same thing.
We don't know if Nomura will be involved in this. We won't know if this will be bad. We don't even know if there will be a real game. Saying this will suck because Nomura isn't a part of this is illogical, and frankly, downright stupid due to making these assumptions based on nothing.
Noticed that, too. Just did a few minutes ago, in fact.
Just because Nomura is involved in the more major games of the KH franchise, it doesn't mean that anything that doesn't have him involved is automatically inferior in quality. That's too prideful a way of thinking, and to be honest, it's very dismissive and I think borderline conceited.
I think it'd do no harm to give this game, if it proceeds, a chance. After it's out and we've seen it with our own eyes, be it by playing it ourselves or watching the game footage, then can we really say whether it's good or not from our standpoint, and why.
I see. Then that only makes me more curious.
It's also dependent on whether Tatsuya Kando will be involved, since KHx has his fingerprints aaaaaaaall over it.
I prefer to think he's juggling KHx, TWEWY Live Remix and TWEWY 2 instead though.
It's also dependent on whether Tatsuya Kando will be involved, since KHx has his fingerprints aaaaaaaall over it.
I prefer to think he's juggling KHx, TWEWY Live Remix and TWEWY 2 instead though.
As would I, I need TWEWY 2. ;A;
Think somebody will address this game now that Pleasants blurted it out?
Hope so. I don't believe they haven't seen the article yet, and they can't really brush it off since this is the second time it's been mentioned.
I feel uneasy about this. I've never even heard of the company before and they haven't made anything I've played. Please don't diddly up.
I guess I forgot that KH is a Disney series and there for they could have another company make a game for the series. I don't know how I feel about a KH game that doesn't involve Square Enix or at least Nomura. It might be good, but I really don't know how much care they'll put into it or how much they actually care for the KH narrative and that worries me.
So if i understood this right this will be a mobile online multiplayer game? There really doesn't seem to be much info on this game.
So if i understood this right this will be a mobile online multiplayer game? There really doesn't seem to be much info on this game.
Doesn't help that it's only been mentioned off hand twice (once last year, and again this week) and it hasn't even been announced.
It probably shouldn't have even been mentioned but considering Pleasants just lost his position as Co-President, I suppose it's understandable that he blurted it out?
I guess I forgot that KH is a Disney series and there for they could have another company make a game for the series. I don't know how I feel about a KH game that doesn't involve Square Enix or at least Nomura. It might be good, but I really don't know how much care they'll put into it or how much they actually care for the KH narrative and that worries me.
So if i understood this right this will be a mobile online multiplayer game? There really doesn't seem to be much info on this game.
(Never forget Kingdom Hearts VCast~)
Something like that. It says "multiplatform on devices like the smartphone and web" It might be on more than just those two, but considering they are using Unity, it probably would work out better to just be smartphone and web.
There is no info because it isn't even officially announced.
It probably shouldn't have even been mentioned but considering Pleasants just lost his position as Co-President, I suppose it's understandable that he blurted it out?
I'm convinced he likes throwing this stuff out. He did that at D23 Expo Japan with Disney Magic Castle: My Happy Life rofl...
I still don't think anyone else has actually caught onto that DMC bomb yet rofl
The other site exploded, and here I am trying to sift fact from fiction by cross-referencing 'fact' from fiction. xD
The other site exploded,
I wouldn't really call that "exploded".
| and here I am trying to sift fact from fiction by cross-referencing 'fact' from fiction. xD |
Fact: Last year it was announced Disney purchased Studio EX to design F2P games on mobiles and web browsers.
Fact: They said that a game called "Kingdom Hearts Online" would be made under this studio. (We sat on this information, waiting for more confirmation on this)
Fact: Kingdom Hearts X[chi] was announced to be developed by Success Inc., thus leaving "Kingdom Hearts Online" as something separate.
Fact: This interview came out confirming that Studio EX is still working on "Kingdom Hearts Online".
That's really all there is to it right now.
For me it's not about Nomura's involvement but SquareEnix' involvement. V-Cast cleary showed that Disney didn't grasp the concept back then, but maybe it's different this time around. Although I think two Free2Play browser/mobile games are not helpful, at least if they're aming at the same audience.
For me it's not about Nomura's involvement but SquareEnix' involvement. V-Cast cleary showed that Disney didn't grasp the concept back then, but maybe it's different this time around. Although I think two Free2Play browser/mobile games are not helpful, at least if they're aming at the same audience.
I doubt they are. Chi has an...odd batch of players. They are all about the ranking and are really hardcore about it all. I have a feeling whatever Disney is making is going to be aimed at a more casual market...
[strike]I read the title and thought it said "Pleasant Hints at Kingdom Hearts Online" and thought is was going to be about Chi going international. ;A;[/strike]
I'm cautiously optimistic. If it turns out good, that'll be great and I'll try to play it. If it's bad well then *shrugs*. If KH V-Cast and Chi any indication then if it's bad it'll eventually lay forgotten, otherwise it'll be properly praised. I'm looking forward to see what they're going to do with it either way. This is more than likely going to be a non canon game so there's a lot of opportunity to do something interesting even if it's just borrowing elements from the lore. So long as they're not doing something cheap just for a quick cash grab.
(Never forget Kingdom Hearts VCast~)
Something like that. It says "multiplatform on devices like the smartphone and web" It might be on more than just those two, but considering they are using Unity, it probably would work out better to just be smartphone and web.
There is no info because it isn't even officially announced.
Honesty I'd rather that game be forgotten. Never played it but from what I saw they really didn't grasp the concept of KH or what made it so popular. Hence why I'm worried about another KH game being made without Nomura or at least someone from the Square Enix KH team being involved.
Oh okay, so mostlikely mobile/web game. I wonder what the game play and graphic will be like.
Where did you hear about them using Unity Engine?
I find that kind of funny. It's not been officially announced yet, but it's been name dropped, so to speak, twice now and we still don't know anything beyond it's project name, that it'll be free-to-play and that Studio Ex will develop it.
By Kingdom Hearts Online, do you mean like an MMO? I'm kind of worried by a KH MMO but that's just me. I just really don't like that genre and kind of mad that so many franchises are being turned into MMO's these days. I can't be sure right now, though, because it might just turn out to be a good online game.
By Kingdom Hearts Online, do you mean like an MMO? I'm kind of worried by a KH MMO but that's just me. I just really don't like that genre and kind of mad that so many franchises are being turned into MMO's these days. I can't be sure right now, though, because it might just turn out to be a good online game.
Yes, an MMO. How it really will be is unknown...I wouldn't expect much from it, but then again who knows!
I have a few questions to start:
- Will Nomura be involved in this?
- Will it be bad?
- Will there be a real game?
- This will suck because Nomura isn't a part of it, right?
- Do you think the above question is illogical, and frankly, downright stupid due to making these assumptions based on nothing?
That is all :)
Hope so. I don't believe they haven't seen the article yet, and they can't really brush it off since this is the second time it's been mentioned.
THEY CAN...AND THEY WILL!!!! jk But I wouldn't be shocked if they just ignore that comment was made and continue being clandestine as they have been thus far.
Yes, an MMO. How it really will be is unknown...I wouldn't expect much from it, but then again who knows!
Considering it'll probably be an online browser game like Chi and countless others, IDK what level of depth to expect either. Has anyone played any of their other games before?
I have a few questions to start:
- Will Nomura be involved in this?
- Will it be bad?
- Will there be a real game?
- This will suck because Nomura isn't a part of it, right?
- Do you think the above question is illogical, and frankly, downright stupid due to making these assumptions based on nothing?
That is all :)
- Don't know.
- Don't know.
- Don't know.
- Not necessarily.
- The first four? Might be valid. The one immediately above? YES. And it's actually a statement posed as a question.
You're welcome. :)
| Considering it'll probably be an online browser game like Chi and countless others, IDK what level of depth to expect either. |
I'm actually interested in how the game's storyline would fit into the series' canon. I believe the difficulty faced by online games is that storyline often takes a backseat to the feeling of community (as in people don't play because of the storyline, but because of the online and social experience), making it seem not as important.
Of course, though, they could pull the non-canon card like how it is with Chi.
Assuming Square Enix isn't going to touch this project at all, I don't think we should even really bother with story. Studio EX is known for F2P MMO games on browsers and mobile, and even more with Facebook titles. Considering the possibilities with that frame of mind and then move it up to KHx levels and so on~
THEY CAN...AND THEY WILL!!!! jk But I wouldn't be shocked if they just ignore that comment was made and continue being clandestine as they have been thus far.
Honestly, they really should take a page out of United Front Game's book. When people found that Square Enix had licensed "Triad Wars," they revealed it was a new title set in the world of Sleeping Dogs within hours of the discovery, and left it at that.
I'm actually interested in how the game's storyline would fit into the series' canon. I believe the difficulty faced by online games is that storyline often takes a backseat to the feeling of community (as in people don't play because of the storyline, but because of the online and social experience), making it seem not as important.
Of course, though, they could pull the non-canon card like how it is with Chi.
Well, I kind of like the social games being non-canon, I'm not opposed to KH having a non-canon game (COME ON THEARHYTHM...but that's another topic), which is why I'm still kind of not sure how I feel about that whole "making Chi canon thing" but we'll see how it all works out in the end :)
Honestly, they really should take a page out of United Front Game's book. When people found that Square Enix had licensed "Triad Wars," they revealed it was a new title set in the world of Sleeping Dogs within hours of the discovery, and left it at that.
In a perfect world, most companies would do that. I really don't get why they would keep hush hush on it, I mean, it's not like if they ignore it we'll just forget it...if anything, we will only speculate further, possibly getting our hopes up and them not being able to deliver.
Could be interesting and fun, I suppose. Completely out of the blue for me.
I did a bit of research on KH V-Cast and, apparently, it was developed by a company named Superscape and Disney only published it. Hopefully, since they're contracting the services of a South-Korean company, one could expect something decent (or better than V-Cast). *shrugs*
By the way, we can all breath relief seeing as how Superscape exists no more (another company bought it).
Chaser
November 13, 2013 @ 03:20 amOffline