IGN: Capcom announced a new Devil May Cry title at TGS. It's being developed by Ninja Theory, who worked Heavenly Sword and Enslaved. Can you talk about the decision behind that? Is this going to be their breakout game?
Svensson: Inafune himself has been intimately involved for more than a year literally on every design decision, including character and direction, that's ever been done on the project. Devil May Cry has been in pre-production for well over a year, probably 18 months now if I recall. It's a very collaborate effort.
I'd actually say Heavenly Sword was their breakout game. It sold really well. Part of the reason we picked them is they have demonstrated the ability and raw capabilities of creating a credible action game and I think Enslaved does them another favor; it's a new IP, which is a massive challenge. It's getting good reviews and has excellent storytelling. And I think excellent storytelling is something the Devil May Cry series could actually use more of. So that's one of the reason's why they were picked.
When you look across at all of potential partners that we could pick from external developers to work on something, they made a very short list of people who've shipped anything that is a credible action game. I think with input from [chief director] Hideaki Itsuno, in particular on the fight mechanics, they're going to do to the Devil May Cry series what Blue Castle did to the Dead Rising series.
There were all of the same cries and screams when we announced a western developer was doing Dead Rising 2. I think the uphill challenge that Ninja Theory faces is they are using Dante, which has a whole lot of baggage associated with it where Blue Castle put Frank West on the shelf and invented no locations and characters. Coming out at the other end, the Devil May Cry franchise will be better for it. I understand what the initial reaction from fans was; we get it. I think, though, we've earned the right to ask for you to wait until you see more.
