Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream: Sakuraba's Challenge?

[Fatigue]

Tri-Crescendo (Baten Kaitos, Baten Kaitos II) is developing a new Role Playing Game game called "Trusty Bell: Chopin's Dream" (the composer, YES!) for XBOX 360. It features some truly artistic, Tales of/Baten Kaitos inspired artwork, with a unique concept. The game is going to be published by newly merged Bandai Namco. Motoi Sakuraba will be handling the music aspect of the game and will probably be expected to arrange some of Chopin's music (as well as creating a slew of new compositions), while Russian pianist Stanislav Bunin will be performing the piano of some of Chopin's world famous music. Hiroya Hatsushiba, most likely, will be the Director of the game.

This is an interesting project for Sakuraba. I'm not well versed at all in the works of Chopin, so maybe Sakuraba's approach will open up the door a little more.

[squaretex]

The first official trailer from Tokyo Game Show is now released:
http://www.xboxyde.com/leech_3030_en.html

I'm thinking Sakuraba just may succeed here... :)

[gamemusicfreak]

This game has an awesome idea behind it, I didn't intend to buy a 360, but I think that will change. Here is a music video of one of my favorite singers, Sarah Brightman. She is performing the Chopin piece you hear in the game trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf98fVGK6qk

[Origin]

I really have to wonder how much Microsoft payed them to make the game on the Xbox 360. I doubt it'll make any difference to the 360's success (or lack thereof) in Japan though.

Anyway, back on topic... it'll certainly be interesting to see how Sakuraba will arrange Chopin's music. A very interesting and different kind of project for him, considering that many people complain that most of the music that he composes sounds the same. And if the previous games made by the development team (Baten Kaitos I and II) are any indication, the music could turn out extremely nice indeed.

I very much doubt that I'll ever get a 360, though, so the only way I'll be able to hear the music is if I get the CD (or listen to some samples that may be put up on the website).

[datschge]

It's not Microsoft but Bandai Namco which is publishing this game, so Microsoft likely payed nothing. You may be thinking of tri-Ace's Infinite Undiscovery which will be published by Microsoft.

[Origin]

It's not Microsoft but Bandai Namco which is publishing this game, so Microsoft likely payed nothing. You may be thinking of tri-Ace's Infinite Undiscovery which will be published by Microsoft.

Well, maybe they payed Bandai Namco then? I don't know, it's just that it seems odd for a Japanese RPG developer to make a game for the 360 unless they were payed to do it, or if there's some other very good reason for it. Maybe I'm too cynical, but that's just the way I feel. I haven't been following this game too closely though; is there perhaps an interview where the developer/publisher explains why the game is being released on the 360?

[datschge]

Bandai Namco is also releasing Idolm@ster on 360, a game which seems quite huge in Japan's arcade. Game development usually takes about two years from start to finish, and surely 360's standing there wasn't as bleak looking in Japan back when they started both games than it is today. =P They may also hope for very good Western sales like Capcom succeeded with Dead Rising.

[squaretex]

Man, the media silence on this title is UNNERVING. :p

Kahori, has ANYONE said anything about Trusty Bell in the Japanese press since September?

[datschge]

My guess is that Bandai Namco is waiting for Blue Dragon to be released so more people take notice of XBox 360, its games and the press about it. BD will be released on December 7th.

[Daniel DeCastro]

Interesting project. You guys are so well informed. I wish I knew how you guys get such up to the minute info.

Anyhow, I like the idea of this project. It will probably be useful info for my thesis, and should serve to create further cognitive dissonance to academics opposed to VG music.

Academic: Damn those VG music composers! Defiling Chopin with their rubbish! Chopin works better in film, not video games! Those are for kids!

Me: Why deny the kids Chopin? Is not that a good thing?

Academic: Hush boy, there are better ways of exposing children to Chopin, video games are not the way.

Believe it or not, I've encountered such comments at NYU. A damned shame.

Anyways, I can't wait to see what Sakuraba does. He's a very talented guy when he puts his mind to it, and I hope he's in the same mental state he was in for Star Ocean 3 for this OST.

[gamemusicfreak]

I'm eagerly awaiting the soundtrack too, and that's too bad about the negativity you've encountered. I don't think Sakuraba will disappoint. Between this title and Blue Dragon, I'm almost certain to get a 360 somewhere down the road now.

[Lierre]

Sakuraba has already recorded his stuff twice, September 5th and October 5th. The first recording would be for the TGS 2006 teaser, though I don't know for what the second was as I've not followed this game. It can mean all of the orchestral stuff of this game was already recorded and finished (considering he had finished VP2 in just 3 months), or this game will have little live orchestral performance.

[Lierre]

As much as I'd love to grasp 'who do what' in the VGM industry, I have no idea why I often visit this thread.

Anyway, the release data had been already specified (14th June),
and it was announced that 50 pecents of the game's first pressing will have a mini soundtrack DVD.

[Lierre]

mms://wm.microsoft.com/ms/xbox/video/jp-trustybell/jp-trustybell-sound.wma#0;1.000;0;0;1:2

Someday, he'll use chorus in every bar.

[Fatigue]

It's The True Mirror part 3!

[gamemusicfreak]

Thanks for that, Lierre, I really like that track!