SDCC 2011

Gear

SDCC 2011: NOX Audio’s Admiral Touch-Screen Headset Impressions

August 9, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

We’re still wrapping things up from Comic Con a few weekends ago, and thought the touch-screen enabled Admiral headset from NOX Audio was one of the strangest things we saw at the show (yes, even more strange than some of the cosplayers).

We’ve talked about last year’s Specialist headset and Scout earphones, each with their own unique design elements, but NOX Audio is working full-throttle on the Admiral headset, a unique beast equipped with a touch screen and Wi-Fi capabilities.

Is it worth your attention, or just a gimmick? Find out after the jump. (more…)
Featured, Game Music

SDCC 2011: Square Enix Music Interview with Izumi Tsukushi and Akio Shiraishi

August 8, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 3 Comments Share this

[Above: Akio Shiraishi (left) and Izumi Tsukushi (right)]

It’s that time of year again, and we’re here with our most anticipated feature of San Diego Comic Con. This year’s interview with Square Enix’s product licensing division head Izumi Tsukushi and music licensing division promotion’s manager Akio Shiraishi marks our fourth annual sit-down with the two (see 2008, 2009, and 2010), and while we’ve been slowly trickling out tidbits from the interview of the past couple weeks, we’ve got the transcript here in its entirety with more information for your enjoyment.

We talk about many of the releases over the past year as well as some upcoming releases. We also follow-up on questions from previous years which offer some surprising answers. Anyone interested in that Piano Collections Final Fantasy I-III CD we suggested last year?

Find out what the two had to say about this and more after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

SDCC 2011: Where the Heck is Cafe SQ?

August 4, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this SDCC 2011: Where the Heck is Cafe SQ?

We have more to tell you from our interview with Izumi Tsukushi and Akio Shiraishi from Square Enix. I absolutely loved Chill SQ last year even though it was incredibly short, and when it was announced that Cafe SQ would feature the same chillout vibe, I was immediately interested. Strangely, however, we’ve heard nothing about the album since it was announced, and even more strange is the fact that it was announced before SQ Chips, which will be out in just about a month.

During our chat I asked about the status of Cafe SQ. As it turns out, only two tracks are completed and ready to go thus far. We weren’t told how many tracks would be featured overall (there were seven on Chill SQ), but it doesn’t sound like they’re very far along. Still, of note is the fact that it is Izumi Tsukushi’s most anticipated album coming from Square Enix Music right now that’s announced. I’m with him in having high hopes for this album.

Oh, and if you care, the album cover was illustrated by Black Butler artist Yana Toboso. And excuse the grainy image, as is there is no high-res cover art available yet.

Are you looking forward to Cafe SQ, and are you surprised by the fact that it’s been announced with so little progress being made?
Game Music

SDCC 2011: More Than Just NieR Tribute Album -echo- On the Horizon

July 29, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

That’s right. One of the most interesting exclusive bits of information we got from Izumi Tsukushi and Akio Shiraishi this year at Comic Con was the fact that there’s another unannounced NieR album in the works in addition to the already-announced NieR Tribute Album -echo-. The two noted that they weren’t all that surprised by popularity of the music from the game, but have felt pressure to give the score more attention after the popularity of the 8-bit remix on the More SQ CD.

In terms of what the NieR Tribute Album -echo- is all about, we were told that it will be a multi-artist arrangement album. I asked if it would essentially be “NieR SQ,” to which the two chuckled and said, “Yes, kind of like that.” They would not confirm which artists are involved.

Are you looking forward to the NieR Tribute Album and this unannounced project as well? Isn’t it cool to see the soundtrack on sale on the floor with a placard about it being named soundtrack of the year (from OSV and other sites!)?
Game Music

SDCC 2011: No Myth 2 Until Chrono Cross Arrange Album Is Done

July 26, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

Comic Con was just this past weekend. That means we had the opportunity to catch up with Izumi Tsukushi and Akio Shiraishi at Square Enix and pick their brains about recent and upcoming soundtrack release from Square Enix’s internal label (see our past interviews from 2008, 2009, and 2010). While asking a question about Mitsuda’s comments about wanting to create a Myth 2 album if the first one sold well (I’m still pulling for the album to be called Re:Myth), we were told that while the album was very successful, and that they’d like to do a second album, that this would not happen until the Chrono Cross arrangement album is complete.

While I doubt we’ll see the Chrono Cross arrange album this year, I still think it’s great to see pressure from Square Enix along with fans to get this album completed. By no means do I want to see Mitsuda rush the album, but I think it’s been on his back-burner for way too long.

Are you looking forward to the Chrono Cross arrange album and to a second Myth album that may be planned for a later time?