The BAMBOO BROOM DIARY/2018

2018/1/27: EXTRA! (Kinoko)
Today is the day EXTRA anime finally starts.

I am taken aback because it took long to get here, but when I look back, there were only happy things.
I've been blessed with several animations so far, but this is the first time it's not an "anime adaption of a game" but a "book I wrote to be animated".


"You can go wild with your taste. Do what you want"


These words that were said to me in the 2nd meeting are the base of "Last Encore".
(And this is how I got my engine running, but since I have no experience with writing anime scenarios, I wrote the source novel-ish book for "Last Encore", and had Sakurai-san help me adapt and adjust that into anime scenario format.)


Through "Last Encore", I tried to make it something that feels different depending on whether you know the premise.
For the people who will watch this anime as their first "EXTRA" experience, I want this to be the starting point where they become interested in the original game and the comics (5 volumes in total, on sale from Kadokawa!)
For the people familiar with the original game, I want them to go "What...?" at the differences.
So people can have fun playing EXTRA after watching the anime, and people can have fun watching the anime after playing the game.
I hope we made something that can be enjoyed both ways.




No matter how much your form changes, no matter how much time passes.
If the soul in the core is the same, then the conclusion will always---




... enough with blabbering.
This is the first time working on something big with SHAFT, but they were very patient with this troublesome project, sometimes surpassing my imagination with how wonderful they were.
Thank you very much.


So --- I hope you will stay with us for one season.
Please enjoy "a unprecedented Fate" by SHAFT. ^{[Translator 1]}

2018/3/11: Untitled. (Kinoko)
Since this episode was especially unclear, a quick word.

There were words that should have been said then,
and in the end, she finally managed to say it.


That she was not left behind by that future, but saw it off herself. ^{[Translator 2]}

2018/5/9: Today! (Kinoko)

    It's May, but I'm getting a sense of destiny from all this cold.

    Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel The Movie goes on sale today.
    Please take your time savoring this film on the biggest screen and with the best sound you can muster.
    Tonight at midnight, I also intend to close today's work by diving into the Fuyuki of "back then."

    ...Now that we've come this far, let us pray for snow to fall on the release date of Part II!^{[Translator 3]}

2018/5/17: The culprit's name (Kinoko)

So "Murder at Kogetsukan" is solved.
This started from an order of "there's going to be a collab with an IRL escape game, so please have something happening in FGO too",
and we got a chance to try out some mystery, that I've always wanted to from before.
The writer is the Van Madoy, a mystery novel writer.
Let me repeat that, it's Van Madoy of the "Marutamachi Revoir" series!

　◇

Let me talk a bit about the past.
You see, when "Witch on the Holy Night" was close to being finished, the story I was really into was this Revoire.
A new generation born from the neo-traditionalist mystery after 2000.
No superpowers, no eccentric characterization, just pure logic battles between plain humans.
And the world building that made a unique "stage", a personal court, as something realistic.
How it feels so good that the story's catharsis isn't build by the culprit guessing but with "speech".
The good old structure of mystery novels, and the new attempts unique to this writer filled to the brim.
"This is exactly how new-traditionalists should be!"
... was how I was being excited by myself.

A while after that personal joy, in 2016.
At a certain drinking party, the Fate/zero comicalizing artist Shinjirou introduced me to Van Madoy, saying "he's an acquainted novel writer".
Since Nasu Kinoko is a fanboy of neo-traditionalist mystery, I've recognized "mystery novel writers" as beings of outer space, lifeforms never to cross paths with our universe.
Naturally, there's no way I'd meet the writer of the work that gave me strength when I was feeling down, I'd thought.
But reality always comes over suddenly, with a blunt weapon in hand.
(Shinjirou is also a superman swinging around a war-hammer, with super-art skill and super-intellect, but that's another story)

Nasu "It's an honor to meet you. By the way, why is a sage like Van Madoy here in this meeting of deep otaku? Has someone been taken as hostage?"
Madoy "Actually, I'm here because I've been enjoying FGO. I like Raikou-san a lot."
Nasu "Wow really"
Is that all you need to meet a writer you respect, is it true that he likes Raikou, Kyoto people sure are refined, I'm so glad we're doing FGO!!!!

After that meeting, now in 2018.
With a delusion of "I want him to write for a mystery event some day" in mind, Nasu made an offer to Madoy, and asked him to write for FGO.
First, we had him write a few short interludes, and had him get used to the atmosphere and writing rules of FGO.
(There were secretly a few interludes written by Madoy in 2018. I did check over them, but they were all written to fit FGO's format, with each servant shown well.)
Then I was scheming to slowly build the foundation for a mystery event... but with DW's report of "we'll be having a escape game in May", I had to push the schedule forward and ask him to write for this event.
The conditions were:
- Short story updated every day, lasting about 1 week
- FGO has users inexperienced with reading mystery novels, so something simple for beginners
- ... yet, with a gimmick that only works in FGO
- FGO is a game, so please write as a game writer rather than a nove lwriter
We couldn't give him much time, and it was a difficult task we gave,
but Van Madoy met these conditions perfectly.


Nasu "I see. There's Raikou in the cast. I see."
Madoy "Yes. I gave a bit of screen time for swimsuit Raikou too"
Nasu "Uh, you really the same Madoy as the Revoire series?"


You never know what happens in life.
As usual with TYPE-MOON, the results were all right.

　◇

This was what happened on the backstage of this event.
Now with Kogetsukan finished, I can finally, finally announce this publicly.
I hope everyone will try reading one mystery novel after this.
This was an experimental event,
but as one mystery fan, I hope you all enjoyed it.

I'll finish this with thanking Madoy again.
Thank you so much for taking my impossible order...!^{[Translator 4]}

2018/5/22: Untitled (Kinoko)
Since I heard this wonderful news, let me make a comment.

"Saiaku naru Saiyaku ningen ni Sasagu" (Dedicated to the worst disaster human)

The newest work from amphibian is here...! Wheeeeee! ^{[Translator 5]}

2018/6/6: Fussan is so.-. (Kinoko)
With the livestream over, Kinoko returns to reality.

Finally tomorrow, "Fate/EXTELLA LINK" is to be released.
I've talked about this in an interview quite a while ago, but this one isn't a sequel to "EXTELLA", but a spin-off.
The main dish this time isn't the story, but the system.
The scenario is light, with about the scale of Toei manga matsuri.
"I'm busy everyday, stuff like the peace of Mooncell and protecting human history is a bit to heavy, I just want to have fun with action!"
"Just let me use Drake. And Robin. And who's this new servant that looks like the King of Hearts?"
This is the gist of making "Link".
With the many improvements from the previous work, please enjoy the reborn High-speed Servant Action.

　◇◇◇

By the way, what were you all doing this GW?
Go to a nearby mountain and bbq on a salt block. I get it.
Ate some good icecream in Tokushima? I get it.
Became jinruiaku and farmed QP? I get it.

I was travelling alone on my motorcycle.
It was a obscure village called Fujiyoshi-mura.
I casually went there, but it was a inescapable hunting zone of monsters.

　◇

Mountain village ruled by folklore.
Closed environment and abnormal common sense due to shared understanding.
Shitty MC.
The fall of a forbidden night, and a even more horrifying daytime.
The complicated, yet clear recital of reasoning and logic.
One by one, the "absolutely" diminished neighbors.
Absolutely shitty MC.
After overcoming death, understanding fear, comprehending the world,
the absolute worst conclusion to crush the past worst happens.
The small world ends, the large world ends, and the curse invades reality.
Unearthliness and tragedy, unstoppable by human wisdom anymore will attack you.

But see.
The knowledge and desire to analyze humans have has thrown light even upon the great darkness.
Unreachable by human wisdom? Don't be stupid.
In this universe, there are beings humans can not reach, but there is nothing human wisdom can not defeat.
This MC that floated right into this nightmare,
he just kicked away this supreme unearthliness and tragedy with "the wisdom of humans".
Really what's going on with this shit MC! (I love you!)

　◇

Well. To explain what this was about,
it was on the masterpiece Intense Horror Mystery ADV "Rei-Jin-G-Lu-P"!
I'd heard how it was an ADV themed on "Werewolf", but I couldn't find a good time to play it for a while, then I heard they released the Switch version, and bought it finally.
Any detailed description on "Rei-Jin-G-Lu-P" would be a spoiler... or more like it will take away your enjoyment when you play it, so I can't say anything.
But, if you like "Otogirisō", "Banshee's Last Cry", "CROSS†CHANNEL", "Higurashi: When They Cry", "Kyogoku Natsuhiko Youkai series", I will recommend you to play without any hesitation.
Especially effective on people who liked the atmosphere of question arcs in "Higurashi".

In the past, many talented creators have made an attempt of the "death loop" trope.
This is because ADV games are the best medium for stories of "repeating death".
In novels, movies, and manga, trial & error becomes a planned sequence, but here, the player can actively try it by themselves.
The game system itself is a gimmick used as a part of "telling the story".
You get a taste of how "repetition" is a interesting and horrifying act with your own hands.
I could even say it's the perfect trope for games.

You witnessed a tragedy too terrible to look at.
You were given the power and knowledge to change this.
Then there is nothing to be lost about.
One more time, once again, you will overcome this "story with no villain, but insanely riddled with malice".
All players about 5 hours or so into playing "Rei-Jin-G-Lu-P" will be determined so.
But the world is not that simple, and when you turn the page of one problem, another even worse problem appears.

"Isnt't that so?
You thought it will be okay this time, didn't you?
You thought you'll manage to pull in a better end, right?
Too bad.
Because you thought so much, you'll call in an even worse something---!"

You hear a derisive laughter from someone unknown.
When the situation changes, your attributes change too.
The enemies blocking you change.
Most of all, the more you know the previously unknown
occult
darkness
,
the values of the world changes.

Ah --- the world rotates.

Loops are not just about "repeating a story",
but they also mean rotating the world, as I felt deeply while playing this game.

There should be a reason for loops,
there should be reasoning for occult,
and perfect scientific analysis should, even then, have a remaining unclear darkness.
I could only applaud the scenario development, with how it has conflicting elements built in, while not denying each other.
Human relationships in a closed environment. Hello miss psycho heroine. The strength and danger of folklore. Don't fall to the attractiveness of the clumsy miko. The roots of religion. Kamisama so cute. Even so what's going on with the lack of EXTRA scenario material!
"Rei-Jin-G-Lu-P" was a masterpiece, making us immerse deeply into the story with solid writing, while also having a lot of fun game spirit packed in as well.
In the countless "Looping ADV" genre, "Rei-Jin-G-Lu-P" surely made a new legend.

So, if anyone found themselves interested, please play it.
I'd like to advise you to start playing on a Friday night.
You'll immediately be glad, thinking "wow, I can spend the entire weekend in Fujiyoshi-mura, this is the best".

This got quite long, I should stop around here.
I'll finish this off with a spoiler that only makes sense to people who cleared the EXTRA scenario of "Rei-Jin-G-Lu-P", something that made me go "wow......".
(If you haven't finished, please don't read this.)




































You know that main visual on the title screen.
They have that Muguruma family talisman.

But if you look at it upsides down, it's the three eys of you-know-what, and I was so impressed by their nerve, confidence, and playfulness.


^{[Translator 6]}

2018/7/30: Fes & LE (Kinoko)

Fes is done!

 The two days of fire are over, it feels like I've finally returned to regular everyday life.

 

 Thank you to all visitors that came despite the terrible weather,

 the staff that kept the huge event running smoothly,

 the companies that cooperated with us,

 and the cast that kept us hyped on the stage.

 

 There was an advance screening at the Fes, but it's finally the last eposide of "Fate/EXTRA Last Encore"!

 I also saw it for the first time at the event,

 (I receive the shirobako, but I held onto it to watch it at the event instead)

 the last three episodes were fitting for the end of the story, so gorgeous that I got goosebumps.

 

 Thank you to the staff.

 Thank you SHAFT.

 I got to see what I wanted to.

 And I'm sorry the lines are confusing. But I hope you can concentrate and watch.

 

 The thoughts and purpose I put into "Fate/EXTRA Last Encore"

 are explained on the official website so there isn't much to say now,

 but I did talk about it again in the interview on the NewType (released 9th Aug).

 If there's a chance, I hope you can read that too.

 The interviewer was an EXTRA player, and I accidentally talked about things I wasn't planning to......

 

　◆

 

 By the way, the mini-game Marvelous secretly made for us, "Iku-stella",

 I hear it has a short window of release so hurry to go get it! (TL note: it's already over)

 I heard "it's a casual raising game like tamagocchi, you can enjoy it inbetween doing other things"

 and just started earlier, but it's so good......

 It's full of happiness, the BGM is very peaceful, and because of that it gives a strong feeling of "a temporary happy dream that could have been"......

 Like it's so happy that I can't help smiling, but it's a illusion that goes away when I wake up....

 

 Just Usagi Routo's starting screen already makes my heart feel things.... and this is free....^{[Translator 7]}

2018/7/31: Apologies (Kinoko)
Uwaaah, I messed up Usagi Routo's name…!

Sorry, sorry, Iku-stella's Illustrator is called Usagi Routo, not USAGI Routo!

Both read as Usagi, but…! It was wrong!

I'm terribly sorry for the trouble, Usagi Routo... My deepest apologies...^{[Translator 8]}

2018/8/16: Untitled (Kinoko)
Yay! It's a rainbow roll, it's BB-chan---!!
Followed by Mordred came and oh yay my Mo-san reaches NP5, why....Hi, it's me Nasu.
Ok no, gotta delete off this cruel report from my memories, hi'yup!

　　　　◆

I want to try open Comiket at Hawaii, even if it's just once...

And that comes the currently ongoing "FGO Summer Event 2018"!
With a week passed since the start of the event, pretty sure there are many players would have already cleared the main story.
Since the second half of servant pickups already appear, there won't be any spoilers to fear or risk even if it's just a little one.

Once I realized, this year's summer event scenario became by far the largest in volume compared to past events.
Well that is given, considering the summer events are composed of the writers prattling around writing them.
With Higashide-san, Sakurai-san, Minase-san, and me, inserting everything we could about Hawaii.
With the spirit based on "This time, just by materials (memes) alone we'll go with 120% from usual, and contain everything we can think of that is fun", therefore both the writers and DW too pushed out their full power for this event.
As for others, like the Craft Essences, as well as the doujin CEs that are drawn by illustrators who would be so willing to contribute; and to the everlasting summer of Hawaii which actually is true paradise once we visited it, I would take this opportunity and say: Thank you so much.


Regarding the Cocohead episode, since I really wanted to write that part, I ended up making a luxury request on that one 2D background, just for that episode.
I was then asked about "That mysterious old man, who or where did that Heroic Spirit came from". Well about that, though embarrassing to say, it was something written from actual experiences.
With that latest rifle given to me and being told "This is by far the most popular rifle", and once I open a shot with a weird shock, I then saw an actual old man beside me at the range who would just move in fast, with the flint-locked type gun he held at hand, opened fire but never missed any mark, and after that he just casually leaves. I really saw something amazing that day...that old man...no, humans are really amazing.


As for that quote "Fufufu...Svaha Svaha", it was thought up by Satee-san. When the rough illustration for "Eiten School Juhoyojinshu" was done, even though many Kairaku*** style catch phrases were written and included at that time, that copy actually contained the word "Fufufu... Svaha Svaha". Although many of those magazine style catch phrases were removed from the actual release, that phrase was so wonderful that we decided to keep that in! So with this opportunity I'd like to say "Fufufu...Svaha Svaha" to Satee-san.^{[Translator 9]}

2018/11/24: Untitled (Kinoko)
My mind can't bear the fact that November is almost over, still, I felt a hint of wonder in the words 'the final week'.
It would be best reading the story at your own leisure, without much hurry.

Hello, Kinoko here.

The intro of FGO chapter 3 has been released!
The start and final part of each chapter is my responsibility as I am in charge of the whole, still, this time it turned out longer than usual and so I saw it fit that it be released in advance.
Since It's an intro that establishes what has happened so far, and what will happen from hereon, it's all like "this is the start line of part 2!"
The amount of text turned out 2 times longer than usual so I hope your magnanimous hearts will forgive me the same as you'd yourself when you're worried about your weight but might as well eat some cake in the middle of night☆

And then, there's the hype around lady Sion... within the world of Fate where Heroic Spirits and Servants exist, Zepia did still turn into a bloodsucker, just not one of the 27 Ancestors, and so under that influence Sion has also turned into a bloodsucker (not a vampire/Dead Apostle), just without any the demerits.
(Her mind is stable, and she doesn't hate herself)
As Zepia never went insane he has stayed the director (of Atlasia) this whole time, with Sion as the most talented of his descendants being taken in as his daughter and raised by him.
Sion, who was overly cared for by her father, grew up to be positive, strong-willed and exactly as much of a nuisance to others as her father.
Just like in the world of Tsukihime there are no normies within the Atlas Institute but still, she is a talented woman who buried herself in research while positively thinking that 'well, one day I'll definitely make at least one friend!'.

　　　■■■

Incidentally, perhaps there is a PS VR in your house?
Perhaps you bought it and now it sleeps on your shelf?
Perhaps you're thinking you wanna see a nightmare from the city of Yharnam, if time so permits?
For people such as you, I happen to have just the thing.

"Déraciné"

To tell you the truth, though it baits you with Yharnam as one of its slogans, this has absolutely no relation to the Yharnam of Bloodborne
But why is that series so interesting, and why do the games created by Mr. Miyazaki fascinate and refuse to let go of gamers? This here is a game where the simple answer to that question is contained.

Console games are a way of intervening in another world on your own initiative.
How do you collect the texts contained within it, and how do you build up the story? That kind of elements is a type of enjoyment not present within either movies or novels.
There's something highly enjoyable about the moment when there's a conclusive, yet natural payoff to this build up.

This wonderful game achieves not only that enjoyment of the revelation that, wow everything is connected, but also takes the current limitations of VR - where something is right in front of you but you can't touch it, or not being able to talk despite being right there, basically only being able to just shake your hands - and implements as something core to the story.

I'm not gonna talk about the contents of the game, as that'd be spoilers but either way, it was a beautiful story. If you have VR, then it's a game that's worth it.

So please play it, and set your sights upon the blue skies of the boarding school in which time has stopped. ^{[Translator 10]}