No. 62009.1.21

They Called it Fairlady-Z

My name is Julia Irving.
Or should I say "Doctor J, Ace Negotiator".
I call myself a negotiator, but my work involves a lot more than just negotiation.
To put it simply, I'm a Jack-of-all-trades.

So then, turning the clock back to the summer of 2008...
At that time, I got a message from my acquaintance Maeda-P (Wangan Producer), asking me to come along to the Future Lab building in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
Maeda-P : "Ah, it's me, yeah, Maeda. It's ten at night just now, and, uh, I'd like you to check if my manservant, no, my subordinate "Fukusuke" is doing his job properly. Like, now. Yeah. Right now. Uh, yeah, the fee. Just bill Uchida-D (Wangan Director) as usual."

......Now I'm the kinda guy who doesn't ask questions as long as the fee gets paid.
Right then! Straight to the investigation! First thing is to find that Fukusuke...

Ah, that's him.
That's him over at the table in the open area in the corridor.
Just like Maeda-P said, there's not much worth saying about him.

Julia:
Evening. You're Fukusuke, right?

The man called "Fukusuke":
Eh!?Wh, who are you!?

Julia:
Well well, I forgot to tell you.
I'm Julia.
Somebody asked me to come here and check up on your work.
I'm going to get straight to the point Fukusuke. What are you doing working in this corridor, and why is it so dark?
......Maybe you've got no desk of your own?
Yaa, excuse me, I've poked my nose in too far.

Fukusuke:
No, no, you're wrong! This is top secret stuff I'm working on, so I've got to work where nobody can see me !It's not like I'm skiving off work and surfing the net, or looking at dodgy websites!

Julia:
Nobody ever said you were. Well, fair enough.
From what I hear, you are working on car-related stuff for Makisan DX, right?

Fukusuke:
Maxisan DX???Do you mean Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune DX, soon to go on sale?

Julia:
Ah yeah, that's the one.
I'm kind of out of touch with the game world, so I just made up something that sounded right.

Fukusuke:
Sounds like some kind of vitamin drink or something...From now on, I'd appreciate your calling it Wangan Maxi 3DX.
So, anyway, right, back to business.
Since about springtime in 2008, I've been a Wangan Project Member, supporting Tetsuo Takahashi DX with his work since Wangan Maxi 3DX.
I've mainly been doing things like making 3D models and textures, and checking the designs of the aero parts.
Before the Wangan series, I was working on......

Julia:
I'm not interested in your past.
(to hire a guy like this Maeda-P must have been really struggling for manpower. He was probably a bit sorry for him too)
......Is that thing on the display one of the cars from Maxisan DX?
↓ What kind of car is this?

Fukusuke:
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?
Nooooo! It's been seen! This is a new car, as yet unseen by the rest of the world! And I was so careful to make it in secret without anybody seeing what I was doing!

Julia:
(he could've just covered it up quickly...whoever trusted this guy to do work must have some problem)
Is that right?
It's fine. I don't really have a clue about cars ? seeing that means nothing to me.
No, really, until recently I even thought that a Benz was a Japanese car.

Fukusuke:
No way!?
What's a guy who knows nothing about games or cars doing here?...Hmm.
But I really mean it, don't tell anybody! I'll get more than a telling-off from the manufacturer ? if I mess this up I'll lose my desk at the company! Maeda-P's going to say, "Idiot! If you mess up again, you'd better quit the Wangan team!" And, if that happens, how will I feed my cat......(sobs)

Julia:
Your cat. Well, for the sake of your cat's food, I'll keep my mouth shut about the car.
Saying that, it's a pretty tall order to keep quiet about this.

Fukusuke:
Yup.
I'm not allowed to show these images to anybody except a select few people, and I can't talk about the car by name in the company.
But it's easy enough, we just give the car a code name, and use that in the office.
I mean, when you send data back and forth, it's normal to use a password.
When we need to get confirmation from the manufacturers, Uchida-D has to go and see them in person.

Julia:
Is that right?...Sounds like a lot of work.(for Uchida-D)

Fukusuke:
It looks hard to make those 3D models too.
Usually you just take pictures of real cars and get some materials at a bookstore.
It's obvious I'm sure, but this car is not even on sale yet, so we can't take photos, and there are no materials or anything on sale.
I need to make 3D representations based just on a small number of photos that I borrow from the manufacturer.
But thankfully the guy who makes the models is really skilful, and he makes beautifully finished work.

Julia:
Wow. That's pretty amazing
(the guy who makes the models, that is)

Fukusuke:
As soon as this new sports car goes on sale, you'll be able to drive it in Wangan Maxi 3DX......In order to bring the fun of this new car to all the game players, a lot of people are working away hard, hidden from the public eye.
There are of course new aero parts, plus some newly-designed stuff, so we'd really like you to take a look.

Julia:
How come you're speaking like we're in an advert?
Anyway, doesn't matter.

Well then! That's all from me! I'm looking forward to driving the Z34 Fairlady Z in Wangan Maxi 3DX!

Fukusuke:
We've heard all about it now you fool!!

**********
Ehh? Just hold on a little more till the Z34 Fairlady-Z comes out of hiding! Please give it a try on the Wangan Maxi 3DX console in an arcade near you!
(a word from the designer: it's nice to make your acquaintance, Jufuku...)