Gyakuten Saiban Library: Secret Footage - Episode 1: The First Face-to-face Meeting Was A Cruel Trap (2007)

Title: Secret Footage - Episode 1: The First Face-to-face Meeting Was A Cruel Trap / 『極秘動画　　第1回　初顔合わせは苦いワナ』
Source: Gyakuten Saiban 4 official website (not available anymore due to site renewal)

Summary: On March 30, 2007, “Secret Footage” was posted on the official Gyakuten Saiban 4 (Ace Attorney 4 - Apollo Justice) website. The video gave a very rare glimpse at how meetings go within the development team of the game and was the first in a series of three that would reveal how the protagonist of the game, Odoroki Hōsuke (Apollo Justice), was created. This first entry is dated October 2005 and shows the first very face-to-face meeting of the core members of the development team Endō Mitsuru (Director), Matsukawa Minae (Producer) Takumi Shū (Supervision), Nuri Kazuya (Designer) and Yamazaki Takeshi (Planning). They don’t have time for formalities however, as the producer has an assignment for them already: they have to decide on their protagonist for this by next week due to planned promotion events.

This article is a full transcript of the video. The video is not available here.

October 2005

The production of Gyakuten Saiban 4 (Ace Attorney 4 - Apollo Justice) has been greenlit.

The first face-to-face meeting of the planning staff.

The First Face-to-face Meeting Was A Cruel Trap

Endō: So our new project Gyakuten Saiban 4 is on its way and this is our first meeting together. That’s why I called you, Nuri, and you two, our planners.

Takumi: So-sorry, but what’s that camera doing over there?

Endō: Oh, I was told by the producer to film us now and then. We might able to use the footage one way or another.

Nuri: What ever could she use that for?

All: Hahaha.

The Meeting Starts Under The Watchful Eye Of The Mysterious Camera.

What Is The Topic Of This First Meeting?

Endō: So this is our first meeting, but errr, we already got our first direct order from the producer.

Yamazaki: Already?

Endō: We need an illustration for marketing purposes.

MISSION

Prepare An Illustration For The First Revealing

Takumi: So with the first three games, we’re basically done with Naruhodo-kun (Phoenix Wright), so… (*looks at Yamazaki drinking water*)

Yamazaki: Excuse me!

Takumi: (Looking at Endō): He’s drinking water…

(SCENE CUT)

Endō: So we want a new main character.

Takumi: (Pointing at Endō): Someone like you.

Endō: Do-don’t you want someone more youthful?

All: Hahaha.

Endō: But I’m honored you want to use me.

Nuri: You sound surprisingly eager!

All: Hahaha.

[SCENE CUT]

Endō: Our schedule is rather tight. It has to be done by next week, so we really need to decide on what we’ll do with the protagonist…

Little Time Left To Decide On The Protagonist

Takumi: The judge.

Nuri: The judge?

Yamazaki: Your first suggestion is the judge?

All: Hahaha.

Endō: Yeah, that’s a bit… boring.

Takumi: No, you see, the judge… he’s like really popular.

Yamazaki: …

Endō: Well, I guess he does appear in all three games…

Takumi: But there was never an occasion for him to become the protagonist, right? But now we move on from Gyakuten Saiban 3 to 4, and we don’t have a protagonist now, so now’s the time!

Yamazaki: To put the spotlight on him?

There Was A Weird Vibe In The Room As The Idea of the Judge Was Discarded

Endō: So we have these ideas now...

[Matsukawa Minae enters the room]

Takumi: Our producer.

Producer Matsukawa Minae Appears

Takumi: What if we just try something small and simple for now? Wing the protagonist.

All: Wing it?

Endō: We won’t make the deadline!

Nuri: Don’t you have any ideas?

Takumi: No.

Nuri: Not some mental image?

Takumi: …. How old was Naruhodo-kun again?

Yamazaki: Twenty…. Four? Didn’t he start at twenty-four?

Matsukawa: So by the third game…

Yamazaki: I think he went four, five, six.

Takumi: Hmmm… let’s make the protagonist younger then.