Am 19.3.2016 fand in Akihabara ein "Fan Meeting" zwischen Vanguard-Spielern, Händlern, den Entwicklern des Vanguard-Spiels und auch Bushiroad CEO Kidani statt. 50 Vanguard-Spieler und Händler, die vorher durch ein Losverfahren ermittelt wurden, konnten den Entwicklern ihre Fragen zum Card Game, zum Anime oder sonstiges stellen. Fragen wurden aber auch über ein Online-Formular angenommen, auf das nur Japaner Zugriff hatten. So ein Fan Meeting ist in diesem Fall eine Besonderheit, da japanische Firmen an sich nicht sehr kommunikativ sind.
Gestern ist der Report erschienen und die wichtigsten Fragen wurden beantwortet. Über die Qualität der Antworten lässt sich streiten. Dennoch liefert es uns wichtige Erkenntnisse.
Die Übersetzungen stammen alle von NeoArkadia.
ZitatAlles anzeigenFragen und Antworten betreffend dem Card Game und ihrer Produkte:
Fans:
Please explain your policy concerning Power Creep.
Staff:
There are some environmental control methods we use, and currently, we intentionally use a policy of "Power Creeping". Producing the anime and illustrations are a method of conveying the new cards, but we also consider how strong a card should be. Since, originally, Vanguard was targeted for casual players who don't play competitively, we allow cards to Power Creep so we can easily show players how strong they are.
However, as years have passed, and many players have played Vanguard for years, some decks become unusable due to Power Creep, and to combat that, we use various "Revivals".
• During Link Joker, we used Cross Rides with "Яeverse" in their name.
• In the pack "Infinite Rebirth" we used Units that had the same name, but different abilities.
• From Legion Mate onwards, we used Revival Legion
• From Fighter's Collection 2015 onwards, we used Revival G Unit, "Coordinated Ride Support" and so on so forth to make sure past cards can be used in the modern playing environment.
We plan to continue producing cards in the future so that past cards can be used while supporting the latest cards as well.
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Fans:
How are "Additional Rules about Cards" decided?
Staff:
As a general rule of thumb, we look at the "usage rate" of cards in official tournaments to justify our additional rules. We keep a very close eye to make sure that the game has an atmosphere that's comfortable enough so anyone can join in.
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Fans:
Was "Usage rate" the reason you removed "Commander Laurel" from its designated number?
Staff:
Yes. Original, "Commander Laurel", based on our test play, was so good with Stride it could potentially break the game's balance in half, we experimented in Test Play using it at a more reduced rate. While we feel that 1 copy is enough based on that Test Play, very few people use 《Dimension Police》 Decks, so we feel at the moment that its influence on the game is insignificant enough that it can be removed from being a designated card.
As a result, when we explain changes in the future to designated cards, we plan to explain it more clearly based on things like "Usage Rates".
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Fans:
We could like you to more clearly explain "We considered designating this card, but we didn't choose to".
Staff:
Along with "Too many people use it" as a reason for adding additional rules about cards, we also consider things that might have a major influence on things in the future, as well as cards that might be big now but might not be as important in the future.
Because we are concerned about keeping the contents of future products hush-hush, we may not be capable of explaining to you all the reasons why cards are targeted. Thank you for understanding.
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Fans:
Why do cards have different rarities despite having the same abilities?
Staff:
Rarity, for things like Perfect Guards, "In addition to having roughly the same rarity among clans", we also base things on circumstances such as Test Play. For example, even if cards have the same ability, different cards might be used at different amounts based on their utility in clans, thus affecting what rarity they get printed as.
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Fans:
While you strengthen old themes, it's extremely popular to stall strategies by stopping your Rides at Grade 2. I think you guys have powered older cards up too much, while making it boring and impossible to use any of my new cards.
Staff:
The tactic of "Stopping at Grade 2" is not one we would recommend, so as a result we've developed cards such as "Air Elemental, Twitterun" to counter the situation. We still plan to make sure that old cards can be used alongside the latest cards, and will continue to make new cards to support these old themes in various ways.
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Fans:
"Please reprint "X"."
"Don't reprint cards because it damages the value of my cards."
Staff:
There exists both the opinion that cards should be reprinted and cards should never be reprinted (or reprinted VERY VERY rarely). We feel both opinions are important. We are currently considering how to handle reprinting cards in the future.
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Fans:
Please stop making "G Persona" dependent Units GR foils. Please increase the rate for pulling GR foils.
Staff:
With regards to GR "G Persona" dependent cards, from G-BT06 "Transcension of Blade and Blossom" onwards, is something we won't be including in products, except for products with special rarity rates (such as a Fighter's Collection). We are now designing GRs that they can be played with just a single copy.
Also, from G-BT07 "Glorious Bravery of Radiant Sword", we'll be increasing the chances you can pull a GR card. But because we lower the value of the card by increasing the rate, we're devising new concepts to make sure the product keeps its value while increasing your ability to get cards, within reason.
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Fans:
Include Clans in a more equal manner.
Staff:
With regards to the Clans included in a product, we tend to base their inclusion based on their usage in the anime. But, since the "Cardfight Vanguard G" series that's been going on for more than a year, we try to include cards in Boosters in a regular manner. Since each clan gets at least one pack per year and is included in "Fighter's Collection", please look forward to the cards of the clan you like.
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Fans:
Is it possible to have characters use clans they don't use in the show, like say, having Chrono use Nova Grappler in the animated series? What about cards appearing in products but don't show up in the TV show?
Staff:
We plan to include more characters who use multiple different clans in the animated series, so look forward to them. As for the other question, we plan for products like Technical Boosters, which include contents in a manner different from other products. So don't worry about cards/Clans that don't appear in the animated series, there is a place planned for them.
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Fan:
Please release cards featuring characters "Image Riding" (i.e. Misaki as Tsukuyomi, I guess?).
Staff:
It is important to keep in mind Vanguard has a key detail for its design aesthetic that "The art on the card is what's happening on the Planet Cray". Because Aichi and Chrono aren't inhabitants of Cray, please understand cards of them cannot exist. However, it is possible to do something like what you're asking via 《Etranger》 or via goods besides normal Vanguard cards, we'll consider this idea for the future...
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Fan:
The "+4000 Power and Retire" abilities of Great Nature, how would those be expressed in the game's story lore?
Staff:
"As a result of research, they use abilities to temporarily buff their bodies, but afterwards they get burnt out and have to leave the fight." or so such.
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Fan:
Concerning "Flying Get" (i.e. Selling something before the official street date), I would like a more comprehensive way to deal with it.
Staff:
We have an "Authorized Store" system, who get authorized store exclusive products, and we've been striving to give benefits to stores for not indulging in Flying Get. Stores that do Flying Get get their official store status revoked, and are denied the ability to get Authorized Store exclusive products such as "Fighter's Collection" The Authorized Store System is a part of our means of preventing Flying Get. But there are stores willing to lose their official store status to Flying Get, do understand there is no way for us to 100% percent get rid of this problem. Please, however, don't be a customer at stores that break the rules and Flying Get.
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Fan:
I would like a box shape that is better for storying.
Staff:
Please understand boxes aren't designed for the purpose of storing cards. However, this is a very interesting idea, so we'll consider it for future product.
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Fan:
With regards to card abilities, I have a question about how cards are balanced. For example, "Dragon Destroyer Battle Deity, Kamususanoo" and "Conquering Supreme Dragon, Dragonic Vanquisher "VOLTAGE"" and their GB3 abilities, how do you reconcile those?
Staff:
Card ability fine-tuning, even if the card power levels are somewhat different, they are fine-tuned based on the entire clan/deck's circumstances, so there's going to be some differences in power. But trying to overbalance is a bit of a problem as well.
Anyways, in case of "Dragon Destroyer Battle Deity, Kamususanoo" and "Conquering Supreme Dragon, Dragonic Vanquisher "VOLTAGE"", 《Oracle Think Tank》 and 《Narukami》, with regards to their Deck Stategies, the number of cards they use during a Fighter, and the number of turns it takes to generally win are different, thus those cards have abilities that best suit their Decks.
The fine tuning of power balance, is something the R&D staff plans to do more carefully as we go into the future.
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Fan:
You said Vanguard was intended for casual players. Could you clarify what defines a Clan for a casual player and a Clan for a hardcore player?
Staff:
The basic rule of thumb we have, is that clans that regularly show up in the animated series should be something that you should be able to use with no grief. For example, the 500 Yen Trial Deck "Knight of the Sun" (on sale April 2016), was designed on the assumption a newbie would buy it.
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Fan:
I don't think the current version of 《Gold Paladin》 is beginner friendly. How did you come to the that the current 《Gold Paladin》 is fitting for a 500 Yen Trial Deck and the like?
Staff:
500 Yen Trial Decks are based on the idea of reducing complex abilities as much as possible, so when newer players start a card game such as "Vanguard", we make sure they don't trip up as much as possible. But at the same time, we try to make sure such Decks stick to the strategy of their clans, as with 《Gold Paladin》.
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Fan:
The noteworthy cards reprinted in 500 Yen Trial Decks aren't interesting for existing players.
Staff:
The current 500 Yen Trial Deck is based on the Deck used by Asukawa Taiyou. It contains cards that Taiyou does actually use in the TV show, but they were designed on the concept of being enjoyable for the TV show but easy to use someone who is playing the game for the first time. Please understand.
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Fan:
Please tell me which cards the R&D Staff are especially fond of.
Staff:
Well there's a lot of cards we're fond of, but for example, cards that remin on the mind of the R&D Producer is "Star-Vader, Blaster Joker" and "Interspatial Dragon, Mystery Flare Dragon", The former was because his ability was designed with the Anime heavily in mind. The other is because the Clan idea of 《Gear Chronicle》 is the fact they control time, so we wanted to make a card that REALLY left that idea in your head when it appeared for the first time.
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Fan:
Please explain the process by which Vanguard products are developed.
Staff:
Specific details are a company secret, but in brief, first, we plan with the TV show and RL game in mind. Afterwards, we drum up a card list and Test Play them. And, then we have the card art designed. Once text and the art are hammered out, we check into things such as rarities and complete the cards.
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Fan:
Do you plan more collaboration products such as 《Touken Ranbu》?
Staff:
Title Boosters are something we have to consider based on our relationship with the rights holders. We're unsure if we'll ever release a second 《Touken Ranbu》 product, but we're happy considering the concept for those of you who would like to see a second such products.
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Fans:
I want you to release information faster.
Staff:
The way we distribute information, is timed to appeal to consumers and retail stores at what we feel is the right time, and we set the schedule specifically based on what we feel is the best time for fluctuations in the secondary market. Please understand.
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Fan:
Please make official goods, besides Fighter's Counters, such as a Six Sided Dice or a Dial-type Counter.
Staff:
With regards to Fighter's Counters, there are a lot of opinions. But we will consider the idea of additional supplies that can be used during Fights.
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Fan:
Please add card restrictions to Extreme Fights.
Staff:
The "Additional Rules concerning the use of Cards" in Clan Fights, are to be maintained with consideration to usage and metagame.
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Fan:
Are there differences in the assumed testing environment and the game's actual metagame?
Staff:
While the actual metagame doesn't always go as expected, since the "Vanguard G" series, there's a much wider variety of Decks being used, so we're rather pleased.
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Fan:
I've had issues were my cards are damaged when I bought them in a Trial Deck, so could you do something about making sure the cards are more safely packed into the product?
Staff:
I'll consider it. When a product you buy is damaged, you should be able to exchange the faulty product for one that isn't damaged. Please contact our card game office to confirm the state of your damaged goods so that it can be replaced.
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Fan:
I want the Unit Lore of RR cards such as Sentinels.
Staff:
Methods for "Unit Lore" include "Card of the Day", but we have a policy of not posting lores of cards that share the same abilities, too much, too often. In addition, some days we just don't post Unit Lore so we can add commentary about game rules. For Trigger Units and Sentinels, it's typically best to wait for "Monthly Bushiroad".
ZitatAlles anzeigenFragen und Antworten zum Anime:
Fan:
I want characters from the older series to show up in Vanguard G.
Staff:
GIRS Crisis has past characters show up in important supporting roles, helping the hero Chrono grow as a person. Because it's in the same world as Aichi and co's adventures, we hope you'll be able to see the characters you'd like to see show up.
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Fan:
For one of the older characters who appears in Vanguard G, I'd like it to be a character who uses my Clan.
Staff:
From here on, we plan to increase the number of interesting characters who use a variety of clans, so that there's a better chance they'll use your clan. Please stay tuned for more information about this!
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Fan:
"I'd like you to release more specific information about characters."
"Please make some sort of Anime Information Guide."
Staff:
We'll consider this.
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Fan:
I'd like to see more stories about Aichi and his friends, please don't change who the main characters are. Will Aichi and his friends no longer have their stories told in the anime?
Staff:
With regards to the story of Aichi and his friends, we understand that many fans are incredibly attached to them, and that many different positions about this matter exist. However, it is the opinion of the creators, Bushiroad and Akira Itoh, that the stories of Aichi and his friends ended with "Legion Mate" and the movie "Neon Messiah". However, we always considering ideas and thinking about the opinions of our fans.
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Fan:
The production of fights in the Anime changed, increasing the actions pulled of by Units. But at the same time, the explaination of cards decreased, making it difficult (if not downright impossible) to understand what happened in some fights. So please, add more explanations for why certain moves and abilities used in Fights.
Staff:
Regarding the direction of fights in Vanguard G, we're constantly exploring various methods. We will try to explain card abilities more clearly in the future, and try and incorporate this more properly in the future.
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Fan:
Due to the flow of the story, it's pretty clear who'll win and who'll lose, so there's little tension for the story.
Staff:
With regards to the Heroes, it can't be denied that it's pretty obvious where some part of the story will go. However, we try to include rules for Team fights to add to the complexity of the show on top of normal fights. That way we try to add a layer of surprise and pleasure, so even if you know who'll win, it's the "How they'll win" that makes things intriguing. In the future, we plan to make the story more interesting than simple victory-or-defeat, so you can enjoy the drama and interactions between the various characters.
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Fan:
An effect is used wrongly in the Anime, please deal with number of mistakes that get made.
Staff:
In order to reduce mistakes, we will add improvements to the production system.
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Fan:
What happened to "PsyQualia"?
Staff:
Since Vanguard G's world and Aichi & co's world are one and the same, even though it hasn't showed up recently, PsyQualia is still a part of the series.
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Fans:
Please release DVD Box Sets of "Vanguard".
Staff:
We'll consider it. In addition, since many of our customers like to binge on the show, we're looking into more ways to more easily enjoy the series. So we're regularly looking into solutions.
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Fan:
Please Distribute the English versions of the series from "Legion Mate" on wards.
Staff:
We'll look into it.
ZitatAlles anzeigenFragen und Antworten zu Events:
Fan:
I want a Top Prize for winning Shop Fights.
Staff:
It is policy to forbid top prizes for Shop Fight Events. The reason is that while a top prize is rather attractive, non-regulars show up at the store if they see there's a top prize. Currently Shop Fights are meant to be a place where regulars can go to their local shop to enjoy Fights. However, we are considering ideas of how to make Shop events more exciting. It's possible we might make some sort of Top Prize and Prize for the event winner, depending on the event, but we need to look into it further.
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Fan:
I want high level events for Vanguard. (Including a Side Board and Best 2 out of 3)
Staff:
There are a variety of regulations for tournament events including the Great Vanguard Festival, to make sure the event is enjoyable. We intend to prepare various kinds of events in the future. Because events have time constraints, it is difficult to increase the number of rounds and games you can play, but we are considering high-level events in the future...
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Fan:
Please hold event in so-and-so district.
Staff:
Things like the Mini Vanguard Festival, besides being held in Tokyo and the surrounding suburbs, will continued to be planned to be held in other areas. We ask for your continuing support.
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Fan:
Please increase the number of Women only events.
Staff:
We are considering various events. This year, at the Great Vanguard Festival, we have an event called "The Vanguard Queen Finals" that you can play in. We'd like to continue such events in the future, so please continue to support us in the future.
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Fan:
Please hold tournament events (in Japan) for the English Version of the game.
Staff:
If there's sufficient demand, we'll gladly do it, but since there isn't enough people interested in this currently, it remains a shelved concept. If this changes in the future, we'll reconsider it.
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Fan:
Please hold more Booster Draft and Pack Fight events.
Staff:
Pack Fights were developed for the intent of being some to do in the Anime. But we are considering events like this in the future.
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Fan:
Please hold more Extreme Fight events for Shop Fights.
Staff:
Holding Shop-like events like Extreme Fights, is something we leave to the Shop's staff. We suggest you request such events from your local Shop. We do organize and plan a variety of events at official tournaments, so pleased stay tuned.
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Fan:
I'd like The Great Vanguard Festival to have a second prepared for parents who come with their children, where they can fight.
Staff:
While the number of parents and children attending together has been decreasing, it's good to hear that people are requesting this. We'll keep this in mind for future events.
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Fan:
Please officially suppport unofficial tournaments.
Staff:
To be honest, we're currently in the middle of planning this. We're currently in the middle of figuring out the regulations involved, but we plan to cooperate with supporting events at shops if we're capable of doing so.
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Fan:
The freebies at Female exclusive events and Normal Shop Fighters are different, please make them the same.
Staff:
Thank you for the input. In the future, we plan to make sure that these events have the same gifts and goodies as a normal Shop Fight.
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Fan:
A game length of 20 minutes is too short, please make it 25 minutes or so.
Staff:
When it becomes apparent that too many fights don't end in 20 minutes, we'll increase it past that, but if we extend the time too much, many customers will be forced to just sit around doing nothing waiting for the next round. As it currently stands, we can't justify arbitrarily extending game length, but we will keep an eye on the format and the meta and consider it for the future.
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Fan:
I want things like Fighter's Counters and Critical Counters as gits for Shop Fights.
Staff:
We are planning a variety of prizes. Please stay tuned.
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Fan:
Please explain why you established G Regulation.
Staff:
Thanks to all of you, Vanguard is now 5 years old, but for customers who have just started playing the game, it can be difficult to understand all of the cards that exist. G Regulation format was established to create a format which newer customers can have an easier time understanding how X, Y and Z work.
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Fan:
Please release a book or books containing compilations Unit Lores and the stories of the Planet Cray.
Staff:
Since so many people have requested this, we are looking into this.
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Fan:
Please take measures to deal with the fact that the game's website crashes/bricks right after the Card of the Day page updates.
Staff:
We are currently investigating why this keeps happening and we plan to take measures to deal with it.
ZitatAlles anzeigenSonstiges:
Fan:
Please reprint products from the Get! Treasure Campaign that went out of stock quickly.
Staff:
Although we base the number of products we prepare with predictions based on the figures from past performances, if they go out of stock too quickly, we do reprint those products. We do allow for a reasonable amount of leeway, so we do plan to improve the number of products produced.
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Fan:
I wasn't able to get my freebie from my Shop Fight event, I'd like to a means to exchange this for the Get! Treasure Campaign.
Staff:
We need a way to avoid diluting the value of Shop Tournament Goods, but we'll consider it.
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Fan:
Please take measures regarding information being leaked by Playtesters.
Staff:
We've improved on this issue. We're working with the R&D team on this issue, but cards for up to Spring 2016 have already been developed. Therefore, you might see some information be leaked, but you should see it happen far less after that. However, we do plan to strictly deal with things should they relapse. Also, there we some reports recently, but they were baseless rumors, so be careful with what you see.
Since we strictly address information leaks at our company, so if you come across something, please do report it to us.
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Fan:
Why weren't Sleeves of Legion Units released during the Legion Mate era?
Staff:
Because so many of the unions became too small, and being sideways made it difficult to look at them on sleeves, we stuck with the Grade 3 of the pair. However, the Fighter's Good Festival include Sleeves with Legions on them, so please look forward to them.
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Fan:
I want see a compilation of the stories of the Units of the Invasion Great War. Also, I would like you to make an application that Vanguard fans can understand.
Staff:
Thank you. We will consider revealing that story to the public. As for apps, we are considering and planning things like that in-house, so look forward to them.
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Fan:
Please sell/reprint "X".
Staff:
We've received many requests from people for so-and-such goods and products. We've shared the opinions and statements gathered with the R&D department, and we'll consider commercializing this-and-that and reprinting so-and-so.