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Messages - Magus22

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31
The year of 2014 is nearing its end, and the last of the remaining holidays are fast approaching. As we forever wait for Crono to rise from the ruins of Guardia, we should follow Guile's lead and continue searching for our own new enigmas. Perhaps some of you are in the process of solving them! In any case, I hope you all are striving to better yourselves and the world with each passing day. Before I delve into a wonderful tribute to Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross from a live concert, I would like to share some information I recently found (in case anyone may not have heard) about the fate of Chrono Trigger 2 from PAX Prime 2014.

A very special thanks go to GameFAQs user W_Mark_Felt_Sr who I credit for sharing this information. During one of the many PAX Prime panels, Hironobu Sakaguchi shed some light on trying to make Chrono Trigger 2 possible, and his efforts to push the Chrono name forward with a series like Final Fantasy.

You can watch the full feature below this paragraph. The Chrono-related content can be found at time index 12:22 of the video. However, I highly recommend watching everything in its entirety if you have the free time (or watch it in small portions). I personally found it to be an excellent view. Sakaguchi talks about the most prominent and influential RPGs spanning the past 30 years. Also, you can watch the video here on Twitch for better quality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCA5PFYZ_1k


Further related articles on this video can be found here, and here.


Moving forward...


I had the privilege to attend a Video Games Live (VGL) concert in Rochester, NY (USA) on November 21st, and it was an experience I will never forget. For those of you who may not know about this incredible experience, I would invite you to check out their official website here and to read up on Tommy Tallarico, the creator of Video Games Live.

Additionally, I will quote a portion of background info taken directly from their general "About" page:
Quote
"Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Top orchestras & choirs perform along with exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive entertainment experience!"

The event took place at the Eastman Theatre; named after George Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak. I took the liberty of scanning the program for those interested in learning more about the venue and people involved:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q3/GUILE22/VGL0001.jpg

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q3/GUILE22/VGL0002.jpg

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q3/GUILE22/VGL0003.jpg

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q3/GUILE22/VGL0004.jpg


If you hover over any of the images from Photobucket, javascript should display a zoom option if you need. I also took additional pictures from inside the theatre so you can check out the surroundings and stage setup:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q3/GUILE22/IMG_1942.jpg

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q3/GUILE22/IMG_1947.jpg

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q3/GUILE22/IMG_1946.jpg


This was VGL's 301st concert, and they had just recently performed in Budapest, Hungary. Their visit to my hometown was a first, and I was pleased to have been there in person. One of my main motivations for going was to hear music from Chrono Trigger and Cross that had been reported by others who had attended live performances from around the world. Overall, they performed a wide range of diverse music spanning more than 30 years of video game history. Before and during the live performance (between songs), they added humorous skits (sometimes with dubbed voices) that you would normally see on YouTube or meme sites from classic or current video games. Below is a picture I took featuring scenes from Super Mario World before the live performance began:



You can watch the actual video they used here.

The concert was divided into two acts with an intermission. The first act included music from Castlevania, Shadow of the Colossus, Resident Evil 5, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Journey, God of War, and Cave Story, to name a few. Additionally, they performed an amazing choir rendition of Liberi Fatali, one of the main themes of Final Fantasy VIII.

One of the "interactive" performances in the first act included Tommy selecting a random concert-goer from the audience to play Space Invaders, while the orchestra played in the background to mimic his every movements as the in-game timer counted down.

As the first act came to its conclusion, a very clever mock "Loading" screen popped up, essentially counting down/loading up the next portion of the concert. This was the scene during the intermission:




The second act began with a Codec call from Solid Snake (David Hayter), personally addressing the audience to make some noise so he could hear them. He then told them get ready for the next act in the performance. Music from the second act featured scores from even more amazing titles such as Kingdom Hearts, Skyrim, Mass Effect, Street Fighter II, and Final Fantasy VI, which consisted of the opera scene. What was great about this sequence was that the vocalist, Jillian Aversa, cosplayed as Celes (Maria). The second act ended with a truly unique Tetris opera, which can be viewed here. One interesting fact about Jillian is that she was one of the founding members that made OC Remix possible.

Now, I was totally blown away by the music and talent. I did not want the event to end. The audience applauded, stood, the orchestra stood and bowed their heads, the stars of the show bowed, and then moved off stage. Everything went black. The concert really was over, and I was told by several sources that the event would feature music from each Chrono game during the performance. At the end, I felt really bad, but it was still a memorable experience. Then, all of a sudden, a classic "Continue" countdown screen popped up. At this point, several audience members had begun to leave, as is the standard at most concerts for those who want to beat the human and vehicle traffic departing the area. The counter began to slowly count down from 10...then 9...8...7... and the audience was growing ecstatic. They began to shout "YES!!!" and an individual somewhere shouted "Someone push start!!" Before the counter had almost reached zero, the screen went black, and Tommy came back out on stage. The suspense in the audience had eased, and Tommy asked if we wanted an encore. We shouted every verbal form of approval, and he proceeded to say that they would be treating us to one of his favorite songs, performed on his third Video Games Live album. That game was Chrono Trigger. The audience erupted with applause and shouts of joy. They began to play the intro jingle, followed by the main theme of 600AD, and ending with Frog's theme. I was in tears after they started playing the music of 600AD... just to be there, in that moment, hearing the music of one of my favorite video games of all time in a concert setting usually reserved for classical compositions and live ballets... words simply had no meaning. Only raw emotion ruled the air. They immediately jumped to Chrono Cross, and the audience once again voiced their approval. The entire opening FMV (Scars of Time) was performed, and Tommy was jamming on his guitar with such fervor. I managed to dig up a couple good links for you all to check out:

Here's a good reference at what the live-event was like.

A closer look at just Chrono Cross, from a different venue.

And just the music without any live footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x33RbKZXUP0


As I looked around at this joyful gathering, I noticed a good majority of the cheers were coming from the younger audience members. Then I started to think... hope for the future. There is already a new and fresh generation of young adults and kids who know the Chrono name. Those jubilant expressions I witnessed were not just aimed at the great music, but what the music stood for. More importantly, I saw a connected community of human beings from every demographic in peaceful harmony. Given recent national news in my country within the past several days, this concert had banished all of that unsettling imagery and conflict, much like Yuna's song in the Thunder Plains in Final Fantasy X-2 as it eased tension among the New Yevon and Youth League members in order to unite the people of Spira. I went home that night with a smile on my face that lasted well into the next day.

Video Games Live is an event everyone should try to see, and if it comes to a location near you, I highly recommend attending to support your local orchestra and to hear some excellent video game music. You can check their updating tour dates here.

I have been very troubled with the lack of Chrono news and activity here, especially from several failed attempts at contacting the organizations in the past. But the concert gave me renewed assurance that we will see the likes of Chrono/Serge and company once again. The cogs of fate are in constant motion. The fanbase we help to represent will never disappear, and it is still very much alive. Dalton is going to show his face again, so I want you all to be ready, even more prepared for those of you still waiting for the news we all want to here. The Chrono name will never die out, and as Guile states at the end of Cross, "Let us toast, in hopes that our paths may cross again...!"




With that, I leave you with one of my favorite tracks from Final Fantasy X HD Remaster :



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb9SqrSNTmg


32
Chrono News / Re: Video Games LIVE concert featured music from CT/CC
« on: November 22, 2014, 12:29:58 am »
Ahoy you spoony bards!

I recently just got out of the Video Games Live concert here in Rochester, NY - it was an absolutely thrilling experience. Although this topic is several months old, I just want to update and say that I'll be preparing a little something special for the news section. Yes! and I did not forget :D

I took some pictures too, although recordings and devices were not allowed during the performance (for obvious reasons). Please look forward to it very soon!

33
General Discussion / Re: Stuff you LOVE, baby
« on: July 18, 2014, 06:42:11 pm »
That's awesome Z!!!

I was one of those bidders lol was a couple months ago haha

Ended up using that money to fix up my car, so in the end it was okay :D

34
An amazing collection!!!

Reminds me of one of many threads lost in the winds of time...

http://www.chronocompendium.com/Forums/index.php?topic=6716.msg131606#msg131606

35
Chrono News / Re: Video Games LIVE concert featured music from CT/CC
« on: July 18, 2014, 06:33:19 pm »
Slight update...

I was unsuccessful in finding the music that was used, but The Entity has given us an amazing gift! There will be a VGL concert in my hometown at the end of the year. I plan to attend and share with everyone what tracks from Chrono are used and how everything went. Maybe I'll write up a story and post it for all you spoony bards.

To check if you have a concert coming near you, click the link below:

http://videogameslive.com/index.php?s=dates

36
Chrono News / Video Games LIVE concert featured music from CT/CC
« on: June 22, 2014, 04:46:55 pm »
This is over 10 days old... but if someone would like to archive this, or if we have an area where we archive news like this and/or a kind soul would like to point me in that direction...

Anywho...

There was a Video Games Live concert in LA, California during E3 2014, and they supposedly had music from both CT and CC

http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?s=e32014

Check the third hyphen from the bottom: (quoted here below)

Quote
- Also performing Shadow of the Colossus, Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy VIII, Castlevania AND MANY MORE!!

I will see if I can dig up more information on this, or what tracks were featured.

37
Fan Art / Re: Artworks from Deviantart and others
« on: May 21, 2014, 02:58:11 pm »
Fargo! haha that's awesome.


A few gems I saw recently:


by - azjazo

http://azjazo.deviantart.com/art/Gun-and-Crossbow-358416027


by - RadicalDreamerX

http://radicaldreamerx.deviantart.com/art/Robo-Re-do-279192926

38
First, lay off on the booze. It won't do you good in the long run :)

Secondly, I have encountered similar issues too, but with older SNES games I used to play when I was in my single-digit years. I knew so many tricks in Street Fighter II TURBO (for example) and yet it's extremely difficult to do them now... same goes with remembering all the Bonus stages in Donkey Kong Country or Super Mario World.

I can play exceptionally good with Street Fighter 4 on the next-gen consoles though.

We adapt to a certain style when exposed to it for a very long time, and after a while, when we move away from these once-daily "routines," we start to lose that "linkage" during the progression through life, as memories are added/archived. Your own memory of Chrono Trigger is still there, but the style/technique you once were familiar with needs to be reconnected, almost rediscovered in a way.

tl;dr

Short answer... yes, you are not the only one here.

39
The link doesn't appear to be working for me :?

40
Fan Art / Re: Artworks from Deviantart and others
« on: April 08, 2014, 05:31:54 am »




PURE. GOLD.

I was laughing so hard!! Well done!

I don't quite get the last one

Schala is walking past the Prophet and notices the amulet.

41
I thought this was newsworthy, but since a 20th Anniversary topic is up, I decided to throw it in here. It's just a little something about CT's 20th Anniversary during a "Final Fantasy Go There" interview with:

Yoshinori Kitase (FFX|X-2 HD)
Motomu Toriyama (LR:FFXIII)
Naoki Yoshida (FFXIV:ARR)
Ichirou Hazama (Theatrhythm)


This was beautifully translated by Square Portal:

http://squareportal.net/2014/03/06/final-fantasy-go-there-special-interview-report-lightning-returns-dissidia-sequel-theatrhythm-final-fantasy-xiv-chrono-trigger-more/


This is the original Japanese:

http://special.member.jp.square-enix.com/ff_go_there/interview/

42
They can't afford any more missteps after Lightning's swan song.

meh... the disgruntled fans who disliked the XIII games are a bunch of nostalgia critics who only want the same repetitive formula based on their "glory days" from the 90s - I found the games to be very entertaining and the stories to be the most unique (to date) in the franchises history. The stories are fresh in-depth adventures, have a detailed mythology, and are full of plot twists. The games reminded me of Chrono several times. But I have never had a major complaint about any FF game... they have always delivered on a new story and high entertainment value. I don't have the time nor patience to criticize the hell out of a game because it's "not like how the other games were..."

I actually just received FFX|X-2 HD Remaster - and I can't wait to play it
It was one of my favorites, yet there is not a single "notable" complaint about how severely linear the game (still) is in this remaster. It depends on the "type of fan" and the types of games they have been exposed to in their lifetime.

Anyways... regarding Chrono Trigger's 20th Anniversary - there are rumors flying all over the place that a sequel is possible, how SE wants to reassemble the Dream Team, and that it may be a sprite-based game like the original or something as graphically impressive as FFXIII / FFXV using the new Luminous Engine.

I think we will be in for a treat, and we know for sure "something" is going to be done for Chrono and it will be in the spotlight once again. That's more than we could ask for after our unfortunate attempts at trying to make a difference by preserving the Chrono name.

It's something to look forward to :D

43
History, Locations, and Artifacts / Re: About the domes in 1999 AD
« on: March 18, 2014, 07:31:46 pm »
They are definitely futuristic looking, and I am sure there are ecological advantages too.

With cities contained in these dome-like structures, the population is protected by weather-related elements, so it may be safe to say that they have advanced environmental controls, and ways of producing food by artificial and natural means, to name a few.

44
This is fantastic! So this game will not be "Chrono" but a game that follows the original formula? This may sound like a stupid question, but have you ever thought of contacting SE to give you permission? I just wouldn't want you to get a C&D for something of this nature, even if it's under a different name.

Maybe we should move this to the news section so more people can see exactly what you are doing. Perhaps we could interview you in the near future about your prospects, goals, and ambition :)

45
Welcome / Birthday / Seeya! Forum / Re: Welcome, welcome!
« on: February 05, 2014, 03:34:22 am »
Welcome to the Compendium johnnykrad!

So glad to have you here and we hope you enjoy your stay.

All the best in your endeavors as an Indie developer.

Feel free to bounce questions off of us if you need :D

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