Lunar 3 development, US release

[05.26.99] » Working Designs' CEO Victor Ireland sets the record straight on rampant rumors, while confirming a US PlayStation 2 release.

   For the past few weeks, speculation and scuttlebutt concerning Lunar 3 have been running rampant throughout the Internet rumor community. Vigilant RPG fans have read of hints dropped by Working Designs CEO Victor Ireland through Usenet in the past, though no concrete information was divulged. In the past week, however, several reputable online, well-read websites ran stories telling of official confirmation of Lunar 3's development by Game Arts. The source? A Japanese fan site titled "LUNAR Hope" had published news of a 3 disc Dreamcast RPG called "Lunar 3: Combination of Stars" with a convincing image of the game. The only problem was the game's non-existence -- the story was simply a game created based on a wishlist from devoted Lunar fans looking forward to a sequel.

   Regardless, and as one would expect on the untamed wilderness of the Internet, rumors flew left and right across message boards, Usenet, and chatlines. Was Game Arts indeed developing a third Lunar after all? Would Working Designs, holder of the US rights to Lunar 1-3, even permit a US Dreamcast version? (Sega and Working Designs have long been bitter rivals.) Once again, Ireland has stepped forth to offer word on the matter: "Lunar 3 has not been announced anywhere in the world for any system, including Dreamcast. Game Arts, ESP, and Kadokawa Shoten confirmed to me personally last night [Monday] that no mention of it has been made for any system. And, for that matter, we have stated all along that the game will be released for PlayStation 2 in the US, regardless of the platform(s) of release in Japan." Earlier, Ireland also commented on the possibility of a US Dreamcast version: "US Gamers WILL see LUNAR 3. Dreamcast owners will not."

   Finally, Ireland also offered additional information on Lunar 3's development, plus the first hints concerning the game's content, in a recent interview with RPG Fan. According to Ireland, the platform of choice in Japan has not been decided as of yet, but is "unlikely" to be Sega's Dreamcast. "I'll say one thing about Lunar 3," Ireland later added. "It's coming sooner than people expect but not in the manner that people think."

   Thanks to Michael Kelehan for assistance with this story.