Have you ever played a game within a game before? Okay, so it is a trick question, because .hack//GU is a brand new series continuing the tradition set forth in the original .hack series, and this time it looks as if it is taking all the things you loved about the original and multiplying it. In a recent conference call, Brian Glazebrook – the localization manager at NamcoBandai – chatted about some of the new features and what you can expect when .hack//GU ships later this year.

It has been 7-10 years since the conclusion of the last .hack series, which saw the demise of the company that created The World (the game you played within the .hack series) as they went under financially and their offices burned. Now, however, the company is back and revised The World, and now more people than ever are playing the MMO (massively multiplayer online) game.

While running through the game, you'll stumble upon a character who has powers greater than anyone else, as they are able to do things like cut the environment within the game and it stays that way permanently. After being attacked by this Player Killer, you find yourself almost at death's door when another player within the game helps you get back on your feet. As you take up the challenge to partly get revenge (and partly do the right thing) against this mysterious attacker, you'll play through this game within a game, gather information needed for your quest, battling to level up, and searching about for better weapons, items, and other players to join you in your quest.

Since .hack//GU is a game within a game, there are two central means of communication – imagine playing a real life MMO like "World of Warcraft" or "Everquest" to get an idea how it plays out. When you are playing The World within the game, you do your typical means of chatter, which means going up to characters and talking to them to find out what they know or what they have. When you are outside of The World, gameplay takes place at your computer, where you can change a variety of factors, but most importantly interact with the players you are playing with inside The World. For example, you can ask other players questions or send greeting cards for topics like apologizing for something you did or even wishing someone well. Remember, this is a completely single player game, so you're not interacting with real players, but rather players in the game.

The characters you meet within the game (the first volume will have six partners and each subsequent volume is supposed to expand on that number) range in personality and fighting styles. On the personality side of things, the main character is an angry teenager and womanizer, while the player who saved them is a proper, more adult like individual who reveres themselves above all other players. As for fighting styles, one could maybe be a sword swinger while the other prefers the more hands-on and grappling method. You'll also customize your own type of weapons, as you'll use specific items to craft them and make them more powerful to fit your needs.

The combat is also a lot more action oriented this time around (a more "Kingdom Hearts" vein it seems like) where each button press is represented by a real-time slash, punch, block, etc. You've also got a Skill trigger that enables you to perform more powerful attacks as you gain strength and learn these particular abilities. Party morale also plays a big factor throughout the game, as you'll perform better as a team as you rack up higher and higher combos and as your teammates like you more and more. The combat sounded quite complex, and yet simple at the same time so it wouldn't be too daunting for the new players.

As for those new players and some of the other comments about the game, NamcoBandai localization manager Brian Glazebrook shared some more information with us in a QA.

What is the official release date for the game, and what will the time span be between the games?

"I think some sites have said October 24th. That is what we're currently shooting for, right now. In terms of time span between the volumes, that's still to be determined."

Will there be any data continuation from the conclusion of .hack//QUARANTINE to .hack//GU?

"Yes, there will be."

Do you think that .hack//GU will appeal to role-playing gamers outside of the .hack fan base, and do you think newcomers to the series will be able to enjoy it as much as long-time fans?

"Definitely, for two reasons. One, even though we've put things in there for fans of the previous series, it starts off for those that even though some have never played .hack, or don't know anything about it; they'll be able to get into it relatively easy, without even having known anything about the previous series. Second, since it's not just a basic RPG, it's a little bit more action oriented. I think it'll appeal to more people for that fact, as well. So, for those two reasons, I think even non-fans will be able to get into this and enjoy it and have a good time."

One problem critics shared with the previous four .hack games was their length and the manner in which they were released, as four separate titles, all retailing at full price. Do you think the amount of playtime and originality in each volume of //GU will justify its being another multi-part RPG?

"This time around, yes. One of the things the developers have noticed, and they recognize, is the fact that the gameplay for each of the volumes wasn't up to what people expected, so they've actually taken that into account, and this time around, I think people will be more than satisfied. We've made sure that there's enough content for those going from Vol. 1 to Vol. 2, instead of just a continuation of the story."

How long will Vol. 1 be?

"One of the other guys, who is actually working on the game, played it from beginning to end, obviously watched all the movies and such, without bypassing it, and it took him, roughly, about 40 hours, and that's knowing what to do, where to go, but not skipping the movies. You could go way beyond 40+ hours, easily."

What was the most difficult aspect of the localization process for //GU and why?

"For this one, it's multi-tasking. Translating it, making sure when you record the voices within the same timeframe, especially for the movies, because you can't really extend it, and you don't want the whole Chinese-kung-fu-acting type of voice recording where their lips stop moving, but, then, the voice still goes on, or vice versa. So, we try to time everything appropriately - keeping everything timed up is one difficult aspect of the localization. Also, especially for this franchise, whenever there's other aspects involved, such as anime, a card game, toys, comics, whatever it is...trying to make sure everything is consistent and working with other companies and divisions is also difficult...so trying to get that synergy going on. I mean, once it's there, it's great, but getting it started is always a little difficult..."

Was there a lot of creativity involved during localization, or was most of the dialogue in the Japanese version translated word-for-word?

"Well, obviously, there was some creativity that had to be done, for a lot of the things, such as the comical aspects. What may be really funny to the Japanese people would be kind of confusing and weird for us here. The core of the story, obviously, we just followed what they already had, which is really well-written and well-thought-out, to begin with. In certain areas, we did have to make some liberties, when they're referencing things that, for the most part, some Japanese people would only get, or would understand. Things like that are just part of the localization process. We have to make sure that people here in the U.S. will be able to understand and appreciate it, without just making it word-for-word and confusing people, so there was some creativity involved."

Will the ".hack project" end with //GU and the upcoming anime, or is there still more to come?

"Will there be more in the future? Who's to say? You know, it's possible; but, right now, everyone's still focusing on this time around, so I don't think anyone's looked beyond that, as of yet."

A special thanks to Brian Glazebrook and NamcoBandai for answering questions about .hack//GU

See the rest of the .hack//GU screens in our Image Gallery right here