Namco Ltd. Producer
	Hiroaki Yotoriyama
	Yotoriyama oversaw the project. His role included a wide range of responsibilities, ranging from budget management to scheduling and creation of specs. He sees himself as the "mother figure" of the project.

	Namco Ltd. Production Manager
	Koh Onda
	Onda was primarily in charge of movie direction. He also worked on the negotiations for the special guest characters appearing on each platform.

	Namco Ltd. Programmer
	Tadashi Obama
	Obama was responsible for file systems, character-control scripts, and human body effects.

	Namco Ltd. Programmer
	Junji Hata
	Hata looked after sound-related tasks such as the encoding and implementation of songs, as well as tweaking characters' mouth movements and managing Weapon Master mode.

Namco released SOULCALIBUR II on three platforms simultaneously: GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.  This was made possible using key technologies that spanned all three platforms.
We asked the SOULCALIBUR II production staff about the role of middleware in the multi-platform development process, and how it led to the products success.
 

Session 1
Without middleware, simultaneous release on three consoles would have been impossible.

Session 2
As soon as I saw ADX in action, I thought "This is it!"
I literally threw my hands up in joy.

Session 3
Sofdec: Quality so high, even pros can hardly tell the difference.

Session 4
"I can't believe such a support system exists!"
Tech support - but not as we know it.

Session 5
Separated at birth?!

Session 6
An encoder's nightmare!
Welcome to the world of image encoding. Where art and technology meet.

Session 7
One pattern good - four patterns better.

Session 8
Middleware - fast becoming a must-use tool to improve efficiency and quality.

Session 9
Clipper and SOULCALIBUR II.

Session 10
But, when will it be ready.?
Sofdec's Dolby Digital compatibility and other recent developments.

Session 11
Middleware: The gymnast's assistant.
 
 

	Interviewer
	CRI Middleware Co., Ltd. Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Officer   Masao Oshimi
	Oshimi has been a core member of the Sofdec and ADX development teams from the very beginning. He presently oversees all middleware product development.

	Interviewer
	CRI Middleware Co., Ltd. Movie Encoding Manager    Katsumi Yabuno
	Yabuno is called the "The Human Encoder" by people both inside and outside of the company, for his ability to spot the unique traits of an image and determine the optimal encoding parameters.

	Interviewer
	CRI Middleware Co., Ltd. Movie Encoding Manager   Motoo Sasaki
	Sasaki was in charge of the Playstation 2 encoding for this game. The passionate Sasaki is sometimes kidded for falling in love with the images he's encoding.

	Facilitator
	CRI Middleware Co., Ltd. Promotion and Market Division Tomonori Haba
	Date of interview
	April 17, 2003 At Namco Ltd's Yokohama Creative Center