Guilty Gear Vastedge XT concept illustrations and story line thread

[Tenj|n]

Summary of what happened as of 12/09/13.

1. New Guilty Gear confirmed, Guilty Gear Vastedge XT. It's a slot machine pending for November release in Japan. Official release from ArcSys, as confirmed by Yamanaka's tweets.

Official Site

2. Concept illustrations were first spotted on Taobao by Kitsoru several months ago, it's a virtual purchase in which a link to download the zip file is sent after payment. They have been bought, extracted, converted and uploaded to this archive in JPG format.

Original zip file has 67 TGA files. Downloadable here.

3. The images' modified dates spanned between the 2nd half of 2011 until early 2012 http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/crims0nnight/GG%20Illust/sfsg_zps1a1e04cd.jpg

4. Many characters are found within and with several similarities to their Xrd designs. Overture characters like Sin, Izuna and Paradigm are present. Evidence of a new servant for That Man and a 5th jinki, 闪牙 (Senga, Flashing Fang) have surfaced.

5. Do not assume that whoever inside this illustration set is confirmed for Xrd. It can provide a window of what to expect in Xrd.

6. Game scenario supervision (?) and music are by Ishiwatari. Yamanaka is in charge of story. Apparently, "Heavy Day" is in this game...

Discuss.

[Calamitus]

Oh, goodness, thanks for this. Can i ask you to upload original zip file?

- This guy with book is That Man? He looks much better than his Overture appearence.

- Old Johnny... Now he doesnot look flamboyant so much (approve)

- (hope to see this "gear Hazama" in Xrd)

[00Bubbles00]

A lot of animation (in anime) and game asset projection (like 3d modelling) is outsourced to low cost studios. It can be easily leaked through those employees.

Everything gets leaked. Movies and games before release, source code for hacks, cracks and keygens, etc. Its just a bunch of contractors doing the work. Its like asking restaurant staff not to steal food =S.

[RagnaXBL]

Wow thats insane all exactly like the new character designs. wouldn't mind at all if they go with that new look of dizzy in the dress

[SoWL]

Oh man, Millia and May look way too similar to the Xrd designs. I didn't expect anything worthwhile to come out of this, but now I'm a believer.

[Kurushii]

I took the liberty to convert and upload them as .jpg, album here

Let me go puke in a corner...

Can i ask you to upload original zip file?

[Starlight777]

Oh man, Millia and May look way too similar to the Xrd designs. I didn't expect anything worthwhile to come out of this, but now I'm a believer.

Chipp is almost perfectly exact to his Xrd design as well. I hope those Zappa, Slayer and Dizzy designs get used, all 3 of them are way too good.

[Circuitous]

There are a ton of differences even in the characters that match, but the shit that matches is so damned specific. Why would a simple cosplay guide give Millia a goofy license plate hat if she'd never had anything remotely like it before?

This is actually really amazing.

[Amadeous]

This is huge to me haha, I really hope this helps with the idea that all the characters will be returning. Thanks a ton man!

EDIT: Looking through, so many of the revealed characters are so similar in designs that there's no way this isn't legit. Jam's outfit is fucking adorable, I hope her final design is like this!

[SoWL]

Also, the filenames are pretty descriptive here, and the one that catches my eye is the Snakes Q guy. His files are called ZT13, and I think I'm not the only one who thinks of Zato-1 seeing that.

[Starlight777]

There are a ton of differences even in the characters that match, but the shit that matches is so damned specific. Why would a simple cosplay guide give Millia a goofy license plate hat if she'd never had anything remotely like it before?

This is actually really amazing.

Well the difference between concept art and final designs can either have very minor tweaks (Chipp,May) or a major overhaul (Sol,Millia). Either way the resemblance with some of the confirmed roster is incredibly uncanny.

The best thing about this concept art is that if it actually does hold any weight, it means Bridget will still be adorable lol.

[Circuitous]

Well the difference between concept art and final designs can either have very minor tweaks (Chipp,May) or a major overhaul (Sol,Millia). Either way the resemblance with some of the confirmed roster is incredibly uncanny.

The best thing about this concept art is that if it actually does hold any weight, it means Bridget will still be adorable lol.

Xrd's been in development for quite a while, supposedly. If the dates of the images are accurate, I'd think it's weird that they made some big changes in a relatively short amount of time.

(Then again, the biggest changes were to Sol and Ky, who just look more like their old designs, so maybe it's not that weird.)

[Kitsoru]

Ohhhh my god thank you for buying this file, it seemed kinda fishy to me so I wasn't really willing to risk it :S (Plus I'm on Mac so there'd be no guarantee I could run it)

but oh my god everyone... I'm losing it haha

[Starlight777]

Maybe Arcsys just realized at the last minute that people would go batshit crazy with the whining if the main characters were the ones who got completely redesigned lol.

[Malcopunch]

I think this is true..i really like the designs and i am glad they are really cool but where's Faust?

[Kitsoru]

Calling Snakeguy/ZT13 to be That Man's 3rd servant. The guy had a weirdly tall head like this: http://guiltygear.ru/images/gallery/ggxplus_sm_so3.jpg

[Kanashimi]

Maybe Arcsys just realized at the last minute that people would go batshit crazy with the whining if the main characters were the ones who got completely redesigned lol.

I don't think it would be that bad. Come on look at Ky's Overture design and his Xrd one, it's pretty much his old HO uniform mixed with parts from his GG2 costume. Maybe we'll see some costume DLC later maybe?

[Verdgilion]

it means Bridget will still be adorable lol.

This, this, a thousand times this!

Damn, these illustrations is quite different, but some little things are same. That symbol below Millia's neck, for example. Or Ky's ponytail (but longer here).

I want to believe them, just because Bridget is cute here. That's enough for me.

[XXXDC]

Oh god, no bearded Johnny pls :U

[HoudiniJr100]

I love the look for slayer in that!

[Antiquarian]

I love the look for slayer in that!

Agreed, I absolutely LOVE that design for him. Really hoping we get something akin to if not exactly that in Xrd.

[Kitsoru]

Oh god, no bearded Johnny pls :U

GRIZZLED OLD PEDO JOHNNY FOR XRD

[Starlight777]

It would be wonderful if That Man was a playable character in Xrd using that design. It still might be too soon for him though. It's sad that I think "Q-zama" has more of a shot than him.

[Kitsoru]

It would be wonderful if That Man was a playable character in Xrd using that design. It still might be too soon for him though. It's sad that I think "Q-zama" has more of a shot than him.

Yeah, though it would make sense they want to save him as the last last last boss ever? ...Though being that it's a fighting game, I don't think "last" is likely to ever be a thing. But hey, Orochi was fought eventually in KOF, and that's still going.

Maybe console-exclusive boss? Looking at his totally-not-Izayoi weapon there... I even wonder if he'll take over HOS(/Tsubaki's) playstyle...

[Rayzor]

It would be wonderful if That Man was a playable character in Xrd using that design. It still might be too soon for him though. It's sad that I think "Q-zama" has more of a shot than him.

I'd like That Man in Xrd too

But man ya gotta admit Q-zama looks pretty rad