Kantai Collection
Developer(s) | Kadokawa Games |
---|---|
Publisher(s) | DMM.com |
Genre(s) | online card battle game |
Kantai Collection (艦隊これくしょん, Kantai Korekushon, lit. "Combined Fleet Collection"), abbreviated as KanColle (艦これ, KanKore), is a Japanese free-to-play online social card game developed by Kadokawa Games.[1][2] The game was launched on 23 April 2013.[3] A television anime series and PlayStation Vita game has been announced.[4][5][6]
Gameplay
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/73/Kantai_Collection_sample_cards.jpg/220px-Kantai_Collection_sample_cards.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Kantai_Collection_interface.jpg)
Bottom: In-game battle interface screenshot.
The gameplay is centred upon a card battle game, with individual characters represented by various cards with different attributes. Each of the characters are moe anthropomorphisms of World War II naval warships which are depicted as cute girls, known as "Fleet girls" (艦娘, kanmusu). These personified warships are based on real-life vessels which are explained in detail within the game; the physical characteristics, appearances and personalities of each of the girls correlate in some way to the real-life vessel (for example, ships with a larger displacement tonnage are often depicted with larger breasts, with the notable exception of a few aircraft carriers). The player takes on the role of an admiral (提督, teitoku) and organises their fleets in battle in order to win. Combat is largely automated, and manual actions by the player include micromanagement such as building and repairing.[1][7]
The player progresses through the game by advancing through maps, gaining experience points through grinding, obtaining new fleet girls whilst repairing and resupplying existing ones, and fulfilling quests to obtain resources. New equipment can be crafted, allowing the fleet girls to be remodeled. Acquisition of new kanmusu by the player can occur via drops on map or via crafting, and is heavily RNG-based. Construction and repair of ships is reliant upon four resources, namely fuel, ammunition, steel and bauxite; these supplies will automatically increase as time passes. Players can choose to engage in expeditions, sorties and quests to increase their supplies as well. Kanmusu are capable of becoming stronger as they gain experience and level up after battles. Ships can become fatigued once it accumulates after sorties; fatigued ships have decreased attributes and an increased chance of sinking, whilst sparkling ships have increased attributes. As ships become damaged, their icons begin to blow off smoke and their clothing become visually torn and battered; in the event when a ship's durability drops down to zero, it is considered sunk, and the player will lose the fleet girl. Players cannot resurrect fleet girls that have been lost unless they are in possession of an emergency repair item, and are only able to re-train ships that have been lost from scratch.
Whilst the game is free-to-play, special premium bonuses can be obtained through prepaid game money and credit card micropayments.[8] As of present, the game cannot be played outside of Japan without the use of a VPN.
Ship types
- Battleship (戦艦): Has strong power and defense, whilst requiring large quantities of resources.
- Aircraft carrier (正規空母): Allows for preemptive strikes before battles. Have long repair times, and the planes require bauxite.
- Light aircraft carrier (軽空母): Has better fuel consumption and is able to damage submarines, however has lighter armour.
- Seaplane mothership (水上機母艦): High enemy formation detection stats. Largely weak.
- Heavy cruiser (重巡洋艦): Able to deal significant damage, and are fuel efficient. Have decent overall stats, however does not excel in any particular areas.
- Light cruiser (軽巡洋艦): Strong anti-submarine type, effective during night combat. Have low endurance.
- Destroyer (駆逐艦): Good for night battles, and have good fuel and repair rate.
- Torpedo cruiser (重雷装巡洋艦)
- Submarine (潜水艦)
- Submarine aircraft carrier (潜水空母)
- Aviation battleship (航空戦艦)
- Aviation cruiser (航空巡洋艦)
It is planned for coastal defense ships (海防艦) to be eventually added to the game in future; these ships will play an anti-submarine role, in addition to being useful for missions. These ships will feature a more cute and childish character design, reason being that coastal defense ships are smaller in size compared to destroyers.[9]
Fleet girls
Upon the first public debut of the game, there were a total of 94 different fleet girls available. Within an update introduced 15–17 May 2013, additional fleet girls were added. On 11 September 2013 the first non-Japanese vessel, Soviet destroyer Verniy (Верный), was introduced into the game.[10] Presently there are 112 original girls in addition to 22 upgraded variants, bringing the total number of fleet girls to 134. The game currently holds spaces for 150 different fleet girls. Different fleet girls are illustrated by different artists; artists involved in the drawing of various characters include Shibafu,[11] Shizuma,[12] Konishi[12] and Kūrokuro.[13]
The traits of each fleet girl are based on aspects of the historical ship they are based on; for instance, Japanese ironclad Kongō uses gratuitous English words in her speech within the game since she was built in England, whilst Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi is depicted as a heavy eater and Japanese destroyer Shimakaze is depicted as a speedy girl in artworks, since the Akagi consumed large amounts of fuel and the Shimakaze was one of the fastest destroyer ships of World War II.
Voice actors have been employed to voice the fleet girls, with an average of 10 fleet girls being voiced by one actor. The complete list of voice actors involved has not yet been published.
Voice actors
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- Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi - Voiced by: Saki Fujita[14]
- Japanese battleship Ise - Voiced by: Yuka Ōtsubo[14]
- Japanese cruiser Haruna - Voiced by: Nao Tōyama[14]
- Japanese heavy cruiser Mogami - Voiced by: Aya Suzaki[14]
- Japanese heavy cruiser Myōkō - Voiced by: Risa Taneda[14]
- Japanese light cruiser Tatsuta - Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi[14]
- Japanese destroyer Fubuki - Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka[14]
- Japanese destroyer Mutsuki - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka[14]
- Japanese destroyer Shimakaze - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura[14]
- Japanese battleship Yamato - Voiced by: Ayana Taketatsu[15]
- Japanese heavy cruiser Mikuma - Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima[15]
- Japanese destroyer Maikaze - Voiced by: Sarah Emi Bridcut[15]
- Japanese submarine I-58 - Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima[11]
- Japanese submarine I-168 - Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima[11]
- Japanese light cruiser Kitakami - Voiced by: Yuka Ōtsubo[12]
- Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga - Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi[16]
- Japanese battleship Hyūga - Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima[16]
- Japanese light cruiser Tenryū - Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi[16]
- Japanese light cruiser Ōi - Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima[16]
- Japanese destroyer Isonami - Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka[16]
- Japanese destroyer Shikinami - Voiced by: Nao Tōyama[16]
- Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku - Voiced by: Iori Nomizu[17]
- Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku - Voiced by: Iori Nomizu[17]
- Japanese aircraft carrier Zuihō - Voiced by: Mana Komatsu[18]
- Japanese light cruiser Yūbari - Voiced by: Sarah Emi Bridcut[19]
- Japanese destroyer Sazanami - Voiced by: Azusa Hayasaka[20]
- Japanese destroyer Hatsuharu - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi[21]
- Japanese aircraft carrier Chitose - Voiced by: Wakana Miyakawa[22]
- Japanese battleship Fusō - Voiced by: Saki Fujita
- Japanese battleship Yamashiro - Voiced by: Saki Fujita
- Japanese destroyer Kagerō - Voiced by: Saki Fujita
- Japanese destroyer Shiranui - Voiced by: Saki Fujita
- Japanese destroyer Kuroshio - Voiced by: Saki Fujita
- Japanese destroyer Yukikaze - Voiced by: Saki Fujita
- Japanese heavy cruiser Tone - Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi
- Japanese heavy cruiser Chikuma - Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi
- Japanese light cruiser Nagara - Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi
- Japanese light cruiser Isuzu - Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi
- Japanese light cruiser Natori - Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi
- Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka - Voiced by: Yuka Ōtsubo
- Japanese heavy cruiser Kako - Voiced by: Yuka Ōtsubo
- Japanese aircraft carrier Hiyō - Voiced by: Yuka Ōtsubo
- Japanese aircraft carrier Jun'yō - Voiced by: Yuka Ōtsubo
- Japanese aircraft carrier Sōryū - Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka
- Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryū - Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka
- Japanese destroyer Shirayuki - Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka
- Japanese destroyer Hatsuyuki - Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka
- Japanese destroyer Miyuki - Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka
- Japanese destroyer Murakumo - Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka
- Japanese battleship Nagato - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
- Japanese battleship Mutsu - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
- Japanese light cruiser Kuma - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
- Japanese light cruiser Tama - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
- Japanese light cruiser Kiso - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
- Japanese light cruiser Sendai - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
- Japanese light cruiser Jintsu - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
- Japanese light cruiser Naka - Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
- Japanese battleship Kongō - Voiced by: Nao Touyama
- Japanese battleship Hiei - Voiced by: Nao Touyama
- Japanese battleship Kirishima - Voiced by: Nao Touyama
- Japanese heavy cruiser Takao - Voiced by: Nao Touyama
- Japanese heavy cruiser Atago - Voiced by: Nao Touyama
- Japanese heavy cruiser Maya - Voiced by: Nao Touyama
- Japanese heavy cruiser Chōkai - Voiced by: Nao Touyama
- Japanese destroyer Ayanami - Voiced by: Nao Touyama
- Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō - Voiced by: Aya Suzaki
- Japanese heavy cruiser Aoba - Voiced by: Aya Suzaki
- Japanese destroyer Akatsuki - Voiced by: Aya Suzaki
- Japanese destroyer Hibiki - Voiced by: Aya Suzaki
- Japanese destroyer Ikazuchi - Voiced by: Aya Suzaki
- Japanese destroyer Inazuma - Voiced by: Aya Suzaki
- Japanese heavy cruiser Nachi - Voiced by: Risa Taneda
- Japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara - Voiced by: Risa Taneda
- Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro - Voiced by: Risa Taneda
- Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō - Voiced by: Risa Taneda
- Japanese destroyer Samidare - Voiced by: Risa Taneda
- Japanese destroyer Suzukaze - Voiced by: Risa Taneda
- Japanese destroyer Nenohi - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese destroyer Wakaba - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese destroyer Hatsushimo - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese destroyer Oboro - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese destroyer Akebono - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese destroyer Ushio - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese destroyer Shiratsuyu - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese destroyer Murasame - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese destroyer Yūdachi - Voiced by: Motoko Kobayashi
- Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
- Japanese destroyer Kisaragi - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
- Japanese destroyer Satsuki - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
- Japanese destroyer Fumizuki - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
- Japanese destroyer Nagatsuki - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
- Japanese destroyer Kikuzuki - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
- Japanese destroyer Mikazuki - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
- Japanese destroyer Mochizuki - Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
- Japanese light cruiser Kinu - Voiced by: Iori Nomizu
- Japanese light cruiser Abukuma - Voiced by: Iori Nomizu
- Japanese heavy cruiser Kinugasa - Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima
- Japanese light cruiser Yura - Voiced by: Yuki Tanibe
- Japanese destroyer Shigure - Voiced by: Yuki Tanibe
Media
Print media
A bi-monthly online web manga by Momoi Ryota began serialization from 23 April 2013 in the Famitsu Comic Clear. The manga follows a 4koma format, and features a storyline with the fleet girls enrolled in schools, where senior girls teach battle techniques to their juniors. Comic Clear has announced a manga adaptation by Shotaro Harada.[23]
In addition, another manga series by Sasayuki has been announced, and will be serialized in Comptiq from December 2013 onwards.[12] A manga illustrated by Sakae Saitō will begin serialisation in Monthly Comic Alive from 27 November 2013 onwards.[23]
A light novel based on the game has been announced,[24] written by Tsukiji Toshihiko and illustrated by NOCO. It is due for release in November 2013.[25]
KanColle Kai
KanColle Kai | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Kadokawa Games |
Platform(s) | PlayStation Vita |
Genre(s) | Strategy |
A PlayStation Vita game titled KanColle Kai (艦これ改) was announced during Kadokawa Games' 2013 Autumn media briefing, and is due for a 2014 release. Producer Tanaka Kensuke commented that the game will be a full-scale naval strategy simulation game. The game will be the second title independently created by Kadokawa Game Studio, after Natural Doctrine.[4][6]
Anime
A television anime series has been announced, and is scheduled to air in 2014.[4][5] The anime series is planned to feature the voice cast from the original game.[23][26]
Reception
Merchandise based on the game have been launched as a result of the success of the online game.[27][28] Due to the high popularity of the game within Japan, game operators have created larger numbers of servers within early 2013 to account for the influx of players.[1] During August 2013, the number of new players spiked by 100,000 people within one week, to a total of 600,000 people, with 350,000 concurrent active players.[29] By September 2013, it was reported that there were more than 800,000 active players.[10]
Interest in Kantai Collection has significantly risen over the months following its release, to the point where it has often been compared with the fandom of Touhou Project as an emerging viral fandom. There has been a large increase in online activity and fan-created material relating to the game, such as fan-made artworks, doujinshi and other derivative content.[30][31] As of September 2013, there are over 30,000 artworks on Pixiv tagged with "KanColle".[25]
Strong interest in the game has also paved way for various related merchandise; PVC figurines have been announced, including Nendoroid figurines of Shimakaze and Akagi,[32][33] in addition to a line of cycling jerseys featuring KanColle designs.[34]
References
- ^ a b c 2013-07-19, Japan's Latest Popular Online Game Has Anthropomorphic Battleships, Kotaku
- ^ 2013-09-07, 「提督といっしょに創り上げていきたい」『艦隊これくしょん 艦これ』キーマン・田中謙介氏インタビュー【前編】, Famitsu
- ^ 2013-04-19, 「艦隊これくしょん -艦これ-」正式サービスが4月23日にスタート, 4gamer
- ^ a b c 2013-09-26, 【速報】『艦これ改 (仮)』PS Vitaで2014年発売決定 『艦これ』アニメ化企画も進行中!, Famitsu
- ^ a b 2013-09-26, “Kantai Collection” Game & Anime Confirmed, SeventhStyle
- ^ a b 2013-09-26, PlayStation Vita Will Get A Game About Girls Personified As A Naval Fleet, Siliconera
- ^ 2013-08-13, 新サーバー開設!これから始める『艦隊これくしょん』のススメ, ASCII.jp
- ^ 2013-08-12, 「艦隊これくしょん」ブレークの背景 ソーシャルゲームの新しい可能性とは?, THE PAGE
- ^ 2013-09-30. "艦隊これくしょん -艦これ- 鎮守府生活のすゝめ Vol.1". Enterbrain. ISBN 9784047292338. Quote: "海防艦は早く出したいが戦局の最終フェーズなので出すのを我慢... 海防艦は対潜作戦や輸送船団護衛任務に適した形で出したい 排水量的に駆逐艦より小さい船ですから、さらに可愛げのある形になるんじゃないかと"
- ^ a b 2013-09-19, 「艦隊これくしょん -艦これ-」はいかにして生み出されたのか。その思想から今後のアップデートまで,角川ゲームスの田中謙介氏に語ってもらった, 4gamer
- ^ a b c 2013-09-08, 「アニメ化も夢ではないかもしれません」『艦隊これくしょん 艦これ』キーマン・田中謙介氏インタビュー【後編】, Famitsu
- ^ a b c d 「運営鎮守府司令長官が語る 「艦これ」誕生秘話」、『コンプティーク』2013年10月号別冊付録「艦隊これくしょん -艦これ- 提督が鎮守府に着任しました」、角川書店、2013年9月10日、 74-79頁。
- ^ 「特別企画 今話題の「艦これ」ってどんなゲーム?」、『MC☆あくしず』第30号、イカロス出版、2013年9月21日、 112-113頁。
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Note: Announced on the official DMM.com website
- ^ a b c Note: Announced on the official KanColle Twitter feed
- ^ a b c d e f 2013-04-22, 『艦隊これくしょん -艦これ-』美少女に擬人化した戦艦「艦娘」でオリジナル艦隊を編成! 艦娘のボイスには日高里菜さんや井口裕香さんといった人気声優陣が続々と参加, Animate
- ^ a b Note: Announced on Nomizu's Twitter (341489775385141248)
- ^ Note: Announced on Komatsu's personal blog: おたんじょーび♪と、ご報告。
- ^ ブリドカット セーラ 恵美, Production Ace
- ^ Note: Announced on Hayasaka's personal blog: 久しぶりに告知
- ^ Note: Announced on Kobayashi's Twitter (349830749849010178)
- ^ 宮川若菜(みやかわ わかな), Space Craft co. ltd
- ^ a b c 2013-09-26, Kantai Collection Moe Card Battle Game Gets Anime, New Manga, Anime News Network
- ^ 2013-09-18, 艦これ : 初のラノベ化 アンソロコミックは早くも重版, Mantanweb
- ^ a b 2013-09-19, Battleship Girl Game Phenomenon "Kantai Collection" Inspires Light Novel and Manga, Crunchyroll
- ^ 2013-09-26, 声優はそのままに『艦これ』がTVアニメ化決定!さらにPS Vita版は『艦これ 改』として2014年にリリース予定, Inside
- ^ 2013-9-6, タカラトミーアーツ、「艦隊これくしょん」グッズをギフトショーに出展, GAME Watch
- ^ 2013-08-28, 「艦隊これくしょん ~艦これ~」ラバーストラップが12月に発売決定!, ASCII.jp
- ^ 2013-08-29, 『艦隊これくしょん -艦これ-』1週間で登録者数が10万人増え、合計60万人突破!アクティブユーザーも35万人規模に, インサイド
- ^ 2013-08-15, “ポスト東方”との見方も浮上した「艦隊これくしょん」 情報アプリ「艦これまとめ」もDL数が急増中, Excite
- ^ 2013-08-15, 東方&艦これ!ニコ動と同人界を騒がす二大タグに迫る, Ascii.jp
- ^ 2013-10-01, 「艦これ」の「島風」ねんどろいど登場 次は「赤城」!, ITmedia
- ^ 2013-10-02, New Kantai Collection Nendoroid from Good Smile Company, Anime News Network
- ^ 2013-10-02, 「艦これ」のサイクルジャージ第1弾(全8種)がamisportsから! 自転車ホイールステッカー(全1種)と刺繍ポロシャツ(全4種)も, Akiba Souken