This makes a total of 14 True Runes. The Rune of Punishment makes #15. [Translator's note: which I think... means that Konami has forgotten completely about the Rune of Change and Yuber's Eightfold Rune]

In the previous Suikodens, it has been revealed that the True Runes grant eternal youth and gain the power that commands the world itself. And then, we have the Rune of Punishment which is weilded by the Hero of Suikoden IV. When Kawano was asked about this rune she replied "Does the (True) rune have a will of its own? This game will deal with this aspect."

Snow appears to have grown up with the Hero of Suikoden IV - he is - to the Hero the most important person/thing in his existance. However, it's questionable wether Snow's desired days of fun will continue.

Brand (aka the pirate we mistakenly referred as Pland)

Glen is a somewhat beefy swordsman.

This is a castle wall with a southern nation sort of feel to it:

Dengeki Playstation interviews - Senior Producer: Noritaka Matsukawa, Producer and Characters: Junko Kawano and Director: Masayuki Saruta

Q: In creating Suikoden IV, what was the most founding thought?
Matsukawa: Actually, while still making Suikoden III, there were many thoughts, but I don't want to give the idea that all the better ideas = the new work. In general, I wanted to get back to the original feeling of "Genso Suikoden". And then there were the voices that said, "What if we turned the original designer, Kawano's, illustrations into 3D models?" So we decided to return to the beginning. Piled atop the game was an upgrade in platform, the upturn in graphics and the increasing depth of the system. But on the other hand, somewhere along the line trying to bring back the "Simple Thrill" that everyone had forgotten along the way.

Q: This being Genso Suikoden, there will be 108 characters appearing again this time?
Kawano: That's the source of a great many headaches in each installment of the game. In Suikoden II and Suikoden III, "If only there weren't 108 characters, how easy this would be" (laugh). But, that is the basis of Genso Suikoden, so it can't be waived. There's over 150 characters - from villagers, to enemy characters. Rest assured.

Q: This hero appears to be a bit darker than the previous heroes?
Saruta: That is what we were trying to aim for. I would be happy if you can get that Genso Suikoden-like straightfoward feeling and the relentlessness of battle from one of Kawano's illustrations.
Kawano: This will become 3D so, seeing it from various positions, the character will look funny, so they're intentionally unproportioned. The rest is individual taste (laugh). I wanted to show the defined muscles that a boy of his age might have, so I intentionally chose tight clothing and exposed so much skin.

Q: Can you tell us what kind of characters or even characters from the previous games that will appear?
Matsukawa: Please let us keep that a secret a while longer. But there's one thing I can let into light, there will be "cat(s)". [Translator's note: Unfortunately there's no way of telling at this time if he means a cat, cats, or... Kobold-like cat creatures]
Kawano: I like cats (laugh). To the point that on my days off I take snapshots of cats. Besides, no one seemed to object to the idea of "This time cats will appear", so... I decided to go with it (laugh).

Q: In the screenshots, we see Snow and the Hero together quite often. Are the two dear friends?
Saruta: The two are seen wearing similar armour in one scene. But it's not the kind of childhood friendship like Jowy and the Hero in Suikoden II. The truth is, the Hero is a servant in Snow's household. While they might appear to be friends, it's a more complex relationship in which they aren't.

Q: It seems that the inheriting of fragments of memories from the "Rune of Punishment" will play a crucial part in the story.....
Kawano: I think if we went any furthur, I should be afraid that it would be a spoiler (laugh). Owing to the fact that you never know who will be bearing it after it has devoured the life of its bearer, it's a rather undesirable rune. This sort of filthy imagery isn't something we want to be showing all the time. There are positive forces in its history of protaginists like the Suikoden IV hero so please rest assured.

Q: Do you have anything to say to the fans who will be seeing the trailer for the first time at the Tokyo Game Show.
Matsukawa: Perhaps it is a bit early to be revealing it, but I would like to see everyone's reactions.
Kawano: This time, it will be a story set on the stage of the high seas. We're pursuing the feeling of "Let's Adventure!". Everyone, please stop by the Konami Booth at TGS.
Saruta: I'm certain that when you watch the video trailer carefully, you will be in for a surprise (laugh).
Matsukawa: I think the music will also evoke the feeling of "Genso Suikoden". Look forward to its release in 2004!