Digital Dilemma

A Video Game News Outlet

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

The SNES Classic Is Official

We had been hearing the rumors since right after the Original NES Classic was discontinued but now we finally have official word. Today Nintendo announced that their follow up system the Super NES will also be getting a classic version as well. It’s hard to say how I feel about this considering it is going to cost more, and come with less games but depending how you feel about the selection it might be totally worth it.

The system comes complete with a total of 21 games ranging from classic RPGs Final Fantasy III (actually VI, the best Final Fantasy) and Earthbound all the way to platformers like Mega Man X and Donkey Kong Country. The biggest news about the system is the Inclusion of the never before released Star Fox 2 that will be unlock-able after beating the first level in Star Fox. Overall there is a great deal of classic fun to be had in this collection, especially if you grew up with the era.

The console will also include a second controller, something that was absent from the the first bundle. While the single controller was a large complaint for the first bundle an even larger one was the size of the cable for the controller included, and we have yet to get dimensions on the two included this time around. Multiplayer games this time around include classics like Contra III, Super Mario Kart, and Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighter which are sure to keep the good times going.

The biggest issue that Nintendo has yet to address is availability. Anybody that ventured out in search of the NES classic last year knows how hard they were to find. With most stores sold out constantly and only getting small restocks every few months it caused many people frustration they most likely will not forget anytime soon. While preorders (at least at gamestop) at not up yet I cannot stress the value of preordering the device if you think that you might want it. With Nintendo this is always a low quantity of these available to preorder but it will cut out much of the headache involved in searching. Lets just hope there are more out there in the wild this time than the last go around.

Source~Kotaku 

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Xbox’s New Powerhouse System Invokes Old Naming Issues

The Microsoft press event for E3 has come an gone and boy was there a lot to go over in there. Now I do intend to go over everything slowly but surely but come on, there is only one thing we need to talk about right now. The Xbox Scorpio as it has been know for the last few years finally has an official name… And in classic Nintendo fashion I have no idea if it helps or hurts them. As it is now known, The Xbox One X looks to take the crown as the most powerful console that gamers can get their hands on which is a big deal. While They talked a lot about specs to really drive home this fact they seemed to not remember a lesson you would think they had learned.

Xbox loves trying to control your living space and often like to name the console accordingly. For instance the Xbox 360 was named that because of the fact it was meant to have ‘360’ media functionality. It’s ability to be used for gaming, music, movies, and so on was echoed in the name the was meant to showcase that fact. The issue of course came when you compared in to it’s main competitor PlayStation who simply did as they do and called their third console which lined up with that generation simply 3. Xbox’s desire to name more on what they want the console to do and not give in a more simple convention of course leads to some confusion. It becomes even worse when throwing parents that really don’t know the material into the mix.

This issue with naming has been shown in full force with this generation in a big way. Microsoft yet again went with intentions while naming their system with the Xbox One. It was intended as the all in one console for your living room (remember you can even hook your cable through it) as hence the name reflects it. Of course while both the Original Xbox and PlayStation are simply named those they have come to be known as simply one as well since that makes perfect sense, they were the first in their lines. Xbox’s naming choice yet again lead to confusion with many people, both gamers and parents (though nowhere near as much confusion that the Wii U created) as it almost sounded like people were upgrading backwards. Now that we get to the different versions we see that Microsoft loves to add a single letter to its console.  

First was the Xbox One S which stands for slim. While the PlayStation chose to spell out the word slim in the title. In all fairness this was not the worst choice made and arguably much easier to explain to a consumer than the actual console name itself. Adding S at the end really didn’t hurt in a naming capacity. So maybe the fact that that worked caused them to think that it would work again. Yes, I will agree that the letter X is strangely sexy I mean just look what it did for Mega Man. But yet again let's look at its competitor. The issue with all electronics is that no matter what you call it there will be some explaining that needs to go into the product. That being said Playstation 4 Pro does exactly what it needs to. It simply says it is the pro version of the playstation 4. The word pro in and of itself invokes something better than the standard so even with explaining most people go in expecting this fact.

X, as with Megaman, has been affixed to things in the past to denote a change or shift in the concept or and evolution. The issue with that is it really doesn’t invoke those as blatant as Microsoft might think. Yes, it shows that this xbox is different than the base version of it… But does it really invoke the power they are trying to show it has?  Genuinely I don’t feel that it does. To the person excited about this upgrade such as myself, name doesn’t matter. I know what the console is, what it does, and what I am getting. You can’t sustain your business on the fans that will simply buy your products though. You need to appeal to a mass audience and X just muddies the water.

This of course is just one man's opinion and please don’t think that I am not excited for it because I really am. What are your opinions of the new Xbox? Do you like the name? Do you intend to upgrade to it? I would love to hear from everybody on this.

The Xbox One X is due out on November 7th with Crackdown 3 in tow for all you Crackdown fans out there. For more on E3, 2017 keep it here on Digital Dilemma.

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Red Dead Delayed till 2018

Rockstar has always been known for taking its time with games. One of the many benefits of having a company with a long history as well plenty of money is being able to afford the time to help a product reach fruition on your own terms. Thus seems to be the case with their upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2. This should come as a shock for pretty much nobody but Rockstar has delayed the highly anticipated Red Dead Redemption into 2018, something that I personally have been saying would happen since it’s announcement.

Rockstar posted today the following:

‘Red Dead Redemption 2 is now set to launch Spring 2018 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans.

We are very sorry for any disappointment this delay causes, but we are firm believers in delivering a game only when it is ready. We are really excited to bring you more details about the game this summer. In the meantime, please enjoy this selection of new screenshots from the world of Red Dead Redemption 2.’

While this may come as a disappointment to some, the quality of work delivered by Rockstar in the past speak for itself when it comes to game delays in the past. It is important to take their new projected release window of ‘spring 2018’ with a grain of salt as well. As many might remember their previous title Grand Theft Auto V suffered multiple time frame delays before it was finally released.

To help salivate fan’s the news was released with several new screenshots of the game, adding a deeper look at it’s world:

For more on Red Dead Redemption 2 keep it here at digital dilemma.

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Night Trap Returns with a Remaster

If you have been gaming for more than a day chances are you’ve heard of a little game called Night Trap. First released by Sega for it’s Sega CD console, which was kinda a flop of its own, Night Trap was a polarizing hybrid of a horror film and a point and click adventure where as player uses video cameras to spy on girls having a sleepover in a house with vampires… And Ninja’s… I think… Upon release it was polarized due to it’s sexual themes and violence though keep in mind this 1992 and it is nowhere near as bad as anything we have today.

Regardless of it’s content today it was one of four games cited in the Supreme Court ruling that ultimately created the ESRB rating system we had have today. As the years have trucked on the game has gone from mostly mixed reviews to mostly negative. The story was bizarre, the acting atrocious, and the content unnecessary to say the least. Least of all the retrospect has caused many to view the game as sexist for its depiction of the woman as well as it’s original cover art. Regardless after the controversy waned the game released a multitude of re-releases to consoles like the 3DO, the 32x, and Mac. And Now, for no discernible reason, The Playstation 4 and Xbox One will be getting NIght Trap.

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of Night Trap (which you would be completely forgiven if you had no idea that was this year) The game returns with a re-release of the original game as it once offended all those years ago. This comes as a complete shock considering three years ago there was a failed kickstarter to do exactly this and, as said before, it failed. With the return of MST3K maybe the idea is to bank on the popularity of laughing at bad movies and the idea is to attract that crowd. Perhaps with Five Nights at Freddies so popular they feel Night Trap has a new market considering it basically did exactly that 20 years prior. Whatever the reason it might be cute just to revisit a classic lost in time, brought up in conversation after conversation about gaming.

Either way you can watch the latest trailer below:

The game will also have a physical release for the playstation 4. Though They have not confirmed how many will be made available they have confirmed it will be a limited run. The game will have 3 total cases inspired by three of the cover art's used during the games run as part of the throwback this game hopes to invoke.

Since this is kinda the most bizarre re-release ever I guess everything is on the table now. So what would you you all like to see re-released? And remember it can be anything because apparently anything can revive from the dead now. For all your remaster and Re-Release News keep it here.

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Code Vein Is Looking Pretty Cool

If you are a fan of Dark Souls, anime, or are just a straight up fan of Namco Bandai it might be time to start checking out Code Vein. This title is a new IP due out in 2018 and looks to be following a similar approach to Namco Bandai’s property Dark Souls however how much of a similarity the two share remains to be seen. The game does however seem to be delivering a challenging dungeon crawler in the vein of the previous title… And no, the pun was not intended.

Essentially if the title didn’t help guide you to this, you play as a vampire in this title. As a member of a revenant you are trying to survive in the desolate post apocalyptic landscape of ruined skyscrapers. Throughout the game your character will use Blood vials to drain blood from their enemies. This will also allow you to improve your powers which are referred to as ‘gifts’.

The Bandai Namco official synopsis states:

"In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world, as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity's past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity."

While that doesn’t go into too much detail on what the game will be it does pain a pretty cool picture. Since the game seems to be so close to release it states to reason we might begin to see more of it in the coming weeks, especially considering E3 is only two months away. If you had missed the teaser trailer for the project it will be posted below:

There is no official timeframe outside of ‘2018’ to expect this game but we will keep you posted when more information comes out.

Source~Gamespot

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

SNES Classic Might Soon Become A Thing

This month Nintendo pulled the plug on the hottest item of the last christmas, the NES Classic. Anybody working retail where tech is sold most certainly has a few stories and battle scars from answering nonstop calls about that machine that was over demanded and under delivered. It seemed like after the holiday maybe we would start to see a more stable stream of the machines hitting shelves but those dreams were dashed all too quickly into this year. However today we might have gotten a reason as to why the company chose to discontinue it.

According to a new report the NES Classic was discontinued to make way for a similar version of Nintendo’s next generation of classic’s with the SNES classic. According to sources close to Eurogamer (sources that have been correct on Nintendo info in the past) the new classic console will be released around Christmas this year, similar to the NES last year. Despite the leak there is still no word on how many or what titles will be included in the machine. One can only hope the controller it comes with is more practical than that of the NES Classic.

Nintendo had previously stated “NES Classic Edition wasn’t intended to be an ongoing, long-term product." That being said it is still had to defend the very low number that circulated after its initial release, especially given the extremely high demand.

source~IGN

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Destiny 2 is Happening

It's been a long, bumpy road from the FPS/MMO hybrid  from the creators of the Halo Franchise. While the game was always a solid shooting, the MMO aspects of the game took some time to finally get hammered out. After a multitude of DLC expansions that extended the story of the game (and re-releases of the game on disk now adding the DLC to the core) we finally have confirmation that Destiny 2 is in the works.

We have been getting a multitude of leaks since last year hinting that the project was in the works however both Bungie and Activision remained silent. Earlier this week was the first look at anything concrete with a leaked poster hinting at a release coming later this year in September. Today though the company has finally confirmed Destiny 2  with a photo on their twitter account.

pic.twitter.com/n1M4zdGE5K

— Destiny The Game (@DestinyTheGame) March 27, 2017

Though no release date was given it is hard to imagine we will not be seeing it in depth at E3 this year. Last year a similar thing occurred where Watch Dogs 2 from Ubisoft was leaked in the build up to the event and it also had a strong presence. For more on Destiny 2 keep it posted to right here at Digital Dilemma.

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

E3 will be ‘Big’ For nintendo this year

While the Switch is still in short supply to many people it is still hard to deny the impact it has had so far. The sales that the system has brought in so far seem on track to put at least Nintendo’s own Wii sales to shame and that is a big step in the right direction, especially when compared to the Wii U. The concept for combining both a handheld and console in such a way has also proved to be a smart move. While lacking in power compared to the other systems on the market taking advantage of the companies own foothold in the portable market allowed for forward momentum.

If you want to see my full thoughts on the Switch check out this video:

The biggest issue that the Switch has so far is a underwhelming library. This issue would not be as daunting going forward if this wasn’t one of the biggest issues with the Wii U as well. While the system has one major game right now (The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild) most of the physical games are re-releases of previously released titles. It also doesn’t help the next big title is also an updated version of the previously released Mario Kart 8. While there are titles like Splatoon 2 and Super Mario Odyssey coming up on the horizon with no real idea when those titles are coming other that a rough seasonal estimate it makes getting excited for those games more challenging than one might hope.

Outside of those first party titles Nintendo took plenty of time to show off exciting IP’s from other developers. Project Octopath Traveller from Square Enix, Shin Megami Tensei from Atlus, and even No More Heroes 3 from Grasshopper Studios all sound like great additions to the system from third party developers  which was a massive complaint lodged against Nintendo’s previous system. The issue is that while all these games sound good we have an even vaguer idea  as to when we can expect them. I have heard many places say that we can expect them 2017 as well it's more of hoping at this point.

That all brings us to now. Moving forward Nintendo knows that keeping the steady flow of games coming for the switch is important. It looks like the company is gearing up for a big E3 plan this year to really get the Switch started on the right foot. In a recent interview with Fox New’s Nintendo’s America President Reggie Fils-Aimes said that they will be showing off plenty of games for both the Switch as well as the 3DS handheld system. His full quote can be seen here:

“E3 is always a big time for Nintendo. We look at each E3 as a unique opportunity to tell our story. And we’re gonna have a big E3 this year. We’re going to be showcasing a variety of games. We will have experiences for… consumers will be able to attend the show for the very first time. So I’m not gonna tell you all of the various games and all of our little secrets for E3, but I can tell you that E3 is going to be a major opportunity for us to showcase not only Nintendo Switch, but also content coming to Nintendo 3DS.”

Last year at E3 nintendo devoted their usual Treehouse Direct to only two games, their new Zelda game as well as the latest Pokemon title. While Zelda looks like a serious contender for, if not already crowned game of the year their pokemon title also went on to massive praise as well. On the show Floor of E3 the only playable game they had was Zelda. While strategically focusing on Zelda was a smart move especially considering their behind the scene’s for toward paving the way for the switch, it was also concerning considering that E3 is hardly the place to present your future revolving around a single game no matter how good that game may be.

The other important part to note about Nintendo’s desire to bring the games to E3 this year is that for the first time in many years it will be open to the public as Mr. Fils Aimes mentioned. Maybe this played a hand in the choice or it might just be a happy coincidence but nintendo does very well with their booth. This means that there will be a large selection for gamers and press alike to get their hands on and try, seeing if nintendo’s forward moment with the Switch will be kept. I look forward to trying some of those games when I am at E3 later this year.

E3 will be held June 13th through to the 15th.

Source ~ Game Informer

Zack Barbier

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Namco Founder Passes Away at 91

Gaming in its early stages had many companies emerge to help drive the industry forward. One of the biggest names was none other than the Pac-Man studio of Namco. Today the industry mourns Mayasa Nakamura who passed away at 91 years of age only a few days after her January 22 birthday. The company announced his death today via a press release.

Nakamura started his career in the 50’s with Nakamura Manufacturing which designed childrens rides for malls. The company would later be renamed as Nakamura Arcade Machine Manufacturing Company which is shorted to make Namco. It wasn’t until the late 70’s that the company began developing arcade games such as its greatest success Pac-Man. During the merger of 2005 which would ultimately see the company become Bandai Namco he remained in an honorary position.

Watch a video talking about Namco here:

Currently games such as the Tales franchise as well as Tekken see release from the company.

Source ~ IGN

Zach Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Microsoft Officially Cancelled Scalebound

While this year looks to deliver on the promise of many great games it seems that Scalebound will not be making it on that list… Or next years list as it seems. Today Microsoft has officially cancelled the ambitious project created by Platinum Games. In an official press statement to IGN Microsoft stated “After careful deliberation, Microsoft Studios has come to the decision to end production for Scalebound. We’re working hard to deliver an amazing lineup of games to our fans this year, including Halo Wars 2, Crackdown 3, State of Decay 2, Sea of Thieves and other great experiences.”

The game was previously slated for the end of last year however it was pushed back “in order to deliver on our ambitious vision and ensure that Scalebound lives up to expectations.” However that this point it seems like that ambition was ultimately the death of the project. It had also been rumored that the project had been having some development issues since last year. However disheartening this news is Platinum games is the development team behind upcoming PS4 game Neir: Automata which will finally see release in March.

Source ~ IGN

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Podcast Dilemma episode 2

On Today’s Episode we discuss both the Nintendo Switch announcement as well as Red Dead Redemption 2.

Check it out below:

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Nintendo NX Has An Official Name

Nintendo has had a rough patch over the last few years. While its 3ds has continued momentum as the go to handheld system it’s home console the Wii U had been quickly outpaced by its competition. While the Wii U does have a good library outside of the usual first party games the system has failed to pick up a larger audience as the years went by. Then came the rumors of a new system to cut ties with what would be considered a financial flop despite how much I have enjoyed mine.

Today we finally got our first look at the fabled Nintendo NX or as it is know now the Nintendo Switch. The first thing that should be noted about this is that it will not be a Wii platform like the last two showing a push forward with this latest piece of tech. The second thing that should be touched upon were some rumors that this console might be a hybrid of on the go gaming and console and these turn out to be true.

The three minute trailer introducing the system had hit and miss moments. The concept is so bizarre and out of the box that doing the standard ‘showing people enjoying it’ didn’t do what I was hoping for. Basically the system has a base you attach to your tv and can play on your tv. However if you want to take it with you on the go there is a screen that sits in the crevice of the base that you can lift up and play anywhere. The commercial also implied without stating that it would seamlessly move your game onto the go screen when you remove it  but the PS Vita ruined my faith in the concept so I will wait and see. You can take this console anywhere though and with a screen the size of a tablet I don’t think it should be a hassle to play title such as the newest Zelda Game and Splatoon on the System. The commercial also boasted Skyrim: Remastered so Nintendo just made portable Elder Scrolls a thing.

The biggest issue I have with this newest console is the bizarre amount of parts to it. The controller looks like the Wii U’s controller except without the second screen.  However when you remove the go screen the ‘joy-con’s as they are called need to be removed from the controller and slid on to it. The commercial also boasted that players can game with their friends using  one ‘joy-con’ each. Since each piece is pretty much just one side of your Wii U pad this seems questionable. Since nobody really asked for this concept I also wonder what caused it. As much as the idea seem intriguing it is odd from a financial standpoint to essentially compete with themselves for the handheld market.

Check out the Nintendo Switch reveal trailer below:

The hybrid aspect of the system makes it hard to know how powerful the specs for the console will be. Nintendo in recent years have been much more interested in creating Innovative and original consoles more so than competing with the Sony or Microsoft. In that aspect the Switch definitely succeeds, I have never been more interested in a console concept. The Nintendo Switch is currently slated for March, 2017.

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Red Dead Redemption 2 Reveal Trailer Is Here

Rockstar has set the release date for Red Dead Redemption 2 as Fall 2017 but Rockstar has never been afraid to push a game to get it just right. If development started soon after the previous installment we might already be looking at a six year development time for this title. Regardless it should not be a long wait before we get to saddle up once more and ride into the american frontier.

All this week Rockstar games has been teasing their next installment of the Red Dead Franchise. Today we finally got our first glimpse the world crafted by the talented studio. Clocking in at only about a minute long at first the trailer might seem a tad underwhelming to those hoping to get a big feel for this game with all the hype behind this reveal. However this strategy has worked well in the past as Rockstar loves show new aspects on their own schedule; under-promise and over-deliver if you will.

If nothing else we get a vast look at the frontier that we will get to explore this time around. Since Rockstar has a long history of doing so it is fair to say if you could see it in this trailer then you can go there in the game. If one looks at it like that then it is safe to say the game will be massive. The sweeping vistas did a great job of showing the scope from a bird's eye view. We got to see large valleys, mountain ranges, and most exciting to me a long winding river. During oner clip we get to see two people canoeing along said river, hopefully hinting at possible modes of transportation or even the ability to swim  which was absent in the last game.

The world itself seems to be more modern than its predecessor. While you get to see a steam train riding the landscape which brings a level a familiarity to this entry we see alongside the many power lines bringing electricity with them. While the previous title was by no means set before electricity it was still untamed by modern conveniences. Since that was a story about the death of the ‘wild west’ in the backend of an era this story seems to focus on the holdouts from that era. Another indicator of this might be the oil fields also present as our possible protagonist rides past them. Now oil production in the west was present as early as the 1800’s but did John Marston see any? If they were absent in the first it was because that game attempted to show this way of life untouched. Now we are seeing the industrialization taking place.

The few towns we get to see show off a changing of the ages. We still see the classic general store and a carriage still things that should be familiar to us. Next however we see houses lined up closer together with telephone poles yet again present. Rockstar also makes a point as they often do to introduce THE people before introducing OUR people. We see these old timey frontiersmen juxtaposed with their surroundings feeling both in place and yet not. That being said we still get the western feeling that the last did so well. Riding horses through the countryside, farms and homesteads buried in large fields, animals wandering the wilderness. Whatever change the story looks to bring there is no reason to fear that this is not the Red Dead Redemption you fell in love with.

The only real story moment you get is the one line of dialog near the end. This is a trend for rockstar and often the most important piece of learning the theme of their upcoming game. A voice is heard stating ‘When the time comes… You gotta run and don’t look back. This is over’. While we hear this line we see the seven from the teaser images as they ride off into the sun. This begs the question. Are they your allies or are they your foes? It could be a bit of sagely advice you might expect from a western mentor but could it be more literal. The final part leads me to believe this is most certainly a conversation you will be having in the game. Though it could have double meaning to the above concept that the ‘wild west’ is now over as well but I may just be reaching. You can watch the full trailer and decide for yourself below:

Rockstar has set the release date for Red Dead Redemption 2 as Fall 2017 but Rockstar has never been afraid to push a game to get it just right. If development started soon after the previous installment we might already be looking at a six year development time for this title. Regardless it should not be a long wait before we get to saddle up once more and ride into the american frontier.

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Kojima Addresses The New Metal Gear Spin-off

During a Tokyo Games Show 2016 presentation for his newest project, Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima took the time to address Konami’s newest Metal Gear spin-off, Metal Gear Survive. The game, announced recently, features an alternative reality in which members of Big Boss’s army are transported after the events of Ground Zero’s. One of the major enemies players will be forced to battle against in this world are zombie like enemies referred to simply as ‘Biological Threats’. This combined with the focus on a co-op experience have left many fans of the series upset with this new game.

When asked about where this new direction for the franchise he created came from Kojima stated ““That’s nothing to do with me! The Metal Gear games are about political fiction and espionage, Where do zombies fit in with that?” The statement clearly shows an attempt to distance himself from the game’s direction. This makes sense considering the new direction in his Career as well. Kojima was also joined onstage by the former character and mechanical designer on the Metal Gear series, Yoji Shinkawa who added, jokingly “If I had worked on that game, it would have mechs in it.”.

Check out 15 minutes of gameplay for Metal Gear Survive below:

There is no current release date for the game yet though it is listed as 2017. It was also stated the game will not be a full price game, possibly being in the ballpark of $30.

Source ~ IGN

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Yakuza 6 drops loading screens

When Yakuza 5 and the prequel zero were finally confirmed to be coming stateside it was a very big deal. While the Yakuza series, Ryū ga Gotoku back home in japan, does not have a large following in america but the following it has is devoted. The story revolves around ex-yakuza Kazuma Kiryu trying to live a peaceful life yet always getting wrapped up in his old crime life. Yakuza 5 managed to tell five stories across five Japanese cities With five characters.

While the number of playable characters and cities that will be present in 6 are unknown we have gotten to see the team taking full advantage of the playstation 4 for their first true title on this generation (Yakuza Zero will release in US on PS4 but was originally for the PS3 in Japan). And now we are getting some news that has personally made me very happy. Yakuza 6 will be fully dropping loading screens. Toshihiro Nagoshi talked to IGN Japan and started “We’ve worked hard to make this game completely seamless, you can engage in the central adventure, get into battles, watch drama scenes, and go back to the adventure, all without any loading screens. Go into any building or any room or any floor without loading.”

Yakuza is a game baked into Japanese day to day life.  While the cities act as small slices that represent a district they have managed to be jammed packed with content that somebody who loves that culture can enjoy. Health lost can be healed at authentic japanese restaurants, club sega packs several arcade games including Taiko Drum Master and Virtua Fighter 2, you can drink at the bars or play pool/darts, and of course you have the hostess club each character can relax at. Exploring the city and integrating yourself within the world they create is a central part of the Yakuza Experience.

The team knew going into this game that changing these breaks in both story and exploration was very important moving forward with the series. Most of the budget for the title was used to build an engine from the ground up so that they could take full advantage of the hardware present in the PS4. For this reason they dropped plans of releasing a PS3 version since that would hold back the game. Toshihiro Nagoshi was quoted about the need for this by saying,“Loading is problematic for lots of reasons, including its effect on the realism of the story — let’s say you have a 60-second countdown to reach a location and stop an explosion, but when loading screens come in, how do we account for those seconds? How do we keep the pressure on? So we really pushed to make it seamless this time. That’s where a lot of the budget went, and it’s also the reason we did not make a version for PS3. The effect is that the player has the freedom to solve problems as they like, and the sub-quests themselves are presented in a seamless way.”

Check out a trailer for the game below:

The game has still not received official confirmation for release in america but given the last year it seems likely that it will. The latest entry in the series, a prequel set in 80’s Tokyo, Yakuza Zero will release Worldwide on January 24, 2017.

Source~ IGN

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Shuhei Yoshida Weighs In On No Man’s Sky

No man’s sky released a month ago to less than favorable reviews and severe backlash from the gaming community. Many players have accused Sean Murray of misrepresenting the final product in interviews leading up to the game's release. Other’s have pointed out the sixty dollar price point for a game made by a small indie team as unreasonable and not representative of the value of the final product.

Sony President Shuhei Yoshida has now weighed in on some of the issues surrounding the game. He was quoted in an interview to eurogamer as saying "I understand some of the criticisms especially Sean Murray is getting because he sounded like he was promising more features in the game from day one. It wasn't a great PR strategy, because he didn't have a PR person helping him, and in the end he is an indie developer."

Among the many issues lodged with the game, multiplayer was viewed with the most contention from gamers. Even though Shawn Murray did state in many interviews prior that the game was not multiplayer in nature he was very vague about the ability to interact with other players. He would often state that since the universe was so vast meeting other players was very unlikely but he maintained it was possible. However within the first two days this was found not to be the case. Another issue was his promise of multiple ship classes. After release the ships all seemed to be the same and only brought the value of inventory when getting a new one. These led to many refunds of the game, though the cases of refunds were blown greatly out of proportion.

Sean Murray has stated that they have heard the complaints about features that were not present or desired by gamers for the game. He and the team intend to add more content though he was quoted about being unsure if they will cost money, another thing he promised would not be the case throughout development. In response to whether Shuhei felt the game hurt Sony’s image he responded "I am super happy with the game actually, and I'm amazed with the sales the game has gotten, so I'm not the right person to judge if it has 'harmed' the PlayStation brand. I personally don't think so. If anything, I am proud that people can play No Man's Sky on PS4 as well as PC." It remains to be seen what the future holds for Hello Games and it’s space exploration game No Man’s Sky.

Source ~ IGN, Eurogamer

Zack Barbieri

[digitaldilemma-blog1]

Podcast Dilemma Episode 1!

We finally have our First Podcast up with many more to come!

This episodes topics include:

PS4 Pro as well as the PS4 Slim

Delays In The Industry

Steam Changes Review Policy

Come Check it out!