PAX West Impressions of Necrobarista by Route 59
Last month at Pax West in Seattle I had the pleasure of sitting down with Route 59’s Justin Kuiper, writer behind their upcoming PC and Switch title Necrobarista. The game is a visual novel set in a “supernatural cafe where the living come to mingle with the dead.” The team is set in Melbourne, Australia, and they are taking their visual novel to a level that most developers do not by making it a 3D world with optional point and click exploration, which you can use to gain more insight on the characters and world. According to Justin, the concept and gameplay came before the storyline did. They wanted to make an immersive three dimensional visual novel like gamers have not seen before. The drive behind the story was simply that they wanted to tell the stories that could come out of a cafe in which the dead are given the chance to live for awhile longer. The overall idea is interesting, and once you actually get in the game you are captivated almost instantly by the mysterious barista Maddy and the shady characters around her. I was left wanting to know more about her and why she is making deals with the dead in the basement of a cafeand I still think about where the story will go often. Needless to say, Necrobarista is a title that I am very eager to play when it releases. While I spoke with Justin, he placed a lot of emphasis on how “games are good at providing atmosphere,” and that Route 59 is very specific about the setting of Necrobarista. I had to agree with him because it is difficult to become deeply involved in a game with shallow settings and poor atmosphere. Look at titles like Silent Hill, Dead Space, or Fallout. The atmosphere sets the story, and gets the player captivated in integrated into that game’s world. There is no mystery in a world that cannot provide a lingering sense of the unknown. Though Necrobarista is not a “horror” title, even after being told by Justin that is not a scary game I could not help but feel on edge but I did not know what this world was all about, or why the cafe had such an eerie and important feel to it. And this most certainly was not a bad thing because it meant that the developers are doing exactly what they are promising- providing atmosphere. I played Necrobarista on a laptop while at Route 59’s booth, but I am eager for the Nintendo Switch release because I truly enjoy titles that allow me to just lie back and push a couple of buttons while a story plays out before me. It is like watching a film or reading a book, but visual novels allow for a unique sense of involvement. We see a lot of visual novel style games in Japan, so it is always exciting to see a western developer dive into the genre. Necrobarista has four core team members working on its production, and their passion and devotion shows in the game, even while just playing a demo. Necrobarista hits PC and the Nintendo Switch early 2018. Last month at Pax West in Seattle I had the pleasure of sitting down with Route 59’s Justin Kuiper, writer behind their upcoming PC and Switch title Necrobarista. The game is a visual novel set in a “supernatural café where the living come to mingle with the dead.” The team is set in Melbourne, Australia, and they are taking their visual novel to a level that most developers do not by making it a 3D world with optional point and click exploration, which you can use to gain more insight on the characters and world. According to Justin, the concept and gameplay came before the storyline did. They wanted to make an immersive three dimensional visual novel like gamers have not seen before. The drive behind the story was simply that they wanted to tell the stories that could come out of a café in which the dead are given the chance to live for awhile longer. The overall idea is interesting, and once you actually get in the game you are captivated almost instantly by the mysterious barista Maddy and the shady characters around her. I was left wanting to know more about her and why she is making deals with the dead in the basement of a café, and I still think about where the story will go often. Needless to say, Necrobarista is a title that I am very eager to play when it releases. While I spoke with Justin, he placed a lot of emphasis on how “games are good at providing atmosphere,” and that Route 59 is very specific about the setting of Necrobarista. I had to agree with him because it is difficult to become deeply involved in a game with shallow settings and poor atmosphere. Look at titles like Silent Hill, Dead Space, or Fallout. The atmosphere sets the story, and gets the player captivated in integrated into that game’s world. There is no mystery in a world that cannot provide a lingering sense of the unknown. Though Necrobarista is not a “horror” title, even after being told by Justin that is not a scary game I could not help but feel on edge but I did not know what this world was all about, or why the café had such an eerie and important feel to it. And this most certainly was not a bad thing because it meant that the developers are doing exactly what they are promising- providing atmosphere. I played Necrobarista on a laptop while at Route 59’s booth, but I am eager for the Nintendo Switch release because I truly enjoy titles that allow me to just lie back and push a couple of buttons while a story plays out before me. It is like watching a film or reading a book, but visual
Remember Roller Coaster Tycoon? Atari & Game Creator Chris Sawyer Bring it Back on Steam
This morning publisher and producer Atari, along with original game creator and publisher Chris Sawyer announced the release of Roller Coaster Tycoon Classic on Steam. It promises to bring back the best features of the two most beloved games from the series, Roller Coaster Tycoon and Roller Coaster Tycoon 2. The Classic version includes the Wacky Worlds and Time Twister expansion packs, as well as the Scenario Editor Toolkit add-on. Build and manage your theme park as you see fit, build crazy roller coasters that either draw in the crowd or throw them off of the ride to their doom, and play through various scenarios to keep yourself busy. Inspired by the success of Roller Coaster Tycoon Classic on mobile, Chris Sawyer said that he is surprised that so many people still appreciate his games, including the classic gameplay, and he is proud to bring them back to the players on Steam today.
Sims fans rejoice- Cats & Dogs expansion coming to The Sims 4 this fall!
I am an unashamed Sims fan. Have been for over 14 years, and nothing has changed for me since the original Sims on PC. I buy the expansions, blow my paychecks on the stuff and game packs, and spend countless hours at my desktop or in bed on my laptop amusing myself with little virtual people. What makes these virtual people better is when they have their own virtual pets you can take care of and enjoy, without the mud on your carpets or having to pick up after them on walks. Pets has been the most loved expansion in the Sims franchise since Unleashed was released in November 2002. While The Sims 4 is always expanding and adding new packs and gameplay, the fanbase’s biggest complaint has been the lack of a pets expansion. Well, now we wait no longer! Er… well, after November 10, 2017 we wait no longer. During the EA live stream at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany this morning, while a “Sim Guru” from the Maxis team was mentioning the upcoming releases for The Sims 4 on console and the all new Sims Mobile, she brought out internet famous pup @Jiffpom. While he was looking adorable as always, she talked about the upcoming Cats & Dogs expansion pack, due this fall. The trailer shows all breeds and mixes of kitties and puppers, and their loving owners doting on them. New to the Sims pets expansions are outfits! We have always had collars to choose from, but now we have bandanas, shirts, and costumes, because who doesn’t want to match Fido while out on the town? Jiffpom was more than happy to show off how adorable a pet can look in clothing while sporting his own Sims plumbbob t-shirt. Many Sims fans remember the color wheel from The Sims 3, where you could make any item, clothing, or even your sims hair and eyes literally any color imaginable. The Sims 4 simplified things by going back to set color options like The Sims 2, but it seems the wheel is coming back, at least some form of it. The trailer briefly shows pet coats being customized using a brush, which was shown more during the live stream. We currently do not have full details on this create-a-pet feature, but can expect to hear more soon. It was also announced that, as usual, your cats and dogs will have traits of your choosing and behave accordingly. Of course, rather than creating your perfect pet, you can adopt a stray and figure out its traits and quirks on your own! Gameplay features from the trailer show a new world, complete with docks and boats chilling in the water, animals interacting with each other (wait, was that a fox?!), and of course Sims enjoying their best friends. It even includes the touching story of a little girl with a puppy, showing her with the dog through each stage of her life before finally they are at the vet’s office- a NEW feature to the Sims franchise- and the dog looks old, and both the vet and the owner look sad. Sounds like we are in for some real heartbreak with this pack. On the subject of a veterinarian, that is a career I have been seeking after in the Sims games for over a decade. To make it better, it will be what is considered an “active” career in which you join your Sims on their workday, like the law enforcement, science, and medical careers from The Sims 4: Get a Job expansion pack. You can even own your own clinic, hire Sims to work for you, and help everyone’s critters. This feature alone makes this pack a must have for me. The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs is available for preorder on Origin now for $39.99, and preorders will be available to install the night before release. How ready are you and your Sims for a house full of pets come November 10, 2017?
Mental health gaming charity "Take This" receiving support from makers of The Town of Light
The publisher and developers of the psychological first-person adventure game The Town of Light, Wired Productions and LKA.it are teaming up with the phenomenal mental health charity Take This. The charity aims at mental health within the gaming community, and provides information on many disorders, and aid to those who live with anything from post-traumatic stress disorder to depression. Take This is partnered with major companies such as GameStop, IGN, PAX, and E3, and is sponsored by Ubisoft, EA Games, Bethesda, and many others. They bring awareness to mental health issues in order to fight the social stigma behind them, provide help and advice, make it easier to attend events such as PAX with their much loved “AFK Room” for anyone with mental or emotional disorders to unwind and get away from the crowd, and support games that portray mental health or help people to relax and cope. “It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.” – takethis.org As of today, August 16, until September 6, just after the end of PAX West 2017, it has been announced that all copies of The Town of Light sold on any platform will have 25% of the proceeds donated to help Take This with their amazing charity. “Take This advocates for mental health awareness and provides “safe places” at conventions and expositions, so anyone, especially those suffering from mental health emotional issues, can find peace and regain calm nearby the often hectic show floor. Online, Take This offers a multitude of educational resources for those directly affected as well as their families, friends, and coworkers. Proceeds from The Town of Light will directly improve Take This’ ability to offer these life-saving programs and resources.” – UberStrategist Inc. The Town of Light is a popular first-person game that explores psychological issues. It is historical in nature, recreating a real institution from early 20th century Italy. You play as 16 year old Renee, who is locked up in the hospital for reasons she does not understand. As you explore the world and make choices through her eyes, the developers promise that you will be blown away by the way the story plays out. I have not yet played The Town of Light but it is certainly at the top of my list now, and this is the perfect time to buy it since it helps Take This with their work in killing the social stigmas behind mental illness. “The Town of Light, because of the themes of mental health within the game and its grounding in reality, starts the conversation,” said Leo Zullo, Managing Director, Wired Productions, “Our duty is to stand together and continue that conversation, not only to ensure that we dispel the stigma around mental health, but also to ensure that those who feel alone know that they are not, and are given the help they often desperately need. This promotion, alongside our extended campaign for awareness, form only a small part of a much greater picture, but we hope they will touch many lives.” I personally have spent years fighting with PTSD, general anxiety disorder, panic, and depression, as well as physical disability and illness. Take This is very important to me, and I can guarantee I will need to make my way to their AFK Room at some point during my time covering PAX West 2017 in Seattle. I have no shame in admitting this, because I know that I am not alone, not just in the world, but in the gaming community and industry as a whole as I struggle with my differences from others. If anyone gets anything out of the upcoming projects I am doing on mental and physical issues and being a gamer, working in media, or simply attending events, I hope that it is that we are not disabled, only different. The work of Take This and developers and publishers like Wired Productions and LKA.it using real mental issues in gaming to shed light on what some of us go through, and why we love video games so much, is simply incredible. It helps with research to understand the various mental health issues in the world so that more people can be treated, and it aids in reducing the problems with social stigma that some of us deal with from those who do not have to suffer through these health issues. Take This is out there to show how very real mental health problems are and to educate everyone on how to approach mental illness, cope with it, and help friends and family in need. If you are looking to purchase a game soon, please download The Town of Light between now and September 6, and help Take This save lives, and make gaming and events fun for everyone. You can always donate at anytime to Take This here- http://www.takethis.org/donate/
Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Ring getting latest Xbox update today
The Xbox One update that has been in review is finally available to Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Ring as of today and will be available to other rings in the coming weeks, and to every Xbox One user in the fall. Xbox Live programming director Larry Hryb, better known by fans as MajorNelson on Xbox and Twitter, released the update to the Insiders today along with a public look at what is to be expected from this update. The new version of Xbox One Home will be customizable, with a faster, easier to use guide and community. Insiders can now choose what they see on their Home when their Xbox is turned on, and has a new flowing feel and look that they are calling Microsoft Fluent Design. Favorite games and friends can be added to Home, instead of pinned all the way at the bottom, and adds them in blocks that you can arrange, remove, or replace as your interests and favorite games change. The new update is designed to make it faster and easier to find your recent and favorite games, friends and clubs, and even see cool stuff like what your next suggested achievement is in the game you play the most. It looks sleek, stylish, and like a great improvement on the current Home system on the Xbox One. They are actually listening to suggestions from players, and utilizing the power of the system to make a pretty badass Home setup. Those of us not in the Alpha Ring will gain this update in the fall, along with the previously announced new avatars, profiles, and game hubs, for both Xbox One and Windows 10. This is an update to be excited for and should be here in time for the monstrous new Xbox One X console. Source: majornelson.com
Persona 3 & Persona 5 getting titles like Persona 4's Dancing All Night
In light of the success of developer Atlus’ spinoff title Persona 4: Dancing All Night, a Japanese rhythm game like the Hatsune Miku series, fans even outside of Japan have been anticipating and asking for a version for Persona 3, and more recently, the still new Persona 5. It turns out that Atlus has been listening to their fans and announced the upcoming releases of both Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The previous title was only available on the Vita, so it is exciting to know the new ones will be on console. Personally, I am hoping for remote play access so I can play on both systems if I want to. I I know what you are thinking. “Great, they are milking the series with more ridiculous spinoffs.” A lot of us feel that way when titles like this are released, but let me tell you that Persona 4: Dancing All Night is an amazing game. I happen to own a Vita, mostly for Persona 4: Golden, so I picked up the collector’s set that included the soundtrack. The music is from the original and Golden versions of the game, but with different remixes to allow some funky dance music for the Investigation Team to get down to. And it works surprisingly well. I do not like music games, I do not care for rhythm games… but, this is the only, only, title I have ever hit Platinum on. I could not stop playing it, to the point I was listening to the CD to and from work to get the beats memorized so that I could beat the harder levels of each song. Short version: I am extremely excited about these two titles. The only thing that throws me off about the announcement is Persona 4 and Persona 5 open with the characters dancing. Even in the dark times, their world is inviting, fun, and personal. The world of Persona 3 is depressing, dreary, and downright dark. So I have trouble with the idea of the emo P3 protagonist (whom I love, by the way) dancing the night away to the hip hop tunes of the original PlayStation 2 game. Perhaps it is because the trailer shows him doing more than walking around with his hands in his pockets. I am eager to see how it goes, and I am sure that Aigis dancing will be the best part of the game. Besides, who doesn’t like to get down to Burn My Dread? https://youtu.be/07SaDEE3fZk The P5 protagonist is a natural dancer. The trailer shows him and a few pals showing off their moves, just as smoothly as they infiltrate a Palace. With the unique acid jazz soundtrack of the main game, I can imagine that it will make for some great dance tracks. I just hope that Goro Akechi gets a full role and is not a DLC character like Marie and Adachi were for Persona 4: Dancing All Night. Judge me all you want, but I adore Akechi. https://youtu.be/UWxTtyZWrs8 The titles of the two games are a little different. Surprisingly, they did not just stick with the Dancing All Night moniker. These new games are going to be called Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night. The Moon in the Persona 3 title certainly makes sense if you have played the original game, or even the FES or PSP versions. Much more interesting than the titles, is seeing the S.E.E.S. crew in updated 3D stylization like with Persona 4: Dancing All Night and Persona 5, the latter of which was insanely beautiful. It would be amazing if they used the aesthetic style of Persona 5 in both of these dancing games. I think we can assume that these two titles will be an even bigger hit than the first, because it is coming to PlayStation 4 and not just the Vita, which many western gamers have pushed aside in favor for the PS4 and Nintendo’s handhelds. Between the beloved characters, excellent soundtracks with countless remix possibilities, and the opportunity for DLC outfits like with P4:DAN, these will be spinoffs that any Persona or rhythm game fan will not want to miss. Slated for a Spring 2018 release in Japan, we have no word yet on when the localization will be. Hopefully some time before next fall.
Pokemon Go's Legendary Mascots are Limited Time Only- Articuno Ending July 31st
With the success of the new gym raid system, Niantic has finally introduced legendaries with Lugia and Articuno. But here is the catch- they are limited time only. It is unknown if Lugia is here to stay or if it is soon disappearing, but Articuno, mascot of Team Mystic, for sure will be gone on Monday July 31st. (Good thing I finally caught one today!) Beginning the 31st you can catch the mascot for Team Valor, Moltres, until August 8th, then starting the same day until August 14th you can find Team Instinct’s mascot Zapdos. Pokémon Go’s Facebook page teases other legendary beasts such as the famous Mewtwo in a live action video. Better get out there and get your Articuno and Lugia as soon as possible, cause remember you gotta catch ’em all! https://www.facebook.com/PokemonGO/#
New Battlefield Title Confirmed for 2018
During the latest financial call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson said that there will be a new title in the Battlefield series next year and that EA and DICE will “continue delivering for our Battlefield fans, including the next great game in the franchise.” No further details have been released so far, but speculations are already talking about World War II to compete with Call of Duty, or even just an improvement on the previous Battlefield 4. We will update on any future news on this mysterious new title.
KFC and Mountain Dew team up to bring you the Gamer's Box 2.0
“Remember being told not to play with your food?” Well, apparently nobody told Kentucky Fried Chicken or Mountain Dew because they are coming out with a box of chicken, that comes with a can of soda, and the sides of the box are legitimately a game controller. The top has a spot for your phone, so it’s like a greasy, bulky Switch for use only with mediocre pay-to-play games. BUT it is an interesting and unique idea, the only downfall being that it is only available in India. Why do countries in Asia always get the cool/weird fast food concepts? Not fair, say I! The part that I found most interesting is the fact that it is called the Gamer’s Box 2.0. When was there a 1.0 and why have we not heard of it? What other wacky ideas is KFC cooking up in India? The western world may never know. But if you really want one of these limited edition chicken boxes, they are selling on sites like Amazon for upwards of $75.00 USD.
Final Fantasy XV's Regalia coming to Forza Horizon 3 on August 1st
Final Fantasy and racing fans alike, rejoice! The beautiful, beloved Regalia that we know as the primary mode of transportation for Prince Noctis and his pals is coming to Forza Horizon 3, free for those who own or have played FFXV and/or FH3 on their Xbox One. While it does not come with Ignis to drive it for you, it looks just as sleek and beautiful as it does in FFXV, if not more so thanks to the realistic engine and graphics utilized by Forza. The car will be added through a code sent out either through Xbox Live messaging, or Forza Horizon 3’s in-game messaging system. “With its massive heft, intricate body details, and luxurious interior, the Regalia is a unique addition to the world of Forza Horizon 3.” – https://news.xbox.com/2017/07/28/ffxv-regalia-coming-to-fh3/#F6LI7xIvpvZXALkc.99 Final Fantasy XV developers that worked on the design for the Regalia claim that most of their inspiration when creating a road-trip-like game was Forza Horizon 2, which released for Xbox 360 and Xbox One in 2014. Seven feet wide, and 21-feet long, the Regalia is a beast of a car and many of us know how smooth it is to drive through the lands of Eos while joining the Prince’s crew on their journey, so imagine how much fun it will be to cruise around the cities and wilds of Australia when it comes to Forza Horizon 3 on August 1st. For more on the relationship between SquareEnix and the Forza Motorsport family, read here: https://www.forzamotorsport.net/en-us/news/hma_7_28_17
