DoDonPachi Resurrection Quick Look
DoDonPachi Resurrection will premiere on Steam October 14, a title previously exclusive to Japan. Here Fred takes a look at the initial stages and describes basic gameplay. This footage was captured at 4K/UHD resolution (3840×2160) and then downsampled to 1080p.
This quick look was originally posted on The B-Team Podcast (www.thebteampodcast.com) and have partial co-ownership with this site. This is re-posted with permission.
The Silver Case Now Available in English on Steam
Suda 51 (Goichi Suda) is a developer who, as his name suggests, thinks outside the box. His notable titles include Killer 7, No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned, and Lollipop Chainsaw. I am also personally a big fan of Michigan: Report from Hell and Sine Mora as well. One of the first titles he wrote and directed was a visual novel/mystery title called The Silver Case that released on the Playstation. Unfortunately it never got localized (or fan translated) and thus has never been available in English, until now. I’m told the gameplay is similar to Snatcher or Policenauts (without shooting sequences) but that Suda’s distinct sense of style and crazy plot are present. It also has a fantastic soundtrack, which is also available on Steam.
This localized and overhauled title is available now on Steam with a retail price of $19.99 (and 10% off for an initial block of days). There is a free demo available and we hope to get you a quick look in the upcoming days.
Pocast: Licensed Horror Games
Horror video games are definitely abundant, but in the grand scheme they can be seen as somewhat niche. As a child we used to think licenses would enhance games, which most of the time didn’t work out. Fortunately it’s not all bad news for licensed horror games so Fred and Jam tackle the different titles that came out.
Famicom Classic Edition’s 8 Exclusive Games and How They Compare to the NES Classic Edition
The Famicom (Family Computer) Classic Edition is Nintendo’s Japanese version of the NES Classic Edition mini console. It contains 30 games as well, but eight games are exclusive to the console. Fred briefly delves into those region specific games and then briefly compares the list to the NES Classic Edition.
Dissecting Nintendo’s Famicom Classic Edition (Mini) Differences
This week, Nintendo announced the Eastern component to the NES Classic Edition (or NES Mini) that most of us knew were coming. Nintendo did allow some hands on time and offer new information on the NES Classic that will probably apply to the Famicom Classic as well, so check that link above if you haven’t already. The delightful Famicom Mini is officially called the “Family Computer Classic Edition” and it appears to be quite similar to the Western version save for the obvious aesthetic difference, but also with some details and games. Like the NES Classic Edition it will contain 30 games, it does not accept cartridges, and it will retail for ¥5980 (which at time of writing is literally $59.80). Those of you already hoping to import should expect international shipping to be approximately $20-$30 depending on the speed of shipment and retailer. I’ve already checked and no one currently has it on pre-order, although some bigger import sites do have pages for it, but I suspect it will not have a supply problem as the price point for these consoles suggests it needs to sell a large quantity.
Now there are some notable differences that you should be aware of. Of course the games will all be the Japanese counterpart and contain the Japanese versions, but the universal HDMI out means that any HDTV worldwide should easily support either console. On the other hand the USB power supply is not included in the Family Computer Classic Edition and can be purchased for ¥1000 ($10) if needed. Those picking up both versions can most likely use the included NES Classic Edition cable and it’s probably the common micro-USB plug type. Also the Famicom Mini, like the original Famicom, has two controllers wired directly into the console and are not removable. As for games, 8 titles are unique to each region, so 22 of these titles are on both consoles. Here’s a quick list of those and you can expect a video of these region specific titles coming soon.
Podcast: Donkey Kong 64 Game Club
Donkey Kong 64 has got to be one of the most divisive titles to be released both by Rare and on the Nintendo 64. Depending on how you came to play it, you either love it or hate it. While Jam had tackled this title back when it released, even getting the coveted 101% completion, Fred had never touched it. Thanks to listener Blake (jedislurpee) we played through the game in its entirety and go back to dissect the development, gameplay, and key factors of a title that probably gets more hate than it deserves.
Podcast: Project Reality
It’s been nearly 20 years since the Nintendo 64 (N64) premiered in the United States. Aside from being Nintendo’s third console, it marked a lot of major changes for both the company and the industry as a whole. Fred and Jam look back on the console that started as Project Reality and eventually became one of the influential pioneers of 3D polygonal gaming.
Podcast: The Astyanax or Lord of the Kings
Developer Aicom had a slew of interesting titles in the late 80s and early 90s, one of which was called The Astyanax or Lord of the Kings in Japan. Oddly enough the game also had one of those infamous ports to the NES that changed and extended the original arcade concept, which Fred loved as a kid. In this episode Jam and Fred discuss their discovery of the arcade original and a replay of the Nintendo port.
Gaming Tech 101 Episode 3: 4K and UHD
Now the biggie, Ultra HD or 4K TVs. Fred gets into it all: what’s changed, what is 4K resolution, what is HDR exactly, and why should we all care. He also adds tips to look for when buying a TV and most importantly, what the new consoles (and PCs) are doing with 4K and HDR. Note: Already a correction. Rise of the Tomb Raider does not currently support HDR on either Xbox One or PC, however Crystal Dynamics has claimed a patch is in the works. As far as I can tell no games on PC support HDR at this time and NBA2K17, releasing Friday, Sept. 16th, will be the first game to support HDR on XB1 and PS4 thanks to a day one patch. We still won’t know how true that is until it releases.
Gaming Tech 101 Episode 2: HDTV
In this second part Fred talks about the principle changes to High Definition TV (HDTV) including the formats, resolutions, and options that are most common today. He also discusses many factors involved in your HDTV that you may not be aware of and may want to pay attention to.
Gaming History 101 