As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options
Binary Domain-New Title from SEGA/Team Yakuza-First Trailer
McGee
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Official Binary Domain Site: http://www.binarydomaingame.jp/
TEASER TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D1NNRsaXq4LQ
Release Date: TBA 2011
The team behind PlayStation 3′s Yakuza franchise has announced a brand new title in the latest issue of Famitsu. Binary Domain, as it’s named, is set in Tokyo during the year 2080 and has a sci-fi robot theme with a focus on competitive online multiplayer and high-level enemy AI. While the game is being developed in Japan, a few overseas staff members are also a part of the game’s development team.
Toshihiro Nagoshi, who’s working on the upcoming title, told Famitsu that they’re targeting a worldwide audience with Binary Domain. He also revealed that the concept for the game originally came to the team back when Yakuza 3 was in development.
Binary Domain takes place in Tokyo, 2080. The city is split into two sectors, one for the rich and one for the poor. The poor sector is reminiscent of Tokyo today, with some minor devastation here and there.
According to Nagoshi, a battle between man and robot is one of the key pieces to the story. While he couldn’t explain why this battle exists, he did say that robots are a big part of everyday life in 2080, even running the world’s main operations.
The game will feature a lot of heavy themes, revealed Nagoshi, according the theme of life, itself. It’ll make the player reconsider what their life actually means.
On the subject of overseas staff, Nagoshi said that there was a debate at first on whether or not the game should take place in Japan — considering it was targeting an international audience. They eventually decided on Tokyo because Nagoshi felt that its easier for someone who was raised in Japan to make a game involving deep human drama if the setting is Japan. He also believes that there is no point in having Japanese staff make a game if the setting is based overseas.
Binary Domain‘s voice work will all be done by overseas actors. The game’s cutscenes and the likes will be done by Japanese staff, however.
On gameplay, Nagoshi shared a few details. He said enemy AI will be at a level unseen by gamers before. The development team has done continuous research to assure the game’s AI is the highest level in the world. Regarding online, Nagoshi said it’s a big focus and that the player will feel a connection to other players. He didn’t dive more into detail.
Nagoshi Note to gamers:
SEGA is pleased to announce Binary Domain, an original squad-based shooter by Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator behind some of SEGA’s most well-known video game franchises, including the critically acclaimed Yakuza series. Binary Domain puts players in the middle of a fast-paced and intense battle for humanity in robot-invaded 2080 Tokyo. Fighting through the derelict lower levels of the city, players control an international peace-keeping squad that soon starts to question their surroundings and the choices they are making. Are the robots becoming more human, or are humans becoming more like machines?
Message from Toshihiro Nagoshi
Nagoshi-san has provided a description in his own words, that speaks to the overall game design and philosophy behind Binary Domain. Please read on:
Usually games have a simple theme, but if we aim to maximize the appeal of a game as interactive entertainment, we need to develop more sophisticated themes that tie into every aspect of the game. I have made many attempts to link a game heavy in drama to a highly enjoyable and immersive gameplay experience and with Binary Domain every setting and mechanic in the game is designed to revolve around “Life”.
To further visualize this idea, I started to create “Binary Domain”. The core concept of this game from the beginning is life; the project code name from the start was in fact “Inochi”, which means “life” in Japanese. The most distinctive way of differentiating a creature from a machine is “life”. However, we also know that machines can be given a form of life when created by man. Is it possible that the differentiation is becoming less clear and machines are actually becoming more like humans?
One of the key elements of this is the pursuit of strong and differentiated human AND robot AI. Aiming to have the world’s best AI was essential to bring a true realisation of the concept of life to the players, through the story and the action within the gameplay. The inclusion of online modes has allowed us to transform the game from a mere battle field into a field of survival.
Additionally, the game is set in Tokyo in the year 2080. This was important to realise the theme of life as it’s where we (the development team) are actually living as we tell the story of this drama. I decided to combine this with a deep human drama with science fiction, despite most science fiction games being cold and clinical.
Finally, and best of all, I am working with the Yakuza team who are all excited to take on this new challenge and we are hoping that the technique and pride developed on the Yakuza series will move up to a new level.
That’s all I can tell you now, but I’m sure the game will amaze you in the near future more than you could imagine.
Don’t miss it!
Toshihiro Nagoshi
Personally I think the game looks awesome. Yes it's cliched, and at times generic as hell. But I see alot of potential, especially with the twist at the end. Plus it's from the Yukuza team, and in them I trust. 8-)
McGee on
0
Posts
Not enough trust to resurrect this thread though I see! Demo is out now, looks interesting but I haven't tried it yet.
The default assault rifle doesn't feel that powerful, but you can't switch it out so you're stuck with it.
Hard was suitably hard on the second mission, have to reposition a lot and keep moving.
But yeah pretty generic from the demo anyway, apart from the French robot.
The dialog seems pretty cool, as if you have a bit more say in whats happening throughout the gameplay by pressing R2 and yelling out answers to stuff.
Seems like a good rental, Sega has a habit of publishing some really weird one-off IPs that end up being mindless fun (Vanquish, this). I heard the PS3 version is ass compared to the 360 (30 FPS vs 60 FPS) and I played the PS3 demo so I'm gonna give it another try later on 360.
This feels like it could be the "Ghost in the Shell" game that could've existed but for some reason no one bothered to make.
PSN ID: suzukaGongen
I'd say it's much, much closer to Gears of War. But yeah, I don't see it making anyone's must-buy list with all the big titles coming out. Definitely a solid rental, IMO.
And yeah, I guess it is a lot more like Gears than RE especially with the cover system, I just attribute that close-up 3rd person hulking cop aesthetic to Resident Evil anymore.
This is a demo now?
How come I've never even heard of this before?
...You made this thread over a year ago?
I feel like I've just been unthawed or something.
Is that a meat-tenderizer gun?
It's awesome shooting the legs out of a robot and watching him drag his torso across the ground to reach his gun and start firing on you.
Yeah, I'd like voice commands as well, but don't have a Kinect. If only there was some sort of device I could speak into that connected to my console somehow.
Maybe? Anyone?
Story wise this will be some WELL tread animoo ground. Japan is more guilty of the mil-porn tactical squad shit than america could hope to be its just their fetish transcends WWII and doesn't exclude Vietnam and post.
Expect Gears done "wrong" to certain expectations, much like Mindjack. Only lets hope wrong is the exotic differences of a different design based and gneral audience assumptions and not.. ya know crappy design and lack of Q and A
You can use your regular Xbox Live headset too, ala Rainbow Six in the good old days.
I didn't realize this game supported headsets too. I still stand by my joke though. Games like Mass Effect 3 with their Kinect-only voice commands are kinda ridiculous.
Man, the way the robots fall apart when they get shot is just BEAUTIFUL, honestly. All shattering metal and sparks
One of the things I really liked in Vanquish was that the killbots actually behaved like killbots, i.e. they would relentlessly flank and charge your position, not giving the slightest fuck about damage and invading your personal space without mercy, even making desperate last ditch self-destruct speedcrawls toward you. the Scrap-Heads here reminded me of that alot, which can only be a good thing.
I know it's a 'little' thing but I actually really like how your squad interacts/plans/speaks based on who you bring with you. I actually went through that first part a few times just to see all the different possible interactions.
PSN ID: suzukaGongen
And now I don't know what to think. Is it....is it noticeably bad? Is the FPS capped at 30 and dips well below that or is it locked at 30 or what? I'm not thrilled at all with the prospect of buying an inferior version of a game if it's clearly been done poorly.
It says PS3 seems to have some very small framerate issues but seems to use better anti-aliasing. Both of them run at 30 fps.
I really don't like that, but I'm not kidding anyone; I'll buy it anyway. And hope that it was either a demo problem or that if the framerate is really bad, it can be patched or something.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-24-binary-domain-review
PSN ID: suzukaGongen
Let me keep this simple.
If you like third-person shooters, cyberpunk, Metal Gear, games that are way more than the sum of their parts or any combination of the previous, DO NOT HESITATE TO PLAY THIS NOW. Buy, rent, whatever floats your boat, JUST PLAY THIS GAME.
Yes, "Binary Domain" is following familiar ground on several levels. That doesn't stop it from being FUCKING EXCELLENT. Is originality important in an increasingly stagnant industry? Yes. But when you can have the most unique/out-there/insane concept imaginable but the gameplay itself can't hold it up, something's gone wrong, and there is always something to be said for skillful execution over abstract flashiness. The "Yakuza" games themselves aren't really original either-- built upon the established beats of "Grand Theft Auto" and "Shenmue" in equal measure-- but damned if they aren't some of the finest examples of the sandbox game. And what Nagoshi has done here for the TPS is no different.
The campaign is meaty (a well-paced, satisfying 8-10 hours that actually CONCLUDES while still leaving open the possibility for sequels... that will never happen), the characters are actually well-developed, likeable and interesting, the story is involving and smartly written (even though, once you actually start to think about some of its concepts, they don't actually hold up as possible), some Kojima-worthy (from back when they were fun and interesting) plot twists, there are TONS of bosses that are challenging and fun to fight, excellent mechanical design and art direction, and lots and lots of some of the smoothest controlling combat I've seen from this genre.
I feel I shouldn't stress enough how damn good the AI here is too, for both allies (!!!) and enemies. I hardly ever had to worry about actually issuing commands, because your teammates will actually coordinate and play defensively and cover and keep themselves alive practically on their own. And enemy robots will actually use cover effectively and can behave in some interesting ways when backed against the figurative wall. Victory feels genuinely EARNED, and almost always worth it.
"Binary Domain's" one 'unique' contribution to the genre, the so-called 'Consequence' system, is itself borrowed from RPGs like "Sakura Wars," "Persona 3/4" and "Dragon Age" (essentially an 'X Approves/Disapproves' bar), but the impact it makes on some subtle path-branching, and how it weaves the gameplay and the characters together, really makes the whole game something special.
I think I can say, with no exaggeration, that I have never been as invested in the well-being of my AI teammates in a third-person shooter as I was with "BD's" Rust Crew.
Teammates react to your own skills, offer up different tactics that you may not get if they dislike you, and are quicker to take your advice if they trust you. It's a setup that both actively rewards talented players with better AI while also making the gradual bond between the initially standoffish/hostile team feel natural and believable. In essence, it's reactive character development with a degree of class we only rarely see in high-caliber RPGs, and MAYBE SOMETIMES in the shooter genre, restricted to static cutscenes.
I don't mean to ramble, but I really can't help it. I can't remember the last time a game got me this excited to instantly hop right back in after beating it, and the TPS hasn't had a shot of life like this since "Vanquish" completely raised the bar, and KNOWING this thing is going to be passed over and ignored not just because Mass Effect 3 is on the doorstep, but because it has the AUDACITY to resemble things that other people may have seen, has me deeply saddened and frustrated.
"Binary Domain" is a GREAT FUCKING GAME, and it DESERVES YOUR MONEY. And for mine, this is an easy contender for one of 2012's best games.
PSN ID: suzukaGongen
I need to go to Gamestop to pick up a copy of another game so if its there I may take the plunge.
I'll admit, Multiplayer is a 'little' weak, especially Versus. I've played some of it, and basically round 2 everyone just shoots rockets at the ground near your cover and kill you.
The Horde Mode, I actually like a lot. We just need John Connor and Ah-nuld in there and it's like playing a badass terminator game. It is eminatly more enjoyable playing with people that talk on the frikin headphones and you can actually bark tactics to each other instead of using the canned voice options.
This Horde Mode is intriguing as well because there is only so much ammo laying on the field for FIVE WAVES. You have to make your shots count in the later waves of horde (more/smarter enemies). That being said about smart enemies, these things behave like robots and killbots. If there are two humans alive, you can get some pretty intriguing tactics to work that would slay you against a grub from gears.
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
If you have your volume turned up on your sound system, the game will start having conversations... with itself.
Bo got into a loop of yelling at himself when the voice chat caught the tail end of something he was saying, and it was actually quite funny.
I have a weak spot for Appleseed and Metal Gear, and so this is looking more and more like digital catnip to me.
Here's the giantbomb quick look:
http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-binary-domain/17-5793/