News by Lindsay M. and Matt S.
Welcome to Digitally Downloaded’s regular catch-up news feature. With each issue we will bring you the best news that you may have missed. Grab the biggest mug you’ve got, fill it with your favourite brew, and catch up with us (and our favourite news anchor, Dee Dee)!
There have been a handful of staff changes at Studio Ghibli
By Lindsay M., News Editor
With Studio Ghibli’s production department back in full swing following Hayao Miyazaki’s un-retirement, there were bound to be some changes. This week, the company announced a new president, chairperson, and museum/foundation director.
Taking over the role of president is Kiyofumi Nakajima, formerly the Ghibli Museum director. Former president Koji Hoshino is now chairperson for Studio Ghibli. The studio’s trifecta of representative directors remains instant, with Toshio Suzuki continuing as a producer.
Moving away from the men’s club, with Nakajima leaving the Museum that left a spot open. Enter Kazuki Anzai, who was formerly in charge of exhibition planning. She began with the company back in 1998 and was involved with the museum opening, making her the perfect candidate for the job. Her official title is “Director of the Ghibli Museum and Tokuma Memorial Cultural Foundation for Animation;” a mouthful, sure, but as someone who studied art theory and history I can’t imagine a more exciting career!
We have a release date for The Longest Five Minutes!
By Matt S., Editor-in-Chief
More like the longest two months-and-a-bit. That’s how long we’ll be waiting to get our hands on The Longest Five Minutes, a new game being published by NISA for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, and PC on February 13 (February 16 in Europe). We say it’s a long wait because this game looks so incredibly delightful.
The game makes a gameplay mechanic out of one of the most over-used tropes in all JRPGdom – the amnesia story hook. So often characters don’t remember who they were prior to the adventure starting. In this case, the adventure’s nearly over and the characters are in combat with a demon lord… and the hero forgets everything. So you need to help him pick back over his memory to put events back together to the situation he finds himself in there and then.
Beyond the charming scenario, the game has gorgeous retro-styled art and what looks like a great sense of humour. It looks like it won’t take 2018 long at all to get going.
Our favourite digital board game is getting a boxed release
By Lindsay M., News Editor
How many copies of Armello can one person own? Thanks to a pending physical release of the digital board game, it will be at least one more than what you currently have. The game’s boxed edition will be available in stores on March 13, 2018. Sorry you can’t put it on your wish lists for this year!
Armello’s special boxed edition will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. In addition to a copy of the game, it will include a physical soundtrack.
The title is fairy tale meets tabletop game… and pirates! Y’arr matey! *Ahem.* A new map is generated with each new game, creating a turn-based strategy board game that is just addictive. Matt’s review for the PlayStation 4 version of Armello can be read here. https://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2015/09/review-armello-sony-playstation-4.html
Indie devs announce Parkasaurus; it’s Theme Park but with dinosaurs
By Matt S., Editor-in-Chief
I really love simulation games. I play ‘em all; Rollarcoaster Tycoon on my iPad, Aven Colony and Cities: Skylines on my PlayStation… but one thing has been missing. A simulation game about creating a zoo… but for dinosaurs. Like Jurassic Park but with less Jeff Goldblum (and fewer rampaging dinos).
Luckily Washbear Studio is here to scratch that itch with Parkasaurus. This is a truly indie game (the trailer video tells us just two people made it), but it’s looking mighty fine and charming already, with colourful dinosaurs, all the theme park options you could want, and even a bit of shooter action when you get the sleep pellets out because a dino has broken out of his enclosure.
The best bit is that the game itself isn’t actually that far away; it launches in early 2018 on Steam. No word about a console release yet (it would be so perfect for Nintendo Switch), but no doubt, as indie developers, the team would like to just get one platform out there and earn some money before even thinking about the next. I really wish ‘em well on this one. It looks like it has a lot of soul.
