News by Lindsay M.
Welcome to Digitally Downloaded’s weekly news feature, Catch-up coffee Monday. Each Monday we will bring you the best news from the previous week 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)!
New details emerge for Nintendo’s next mobile games
Nintendo has announced that its next venture into mobile gaming will be with two upcoming games, Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing. There are no specifics known to date, but Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima has been dropping hints. For one, he has reiterated that it would be a mistake to “simply release out game titles in their current form on mobile devices;” we don’t expect to see any direct ports, but that does leave room for ports that expand on current gameplay features. Speaking of Fire Emblem, Kimishima acknowledged that games in the series are usually quite difficult but emphasized that the upcoming Fire Emblem for mobile devices will be more accessible while still providing a full RPG experience. For Animal Crossing, it is important to Nintendo to make a connection between the mobile game and Animal Crossing on gaming systems.
Sailor Moon Crystal’s English-dubbed release slated for August
Let’s get one thing out of the way: I gobbled up Sailor Moon Crystal while subtitled like no tomorrow. Everything I loved about my childhood came rushing back, with memories of playing Sailor Jupiter in my small backyard seeming like they occurred yesterday and not twenty years ago. That being said, sometimes I don’t want to read what I am watching — and that’s why I am so excited for this release. Viz Media will be releasing Sailor Moon Crystal Set 1 – The Dark Kingdom on August 16. Offered in three options (DVD, Blu-ray/DVD, Blu-ray/DVD limited edition) the set will include the first fourteen episodes of Sailor Moon Crystal (both English-dubbed and Japanese with English subtitles) and two discs of extras. The eye-catching limited edition also includes a gorgeous chipboard box, full-colour art booklet, and seven full-colour art cards.
Persona 5 coming September 15 in Japan
It’s finally happening! After what seems like decades of delays, Persona 5 has a confirmed release date: the game will be released in Japan on September 15 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Pre-orders are already underway. There is also a limited edition available that has the game, and art book, five disks of music, special DLC, and a collector’s box. The Japanese trailer is available above, but if you don’t understand Japanese there’s a fan-subbed trailer here. But wait, there’s more! First announced at last year’s Tokyo Game Show, Persona 5 The Animation: The Day Breakers is a prologue to the P5 video game and will be aired on Japanese television just prior to the game’s release.
Six more games inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame
Alas, still no Galaga — but the are still some gems included in this week’s new inductees into the Video Game Hall of Fame. The list, run by The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, is certainly far more biased towards Western games (but still some of the best). Last year was the first for the Hall of Fame, and the inducted Doom, Pac-Man, Pong, Super Mario Bros, Tetris, and World of War Craft. This latest batch indulges Grand Theft Auto III, The Legend of Zelda, The Oregon Trail, The Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Space Invaders. We’d love to hear what games you think should have been inducted, as well as which you disagree with!
Does any of this news tickle your fancy or make you steaming mad? Let us know in the comments! And meet us again next week for a new edition of Catch-up coffee Monday.
– Lindsay M.
News Editor
