Digitally Uploaded

The Nintendo wrap! Also all things E3 and getting back into Final Fantasy XIV (Digitally Uploaded 2017, Episode #22)

It's time for the final podcast on this year's E3 show. This week we talk about what we liked (and didn't), and talk in-depth about Nintendo, which we were particularly impressed with this year.

Also this week we talk about Final Fantasy XIV, which has a new expansion just out, and we're enjoying that a great deal.

Thanks as always for listening in, and you can follow us on our social medias here:

Matt S: @digitallydownld
Ginny W: @ginnywoes
Matt C: @MC_Odd
Trent P: @trinest

And if you liked any of the music on the podcast this week, here's the tracklist:

Ray: Hatsune Miku and Bump of Chicken
Good King Moggle Mog: Final Fantasy XIV
A Light In The Storm: Final Fantasy XIV
Stormblood Theme: Final Fantasy XIV

Sony's E3 2017 conference was a real disappointment, unfortunately

The last major show of E3 has come and gone (remembering that Nintendo's is technically a Web show and not a live experience), and... well, Sony was underwhelming, to say the least.

The company came out with the intention to show off all its blockbuster development. That much was clear. But the lack of indie and Japanese games on display through the show was disappointing, given what we had enjoyed in previous years. A lot of that stuff was displayed in the event pre-show, for whatever reason.

There were some highlights - Spider-man, Shadow of the Colossus Remake and Detroit among those, but sadly it looks like TGS will be the event to get us really excited about Sony this year.

And it ended so abruptly, too. The PlayStation 4 has so much stuff coming out on it that it was surprising that Sony was done and dusted within an hour. The entire DDNet team was caught waiting for the show to continue.

This is our last live response podcast, but next week we'll be back to the normal podcast formula, where we'll talk about E3 in general and Nintendo. Thanks for listening, and we hope you've enjoyed these little podcasts this week!

Ubisoft's E3 2017 conference was surprising and delightful

Love 'em or hate 'em, Ubisoft is one of the most important publishers in the industry, and the company brought its A game to E3 2017.

Big new game reveals included a new space toys to life title, Starlink, a new pirate ship combat game, Skull & Bones, and the much anticipated crossover between Mario and Ubisoft's Rabbids... which turned out to be a tactics RPG like XCOM.

This was a really good show, to be honest, and in this podcast the team talk about what impressed them the most.

One big show left, with Sony! As soon as the Sony conference is over, be sure to drop in and chat with us about the game at https://www.twitch.tv/thetrufflesking

On Microsoft's show at E3, 2017

Microsoft has now held its E3 conference for 2017, and as expected, we got all the details about the company's new hardware revision, Microsoft Xbox One X.

In addition, we got details about all the games Microsoft has coming, from the big blockbusters (Assassin's Creed! A new Metro!) though to the indie arthouse stuff (Ori! Ashen!).

There was also the nice surprise announcement that Microsoft was taking backwards compatibility to the next level, and the Xbox One is now backwards compatible with original Xbox titles. Discs and all.

But the really big question is... was the show enough to convince us to buy an Xbox, and has Microsoft found a way to be competitive with the depth and breadth of gameplay experiences that Sony offers. Listen on for our thoughts on the matter!

Tomorrow we'll be live podcasting immediately after both Ubisoft and Sony's shows. Watch the broadcasts live here, immediately after each show wraps up, and what with us there: https://www.twitch.tv/thetrufflesking

Our thoughts on EA's show at E3, 2017

It's E3 time! The annual event is always something that we look forward to at DigitallyDownloaded.net, as it tells us in no uncertain terms the games that we'll be playing in the years ahead.

This year, we're running special DDNet live podcasts immediately after the EA, Ubisoft, Microsoft and Sony conferences (and we'll have a special podcast all on Nintendo next week). We'll share our thoughts on each of the show; what was revealed, what we liked the look of, and what we weren't so keen on. If anyone has questions or comments they'd like to share through the show, you are most welcome to!

Watch the broadcasts live here, immediately after each show wraps up, and what with us there: https://www.twitch.tv/thetrufflesking

In the meantime, here's our response to the EA show. We... weren't overly impressed, but we're quite sure that the Microsoft, Ubisoft, and Sony shows will be much more interesting.

Tekken 7 is here! Also fighting games in general and VR's new heights (Digitally Uploaded 2017, Episode #21)

Tekken 7 has landed, finally! What a great game it has proven to be. This week on the podcast, the DDNet team talks all about the new addiction that we have to the big new fighting game.

Because there have been so many fighting games released recently, we also take a broader look at the genre; what is it about fighting games that we like so much, and which are our favourites?

Finally, we also take a look at where VR is at. Some are dismissing it as wasted potential, but you only need to look at Farpoint and Star Trek: Bridge Clue to realise that VR is just now really getting going.

Thanks for listening in! Catch us on our social media here:

Matt S: @digitallydownld
Alan M: @ironshroom
Matt L: @crowdedworlds

And here's the tracklist, is any of the music catches your attention:

39 Music! - Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2016 concert
Menu Music - Battleblock Theatre
Old Snake Theme - Metal Gear Solid
Concept of Love - Jet Set Radio Future

The (many) games of June! Also game reboots and tabletop game adaptations (Digitally Uploaded 2017, Episode #20)

Usually June is one of the quieter months for games. It's the month of E3, after all, and usually people are too busy getting excited for the games in development than the ones being released.

But no, 2017 just can't let up, and June has an incredible lineup of game releases this year.

In addition to that we take a look at game reboots; what's a good one, and what doesn't work. We also talk about tabletop games adapted into video games... and in particular how developers have managed to struggle with Dungeons & Dragons for so long now.

Thanks as always for listening! If you want to follow any of us on our social media, here's the details:

Matt S: @digitallydownld
Ginny W: @ginnywoes
Matt C: @MC_Odd

And if you enjoyed the music in this episode of the podcast, here's the tracklist:

Anamanaguchi - Miku ft. Hatsune Miku
Extreme Outlaw King - Disgaea 3
Chocobo Theme - Final Fantasy XV
Fly Me to the Moon - Bayonetta

Tactics RPGs, and we complain a whole lot about long games (Digitally Uploaded 2017, Episode #19)

Let's get this disclaimer out of the way from the outset; we really like our JRPGs, RPGs, and other games that take dozens and dozens of hours to play though.

But. But is it possible that these games are just too long, and unnecessarily so? Wouldn't it be better to have shorter games that tell a story with the same impact in less time? They manage to do it with films, after all.

That's our big debate for this week. Aside from that, we also talk tactics RPGs, given that three of them have released in the span of a week on various consoles. And we talk about Destiny 2, which has a big reveal last week, and let's face it... that's going to be one of the biggest games of the year.

Feel free to follow the team on our Twitter:

Matt S: @digitallydownld
Harvard L: @harvardliu
Tyler T: @tylertreese

And if you liked the music on the podcast this week, here's the tracklist for you:

Gigantic Girl - Hatsune Miku
Outset Island - The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Main theme - Fire Emblem Awakenin
Town theme - Wild Arms

Games of the year (so far), the PlayStation Vita's best month in ages, and more! (Digitally Uploaded 2017, Episode #18)

Whoo! The podcast recording technology worked this week, the technical demons have been squashed, and we're back after a week's forced hiatus!

Because the DDNet awards cycle runs from December to November, we're actually six months in to the "year" this month, so we thought we'd look back at the many game of the year contenders and talk about which have really resonated with us, and which are likely to pick up awards.

We also talk about the humble PlayStation Vita, which is enjoying one of its best months for game releases ever, despite being a supposedly "dead" console. And plenty more besides! It's a good podcast this week, we swear.

Feel free to follow us on our social media:

Matt S: @digitallydownld
Alan M: @ironshroom
Tyler T: @tylertreese
Harvard L: @harvardliu

And if you liked any of the music from this week's podcast, here's the tracklist for you:

Winter Gift - Hatsune Miku
Main Menu Music - Horizon Zero Dawn
Theater - Persona 4
Main Theme - The Sexy Brutale

The Tekkencast! Our huge interview with Tekken producer, Katsuhiro Harada (Digitally Uploaded 2017, Episode #17)

Tekken 7 is just around the corner, and DDNet's Matt was privileged to be able to sit down with the producer of Tekken, Katsuhiro Harada, to talk about the new game, some of the design philosophies that the team has taken, and their wonderful approach to diversity in the cast.

It's a big interview, too, running at around 30 minutes. Obviously the interview's done via a translator, so you'll hear Matt speak, Harada respond in Japanese (though his English is apparently good enough to understand the questions), and then the translator will turn the responses into English.

Before that interview, the DDNet crew also take the time to chat about Tekken itself, and their hands-on with Tekken 7. It's a great game. It was well worth spending an entire podcast on. Enjoy the in-depth interview with one of the legends of the genre!

Follow us on social media:

Matt S: @digitallydownld
Ginny W: @ginnywoes
Matt C: @MC_Odd
Matt K: @crowdedworlds

And if you enjoyed the music on this week's podcast, here's the playlist for you:

PoPiPo - Hatsune Miku
Electric Fountain - Tekken 6
Sword of Destiny - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt