Binary Domain-New Title from SEGA/Team Yakuza-First Trailer

**Lee James** · 12-02-2010

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Official Binary Domain Site: http://www.binarydomaingame.jp/

TEASER TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?ne...%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

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