Alphamon Download Code to Be Included in Aoi Eir's "Accentier" Single

January 22nd, 2016. The official Digimon World -next 0rder- title site updated with the cover art of Aoi Eir's latest single Accentier, out March 2nd. Accentier will serve as the title theme to -next 0rder-, and has already been featured in many of its trailers. The album cover is illustrated by Taiki, the character designer for -next 0rder-, and it features protagonists Shiki and Takuto.

The website also revealed that a product code packaged with the album will allow tamers to download the special evolution item "Black Cavalry Core," which evolves their Digimon partner to Alphamon. This is similar to the preorder bonus and first print DLC items that Bandai previously announced.

Digimon World -next 0rder- will launch in Japan March 17th, 2016, on the PlayStation Vita for 6,980 yen (7,539 JPY after tax).

"Was the World Waiting For You? Or Were You Waiting For the World?" 1/21 Famitsu Shows New -next 0rder- Promo

Left to right: Oofuchi Himari, Takuto, Hirose Kouta, Luche, and Shiki in Digimon World -next 0rder-.

January 6th, 2016. The 1/21 issue of Weekly Famitsu magazine was leaked today by All Games Beta; the magazine contains a massive blitz of coverage written to promote the upcoming Digimon World -next 0rder-, out March 17th. While most of the information given consists of recaps of the official character profiles and preorder bonus info, the magazine also includes a new promotional illustration by character designer Taiki, showing the core cast and the game's camping feature.

The quote featured in the illustration is "Was the World waiting for you? Or were you waiting for the World?", a line that has just recently come into prominent use in the game's TV commercial and Jump Festa trailer. Female protagonist Shiki is shown cleaning poop--a notorious feature of the World series--while male protagonist Takuto and their friend Kouta cook meat over a campfire.

According to Famitsu, in the Digimon World series' latest work, players will assume the role of a Tamer raising their two partner Digimon while adventuring through the Digital World. By training their partners' HP, MP, Offense, Defense, Brains, and Speed, they can influence what form their partner will eventually evolve into. Those that preorder the game will get access to five special DLC Digimon, a remastered copy of the 1999 Digimon World soundtrack, and two original Vita themes, "ver. Nostalgic" and "ver. Dot." Theme ver. Dot features a montage of original Digimon LCD sprites, while theme ver. Nostalgic turns the screen into the layout of a Digital Monster virtual pet. The game will retail for 6,980 yen (7,539 JPY after tax).

Aoi Eir is a Huge Digimon World Nerd

"To everyone who loves Digimon and travels with them, please look forward to it."

November 4th, 2015. Japanese singer Aoi Eir, who was just named earlier this week as the one responsible for Digimon World -next 0rder-'s main theme, has put up a special announcement through YouTube regarding her role. In it Aoi recounts a familiar story of playing Digimon World as a child, how her Agumon evolved to Numemon and then Monzaemon. Her story will resonate with those that played the original game; getting Monzaemon is a near universal experience for first time Digimon tamers, as when starting out the unclear evolution requirements often lead them to go through this sequence to make the early parts of the game easier.

Monzaemon

In a similar interview with -next 0rder- character designer Taiki last August, the artist also made statements outing himself as an original generation Digimon fan that had a Digital Monster virtual pet on its launch day. Based on these interviews it seems Bandai has staffed -next 0rder-'s development team with individuals that were fans of Digimon as children, to reproduce the aspects of the games that made them so successful to begin with.

A translation of Aoi's statements is provided below. Note that when she refers to the "village," she's talking about the Village of Beginnings, which was called File City in the English localization of Digimon World, and Primary Village in the dubbed anime.

I was among the first generation to play Digimon World. I was totally immersed in its universe. I remember building the village, and returning the Digimon that lost their memories to that place, my little brother and I were addicted. It was a disaster, because we accidentally raised a Numemon, but after that we went to Toy Town and evolved him to Monzaemon.

Up until we got Monzaemon, it was a very long road. When going to Toy Town, we couldn't afford to encounter any other Digimon along the way, and I was mashing "flee" with my nails.

Even now, I remember the Digimon. Things like Agumon, Jijimon's village, Botamon, it's amazing how clear everything still is. In the end, we were safe once we arrived at Toy Town. I was happy to get Monzaemon, coming from Numemon. I remember having to use Buster Dive a lot. I thought since no enemies [could stand up to it], we could go to various places and do our best to develop the village.

This is why I am currently recording this song. It's become a very bright, up-tempo piece of music. I want to work hard on this project, so to everyone who loves Digimon and travels with them, please look forward to it.

Digimon World -next 0rder- will launch in 2016. Please wait patiently for follow-up information. This has been Aoi Eir.

Digimon World -next 0rder- Character Designer Will Appear in ILLUSTRATION 2016 Artbook

October 5th, 2015. Popular media website KAI-YOU reports that Taiki, character designer for the 2016 Vita game Digimon World -next 0rder-, will be included in the upcoming ILLUSTRATION 2016 artbook featuring the works of illustrators from around the world. Taiki's works will appear near the end of the artbook, which includes the works of 150 total artists. A followup to ILLUSTRATION 2014 and 2015, ILLUSTRATION 2016 will also feature a special interview with Taiki on his most recent works in the industry. As ILLUSTRATION 2016 primarily focuses on the original works of the illustrators, whether -next 0rder-'s character art will be featured in the artbook at all remains to be seen.

Taiki was previously interviewed about Digimon for Weekly Famitsu magazine, where he discussed how he first encountered the franchise nearly twenty years prior. ILLUSTRATION 2016 will go on sale in Japan this year on November 5th for 3024 yen (approx. $25 US).

-next 0rder- Allows Tamers to Use Two Digimon at Once, Featured in Vita Commercial

September 15th, 2015. Today in PlayStation Japan's latest promotional video for the Vita "PS Vita-ish Daily School Life," several seconds of Digimon World -next 0rder-'s overworld gameplay was featured as part of a campaign to drum up interest in the handheld's 2016 lineup. Although the clip was short, it revealed several key details, most prominently that at least two Digimon can be with the player simultaneously. This breaks a rule that all of the previous raising games, Digimon World, Pocket Digimon World, Re:Digitize, and Decode, each upheld for the past sixteen years. In order to replicate the virtual pet experience, these games only allowed the player to have one active Digimon at any time. The idea to have two at once may have been derived from the Digimon Twin, which was the last virtual pet launched prior to the franchise shifting in favor of RPG-oriented gameplay.

Other details gleaned from the commercial include a weather and season system, and a twenty-four hour clock. The display at the top left of the screenshot above reads "Spring/Week Chart/(Sunday)" and the sun icon seemingly indicates clear skies. Given that in the few seconds that elapse the clock jumps from 07:39 to 07:41, it's clear that time has also been sped up in -next 0rder- as it had been in past World games. The commercial is embedded below.

(-next 0rder- shown from 0:35 to 0:37)
The gameplay implications of having multiple Digimon at once are significant, as it makes possible Jogressing two Digimon to create a new one (i.e. Agumon x Gabumon into Omegamon), and opens up the option of team-based battles, or of tagging in one Digimon when another becomes weakened. Up to now various publications have only shown one Digimon on screen at a time.

New Digimon World Female Protagonist "Shiki" Introduced in V Jump Magazine

"A New Adventure Begins in a Mysterious World!!"

August 19th, 2015. Chinese gaming site yxdown uploaded a photo of the most recent V Jump magazine's DigiNavi column, which includes a special surprise for Digimon fans; the latest entry in the Digimon World franchise will be the first to allow the player to select a female player character, default name Shiki. Advertised with Piyomon and Palmon as a counterpart to Takuto's Agumon and Gabumon, Shiki is described as a cool young maiden, interchangeable with Takuto. Development screenshots show her traveling with a Gabumon, suggesting that the game's initial partner Digimon will not be gender-exclusive. These shots also show how -next 0rder- displays Digimon emotions in the field, ranging from expressions like delight and anger to being downcast.

V Jump also provides a peek at the protagonist's classmate, third-year high school student Hirose Kouta (広瀬コウタ) and his partner Guilmon. Kouta is said to be a "good guy" in the same class as either Takuto or Shiki, and his partner's name is Yukimura (ユキムラ). According to V Jump, the game's story follows the (male or female) protagonist on their journey from the real world to the digital world, in connection with the Digital Monster liquid crystal virtual pets. The issue also makes note of the Digimon World series' fifteen year history, emphasizing -next 0rder-'s relationship with the original game. More information will become available as clear scans of the issue emerge.

In other news, over the 18th both 4Gamer and Famitsu published digital equivalents to previously print-exclusive updates on -next 0rder-. Inside Games has also published versions of press screenshots sans the watermarks. The screenshots and information presented are identical to those found in their print equivalents distributed to Japanese retailers earlier in the month, save for one new statement from 4Gamer explaining -next 0rder-'s initial concept. "The concept art depicts the protagonist, Agumon, and Gabumon, looking up at a phone booth and floating island. What awaits them in this floating island?" Translations of other statements from the articles can be found on their respective pages.

Character Designer Taiki's Interview in Weekly Famitsu Discusses Next Order's Protagonist

August 6th, 2015. Chinese gaming outlet TGBUS uploaded scans of this week's issue of Weekly Famitsu magazine, leaking new info on the upcoming Digimon World -next 0rder-. The issue contains a brief interview with Taiki, the game's character designer who has previously worked on the Seiken Densetsu series' Rise of Mana, Black ★Rock Shooter Arcana, and Lord of Vermillion.  Digimon World -next 0rder-'s CERO rating is pending review, while the producer been identified as "Fujiwara;" previously it was thought that Habu Kazumasa, producer for Re:Digitize, Decode, and Cyber Sleuth would be continuing in his role with -next 0rder-.

Translations of the issue's key articles are provided below.

The Digimon World Series' Returns After 2 Years!
Beginning in the year 1999, the Digimon World series is beloved across generations. An encounter with the unknown is beginning.
In the RPG "Digimon World" series, you train and adventure in a computer world with the digital lifeforms called "Digimon." Two years after the previous work in the series, it has been decided to launch this one on the PS Vita! A new journey begins with your Digimon partner. In part 1, we will introduce a new world and protagonist.

The Protagonist and Partner's Adventure in a Mysterious Digital World
The protagonist of this new story is a boy who spends every day rigorously preparing for his entrance exams, Takuto. The character designer is the illustrator who has served a multitude of RPGs, Taiki. As a long-time Digimon fan, expect stylish and charming characters from him!

The New Protagonist: Takuto
A third-year male high-school student. He was once enthusiastic about digital monster games, and in fifth grade was the runner-up in the national championships. Currently he spends his days studying for college entrance examinations, and he can't see any other purpose for himself.

Character Designer Taiki-shi's Comments
In elementary school, I crossed paths with Digimon standing in line at a department store, on the launch date of first generation of portable Digimon devices. I can't believe it's been about 20 years, but just thinking about being involved in this series, half gives me joy, and half pressure. I'm all fired up for this challenge. Takuto was once one who was enthusiastic about Digimon, but without realizing it he forgot, and in a new form he will once more be a character that can respond to the circumstances of crossing paths. It made me anxious, but somehow I think I created a new Digimon protagonist.

The national championships referenced in Takuto's profile likely refer to the D-1 Grand Prix, a real series of tournaments held by Bandai across Japan from 1997 to 2007.