Tag Archives: fantasy

Dungeons 4: A Wonderful Blend of Humor, Strategy, and Evil

I was sent Dungeons 4 as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions about the game. This will be my honest review of Dungeons 4. 

If you enjoy my reviews, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can always buy me coffee.

Dungeons 4 is a quirky and unique RTS out now for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and the official Kalypso store. The Absolute Evil is back to claim victory over the last remaining bastion of good. With your trusty servant Thalya captured, it is up to you to raise an army, spread your evil across the land, and get her back eventually. Do you have what it takes to finally defeat the forces of good?

This is the 4th installment to the Dungeons, but you don’t need to have played any of the Dungeons games to understand what is going on. Aside from a few references to the previous games, Dungeons 4′s story is self-contained and fantastic. Dungeons 4 is fun, quirky, and meta in a way that you need to play once to appreciate. It has a fantastic cast of voice actors, and a magnificent soundtrack to get you in the mood for evil. 

Most importantly, the gameplay is fun. Dungeons 4 is a wonderful blend of the village management, tower defense, and RTS genre. The game will frequently switch between genres as you move through the camping. 

Underground, you will build a dungeon where you gather resources and defend them against the forces of good. The game plays like the usual village builder, except the build phase won’t be endless. Eventually, you’ll build a strong enough force to clear the rest of the dungeon or make your way above ground where you’ll attempt to rescue your evil assistant Thalya. 

Heroes will occasionally attempt to raid your dungeon to steal your resources, kill your minions, and destroy the heart of the dungeon. You’ll be responsible for setting traps, building an army, and keeping them happy. I found this part of the game extremely relaxing and my favorite loop. It was fun trying to design a dungeon that was both functional and well-defended. I wish there were a way to speed up the levels, but the wait isn’t long enough for it to be a huge problem.

The RTS portions of the game are a bit simple, but I found them perfect for my skill level. I am not good at RTS games, so I appreciated that it provided enough challenge to keep things fun. There are ways to make this game more challenging, and there is even a co-op mode for added insanity, but I enjoyed the normal solo experience well enough to recommend it.

I loved this game and see myself replaying it in the future. It’s cute, it’s quirky, and everything I want from a casual RTS game. If you a looking for a wacky, relaxing experience in any of the mentioned genres, do yourself a favor and pick up Dungeons 4. 

You can pick up Dungeons 4 on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via Steam, or Epic Games for $49.99. You can also get it directly from Kalypso for $47.99. It’s free on Game Pass if you have a subscription.

Digimon Seekers Chapter 3-8: The hospital room

I’ll be posting my version of the translation the Monday after the official release. Make sure you always support the original. If you enjoy this project, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Thank you for reading!


Leon lays unconscious in a hospital bed at the DDL’s medical facility. Wires and tubes run from machines into several points of his body. There is an eerie silence except for the machines that work to keep him alive. 

Yulin stands beside him in her Police uniform. She holds incendent in her hand but is busy examining the patient. Leon had grown pale, and his lips had turned purple and cracked.

“So this you’re the hacker Judge? I always figured you’d be…older.” Her voice trails as her eyes fall to his soft, helpless face. An image of Saya flashes in her mind as she is overcome by a familiar sense of sadness. 

Yulin opens the report. 

The direct cause of DMIA: Vortex developed along the Wall Slum Outskirts. Appearance of Royal Knight. 

Even the infamous hacker Judge didn’t stand a chance against a Royal Knight. They were in a league of their own, even above a skilled Ultimate-level Digimon.

“Why didn’t you run?” she asks the unconscious Leon, but only the machines answer. She continues reading. 

“DMIA was reported by code cracker Eiji Nagasumi…” Yulin looks down at Leon’s wrist. His Digimon Linker was still fixed snuggly to his wrist. It was the same model as hers, just a different color. Eiji had one too…didn’t he?

She sighs as she puts the report down for a moment. What would compel you to take such a risk? Yulin becomes lost in her theories.

“He’s a student of mine,” A familiar voice wakes her from her trance. Yulin spins to find Professor Ryusenji standing behind her.

Character design/illustration illustrator: malo

Leon lays unconscious in a hospital bed at the DDL’s medical facility. Wires and tubes run from machines into several points of his body. There is an eerie silence except for the machines that work to keep him alive. 

Yulin stands beside him in her Police uniform. She holds incendent in her hand but is busy examining the patient. Leon had grown pale, and his lips had turned purple and cracked.

“So this you’re the hacker Judge? I always figured you’d be…older.” Her voice trails as her eyes fall to his soft, helpless face. An image of Saya flashes in her mind as she is overcome by a familiar sense of sadness. 

Yulin opens the report. 

The direct cause of DMIA: Vortex developed along the Wall Slum Outskirts. Appearance of Royal Knight. 

Even the infamous hacker Judge didn’t stand a chance against a Royal Knight. They were in a league of their own, even above a skilled Ultimate-level Digimon.

“Why didn’t you run?” she asks the unconscious Leon, but only the machines answer. She continues reading. 

“DMIA was reported by code cracker Eiji Nagasumi…” Yulin looks down at Leon’s wrist. His Digimon Linker was still fixed snuggly to his wrist. It was the same model as hers, just a different color. Eiji had one too…didn’t he?

She sighs as she puts the report down for a moment. What would compel you to take such a risk? Yulin becomes lost in her theories.

“He’s a student of mine,” A familiar voice wakes her from her trance. Yulin spins to find Professor Ryusenji standing behind her.

“Professor! You scared me.” She places her hand over her heart in a playful reaction. 

“Forgive me…” He bows his head slightly. His eyes wander towards the unconscious Leon. “Thank you for coming all this way. You’re the only person on the police force I can trust.” Ryusenji makes his way towards the bed.

“You know,” she starts. “I met him once. I know he’s your favorite student.”

“Hmm. I suppose you did meet.”

An awkward silence fills the air around them. “Thank you for the other day. I know you helped with the equipment selection. I appreciate that,” she says in an attempt to change the subject. 

“And how are the pieces fairing?”

“Very well. The 11th only uses the best, and everything is still in use.”

The professor fidgets with something in front of him. He doesn’t seem to be very attentive. Suddenly, a hologram of Betamon appears perched on Leon as he sleeps. The professor stares off into space. “I told myself I’d never let it happen again…” his voice trails off as he becomes lost in thought. The two sit in silence for a moment before the professor turns to Yulin. “I need to show you something,” he says as he lifts the virtual monitor towards the officer.

Yulin looks down and finds herself staring at a live feed of her old friend Saya. She seems to be sleeping soundly suspended in a glass tube full of unknown liquid. She is overcome by the painful realization that in the many years since the incident, she has accomplished nothing. How many years had it been? Saya looked the same as she did the day she went missing.

Yulin begins to imagine what life would be like if Saya never disappeared. She’d be happily married. They’d all be together. They’d be… The fantasy becomes too painful. Yulin composes herself.

“I need you to clarify a couple of things professor,” she says in her professional tone. She pulls out her phone and starts recording. “Our records show that Leon met with the code cracker Eiji Nagasumi before the incident. Any idea what they talked about?”

The professor shrugs. “I couldn’t tell you.”

“But you’ve met with him before. He’s contacted you, has he not?”

“Eiji shows a lot of promise, I thought he could help me with some research,” he responds casually.

“Is Eiji the type of person who would DMIA a person intentionally?”

“That was an accident, Eiji would never!” Ryusenji snaps.

“Okay.” The sudden outburst surprises her. 

The professor fixes his coat as he composes himself. “He’s a member of the Sons of Chaos and rose through the ranks rather quickly.”

“I’m aware. He had a little…run in with my second.”

“Now that Eiji is a Leader, Tartarus will back him up. I will too, seeing as I am the one who asked him to join,” the professor says sternly.

“Are you trying to shield him?”

“Just like I did for you and Kosuke.”

Yulin’s heart grows heavy. He had gone to great lengths to prevent them from having to admit responsibility for Saya’s coma. Yulin wouldn’t be running the DigiPolice if he hadn’t. She sighs. “I’ll tread carefully around him then.”

“That’s all I ask.”

“But I can’t promise the same for Kosuke…I mean Tartarus. I can’t afford to let him operate unchecked.”

“I understand.” A sad silence drips over them as they think about the times before the accident. Back when they would sit around that small room eating from plastic takeout containers. Back when things were simpler.

“Oh right,” Yulin says suddenly, sifting through the options of her Digimon Linker. A hologram of Ryudamon suddenly appears besides her. 

This is Professor Ryusenji. Say hello,” Yulin nudges at the Digimon.

Ryudamon bows, offering a meek greeting. “Hello there, sweet Ryu,” the professor responds gently.

“The Professor is the one who entrusted you to me. Tartarus has a partner similar to you. Do you know how?”

Ryudamon pints to the plate on his head, “You mean this thing?”

The professor nods. “According to our analysis, that interface classifies you and Dorumon as an older type of Digimon we call Prototype Digimon. Prototype Digimon are a rare species. So far we only know of you, a vaccine type, Tartaru’s Dorumon the data type, and there’s a virus type Digimon Loogamon out there as well.” The professor turns his attention to Yulin. “We took Loogamon from the Wall Slums, and I’ve decided to entrust it to Eiji. He shows a lot of promise, like you and Kosuke. He already has a DS score with Loogamon that rivals Leon and his partner’s.

“He’s that powerful?” Yulin gasps incredulously.

The professor nods. “And getting better every day. With the technology you all now have at your disposal, there is no telling what you all can discover in the Digital world!” His words carry enthusiastically through the halls as he reaches down, attempting to pet Ryudamon’s forehead.

“But why him?”

The professor sighs. “I think the Digital world is ready for a new generation. I’ll spend the time I have left looking after them as they take that journey. Somewhere out there is something far better than I could ever imagine, and I am no longer the one who will find it. It’s for the good of my research, the Digital World, and all of Digimon that I do this.” Yulin smiles at the sincerity of his words.

Yulin looks at the clock. She stops her recording and sends Ryudamon back to the Linker. “Thank you for your time today. The DigiPolice is grateful for your cooperation. I’ll be asking Eiji a few questions regarding Leons…”

“You know, I’m glad,” the Professor interrupts. “I’m glad people still want to explore the Depths of the Digital world. It doesn’t matter who, be it a hacker, code cracker, police, or the government.”

Before Yulin has a chance to respond, her phone starts to ring. She excuses herself to answer the call. “Go ahead Satsuki.”

“Siss, you’re gonna want to see this. Something strange is happening in the Digital world.”

Discover Drakantos: New character art, lore, and gifs revealed

The Drakantos devs have created a special channel on their official discord dedicated to the lore and characters of the upcoming pixel art MMO. Make sure you give it a follow if you want to stay up to date on all the Drakantos news. The devs have been busy filling this new section with character art, gifs, and back story. After sifting through the updates, I am disappointed that there isn’t more, but remain hyped for the release. There is still no release date, but I’ll keep you posted when the information becomes available. Make sure you check out my original post if you want a more detailed first impression. 

I am going to post what is available because I want to help promote it. This game looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun. I love the art, and the bit of gameplay I’ve seen looks interesting. I can’t wait for its release, but until then, I’ll be following it closely. Make sure you add it to your Wishlist and follow the Discord!

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!


Iris


Ozul


Yura


Liam


Zeugladius


Thomas


Yuki


Ophis



Kavras


Arryn


Orbryn


Urijor


Ojore


Reya


Mohazus


Korz


Byron


Faendar


Marly

The unique Metroidvania platformer Worldless comes out November 21st. Preorder yours today!

Worldless is coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch on November 21st. Worldless is a stylish and unique metroidvania platformer with an interesting turn-based combat system you need to at least try once. I strongly recommend you check out the Steam demo

I got to play Worldless at GDC, and have been excited for its release since. You can check out the original post if you want my initial impressions. The game is very pretty with a fantastic soundtrack, but the gameplay loop is what really sold it for me. Worldless combines Metroidvania platforming with a few RPG turn-based systems to produce a very fun and interesting gameplay loop. This game should at least be on your wish list. 

Worldless releases on all systems on November 21st for $19.99. You can save $2 if you preorder on Xbox or Switch until November 20th. PlayStation users get this discount with a PlayStation Plus membership. 

I’ve already got my copy and will be releasing a full review when the embargo is lifted. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates or any of my other content, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. 

WOW Like MMOTaris Land Closed Beta Nov 15 – Sign Up Now!

The second closed beta for Taris Land: Mystery of the Hollows is coming to PC and Android devices on November 15. Make sure you head over to the official site to sign up! I’ve already signed up, so fingers crossed I get accepted. 

The Beta will last about two weeks in 16 countries and will support eight languages: English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Here are the official start times per region:

  • North American Server: November 15, 2023 at 8:00 (UTC−4)
  • South American Server: November 15, 2023 at 9:00 (UTC−3)
  • European Server: November 15, 2023 at 14:00 (UTC+2)
  • Asian Server: November 16, 2023 at 9:00 (UTC+8)

Make sure you check out the official FAQ and Discord if you have any other questions about the playtest.

Taris Land: Mystery of the Hollows is an MMORPG coming to PC and mobile devices (Android and IOS). I love the aesthetic of this game, and anything that I can play on my phone is a nice plus. I know people bash mobile gaming, but sometimes, I want to be away from my desk and don’t want to have a lot of extra hardware. 

I’ve written about this game before and won’t be repeating too much. I recommend you check out my previous post or go to the official page for more details. 

The second playtest will include the nine original classes (Warrior, Priest, Mage, Ranger, Barbarian Fighter, Paladin, and Bard) and introduce two new ones: Shadow Swordsman and a mysterious new class. 

The new class looks like a druid to me, but here’s the teaser so you can speculate:

The playtest will feature two raids, a bunch of story quests, the Dark Invasion mode, and the Inscribed Skill Stone system. There will be enough to keep players, new and old, busy for the two weeks of the playtest.

Make sure you keep an open mind going into the beta. This isn’t a finished product, and the game isn’t going to be perfect. This will be a test to make the game better, and I feel like it’s the perfect opportunity for fans to help shape a game they’re going to devote their time to. Just make sure you submit your feedback as soon as the option becomes available.

I am very excited because I love MMO’s and would love a new one to sink some time into. I just hope this game isn’t too grindy and the cash shop isn’t predatory. I’ve signed up, make sure you do too, and I hope to see you in Tarisland!

If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!

The October Dev Update for Drakantos just dropped, and it’s juicy!

I’ve been following Drakantos closely because I am very excited about its release. Drakantos is a free-to-play pixel art MMO coming to PC and mobile devices. The art is cute, and the bit of gameplay I’ve seen has me interested. No release date has been set yet, so make sure you join the official Discord so you are always up to date. 

The October Devlog just dropped, and I recommend you check it out to share in my excitement. We got some new animations, screenshots, and some gameplay footage. 

If you enjoy these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Make sure you add Drakantos to your wishlist!


Yura Teaser

We got a teaser for Yura, and if it doesn’t get you hyped for the game, nothing will. Combat looks so good and the voice acting is fantastic! Make sure you check out the official discord if you want to get some back story!


Mounts

An MMO needs its mounts, and Drakantos will have mounts, and characters that can transform into their own! We got a teaser of the animation, and I am satisfied:


Screenshots

We also got to see a new screenshot of the world, and I love the art! This world looks so good!


UI Preview

We also got a screenshot of the UI. It’s clean, and I dig the character art.


Pets!

Last but not least, we’re getting pets!

Illuminaria is a cute and unique resource management game, but is it worth it?

I was sent Illuminaria as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Illuminaria is a base building, resource management game for PC, Switch, Android, and IOS devices. Take control of an army of adorable robots as you work to bring light back to the land. Use the robots to gather resources, build bases, and fight monsters.

Illuminaria has a unique and interesting gameplay loop. Building is probably the most relaxing experience I’ve had in the genre because of how easy it is to get organized. All you have to do is build squares, and the robots will fill those squares with resources based on your designations. This loop feels fantastic on the iPhone because all you do is tap and watch your little robots get to work. While you wait for resources, you are also researching new technologies, upgrading structures, defending your bases, and sending your robots on quests for more materials. You’ll be as busy as your little buddies on the screen, and it is such a wholesome good time!

My only real issue with this game is the price. $5 for the app is perfect. You’ll get $5 of fun from the app. If you are looking for a chill game to pick up in a waiting room or something to fill those rare gaming hours that present themselves, Illuminaria is a solid choice. The mechanics are easy to pick up, the gameplay is engaging, the art is cute, and the music is great. This is a fun game, and it’s a perfect mobile gaming experience. The problem is that this game feels short. You can try to beat the game at different difficulties, but it still feels like a $5 app. I can’t see it ever being worth full price on a console or PC. It’s not a bad game, there just isn’t enough for it to be worth it.

You can pick up Illuminaria on Steam, and Switch for $14.99, and on Android and IOS Devices for $4.99. It is on sale right now on Steam for $9.74 until November 7th, but you can also try the demo if you need some more convincing.

Digimon Seekers Chapter 3-5: The Early Mindlink

Thanks again for keeping up with this project. This chapter has been a little harder because it feels a little dragged out. Make sure you always check out the original anyways. My version goes out the Monday after release unless something comes up. If you’ve been enjoying this project, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!

Character design/illustration illustrator: malo

Saya and Yulin stand outside the warehouse, taking a break away from the busy factory floor. In a short time, the floor was full of new employees eager to work on the next piece of innovation. Investors lined up eagerly trying to fund the next big thing from Ryusenji Technologies. The two women look tired, but happy as they enjoy the touch of the midday sun.

Saya turns to Yulin and flashes her new ring. She lets out an excited giggle as the diamond glitters in the sun.

Yulin lets out a laugh. “So it’s official. I guess I should say congratulations. I didn’t think that dope Kosuke could be bothered to ask for a ring size.”

Saya pulls the ring back to examine it lovingly. “Congratulations are appropriate, yes.”

“Well congratulations, I mean it. You’re good for him.”

“I know!” Saya says as she flashes the ring once again.

“Surprised you got a wedding in with how busy things have gotten. All the projects, the meetings, its exhausting.”

“Who would have thought Digimon would change things for us so quickly?”

Kosuke bursts out of the building with a VR helmet in hand and an excited look on his face. He is neatly groomed and is wearing clean pressed clothes under his lab coat. “Saya!” he shouts as he rushes to the pair.

“Where’s the fire?”Yulin asks playfully.

“Look at this!” Kosuke says proudly as he offers a VR helmet to Saya.

Saya takes it. She examines it for a moment before asking, “What is this thing?”

“You have to look into it.”

Saya puts on the helmet and begins looking around. “What is this?” Her vision fills with lofi compounded images of a distorted and strange world.

“That’s the first footage ever taken through a Digimon’s eyes! You’re seeing through a Digimon’s eyes right now!


Ryuseniji worked tirelessly towards his goal of experiencing the Digital World with all his senses. The theory stood that if Digimon were AI creatures, their sensory data should be easy enough to capture and interpret. All he had to do was imbed the human consciousness into the Digital World and link it to said data.

“This ought to keep me busy for the rest of my life,” Ryusenji says to himself as he looks over his notes.

Ryusenji Electronics had begun exploring the fundamentals of mindlinking technology in secret. They had to minimize the risks and answer the ethical questions later.


Saya was one of the first to successfully link her consciousness with a Digimon.

“Mindlink test complete,” Yulin’s voice buzzes over the PA system.

Saya lays on what looks like a repurposed dentist chair wearing a VR helmet. Wires and cables come down around her and wrap into her arms and helmet. Around her lay an array of monitors, computers, and stacks of notes.

“Vitals are stable. DS levels are dropping. Subject is regaining consciousness. Severing the mindlink,” Kosuke says calmly as he walks over to his wife.

Yulin walks into the room carrying a bucket. She walks over to the chair. Saya begins convulsing, letting out a soft grown. Her arms and legs flail as she slowly regains consciousness. She becomes still and sits up, carefully removing the helmet.

“Here.” Yulin hands her the bucket.

Saya looks uncomfortable as she fights the nausea. “I think….urp…I think I’m getting used to it.” She gives a weak smile as she holds back the vomit. She remembers the mess she made the first time she mindlinked.

Professor Ryusenji claps softly. “Magnificent! These results are astounding. Sufficient rest is required between sessions, and there are some serious side effects we need to address, but the experiment was a rousing success!”

Saya smiles weakly as she picks up the Digimon Dock with the word Agumon written under it. “Nice job Agu!” An image of a small bipedal dinosaur seems to jump in reaction.

CRYMACHINA is over-stylized waifu bait with very little substance

I was sent CRYMACHINA as a review code. I am very happy about the opportunity, but this will be my honest review. If you enjoy these reviews, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!

CRYMACHINA is an anime-themed action RPG coming to PC, PlayStation, and Switch on October 24th. Humans have gone extinct, and have been replaced by synthetic beings known as Dei ex Machina. A mysterious prophecy has selected a few of these beings to bring humanity back from extinction, but not all Dei ex Machina share this goal. Fight your way through Dei ex Machina as you attempt to reclaim humanity’s dominance over Eden. Do you have what it takes to claim what destiny offers?

The game is fun for the first few encounters before the novelty wears off. Unfortunately, the blatant waifu bait isn’t enough to distract players from how dull and unimpressive the game becomes. The art style is interesting but tends to be a little too busy and loud for its own good. The story is poorly written, and the gameplay isn’t fun enough to make up for it. This isn’t a bad game, but it is hard to recommend when there are better options in the genre.

I wish the game was better because the format is interesting. The gameplay loop is split into two parts: combat and story. Combat is broken up into small manageable levels where players face a few mobs of enemies before facing off against a boss. Boss fights had unique mechanics, but not all of them were fun. Combat started feeling repetitive, and the initial sense of accomplishment felt after beating a boss diminished and became nonexistent. The over-stylized and busy animation of the combat never made up for how bored I got with combat.

The other side of the loop was the story cutscenes that came in the form of tea parties. Blatant waifu bait aside, this is an interesting way to do a story. Players have the opportunity to watch optional cutscenes where characters get a back story or become more rounded, or they can stick with only watching scenes relevant to the story. This is a great format for gamers with limited free time because the game can be tackled in small meaningful chunks, and you can repeat cutscenes when you need a reminder. This would have been a great format for this game if the story was good, and the characters weren’t generic waifu tropes. 

You can pick up CRYMACHINA for PC, PlayStation, and Switch on October 24th, but I’d hold off for a very generous discount. Even then, you’ll have better options. 

Digimon Seekers Chapter 3-4: The Birth of the Digimon Dock

I’m officially caught up! All my translations will go up the Monday after the official release. Make sure you always support the official release. If you enjoy this project, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!


Saya stands in front of the freshly built warehouse that would serve as their factory. Above her, a freshly painted sign reads “Ryusenji Electronics.” She places a small bronze plaque with the company’s name over the mailbox. She takes a step back to examine her work before making her final adjustments. “Perfect!” she exclaims before walking into the warehouse.

Inside, she is greeted with the loud whirring of machinery. She’d gotten used to it by now and found the noise strangely comforting. Saya makes her way to the workshop where she finds the professor humming cheerfully surrounded by his chaotic collection of unfinished gadgets.

“You seem pretty happy these days,” she remarks.

Ryusenji turns to her, revealing an enormous grin. “How could I not be? I am proud business owner!”

“And a huge amount of debt!” Saya adds with a chuckle.

“You gotta spend money to make money,” Yulin adds as she enters the room. She looks exhausted but gives a warm familiar smile as she finds a seat near the pair. “The professor is the only one who knows anything about all this Digital World stuff anyways. The cash flow is in his hands.”

Character design/illustration illustrator: malo

Some time goes by, and the founders find themselves in the workshop. The mess seems a bit more organized. The professor is busy tinkering at his station when he turns suddenly, “It’s done!”

Yuelin and Saya turn to the professor who proudly holds a small palm-sized gadget in his hands.

“What is it?” Yuelin asks as she walks over for a closer look.

“It’s an external storage device designed to house AI lifeforms. A prototype Digital Monster Dock System!” He almost shouts excitedly.

“Digital monsters huh? It looks like a toy,” Yuelin says, reaching for the small device. It was smaller than a deck of cards and housed a monochrome LCD display. There are three buttons down its face that serve as basic controls.

“The professor needs his hobbies,” Kosuke says with a shrug as he walks over from his station.

“That’s exactly it! Think about it for a moment. A device that allows people to feed and raise digital pets. It’s the next innovation in the toy business!” Ryusenji continues enthusiastically. “Until now, we weren’t able to keep these Digital Monsters alive for long. But with this! This changes everything!” His voice fills the room.

Yulin looks over the small device, trying to understand it, when something on the LCD screen catches her eye. “Is that…an egg?”

“Yep! Its a Digital tamago. Digitama for short. We thought it sounded cuter,” Saya adds with a grin.

“A Digitama…Okay…”Yulin says, trying to keep up.

“We found the data for this one while we were exploring the Net!” Saya continues enthusiastically. “And the dock allows us to see a virtual representation of its actual form, not just a series of numbers!”

“This is incredible!” Yulin shouts as the pieces come together. She gasps. “Did it just move?”

Kosuke nods cooly. “It’s about to hatch.”


The Digimon Dock put Ryusenji Technologies on the map. Soon, investors from all over wanted a piece of the device that would let people keep Digimon. It was obvious to anyone who was paying attention that these little AI creatures would shift the balance of power on the net for the decades to come.