Anonymous;Code

Anonymous;Code is a visual novel video game in development by Mages and Chiyomaru Studio, and is planned to be released for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan. The PlayStation Vita version was announced but has since been omitted from the list of platforms.[1] It is part of the Science Visual Novel series, which also includes Occultic;Nine, and in turn part of the larger Science Adventure series. The developers are aiming to release the game in late 2021.

Anonymous;Code
Promotional art
Developer(s)Mages
Chiyomaru Studio
Publisher(s)Mages
Director(s)Toshihiko Kajioka
Producer(s)Tatsuya Matsubara
Writer(s)Chiyomaru Shikura
SeriesScience Adventure
Platform(s)PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Release
  • JP: Q3/Q4 2021
Genre(s)Visual novel
Mode(s)Single-player

Plot

In the year 2036, the "2036 Problem" occurs, where an incident involving computers leads to the destruction of major cities around the world. A similar event is expected to take place in 2038, so a supercomputer called Gaia is used to create an alternate Earth using an Earth Simulator in order to study the possible effects of the impending catastrophe. The experiment was initially inconclusive because of the possibility of low birth rates in the alternate Earth, so a message called the Arecibo Message was used to allow humans to live there. However, humanity in the alternate Earth then creates their own Earth Simulator which leads to questions about the original Earth's existence. The game takes place in 2037. The protagonist, a hacker named Pollon Takaoka, has an ability which allows him to save and load moments, much like save features in video games.[2]

Development and release

Anonymous;Code is developed by Chiyomaru Studio and Mages, and is written by Chiyomaru Shikura. It is the first stand-alone work developed by Chiyomaru Studio,[2][3] and is part of the Science Visual Novel series, which also includes Occultic;Nine. This was initially separate from the developers' Science Adventure series,[4][5] but was later incorporated into it.[6] In contrast with the concept of infinitely expanding horizontal "world lines" used in Shikura's Science Adventure game Steins;Gate, Anonymous;Code uses the concept of infinitely expanding vertical "world layers", with the main character being able to manipulate layers below his, and is themed around hacking.[7] According to Shikura, the game's role is in part resolving unanswered questions from the Science Adventure series.[8]

Shikura stated that he initially wanted to increase the game's immersion by applying a unique artwork to every scene and using full animation during major events. However, he realised the game would need at least 3000 pieces of artwork (in contrast to the usual 100 found in visual novels), not counting the costs to produce the animations, and thus discarded this idea. His research on how to lower the costs of an immersive visual novel led him to consider reusing old animation, developing Steins;Gate Elite from this idea.[9]

The game is planned to be released by Mages for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan in Q3/Q4 2021,[10] after delays from early and late 2020.[11][8] A PlayStation Vita version was initially announced, but cancelled due to the system's discontinuation.[10] Mages has also mentioned that they might develop a PlayStation 5 version, which could potentially be released simultaneously with the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions.[12]

References
  1. "Anonymous;Code Game to Release in Fall 2021". AnimeNewsNetwork. 2020-10-25. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  2. Ishaan (2015-03-29). "Anonymous;Code Is 5pb's Next Sci-Fi Visual Novel". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Archived from the original on 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  3. "Anonymous;Code Visual Novel's 1st 2 Characters Revealed". Anime News Network. 2016-03-07. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  4. Token (2016-07-03). "【5pb.祭り2016】「ANONYMOUS;CODE」ステージでは"セーブ＆ロード"を用いる新システム「ハッキングトリガー」が明らかに！". Gamer (in Japanese). Ixll Co. Archived from the original on 2017-01-08. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
  5. "本作のトリガーは"ハッキングトリガー"！？ 『アノニマス・コード』の見どころについて志倉千代丸氏が語る【5pb.祭り2016】". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 2016-07-03. Archived from the original on 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
  6. "History" (in Japanese). Mages. Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  7. Romano, Sal (2015-03-28). "5pb. announces Anonymous;Code". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  8. Romano, Sal (2019-09-04). "Anonymous;Code still in development, not due out in 2019". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  9. "志倉千代丸氏インタビュー　『シュタインズ・ゲート エリート』は"ゲーム以上でいて、アニメ以上"". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 2017-09-21. Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  10. Romano, Sal (2020-10-25). "Anonymous;Code launches in fall 2021 for PS4 and Switch in Japan; PS Vita version cancelled". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  11. Romano, Sal (2020-01-26). "Anonymous;Code launches next winter in Japan, new trailer". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  12. Romano, Sal (2020-10-26). "Mages. president Chiyomaru Shikura teases PS5 version of Anonymous;Code". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
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