The 1.02 update includes changes to the games “Free Mode”. It now shows the same destination list from “Avatar Mode”. Furthermore, entering this mode now also blocks the PS4’s sharing function with recording video and taking screen shots. Using something like an Elgato Game Capture will of course circumvent this.
Some motions were also removed (previously, almost all of the games movements were available and some of them allowed some suggestive motions to be recorded/screen shot) as well as limitations implemented in the intervals that game models can be placed together in some poses (again, this change was made due to the amount of suggestive posing).
The quest achievement completion percentage was also displayed incorrectly (higher); I checked and mine is now 69% (down from 75%). Some fixes were also made to heroine routes (Naomi and Ranko) as well as the news department ending amongst other general issues.
The Dragon God’s shrine offeratory was also changed where an animation of the Dragon God is now played before you receive an orb. Your character is then also placed a few steps back from the box preventing the easy spamming that was allowed prior to this change. Basically, spending just 1 yen allowed acquiring a white orb that can (still) be sold at the antique shop for 1000 yen (excellent profit margin). So this was being used to quickly acquire currency since its far more faster than fishing. All this change means is that instead of say 15 white orbs per minute, it slows down to around maybe 10 per minute.
To be honest, the “Free Mode” changes is seriously a ridiculous move (Japanese players on 2ちゃん are pissed off about this update where they are calling it a downgrade) given how much hype was given to the hentai aspects of the game. As noted before, I haven’t even bothered engaging in that aspect of the game since the open world adventure aspect is what intrigued me more. But given that D3P has made a name for itself when it comes to the quirky nature of their titles, this change (along with the noted game play issues) is going to have a longer lasting effect with their mostly niche customer base.
Basically, some players are already calling D3P (and Tamsoft) “shit” and saying this update has turned them off from any potential DLC or sequels to the game (let alone, support of their other franchises). I have to agree since they really aren’t fixing and improving the most glaring issues. And Japanese gamers can be a really hard headed bunch when it comes to sticking to their guns (much worse than western gamers who threaten to boycott games, developers, publishers).
Whether or not this came about from pressure from Sony (due to Live from PlayStation) isn’t known at this point. If it is, then Sony should address the issue with better parental controls for PlayStation Live where games that have a certain maturity rating (CERO in Japan) can be blocked via those controls and/or mature content clearly marked. As far as I know, Free Mode content was never really streamed on sites like Twitch and Ustream during the first few weeks of the games release (nothing like what happened with Senran Kagura Estival Versus where it isn’t even available on PS Live and Twitch eventually banned it completely). So I have my own doubts that it was serious pressure from Sony (more so when there are other games like GTA and The Witcher that haven’t had their sharing functionality nerfed or their broadcasting disabled).
Additional update: it turns out that they completely disabled the ability to broadcast the game using the built-in Share function (the ability to share screen shots and saved videos was disabled back in late June). This game franchise is effectively toast.
August 1st Note: See this updated post about the broadcast ability being available again.
