Is This Real Life?! The Division NYC vs Real NYC

maskedweasel

http://www.ign.com/videos/2016/03/16/the-division-real-life-vs-in-game-new-york?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ign-games

IGN put together this video that's actually pretty awesome, showing you what NYC looks like in real life compared to in game.  Its surprisingly close.

caveogre72

Nice video!  Having never been to NY,  I was wondering this exact thing.  They really put a lot into this.

rojoArcueid

Really nice comparison.

I just want to add that Akiba's Trip also recreated the Akihabara ward (electric town) in Japan and they took it a step further by adding existing stores recreated in the game. And the developers told the players ( i think in a loading screen/menu in game) that if you ever go to Japan and visit those stores to thank the owners for cooperating with the game.

I really like when things like this happen.

LethalBurst

I'm from New York, and I can confirm that the accuracy of this game's recreation of Manhattan is startling. It's one of the reasons I decided to play it. 

Xiaoki

Most of the famous buildings or locations had to be changed so they wouldn't get sued.

For instance, in the alpha the Empire State Building was pretty much perfect but then they were told they would have to pay licensing fees to use its likeness in-game.

So, it was changed to be similar but not enough that they would have to pay.

LethalBurst

Same with the NYC police and fire vehicles and emblems. There's a screenshot from the 2013 E3 presentation that shows NYC cop cars exactly how they appear in real life, but in the release version, the they look nothing like that. 

SEANMCAD

LethalBurst said:

Same with the NYC police and fire vehicles and emblems. There's a screenshot from the 2013 E3 presentation that shows NYC cop cars exactly how they appear in real life, but in the release version, the they look nothing like that. 

and people freak out when some game with about 200 steam reviews and said game appears there is a chance that maybe they are false advertising if you look at it in a certain way...all because said game is in 'early access'

SlothnChunk

The detail they put into recreating the city is the most impressive aspect out there.  Too bad it's just a facade as most buildings can't be entered.