London Meet II

[elbarto]

I have a rucksack stuffed with Cyvern and Sengeki Striker. I'll try to get them in the arcade this evening.

Are there any decent vert cabs left to put them in though? You might have to do some repair work tonight too

See you tomorrow!

[DEL]

elbarto - As you will have seen earlier today, some repair work was done on Friday evening. Cyvern and Sengeki Striker are now installed in Casino arcade. I got Bob to completely switch the joystick panels over on the two vert cabs that now house Cyvern & SS. Bob also promised me he'd double feather the Ketsui joysticks (although I haven't checked on that yet).

Super Laydock - I really hope you get to book the weekend 9th-11th December off! (I have 3 pubs with Duvel waiting for you!!)

Regs, DEL

[elbarto]

elbarto - As you will have seen earlier today, some repair work was done on Friday evening. Cyvern and Sengeki Striker are now installed in Casino arcade.

I did indeed. Good to play Cyvern in it's proper environment, though it was even more unforgiving that I remember from MAME play.. the stage 2 boss is a total nightmare.
Hopefully the monitor in the cab hosting Sengeki Striker can be fixed at some point, though I guess it's still better than the RFjet machine.. *moanmoan*

Nice to meet up with ARC again today, and also to finally meet KAC (albeit briefly).

[Herr Schatten]

Is the 10th of December now the definite date?

If so, I can ask my manager giving me a few days off and book my flights.

[DEL]

YES Herr Schatten, DECEMBER 10th is the date of the Meet

Confirmed list of Shooters in Casino Arcade now are;

Ketsui
Cyvern
Sengeki Striker
Mushihimesama
Progear
Strikers 1945 Plus
RF Jet
Night Raid
on Multi:- Gemini Wing, Prehistoric Isle

In other London arcades; DDP II Beestorm, KK Tiger II, Raiden II, Storm Blade, Varth, Strikers 1945.

Cheers, DEL

[Super Laydock]

@##%$$%, I am almost certainly not gonna get that weekend off from work.
My chef told me not to count on it as he's 80% certain he's understaffed that weekend.
Though that means the door is still open a little bit I have little illusion of it actually happening.

So guess I'll have to skip this meet, and try to make it to the IIIrd one (which
I hope to be realised soon after this one ).
Hope you guys have lot's of fun and I'll check up on any report or news from the day.

[DEL]

The arcade is officially ready. I wore Bob the Engineer out fixing cabs over the weekend.

What's been done:-

Ketsui - double feathered P1 joystick, new A button, monitor cleaned from inside.
Cyvern: The Dragon Weapons - Monitor harness fitted into cab for better picture, completely new joystick panel, game set to Default.
Sengeki Striker - new joystick panel with P1 joystick fixed, + Monitor harness fitted (picture still not so hot though ).
Mushihimesama - double feathered P1 joystick, autofire circuit installed (ineffective for C banking, but still a good cab for Original and Ultra Modes).
Progear - Picture and colours sharpened.
Strikers 1945 Plus - ditto.

What's not been done:- Raiden Fighters Jet monitor is a mess.
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Super Laydock - See you at the IIIrd! That's if you can't wrangle this one at the last moment.


Regs, DEL

[Dave_K.]

DEL, what does "double feathering" the joysticks mean? Looks like things are shaping up for a great meet!

[ill6]

Where are these games operating?

KK Tiger II, Raiden II, Storm Blade, Varth

Funland were operating Air Assault on a Pony a few months back.

Play to Win has a Raiden Fighters and a Jet (or am I going mad).

[DEL]

Dave_K - Hi! seeing as we've both got Ketsui at our next Meets, maybe an INTERCONTINENTAL KETSUI TOURNAMENT SHOULD BE HELD

In addition to most X5s collected on ST1, a 1 credit 'distance on the day' contest could be held. ie. See how far we can push on into the 2nd Loop.

Just a thought....

-----------------
Dave - Double feathering of joysticks is peculiar to the small red Electrocoin joysticks. They come with 1 connector/feather for each direction, but another can be added for more responsiveness.

ill6 - Those other games in the West End are mostly on multicabs (one of them doesn't even have sound!)

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Here's a Cyvern score from last night;

CYVERN: The Dragon Weapons- PCB - DEFAULT
DEL - 8,363,560 - Loop 2-3 - Ferious

2mil less than Mode 7's 10.4mil 2-2 record, but one stage further on 2 less lives, so I'm happy . The game is on default Normal 3 lives extras at 1mil per. Witnesses were The Old Mills and masamune.

I'd like to see someone open up a new Cyvern Hi-Sc Thread, its a crime for this site not to have one! Unfortunately I can't do the honours, as I still don't have a PC and my IT dept at work are blocking game-related sites again.


Regs, DEL

[ill6]

[ ie. See how far we can push on into the 2nd Loop.

Not very far for me (like not even getting there!)

[Dave_K.]

Dave_K - Hi! seeing as we've both got Ketsui at our next Meets, maybe an INTERCONTINENTAL KETSUI TOURNAMENT SHOULD BE HELD

In addition to most X5s collected on ST1, a 1 credit 'distance on the day' contest could be held. ie. See how far we can push on into the 2nd Loop.

Just a thought....

DEL, awsome idea! Something I just realized, will all the shmups there be on free play then? I can't see you guys doing the competition putting in a pound for every 2-3 games . Anyway, we will post our scores after the meet in our thread, so we can compare.

Although we will try for farthest/highest Ketsui run on single credit, nobody here can get to the end of the 1st loop (including myself) .

BTW: I will also be getting Cyvern (not in time for the shmupmeet I'm afraid), so I'm also in favor of a new highscore thread.

[Molloy]

Tell Bob there are two crucial things that will get people playing in Casino in large numbers (as well as decent games that are rotated periodically of course):

1) A price drop to 50p. People are never going to be that enthusiastic about paying 1quid a pop for Vs games. If you charge a little less the machines will stay in play a hell of alot more. People will see it as more of a regular thing rather than a luxury thing. Which gets in more regular players rather than the typical tourist/day shopper type who just likes driving and gun games.

2) Decent frickin cabinets. Those Electrocoins are 15+ years old. They've had their day. Must have had 100's of thousands of credits. Time to get in a row of Astro City's or Egrets or something. They don't cost a fortune, less than £500 each if you were buying 2nd hand in bulk. If people can sit down and be comfortable they're going to spend more.

[LUNardei]

Guys, my hopes are going down quickly. And, sad but true, it's basically a question of money. I hope to buy Ketsui soon, so...
Anyway, in the future a week end in London is sure, so let's wait for a better moment

[Herr Schatten]

I have gotten time off work and I've booked my flights. I'll be arriving in London on Thursday, December the 8th and I'll depart again on the Sunday following the meet.

I haven't booked my rooms yet, but I intend to stay at the Barry House again, as it was very nice the last time.

I'm looking forward to seing you guys again.

[Masamune]

Tell Bob there are two crucial things that will get people playing in Casino in large numbers (as well as decent games that are rotated periodically of course):

1) A price drop to 50p. People are never going to be that enthusiastic about paying 1quid a pop for Vs games. If you charge a little less the machines will stay in play a hell of alot more. People will see it as more of a regular thing rather than a luxury thing. Which gets in more regular players rather than the typical tourist/day shopper type who just likes driving and gun games.

2) Decent frickin cabinets. Those Electrocoins are 15+ years old. They've had their day. Must have had 100's of thousands of credits. Time to get in a row of Astro City's or Egrets or something. They don't cost a fortune, less than £500 each if you were buying 2nd hand in bulk. If people can sit down and be comfortable they're going to spend more.

no game in casino costs £1 per play

Electrocoin own the arcade, they will obviously rather have their own machines in there.

astros require seats and are quite small. fine for shmups but not VS.

VS games should have Megalo cabs, VScity cabs or NETcity cabs. the standard electrocoin 2 seater is fine though to be honest.


When Tekken 5 was at most arcades it cost (and still costs) £1 per credit and people played it non stop. now they dont because the game is on console and the machines are crap. however telling them to lower the price wont work because theyll notice the money it took to start with and say now people have just lost interest, and that the price is fair. of course this isnt true but you cant argue with these people.

[ill6]

Just worked out that I have double booked the meet to coincide with a family visit (zzzz) so I won't be able to come down! Damn!

[DEL]

I've been away from the Internet for 3 weeks or so (site being blocked by work etc.).

The Meet is of course ON for December 10th! - All day at Casino Arcade.

Herr Schatten - You can stay at mine this time. It'll save you a nice bit of money for enjoying the whole weekend!

Dave_K - Remember to get your guys to press the A button once at the Ketsui ST1 summary screen (this is the only way that the X5 total will be displayed).

Molloy - As masamune says, the credit settings are good in Casino arcade. Cyvern is on £1 for 4 credits, so is Sengeki Striker & Progear. Ketsui is on £1 for 3, so is Mush.

ill6 - Shame, but don't worry, there'll be another! You can obviously pick up your Ketsui board anytime after the Meet. & Thanks Again!!

LUNardei - Perhaps you can drag Rando down to the next Meet


Cheers, DEL

[LUNardei]

LUNardei - Perhaps you can drag Rando down to the next Meet

I can try

[Super Laydock]

Molloy - As masamune says, the credit settings are good in Casino arcade. Cyvern is on £1 for 4 credits, so is Sengeki Striker & Progear. Ketsui is on £1 for 3, so is Mush.

I did notice last april that while some machines (Progear is the one I am positive about this) said: 1 GBP for 4, you only got 3 (maybe even just 2) credits. Still great value for money imho, but a little bit annoying non the less when you expect more credits than the machine gives you.

I agree with Molloys comment about the stools as well. Standing around for "hours" can get tiresome. Some stools would definetely make someone like me (heavy) take more time to play around.

A nice idea for the arcade might be organising small tournaments once in a while. Whether it'd be fighter or shmup oriented it could attract some more customers. Close off the Arcade videogames section, make a set entrance price for the tournament hours and offer some small prices (like a small cup/diploma, a console game of choice, free play for a month or whatever). People could come in more just to practice for the tournaments and spent more money.
Ofcourse, in all fairness to other competitors, certain players should not be allowed to enter tournament competition .

[Herr Schatten]

Herr Schatten - You can stay at mine this time. It'll save you a nice bit of money for enjoying the whole weekend!

Aw! Too late. I already booked my room at the Barry House. Thanks for the offer, though. It's much appreciated.

[ckm]

not sure exactly how this could work, but it's an idea anyway - how about some kind of contribution people could make towards buying new pcb's and even cabs and hardware, so as to have them always availible at an arcade.

say like if 100 people agreed to give a fiver or a tenner, that could go to buying more games etc, and - if you helped contribute then maybe even get some freeplays when you go to the arcade ('maybe' just in case the arcade can't recoup on the space and power etc, not to expect to get your money back just that it could be recouped).


could even have PCs running shrine maiden games........

have capture facilities, good replays can be put onto DVD with a menu system - raise cash for keeping the arcade going....

and have tournamanets, like has been said here already

[DEL]

Herr Schatten - My fault, I should have offered earlier!

ckm - It is sometimes possible to influence arcades as you say. London's Trocadero manager has recently talked to local VS/beat'em up player 'chunkis' with regard to game requests & tournaments.
As for Casino Arcade, I will continue to put some of my own boards in from time to time.

Super Laydock - The Ketsui Stage 1 X5 mini-tournament will be the first shoot'em up tournament here.

Cheers, DEL

[Ex_Mosquito]

Myself and Pointman should be able to come to the meet this time. We should be there from about 1:00-ish

[Masamune]

yesterday i was quite surprised when i found a machine running Raiden III in trocadero.

it just magically appeared in the VS section of the arcade.

it was surprising because trocadero dont get new stuff, so them getting a new (ish) shmup is very odd.

i guess we can add Raiden III to the list of London Shmups.

[ill6]

WOW!

I will drop down to play that tomorrow!

[DEL]

Good! Raiden III will be in the "To do List" for the Dec 10th Meet.

[DC906270]

I (may) pop down from the north east - what time is the session due to begin/end etc???

[DEL]

DC906270 - Its an all-dayer, starting in Casino Arcade in the late morning and moving to the Trocadero/Raiden III whenever we decide to go for lunch. We had lunch in Chinatown last time. The choice of food this time, will obviously be open to a vote.

The appearance of Raiden III is a nicely timed stroke of luck, a bonus

[ill6]

Did it happen?!