Let Xplosiv know you want shmups!!

[doctorx0079]

Xplosiv gave us the awesome Taito Legends and now they want to know what else we want. Please take a minute to register with their site and then post in this thread. Let them know you want Raiden III and Mushihimesama in US release!!

[Fighter17]

Don't forget Ibara.

[Thunder Force]

Let them know you want Raiden III and Mushihimesama in US release!!

The problem is - by all accounts, a title like Mushihimesama could have a challenging time getting past SCEA's 2D game regulations in the US, even if enough people convince Xplosiv to license it... (Raiden III would possibly be OK though)

[steveovig]

Done and done. Hopefully it'll do some good.

[bVork]

I threw in my support for a NTSC/UC release of Raiden 3. Even though I think Mushihimesama is a much better game, I sadly have to agree with Stuart Campbell and say that Raiden 3 will probably attract more normal people. Plus it's THREE-DEE! Which, according to Sony, means the game is excellent and thus more deserving of approval!

Plus I haven't bought Raiden 3 yet and wouldn't mind picking up a $30 domestic release.

[pixelcorps]

what are sony's criteria regarding 2d??

[bVork]

In short, they seem to hate it. Metal Slug 3 didn't get approved for a PS2 release here, but Microsoft had no problems approving the Xbox version. SNK also said that they had to release Metal Slug 4 and 5 as a single pack in order to get Sony's approval.

While I can't vouch for the veracity of this, I did come across an interesting supposed bit from Sony's approval process:

Code: Select all

SCEI Future Concept Approval Process Guide Lines
Rev 19.1 -2004-

Development of two-dimensional games is to be discouraged for the chief home consoles. (PS2, PS3)

This also applies to the handheld market. (PSP)

All games genres under this rule include Action, Adventure, Driving, Role-Playing, Simulation, Sports, and Strategy. (Plus unlisted sub genres)

All games genres not under this rule include Puzzle, and Novel.

Gameplay is irrelevant, as long a graphics standard is kept (3D)

In the case of a non agreement the game will be suggested for the handheld market. (PSP)

[Thunder Force]

what are sony's criteria regarding 2d??

Developers have been discouraged by Sony from formally discussing it, but allegedly SCEA will not grant a PS2 game regional distribution approval within North American, if it is purely 2D sprite based and does not use the 3D rendering capabilities of the PS2. In some cases SCEA offers alternatives such as releasing multiple 2D games together as a collection and/or at budget prices, but their marketing strategy seems dedicated against standalone full price 2D games on the market of the kind that Mushihimesama deserves to be.

[Specineff]

There's always the X360. I can't believe what I'm saying: Who would have thought that Sony would become the heartless tyrant and MS the daring hip new kid on the block? Maybe Bill Gates is not 100% Borg and still has a flesh heart in his chest.

[Neo Rasa]

The fact that Phantom Dust got developed at all is proof enough of that for me. Not to mention KoF'94 Rebout, etc. all getting upcoming releases here.

Shame SNK didn't put the Garou port onto XBox though, that on Live would have been incredible.

They mentioned a Last Blade combo and that KoF '95 through '99 set also, if that came out in one volume on US XBox, I think the XBox would seriously be my favorite console of 2006.

[Danny]

The best you US people can hope for is that they do a UK release with a 60hrz and TATE option (Sony Europe don't mind 2D stuff). That way you'll only need to import them from UK to the US while still keeping the english options and so on. Saying that xplosiv are a budget range puplisher so I doubt that Cave or whoever are going to release brand new releases for half the price they are in Japan. I think what we should try and do is suggest good games that have been released 2000 and earlier because there is a chance by now that the game's creators will allow the game to be sold more cheaply to earn a little extra profit from the game. Although a english release of the latest Cave shmup would be cool I doubt it's ever going to happen here in the west...

[Neon]

Interesting, thought this would just be a silly 'support the company' thread.

It seems to me like only the worst shmups get released in the USA though, and at budget prices, just reinforcing people's views that these games are shit with no redeeming qualities.

I'd vote for Raiden 3, myself. It's a solid port, has the all-important z0mg polygon graphics, and judging from what Rando has said good gameplay. I don't see why I'd get it seeing as DX for psx is supposedly better and much cheaper, but for a USA shmup release, you couldn't do any better.

[doctorx0079]

I'd vote for Raiden 3, myself. It's a solid port, has the all-important z0mg polygon graphics, and judging from what Rando has said good gameplay. I don't see why I'd get it seeing as DX for psx is supposedly better and much cheaper, but for a USA shmup release, you couldn't do any better.

Go ahead and vote for Raiden III and while you're at it, ask for DX too since it's a wish list thread. Hey, maybe they'll bundle them together, you never know.

[shariar07]

I guess Shikigami No Shiro 3 should be ported (PS2/DC), that is what is left of the Taito Type X

[Danny]

Don't get me wrong I would pay full price for a decent shooter but you got to bare in mind that xplosiv are a budget puplisher owned by Empire. Chances are they (Xplosiv) are not going to charge more than £20 a game even though it the game in question was an absolute corker although saying that I (and proberbly most people in this forum) would pay full fare for a decent shooter but would the average joe video game player?

Saying that I would alomost buy any shooter-em-up that get's pulished on the Xplosiv range just to support the company for releasing decent non-mainstream games in to our country.

p.s: Sorry if I seem to be a "drag" or "buzz kill" but I'm trying to be "realistic" here...

[Ganelon]

I don't see why they'd consider releasing shooters in the US considering the US doesn't seem to generate sales at all...

[Danny]

Anything considered "retro" as such will do over here in blighty as long as it has the right price tag on it. As I said before there is little chance of Xplosiv releasing there products abroad due to little demeand and Sony of America.

[BulletMagnet]

I don't see why they'd consider releasing shooters in the US considering the US doesn't seem to generate sales at all...

Maybe once the PS3 debuts and the PS2 is on its way out it'll be more receptive to putting out shooters as "budget" releases, sorta like it did with Geki-Oh on the PS1.

[Dylan1CC]

What a bunch of butt wipes. If this is true they may try to make Arika put Ketsui on the PSP? Wow. At least we are still getting goods like PoPoLoCroi and Gradius Collection. And at least PS2 has gotten its fair share of 2D Cave shmups. That said though, I wonder how games like DOJ, Mushi, and Ibara get approved? Which is true and which isn't?

You know they wouldn't mess much with a company like Konami since they are part of their bread and butter but again, how do the Cave games get on there? Maybe some of these companies that make/port 2D games have tougher talking exces? Anyone have ideas on this?

In short, they seem to hate it. Metal Slug 3 didn't get approved for a PS2 release here, but Microsoft had no problems approving the Xbox version. SNK also said that they had to release Metal Slug 4 and 5 as a single pack in order to get Sony's approval.

While I can't vouch for the veracity of this, I did come across an interesting supposed bit from Sony's approval process:

Code: Select all

SCEI Future Concept Approval Process Guide Lines
Rev 19.1 -2004-

Development of two-dimensional games is to be discouraged for the chief home consoles. (PS2, PS3)

This also applies to the handheld market. (PSP)

All games genres under this rule include Action, Adventure, Driving, Role-Playing, Simulation, Sports, and Strategy. (Plus unlisted sub genres)

All games genres not under this rule include Puzzle, and Novel.

Gameplay is irrelevant, as long a graphics standard is kept (3D)

In the case of a non agreement the game will be suggested for the handheld market. (PSP)

[BulletMagnet]

That said though, I wonder how games like DOJ, Mushi, and Ibara get approved? Which is true and which isn't?

I guess Sony Japan is more lenient to that end than Sony USA is.

[dave4shmups]

I threw in my support for a NTSC/UC release of Raiden 3. Even though I think Mushihimesama is a much better game, I sadly have to agree with Stuart Campbell and say that Raiden 3 will probably attract more normal people. Plus it's THREE-DEE! Which, according to Sony, means the game is excellent and thus more deserving of approval!

Plus I haven't bought Raiden 3 yet and wouldn't mind picking up a $30 domestic release.

I'll have to do the same, and I agree that Raiden 3 would attract more mainstream gamers, a lot of whom are familiar with at least the first game in the Raiden series. If Gradius V, then why not this?

[Thunder Force]

I wonder how games like DOJ, Mushi, and Ibara get approved? Which is true and which isn't?

The alleged policy I was referring to is specifically by SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment America) only, and does not apply at all for SCEI (Japan) or SCEE (EU).

[Ghegs]

And at least PS2 has gotten its fair share of 2D Cave shmups. That said though, I wonder how games like DOJ, Mushi, and Ibara get approved? Which is true and which isn't?

Like BulletMagnet said, when talking about Sony it's very important to realize the difference between SCEJ, SCEA and SCEE. I think most of Sony-bashing comes from not making this difference. I understand that even though they all operate under the Sony title, they're mostly independant companies with own agendas and budgets and whatnot. SCEJ has nothing against 2D, as evidenced by the amounts of 2D games released at full-price. SCEE is more lenient, as there's quite a few of (budget-priced) releases. SCEA is the one with the stick up its ass.

Maybe this is why the anti-Sony sentiments seem stronger in USA - as an importer from Europe, I mostly deal with just SCEJ and SCEE, and they've been very good to me over the years.

EDIT: Aw, crap. TF got first while I was typing my post. Ah well.

[doctorx0079]

As I said before there is little chance of Xplosiv releasing there products abroad due to little demeand and Sony of America.

Not sure what you mean by this. Taito Legends is available in the US and according to Xplosiv is doing quite well.

[Zweihander]

Perhaps Xplosiv could be persuaded to port Mushi and Raiden 3 to the Gamecube? Atari did a sub-par job with Iky, but hey, beggers can't be choosers.

Granted, I already have the PS2 Mushi, aas well as the Dreamcast Iky, but hey, i'd love to see the masses have access to such games! Not to mention, Gamecube's overall library is kinda lame at the moment. :/

[Sundance]

I threw in my support for a NTSC/UC release of Raiden 3. Even though I think Mushihimesama is a much better game, I sadly have to agree with Stuart Campbell and say that Raiden 3 will probably attract more normal people. Plus it's THREE-DEE! Which, according to Sony, means the game is excellent and thus more deserving of approval!

Plus I haven't bought Raiden 3 yet and wouldn't mind picking up a $30 domestic release.

Raiden 3 is classic fun. I think its a great game. Granted its not Mushehimasama but few games are. I too have crossed the link...hopefully it'll make a difference.

[EOJ]

Perhaps Xplosiv could be persuaded to port Mushi and Raiden 3 to the Gamecube?

This will never happen due to the development costs of porting the games to a new hardware, it wouldn't be worth Xplosiv's while. Why would they port it to the GC when they can just translate a few things (R3 is nearly entirely in English) and slap on a new label and release it for the PS2? Far more people own a PS2 than a GC anyway.

Atari did a sub-par job with Iky, but hey, beggers can't be choosers.

Actually, Treasure ported it to the GC, not Atari. Atari just published it.
Treasure are quoted saying they were happy because with the GC version they created a version of Ikaruga "even better than the arcade" (due to the total lack of slowdown).

[dave4shmups]

Xplosiv gave us the awesome Taito Legends and now they want to know what else we want. Please take a minute to register with their site and then post in this thread. Let them know you want Raiden III and Mushihimesama in US release!!

Request for Raiden 3 submitted! I have serious doubts about how much good this will do, although the PS1 did get more shmup ports closer to the end of it's life-span, AFIK.

If you live in America, like me, then your best bet is to just get a J-PSTwo, IMO. I asked Play-Asia, in an email recently, if they knew when that system will drop in price (given that the PS3 is due out soon in Japan); not surprisingly they said that they don't know.

[Zweihander]

Actually, Treasure ported it to the GC, not Atari. Atari just published it.
Treasure are quoted saying they were happy because with the GC version they created a version of Ikaruga "even better than the arcade" (due to the total lack of slowdown).

Sound glitches, and some game-hampering glitches not found in the NAOMI version. (see ikaruga.co.uk for these videos)

[EOJ]

Sound glitches, and some game-hampering glitches not found in the NAOMI version. (see ikaruga.co.uk for these videos)

Yes I know. I have owned both the GC and DC versions of Ika and have played them both extensively (200+ hours with each version). I was simply quoting what TREASURE said about the port.