Eurogamer article: All about China/Shanghai's STG scene

[kid aphex]

Although our skill levels are worlds apart, I'm pleasantly surprised to find our tastes are about even. When I ask him what he considers the best and worst the STG genre has to offer, he instantly throws up DoDonpachi DaiOuJou.

"For me it's the best of all. Because its bullets have an organic nature, and the pressure of the second loop [which restarts the game at a much higher difficulty level and strips you of all your lives] is incredible. I think it's the most perfectly constructed STG ever made. It took me four years of playing on weekends to get the 2 loop clear, but I'm still trying to improve my score. My next goal is 1.8 billion."

And the worst?

"Definitely Ikaruga," he replies.

Great article, though.

[Pointman]

Great write up, it's fascinating to see what the scene is like in China. I had a Daifukkatsu 1.5 board that was "released" from an arcade in Shanghai (at least that's what Legend told me) and the scores on there were pretty insane. Also the double play thing is quite popular it seems, I saw a salaryman in HEY! finish ESPGaluda on a one credit double play. It's crazy that some random business man, on his way home from work, could achieve a feat like that and be totally unknown.

[Skykid]

That was an awesome article! I would love to see these guys at Stunfest next year. If visas and flight tickets are overly expensive, we could start a Patreon campaign or something?

The organisers of the up and coming attempt at a US alternative to Stunfest actually contacted me when I first mentioned these players on the forum. I was handling the discussion on behalf of the parties, but basically I think it's a funds permitting thing, so they'll get back to me if they can afford charter, room and board.

Personally I'd like WS to brush up on his G2 double play and then have them visit as a team called the three W's - or their boy band name 3W. I'm sure Stunfest would be bowled over, they were light on Asian guest players this year I believe.

EDIT: @system11, article amended to now point at shmups.com. Apologies for the error.

[MrSalamander]

Translated it overnight? Wow, amazing work Chris - didn't you sleep last night? I was out like a light after we spoke.

You guys let me know when the next one is happening. Would love to visit to Lie Huo again, funds permitting. But if WY doesn't promise me a DOJ 2-ALL I'm not coming. I want a world record broken!

Yes I did. I enjoyed a performance that day.I was cheering and hand up in the air,so happy and excited!

I believe WY can do it

[Skykid]

Now translated into Chinese:

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/3890168338

Way cool. Thanks to Chris (X91) for his efforts!

[system11]

Do they have any weird Chinese hack/bootleg games over there?

Near me, yeah - that pretty cool Garegga hack.

In Lie Huo no.

Do they get on well with the arcade owners? Might be worth getting such things dumped.

[Skykid]

Do they have any weird Chinese hack/bootleg games over there?

Near me, yeah - that pretty cool Garegga hack.

In Lie Huo no.

Do they get on well with the arcade owners? Might be worth getting such things dumped.

Not sure who "they" are, perhaps there's some confusion. Lie Huo is in Shanghai, I live quite far south. The Garegga hack is local to me in one of the arcades.

Getting it dumped would be splendid since it's such a guilty pleasure it makes you feel dirty for enjoying something so much that bastardises Yagawa's original vision - actually getting it dumped would be another matter entirely.

It was an uphill struggle to communicate with the operators just to get DOJ switched back from hard with only 2 lives to defaults, and DFK 1.5 to have the fourth button added. Within 3 months DOJ had been reverted back to hard again. Trying to get it dumped would be nigh-on impossible for me, I'd honestly (honestly) have more luck trying to purchase it from the arcade and then it can be dumped no problem.

But I haven't got the spare cash to do that. If you guys are genuinely interested in getting that hack dumped we can pool some funds together and I can make them an offer for the board, but otherwise I think it's probably easier to find someone who owns the board that might be willing to do it.

[cave hermit]

There's another garegga hack besides 1945 part 2?

What's it like?

[mookie3three]

Thanks for the article. Great read. I second a double play video of Espgaluda II. That would be nuts to see.

[Skykid]

There's another garegga hack besides 1945 part 2?

What's it like?

I think it's the same one:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... ot#p867719

According to the interweb I think this one has been dumped. I don't know what we're talking about.

[Lobinden]

Treasure's avant-garde polarity switching game was once a darling of the mainstream press, but among STG circles its virtues have never been so black and white.

As someone who doesn't see the appeal of Ikaruga, this line made me smile.
Good article. I find it kind of commendable how these superplayers are actually really humble and don't try to draw attention to themselves, unlike most of the obnoxious "pro gamers" of today.

[gray117]

Excellent article, with a unique angle/perspective, plus great to feature/interact with the local community.

[ratikal]

Great article, Skykid!

[Keade]

+1 Very nice read, thank you ! (cool to see it had a big exposure thanks to Eurogame)

[qmish]

Hey, SkyKid, how are those guys doing now? And Lie Huo itself.

[Skykid]

Hey, SkyKid, how are those guys doing now? And Lie Huo itself.

Well it reopened, although they cut down some of the floor space and sold it to another business. Not much, but it's a bit of a dent. I wrote up all the info when I was last in Shanghai, you can find it here:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58111

And the boys are still there!

[qmish]

Thanks, good to know. Shame about Ketsui and Galuda

[robthebanks]

was in there a couple days ago, lots of dudes smoking and playing shmups. it ruled