Japanese shmup sites

[wasilewski]

Hi guys,

I've seen a few mentions on here of some posters finding information about the finer mechanics of shmups on Japanese sites, but they aren't always specific as to which Japanese sites.

I'm wondering if someone could help me out with some links to Japanese shmup sites, or even tips on keywords to use when searching with Google / Bing etc, to find information about shmups on Japanese sites?

[SuperDeadite]

Japanese players don't really use traditional websites. These days, they mostly use twitter.

[qmish]

Well, what about their wikis though

But would like to see fansites that are still alive

[CloudyMusic]

It depends on the game. Usually, a good place to start is just Googling the game name in Japanese + "攻略". Searching for the game name on Niconico (or less frequently, YouTube) can also lead to information, either in the form of video guides (with embedded notes) or links to external resources.

[wasilewski]

Japanese players don't really use traditional websites. These days, they mostly use twitter.

I have found Twitter is very limited in terms of getting tips and detail infos.

Well, what about their wikis though

But would like to see fansites that are still alive

Yeah, some of those old fansites were really cool and had loads of great detailed info on them. Some of those guys must have put many, many hours into some of the diagrams.

It depends on the game. Usually, a good place to start is just Googling the game name in Japanese + "攻略". Searching for the game name on Niconico (or less frequently, YouTube) can also lead to information, either in the form of video guides (with embedded notes) or links to external resources.

Thanks for the tip, Keres. I translated the 攻略 bit and it came up as meaning "capture", any reason why this term is used? It's something I would never heard thought of.

[CloudyMusic]

Thanks for the tip, Keres. I translated the 攻略 bit and it came up as meaning "capture", any reason why this term is used? It's something I would never heard thought of.

It's used to mean "strategy guide" in video games and things like that.

[Plasmo]

Are you looking for anything in specific? Which title?

This very forum is probably the best resource you will find.

[wasilewski]

Thanks for the tip, Keres. I translated the 攻略 bit and it came up as meaning "capture", any reason why this term is used? It's something I would never heard thought of.

It's used to mean "strategy guide" in video games and things like that.

Thanks Keres, I was curious.

Are you looking for anything in specific? Which title?

This very forum is probably the best resource you will find.

Yeah this forum is an amazing resource, but I wanted to see if there was anything else out there.

I'm after info about 1944 Loop Master, DonPachi and Deathsmiles.

[CloudyMusic]

I have this linked in the Deathsmiles high score thread as well, but here you go: http://wiki00.com/deathsmiles/

[wasilewski]

I have this linked in the Deathsmiles high score thread as well, but here you go: http://wiki00.com/deathsmiles/

Cool link thanks!

[Teufel_in_Blau]

Japanese shmups news site: http://stg.liarsoft.org

[Plasmo]

I'm after info about 1944 Loop Master, DonPachi and Deathsmiles.

Ask me anything concerning Donpachi. You will not find any info on that game in the net and the guide on this forum is very bad and inaccurate overall.

1944 Loop Master is not very popular and will be difficult if you really want to dig deep into the game's system. Check out this recently uploaded video by Erppo for a start: https://youtu.be/XkpudAMgh8E

[PC Engine Fan X!]

If you're looking to buy a Cave Donpachi jamma PCB, then you'll need either a Japanese candy cab or a supergun setup to be able to play it properly. Back in the early 2000s, it was cheaper on the wallet/purse to be able to buy a barebones Donpachi PCB for about $230-$280 USD or thereabouts. Of course, those days are long gone. Nowadays, be prepared to spend even more of your hard-earned $$$ to get one. It certainly is worth it to be able to play/own the actual DP PCB indeed.

Back in 1995, the American arcade subsidiary, Atlus USA, did sell/distribute such Donpachi PCB kits for the North American arcade market complete with POP, instruction manual, all necessary arcade paperworks and a full-sized Donpachi arcade marquee that could be illuminated from the backside if so desired (the DP PCB kits sold in Japan never came with the full-sized arcade marquee whatsoever).

I've had the rare opportunity to play Donpachi at the Modesto, CA based Electric Underground arcade hangout that took nickels to credit up all the various arcade games and pinball machines there back in 1995 (it has since closed it's doors for good in May of 1998 under the name of Nickel Play). The owner whom managed the Electric Underground arcade was really into arcade STG pcbs and I'd see/play some other arcade STG pcb titles like:

Psikyo's Strikers 1945 (distributed by Jaleco USA back in 1995, is regarded as another big American arcade subsidiary back in the mid-1990s)

Toaplan's Fixeight

Seibu Kaihatsu's Viper Phase 1 U.S.A. running on Seibu's SP1 arcade motherboard setup circa 1995 (the Japanese counterpart of Seibu's Viper Phase 1 NV {New Version} is the same as it's American counterpart of VP1 U.S.A. in terms of overall gameplay & game mechanics)

Yukembo's Blazing Star running on the Neo-Geo MVS arcade platform (I recall that Nickel Play had gotten this particular MVS STG cart brand new back in February of 1998 when it first went on sale to arcade operators/owners)

Seibu Kaihatsu's Raiden Fighters on the SP1 platform

Dooyoung's R-Shark -- an odd-ball & peculiar obscure South Korean produced arcade STG pcb

Unfortunately, Atlus USA never did distribute/sell Cave's proper arcade STG pcb kit sequel by the name of Dodonpachi stateside (despite Cave Co. Ltd. selling both a Japanese and an International version DDP jamma pcb conversion kit to other countries back in 1997). I think it'd be safe to say that I probably would've gotten the proper chance to play DDP (considering that Donpachi had already gotten a proper American arcade pcb kit release anyways) at Nickel Play. We'll never know why the parent arcade developer/publisher, Atlus of Japan, didn't allow it's American arcade subsidiary to sell/distribute such DDP pcb kits in the USA during the 1997-1998 timeline -- it certainly is a question for the ages to be answered, indeed. In retropsect, we'll never know why though.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Shepardus]

Archer's site has a nice guide on Dragon Blaze and some info on Pink Sweets, though nothing on the games you said you're interested in. I don't think there are all that many detailed websites still floating around, I imagine people are more likely to share information in person or through less "formal" communications. Nowadays there are high-quality replays that can teach you more than enough for many games, go check them out.

Nobody said anything about buying DonPachi or any of those other games?

[wasilewski]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Really, any sites about any games would be appreciated. I guess I just like these sites for nostalgia purposes as I remember looking at them long before Youtube was even around and there was no such thing as online translators.

I'm after info about 1944 Loop Master, DonPachi and Deathsmiles.

Ask me anything concerning Donpachi. You will not find any info on that game in the net and the guide on this forum is very bad and inaccurate overall.

1944 Loop Master is not very popular and will be difficult if you really want to dig deep into the game's system. Check out this recently uploaded video by Erppo for a start: https://youtu.be/XkpudAMgh8E

Thanks! I'll have to keep grinding away at 1944 Loop Master.

Out of interest, are there any sites about the Gunbird games out there?

[Plasmo]

The easiest is really to ask the questions in the specific strategy topics each. Here's an index: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1896

It is very likely that your questions have already been answered, so you can look around a bit first. If you don't find anything and there is no bigger ST topic, feel free to open a new one asking your question.

If you think that your question is just too small and doesn't even deserve its own topic, ask here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44313

This forum is full of very knowledgable people who will gladly help you out. You don't need any obscure Japanese sites for that.

[wasilewski]

Thanks again, Plasmo!