Galaxy Force II coming soon?

[system11]

Well - after seeing basically nothing on this for a very long time:

http://ages.sega.jp/lineup.html

There's nothing announced after Last Bronx, datewise - here's hoping the page above means Galaxy Force II is finally going to see the light of day - it was supposed to be out a long time ago, even had an Ages volume number. Allegedly this will be the first arcade perfect port.

[Thunder Force]

I've linked to that url a few times in some previous GF2 speculation threads here earlier in the year. It still shows no date or even predicted year beside GF2, so if we're unlucky we may even have to wait until 2007. I have cultivated patience with regards to this release, as long as we get it 100% accurate in the end.

[GaijinPunch]

Well, it's the next volume, so expect it out within 2 months. And yes, it's apparently a "direct port" of the arcade. Ones of recent have been quite good, so perhaps GF2 fans can finally rejoice.

[system11]

I've linked to that url a few times in some previous GF2 speculation threads here earlier in the year.

Drat - must have missed them - was it always on the lineup page then?

Well, it's the next volume, so expect it out within 2 months. And yes, it's apparently a "direct port" of the arcade. Ones of recent have been quite good, so perhaps GF2 fans can finally rejoice.

Found any official confirmation of that? That's the one thing I wanted to find but couldn't (I can't read Japanese). Galaxy Force has been near the top of my list of cabs to buy for a long time, they don't come up often, but a decent port would make me feel happy too.

[Thunder Force]

Drat - must have missed them - was it always on the lineup page then?

Yes, for about a year now IIRC that screenshot and text have been there. Originally it was also labelled with release date of "2006", but several months ago that 2006 label was removed rather ominously, which is why I started speculating a possible delay to 2007.

Galaxy Force has been near the top of my list of cabs to buy for a long time, they don't come up often, but a decent port would make me feel happy too.

I recall reading (in Retro Gamer mag?) unconfirmed reports that a large number of deluxe rotational cabs of the category GF2 belongs to, were junked by operators when the arcade downturn happened

[system11]

I recall reading (in Retro Gamer mag?) unconfirmed reports that a large number of deluxe rotational cabs of the category GF2 belongs to, were junked by operators when the arcade downturn happened

Oh yeah - large modern 'sort of JAMMA but not really' games have suffered heavily. There wasn't a collectors market for them or anything like ebay to make selling them easier, operators need the storage space - so many got smashed up. There was also a problem here where the large chain owners specifically destroyed machines rather than sell them to competitors.

Things like Buggy Boy triple screen, the multiscreen Taitos, larger sim games that weren't popular (Galaxy Force for example), are like hens teeth now. Even smaller dedicated modern games are very thin on the ground. It's a shame the early collectors regarded anything JAMMA onwards as rubbish - I fear there are some games that are lost forever.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I remember playing Galaxy Force II rotational arcade cabinet at Disneyland's "Starcade's" arcade back in May of 1990...awesome game for it's time. ^_~

It reminded me of the three different cabinet setups of Sega's Space Harrier arcade game that I've seen built: arcade upright, Japanese arcade sit-down with non-moving seat, & full deluxe cabinet with motion seat capability. ^_~

The actual GF-II deluxe cabinet seemed like that it really didn't take up that much space when it was setup properly. I haven't seen a Galaxy Force deluxe arcade cabinet since then.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[system11]

Galaxy Force (II) existed in three types too - the upright, white sim unit with rocket boosters on the back of the seat, and the big metal spaceframe super deluxe. I only know of one SD type still in existance

As for the Space Harriers - I always thought the non moving sitdown was a bit pointless really, I know someone trying to sell one, and it got zero bids on ebay at only 300ukp. I got a full upright for 270 this week - this just makes it even worse for older dedicated games - if the value gets too low and people don't buy them, even more may get broken for spares.

[Icarus]

I recall reading (in Retro Gamer mag?) unconfirmed reports that a large number of deluxe rotational cabs of the category GF2 belongs to, were junked by operators when the arcade downturn happened

Did G-Loc, Afterburner and Thunderblade fall under the same category? I have fond memories of those 'cabs' as a kid, and I'd be heartbroken if they are no longer in existence due to scrapping now.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I recall reading (in Retro Gamer mag?) unconfirmed reports that a large number of deluxe rotational cabs of the category GF2 belongs to, were junked by operators when the arcade downturn happened

Did G-Loc, Afterburner and Thunderblade fall under the same category? I have fond memories of those 'cabs' as a kid, and I'd be heartbroken if they are no longer in existence due to scrapping now.

For Icarus,

A lone Sega G-Loc deluxe cabinet is 100% operational at a local arcade called Funworks in Modesto, CA that I know of. It has a copyright date of 1992 -- pretty old for a well maintained G-Loc deluxe arcade cabinet. ^_~

I haven't seen the deluxe Afterburner or Thunderblade cabinets since the early 1990's at the local arcades in Modesto, CA back in the day. They may have gone the way of demolishment due to their bulky size. Hmmm...

Of course, there's always the California Extreme classic arcade game & pinball show -- each year, many old retro arcade games from Space War to today's modern arcade marvels are showcased there. I think I did see the rare sit-down deluxe Galaxy Force II arcade cabinet at the CAX '05 show last year -- seemed smaller than what my fuzzy memory recalls of the May 1990 gaming session of GF-II deluxe rotation arcade game. I do recall that a temporary barrier was placed around the GF-II deluxe rotational cabinet at Starcade arcade inside Disneyland so that arcade patrons could keep a safe distance from all that crazy spinning that particular cabinet did. ^_~

Yes, I played the big space-metal saucer type super deluxe Galaxy Force II cabinet at Disneyland back in May of 1990. So Bloodflowers, I know what GF-II cabinet you're talking about. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[system11]

I recall reading (in Retro Gamer mag?) unconfirmed reports that a large number of deluxe rotational cabs of the category GF2 belongs to, were junked by operators when the arcade downturn happened

Did G-Loc, Afterburner and Thunderblade fall under the same category? I have fond memories of those 'cabs' as a kid, and I'd be heartbroken if they are no longer in existence due to scrapping now.

If you want a buy a G-Loc I know of a guy who /had/ a fully working one up for sale. Afterburners are still knocking around, not so many in any good state of repair though. Thunderblade sit-downs I can think of two - one I used to own, and one in the same arcade with the G-Loc, also for sale as I recall but the stick needed rebuilding - very loose.

[GaijinPunch]

You know, as huge as the arcade scene in Japan is, I've never once seen a retro oversized game. Only new ones.

Found any official confirmation of that?

That it's the next release, or that it's an arcade port? As for the next release bit, I'm just assuming so, as nothing else has been announced. Up until now, they've done far fewer titles, announcing one, making it, and announcing the next one or two before it's done. As for the "perfect port"comment, they make special mention on the product page that no port to this day has succeeded, and that this will be a first. Sounds like good news to me.

[system11]

Hopefully it won't have forced filtering - there's absolutely no need for a normal aspect game which was nothing /but/ scaled sprites to be mangled.

[GaijinPunch]

Well, it's actually not the next volume, but oh, well.

http://www.gamengai.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1231

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Well, it's actually not the next volume, but oh, well.

http://www.gamengai.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1231

So this means that Galaxy Force II will be published in the forthcoming volume after this soon to be released last volume is finally printed?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[gameoverDude]

What would make this REALLY great is support for the Namco Ace Combat throttle/stick controller.

Another Y-Board game that would be nice as a future SA volume is 1991's Strike Fighter. Unfortunately the currently existing home versions are butchered. Looking an awful lot like a 4 Mega cart game with CD music, After Burner III doesn't really use the Sega CD's scaling capabilities. Melf at Sega-16 gives this dogawful port the hell that it deserves- I agree with him that the game speed is like a treadmill. The FM Towns version has better looking enemy planes and faster game speed, but it doesn't have any terrain detail. Neither version is close to the arcade Strike Fighter.

It's a shame when arcade owners trash good games rather than sell to others. Don't they know collectors may also want the machines? Even though there's MAME, the experiences of Hang-On's tilting motorcycle, pulling back on the handlebars to jump in Enduro Racer, or the large After Burner sim cab are nearly impossible to come by again.

One GFII type game I'd have liked to try is Taito's Galactic Storm.