What ever happened to Raiden III in the USA?

stoneroses · Post by **stoneroses** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:22 am

I know you lucky ones who have the NTSC-J version claim it is nothing special, but I always wanted to pick this up and was looking forward to having XS Games release it as a budget title this fall. I have been unable to find any news and fear it might not be coming anymore. Anyone know whats up?

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:45 am

Basically, I'd consider it dead. XS Games has said nothing beyond the initial announcement, and it's supposed release date came and went without so much as a rumor on any aspect of the game. Basically, if you want to play it, you'll either have to import the PS2 version, or grab the Japanese/Taiwan PC version (which will play on a US PC just fine).

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:48 am

I go cry now

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:59 am

Maybe we need to go have a chat with XS games, eh?

I'll bring the wire cutters.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:28 am

and why hasnt this game had a "best" release, yet?

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 4:13 pm

DC906270 wrote:and why hasnt this game had a "best" release, yet?

Maybe because it's not one of the best...

landshark · Post by **landshark** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 8:12 pm

Ceph wrote:
DC906270 wrote:and why hasnt this game had a "best" release, yet?
Maybe because it's not one of the best...

After I installed the PC version on my mame-cab, I started enjoying this game **much** more. It's alot more fun on arcade controls than on a pad.

I wish they had put some more options into it like DX - such as looping, and maybe some medals or something instead of just the score multiplier. But the bosses are fun, and the shear amount of carnage in the last 2 levels is alot of fun.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 8:21 pm

landshark wrote:But the bosses are fun, and the shear amount of carnage in the last 2 levels is alot of fun.

yeah, i like it too, dunno why its always getting shat on by people. its one of my favourite on ps2, cos its so simple

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:19 pm

Raiden III is quite far from being "nothing special". It's a break from the more complex scoring systems in some other games (e.g. DDP). I like it on PS2, and love the PC version. On PC this is something that would kick ass in a MAME cab, especially with the monitor tated.

Dunno WTF is up with XS Games.

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:24 pm

The PAL version is cheap enough and has a 60hrz mode. I would strongly suggest picking it up as it's a very good old school style vert shmup and personaly it's one of my favourates at the moment on the PS2.

Not sure if play.com do international shipping but they do sell Raiden III very cheap and works out $23.17 USD but I think intenrational shipping my cost you a few bucks extra.

Shame you guys are not getting it though it's a good game!

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:58 pm

landshark wrote:After I installed the PC version on my mame-cab, I started enjoying this game **much** more. It's alot more fun on arcade controls than on a pad.

Wait a minute - don't tell me the PS2 port doesn't recognize namco arcade stick too. That would blow.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:05 am

circuitface wrote:I go cry now

I'll go call XS tomorrow. I'm not going to hammer on them, but I did call about this game before, some months ago, and it wouldn't hurt to call again. I will let them know, as I did before, that there are people who have been waiting for this game to get a US release. If they say that it's been cancelled, then I'll go cry.

Either they're still in business, or they're not. If they are, then they NEED to update their website. I'd say that if this doesn't happen after the New Year begins, then they're in serious trouble, to say the least.

At any rate, I will post what I've found out tomorrow.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:06 am

Danny wrote:The PAL version is cheap enough and has a 60hrz mode. I would strongly suggest picking it up as it's a very good old school style vert shmup and personaly it's one of my favourates at the moment on the PS2.

Not sure if play.com do international shipping but they do sell Raiden III very cheap and works out $23.17 USD but I think intenrational shipping my cost you a few bucks extra.

Shame you guys are not getting it though it's a good game!

So this is actually a PAL PS2 game that will run on a US-NTSC PS2?

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:37 am

dave4shmups wrote:
Danny wrote:The PAL version is cheap enough and has a 60hrz mode. I would strongly suggest picking it up as it's a very good old school style vert shmup and personaly it's one of my favourates at the moment on the PS2.

Not sure if play.com do international shipping but they do sell Raiden III very cheap and works out $23.17 USD but I think intenrational shipping my cost you a few bucks extra.

Shame you guys are not getting it though it's a good game!
So this is actually a PAL PS2 game that will run on a US-NTSC PS2?

It's still region coded, so you'd need an import-ready PS2. And, if memory serves, doesn't the PAL video output not work properly on a US TV (something about a scart output)?

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:27 am

Turrican wrote:
landshark wrote:After I installed the PC version on my mame-cab, I started enjoying this game **much** more. It's alot more fun on arcade controls than on a pad.
Wait a minute - don't tell me the PS2 port doesn't recognize namco arcade stick too. That would blow.

I think it would recognize the Namco arcade stick. I've played the PS2 one using a Hori Tekken 5 stick. So the original Namco stick should work.

Limbrooke · Post by **Limbrooke** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:13 am

dave4shmups wrote:
circuitface wrote:I go cry now
I'll go call XS tomorrow. I'm not going to hammer on them, but I did call about this game before, some months ago, and it wouldn't hurt to call again. I will let them know, as I did before, that there are people who have been waiting for this game to get a US release. If they say that it's been cancelled, then I'll go cry.

Either they're still in business, or they're not. If they are, then they NEED to update their website. I'd say that if this doesn't happen after the New Year begins, then they're in serious trouble, to say the least.

At any rate, I will post what I've found out tomorrow.

Don't bother, I've called before too and to no avail. All answering machines and nobody seems to follow up. Either they could care less about messages or they really are out of business.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:59 am

Limbrooke wrote:
dave4shmups wrote:
circuitface wrote:I go cry now
I'll go call XS tomorrow. I'm not going to hammer on them, but I did call about this game before, some months ago, and it wouldn't hurt to call again. I will let them know, as I did before, that there are people who have been waiting for this game to get a US release. If they say that it's been cancelled, then I'll go cry.

Either they're still in business, or they're not. If they are, then they NEED to update their website. I'd say that if this doesn't happen after the New Year begins, then they're in serious trouble, to say the least.

At any rate, I will post what I've found out tomorrow.
Don't bother, I've called before too and to no avail. All answering machines and nobody seems to follow up. Either they could care less about messages or they really are out of business.

I did actually get someone once, who said that they were going to release Raiden III over here.

Whatever, I want to know more about the PAL version-if that works fine on US PS2's, then to heck with XS.

Skyknight · Post by **Skyknight** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:32 am

Unfortunately, this really does sound like "out of business". {sigh} If so, maybe we can get Atlus to pick up the slack...

Although...Wasn't there an Acclaim franchise that XS recently picked up? I wonder why it didn't keep their heads above water...

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:56 am

Skyknight wrote:Unfortunately, this really does sound like "out of business". {sigh} If so, maybe we can get Atlus to pick up the slack...

Although...Wasn't there an Acclaim franchise that XS recently picked up? I wonder why it didn't keep their heads above water...

I doubt that we'll get anyone else who's willing to bring shmups, and other traditional shooters, over to the US. I'd say that, without XS and Working Designs, our chances are slim to none; regardless of how loose SCEA gets about 2D games for the PS2.

@Danny-more info on PS2 PAL Raiden III, please!

J-Manic · Post by **J-Manic** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:37 am

Damn man. And I was really looking forward to playing this game too. This fucking blows.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:09 am

I was just reminded of Agetec-perhaps they could pick this up! Or, O3.

Xexyz · Post by **Xexyz** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:43 am

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Agetec kick the bucket recently?

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:07 am

Xexyz wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Agetec kick the bucket recently?

I don't think so-their website, complete with forums, is up and running.

Knuckles-chaotix · Post by **Knuckles-chaotix** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:43 am

Pal was new sealed for around $30 Australian.

Good game.