The end of Taito shmup ports (thanks to Square-enix)

[bVork]

Hopefully this doesn't mean the end of Taito's arcade hardware business. They haven't really done anything in-house recently, but there has been plenty of support for Type X by other developers. I could see it becoming the next NAOMI if they continue to produce it.

When TF did Square-Enix buy out Taito?? And they own Hudson, too?? Craziness!.

S-E bought Taito in mid-2005. Hudson is owned by Konami, not S-E.

[Thunder Force]

So... this pretty much means the end for the Darius and Rayforce series?

Well, considering Taito allowed Raycrisis to be published with the subtitle "Series Termination" in the U.S., we can probably consider that Taito hasn't been planning to continue that trilogy anyway.

It's hard to imagine however that Taito wouldn't bring back their Darius franchise, in an era where widescreen displays are becoming the norm...

Although there's no signs of it right now, I still believe we'll eventually see another Darius game. It would be weird for that series to end with Darius R.

[tiw]

I thought Zun was self-employed...

No, the more-than-modest amount he gets doing Touhou is actually a side-thing to his work at Taito.

I think one of the good things to come out of this is if he decides to actually do a new game in light of the squeeze.

[Fighter17]

Man I didn't even seen one impressive Type-X game.

All the Type-X games I've seen were kind of low polygons.

[dave4shmups]

So... this pretty much means the end for the Darius and Rayforce series?

Well, considering Taito allowed Raycrisis to be published with the subtitle "Series Termination" in the U.S., we can probably consider that Taito hasn't been planning to continue that trilogy anyway.

It's hard to imagine however that Taito wouldn't bring back their Darius franchise, in an era where widescreen displays are becoming the norm...

Although there's no signs of it right now, I still believe we'll eventually see another Darius game. It would be weird for that series to end with Darius R.

That's a great though about widescreen and the Darius series, TF! Maybe there will be another one!

I would never have expected Taito to be bought out by anyone, as old and well-established as they are.

[JBC]

I was kind of amazed that we didn't see a Darius on PS2. G-Darius actually seemed to get pretty popular, even in the US. Well, popular as far as shmups go.

That's really sad about the Ray series. I hope that they at least put together a collection one day.

[NTSC-J]

Man I didn't even seen one impressive Type-X game.

All the Type-X games I've seen were kind of low polygons.

Battle Fantasia is a stunner.

[eretsua]

so when did taito get bought by square-enix?

~eretsua.

[incognoscente]

September 28, 2005: Taito becomes Square-Enix consolidated subsidiary (S-E with 93.70% interest in Taito)
March 31, 2006: Taito becomes Square-Enix wholly-owned subsidiary

[GaijinPunch]

Mihara's 2 yen. Doesn't necessarily mean they're quitting the Amusement business. I wonder if Taito Station in Shibuya will stay open.

[D]

I'm about ready to bet the new Chase HQ got cancelled- no one has said a damn thing about it for ages.

Don't you guys ever check neo-arcadia.com?
Are you ready to bet now?

[Fighter17]

I'm about ready to bet the new Chase HQ got cancelled- no one has said a damn thing about it for ages.

Don't you guys ever check neo-arcadia.com?
Are you ready to bet now?

I saw screenshots of the new Chase HQ game.

You're in a police car? Pass.

[gameoverDude]

I'm about ready to bet the new Chase HQ got cancelled- no one has said a damn thing about it for ages.

Don't you guys ever check neo-arcadia.com?
Are you ready to bet now?

I've seen screen shots, but not a cabinet. Gamespy cheats has the date of release as 12/31/2006, but GameFAQs has no mention.

[tiw]

I'm about ready to bet the new Chase HQ got cancelled- no one has said a damn thing about it for ages.

Don't you guys ever check neo-arcadia.com?
Are you ready to bet now?

I've seen screen shots, but not a cabinet. Gamespy cheats has the date of release as 12/31/2006, but GameFAQs has no mention.

12/31/2006 was used as the generic "TBA" date.