Ikaruga on XBLA

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:18 pm

Where you heard it from? Obviously, not everything on partnernet gets greenlighted after all but comparing Ikaruga to some experimental stuff or half finished pacman clone is rather strange...I guess you don't have to be an expert shmup player to know that Ika is one of this rare "one-of-a-kind" games. Having a port and not releasing it would be just stupid.
Am I the only one here who thinks that XBLA is basically lightyears ahead of the competition selling the player not only the old (regioncoded...yeah, I'm looking at you Nintendo) roms but also stuff like scoreboards and online multiplayer? Ikaruga, Space Giraffe, Assault Heroes, Mutant Storm Empire...doesn't sound bad at all imo.

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:58 pm

...quite interesting article about partnernet:
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2007/02/why ... ightma.php

Endymion · Post by **Endymion** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:16 pm

Arznei wrote:Sounds pretty sweet.. minus the scaling/fake shit. If it's true 720p then awesome, if it's not oh well.

Which part of my post is unclear? All XBox 360 games are 720p. Every last one of them. That is what the CPU feeds the GPU, that is what the GPU renders.

The 360's scaler is a GOOD thing. Its mere presence means that by using it on a 480i/p set your game will NOT speed up, and that by using it on a 1080i/p your game will NOT slow down. All gamers will have parity for the technology regardless of their display.

I thought games couldn't be over 50mb on XBLA? Ikaruga is 16mb compressed, but you can't play it in it's compressed state.. and uncompressed it's like 700 mb. What's up with that?

Microsoft has gone on the record that this requirement is more of a recommendation right now (as there are still Core users out there) and that they will allow larger games on a case-by-case review.

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:44 pm

Kron wrote: Microsoft don't have a good track record when it comes to giving time to Japanese developers and new concepts.

Explain. Seems like they given all of the Japanese developed games they've funded plenty of time to develop quality products. Look at Blue Dragon and Phantom Dust.

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:54 pm

Explain? Its not as if many Japanese games are developed for the 360 and the vast majority of them aren't considered for release outside of Japan.

ktownhero · Post by **ktownhero** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:36 pm

I thought games couldn't be over 50mb on XBLA? Ikaruga is 16mb compressed, but you can't play it in it's compressed state.. and uncompressed it's like 700 mb. What's up with that?

Let me make a wild guess: you downloaded Ikaruga for Dreamcast.

Ikaruga is not a 700mb game. DC ISOs (usually CDI files) put in a huge chunk of empty data on the disk so that it will fill up. It has something to do with how the DC reads disks, and it helps ensure that the burn will work.

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:43 pm

Kron wrote:Explain? Its not as if many Japanese games are developed for the 360 and the vast majority of them aren't considered for release outside of Japan.

Thats because the 360 isn't exactly setting the sales charts on fire over there. One of the things they're been saying for awhile now that they've been trying to get more and more japanese developers to develop for the system to improve its stature in Japan.

And how is it Microsofts fault games developed over there don't get published here? Unlike Sony Microsoft hasn't turned down a game released in Japan for approval in the States because of something as stupid as 2d graphics. It's up to the individual publishers to bring stuff over and as far as I know MS has never cockblocked a games release over here like Sony has. Games not being considered for release outside of Japan is more a symptom of Japanese developers making games only with Japan in mind.

Regardless, I'd expect XBLA Ikaruga to get a release worldwide since it has already been released for the GC so it has a proven sales record and positive western reviews and community.

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:58 pm

@Kron
The reason why there aren't many Japanese developed games is pretty simple: Many Japanese developers didn't believe in the success of the box. The ones who do develop games on a bigger budget (like Capcom or Team Ninja) make games for a worldwide market which is definitely the future trend with developing costs exploding. While the 360 remains an underdog system in Japan its success in the rest of the world is quite solid. Many of the Jp games are considered for release outside of Japan, Earth Defence Force or Oneechanbara vorteX for example are both planned for a western release. It's not really Microsofts fault when no publisher is interested in bringing Senko no Ronde to the west.
This could change over the time when stuff like Ikaruga or the yet nameless Treasure title prove successful.
@ktownhero
I bought Ika for my DC but I only use my pirated copy because using the boot disk is a real pain in the ass...I guess many people did this. Regioncoding provokes piracy imo.

Arznei · Post by **Arznei** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:50 pm

Endymion wrote:
Arznei wrote:Sounds pretty sweet.. minus the scaling/fake shit. If it's true 720p then awesome, if it's not oh well.
Which part of my post is unclear? All XBox 360 games are 720p. Every last one of them. That is what the CPU feeds the GPU, that is what the GPU renders.

The 360's scaler is a GOOD thing. Its mere presence means that by using it on a 480i/p set your game will NOT speed up, and that by using it on a 1080i/p your game will NOT slow down. All gamers will have parity for the technology regardless of their display.

k that's wonderful

lawnspic · Post by **lawnspic** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:58 pm

ktownhero wrote:
I thought games couldn't be over 50mb on XBLA? Ikaruga is 16mb compressed, but you can't play it in it's compressed state.. and uncompressed it's like 700 mb. What's up with that?
Let me make a wild guess: you downloaded Ikaruga for Dreamcast.

Ikaruga is not a 700mb game. DC ISOs (usually CDI files) put in a huge chunk of empty data on the disk so that it will fill up. It has something to do with how the DC reads disks, and it helps ensure that the burn will work.

That is called a dummy file, and it is used to pad the disc. It moves the data to the outer edge of the disc. Information can be read faster from the outer edge. For Ikaruga it does not make that big of an difference, but with a game with alot of 3D textures its a must or you will see graphical glitches. With som e of my ps2 games i make multi game DVD compilations and sometimes i will used whats called a "false TOC". This moves the data by adjusting the LBA position. A dummy adds zeros and adds to the overall size of the image where the former does not

Bishamon · Post by **Bishamon** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:59 pm

Necronom wrote:Am I the only one here who thinks that XBLA is basically lightyears ahead of the competition selling the player not only the old (regioncoded...yeah, I'm looking at you Nintendo) roms but also stuff like scoreboards and online multiplayer? Ikaruga, Space Giraffe, Assault Heroes, Mutant Storm Empire...doesn't sound bad at all imo.

I agree. XBLA may not be perfect, but it's certainly the best service of its type out there at the moment.

Endymion · Post by **Endymion** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:02 pm

Acid King wrote:And how is it Microsofts fault games developed over there don't get published here?

Why indeed, anybody remember the TurboGrafx? It wasn't NEC's fault that all its great games stayed in Japan. The original publishers just totally did not care if their games made it to the USA or the world, they were either completely unenthusiastic or unwilling with getting their lead out. It's incredible that NEC managed to publish as many licensed games as they did over here, but the gems were still Japan-only.

No_not_like_Quake · Post by **No_not_like_Quake** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:57 pm

Kron wrote:Explain? Its not as if many Japanese games are developed for the 360 and the vast majority of them aren't considered for release outside of Japan.

IMO this view is more akin to what went on with the original Xbox. Times have changed, Microsoft has garnered the support of some big Japanese developers, even limited support from Squeenix.

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:04 pm

Thats the problem with the system, Its always focused towards the big developers.

I don't think times have changed at all, If anything its worse.

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:34 pm

You're right. It gets more and more focused towards the big developers. But look at the competition and you realize that it's even worse when it comes to Sony. XBLA is supposed to be a platform for small developers and while there's obviously lots of room for improvement the whole thing does work quite nicely. I'm pretty sure that the Live version of Mutant Storm already outsold its original PC version.

Endymion · Post by **Endymion** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:23 pm

Kron wrote:Thats the problem with the system, Its always focused towards the big developers.

I don't think times have changed at all, If anything its worse.

Frankly, I can't take you seriously after this comment.

bullethell · Post by **bullethell** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:27 am

howmuchkeefe wrote:If Radiant Silvergun comes out for XBL, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself from buying a 360

Exactly!

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:14 am

Kron wrote:Thats the problem with the system, Its always focused towards the big developers.

I don't think times have changed at all, If anything its worse.

So Microsoft courting developers like G Rev and Treasure is a step back?

icepick · Post by **icepick** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:42 am

I think that he meant "big" as in Square-Enix and others.

This is interesting news, but I'm in the BOINGS camp. Still, one might argue that I should go out and buy a NAOMI system if I really want the native game system for Ikaruga, or the development hardware that Treasure used, so I suppose that everything's relative.

If it's a near-perfect port, then I'll find it pleasant from a technical and longevity perspective. (Us humans and our obsession with immortality.) I also think that port availability is good; The old game cartridges for systems were much more hardy than the discs of recent generations; Having legal downloadable games of this nature is a good thing in my opinion. I'm sure that someday we'll have some huge databank of every game ever made, playable within 99.99% accuracy of its native game system.

The only time that I stick to YARR is if the port was decided between the decision to work on a port, or a new title. (I'd mention something else about human tendancy here, but new happens. Trees fall and more grow. There's nothing wrong with cycles, and new trees don't make us forget the old ones.) I suppose that I'm happy no matter what, though.

PPA · Post by **PPA** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:04 am

mmmh

what should we do if it will be available only on jap marketplace?

Is it possible for US / European players to buy it?

HOW?

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:33 am

The same way German users get the content that is not available to german accounts...create a foreign account. Pretty simple, he?
Btw, if it happens it'll be worldwide.

PPA · Post by **PPA** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:15 pm

Necronom wrote:The same way German users get the content that is not available to german accounts...create a foreign account. Pretty simple, he?
Btw, if it happens it'll be worldwide.

mmmh if you create a jap account and you are german, i think you cant download CONTET you r supposed to pay ....or not?

bVork · Post by **bVork** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:24 am

Bullet wrote:mmmh if you create a jap account and you are german, i think you cant download CONTET you r supposed to pay ....or not?

Could you rephrase this in English?

Anyway, it's fairly easy to create a foreign account. Unless they start actually checking IPs, there's no real barrier when it comes to downloading stuff meant for other regions. I made a German account to download the Rainbow Six Vegas demo, because it was an OXM exclusive in North America.

jp · Post by jp » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:13 am

RyanDG wrote: Rather than zombifying one of the previous Ikaruga threads, I just thought I would go ahead and post this. At Microsoft's pre-TGS conference they revealed their line-up of upcoming XBLA titles.

Ikaruga has been officially announced after popping up on the press/development version of XBLA a few months back.

Also announced were Rez, Every Extend Extra Extreme, Trigger Heart (we knew about that one from Famitsu), Hudson's Omega Five (a new shooter from Hudson - hori I think), and Exit which is based on the PSP game.

Good news all around for Microsoft's platform.

Here's hoping that they keep the games pretty much open across all regions as they have.

*since the other thread was locked for whatever reason.*

At any rate, REZ?!!?!??!!?!?!? Man, awesome news.

First Ninja Gaiden 2 and now this. Keep it comin' Microsoft.

KNTain · Post by **KNTain** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:28 am

Eh, whatever at Rez. Maybe for five bucks, but that won't happen.

I'm not the biggest fan of Ikaruga, either, but I'm all for oldish shooter rereleases, and being able to play at > than native res without doing any TV flipping is nice. I'll probably get that.

Every Extend Extra Extreme, though, is an instant purchase. Same with Exit if they speed it up a little.

pixelcorps · Post by **pixelcorps** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:30 am

great news, sadly I won't be buying it a 2nd time...

i'm sure treasure will do i nice job, and considering the ingame gfx are all polys it'll scale to hi def straight away!

just wondering if they'll up the poly count? low polys in hi def might be a bit egghhh...

good news regardless...

hirounder · Post by **hirounder** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:55 am

Treasure opened small page for the xbla version

- replay mode
- coop via Live
- live scoreboards
- option to download best replays
- improved graphics over arcade ver. for HD
- tate mode
- released this winter for 800 MS points

http://www.treasure-inc.co.jp/products/ ... ga360.html

Necronom · Post by **Necronom** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:58 am

Sounds great. I hope they make it possible to practice parts of a chapter like in the gamecube version.

HeLGeN-X · Post by **HeLGeN-X** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:41 pm

That is fucking insanely dope... I need a 360 so badly, I can't imagine achievements on my favorite old school games...

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:53 pm

co-op via live? holy crap

A friend and I played Aegis Wing over the net. Lag wasn't that much of a problem... With Ikaruga, I dunno