What's in store for the future? (or where are we going?)

[Tigershark]

Being an old fart sort of gamer (late, late 30's) I've seen my fair share of gaming experiences and fads. Two things have been constant: (1) the never ending requirement (not need) to produce photo realistic games and (2) the constant desirabilty of shmups (one need only observe the residuals of old games in this genre for evidence).

Where do you think this will lead us? Do you think that programmers will spend more time on the shooter genre? Is it all destined to pcb or home brew obscurity? Where do we go after the DC and PS2?

Your thoughts?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Unless if a major breakthrough happens in which a major Japanese shmup developer were to hook up with such a high-profile graphic design company (i.e. -- Cave, Treasure, Konami, etc.) say like "The Designers' Republic"...would that revive the international arcade shmup PCB market?

And would the USA-based arcades be willing to import such an highly touted profile joint-venture arcade shmup PCB? -- maybe a few takers at the most. (And that's the truth...) ^_~

And will Cave start releasing it's current arcade shmup PCB titles in "International Version" -- meaning translated into English language for our international shmuppers worldwide? (If not, we'll have to be content with the original kanji scripted version shmup PCBs for now...) ^_~

It may be a shmupper's "wet dream" but the above international joint-developement shmup PCB senario will NOT happen in our lifetime... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Tigershark]

Why do they need to be translated? Isn't this a genre where transaltion is pretty much obselete?

PCB home games are limited to the very few. What about console games? The Saturn and DC are supported by shmuppers. Check out e-bay for the prices of games in this genre. They are far higher than others.

Does this make the market limited or is it an untapped resource?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Why do they need to be translated? Isn't this a genre where transaltion is pretty much obselete?

PCB home games are limited to the very few. What about console games? The Saturn and DC are supported by shmuppers. Check out e-bay for the prices of games in this genre. They are far higher than others.

Does this make the market limited or is it an untapped resource?

For Tigershark,

FYI -- in the USA, the arcades "across the pond" are stagnant...really not any place locally for the latest arcade shmup PCBs to be found -- unless you're really good friends with an arcade operator or own such an arcade cabinet or Supergun setup yourself to buy them to enjoy at your leisure... ^_~

IIRC, the very last Cave produced "International Version" arcade PCBs were none other than DoDonpachi and ESP*ra*de PCBs -- all the other arcade shmup PCBs after those two particular releases have been released in their original Japanese language... ^_~

The DC platform is the only one that is currently supported for primarily shmup titles -- witness the recent releases of DC GD-Rom format Last Hope & Trigger Heart Excelica shmup titles... ^_~

As it stands, the shmup market is only catered to the shmup community -- unless something new and dramatically different in terms of graphical design to push the envelope, there really isn't much to advance the shmup overall aesethetics from a graphical point-of-view...perhaps if some major advances in virtual reality or holograms -- might open some doors for new & innovative concepts regarding the shmup genre..... ^_~
I do recall that Sega did bring out an arcade PCB kit for it's LaserDisc-based 1991 holographic Time Traveler cabinet under the name of "Holiseum" -- a play on the words of "Hologram Coliseum", of course (circa 1992) -- it was a sprite-based 2-D fighter that gave the illusion of having dimensional shape and form but it was short lived at best (trying to cash in on the fighting game craze that Street Fighter II arcade craze was popular at the current time). No other arcade PCB upgrade kit besides that one exists for the Time Traveler cab to this day..... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[stuntman]

witness the recent releases of DC GD-Rom format Last Hope & Trigger Heart Excelica shmup titles... ^_~

I hope this isn't considered nitpicking (your point about new DC releases is still valid) but Last Hope displays the 'Compact Disc' logo.

[Balzac]

The same niche group will develop the same niche titles for an aging audience.

Some great games will come out, and occasionally a breakout hit will garner mainstream interest, but for the most part, the post playstation generation will take one look and say "lawl, that shits old".

[ROBOTRON]

The focus of the industry seems to be geared toward making controversial titles like GTA and Resident Evil..."Halo" type FPS, sports titles...along with the occasional 3D fighter and some RPG's.

Thats pretty much it.

If it weren't for imports...the shmup market would be dry. Fortunately, the japanese market produces a limited amount of shmups for PS2 and DC...along with the rare homebrew. I haven't seen a new shmup cab in the Detroit area for years...of course we are devoid of an arcade period since Wizzard's closed. (Chuck E. Cheese and "$5 a pop" corp arcades don't count...meh).

I don't see this changing in the foreseeable future.