Hello,
I'm Jose Cruz-Rojas, and I'm in charge of the videogaming room at Anime Banzai, Utah's Anime Convention, now in our fourth year, as well as president of the End of the World anime club(Website currently out-of-date, sorry!), the club that created and sponsors the convention.
The convention itself is October 24-25 at the Sheraton City Center Hotel in Downtown Salt Lake City, and you can find more information at the above link.
I'm trying this year to represent as many different styles of games as possible, and that of course includes our beloved shmups. To that end, I thought I'd come to this message board with a few questions/requests:
1. I'm going to be running two PCs in the room, both of which will be running the ABA freeware shooters. Are there any other Japanese or asian made freeware PC shooters I should include on these systems?
I realize that with ABA I've already got for windows, more if I'm willing to run flash and java(Which is a definite *maybe* at this point, I don't know how I feel about letting strangers have control of a web browser in public, you know?), but the more the merrier, I say.
2. In general, what are some console releases for PS2, wii(meaning also gamecube), or Dreamcast that I could still find in the U.S. for legal sale that would be good choices? The operative idea here would be stuff I can find legally, and get permission to play. I want to be as up and up as I can with all this. Also, I only speak english...so I'd only really be able to talk to U.S. companies, sorry.
3. I'm *always* looking for volunteers to help run the room who're videogame fans. In fact, I'd prefer to have nothing but videogame fans running the room, I think it'd give the place a better feel. If you'd like to come to the con and volunteer you can find out more info about what I'm doing on this Anime Banzai forum post.
Even if you'd just like to come to the con to hang out and see our con, I'd love for members of as many different communities as possible to show up. I've always believed that there's strength in community, as opposed to cliques and closed off enclaves.
Feel free to email me at videogamingatsignanimebanzai.org(remove "atsign"!) if you'd like to know more or to contact me privately with suggestions.
Thanks for your time and consideration, I'm glad a place like this exists for shmup fans!
-Jose Cruz-Rojas
Chair, Anime Baznai Videogaming room
President, End of the World Japanese Animation Club
Running Utah Anime Con VG room...shmup help?
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PC Engine Fan X!
- Posts: 9795
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:32 pm
Hi there Jose,
Welcome to the Shmups.org forum and don't be shy. Fellow shmuppers will gladly lend a helping hand to those in need. Post your suggestions and questions and we'll try our best to answer them promptly.
Perhaps to spice up the shmups side of your video gaming room at this upcoming anime con, a couple of Japanese candy cabinets running such arcade shmup PCBs as they were meant to be played. Or you could consider bring in some Supergun setups + shmup PCBs and let the shmup fans play them that way.
IMHO, a PC really doesn't cut it when playing shmups on emulation. Sure, there is Mame, Mame32, Raine, etc. Honestly, playing with real arcade hardware and software the way it was meant to be played like in a Japanese game center, you can't get any better than that. As for playing such PC released doujin shmup content, it is such a viable platform to check out such interesting flavors of user created shmups. ^_~
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
Welcome to the Shmups.org forum and don't be shy. Fellow shmuppers will gladly lend a helping hand to those in need. Post your suggestions and questions and we'll try our best to answer them promptly.
Perhaps to spice up the shmups side of your video gaming room at this upcoming anime con, a couple of Japanese candy cabinets running such arcade shmup PCBs as they were meant to be played. Or you could consider bring in some Supergun setups + shmup PCBs and let the shmup fans play them that way.
IMHO, a PC really doesn't cut it when playing shmups on emulation. Sure, there is Mame, Mame32, Raine, etc. Honestly, playing with real arcade hardware and software the way it was meant to be played like in a Japanese game center, you can't get any better than that. As for playing such PC released doujin shmup content, it is such a viable platform to check out such interesting flavors of user created shmups. ^_~
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
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GrimoreLibrarian
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honorless
- Posts: 323
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- Location: Colbert Nation
- Contact:
American releases you may want to consider:
PS2:
Castle of Shikigami 2 (warning: this game's localization is Zero Wing bad. The con-goers might find that hilarious though...)
Gradius III & IV
Gradius V
Raiden III
Wii:
Blast Works (this is a remake of a freeware PC shooter, Tumiki Fighters)
Castle of Shikigami III (uh, this game got a much better translation, but the cutscenes are still wtf lol)
360:
Wartech: Senko no Ronde (as you can see this is a versus shooter!)
The original Shikigami no Shiro was released over here as "Mobile Light Force 2", but...I honestly can't recommend that to you in good conscience. Stick with the later two Shiki games if any.
Don't pay too much for the PS2 releases as you can pretty easily find them in bargain bins across the US (my used-but-complete copy of Raiden III was $2.50)
Are you also thinking of putting trial releases of JP shooting games on your PCs? That will open up some more possibilities without straying into piracy.
PS2:
Castle of Shikigami 2 (warning: this game's localization is Zero Wing bad. The con-goers might find that hilarious though...)
Gradius III & IV
Gradius V
Raiden III
Wii:
Blast Works (this is a remake of a freeware PC shooter, Tumiki Fighters)
Castle of Shikigami III (uh, this game got a much better translation, but the cutscenes are still wtf lol)
360:
Wartech: Senko no Ronde (as you can see this is a versus shooter!)
The original Shikigami no Shiro was released over here as "Mobile Light Force 2", but...I honestly can't recommend that to you in good conscience. Stick with the later two Shiki games if any.
Don't pay too much for the PS2 releases as you can pretty easily find them in bargain bins across the US (my used-but-complete copy of Raiden III was $2.50)
Are you also thinking of putting trial releases of JP shooting games on your PCs? That will open up some more possibilities without straying into piracy.
video games suck
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dpful
- Posts: 1205
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- Location: SLC, UT, US
- Contact:
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Arcatech
- Posts: 376
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:16 pm
Sorry to be negative about this but why only pc shmups?
I would love to visit your booth and play some shooters but I don't find these very fun to play
Also, I don't think you would get into any trouble for using MAME. Come on, who is even going to care that they are copyrighted works? There isn't a cover charge to step up to your pc is there?
I would love to visit your booth and play some shooters but I don't find these very fun to play
Also, I don't think you would get into any trouble for using MAME. Come on, who is even going to care that they are copyrighted works? There isn't a cover charge to step up to your pc is there?
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honorless
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- Location: Colbert Nation
- Contact:
A couple more: Touhou is very popular in the anime crowd and its creator ZUN worked on the engine for Uwabami Breakers. UB is freeware though! Click one of the links that says ダウンロード to download.
Since Grimoire mentioned BWR+, I'll point you at the developer's site since he's made other freeware shooters. It's all in Japanese, but very easy to navigate.
It's difficult and expensive to chase down all the individuals breaking the law. A group of people running an event is a much easier, possibly more lucrative target for a lawsuit.
Since Grimoire mentioned BWR+, I'll point you at the developer's site since he's made other freeware shooters. It's all in Japanese, but very easy to navigate.
It's not like this is ten friends in a basement. It's several hundred people at least. The police will be aware of what's going on; there may even be news coverage. Various companies (copyright holders) will have booths there. If somebody from the game industry thinks it's important or likely enough, they'll send a rep down to scout for various illegalities.AFXisatwin wrote:Also, I don't think you would get into any trouble for using MAME. Come on, who is even going to care that they are copyrighted works?
It's difficult and expensive to chase down all the individuals breaking the law. A group of people running an event is a much easier, possibly more lucrative target for a lawsuit.
video games suck
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PC Engine Fan X!
- Posts: 9795
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:32 pm
All the more compelling reason to stick with legal arcade game PCBs and Superguns or Japanese candy cabinets. The sue-happy lawers can't touch 'em if one does go that particular route for bring such arcade-based games to an anime convention. Might have to charge the usual cost of a quarter per credit to cover the costs and expenditures of delievery and setup. Or be a nice guy/gal and set the arcade games on "Free Play" for all to enjoy. ^_~honorless wrote:A couple more: Touhou is very popular in the anime crowd and its creator ZUN worked on the engine for Uwabami Breakers. UB is freeware though! Click one of the links that says ダウンロード to download.
Since Grimoire mentioned BWR+, I'll point you at the developer's site since he's made other freeware shooters. It's all in Japanese, but very easy to navigate.
It's not like this is ten friends in a basement. It's several hundred people at least. The police will be aware of what's going on; there may even be news coverage. Various companies (copyright holders) will have booths there. If somebody from the game industry thinks it's important or likely enough, they'll send a rep down to scout for various illegalities.AFXisatwin wrote:Also, I don't think you would get into any trouble for using MAME. Come on, who is even going to care that they are copyrighted works?
It's difficult and expensive to chase down all the individuals breaking the law. A group of people running an event is a much easier, possibly more lucrative target for a lawsuit.
Another alternative to consider is to call your local arcade coin-op distributor and ask if they rent such arcade game cabinets out for such con ventures (search under subject heading "Amusement Vendors" in your local Yellow Pages phone book directory). It wouldn't hurt to ask around. ^_~
PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
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Oddone
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:51 pm
Thanks for all the replies, really. This is better than I hoped for and you guys are a treasure trove of information. Now, to answer some points raised thus far:
1. I'd love *nothing* more than to have a couple Candy Cabs dedicated to shmups and fighters via PCB, with titles changing by the hour on the hour...but realistically I don't know anyone who owns any, nor do any of my contacts made thus far.
Anything's possible, and as we get closer to the convention and advertising really heats up(We just got our first batch of color flyers back from printing, they look fantastic!) I may get contacted by individuals or groups willing to donate their time and equipment(indeed, this is how I'm running DDR this year...)...but as it stands I'm currently unable to do so.
Also, rental is most likely *not* an option. I'm operating on a shoe string, with all hardware being volunteered for the time of the con and(hopefully!) prizes for contests being donated by various manufacturers.
2. I'm keeping this PC only because frankly, the Japanese by and large are known for their console games and I want to show that Japan(indeed, all of asia) has a thriving PC game creation scene, and many of the games available are as good as anything you can play on any other format.
My general idea is to grab maybe twelve or so of the best games, have my friends who speak/read Japanese find out more about the games, and then hand out info sheet about these games so people who come to the room can download the games for themselves and possibly find an avenue for good games they might not have known of before.
Though yes, I'm looking at the console games with interest too. It all depends on how many times I can realistically change up the games for people, and how big demand is for the major games(Your DDRs, Brawls, Guitar Hero's, et cetera.). I really did get pulled into this because no one else was available, and I have to be as fair to as many attendees as I can.
3. The legalities of this event are *paramount*. We're an official non-profit organization, everything we make absolutely has to go back into the next year's convention. A single law suit could easily destroy us, and I for one will do anything and everything in my power to NOT be the person to bring unwanted legal attention to us.
In a perfect world? I'd have a bunch of upright, cocktail, and candy cab machines running all the great emulators with a MAMEwah front end and let everyone go nuts playing whatever. But I can't. I've got to do this all legally, get the attention and permission of as many manufacturers and developers as I can, and play by the rules.
It sucks, but them's the breaks.
Thanks for the warm welcome and suggestions. You guys have been simply invaluable. I have a great place to start for what will ultimately a small, but important part of the videogame room.
Also, if you local folks want to get involved, every other week from September 5th on we'll be having planning meetings for the con at the Downtown Salt Lake City library, in one of the meeting rooms under the main walkway. I'd love to see you there and discuss ways I can run a better room there. I'm always open to suggestions, and I love to meet members of our disparate gaming community.
Email me or message Oddone on the animebanzai.org message board if you want more info.
Again, thanks, and I'll continue to contribute what I can to this awesome message board!
-Jose Cruz-Rojas
1. I'd love *nothing* more than to have a couple Candy Cabs dedicated to shmups and fighters via PCB, with titles changing by the hour on the hour...but realistically I don't know anyone who owns any, nor do any of my contacts made thus far.
Anything's possible, and as we get closer to the convention and advertising really heats up(We just got our first batch of color flyers back from printing, they look fantastic!) I may get contacted by individuals or groups willing to donate their time and equipment(indeed, this is how I'm running DDR this year...)...but as it stands I'm currently unable to do so.
Also, rental is most likely *not* an option. I'm operating on a shoe string, with all hardware being volunteered for the time of the con and(hopefully!) prizes for contests being donated by various manufacturers.
2. I'm keeping this PC only because frankly, the Japanese by and large are known for their console games and I want to show that Japan(indeed, all of asia) has a thriving PC game creation scene, and many of the games available are as good as anything you can play on any other format.
My general idea is to grab maybe twelve or so of the best games, have my friends who speak/read Japanese find out more about the games, and then hand out info sheet about these games so people who come to the room can download the games for themselves and possibly find an avenue for good games they might not have known of before.
Though yes, I'm looking at the console games with interest too. It all depends on how many times I can realistically change up the games for people, and how big demand is for the major games(Your DDRs, Brawls, Guitar Hero's, et cetera.). I really did get pulled into this because no one else was available, and I have to be as fair to as many attendees as I can.
3. The legalities of this event are *paramount*. We're an official non-profit organization, everything we make absolutely has to go back into the next year's convention. A single law suit could easily destroy us, and I for one will do anything and everything in my power to NOT be the person to bring unwanted legal attention to us.
In a perfect world? I'd have a bunch of upright, cocktail, and candy cab machines running all the great emulators with a MAMEwah front end and let everyone go nuts playing whatever. But I can't. I've got to do this all legally, get the attention and permission of as many manufacturers and developers as I can, and play by the rules.
It sucks, but them's the breaks.
Thanks for the warm welcome and suggestions. You guys have been simply invaluable. I have a great place to start for what will ultimately a small, but important part of the videogame room.
Also, if you local folks want to get involved, every other week from September 5th on we'll be having planning meetings for the con at the Downtown Salt Lake City library, in one of the meeting rooms under the main walkway. I'd love to see you there and discuss ways I can run a better room there. I'm always open to suggestions, and I love to meet members of our disparate gaming community.
Email me or message Oddone on the animebanzai.org message board if you want more info.
Again, thanks, and I'll continue to contribute what I can to this awesome message board!
-Jose Cruz-Rojas
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-Bridget-
- Posts: 636
- Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:09 am
- Location: Wherever my cat commands me to go
As a big-time con-goer/cosplayer/anime-fan/gaming-nerd/maybe-otaku, I have to say, I always go into each con's gameroom HOPING for shmups......
......and I almost always come out disappointed that THERE ARENT ANY.
The only exception being ACen here in Chicago. This last year had a Giga Wing 2 arcade unit. I nearly died from awesomeness overload. Mars Matrix was there too.
But for the most part? Im lucky if anyone there even knows what a shmup IS, beyond Touhou (which I dont count, cause half of the fans of that STILL dont know what a "shmup" is).
I bring my shmups with, on my broken-down excuse for a PS2, to show to people, but I dont often get the chance to hook it up (some gamerooms allow it, some dont, and the PS2 is pure evil).
So I have to commend you for doing this AT ALL.
I just wish this con you speak of were closer to me. That's a long way from Chicago indeed........
Still, you win the internet for this one
......and I almost always come out disappointed that THERE ARENT ANY.
The only exception being ACen here in Chicago. This last year had a Giga Wing 2 arcade unit. I nearly died from awesomeness overload. Mars Matrix was there too.
But for the most part? Im lucky if anyone there even knows what a shmup IS, beyond Touhou (which I dont count, cause half of the fans of that STILL dont know what a "shmup" is).
I bring my shmups with, on my broken-down excuse for a PS2, to show to people, but I dont often get the chance to hook it up (some gamerooms allow it, some dont, and the PS2 is pure evil).
So I have to commend you for doing this AT ALL.
I just wish this con you speak of were closer to me. That's a long way from Chicago indeed........
Still, you win the internet for this one
