The Effects of Localization

[honorless]

Don't think we're entirely disagreeing ...

Yeah, I think the only real difference between what we're both saying is that I'm talking about "awareness" among a select group of people, and you're talking about "awareness" among people who play video games as a whole...? I'm just more of a pessimist than you I guess

Just FYI, the idiom "long tail" means selling a wide variety of products in smaller quantities (as opposed to a few popular products in larger quantities) I think you meant "has legs".
Though I do think shooters could be a viable part of the gaming long tail.

What's funny is that UFO has published more current-gen shooters in the US than anyone. But they're either clueless or just don't care enough to do anything more than sit in a corner and silently push things to market half a year late.
They seem to be getting better (actually announcing delays, putting videos on Youtube, including the Raiden IV OST and a Babelfished INH booklet with the game) ...but if Aksys puts in half the effort they normally do, people will see them as "the shmup localizer" instead. Missed opportunity, perhaps? (Not addressing you specifically, gray, just speaking in general.)

[who knows what the real deal between the (lack of) cave ports so far on xbla/psn - personally I suspect probably in part due to cave's own inertia ...]

I think it's more because the Eastern market (not just Japan) doesn't depend on DL gaming as much as the Western market does, and there aren't any Japanese shooter developers aiming specifically at us. Maybe adverse or originalz would know more about this, but it doesn't seem like the "game is 2D/only 30 minutes long, WTFFFF WASTE OF RETAIL SPACE, why isn't this a $10 download-only release???!?" whining is as common.

[Momijitsuki]

Jeez, are you a weeaboo or something?

Well, according to Zweihander's definition, hard telling. I like some anime and stuff, sure-- but I have absolutely no interest in going to conventions or dressing up as any character from anything, nor am I extremely vocal about it to anyone who isn't a fan of such things. I'm also a Touhou fan, but that's more because I'm a shmup fan overall-- there really aren't any shmups I won't play. I like 'em from the most basic to the most ridiculous, easy to hard. I'm not picky.

I'm just speaking in defense of a rash, irrational generalization due to overreacting and mindless stereotypes.

[Jeneki]

Must have been a fluke then. I have a friend that went to a con dressed as a Touhou character, and not only was she the only one, only 2 people recognized her.

That fits with my experience. The Touhou cosplay group that I regularly see at the local anime con game room (two friends, not much of a group really) tell me I'm the only one who recognizes them. They do seem interested in the games at least, as they always ask me to setup a PC in the game room for them to play.

Of course, I never make any friends though since I don't have language patches installed, skip over the character development, and can't remember any character names. When a girl dressed up as whomever asks you, "so which girl is your favorite," the correct answer is not "the fairy girls who throw their lives away in hopeless meatshield wave attacks."

[Zweihander]

It's your own damn fault for going to a weeaboo convention anyway.

Because I didn't already state that I go to mingle with fellow core/hardcore gamers and enter tourneys, amirite? It's also where I've picked up a good amount of my import shmups, and I only go to two a year, anyway.

I like some anime and stuff, sure-- but I have absolutely no interest in going to conventions or dressing up as any character from anything, nor am I extremely vocal about it to anyone who isn't a fan of such things. I'm also a Touhou fan, but that's more because I'm a shmup fan overall-- there really aren't any shmups I won't play. I like 'em from the most basic to the most ridiculous, easy to hard. I'm not picky.

This makes you not a weeaboo. Congrats!

[Udderdude]

"Is this Radiant Silvergun?"
"No, this is Raiden IV."
"Oh. So is this the game Radiant Silvergun is based on?"

[Zweihander]

"Is this Radiant Silvergun?"
"No, this is Raiden IV."
"Oh. So is this the game Radiant Silvergun is based on?"

I lol'd so hard.