Espgaluda II

[njiska]

Just e-mailed NCS to inquire if they'd had legit confirmation and this is what they said......

Hi Steven, the Kotaku article is accurate. We asked one of our main distributors to corroborate the information and they confirmed the region-free status of the regular edition of ESPGaluda II.

There was some confusion at first because Cave initially told them that it would be region-locked but they were referring to the Limited Edition. They later made the distinction between the two versions of the game.

Regards,
NCS, Inc
Web: http://www.ncsx.com
Shop: http://www.ncsxshop.com

Well, that's just great.

[Zero Gunner]

I replied back inquiring if they knew why the LE was region locked and the standard was not.....

Hello, unfortunately they didn't explain why the limited edition is region-locked.

We suspect that their original plan was to region-lock both versions of the game in order to license the game to publishers for distribution outside of Japan. That plan may have fallen through.

Regards,
NCS, Inc
Web: www.ncsx.com
Shop: www.ncsxshop.com

[Zero Gunner]

Well, that's just great.

So rather than simply complaining on a forum about how untrustworthy Kotaku is (like the last three pages have done) I took 5 seconds to e-mail a MUCH MORE reliable source and inquire what they know about the situation and share the confirmation with my fellow shmuppers and I'm the one getting snarky replies????

I guess I should have posted a "Pre-order cancelled!!!!" response so I'd instead get mad street cred!

[honorless]

Zero, I don't think he was being snarky so much as continuing the bitchfest about how the LE isn't RF.

I figured since Kotaku was the one to break the news about Futari being RF, they'd make absolutely sure that any other RF announcements—especially this close to release date—would be accurate. But it's nice to have confirmation from another source as well. Most useful post since everlust posted the original link about four pages ago

Siliconera has e-mailed Cave for comment, btw, so if you still don't BLV there'll be yet another confirmation if/when they get a response.

Cave has been doing this back and forth "based on sales" of what will be region free or not. region free, not region free, localized, back to region locked, nevermind region free.......I mean come on!

I wouldn't be surprised if Cave tried to shop the game to Aksys when they asked for DS, but found out that America loathes non-comedic genderfuck so utterly that nobody would risk a game about sex-changing fairies. So they made a desperate grab for whatever overseas sales they could get.

Judging by its much better marketability, I'd expect JP Ketsui to be locked in anticipation of (at least a US) localization.

[njiska]

Well, that's just great.

So rather than simply complaining on a forum about how untrustworthy Kotaku is (like the last three pages have done) I took 5 seconds to e-mail a MUCH MORE reliable source and inquire what they know about the situation and share the confirmation with my fellow shmuppers and I'm the one getting snarky replies????

I guess I should have posted a "Pre-order cancelled!!!!" response so I'd instead get mad street cred!

Zero, I don't think he was being snarky so much as continuing the bitchfest about how the LE isn't RF.

Lol. You misunderstand me. Or I poorly conveyed myself. I mean that's great news. I'm one of the people who has a pre-ordered copy of ESP II Standard and I'm happy to hear it's region free from a better source.

[NR777]

This move does make sense. Galuda II is a very tough sell: sex changing fairies, intense difficulty, extremely complex scoring system. Deathsmiles is much more marketable, and if it sells well I can see the door being opened for DDP:DFK. Ketsui? Who knows. That isn't being controlled directly by Cave.

[Zero Gunner]

Well, that's just great.

So rather than simply complaining on a forum about how untrustworthy Kotaku is (like the last three pages have done) I took 5 seconds to e-mail a MUCH MORE reliable source and inquire what they know about the situation and share the confirmation with my fellow shmuppers and I'm the one getting snarky replies????

I guess I should have posted a "Pre-order cancelled!!!!" response so I'd instead get mad street cred!

Zero, I don't think he was being snarky so much as continuing the bitchfest about how the LE isn't RF.

Lol. You misunderstand me. Or I poorly conveyed myself. I mean that's great news. I'm one of the people who has a pre-ordered copy of ESP II Standard and I'm happy to hear it's region free from a better source.

My mistake...I apologize. Much shame upon my mustache!

[honorless]

Lol. You misunderstand me. Or I poorly conveyed myself. I mean that's great news. I'm one of the people who has a pre-ordered copy of ESP II Standard and I'm happy to hear it's region free from a better source.

Oh, haha. Yeah, sorry about that. Hard to discern someone's tone through text sometimes.

[njiska]

My mistake...I apologize. Much shame upon my mustache!

Oh, haha. Yeah, sorry about that. Hard to discern someone's tone through text sometimes.

Hey it's the internet, it happens. Besides most people in this thread seem to be taking a hostile approach to the situation, so I don't blame you for being on the defensive.

[Momijitsuki]

Preordered~! I can't wait.

[yyr]

I already ordered both a standard AND limited edition... lol...

...if there's anyone who is waiting on actual confirmation of the region-free status with a physical copy of the SE version of the game, I might wind up being one of the first to get it, and if so I will post said confirmation. (NCS is supposedly shipping next Thursday, and since I'm already in NY, it usually takes just one day... so unless the weather sucks I should have it next Friday.)

[everlust]

Cheers for the extra confirmation Zero Gunner. Despite believing the story in its entirety, i was a bit taken aback when i first read it, so i had some doubt, even though there wasn't any to be had considering the Mushitari coverage from Kotaku and so forth.

Despite loving that it's region free, and it's the only way i can play the game at the moment. I'd love to see Cave having success with localization attempts even if i don't get to play the tiles (at the moment, that is!). But as NR777 pointed out, it would indeed be a tough sell, but i would of been quite keen to see how it panned out, as who knows, in my fantasy, perhaps it could work out perfectly

Though here's hoping that Aksys's localization of Death Smiles does well. Considering every other game though, DS seems like the only title i really consider to have a proper chance of success in the NA market. Then next up, possibly DDP and/or Ketsui. Wonder how they would fare. I guess Death Smiles could prove to be the be all and end all title for localizations.

[vld99]

Thanks for your initiative Zero Gunner! I can now pre-order with peace of mind and send a thank you letter to Cave. Even if improbable, maybe the e-mails helped tip the scale in our favor.

My only (small) concern though is the game being possibly as frustrating and unforgiving as DOJ as was seemingly pointed out. Maybe Black Label helps more in that regard (and if Arrange is like Futari's I'm not interested). From what is known, what is the experienced players opinion on that? Consensus seems to be it's definitely harder than Futari, but maybe not as bad as DOJ? (maybe I should precise in trying to find a satisfying balance between survival and score) Thanks.

[Special World]

Thanks for your initiative Zero Gunner! I can now pre-order with peace of mind and send a thank you letter to Cave. Even if improbable, maybe the e-mails helped tip the scale in our favor.

My only (small) concern though is the game being possibly as frustrating and unforgiving as DOJ as was seemingly pointed out. Maybe Black Label helps more in that regard (and if Arrange is like Futari's I'm not interested). From what is known, what is the experienced players opinion on that? Consensus seems to be it's definitely harder than Futari, but maybe not as bad as DOJ? (maybe I should precise in trying to find a satisfying balance between survival and score) Thanks.

I can't imagine it being as hard as DOJ

I will cry.

Please tell me it's not as hard as DOJ.

I can't get past the third level ;____;

[Plasmo]

Press start more often

[Special World]

Press start more often

That button's for phonies.

[emphatic]

Press start more often

That button's for phonies.

Not a problem then.

[third_strike]

I hope the tutorial bug is present in this port...
or the port have one option for set the number correct the gens you get after the bug (well this would be so much).
Cool!

[CStarFlare]

Considering it has score implications I would be surprised if it was removed

that said it would be nice to not have an incentive to watch the tutorial every time

[Special World]

I will be just a little miffed if I'm expected to watch a tutorial in order to get high scores.

Not like I'll get them anyways, but I am a perfectionist and it'll kill me.

[Gwyrgyn Blood]

I can't imagine it being as hard as DOJ

Much harder than a DOJ 1-All. You get a lot of bombs and slowdown but it's also a lot longer and the final form of the final boss can't be hurt by bombs at all. Does depend a lot on your character and if you try to score points though.

If you can't at least get close to a 1cc of Galuda 1, this game is probably not for you.

I will be just a little miffed if I'm expected to watch a tutorial in order to get high scores.

Not like I'll get them anyways, but I am a perfectionist and it'll kill me.

The difference in scoring potential is only around 15-20m so it's not really something you need to worry about anyway.

[Dandy J]

This move does make sense. Galuda II is a very tough sell: sex changing fairies, intense difficulty, extremely complex scoring system. Deathsmiles is much more marketable, and if it sells well I can see the door being opened for DDP:DFK. Ketsui? Who knows. That isn't being controlled directly by Cave.

dont forget the biggest factor (imo), ds is a 4:3 game

[NR777]

This move does make sense. Galuda II is a very tough sell: sex changing fairies, intense difficulty, extremely complex scoring system. Deathsmiles is much more marketable, and if it sells well I can see the door being opened for DDP:DFK. Ketsui? Who knows. That isn't being controlled directly by Cave.

dont forget the biggest factor (imo), ds is a 4:3 game

Absolutely. Outside of Raiden, the US doesn't really do verts.

[Special World]

I can't imagine it being as hard as DOJ

Much harder than a DOJ 1-All. You get a lot of bombs and slowdown but it's also a lot longer and the final form of the final boss can't be hurt by bombs at all. Does depend a lot on your character and if you try to score points though.

If you can't at least get close to a 1cc of Galuda 1, this game is probably not for you.

I will be just a little miffed if I'm expected to watch a tutorial in order to get high scores.

Not like I'll get them anyways, but I am a perfectionist and it'll kill me.

The difference in scoring potential is only around 15-20m so it's not really something you need to worry about anyway.

I see. No matter how hard it is though, it is probably for me.

I will succeed!

[Leroy]

I placed my pre-order with the Play-Asia.

GET HYPE.

[Chiaroscuro]

Now.... the doubt. Should I get the LE with all goods (and insane price, which also will be more valuable in the future) or the Standard (that I can play with my NTSC-U machine covered by warranty)?

[GaijinPunch]

Please tell me it's not as hard as DOJ.

It's not.

[Phellan Wolf]

Now.... the doubt. Should I get the LE with all goods (and insane price, which also will be more valuable in the future) or the Standard (that I can play with my NTSC-U machine covered by warranty)?

Why don't you get both?? You keep the LE sealed and then you play with your SE, so that in the future you can sell the sealed one for gold
Just kidding.

[msm]

I can't imagine it being as hard as DOJ

Much harder than a DOJ 1-All. You get a lot of bombs and slowdown but it's also a lot longer and the final form of the final boss can't be hurt by bombs at all. Does depend a lot on your character and if you try to score points though.

yeah i have no idea about 1-All stuff on these games and ignore scoring in both but i find galuda 2 easier then DOJ, it probably is the slowdown/bombs that makes the difference, as opposed to going exy in DOJ and having hardly any bombs.

[Gwyrgyn Blood]

yeah i have no idea about 1-All stuff on these games and ignore scoring in both but i find galuda 2 easier then DOJ, it probably is the slowdown/bombs that makes the difference, as opposed to going exy in DOJ and having hardly any bombs.

Why would you take Exy if you didn't care about scoring? Just take Leinyan or Shotia and enjoy bomb spamming all of the hard parts of the game.

Though I guess 'Pick Ageha and Kakusei bosses to death' is basically the same thing.