Cave says iPhone and downloads could be future of the genre

[heavy liquid]

This article was just posted from Edge. Even though I'm a big fan of Espgaluda II on the iPhone, I'm happy to hear they're also focusing on downloads like Guwange for XBLA.

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/cave-iphon ... l-shooters

Hardcore shooter developer Cave says iPhone and downloads could be future of the genre.

Bullet-hell shooter specialist Cave thinks iPhone could be the perfect fit for a genre that's had a hard time finding its place commercially in the current generation of consoles. Speaking exclusively to us in a recent interview (which you can read in issue 218 of Edge, out now), the developer, which recently released classic shooter Espgaluda II on the handset, also confirmed that it would be bringing more shooters to iPhone.

"We are already gearing up for our next shooter [Dodonpachi Resurrection, due this summer], says producer Yukihiro Masaki. "We need to try to deliver something even better than Espgaluda II, something that defines the spirit of Cave but also offers some fresh experiences.

"[Downloadable avenues] make the genre more accessible and affordable. On the iPhone you have a variety of pricing with an average around a dollar. The iPhone makes content available everywhere to anybody and at a reasonable price...We also plan to go for original content on the iPhone. We believe there is the place for both digital and packaged distribution. I see the iPhone as a means to make players not only enjoy our games but also raise awareness about our packaged products as well."

The developer admits, however, that there was initial concern over porting Espgaluda II to Apple's device.

"I thought someone had gone mad!" Says programmer Yuma Matsuda. "I mean, if you consider the graphics, the Xbox 360 itself isn’t ideal for 2D. We worked hard to make Espgaluda II possible on that console – now we’ve brought the same game to the iPhone."

While the iPad's larger screen might seem ideal for vertical shooters, Cave have reservations, citing lack of memory as a major stumbling block.

"We already have users who are requesting that we develop a shooter for the iPad, but we need to study the platform further to see what can be done and how." Explains Masaki. "There is the issue of whether to develop a game especially for it. Plus, we already see a few technical obstacles, again with the amount of memory. Only Apple can solve that one."

[Aru-san]

In b4 hardcore physical media and arcade controller-possessing, TATE-playing, anti-iPhone fan dumb posts against this notion.

[NR777]

I am glad they're doing this, but it's hardly making content available for "everyone." Some people just don't want to play games on a phone and have no interest in buying an iPhone. If they were to make downloads available across XBLA, Steam and PSN, that would be a welcome move. I still love my retail discs, though.

[Elixir]

In b4 hardcore physical media and arcade controller-possessing, TATE-playing, anti-iPhone fan dumb posts against this notion.

Gamefaqs is this way →→→→→→→→→

"I thought someone had gone mad!" Says programmer Yuma Matsuda. "I mean, if you consider the graphics, the Xbox 360 itself isn’t ideal for 2D. We worked hard to make Espgaluda II possible on that console – now we’ve brought the same game to the iPhone."

I wasn't aware that Galuda 2 for iPhone was the exact same game as Galuda 2 for 360.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

I wish people would stop calling the iPhone a (just a) "phone" when they're arguing why Cave shouldn't release their games on it. It's marketed as one, sure, but in terms of technical specifications, it's a small Apple computer which is designed to function as a a phone primarily. It's screen is bigger than that of any other handheld system, afaik, and the hardware should be able to handle most old school (= non-3D-) games.

[DJ Incompetent]

iPhone goods alongside home console goods is fine. No need to argue.

iPhone goods in place of home console goods is a cause for concern.

I can never tell what Cave's marketing hypetrain is up to.

[Strider77]

Who wants to play a cave game on a tiny screen when they could play it on a larger one... without touch controls. Most of us don't care about iphone ports.... if they do it alongside the big boy ones then fine. But exclusive.... screw that.

If you are one of the ones that do.... go back to gamefaqs.

[NR777]

I wish people would stop calling the iPhone a (just a) "phone" when they're arguing why Cave shouldn't release their games on it. It's marketed as one, sure, but in terms of technical specifications, it's a small Apple computer which is designed to function as a a phone primarily. It's screen is bigger than that of any other handheld system, afaik, and the hardware should be able to handle most old school (= non-3D-) games.

Personally, I don't want to play shmups using any other input method than an Arcade stick and I prefer not to "game on the go." If other people do, fine, but my point is that I (and many others) do not belong to the "everyone" CAVE seems to be talking about.

[heavy liquid]

iPhone goods alongside home console goods is fine. No need to argue.

iPhone goods in place of home console goods is a cause for concern.

I can never tell what Cave's marketing hypetrain is up to.

My thoughts exactly. I also prefer having the physical media, but I could live with downloads.

I'd also love for them to release their games on the iPad, too. Espgaluda II so much better when played on the iPad when compared to the iPhone/iTouch, even enlarged for the bigger screen. It would be so much better to have high resolution graphics.

[Danbo]

i'm pretty sure more people have pcs than have iphones...

[TrevHead (TVR)]

iPhone goods alongside home console goods is fine. No need to argue.

iPhone goods in place of home console goods is a cause for concern.

I can never tell what Cave's marketing hypetrain is up to.

+1

[neorichieb1971]

Cave should just bring out an SH3 console with a 480p LCD screen attached to it for about £500. Just put 4GB of RAM in the thing and be done with it.

Would anyone else like an exclusive Cave console?

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

I wish people would stop calling the iPhone a (just a) "phone" when they're arguing why Cave shouldn't release their games on it. It's marketed as one, sure, but in terms of technical specifications, it's a small Apple computer which is designed to function as a a phone primarily. It's screen is bigger than that of any other handheld system, afaik, and the hardware should be able to handle most old school (= non-3D-) games.

Personally, I don't want to play shmups using any other input method than an Arcade stick and I prefer not to "game on the go." If other people do, fine, but my point is that I (and many others) do not belong to the "everyone" CAVE seems to be talking about.

I agree with everything you say, apart from the fact that I like playing a game now and then on a handheld - just not Cave games.
Cave only releasing games on Apple products gives me the heebyie-jeebies.

[sunburstbasser]

Cave should just bring out an SH3 console with a 480p LCD screen attached to it for about £500. Just put 4GB of RAM in the thing and be done with it.

Would anyone else like an exclusive Cave console?

I'd love it, but it will NEVER happen. Closest we'll get right now is a Supergun.

[Jeneki]

I can never tell what Cave's marketing hypetrain is up to.

Double dipping, maybe?

Sell people the version they don't want, and they'll re-buy the version they do want later. It seems to be a common marketing practice these days, not just in video games.

[Icarus]

In terms of exposing the genre to the wider gaming audience, I can see where Cave is coming from - almost everyone owns a phone, and if they can churn out mobile-optimised mini-ports for iOS and maybe Android, they can possibly generate more interest in the proper games themselves through them. However, I really cannot see the genre being advanced in terms of visual quality and gameplay when they're being confined to a small, highly imprecise touchscreen.

It's kind of like what some people were calling Ketsui DS - demo labels. A small sample of the bigger product.

I have an iPhone, and it is king for puzzlers (Drop7), resource management (SimCity), and quick score attack games (FlightControl), as well as obligatory productivity and personal management applications. For shooting games? Not so much.

As for downloadables on XBLA etc, that would be a good route for them - maybe older games (like the pre-Ketsui era Cave games) first, and then reworkings of modern releases as they themselves get older.

[gray117]

... It is the likely future for all genres in all honestly.

... physical retail will most likely become a [more] service-centric, community hub with the only physical stock more akin to merch/collector editions...

I share concerns about what mobiles could mean for 'true'(r) ports... if nothing else it could mean delays, on the other hand increased revenue/interest could add impetus to bring out the ports and double dip. I would hasten to add they've had mobile ports of their titles made before the iphone...

As for cave hype/attention, I think we're seeing some growing pains; they've definately flip-flopped on some of their old mantras; as long as they're making money rather than losing money it will hopefully all be good - at this stage they've done a bit of everything in terms of platforms and still seem to value the mighty arcade shmup.

Cave should just bring out an SH3 console with a 480p LCD screen attached to it for about £500. Just put 4GB of RAM in the thing and be done with it.

Would anyone else like an exclusive Cave console?

I'd love it, but it will NEVER happen. Closest we'll get right now is a Supergun.

^^ I don't know if this was supposed to be ironic but this is basically what an iphone is ... shame about screen size and lack of joysticks...

[Drum]

I'm all for digital delivery, but touch screens only - especially for games like the ones cave makes - is insane.

[bcass]

I am glad they're doing this, but it's hardly making content available for "everyone." Some people just don't want to play games on a phone and have no interest in buying an iPhone.

The iPod isn't a phone. And neither is the iPad.

[stryc9]

Agreed. The idea that these Cave games might be IPhone exclusives is insane. Ever tried shooting real fast on a portable shmup? The screen moves around too much and inevitebly you lose a life. Not ideal at all.

[Shelltoon]

I don't own an iPhone, and have no intention of buying one. The thing is simply too expensive for me to consider it, even if Cave shmups are on it. For some of us, it just isn't worth it.

[Jack Burton]

Agreed. The idea that these Cave games might be IPhone exclusives is insane. Ever tried shooting real fast on a portable shmup? The screen moves around too much and inevitebly you lose a life. Not ideal at all.

I know what you mean, but I played Espgaluda for like 2 minutes on my brother's iphone. It has auto fire. I didn't get a chance to fiddle with the controls, but my ship was shooting continuously. Made it more playable on the iphone, but definitely not a viable replacement for the real thing.

Anyway, it doesn't matter how good it is on a phone (or whatever you want to label the iphone as). I want to play these games on one of my cabs (even if it is by using a console hooked up to one of them). End of story.

[cstle]

There's rumors of a new AppleTV model with iOS so it's possible that even if this happens you'll still be able to play it on a TV/monitor/cab/etc.

[bcass]

Anyway, it doesn't matter how good it is on a phone (or whatever you want to label the iphone as). I want to play these games on one of my cabs (even if it is by using a console hooked up to one of them). End of story.

The iPod Touch isn't a phone. And neither is the iPad.

I don't own an iPhone, and have no intention of buying one. The thing is simply too expensive for me to consider it, even if Cave shmups are on it. For some of us, it just isn't worth it.

You don't need an iPhone to play these games, and you don't have to spend anywhere near the amount an iPhone costs to play them. An iPod Touch costs $199.

[WinterMute]

I don't know if this was supposed to be ironic but this is basically what an iphone is ... shame about screen size and lack of joysticks...

blue tooth joystick for ipad would be good

throw in ipad to TV (at least via Jailbreak for apps)

Not saying it's ideal but if Cave games were to support some apple controller device (which you have to assume is coming given Onlive is apparently iphone/ipad compatible) then you could have a machine with Cave games on it that can also be played portable too.

Cave should just bring out an SH3 console with a 480p LCD screen attached to it for about £500. Just put 4GB of RAM in the thing and be done with it.

Would anyone else like an exclusive Cave console?

Well, you don't as you clearly stated you don't want an X360 so....

(i realise your post is likely ironic but - for X360 , must provide own screen , will cost 380 quid less )

[Phellan Wolf]

There's rumors of a new AppleTV model with iOS so it's possible that even if this happens you'll still be able to play it on a TV/monitor/cab/etc.

Even if it happens and it will be possible to play it on a Tv it won't make much of difference since it will be a cut port of the original.

[Lusche]

You don't need an iPhone to play these games, and you don't have to spend anywhere near the amount an iPhone costs to play them. An iPod Touch costs $199.

but be aware that the 8gb version of the ipod touch wont play the cave games ... only the newest gen ipod touch 32gb and 64gb are able to play the cave games which are 299$ or 399$

[bcass]

Still cheaper than an iPhone.

[subcons]

I don't see these games ever being exclusive to portable devices. I see nothing Cave has said above, or anywhere else for that matter, that points to them doing this. These are just being released along side proper arcade titles and ports to home systems.

How many people in this thread have actually sat down with Espgaluda II on an iPhone/iPod Touch? I have, and IMO, it's extremely playable, and fun to boot. You'd think that touch controls are far from precise, but Cave has done an excellent job with their controls. I honestly have no problems navigating through dense bullet patters with their controls. And the exclusive iPhone mode is really unique and quite fun to play for score.

My only gripe is that you do have to make a trade off for the sake of simplicity as far as the controls go. They give you the options to have all the normal controls through the touch buttons, but I can't play it like that. I just put it on simple mode and have the one button to contend with. Even then, I kind of wish I could activate Kakusei with a double tap instead of a button.

I'm personally looking forward to these new portable releases from Cave.

[NR777]

The iPod isn't a phone.

I suppose that's why it comes with an AT&T phone plan. Silly me.