Cave says iPhone and downloads could be future of the genre

[bcass]

That's for internet access.

[neorichieb1971]

The ipad/phone is a fad. Cave would be making a big mistake supporting a device that only a few gamers will possess.


Someone do a poll on here. Do you own a iphone/pad Y/N

I bet at least 90% of us don't own one. Since this is shmups.com thats an alarmingly low figure.

[bcass]

It doesn't matter how many of us own one. We're probably not their target market on the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad. Sales of their first release were obviously good enough to prompt further releases. It just looks like they're trying to create another revenue stream. It won't replace the other methods of release.

[Strider77]

Bcass, do you work for apple?

[bcass]

No, why? I have never owned any Apple products. Most likely never will.

[Strider77]

I think I misread something.... nevermind.

[brentsg]

I bet at least 90% of us don't own one. Since this is shmups.com thats an alarmingly low figure.

You just created a statistic out of thin air and then got alarmed at the number.

Cave had 1 recently successful phone release (port). That warranted additional development funding.

Perhaps it's 2D shmups that are a fad, and Cave is looking for a viable way to keep it alive. At this point I doubt that their arcade releases do a whole lot to pay the bills. The Xbox business has obviously been good for them, as will mobile devices. Also note that they've had success with mobile games before EspGaluda II.

Realistically speaking, I wouldn't be surprised if their Xbox and iDevice games don't wind up subsidizing their arcade development work.

[neorichieb1971]

Its not the first time a company blatently ignores its fanbase in pursuit of monetary gain.

I did make up the figure your right, but I bet its within 5% of the reality.

An Ipad costs more than a PS3.

[Zeron]

Developers say alot of things

Just like Valve's Gabe said the PS3 was a ridiculous piece of crap then suddenly bam PS3 Portal at this E3.

[Van_Artic]

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

Cave doesn't know what a PC is.

[WinterMute]

The ipad/phone is a fad. Cave would be making a big mistake supporting a device that only a few gamers will possess.

i'd love to see the Espgaluda 2 iphone sales figures to see how they compare to the X360 sales figures.

Whether it's the ipod/iphone/ipad are fads or not (doesn't seem likely with software sales totalling $200m a month) , simple fact is Cave are supporting it and their first effort was excellent.

Regardless, i don't see how a port to another device to generate revenue is "a big mistake"

[Octopod]

200,000 Android phones are sold every day now. Why are there no Android ports?

[bcass]

Android is open source isn't it? More chance of piracy I'd guess.

[cstle]

The lack of hardware/screen standardization with Android devices probably makes it harder to port things.

[ex.machina]

No doubt downloads are possibly be the future of this genre.
But if the iPhone is the future of this genre, then I guess it's time to look for a new hobby.

[chempop]

You guys are too much, in a few years we'll all be plugging our sticks into iPads and able to play every shmup ever made where ever we are.

If you honesty think iPod/phone/pad is a fad I think it's about time you look around beyond your basement or cubicle. Apple has clinched the current generation of consumers, remember how it was with Sony and the Walkman? There were countless competitors right? Well with Apple there are only a few and no kid gives a crap what Microsoft makes except Xbox.

Okay, insomnia driven rant over.

[Octopod]

Where are you going to plug your stick into exactly?

And tablet PCs have been around for 15 years. The will be much better than an ipad soon enough. Hell, there already is, it is called a netbook.

[dcharlie]

Code: Select all

Where are you going to plug your stick into exactly?

nowhere - they'll all be bluetooth

[Lavis]

Cave is earning money with the "online distribution" business; since it's also supporting its console counterpart, they are gaining some extra bucks with this kind of scheme, and since most people is into the iPhone/iPad fad I can understand why they are making this kind of statements. Just do the math: it's easier to get a phone than a cab.

[bcass]

You know the iPod has been around for almost 10 years now, right? Not exactly what I'd call a fad.

[neorichieb1971]

the Ipad is already out of memory according to Cave.

If you get pad support and the memory isn't a concern its a good move, since its a dedicated screen.

How watered down is EP2 on the ipad anyway?

[evil_ash_xero]

Downloads I can stomach...ipad, iphone, all that....that's nuts.

[Square King]

Niche company discovers how to make more money, capitalizes on success by doing more of the same -- story at 11.

At least in the US, the older iPhones are surprisingly affordable. I bought a new 8gb 3GS for $99. My phone bill is $25 a month with AT&T's smaller data plan (I am on my fiancee's family plan, though. It's who you know). If you want the latest and greatest model and you're munching data all day, then yeah, you're paying out of your poophole.

I've played the lite version of ESP2 and it's great. Probably the best shooter in the app store. I'm not going to buy it because I don't want to play those games on the device. I'm glad Cave is excited by the boom in interest for their titles as apps, but they don't float my boat. I'm going to mail Cave a Steam press kit every three months until they do something about it.

The iPhone is a neat device. I don't worship at the mighty Apple altar and I'm no tech whore -- and it certainly is trendy and Apple/Dieter Rams fans like to jack off to it -- but I know a good product when I see one. Battery life is a killer though. :/

[GaijinPunch]

You guys are too much, in a few years we'll all be plugging our sticks into iPads and able to play every shmup ever made where ever we are.

Exactly the way the devs intended it.

[neorichieb1971]

I thought the hardcore here went everywhere with an astro city on their back

[brentsg]

Where are you going to plug your stick into exactly?

And tablet PCs have been around for 15 years. The will be much better than an ipad soon enough. Hell, there already is, it is called a netbook.

It all depends on what you want to do. An iPad gets a lot more use in my household than our net book.

And windows 7 on a similar device doesn't interest me. Looks like they want to force Win7 onto a platform for which it's not designed by way of a shell. Reminds me of windows 3.1.. Anyways most people don't want a real computer in this form. It's more of a content consumption / communication platform.

[gs68]

As I already mentioned, I'm fine with iPhone ports; heck, if I had a job, I'd save up for an iPad just so I can play me some Espgaluda II and DFK on the go. But Seimitsus are gonna be snapped if Cave puts a stop on console ports.

[subcons]

Its not the first time a company blatently ignores its fanbase in pursuit of monetary gain.

I don't understand how Cave is ignoring their fanbase by releasing these games on portable devices.

It's obviously viable for them. It's a company. If they don't have money, then they don't exist and they won't be making games on any platform. Then where would the fans be?

[Aru-san]

Its not the first time a company blatently ignores its fanbase in pursuit of monetary gain.

I don't understand how Cave is ignoring their fanbase by releasing these games on portable devices.

It's obviously viable for them. It's a company. If they don't have money, then they don't exist and they won't be making games on any platform. Then where would the fans be?

Some people, like gs68, are all right with Cave games coming to iPhone. Likewise, there are traditionalist shmuppers that prefer Cave to release to console and play with their arcade sticks.

Hopefully, the "downloads" part of this whole headline will imply that at least XBLA is a viable option, but it's too early for me, or anyone else for that matter, to judge whether or not Cave is going to go all iPhone from here on out unless they officially announce it.

[cul]

The PC market has already nearly entirely switched to downloadable games (Steam, Impulse, etc).
For the console market it's a matter of a generation of new consoles where ALL games will be released on both supports, then a generation later, games will be downloadable only.
This is a great thing, maybe that way we'll finally get rid off the region zoning, and small companies like Cave won't have to go through the racket of regional distributors that is lowering even more their profits.

Its not the first time a company blatently ignores its fanbase in pursuit of monetary gain.

A company goal isn't to "please" its clients but is to make enough money to keep afloat and running, just deal with it.

As long as the arcade/console market will be profitable, Cave will keep making shmups on arcade and consoles. And even if it's not where the big money is at, the japan arcade market seems to be profitable enough to still be running, else it would have been DEAD years ago. Because NO companies will ever go willingly in a market that is unprofitable.