Deathsmiles PAL release (DATED: Feb 18th)

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Reviewers still dont have a clue about slowdown as ive seen a couple of DS reviews marking the game down for slowdown. http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/837334-game ... shmup-fans

we really should run a public infomation campaign

[Phellan Wolf]

"Cons: The game itself is fairly short, considering the immense trouble anyone in Europe would have to go to in order to actually play it. Some slowdown."

That actually make my day

[spadgy]

I know the author of that one fairly well (he hates shaking hands, so every time I meet him I shake the shit out of both of his hands and his whole body), so I'll be sure to give him some shit about slowdown.

and fear not - I'll be reviewing DS Pal for UK national The Observer, so I'll be sure not to tit things up!

[Zeron]

I know the author of that one fairly well (he hates shaking hands, so every time I meet him I shake the shit out of both of his hands and his whole body), so I'll be sure to give him some shit about slowdown.

and fear not - I'll be reviewing DS Pal for UK national The Observer, so I'll be sure not to tit things up!

You also reviewing PAL Raidein Fighter Aces if it ever get's a release?
A friend of mine works as a reviewer for a magazine in Spain and alot of the review is actually my words.
He will be reviewing RFA and DS and even the XBLA shooters.

[spadgy]

I know the author of that one fairly well (he hates shaking hands, so every time I meet him I shake the shit out of both of his hands and his whole body), so I'll be sure to give him some shit about slowdown.

and fear not - I'll be reviewing DS Pal for UK national The Observer, so I'll be sure not to tit things up!

You also reviewing PAL Raidein Fighter Aces if it ever get's a release?

Of course!

[Aguraki]

All right, I have a response from Cave. Pardon the literal translation:

Cave wanted to fix some unintended slowdown in the original, which compromised the level of difficulty in those sections. They upgraded the production environment of the graphics engine, so the U.S. version handles the graphic assets better. They're now working as originally intended, so things will be more difficult.
Hope that makes sense.

the above is contradictory with this:

Cave’s games certainly have their difficult side, wherein there are situations where there are a lot of bullets on-screen. In these situations, we will see slow-down occur where the game speed drops and it is easier to find a route through the bullet patterns.

However it’s not just these situations, nor conveying the sense of dilemma when you have been pushed into the corner while the game speed has dropped, and although this is a simulated feeling, the player experiences a certain sense of ‘awakening’ and this situation can transform into something satisfying. Difficult portions are not difficult for difficulty’s sake. The meaning of slow-down in bullet heaven shooters is accentuating the difficulty of the game, and containing this potential for difficult situations to become enjoyable.

but saying that

So, it's intentional - if it happens it's part of the game.

is not facts since the intentionnal slowdown in the quote isn't referring specifuically to deathsmiles,while the 1st quote adress specifically to DS unintentionnal slowdown(due to hardware).

So the 360 emulates an unintentionnal slowdown cause hardcore gamers want an arcade perfect port,even if the arcade wasn't what was intended(like star wars new edition-I know blasphemy).

If I read it right removing slowdown is actually "as the game should have been",which mean not arcade perfect emulation,but more "mind perfect projection".

Anyway since slowdown is implemented in many cave shmups "intentionnaly" on PCB,fans want this in every game.

But if I'm reading right,it's not the case here.
Or,they lied.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

and fear not - I'll be reviewing DS Pal for UK national The Observer, so I'll be sure not to tit things up!

Thats great, as you can teach the ignorant masses that slowdown is a good thing and (depending on the word limit on the article) also point out that cave have taken it out (thus making the game harder) because the genral public doesnt know about slowdown. Hopefully a review like that will educate other reviewers plus maybe stop Cave from doing the same with future localisations. (Just imagine if they did the same with one of their verts)

[spadgy]

depending on the word limit on the article

This.

I reckon I'll get 200 - 250 words to tell a ordinary consumer about the game! I'll try though!

[defected78]

Wow if your gearing up for the review cant be too long till it comes out.

Do you have any idea when the planned release is.

RSG just released Deadly Premonition in the UK too

[TrevHead (TVR)]

depending on the word limit on the article

This.

I reckon I'll get 200 - 250 words to tell a ordinary consumer about the game! I'll try though!

You could just say that DS is simlar to Ikuraga, that should free up some words

[spadgy]

No word on the release yet, but here's the official press release:

Thursday 28th October 2010: Rising Star Games today confirmed it is partnering with CAVE to bring Deathsmiles to Europe on the Xbox 360. The first opportunity for fans to try Deathsmiles will be at this month’s London MCM Expo.

Deathsmiles is a side-scrolling shoot-em-up that went into arcade operation on 19th October 2007. Unlike other shooting games, Deathsmiles is designed with a left/right shooting mechanic, surrounding you with enemy units and gunfire from both sides of the screen.

Featuring three different game modes: Arcade (original Arcade game), Xbox 360 (Arcade conversion) and Version 1.1 (conversion designed specifically for the Xbox 360), Deathsmiles also features a two-player co-op mode, where players can take up the challenge with a friend at home or via Xbox LIVE. With variable difficulty options on all modes catering for newcomers and veterans, the European version of the game also includes the Mega Black Label pack: an expanded version of the game with a range of special features, an additional stage and an extra playable character.

“We are ecstatic to be able to team up with CAVE and bring Deathsmiles to market,” enthused Martin Defries, managing director, Rising Star Games. “It is an honour to work with a developer of such renown in the shoot-em-up genre and we are very excited that European gamers get a chance to experience their unique form of arcade action.”

Makoto Asada, producer on Deathsmiles, added: “CAVE is excited to be working with accomplished publisher Rising Star Games to bring the thrill of arcade shooters to a new audience. CAVE’s particular brand of shooting games is slowly but surely making its way to the west and we are proud to be bringing one of our strongest titles, Deathsmiles, out across Europe with their help.”

Deathsmiles will be released throughout Europe in early 2011, courtesy of Rising Star Games http://www.risingstargames.com.

[spadgy]

Now a news story on MCV that gives you a clue as to the minimum amount of time you'll have to wait!

[defected78]

Makes it sound like they have further plans beyond Death Smiles.

Hope so anyway.

[BuckoA51]

Slowdown or not I'm just happy that I'm going to get to play it, then again truth be told I'm actually pretty bad at shooters so I don't think I'll be troubling the high score tables regardless of slowdown

[krokodil_final]

Makes it sound like they have further plans beyond Death Smiles.

Hope so anyway.

Awhile ago I asked cave about a possible dfk pal-release. They told me to ask rising star games. So I guess there is more than just ds.

[dan76]

Spadgy, you got to find out about that slowdown... if possible. Didn't seem as if Aksys were aware of the changes until we all start weeping and slapping our heads. What I'm saying is - if you don't mind - overstate the issue with them! Let them know, Soylent Green is the people!

[msm]

Reviewers still dont have a clue about slowdown as ive seen a couple of DS reviews marking the game down for slowdown. http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/837334-game ... shmup-fans

we really should run a public infomation campaign

iirc that's the guy who used to do reviews on C4 teletext, which were usually pretty good, and the deathsmiles review is positive overall appart from him not understanding the slowdown. often C4 teletext mentioned how they were shmup fans, maybe that wasn't him, but if it was then i guess that didn't extend to manic ones, but would explain why it still got a good score.

[phobos]

Will be pre-ordering this as soon as i can. Hopefully there will be an edition that will comes with the soundtrack. The Faceplate that came with the US edition was nice but i prefer the Soundtrack on CD...or both

[spadgy]

Reviewers still dont have a clue about slowdown as ive seen a couple of DS reviews marking the game down for slowdown. http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/837334-game ... shmup-fans

we really should run a public infomation campaign

iirc that's the guy who used to do reviews on C4 teletext, which were usually pretty good, and the deathsmiles review is positive overall appart from him not understanding the slowdown. often C4 teletext mentioned how they were shmup fans, maybe that wasn't him, but if it was then i guess that didn't extend to manic ones, but would explain why it still got a good score.

That's him. David is both a lovely chap, and a very experienced/knowledgeable gamer. This one slip up doesn't reflect his talent, and I know when I tell him about Deathsmiles he'll embrace the new knowledge.

[krokodil_final]

About the slowdown :
http://www.risingstargames.com/forum/vi ... 6253#p6253 .

[Zeron]

Here is the official rising star games page for Death Smiles

http://www.risingstargames.com/games/de ... x-360.html

[MrFog]

http://www.risingstargames.com/games/de ... x-360.html

Windia, an 18-year-old girl living in London, mysteriously vanishes after being drawn into a flash of light.

hmm..

[Taylor]

Interesting, maybe Sakuya and Follet will get ages vaguely representative of how they look. CAVE use the Arcana Heart approach where they assign a completely arbitrary low age because that's somehow better. Thirteen? How can she... but... EXAMU.

Good news about the slowdown, anyway.

[spadgy]

Such great news about the slowdown, if it does stay in...

Winter 2011 is listed as a release date - lets hope that means Jan/Feb and not December!

[z0mbie90]

Such great news about the slowdown, if it does stay in...

Winter 2011 is listed as a release date - lets hope that means Jan/Feb and not December!

Yeah we can only hope. But in the interview they said early 2011, if IIRC.

[spadgy]

Such great news about the slowdown, if it does stay in...

Winter 2011 is listed as a release date - lets hope that means Jan/Feb and not December!

Yeah we can only hope. But in the interview they said early 2011, if IIRC.

Yeah, I think you're right - I've got a pretty strong sense I know when it will hit.

[ケツイ]

About the slowdown :
http://www.risingstargames.com/forum/vi ... 6253#p6253 .

Make my day!
I want it right now

[Skykid]

About the slowdown :
http://www.risingstargames.com/forum/vi ... 6253#p6253 .

I'm impressed, but I'll be more impressed when I got the game in my hands and find they actually ported the JP rather than the US version and went to the lengths to once again change all language settings.

[njiska]

To everyone getting excited over the slowdown comment may I please remind you that this is what Cave said about the US release:

Cave wanted to fix some unintended slowdown in the original, which compromised the level of difficulty in those sections. They upgraded the production environment of the graphics engine, so the U.S. version handles the graphic assets better. They're now working as originally intended, so things will be more difficult.

The response from rising star is way too vague.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I think its the other way around, the RGS guy said theyre using the intended slowdown which is the slowdown used in the NA version. Using Cave PR speak Unintended slowdown would be all the slowdown Cave took out. Why cant they just give the player the option of which slowdown he wants to use. All they need to do is add the option in the system menu.

As that you tube vid shows the jap version with slowdown is a longer game which pleases all those "the games too short" naysayers. Cave have a good opportunaty here to release the game with the arcade slowdown and use their PR to inform the western reviewers all about slowdown when the issue that the Euro DS is different from the US version is raised.

BTW why does RSG page for DS say the release date is winter 2011?