Rinkya Store's Akai Katana sale (8 hours only!)

[Blue_Ray]

Got an e-mail from Rinkya who specializes in Yahoo Japan Auction sales for non-Japanese residents, and they are having a sale on anything to do with Red Sword, including the arcade JAMMA board. It's for 8 hours (and I got the e-mail at 9:25 A.M. EST). Just posting in case people here are interested.

Cave Game Shop

[AAA]

they are saying that this board is somehow special/unique - how so?

[brokenhalo]

they are saying that this board is somehow special/unique - how so?

it says "shop exclusive edition for personal use". maybe they are hard-locked to freeplay only? even if i'm correct, that price is rediculous .

great prices on everything else though. this game must of bombed hard as f**k to be blowing everything out already.

[Vyxx]

US $2716.04

That is crazy.

[Blue_Ray]

Also says there's a special Stage Select. Not sure if that's in the original version or not. But yeah, the board is a bit too rich for my blood.

They tend to have some decent Cave sales on occasion (got a DeathSmiles II Artbook, DDP DFK BL OST, and DDP DFK iPhone case the last time).

Edit: Found an article that explains a bit more on what makes this one a "special" board. Seems purely made for the collector's market IMO.

Cave Offering Arcade Shooter Akai Katana For General Purchase

[brentsg]

they are saying that this board is somehow special/unique - how so?

it says "shop exclusive edition for personal use". maybe they are hard-locked to freeplay only? even if i'm correct, that price is rediculous .

great prices on everything else though. this game must of bombed hard as f**k to be blowing everything out already.

Nobody is blowing anything out. Cave's just having an event for AK basically. The online store prices are always great until you add proxy fees and EMS shipping to everything.

[Dave_K.]

I hope SuperPang is going for this now that he sold of the original PCB! Would love to get his personal review of the differences.

[Estebang]

I sure hope they aren't putting this out as a "substitute" for a 360 port!

[Shuurin]

This isn't a substitution for a 360 port. I think its pretty funny that it forces free play so arcade ops can't order this to try to make money off it. I'm curious what it balances exactly, haven't heard much about this game in general.

[brentsg]

I hope SuperPang is going for this now that he sold of the original PCB! Would love to get his personal review of the differences.

Rumor has it he's hired a team of ninjas to secure the kit, and the EMS restrictions to the USA resulted from Japan Post being on standby to deliver his kit to the UK.

[Blue_Ray]

That was another interesting thing Rinkya noted in their e-mail. That the new rules from Japan Post don't affect them at all.

[Elixir]

8 hours only guys.

[TonK]

Why would anyone pay more for an arcade flop?

You would think that since it didn't sell well as a coin-op game @ 190,000Y or whatever, they might make this limited edition hone kit more reasonably priced at like $1500 or less.

I'll grab a bare PCB in a few months when it's $500.

[Dave_K.]

Whats funny is the original arcade PCB is now the one thats really is "Limited" since very few actually sold, and the rest were recalled, so I doubt you'll get $500 for it anytime in the future. Cave can keep this home version on their website until they sell out of their own stock, and will probably go on sale sooner than the original comes down in price. IMHO.

[crackfox]

Its a complete bargain!!!
I'll take 10 please!!!

[brentsg]

Whats funny is the original arcade PCB is now the one thats really is "Limited" since very few actually sold, and the rest were recalled, so I doubt you'll get $500 for it anytime in the future. Cave can keep this home version on their website until they sell out of their own stock, and will probably go on sale sooner than the original comes down in price. IMHO.

They would have done well to advertise a bit about what balancing they did to the game. Stage select is an ok bonus and great for practicing a stage, but if the game is not difficult I don't see the point. Now, if the balancing was well done such that all the characters are viable.. scoring is more interesting.. now that kind of thing would at least validate the revision. And perhaps it's twice as fun for only 20% more money, but the 8 hour sales window will be long gone before we know.

As SuperPang said someplace, perhaps the balancing was done on someone's lunch hour.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I dont know much about the game. Whats so bad about it? judging from the gameplay vids while nothing as great a ketsui or DDP it does look ok for a Cave game and much better then most modern non cave shmups

[TonK]

I dont know much about the game. Whats so bad about it? judging from the gameplay vids while nothing as great a ketsui or DDP it does look ok for a Cave game and much better then most modern non cave shmups

I'd love to play it, I don't know why it flopped.

But I'm sure were were more than a couple thousand sold.

Arcade OPs will clear this out as soon as it stops making money.

Then second hand shops will acquire it.

That's when I buy it.

Or if someone wants to sell me a bare PCB.

[newguns]

this is the special version

http://www.cave-shop.jp/fs/caveshop/aka ... p/cvga0003

youtube version up as well

[Aliquantic]

this is the special version

http://www.cave-shop.jp/fs/caveshop/aka ... p/cvga0003

youtube version up as well

Thanks for the link I can't tell if it's a very flattering video or if the slowdown is really gone for good... mmh

[MrFog]

this is the special version

http://www.cave-shop.jp/fs/caveshop/aka ... p/cvga0003

youtube version up as well

Seems like they changed quite a bit.

The ship option of ship A shoots an additional row of shots in autofire and laser mode.
Red bullets slow down when they touch the players option.
Enemies shoot more bullets.
Your hit counter increases beyond 250 in a single Powerup mode without doing a big cancel of some boss enemy.
Enemies are shooting suicide bullets.
Extends are at 200 and 500 million instead of 20 and 50.


Makes me wonder why they didn't just call it Black Label and sell it regularly.

[GaijinPunch]

Where have you guys been? I posted this in the AK thread weeks ago.

Anyways, they "sold out" of this one.

[cools]

Red bullets slow down when they touch the players option.
Enemies shoot more bullets.
Enemies are shooting suicide bullets.
Extends are at 200 and 500 million instead of 20 and 50.

They made it easier Moar bullets = less difficulty.

[Phellan Wolf]

Where have you guys been? I posted this in the AK thread weeks ago.

Anyways, they "sold out" of this one.

Already!!!! Damn people have lots of money then.

[brentsg]

Does anyone use Rinkya? I had opened an account at one time but never actually used it.

I saw this "sale" and was curious what they were charging. I found my login, stuck it in my cart. Holy cow! Fees on the kit were $280+.

Still curious, I checked their fee schedule for a 220,000 yen auction and it was WAY short of that. The stores that sell through Rinya also were way less than $280 for an equivalent purchase. Even better, they charge 125% of actual shipping fees.

I guess they know Cave's fans will pony up.

[GaijinPunch]

Does anyone use Rinkya? I had opened an account at one time but never actually used it.

I saw this "sale" and was curious what they were charging. I found my login, stuck it in my cart. Holy cow! Fees on the kit were $280+.

Still curious, I checked their fee schedule for a 220,000 yen auction and it was WAY short of that. The stores that sell through Rinya also were way less than $280 for an equivalent purchase. Even better, they charge 125% of actual shipping fees.

I guess they know Cave's fans will pony up.

They're fucking dickheads. All their fees are hidden. Nice "sale" jackasses. Anyways, I located three of these for awesome users here, and for a far better price. A pricey product indeed, but it's awesome (at least the looks...I've not played it). I won't spoil the fun though. I'll let one of the proud owners swing their proverbial cock around.