1up Interview with Cave

[Cyarc]

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9068594

Good to see Cave get some more attention.

[Yoshi]

Sign me up for the iPhone ports of Espgaluda, DDP, and DOJ. Based on the game per season, we're about due for a new announcement in that area.

[Frederik]

I wouldn´t be surprised if the next port is either Futari or Deathsmiles. They now know that their ports are successful, so they might just as well go with their most popular recent titles.

I´m glad to see their recent strategy is paying off - and for those who don´t like the iOS ports, at least they create exposure and I bet a lot of people who enjoy the iPhone ports will do their research and might buy the 360 ports.

And I´m not at all surprised that working for the app store is much more comfortable for them than on DS or PSP. Like a lot traditional gamers I was laughing at the idea of the iOS devices ever becoming a threat to the classic handhelds, but now even Nintendo admits that Apple is their enemy. And now that they even put region locking in the 3DS I can´t say that I feel for them.

I´m certainly not an Apple fanboy, but you can´t ignore that Apple did a lot of things right with their digital download strategy. I would be really surprised if we ever see a CAVE shmup port on the 3DS (or the PSP2, whenever that is coming out).

And I really enjoy MasaKINGs videos on YouTube - he clearly isn´t a pro at these games, but he´s funny I hope the hardware specs of this generation of iOS devices will be enough for the next one or two years!

[MathU]

CAVE has enough attention.

[Drachenherz]

CAVE has enough attention.

*ahem* Dost my ears deceive me? On this very forum we have a thread "why shmups are such a niche genre?". I think it is a great thing that CAVE is getting so much "mainstream" attention, because it pulls the shmups genre a bit more in the general focus. Even myself, I've been sucked in into shmupping because of caves Esp II port on the iDevices...

Why not letting them have the attention that they actually deserve?

[Frederik]

CAVE has enough attention.

...as opposed to what other still active shmup developer?

[Lance Boyle]

The company has also gained more visibility thanks to the localization of both packaged titles (Deathsmiles) and Xbox Live fare (Dodonpachi Resurrection).

what.

1UP: Yeah. Or any kind of game in general, because the games look good on iPad when you up-res them and stuff like that.

kill me.

[Skykid]

The company has also gained more visibility thanks to the localization of both packaged titles (Deathsmiles) and Xbox Live fare (Dodonpachi Resurrection).

what.

1UP: Yeah. Or any kind of game in general, because the games look good on iPad when you up-res them and stuff like that.

kill me.

Jesus. Well there's another interview I won't bother reading.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

CAVE has enough attention.

I like Cave getting PR its just a damn shame its not their core games, ive no intrest on playing shmups on a telephone with my finger

Again cave say their main concern is the Japanese market, with the western market more like some 2nd grade after thought. Which is daft considering more 360 game sales now come from their western market not Japan, (I would hazard a guess that the Iphone ports are the same aswell)

[njiska]

CAVE has enough attention.

I like Cave getting PR its just a damn shame its not their core games, ive no intrest on playing shmups on a telephone with my finger

Again cave say their main concern is the Japanese market, with the western market more like some 2nd grade after thought. Which is daft considering more 360 game sales now come from their western market not Japan, (I would hazard a guess that the Iphone ports are the same aswell)

Well to be fair for that kind of game the Japanese market is more guaranteed. Just look at how many copies of Raiden Fighters Aces and Raiden IV are sitting on store shelves here versus the number of any shmup release available in Japan. Plus there's a higher minimum print run for Western releases which means a far higher cost of entry. The iPhone has practically no cost of entry for international sale. It doesn't matter if they make money her or not because it's not costing them anything to sell it.

Cave is at least experimenting with localization and region free titles. As long as sales of those are good they'll have more incentive to continue expanding into the West.

[rancor]

ive no intrest on playing shmups on a telephone with my finger

This. I got a PM from a forum member here (Demetori) telling me how amazing the games on iphone are. I just can't imagine how its any fun guiding the characters with my big, dumb fingers on a tiny iphone screen. I suppose I should reserve judgement until I've actually seen or tried it, but I can't. Perhaps it's just the limits of my imagination (quite possible) but I'm extremely prejudiced against this idea. Shooters on iphone just sounds like a terrible concept. Not to mention the fact that I've heard from several users "OMG!1! I can 1cc this game on my first try - NO PROBLEM!" How is that fun? Maybe I'm just grumpy because my 2nd gen ipod touch isn't supported..

Ipad may be better, but I still prefer a more traditional control scheme.

[Skykid]

ive no intrest on playing shmups on a telephone with my finger

This. I got a PM from a forum member here (Demetori) telling me how amazing the games on iphone are. I just can't imagine how its any fun guiding the characters with my big, dumb fingers on a tiny iphone screen. I suppose I should reserve judgement until I've actually seen or tried it, but I can't. Perhaps it's just the limits of my imagination (quite possible) but I'm extremely prejudiced against this idea. Shooters on iphone just sounds like a terrible concept. Not to mention the fact that I've heard from several users "OMG!1! I can 1cc this game on my first try - NO PROBLEM!" How is that fun? Maybe I'm just grumpy because my 2nd gen ipod touch isn't supported..

Ipad may be better, but I still prefer a more traditional control scheme.

The truth is you know nothing until you've tried it, it works far better than you can imagine and it's a pure luxury to play these games while out and about. Seriously impressive stuff at bargain prices.

[rancor]

The truth is you know nothing until you've tried it, it works far better than you can imagine and it's a pure luxury to play these games while out and about. Seriously impressive stuff at bargain prices.

Completely understood - I just wish I had access to an iphone or ipad so I could try it myself.

ps. I wish you would go back to your pre-DFK avatar.

[Vyxx]

CAVE has enough attention.

BBBaaaawwwwwwww

[Dave_K.]

1UP: How about browser-based games or apps?

MASAKI: Yes, we are thinking about doing something like that in the near future.

Now this is news worthy.

[Iori Branford]

1UP: How about browser-based games or apps?

MASAKI: Yes, we are thinking about doing something like that in the near future.

Now this is news worthy.

Dodonpachi Live or ESPGaluda Live please, a la Quake Live. Or at least something in HTML5.

[moozooh]

Make me able to shoot shmups.com forum users who spew danmaku arranged in post-like patterns.

[neorichieb1971]

Almost all these interviews are about the iphone and mobile devices.

You know if Cave get a lot of business from this venture they will start to slow down on the arcade front. Not one question was about the arcade projects.

[Frederik]

Almost all these interviews are about the iphone and mobile devices.

You know if Cave get a lot of business from this venture they will start to slow down on the arcade front. Not one question was about the arcade projects.

I don´t think this is the case at all. First off, this blog section is all about mobile games, so that the interviewer didn´t ask about upcoming arcade games is a bit of a shame but unsurprising. And now that they have proven that they can earn money with each arcade game THREE times - PCB, 360 port, iOS port - I think it´s even less likely that they will slow down with their shooters. Besides, the mobile division is separate from the arcade division IIRC - if anything the mobile section will grow, but I`m certain it won´t be at the expense of the arcade games. Shmups are CAVEs passion - if it was just all about money they would probably have dropped the whole shooter thing a long time ago.

And doesn´t earn CAVE most of their money with completely unrelated stuff like medal games anyways? I would assume they have been able to survive the "death of shooters" for so long because they have other sources of income.

ive no intrest on playing shmups on a telephone with my finger

This. I got a PM from a forum member here (Demetori) telling me how amazing the games on iphone are. I just can't imagine how its any fun guiding the characters with my big, dumb fingers on a tiny iphone screen.

I haven´t tried it myself yet either (buying an iPod Touch in the next few weeks), and while I love my Saturn pad like an only child I have to say that the more I think about it the more I´m looking forward to finally try this out.

People on this forum would jump at the slightest chance to rip these iOS ports to pieces, I´m sure - touchscreen only gaming, and on an Apple device? That only invites ridicule from us "traditional" gamers. But almost everybody agrees that the controls are quite nice, not only on this forum. I still can´t quite believe it works as well as everybody says, but I have rarely had the chance to actually play with capacitive screens either way. Here´s a direct feed video that shows you how precise the controls can be:Video

I mean, I understand why people are sceptical. I love tactile, clicky pads, I love nice arcade sticks (even though I suck at using them), but I find it interesting that CAVE themselves have figured out a new way to control your ship - either zipping around the screen or doing slow, precise dodges without having to consider your ship speed must feel interesting at the very least. I´m not only eager to play these games on a go, but also really curious to try a new control scheme that actually seems to work.

The #1 thing with videogame controls for me it that they have to be 100% reliable - I have to trust the controls. That´s why I really hate the whole Wii waggle stuff, and why I also think that the whole Kinect thing is a horrible idea when it comes to replacing traditional control schemes. Or playing shmups with an analog stick. Or with a shitty d-pad like my first DSlite one that wouldn´t register diagonal 90% of the time. I´m glad CAVE found a reliable way to control their ports, even if that meant to completely change the control scheme.

Not to mention the fact that I've heard from several users "OMG!1! I can 1cc this game on my first try - NO PROBLEM!" How is that fun?

Well, maybe they had it on easy, and the autobombing certainly does their part as well. What I find interesting is that not only seem the controls to reliably work but to actually give you an advantage - this direct 1:1 control seems to be only one step removed from controlling the ship with your mind I love pads and sticks, but I love the idea of dodging elegantly even more, that´s why I find these touch controls highly interesting.

Whoa, this got pretty long. It´s just that having proper bullet hell shooters on the go has been something I have lusting for ever since I got into the genre (I just love portable gaming even though I rarely play outside my house - maybe because I grew up with the Gameboy). And yeah, I still haven´t played the ports myself, so what I wrote here is basically wishful thinking

[Zeron]

Almost all these interviews are about the iphone and mobile devices.

You know if Cave get a lot of business from this venture they will start to slow down on the arcade front. Not one question was about the arcade projects.

I agree alot of their games charm come from the fact that they are arcade games, there is quite a bit difference between a arcade game and one made for a console.

[Drachenherz]

Espgaluda II and DDP res are a blast on the iPad. I can't say how they are on a smaller phone or pod, but on the iPad, they are just gorgeous, and pointing the way on such a large screen... It just works! Of course, it ain't the same as with a joypad or stick, but it is awesome nevertheless.

Hmmm... Let's say, if you like adrenaline, you can go motorbiking, or hanggliding. Both use completely different methods of "input", but both activities reward you with quite some awesome feelings.