Long time no see.

Monk 0 Nuggets · Post by **Monk 0 Nuggets** » Mon May 30, 2011 1:15 pm

Well hello there guys! Its been a few years. I needed to get away from video games for a while, but after a few great hours with Gradius V yesterday, and a little poking around to find that there are a bunch of Cave games for 360 (OH MAN!) available, I'm seriously considering picking a few up along with a new stick. I very much miss my PS2 Cave games I got rid of that are now selling for insano prices. My question is, which of these new 360 games are region free? It seems there are different releases of several games, and I can't find a solid answer with a little bit of searching. My current elite is dead so it looks like I'll have to upgrade to the new 360 as well unfortunately, but I've got a lot of games I can sell to offset the cost hopefully. Any info you guys could provide would be much appreciated.

Sumez · Post by **Sumez** » Mon May 30, 2011 1:27 pm

Region free releases:
Mushihimesama Futari (both first print, limited and platinum releases)
EspGaluda II Black Label (regular version, NOT the limited version!)
Muchi Muchi Pork / Pink Sweets bundle

Also available:
Guwange (XBLA title, available in all regions)
DeathSmiles (japanese version is region locked, but it's released on disc in all regions)
DeathSmiles IIX (japanese disc version is region locked, but available on the US Games-On-Demand)

yosai · Post by **yosai** » Mon May 30, 2011 1:27 pm

http://www.cave-stg.com/?page_id=82

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Mon May 30, 2011 1:40 pm

I have a spare Deathsmiles (US), Muchi Muchi Pork, and Mushi Futari that I can sell you for cheap if you want.
Hit me up and lemme know if you're interested.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Mon May 30, 2011 2:06 pm

If you're looking for non-Cave stuff the recently-released Bullet Soul and Eschatos are also region-free: Otomedius Excellent is also getting a US version in July.

Monk 0 Nuggets · Post by **Monk 0 Nuggets** » Mon May 30, 2011 3:46 pm

Thanks guys! This is definitely good news. Never_Scurred, I'm not sure if you are looking to unload asap, but I'm definitely interested. I've gotta see what I can scrounge together first though. I'll shoot you a PM soon!

Zeron · Post by **Zeron** » Mon May 30, 2011 3:55 pm

Raiden Fighter ACES not mentioned?

blasphemy

Blue_Ray · Post by **Blue_Ray** » Mon May 30, 2011 4:09 pm

Besides Guwange, there have been quite a bit of releases happening on Xbox Live Arcade. Games like:

Triggerheart Exelica
Space Invaders Infinity Gene
Strania
Trouble Witches Neo
Ikaruga
and coming soon Radiant Silvergun

I don't even think I listed them all! But, there's much to look forward to. Not bad for a "dead" genre! ^_-

Monk 0 Nuggets · Post by **Monk 0 Nuggets** » Mon May 30, 2011 4:14 pm

I used to have a Hori Pro Stick for my PS2, but alas, that is gone now too. Is there anything solid out for the 360 stick wise?

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Mon May 30, 2011 4:33 pm

Monk 0 Nuggets wrote:I used to have a Hori Pro Stick for my PS2, but alas, that is gone now too. Is there anything solid out for the 360 stick wise?

I use the Hori Real Arcade Pro EX stick for the 360.
It is rock solid, plus you can easily swap out the buttons if you so choose.
I think the stick is a Sanwa, don't quote me on that, though.

They do have a cheaper one if you like.

Monk 0 Nuggets · Post by **Monk 0 Nuggets** » Mon May 30, 2011 4:47 pm

That first one looks pretty stellar.

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Mon May 30, 2011 5:39 pm

Monk 0 Nuggets wrote:That first one looks pretty stellar.

Oh, it is. Its not a VLX, but that is just overkill, anyways.
I wouldn't mind getting mine modded with LED lights and translucent buttons one of these days.

Sumez · Post by **Sumez** » Mon May 30, 2011 7:23 pm

Zeron wrote:Raiden Fighter ACES not mentioned?

blasphemy

It's not region free

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Mon May 30, 2011 7:45 pm

Sumez wrote:
Zeron wrote:Raiden Fighter ACES not mentioned?

blasphemy
It's not region free

There is a US release, as well as a US XBLA release.

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Mon May 30, 2011 7:55 pm

Never_Scurred wrote:There is a US release, as well as a US XBLA release.

Which still doesn't make it region-free.

drunkninja24 · Post by **drunkninja24** » Mon May 30, 2011 9:05 pm

Never_Scurred wrote:
Monk 0 Nuggets wrote:I used to have a Hori Pro Stick for my PS2, but alas, that is gone now too. Is there anything solid out for the 360 stick wise?
I use the Hori Real Arcade Pro EX stick for the 360.
It is rock solid, plus you can easily swap out the buttons if you so choose.
I think the stick is a Sanwa, don't quote me on that, though.

They do have a cheaper one if you like.

I'll one-up you with the beauty:

All Seimitsu parts right out of the box.

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Mon May 30, 2011 9:53 pm

Elixir wrote:
Never_Scurred wrote:There is a US release, as well as a US XBLA release.
Which still doesn't make it region-free.

In my haste I thought he was referring to the japanese release.

iconoclast · Post by **iconoclast** » Mon May 30, 2011 10:16 pm

A few notes on sticks:
The Hori Real Arcade Pro EX is a solid stick, but it comes stock with Hori buttons that you'll probably want to replace ASAP. It's a little expensive for what you get.
The Hori EX2 is pretty cheap, but it's one of the worst sticks I've ever used. It's very light, the buttons are mushy, and I only used it for a couple months before the PCB inside snapped in half. I don't recommend it at all.

Personally, I'd recommend one of these:
MadCatz Tournament Edition Fightstick: Sanwa buttons, Sanwa stick, optional turbo for each button, and it's very easy to open up and customize/swap out parts if you want.
Hori Real Arcade Pro EX-SE: Unlike the regular HRAP EX, the EX-SE comes with a Seimitsu stick and Seimitsu buttons, so it's the perfect alternative to the MadCatz Sanwa stick.

And for a cheaper alternative, the MadCatz Standard Edition Fightstick is pretty solid. It comes with stock MadCatz parts, but they're basically cheap clones of Sanwa parts, so they're not too bad. And just like the TE, you can easily open the stick up and swap in some Sanwa or Seimitsu parts if you'd like.

Never_Scurred · Post by **Never_Scurred** » Mon May 30, 2011 10:26 pm

iconoclast wrote:A few notes on sticks:
The Hori Real Arcade Pro EX is a solid stick, but it comes stock with Hori buttons that you'll probably want to replace ASAP. It's a little expensive for what you get.
The Hori EX2 is pretty cheap, but it's one of the worst sticks I've ever used. It's very light, the buttons are mushy, and I only used it for a couple months before the PCB inside snapped in half. I don't recommend it at all.

Personally, I'd recommend one of these:
MadCatz Tournament Edition Fightstick: Sanwa buttons, Sanwa stick, optional turbo for each button, and it's very easy to open up and customize/swap out parts if you want.
Hori Real Arcade Pro EX-SE: Unlike the regular HRAP EX, the EX-SE comes with a Seimitsu stick and Seimitsu buttons, so it's the perfect alternative to the MadCatz Sanwa stick.

And for a cheaper alternative, the MadCatz Standard Edition Fightstick is pretty solid. It comes with stock MadCatz parts, but they're basically cheap clones of Sanwa parts, so they're not too bad. And just like the TE, you can easily open the stick up and swap in some Sanwa or Seimitsu parts if you'd like.

Also of note,
The MadCatz sticks are easier to mod.

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Tue May 31, 2011 1:56 am

Never_Scurred wrote:
Sumez wrote:
Zeron wrote:Raiden Fighter ACES not mentioned?

blasphemy
It's not region free
There is a US release, as well as a US XBLA release.

Games on Demand, not XBLA.

Is the HRAP EX-SE considered the best stick for the 360?

StarCreator · Post by **StarCreator** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:36 am

EX-SE is a solid choice if you're after Seimitsu parts. I hardly use mine anymore though in favor of a MadCatz SF4 SE modded with Seimitsu parts - Hori's old RAP formfactor is just too large for me to haul around.

If you're buying a new 360 anyway and you live in NA, it's worth looking into importing a Japanese or Asian 360 - at least 95% of NA releases will work on it, and you get the added benefit of being able to play any JP game 100% of the time rather than joining the region-free-begging masses.

Sumez · Post by **Sumez** » Tue May 31, 2011 6:21 am

Never_Scurred wrote:
Sumez wrote:
Zeron wrote:Raiden Fighter ACES not mentioned?

blasphemy
It's not region free
There is a US release, as well as a US XBLA release.

Stop mocking us Europeans!! >:O

Sumez · Post by **Sumez** » Tue May 31, 2011 6:23 am

Just get a cheap stick like the Datel one, which works with PC and PS3 as well, and put some Sanwa buttons and a Seimitsu stick into it.

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Tue May 31, 2011 6:56 am

I'd do that, as I really want one that can be used with 360/PS3/PC but I can't solder to save my life. Plus, I want a stick with a lot of weight to it.

Rebel Ninja · Post by **Rebel Ninja** » Tue May 31, 2011 7:52 am

Anyone have a Hori Real Arcade Pro VX SA? If so how are they?

Sumez · Post by **Sumez** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:19 am

bcass, the soldering required for modding the Datel stick is extremely simple, so you should be able to do it even with no experience (just watch some guides on YouTube or such), otherwise you probably have one or more friends with an interest in electronics who has the knowledge, as well as a proper Weller soldering station lying around - most people won't mind helping out for a shit easy soldering job like this!

It's not like you have to rewire SMD chips into custom circuits or anything.

The Hori stick is easier to mod, I think, because the button holes don't need to be expanded if you want to use 30mm buttons (which is what all the Sanwas I have lying around are), but the electronics are less accessible because the buttons are soldered directly unto a board.

Weight is easy to alter too, just get four small equally heavy items and a bunch of super glue

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:56 am

Which Datel stick is it that you recommend modding?

Sumez · Post by **Sumez** » Tue May 31, 2011 9:17 am

I think it's called Arcade Pro. Only because it's cheap and supports both PS3, X360 and PC.

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Tue May 31, 2011 9:51 am

This one? - http://www.amazon.co.uk/DATEL-ARCADE-JO ... B0037LX380

Have you moded one of these yourself Sumez? Can the Street Fighter design be changed/removed? One of the amazon reviews mentions that a little work is needed in order to have the hole fit the 30mm standard size for push buttons. Does this just mean widening the existing button holes?

Also, which Seimitsu stick/buttons do people recommend?

Sumez · Post by **Sumez** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:01 am

Yup, that's the one.
Haven't done it yet, but I checked plenty of visual guides of people who've done it, and the soldering part seems just as basic as soldering buttons to your arcade cab. The artwork can be replaced, too.

Personally I prefer Sanwa OBSF buttons (great for fast tapping) and Seimitsu LS-32 stick for shooters. Actually I'm used to Sanwa sticks as well, but the Seimitsu stick has a smaller deadzone. Supposedly the LS-40 has an even smaller deadzone, but I haven't tried one myself.

shmups.system11.org

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