Mushihimesama HD (360) 24th May 2012

[emphatic]

I don't understand why people are acting so shocked.

People you say?

[Trevor spencer]

Theres too much complaining about complaining

[Ghegs]

The discussion about DLC and its possible problems in the future has been moved here. Back to Mushi HD.

[mdsfx]

Doesn't mean a whole lot, but I just saw this post on Cave's (EN) twitter:

CAVE WORLD(EN) ‏ @cave_world_en @Temporal174:
Hi there! Mushihimesama for Xbox360 is currently planned for Japan at this moment, but stay tuned for other regions!

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Man, that's a tease. Does that mean they're actually considering localization seriously, or is it a "well maybe if you're lucky" thing?

[mdsfx]

Man, that's a tease. Does that mean they're actually considering localization seriously, or is it a "well maybe if you're lucky" thing?

probably the latter. I only say that because I would love for it to be localized but loathe disappointment.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

And if they don't localize it, people without a J360 will need to buy one to play it. Damn you, Microsoft Japan...

I really, really hope that somehow they ignore MS Japan's policy change and this gets released region-free at the very least. Since I'm dreaming, I'd also like a Ferrari and a mansion.

[mdsfx]

Since I'm dreaming, I'd also like a Ferrari and a mansion.

Stay tuned!

Actually, if anything, your bets should be on RSG to publish it for NA

[Zero Gunner]

And if they don't localize it, people without a J360 will need to buy one to play it. Damn you, Microsoft Japan...

I really, really hope that somehow they ignore MS Japan's policy change and this gets released region-free at the very least. Since I'm dreaming, I'd also like a Ferrari and a mansion.

It's not MS's policy that games have to be region locked. It's up to each publisher to choose. The only thing preventing Mushi HD from being region free is if Cave decides to be jerks and lock us out. The dumb thing is that it's unnecesary since even if it is licensed out we'd probably all buy both versions (if for no other reason than to compare and bitch about slow down differences). Personally I have the Japanese and US release of Death Smiles and the Euro & Japan versions of DFK...and I'll buy a US release of DFK and Akai when/if available.
On a side note I'll buy the import either way. While I'm excited that RS is opening a US branch I'm not even remotely considering missing out on owning Mushi HD in hopes that they will release it. So don't be a-holes Cave...we want region free. Every PS3 game is rf and even niche stuff still gets licensed.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

It's not MS's policy that games have to be region locked. It's up to each publisher to choose.

Wasn't it on Facebook that G.Rev said that Microsoft Japan is no longer allowing any games to be region-free, hence why Under Defeat was region-locked?

Edit: found it:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/grev-ltd/ ... 4294252251

Okay, the wording is "strongly discouraged", but generally that means "don't you dare do it" in business-speak...

[bcass]

That could just as easily be G.rev saying politely that they'd rather find a Western publisher. It doesn't indicate in any way that there's been some odd policy change at Microsoft.

[Zero Gunner]

MS doesn't even region lock most of their own games. Discouraged means nothing, there isn't a single example of region free hurting a game or publisher. Ultimately this is a publisher's choice so it's merely a matter of if Cave actually wants to show appreaciation to overseas fans or just be a bunch of dicks and region lock a title that has a very minimal chance of being licensed.

[brokenhalo]

MS doesn't even region lock most of their own games. Discouraged means nothing, there isn't a single example of region free hurting a game or publisher. Ultimately this is a publisher's choice so it's merely a matter of if Cave actually wants to show appreaciation to overseas fans or just be a bunch of dicks and region lock a title that has a very minimal chance of being licensed.

You do realize that rsg is getting ready to release their third cave port at the moment, right? So do you think that cave (as a business) are going to pay to have their game certified in every region so that they can pick up a couple hundred import sales? Or do you think that they'd rather license it to rsg, thus making them more money and getting the game into more peoples hands at a significantly reduced price. It's not as black and white as "region-locked=cave are dicks".

Edit: i read your other post where you said you buy the imports and domestic versions and thats great. So do I. But i dont think guys like us really make that much of a dent in sales, and if the games region free, a company like rsg probably looks at it like "well the fans already got it, now who do we sell it to."

So as much as i agree with you it should be region free there are reasons why it isn't.

[Zero Gunner]

That could just as easily be G.rev saying politely that they'd rather find a Western publisher. It doesn't indicate in any way that there's been some odd policy change at Microsoft.

Agreed, that's GRev passing the buck and trying to make MS look like the bad guys. A publisher could always have submitted a region locked title for approval if that policy was even true and then quitely sent a region free version off to manufacturing a. Similar things have happened before.

[StarCreator]

Agreed, that's GRev passing the buck and trying to make MS look like the bad guys. A publisher could always have submitted a region locked title for approval if that policy was even true and then quitely sent a region free version off to manufacturing a. Similar things have happened before.

That sounds like a good way to ensure you will never do business with Microsoft again.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Agreed, that's GRev passing the buck and trying to make MS look like the bad guys. A publisher could always have submitted a region locked title for approval if that policy was even true and then quietly sent a region free version off to manufacturing a. Similar things have happened before.

That sounds like a good way to ensure you will never do business with Microsoft again.

Well they didnt seem too happy about Strania on XBLA so maybe they have an axe to grind with MS. Also wasnt their initial intention to have Strania as a JPN region free retail title but MS refused them? I could be wrong on this but im sure I read a quote from Grev complaining about this before Strania released. Does anyone else recall reading the same thing?

Anyway whatever the case with MS allowing Region Free. There was no way in hell CAVE were gonna make Mushi HD RF as they can make much more money with localisation which RF will doom any chance of this happening. Excluding Ketsui and DOJ by 5pB, CAVE are quite short on quality titles that are fit for localisation. Their 2 best 360 titles Mushihimisama Futari and Esp Galuda 2 are both region free, which I bet in hind sight CAVE are kicking themselves that they made EG2 RF and not localised it.

Still im getting ahead of myself Akia Katana has to sell well first.

[Zaarock]

Also wasnt their initial intention to have Strania as a JPN region free retail title but MS refused them? I could be wrong on this but im sure I read a quote from Grev complaining about this before Strania released. Does anyone else recall reading the same thing?

Nope, and I don't remember them ever mention it not being developed as a downloadable title. I wonder how well the arcade (type X2) version did though.

Maybe a bit too many of these anti-MS rumors going around huh :p

What is weird though is that at least on the european marketplace the name of the game only shows up in japanese, which is a big mistake and makes the game harder for people to find.

[Elixir]

Straight out of 2ch:

Scheduled for 5/24. Includes the original Mushi reworked into HD (Original, Maniac, Ultra), Mushi Novice (entirely new), Mushi Arrange (the PS2 Arrange, adjusted into HD) and Mushi 1.5 HD (the Matsuri version, also adjusted to HD).

1.5 HD is included in all initial releases of the game, a first print bonus just like 1.01 was for Futari.

[moozooh]

Fucking win. The PS2 version is now completely obsolete.

[iconoclast]

Sounds great. Though I'm surprised they'd make a significant piece of content like v1.5 a first-print bonus. Sucks for everyone that's going to miss out on it.

[MR_Soren]

Man, that's a tease. Does that mean they're actually considering localization seriously, or is it a "well maybe if you're lucky" thing?

I would assume it means that RSG might be publishing this game for us Western folk, but they won't sign the contract until they see how well Akai Katana sells.

[yyr]

Now all I need is a preorder link! Looked on play-asia and YesAsia but didn't find one yet.

[Jeneki]

Holy crap, that first printing bonus is to big to miss. Thankfully other Cave games haven't had supply issues on the standard issue (non-LE) first printing, so I doubt getting one will be a problem.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Straight out of 2ch:

Scheduled for 5/24. Includes the original Mushi reworked into HD (Original, Maniac, Ultra), Mushi Novice (entirely new), Mushi Arrange (the PS2 Arrange, adjusted into HD) and Mushi 1.5 HD (the Matsuri version, also adjusted to HD).

1.5 HD is included in all initial releases of the game, a first print bonus just like 1.01 was for Futari.

(Edited cos I read Elixir's post wrong and yes im a dumbass)

I wonder how RSG will do it if they pick it up, as they may need to make that into DLC to compensate for everyone buying it at £10 (or MS could be funny, like with DFK)

How is the PS2 arrange mode? any good?

[Kiken]

How is the PS2 arrange mode? any good?

It's a remix of Maniac Mode with the following changes:

You begin with 6 beetle options.
There is auto-bomb enabled.
You always fight Shin Aki (the Ultra Mode TLB) after the stage 5 boss.
Single credit play only, no continues.

[yyr]

Holy crap, that first printing bonus is to big to miss. Thankfully other Cave games haven't had supply issues on the standard issue (non-LE) first printing, so I doubt getting one will be a problem.

You say this, but I pre-ordered Futari from Play-Asia when it first dropped, and I didn't get 1.01.

Mushi 1.5 will be a bigger deal to me, so I hope history doesn't repeat itself.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

How is the PS2 arrange mode? any good?

It's a remix of Maniac Mode with the following changes:

You begin with 6 beetle options.
There is auto-bomb enabled.
You always fight Shin Aki (the Ultra Mode TLB) after the stage 5 boss.
Single credit play only, no continues.

With the autobomb it seems like a good stepping stone from Original to Maniac, not sure about starting out at full power though as it could make the early levels quite boring

[emphatic]

Awesome, I think the pre-order will be NTSC-J exclusive though, but that's just me.

[DrTrouserPlank]

Probably be about a month until the pre-order listings start appearing.

I think it's a likely candidate for an RSG localisation but,

1) It will probably be a 1st or 2nd quarter 2013 release, and
2) They may not like having to change the title of the game (which they certainly would have to). Their only other option is to subtitle it and call it something like "mushihimesama: Bug princess"

[StarCreator]

Awesome, I think the pre-order will be NTSC-J exclusive though, but that's just me.

I wouldn't be so sure... DFK's preorder bonus (1.51) made it over to the PAL version as regular DLC. The only other Cave 360 releases that had entirely different game modes as preorder bonuses (Futari, MMP+PS) are region free and were never localized.

Mushi 1.5 HD (the Matsuri version, also adjusted to HD)

Is 1.5 really considered a "Matsuri" version? I was under the impression it was a public release, albeit with a somewhat strange distribution model. The versions we typically regard as "Matsuri" were never available for sale at all until they showed up in the 360 ports.

Also, is 2ch really a reliable source for this kind of news? Who posted it? Was it someone who has reliably posted factual information in the past?