London Meet 2012 (Fri 4th to Sun 6th May)

[hzt]

London Trocadero


And JDE requested this one:

[spadgy]

Was there any chance that there's an Initial D cab in that new bit of the Troc? I'd love it if they'd brought that cab out again!

[hzt]

No. Maybe they have it upstairs (JDE will probably remember) but I don't think so, I guess it's abandoned with the fighters and shmups up where Funland was.

[Skykid]

My favorite highlight was clearing DBAC's very difficult CGL Hard route in two-player co-op with Skykid, and no-missing the whole run including Great Thing in the process

That was my gaming highlight also: what a rush that game is when you have a little strategy and resolve.
Great Thing is a real shmup battle royale - and we no-missed the entire run! \ (^_^) /

Additionally I greatly enjoyed:

- Dying on Donpachi's last boss twice.

- Getting messages of immortality from Dan's digital camera

- Getting a factory new Umihara Kawase from banjoted (thanks mate!)

- Icarus' CC Unlimited run making my eyes bleed

- Tuning in to shmups forum to see SDOJ on steam

- Getting DariusBurst freebies couriered from Japan via Gary

- Getting every Darius game ever from Gary

- Will treating me to a Cafe Nero coffee

- Icarus nearly 2-alling Cho Ren Sha in cinemascope

- Shooting the shit with all the boys and girls over the course of the weekend

- SM's cinematic and exciting to watch Deadstorm Pirates run

- A sneak preview of the secret project that no one talks about that has winged things in it.

- Will finishing Progear twice in a row and nearly meeting the 2nd loop conditions

- Beating Nick on SFII Anniversary

- Eye-raping all the figures in Tokyo Toys with Icarus and Andrew

- Theo's badical 80's glasses


Great to see all of you guys!

[Illyrian]

- Beating Nick on SFII Anniversary

I'd beat is putting it lightly, you demolished me!

It was an awesome weekend.

[hzt]

same person


My highlight was chicken and beer soup. I guess we played some games and stuff as well.

[Icarus]

Well, it was my last day in London today. Thanks to hzt, CHI, Illyrian, Smraedis and Andrew for hanging out with me until it was time for me to catch my train. Had a good laugh today, and some last-minute credits. Greatly enjoyed obliterating CHI's Hard route score on Darius Burst AC, and seeing Smraedis finally get a couple of Burst Counters in and clear Easy route ADH for 90mil. Also, quite exhilarating to watch Smraedis plow through Razing Storm and Time Crisis. Some good chats today as well.

It's been a great weekend, thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks to everyone who could make it, and hopefully we'll get to see those that couldn't this time at the next one.

I have some footage and a handful of photos to post up, when I get time to upload them, tomorrow. For now, a 4.5hr train ride to the frozen north.

[hzt]

It was great to see everybody these last few days, especially those of you who travelled into London - hope you all have/had safe trips home. Other than the soup some highlights for me were: learning a lot about Donpachi from various people (especially Smraedis), Icarus taking over loads of the Darius scoreboard, talking about STGT, MX7 and the big round table, revelling in the awfulness of Trocadero, and arguing with spadgy about what a cravat is after he insisted it's what you call a bandanna worn by a dog.

Anyway today was maybe not an official meet day but I think I got some nice pictures.

The last survivors: me, Illyrian, Icarus, Smraedis, CHI (actually Andrew showed up from downstairs just after this; he was one of the strong and the brave and he's not even on here)


Smraedis ripped up Raizing Storm


mighty hunters



Darius


hands


CHI takes out the boss after everyone else died



Darius in the correct resolution


Casino Shmupmeet Monday

[MX7]

Awesome weekend. Brilliant seeing everyone again, shame we can't do this more often.

I didn't actually get a chance to say goodbye, as I sloped off feeling pretty rough when everyone was dispersed around Troc and Chinatown. So a belated goodbye to all who feel they deserve it!

Personal highlights:

Super passive aggressive staff at the restaurant on Saturday

Managing to pull of S.M's Donpachi ST5 boss safe spot trick; very satisfying!

Finishing Mushi Original with the W shot ship with a life in stock (still hoping for an S type 1CC with 3 lives in stock)

CHI getting to play test SaiDaiOuJou

Talking bullshit about K-Pop, noise and Wagner down the Fitzroy

Hanging out in a huge, echo-laden pale abattoir (AKA The Troc)

Mrs Spadgy lowering the tone and diluting the nerd factor to an acceptable level

Watching the Scientology building being laid siege to

Aliquantic kicking the Mushi cab

CHI punching the MMP! cab

Getting some serious record shopping in (19 records, incl. indiepop 7"s, Cantopop, avant black metal, 80s synthpop, 60s Frenchpop, classical, harshnoise and film OSTs)

[JDE]

I had an amazing time at the Meet over the last few days: great fun chatting with everyone, swapping bits of video game trivia, learning new strategies (especially Smraedis' amazing safe spot for DonPachi's 1-5 boss) and of course playing lots of Shmups! Also very pleased to see that arcade cabs are gradually returning to the Troc, hopefully the ones in the now unused upstairs area will make a comeback.

Any chance that there's an Initial D cab in that new bit of the Troc?

Sadly not, but they do have Daytona USA, Daytona USA 2, Sega Rally and Sega Rally 2. If you develop a taste for any of those let me know, I'll race you!

Huge thanks to everyone for being so awesome, I'm looking forward to next year's Meet already!

[CHI]

couple more here: Casino Shmupmeet Friday
Few more: Casino Shmupmeet Saturday
Not so many today: Casino Shmupmeet Sunday
Casino Shmupmeet Monday

Thanks for the great pictures hzt

I've been caning Darius Burst AC all weekend, partly as I want to wipe CHI's best Hard Route score off the top...

And you did a bloody good job too in such a short time Sir Icarus... this gives me an excuse to get back on this games

- Getting messages of immortality from Dan's digital camera

- Icarus' CC Unlimited run making my eyes bleed
- Tuning in to shmups forum to see SDOJ on steam
- Icarus nearly 2-alling Cho Ren Sha in cinemascope

What's this about dan76s digital camera




Even though i had to work during the weekend, i had a freaking blast during this years meet, until next time


EDIT: just uploaded this clip, enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3QnBt-XBqY

[Icarus]

Here's a selection of random photos taken from the weekend. Inexplicably, I didn't take many this time around, since others were going snap-happy already, so I did footage of gameplay instead. They're in the process of being uploaded.

And one parting shot:



I mean, really? Seriously?

[CHI]

... so I did footage of gameplay instead. They're in the process of being uploaded.

Looking forward to this, you know exactly what i'm after

[Smraedis]

I'm back home and I'm so worn out! What a long weekend...

To add from what has already been said, this was easily the best meet ever, with way many highlights. I'm happy that the Troc has some arcades once again, though some are in pretty poor condition (Razing Storm and DeadStorm Pirates were clearly in good condition!)
I had so much fun playing lots of games, DBAC on 4 player is just so amazing, even more so when playing with really great players. Watching and learning from Icarus really helped my scoring on the game, I'm sure I'll get better too. I'd have spent more time if it wasn't for DBAC being there, and Crisis Zone being at the Troc. I eventually got the 1CC on Arcade Crisis Zone when coming back from Illyrian's, since I had the time to.

Played a few 2 player credits on DSP with Illyrian at his place too, and we both got the 1CC when playing together, quite an achievement indeed.

Even though I've been feeling down with losing my job, this has really made me feel much better, and thanks everyone for everything!

[Icarus]

... so I did footage of gameplay instead. They're in the process of being uploaded.

Looking forward to this, you know exactly what i'm after

If you're looking for the 130mil run, it's already on Youtube. ^_-
Sadly, I forgot to ask .SM to help me record on Monday, so I missed the chance to capture the 172mil CFJ run. ;_;

Also, I have a question: how the hell does CHI get to play so much Saidaioujou before anyone else?

Even though I've been feeling down with losing my job, this has really made me feel much better, and thanks everyone for everything!

Sorry to hear that, but I know you'll bounce back. Good to see you again, and glad you enjoyed yourself.
It's been emotional. ^_-

[CHI]

Even though I've been feeling down with losing my job, this has really made me feel much better, and thanks everyone for everything!

So sorry to hear that .SM, I've been down that road so I feel for you... But hey, awesome weekend don't you think
Anytime you wonna get away, you know where to find us

... how the hell does CHI get to play so much Saidaioujou before anyone else?



It's been emotional. ^_-

LMFAO...
Same quote from last year

[Icarus]

London Meet replays are up.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 14336BBF39
Some Mushi, some Donpachi, lots of Darius Burst AC (lol).

[spadgy]

MX7 and the big round table

I forgot about that! That was my highlight. Along with the bandanna-neckerchief-dog-cravat stuff.

LMFAO...

Me too! Amazing stuff.

So gutted I missed Sunday. The pictures make it look like a excellent day!