Super Chain Crusher Horizon

[MickyAlbert]

I am developing a new shmup called Super Chain Crusher Horizon and will be releasing it on Desura shortly. I am an indie game developer from Japan, and I have worked on a few games such as Streets of Rage II. This new game has two monitors, which has never been done before on the PC. It comes out in two weeks. Please give me some feedback and let me know if you are interested in buying it! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Official site.
At DESURA

[stryc9]

Wow, your game looks quite interesting. I like how the charge gauge extends over both screens. Not a fan of such slow shots in shooters usually, but still.

And you worked on Streets of Rage II? kudos.

[MickyAlbert]

Thank you for interest !
At first we fear that game window across both screen.
Please watch this movie. Click

Yes my real name is Mikito Ichikawa.
I am one of designer of Street of Rage ][. Also my company developed music driver of SoR][.
Yuzo Koshiro is my best friend . Here is my interview included how did met with Yuzo Koshiro.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Looks interesting, downloading the demo now, although I think I'd have to setup a couple monitors together to get the most out of the game. ohgod my computer's graphics card is so shitty I can't run it

Don't mean to be a party pooper, but the two-player mode with separate ships isn't quite that revolutionary (Tyrian 2000 had a 2P mode that had both piloting separate ships, although they could combine and such) although it's certainly uncommon to see.

Not a fan of such slow shots in shooters usually, but still.

I think if enemy waves and such are designed around the mechanic it could work well. Seems like it'd take some memorization to know which waves are worth fullchargeshotting.

It's cool that you're releasing a very minimalist shooter, especially considering manic shmups like the stuff you see from Cave tend to be all the rage nowadays, I hope SCCH does well. It looks like there's some YouTube previews of the game in a more 'standard' smaller resolution, was the game originally meant only for a single monitor then later you decided to increase the screen size to the massive, Darius-style resolution?

[BPzeBanshee]

I can imagine Darius fans liking this.

I'd give it a go but I don't have two monitors. Definitely looks good so far though. Great to have you on the forums, good sir.

[MickyAlbert]

Hi BareknuckleRoo

Thank you for interest and download DEMO. And I'm very sorry demo did not run on your PC.
I think game needs videocard that's can run XNA 4.0. I tested some PC in my company . Olddest PC it run 100% was made in 2006 and OS is XP. SCCH don't use 3D acceralation . So don't need many PC power.

I didn't know Tyrian 2000. Thank you for talk it to me !
I will play it. Every time I'm looking for new idea.

I am looking for website that I can upload bigger resolution.
At first I thought that make separate movies(left side and right side ) and introduce "How To Watch PV for SCCH !" at official website.
At first I upload only screenshots at official website ,and click to acutualsize(3200x800).

[Observer]

Oh, it's a XNA game? That might explain why it could have some troubles running in some comps. I wonder, is it laptop-friendly? (As in, does it work properly with laptops?)

In the meantime, I'll give a try to the demo soon since my desktop computer is also quite old.

To me, the more the merrier. One can never have enough STGs.

[MickyAlbert]

Thank you for interest and cheer SCCH.
In very near future I hope you to add LCD and play SCCH.

I also like Darius and dreaming to play. But mostly time I need only right side display when I play Darius.
Darius does not have sturucture ,why it needs wide screen.
In that time income and play time problem was bigger and bigger day by day.
So many game lost barance.

When I was developing Slap Fight MD,I met Tatsuya Yemura(Programmer and composer of Flying Shark,Twin Cobra) many time. And I was also developing Star Trader and FSS ,I hired Fukio Mitsuji(Designer of Babbule bobble. In that time he just retired TAITO. ). I heard many problem of game industry from him.

Here is my mainy developed list for video game work.

[MickyAlbert]

Hi Observer

Thank you for interest !

Yes . It's a XNA game.
Please test playable demo on your laptop.
If screen resolution not enough 3200 ,SCCH will adjust window size.

I wonder which computer can run with XNA 4.0.
Several latest( made in until 3 years ) PC can't run it. But my oldest PC can run SCCH perfectly.( made in 2006. I selected video card reason come from only dual moniter output. )

[Op Intensify]

I didn't know Tyrian 2000. Thank you for talk it to me !
I will play it. Every time I'm looking for new idea.

NOOOOOO!!

Tyrian is a terrible game in every respect! Don't take what he said the wrong way!

[CapCom]

Hi! I am Devin, the translator/localizer for the project. Micky and I thought it would be a good idea to share Super Chain Crusher Horizon among the shmup community to receive feedback! Thank you everybody!

Oh, and sorry if there's any issues with the text in the demo - it will be 100% polished with the final version!

I wonder, is it laptop-friendly? (As in, does it work properly with laptops?)

I have been playtesting the game on a MacBook Pro using Bootcamp. The game will run on a single monitor, and it auto-resizes the window to fit. HOWEVER. Do not minimize the window! When you maximize the window again, it will display the game at full resolution, and you will have to exit out and restart!

[BareKnuckleRoo]

NOOOOOO!!

Tyrian is a terrible game in every respect! Don't take what he said the wrong way!

Yeah, it's got some pretty icky shmup no-nos like a fairly big hitbox, movement inertia (as well as being pushed around when you're hit by shots), big focus on having the lifebar soak up hits rather than avoiding them altogether, etc. Tyrian 2000 is not bad by DOS shmup standards but it's not what you'd call great or anything either, it just happens to have a 2P mode where the second player's ship is different and doesn't behave quite the same as the 1P ship (not as drastic a change as having 1P shoot and 2P lay mines).

It's honestly my fault the game doesn't run. I haven't put much effort into making my computer a gaming rig so I seriously need to get a decent NVidia video card if I want to actually run newer hardware intensive stuff.

[Observer]

In my case, I have a suspicion why this game doesn't run. (It doesn't for me either.)

I tried it on a laptop and got an error indicating there was no Direct3D compatible video card to use for the game. (Sadly, the laptop is one of those with Intel integrated graphics card... and XNA is more of a fan of Nvidia/ATi.)

On my desktop computer the game process just sits in the taskbar without doing anything. I'm afraid my monitor just doesn't suit the game. I'll pass you my system specs just in case:

AMD Athlon X2 3100+ (very old dual core CPU)
Windows 7 64-bit Professional Edition (Spanish from Latin America Version)
Nvidia GeForce 220GT 1gb RAM (drivers and directX up to date)
2gb RAM DDR3
Realtek onboard soundcard
17" 4:3 monitor.

I think the problem here is that my monitor is also quite old and not widescreen but 4:3. (And I won't replace it as I TATE this screen to play vertical STGs, heh.)

Could it be some missing screen setting that's not taking into account 4:3 resolutions and therefore makes the program hang? (Which it would be understandable since I live in the stone age here, the first iPhone is still a novelty...)

Also, tried the game on a WinXP SP3 machine but the XNA installer dropped an error about having a .NET Framework 4 Client Service thing that needs to be installed first.

I might try to run it one more time on the WinXP machine but I'm worried it won't run either because it also doesn't have a proper video card installed, it uses a terrible onboard graphics card.

Hope the information helps!

[Uzumakijl]

I would like to make a big post but for now i'll report the issue i'm getting.

I have a 1024x768 monitor and when i launch the demo It launches on the very left corner of the screen, I can't move the window anywhere else since it's out of reach and i can't do anything, I hear the menu music though so i know the game runs but i can't see anything since the window is out of my screen.

Edit: Sorry for the bad english, i wrote this at nearly 4 am.

[Alfred]

I am developing a new shmup called Super Chain Crusher Horizon and will be releasing it on Desura shortly. I am an indie game developer from Japan, and I have worked on a few games such as Streets of Rage II. This new game has two monitors, which has never been done before on the PC. It comes out in two weeks. Please give me some feedback and let me know if you are interested in buying it! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Official site.
At DESURA

Hello Mikito, I don't have a PC so i cannot buy your new game sorry. I liked your XBLIG and hope you make more STG's. Good luck.

[MickyAlbert]

Thank you for notice.

I couldn't play it still now. Because I'm extremely busy for touching up SCCH online leader boards and achievement. But I will try to play after release SCCH. Several player dislike Tyrian and several player love Tyrian. But I'm ok. If Tyrian is good game ,I'll get good time to shoot. And if Tyrian is not good game. I will learn fomr Tyrian that why this is not good.

[MickyAlbert]

Observer

Thank you for report.

Today I talked with programmer of SCCH about System Requirements.
If you could install XNA4.0 and another game that use XNA4.0 can run ,them video card is OK.
I just upload Video Card Test for 3200x800 by XNA4.0 . Please downloadit.

If resolution not enought ,XNA 4.0 auto resize window size less than screen resolution.
Here is example for running on 1920x1080 laptop PC.

I think if you don't run another application when SCCH running ,I strong recommend add more RAM for your PC. 64bit Windows 7 uses great many memory.
One of my house desktop PC is 32bit Windows 7 with 4MBytes RAM.(I bought it late 2009. About $900 ) But running no problem.

[Skykid]

Micky, I'm a Mac user so I can't get the demo unfortunately. But to pay my respects to your past work, I'd like to thank you for your hand in SOR II - that game formed an unforgettable part of my childhood. Yuzo's tunes were (and still are) the best audio in video gaming as far as I'm concerned. Tell Yuzo to make more dance music!

[MickyAlbert]

Uzumakijl

Thank you for report !
Maybe your problem come from memory not enough(I strong recommend 4GB).
If memory not enough Windows use HDD like memory them application run very slow.
Also if video card memory not enough then CPU swap memory video and main memory.
Today I test SCCH on oldest PC that can run SCCH.
Mostly ok and several time slow.

CPU;Intel Core2 CPU 1.6HGz
OS: Windows XP home
RAM:2GB
Video Card:ATI Radeon HD2400
VRAM:256MB
Sound:Realtek onboard

I think if vram and main mamory is enough. SCCH don't need many CPU power.

Sorry for my bad Engligh.

[Uzumakijl]

Uzumakijl

Thank you for report ![...]

Hello again Micky, this are my PC specs, I think it's more than enough to run SCCH:

CPU: Intel Celeron E3400 2.6 Ghz x2
OS: Windows 7
RAM: 4GB
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 6670
VRAM: 2 GB
Sound: VIA Onboard

I think i can't explain properly what is happening so i'll post some pictures:

When i launch the game this happens

http://imageshack.us/a/img62/5378/example1ya.png

I can hear the music perfectly but when the game launches it instantly goes to the left part of the screen, Like if it launched on an imaginary left monitor and i can't reach it, If i hover my mouse on it on the task bar it shows me a little window of the game, But it's not the complete window, Just a portion of it:

http://imageshack.us/a/img140/2873/example2t.png

Then when i try the VCardTest that was uploaded in this thread the same thing happens

http://imageshack.us/a/img191/5972/example3t.png

Same thing when i hover my mouse over it

http://imageshack.us/a/img51/5421/example4.png

It looks like the window isn't resizing or something, but i don't really know. I hope this helps

[MickyAlbert]

Hi Alfred

Thank you for play original Chain Crusher for XBOX360.
I found your score online leaderboard.
Here is over 100,000 score play CC movie.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/20465237

Enjoy !

[Alfred]

Hi Alfred

Thank you for play original Chain Crusher for XBOX360.
I found your score online leaderboard.
Here is over 100,000 score play CC movie.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/20465237

Enjoy !

Thank you Micky, 100,000+ score wow nice. You should upload this video to your MindWareOfficial Youtube channel. I cannot watch ustream.tv because i can only view the internet on my Wii/Xbox 360 IE. I don't have a PC i wish i did because your new game looks amazing. Good luck.

[MickyAlbert]

Skykid

Thank you for interest and read my interview.
SoR II develop was very hard ,one of reason why I got big illness.So I'm very happy you love it.
Latest few years Yuzo create dance music few. But his passion is still very high.

In Super Chain Crusher Horizon ,music come from very famouse trans musician Logic Bomb. And I have some connection who can create dance music. One of my plan is coupling with Yuzo and famouse musician in near future.


Anyway ,Skykid is very nostalgic video game.
Mostly side scroller is left to right. But Skykid is right to left. I don't know why skykid is right to left. But it is interesting.

[MickyAlbert]

Uzumakijl

Thank you for report again.　And sorry for delay. now I'm extremely busy and need to research for this problem.
This first case and may be very rare. If you don't report it ,I will not know it. Thank you again.
Your PC's memory ,video vard ,OS ,VRAM ,CPU are ok. I think driver of ATI Radeon HD 6670 is not suport window with directX that larger than screen size.
But when SCCH run ATI's older video card ,there was no problem. and over screen size window with directX is very rare case . So ,I think driver programmer forget suport it.

I will ask to ATI Japanese HQ tomorrow.

[Uzumakijl]

Uzumakijl

Thank you for report again.　And sorry for delay. now I'm extremely busy and need to research for this problem.
This first case and may be very rare. If you don't report it ,I will not know it. Thank you again.
Your PC's memory ,video vard ,OS ,VRAM ,CPU are ok. I think driver of ATI Radeon HD 6670 is not suport window with directX that larger than screen size.
But when SCCH run ATI's older video card ,there was no problem. and over screen size window with directX is very rare case . So ,I think driver programmer forget suport it.

I will ask to ATI Japanese HQ tomorrow.

Hi MickyAlbert,

You're welcome , I did a bit more of testing and well I was using the 11.12 Catalyst Drivers which are outdated but stable so i decided to update to 12.8 (The newest drivers) And then i tried the demo again but the same thing happened, So this didn't get fixed by updating the drivers.

After testing some more i realized that i can force another resolutions on my 1024x768 monitor so i forced it to 1280x768 (Widescreen) and this was the result:

http://imageshack.us/a/img339/304/workss.jpg

The game ran fine and the window actually stretched now, If i had to make a guess i would say the game doesn't really supports 4:3 aspect ratio or 1024x768 resolution, The lowest resolution on which the game ran was 1280x720.

[Observer]

Uzumakijl found the solution to my problem!

We were both running Win7 at 1024x768 and since the default game resolution is 3200x800, that means our screens were at LESS than the minimum required for the game to run. (Thus, the game didn't scale down properly to fit the already small screen space.)

I know I have low RAM but the game runs full speed for me (yay!) and, boy, this is quite an interesting system! I might do a video review if I can capture the footage with FRAPS.

Love the ultra techno music too, hoping there will be a soundtrack release at Bandcamp or Desura.

So the game mechanics involve chaining enemies with a single shot for big scores and explosions? If it's about making things explode, I'm in.

Thanks for joining the forums too, we've been always interested in knowing the japanese side of STG! (And I'm studying japanese myself right now/日本語を勉強していますね。でも、まだ漢字をたくさん覚えなければなりません！私はがんばります！）

[U.G.M.]

Hello, everyone.
The high-speed-steel core animation of chaincrusher was uploaded to youtube.
Please enjoy yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe5Qp6IUQ5U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YomGpzEEin8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYLKL2QlSUg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pudsm1wiggo

I'm sorry since it is machine translation, when it is hard to read.

[Alfred]

Hello, everyone.
The high-speed-steel core animation of chaincrusher was uploaded to youtube.
Please enjoy yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe5Qp6IUQ5U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YomGpzEEin8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYLKL2QlSUg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pudsm1wiggo

I'm sorry since it is machine translation, when it is hard to read.

Thank you for uploading to Youtube UGM.

[MickyAlbert]

Uzumakijl and Observer .

Sorry for delay . Now we are touching up online leaderboards. SCCH will be release on 25th.Sep. So we are extremely busy.
And Today was Tokyo Game Show. I had many business offer today.

Thank you for report ! And congratulations for SCCH run correctly !
I'm very happy for run correctly and you love SCCH game system and music.

Logic bomb is one of King of trance music.
Here is Logic bomb official web site. They have many live schedule. Latest few years they came all 5 atalantic and over 20 country include Mexico and of course Unite States.

http://logicbomb.se

SCCH is very racase in 2D shooter that supports. Here is my joke MOD. Materials are pulled from SW.

[MickyAlbert]

At last SCCH is launched on DESURA Today !
I found SCCH mod screenshot.
http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/92011 ... 1118C2041/