London Casino Crew meets (RIP the Arcade)

[JDE]

Casino Crew Mini Meet #12

Game of the Month: Batsugun Special Ver. (1st Loop Only)
Date: Saturday 01st February
Start Time: 6:30 PM

Venue: Loading Bar, 53 Rupert Street, Soho (inside MADD)
Website: http://loadingonline.co.uk/
Nearest Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus

At the last Mini Meet several people said it would be good to have a Shmup of the Month, so we can really focus on something and not just play half an hour of every Cave game on the 360. Also, everyone agreed that the lag on the HDTVs at Loading makes it difficult to play. So, to sort out both problems I'll be bringing a laptop with HDMI-out and Shmupmame in future. The Shmup of the Month for February is Batsugun Special Ver. (1st Loop only, or we'll be there forever) - get practicing!

[spadgy]

Batsugun - wicked. I need a new shmup to get into as just last night I 1CC'd Legendary difficulty of Jamestown's Gauntlet mode (to too impressive, in that Normal difficulty is a bit 'Harmful Park Normal'. Alas, as I blew my JPN Saturn recently, so even though I own Batsugun its hard to access without resorting to crappy MacMAME.

Also, speaking to CHI I realise the weekend meets are fortnightly. That actually works well for me; initially I was worried weekend meets would keep clashing with how bloody social my non-shmup crew like to be.

And Feb 1st is in the diary!

As for a meet at my house, I'd like to do that, so we play some Resogun, something on PCB we've never given enough attention like Viper Phase 1, and if you want, nose through those VHS superplays... And yes, JDE, that's six separate tapes; all original official releases; Dodonpachi, Darius 2, Raystorm, Battle Garegga, Salamander, and one compiling Gradius, Gradius 2 and Salamander. Just because it's such an absurd idea, part of me is tempted to turn up on Feb 1st with a VCR...

[CHI]

22nd February 2014!
Just posting this up to remind myself this date

Edit:

Batsugun Special Ver. (1st Loop Only)

Perfect

[PAPER/ARTILLERY]

Can't make it for this one unfortunately, got a commission for some artwork over the weekend. Next time though! Played some Batsugun special course anyway, it's a fun game. Only frustrating thing is if you miss the big score trick on stage five after breezing through the first four stages.

Grrrr

[dan76]

I should be down at 7:30, haven't managed to get Batsugun to work yet... I'm guessing it's good?

[Illyrian]

I'll be there tomorrow as well.

[spadgy]

Shitsticks! It's my mother-in-law's 70th birthday meal tomorrow. I cannae make it again (my mum-in-law is a brilliant and lovely woman, so I can't skive off).

Sorry!

In better news, things are looking positive on the Las Vegas arcade front. I don't have much more concrete to say, but soon we may be able to meet up to play shmups in a real central-London arcade soon.

[hzt]

you are terrible :c

I'll be there tonight.

[JDE]

CHI, Illyrian, hzt, dan76 and myself had a great time at the Mini Meet on Saturday (apart from the cider) and playing with Shmupmame makes a world of difference! We set up a big HDTV to be a spectator screen for people to watch, but were playing on my laptop with a Mad Catz FightStick. Illyrian managed to get his first ever No-Miss 1-ALL on Batsugun, and CHI's score was so epic we let him carry on far into the second loop. After that we played a very "special" version of Batsugun just for fun - care to share the pictures CHI?

[spadgy]

Gutted I missed out. Sounds wicked fun! One day you will see me in 2014, I promise!

[dan76]

You missed me game overing on Stage 2... I'm officially retired until I 1cc Ketsui.

[CHI]

...care to share the pictures CHI?

We set up a big HDTV to be a spectator screen for people to watch, but were playing on my laptop with a Mad Catz FightStick

Illyrian managed to get his first ever No-Miss 1-ALL on Batsugun

After that we played a very "special" version of Batsugun just for fun

One day you will see me in 2014, I promise!

I've seen you this year already!

I'm officially retired until I 1cc Ketsui.

Make sure to post up a picture for verification!!!

[Skykid]

^ Is that a Hori VLX I see?

How come I'm the only guy never to clear Batsugun? I must be shit.

[spadgy]

Yeah - whose is that stick?

And I've never cleared Batsugun either Skykid. The plan is to have my blown Saturn fixed by the time I 1CC (or give up on) Raiden III (Solo this time), and then finally give Batsugun some hassle.

And I know you saw me CHI, but that was a secret liaison.

[MX7]

I've never cleared Batsugun either. Made it to the last boss several times. Unless you mean special version which I don't think I've ever not cleared. Boring first loop but the second loop is amazing.

Anyway as I mentioned to JDE and HZT (and OTA via Twitter) there's an awesome arcade in Southend on Sea that's just crying out for a STGmeet. DoDonpachi Daioujou Black Label in an Astro City, plus Ketsui and ESPGaluda languishing in some sit-down Electrocoin cabs. It's like the second coming of Casino. There's also tonnes of other games if that's your sort of thing, cheap drinkable coffee, it's not in an industrial estate in Acton and you don't have to pay £10 to get in. Also it's by the sea.

How's LSDJ going JDE? Looking forward to hearing what you come up with!

[JDE]

There's an awesome arcade in Southend on Sea... Ketsui and ESPGaluda languishing in some sit-down Electrocoin cabs. It's like the second coming of Casino. There's also tonnes of other games if that's your sort of thing and cheap drinkable coffee.

It can't be the second coming of Casino if the coffee is drinkable! It looks awesome though, definitely up for a trip to Southend on Sea to check it out.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Astro-Ci ... 0905574510

How's LSDJ going JDE? Looking forward to hearing what you come up with!

I haven't been able to find LSDJ at a reasonable price yet, so at the moment I'm just reading up on basic theory.

[dan76]

I've been wanting to go to Southend for ages - I'm up for the trip.

[spadgy]

Yeah - I'm up for the Southend trip, even if there isn't free undrinkable coffee.

[Blinge]

it's not in an industrial estate in Acton and you don't have to pay £10 to get in. Also it's by the sea.

honestly between that and Southend i couldn't tell you what's worse

[Mr Halibut]

I've been to Lucky777 (now called Astro City) a couple of times, IIRC it cost about £12 return from Fenchurch St to Southend Central at the weekend and the fast trains take less than an hour. When I last went, they had DDP DOJ, Espgaluda and some Darius game in Astro Cities, and Ketsui in an Electrocoin Duet (the Duets are genuine ex-Casino AFAIK). They were supposed to be getting 10 Astros in total, I believe they're up to 4 now so maybe they've been able to relocate Ketsui. It would be nice to see the place start to get noticed a bit more, it was very quiet when I went there, and outside of Jamma+ and UKVac I haven't seen it get much exposure online

[spadgy]

I think every Electrocoin ever is technically a Casino original. The two companies are (were ) one and the same outfit. But I guess you mean they were installed in Casino? Then we should all go; just to let the cabs know they're still loved.

Obviously, we should go regardless. It's amazing this place isn't more noticed; I thought it would even have its own presence on this very forum with so many 'specialist' shmups in.

[Mills]

Any Londoners here attended the ICE 2014 show at London EXCEL (tues 4th-thurs 6th 2014) centre earlier this week?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOOct-AfEqs day 3 highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOOct-AfEqs day 1 highlights

[spadgy]

I went in 2013, and there was no arcade stuff, aside from crap like Konami slot machines. So I passed this year. Did you go mills? Much arcade stuff?

[Mills]

Nah, I completely forgot until I logged on here earlier and just remembered about it.
Some youtube highlights from EAG International 2014
http://www.eagexpo.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCLyPq0HZF0

[JDE]

Casino Crew Mega Meet #2

Date: Saturday 15th February
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Hzt's swanky pad (PM me or hzt for the address)
Nearest Tube Station: Camden Road

The 2nd Casino Crew Mega Meet is once again being held at hzt's super exclusive studio flat. Look forward to Shmup Roulette (with a twist...), life-sized Super Turbo and KoF '98 on a projector, questionable music from bands you've never heard of and more! As with last time, all you need to bring is yourself and £5 to cover pizza.

[dan76]

You may also be required to become game testers for the evening

[PAPER/ARTILLERY]

I think I can make it to this if it's an open invitation? Don't want to invite myself round to someone's house like...

[JWS]

Southend sounds amazing.

Maybe we could all rent a double decker Shmup bus and ride down together, OAP style?

I jest, I'm well up for going. Sucks that I missed the last meet, Batsugun looks really neat.
I'll be able to make it next weekend too, if thats cool. Promise not to leave my clothes lying around like last time!

Psikyo games are an acquired taste, and are often a taste that some people will never acquire.
Not easy for first 1CCs either.

I love Psikyo, I find something about their games very charming and honest. Good to know other people find them hard too. Thanks for the advice DEL, I really enjoy my first week of Gradius so I think I will go back to it after this competition is over. I didnt think much of Salamander but I put enough time into it that I'd like to clear it anyway. Feel a bit like a poser rolling up to meets with such low experience.

Still kicking myself for not being around when you demo'ed Pork at Heart of Gaming a while back.

[hzt]

I think I can make it to this if it's an open invitation? Don't want to invite myself round to someone's house like...

Don't worry about it, if you can make it you're welcome to come.

I'm definitely in for a Southend trip too, if we do it reasonably soon.

[Illyrian]

I should hopefully be there this saturday. Can't be 100% sure, but most likely. I'll bring an extra arcade stick again.

p.s. Spadgy the arcade stick in the pictures from last week is my battered old SFIV TE edition stick.