Arcade: Mushihimesama Cave Matsuri ver 1.5 (2011)

[BulletMagnet]

Im not getting my hopes up about it, but my wet dream would be for Cave to release this as a region free boxed set with the original version included thats a perfect port unlike the ps2 version.

Yeah, put me in the "I sure hope this prefaces a better home port" (a better "Arrange" mode would also be nice!) crowd.

[emphatic]

Those guys sure know how to squeeze every penny out of their resources, but as a business you can't really blame them if suckers are willing to empty their bank accounts for them.

I don't get this argument at all. If I had the money to buy this I would. Just because I can't, no need to call the fans with cash "suckers". It just reeks of jealousy.

[chempop]

^I agree, if it sells and people are happy with it than what's the problem? I can't afford it either but that doesn't mean I'm going to resent the people who can.

With Futari's mass popularity it would seem that a port isn't out of the picture.

I like how the lasers are colored differently for each shot type and how it gives the player the choice of full power from stage 1 but with stronger enemies. It'll be interesting to find out if all the button tapping remains or if they adjusted things in a more simplified Futari-esq system.

[brentsg]

Hi, my name's Mr Cave and I'm here to empty your bank account in an obscene cash milking exercise.

They should change their name to RAPE.

exactly.. futari is my favorite cave game but come the fuck on.. $2000 USD (lazy rounding)? its bullshit. CAVE prices are already inflated enough, but this isn't some ancient game thats been long "out of print". how is that price tag justified?

It's the price of a new arcade kit, period.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I have no problem in general to how Cave manage their merch and PCB collector side of their business. Cave have high prestige among most of their fans, with Cave turning towards console and handheld gaming the brand is been devalued in the eyes of their most hardcore fans (I kinda mentioned this in the DD thread). Selling limited edition merch and PCB with a high price tag strengthens the brand and gives fans what they want.

While I dont think Cave is beyond reproach, they certainly seem willing to give their customers exactly what they want. Low cost digital download for the plebs, localised / region free boxed for the skint collector wannabes, J360 for the typical Cave / Shmup nuts. Plus overpriced PCBs for the lucky few who are rolling in dough who are either total purists or has some superiority complex and gets a woody from the thought that 99.9% of fans are unable to experience it, I expect some collectors hardly play most of their collection, having their epeen stroked is good enough. Oh and theres the iphone tards

My point is that Cave is catering to these ppl, even the box fetishists. The only group that isnt is poor PCB purists, but then again the 360 ports generally are good enough for most ppl.

I will admit for someone who wouldnt mind owning the odd poster or PCB but is flat broke. I do wish their prices would be lower or that they sold cheaper versions of their merchendise. Like for example a cheap poster that is plainer then the others or a PCB that is a lite version of the original. Like a futari with just the manic mode or a DDP thats 1 loop or 1 player only.

[emphatic]

I will admit for someone who wouldnt mind owning the odd poster or PCB but is flat broke. I do wish their prices would be lower or that they sold cheaper versions of their merchendise. Like for example a cheap poster that is plainer then the others or a PCB that is a lite version of the original. Like a futari with just the manic mode or a DDP thats 1 loop or 1 player only.

If they sold simplified PCB's, those would be worth more to collectors, so they would be sold out in their shop, then re-sold with inflated prices to "the suckers".

Sure, when they sell artwork, a small label printed that clearly shows it's a re-print would please the collectors along with us who only want a nice print without going to Kinkos and the likes.

[apple arcade]

I'm taking this news to mean Mushihimesama on 360 soon enough. Regardless if it is any actual indication or not.

Let's hope they do a disc based all out collection.

Mushihimesama
Arrange
Blue
Ver.1.5
Mushimetama
Bug Panic
Plus console exclusive Black Label.

I would be happy with a XBLA release though of just the main game.

[Vyxx]

I'm taking this news to mean Mushihimesama on 360 soon enough. Regardless if it is any actual indication or not.

Let's hope they do a disc based all out collection.

Mushihimesama
Arrange
Blue
Ver.1.5
Mushimetama
Bug Panic
Plus console exclusive Black Label.

I would be happy with a XBLA release though of just the main game.

Keep dreaming.

[DragonInstall]

I'd be happy if they made a Mushihimesama 360 version. Would pay full price for that, well as long as it was accurate to the arcade version.

[PixelDharma]

I'd be happy if they made a Mushihimesama 360 version. Would pay full price for that, well as long as it was accurate to the arcade version.

Me too!

I would also hope to see the original 1.0 version/soundtrack included alongside.

[Vamos]

Sorry but im gonna have to join the group who see this as a mugs game .

[BPzeBanshee]

Someone here better buy this thing so that it can be dumped in due time.

[Skykid]

Those guys sure know how to squeeze every penny out of their resources, but as a business you can't really blame them if suckers are willing to empty their bank accounts for them.

I don't get this argument at all. If I had the money to buy this I would. Just because I can't, no need to call the fans with cash "suckers". It just reeks of jealousy.

No jealousy from me, there's a line I never crossed when it came to Cave stuff - not shelling out on this doesn't change that.

I've become tired with Cave's merchandising strats. They've exercised little to no respect for the collector market (which is most of their very niche fan base) by continually fistfucking anyone who sought out their much in demand back catalogue. The reprinted Guwange art is pretty much the last straw for me.

Original stuff like the AK 360 LE kit I can hang with (cos it's not too much above the regular LE), but destroying the value of existing stuff (over and over) is like a two finger salute. In addition to the bucketload of tat they churn out at Matsuri's, getting staff to sign prints so they can knock em out at £150 to their very loyal fanbase is borderline extortion.

Whenever I've had (genuinely) famous figureheads of the videogame industry sign something (Miyamoto, Kojima, Yoshinori Ono,...Daigo) they do it for free because they recognise the fanbase have actually done them a favour by supporting their games.

Even though I'll never own either, I hope Cave never ever port this or the AK home version to consoles - ever! To do so would be so unashamedly crooked it's unreal. You don't spin something out as a $2000 'collector's' item only to de-value it next year (or any year.) That's just bad taste.

[emphatic]

Even though I'll never own either, I hope Cave never ever port this or the AK home version to consoles - ever! To do so would be so unashamedly crooked it's unreal. You don't spin something out as a $2000 'collector's' item only to de-value it next year (or any year.) That's just bad taste.

I just don't see how the PCB would loose value should they port this version. You just can't compare a PCB to a XBox disc. I agree with the artwork reprint devaluation of the original artwork though, that's why I stated that it would be "fair" if they would just mark the reprints as just that. The PCB kits really aren't consumer products though, so the "collectors" argument still doesn't hold IMHO. This is not Anchor Bay after all.

[cools]

The collector still has their special serial limited edition PCBs. Porting them wouldn't devalue these, just limit their resale appeal to players - the demand for them would still be there from other collectors.

[Skykid]

I just don't see how the PCB would loose value should they port this version. You just can't compare a PCB to a XBox disc. I agree with the artwork reprint devaluation of the original artwork though, that's why I stated that it would be "fair" if they would just mark the reprints as just that. The PCB kits really aren't consumer products though, so the "collectors" argument still doesn't hold IMHO. This is not Anchor Bay after all.

The AK home PCB is a collector kit. It doesn't even accept coins.

It was sold as a consumer product to the consumer marketplace for full PCB price.

You don't think porting it as a $10 download would be disrespectful to the people who ponied up the cash for it?

[burgerkingdiamond]

futari is my favorite cave game but come the fuck on..

This isn't Futari. There is no good port of Mushihimesama.

my bad! I posted after immediately coming back to my hotel drunk after a long night of karaoke. I didnt realize it was mushihimesama. I still think its too damn expensive.

[emphatic]

You don't think porting it as a $10 download would be disrespectful to the people who ponied up the cash for it?

No. Playing an arcade game on a PCB is a profound experience to many people, including myself. Sadly, I don't have the cash to shell out on all of them, so I'm very happy about being able to at least get a taste by putting my 360 inside my cabinet. Sure, you can argue that playing these games with high res graphics on a console feels like fucking a very hot transvestite with lots of make up in the ass instead of a sweet girl au natural in the "front hole", but since I've bought the game from CAVE directly, I know this pimp has clean merchandise at least.

[Skykid]

I agree with the artwork reprint devaluation of the original artwork though, that's why I stated that it would be "fair" if they would just mark the reprints as just that.

Yes, I agree with this too. I chatted to Pang about it a little while back and it would make sense to have some small notation simply to signify it's a reprint.

That ship has sailed though.

[Drachenherz]

Sure, you can argue that playing these games with high res graphics on a console feels like fucking a very hot transvestite with lots of make up in the ass instead of a sweet girl au natural in the "front hole", but since I've bought the game from CAVE directly, I know this pimp has clean merchandise at least.

Best anal-ogy ever!

[Erppo]

I hope people won't get to play this game.

There actually are people like this?

[Mero]

Maybe this is a precursor for a new arcade sequel

[caincan]

people complain about tweaks & upgrades on xboxlive, in a matter of pcb hardware, that $$$ is another dimension , but life is that, we fight for luxury

[Weak Boson]

I don't care about collector's items, I just enjoy playing the games. I hope they release this version on a more accessible format. It would be very nice to see this and Mushi 1.0 on XBLA.

If this pcb is intended to be sold only to collectors then I could understand why people might be annoyed if they subsequently made it readily available for a hundredth of the price. I don't think that's the case, though. If someone is prepared to buy a pcb for their own personal use then great, of course Cave want all the sales they can get, but they also want as many people as possible to play and enjoy their games - be that in an arcade, at home, or on a console. The way I see it Cave have more to gain from expanding their fan base by letting people play and enjoy their games than they do from milking collectors.

[Van_Artic]

I hope people won't get to play this game.

There actually are people like this?

JAPJAC was sorta like that lol

[Udderdude]

There's a small number of people in the shmups (and arcade PCB) community who only buy rare crap so that they can wave it in other people's faces and say "Haha, I have this and you don't".

Goes without saying that the community would lose nothing if these people were to vanish from the face of the earth .. :P

[Dave_K.]

I expect some collectors hardly play most of their collection

I hope people won't get to play this game.

There's a small number of people in the shmups (and arcade PCB) community who only buy rare crap so that they can wave it in other people's faces and say "Haha, I have this and you don't".

[xavierjesus]

What about just a sly wank from that transvestite then? Whilst playing a pcb. Or something...

[Skykid]

There's a small number of people in the shmups (and arcade PCB) community who only buy rare crap so that they can wave it in other people's faces and say "Haha, I have this and you don't".

Goes without saying that the community would lose nothing if these people were to vanish from the face of the earth ..

Wow, slightly OTT

I only know of a very few people who could afford (and would buy something like this) and I don't consider any of them to be hardware wagglers. If it wasn't for some of those generous folk I wouldn't have got to play a lot of stuff on release.

I hope people won't get to play this game.

I'd love to play this, but if a port never materialises, so what, plenty else to play.
If it wasn't ported it would mean Cave weren't actually being unscrupulous for once.

I'm with Gaijinpunch in the prediction dept tho, I don't think Akai Katana home ver. or this will ever see ports. I think Cave realised they ballsed up their own backyard so much they may as well throw a few new trinkets out there to redress the balance.

[neorichieb1971]

I agree with those who think its too expensive.

I don't know how much of the game is twiddled rather than actual new graphics and game mechanics, but simply put £1300+ for a single game not designed to make you money is insane. I won't break my own £400 per game rule anyway, so it looks like this out of my radar zone.