STG Weekly #73: Varth

[Softdrink 117]

Going live momentarily!

[Sodamachine]

I guess I dedicate my first forum on this post to say sorry for the start of that episode...

Hope it brought more laughter than irritations though! Did for me at least.
For you other people, We are really sorry!

[mastermx]

You guys should cover DaiOuJou in one of your eps. Icarus uploaded a very good quality 2-All by prometheus. Would love to hear commentary on that!

[Softdrink 117]

Sincerest apologies for the start of the previous episode. Things did not exactly go as we'd hoped. And it's mostly my fault, since I was hosting the call when my internet went to shit. Yay.

Anyways, on to newer and better things: Episode 57 is currently planned for this weekend! We'll be covering OutZone, with special guests Erppo and trap15.

We return to our regular broadcast time: 2PM CST.

And mastermx, we'd love to do a DOJ episode! It's one of my favorite games, and Prom's run is absolutely amazing. I'll look into getting a commentary crew together for that game; there are many people here on the forum who might have something to contribute.

Give us feedback on what to cover next!

Right now we have requests and preliminary planning for:
More Psikyo (specifics please!)
Something Milestone (specifics!)
Batsugun
Battle Bakraid
The ESP series (spread over a couple episodes)
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu
Dodonpachi
DEL's MMP Manpuku
Sorcer / Mahou / Dimahoo series (spread over a couple episodes)
Mars Matrix
Giga Wing

Please let us know what you'd like to see next! I can keep working through the games we have on our planning log, but input on what people would be interested in seeing would be vastly preferable.

[Bananamatic]

DFK

[CloudyMusic]

Things from that list, personally: Mahou series, DFK(and/or BL), ESP series, Mars Matrix.

If you want to go a little more off the beaten path, maybe Einhänder?

[mastermx]

Sincerest apologies for the start of the previous episode. Things did not exactly go as we'd hoped.

But it wouldn't be STGWeekly without something funny happening

Anyways, on to newer and better things: Episode 57 is currently planned for this weekend! We'll be covering OutZone.

Never really played outzone before, it seems to be one of those games that somehow got by my radar. Looking forward to it.

Give us feedback on what to cover next!

Right now we have requests and preliminary planning for:
More Psikyo (specifics please!)

This I can advise on. I was actually thinking this today, I was thinking that there needs to be a bit more psikyo on stgweekly. Especially because of http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13732 . Of all the psykyo games that deserve some kind of attention on the show, I would say Gunbird 2 does, mainly because it's really well known and quite wacky.

Things from that list, personally: Mahou series, DFK(and/or BL), ESP series, Mars Matrix.

If you want to go a little more off the beaten path, maybe Einhänder?

I believe einhander has already been covered. But I agree we need to show mars matrix a little more love.

[Bananamatic]

But it wouldn't be STGWeekly without something funny happening

that's why we need gus on galuda II

[mastermx]

that's why we need gus on galuda II

Omg yes! The legendary commentary and wisdom of gus is well needed

[M.Knight]

There was no STG Weekly on Thunder Dragon 2, was it?

As for Milestone games, hum...I think Radirgy would be the better introduction to the Milestone mechanics and visual identity. It has a scoring system that seems a bit complicated at first but involves a frantic and dynamic play-style. There are a few tricks to milk bosses and speed-kill others, it can be interesting to show that.

But, on the other hand, Illvelo is also a good contender for a Milestone shoot'em up to show on STG Weekly. The scoring system involves increasing your multiplier by clearing a few bonus rounds that can show the importance of each of the three weapons, and there are options that you can move away from your ship for strategic positioning, a bit like in R-Type, but with a more relentless pace.

Here's a good Illvelo run that can be found on YouTube. ALL + TLB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCGrReVtdj0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bhMb_U67dc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiK8jx2pEsg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZ7kIZ4AVM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAA0au5gDgY

[Jeneki]

Best technical difficulties ever, the voicemail was especially great.

I'd enjoy a Cyvern episode. (totally addicted to that game)

Or how about Aero Fighters series? I expect that many non-shmuppers have at least played one of them in their childhood, so it could get some extra views over time.

[Squire Grooktook]

I'd love to see Dimahoo.

[LordHypnos]

Mars Matrix would be awesome. There's a really good superplay by Rob on Youtube. I think he got like 3 trillion or so, in that video. I don't know how you guys tend to get permission for those, or whatever, though. It's a bit low quality, too plus no sound. That's the DC version as well, which I think most people would agree is better, but for the AC one, there's 2 others on Youtube. one is SFKhoa, and then the other is someone named Apatia who is using the red ship, and I think got the counterstop (Most people go with blue, though, especially for score.)

For Psikyo stuff, Gunbird 2 would be pretty solid, as that's considered by many to be their best. Most of their later stuff would be interesting though. A lot of people seem to like Dragon Blaze, and Zero Gunner 2 is, of course, quite unique.

[BIL]

Dragon Blaze is already covered, very memorably when RNGmaster referred to Ketsui as "the pussy version of it."

[LordHypnos]

Dragon Blaze is already covered, very memorably when RNGmaster referred to Ketsui as "the pussy version of it."

Oh.
That's awesome though, I'm gonna have to check that out.

Note that it might be hard to find anyone to commentate on ZG2, because it doesn't seem all that widely played here. Gunbird 2 is probably a better choice over all.

[BIL]

I think ZG2 would be cool, although it should probably be a 2-ALL or something close since the first loop is pretty mild. As for commentary I know Rob, Battletoad and Plasmo have all done really well with it.

[chum]

Sincerest apologies for the start of the previous episode. Things did not exactly go as we'd hoped. And it's mostly my fault, since I was hosting the call when my internet went to shit. Yay.

Anyways, on to newer and better things: Episode 57 is currently planned for this weekend! We'll be covering OutZone, with special guests Erppo and trap15.

We return to our regular broadcast time: 2PM CST.

And mastermx, we'd love to do a DOJ episode! It's one of my favorite games, and Prom's run is absolutely amazing. I'll look into getting a commentary crew together for that game; there are many people here on the forum who might have something to contribute.

Give us feedback on what to cover next!

Right now we have requests and preliminary planning for:
More Psikyo (specifics please!)
Something Milestone (specifics!)
Batsugun
Battle Bakraid
The ESP series (spread over a couple episodes)
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu
Dodonpachi
DEL's MMP Manpuku
Sorcer / Mahou / Dimahoo series (spread over a couple episodes)
Mars Matrix
Giga Wing

Please let us know what you'd like to see next! I can keep working through the games we have on our planning log, but input on what people would be interested in seeing would be vastly preferable.

There's actually a group of people that want more Touhou episodes (specifically EoSD, PCB and MoF seem popular) they just don't post here, so I guess I'll be the one to request these!

For specific Psikyo's Sengoku Blade and Gunbird 2 plx

[LordHypnos]

I think ZG2 would be cool, although it should probably be a 2-ALL or something close since the first loop is pretty mild. As for commentary I know Rob, Battletoad and Plasmo have all done really well with it.

I don't think Rob and Battletoad have been active around here for a couple months >_> Maybe Plasmo, though. He's still around, right?
I would definately be interested in ZG2, but GB2 is also cool

Note: Just started watching the Dragon Blaze review, and RNGMaster namedropped Dissection, which makes it my favorite episode so far. Also, watching games that are that brutally difficult being played well is awesome, but I'm sure there's plenty of other examples of that.

[CStarFlare]

I know people have requested Harmful Park in the past. I'd be willing to commentate if that episode ever comes (I have high-scoring Normal and Score Attack modes uploaded on Youtube; I think videos of the minigames are on YT as well?)

[majik989s]

I'm still waiting for Mars Matrix. If Rob was willing to commentate, I think that would be perfect.

[LordHypnos]

I'm still waiting for Mars Matrix. If Rob was willing to commentate, I think that would be perfect.

Yeah... He has so much Mars Matrix wisdom. Pretty sure I saw a video of him chaining the entire / almost the entire second stage in score attack mode

[Zil]

Well I'm a total Gunbird 2 fag so I guess that gets my vote.

I'd also love to see Dimahoo, or another Touhou.

[CloudyMusic]

I know people have requested Harmful Park in the past. I'd be willing to commentate if that episode ever comes (I have high-scoring Normal and Score Attack modes uploaded on Youtube; I think videos of the minigames are on YT as well?)

Your replay was included in the "Cute-'em-up showcase" episode, actually, but IIRC none of the hosts were familiar enough with the game to really commentate too in-depth.

[CStarFlare]

The cute em up episode included I think the first three stages, but didn't touch on the system much at all. Harmful Park is mostly known for being cute, expensive and easy, but it deserves a lot of recognition for its depth as well.

[LordHypnos]

Here's a link to the Rob videos I was talking about earlier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9BanRGzgPk
Rob ALL 3,000,000,000,000

He's apparently gotten 5,000,000,000,000 before, though (probably since this video was recorded)
And here's stage 2 (I think it's in score attack mode, but that doesn't change anything except starting experience compared to the regular arcade mode. meaning you start with zero experience, because it's stage by stage. Also you have infinite lives, but he doesn't die in this video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iMbzzDxx3k Chain gets up to 1,400 some That's nuts. There are videos of every other stage, as well, but I remember that in Randorama's strategy guide, he says that you'd have to be some kind of Mars Matrix god to chain stage 2, which is why this is especially impressive.

And the AC version, there's much higher quality vids by SFKhoa and Moreno, but they're segmented
SFKhoa's has a playlist though: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 109F3BBC14
Moreno does not, as far as I can tell. Interestingly using the red ship (also a counterstop! nice! Though I think it's technically possible to get it considerably earlier) I'll link the first vid. You can probably find the rest from there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ui8biyMq0U

[Softdrink 117]

Wow, lots of feedback here haha. Thanks guys!

To address some specific points:

chum: PCB, MoF, and EoSD are actually already on the list, I just didn't want to do another Touhou episode so soon after PoFV. Rest assured that they have been noted and will happen soon if we can get a commentary crew together.

Thunder Dragon 2 episode would be BEAUTIFUL.

Mars Matrix seems to get a lot of attention; I'll make sure that is a high priority. Aquas told me a while ago that he contacted several people for MM, but nobody ever wrote him back. If we can get some people on for it this is one I'd really love to see happen, too.

DFK/DFKBL could be an interesting combo episode, unless we wanted to show the loops in 1.5, in which case it would run quite long. I'd actually love to hear some commentary on the scoring in 1.5, since I feel like that game becomes very interesting at a higher level of scoreplay (but is otherwise kind of dull).

Psikyo requests:
Gunbird 2 seems like the winner! Anyone interested in commentating? PM me and we can get started with planning something.

Cstar: Harmful Park does get namedropped quite a bit, but I don't think there is all that much talk about it as a scoring game. It would be really cool if it could get some more exposure through an STGW episode, so thanks for the suggestion.

As far as Espgaluda II with Gus... as much as I'd love to see it happen, the powers that be (coughAquascough) had suggested that he (and medal, for similar reasons) shouldn't be chosen to do more commentary for a while. But maybe it is time... maybe the world is ready to once again experience the one who has gone full shmup.

[mastermx]

As far as Espgaluda II with Gus... as much as I'd love to see it happen, the powers that be (coughAquascough) had suggested that he (and medal, for similar reasons) shouldn't be chosen to do more commentary for a while. But maybe it is time... maybe the world is ready to once again experience the one who has gone full shmup.

I'm really curious as to why that is. Those two have made some of the funniest episodes ever. They know how to entertain.

[LordHypnos]

Mars Matrix seems to get a lot of attention; I'll make sure that is a high priority. Aquas told me a while ago that he contacted several people for MM, but nobody ever wrote him back. If we can get some people on for it this is one I'd really love to see happen, too.

Yeah, I kinda guessed that that might be a problem with MM. I don't think very many members are still around who have done really well in it, or even are actively playing it. Examining the top of the scoreboard (http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15928) there are a few who are probably still around but I just don't recognize their names, but Kollision seems to be pretty active, and I think I've seen Ex_mosquito posting. Don't really recognize anyone at the top of the regular Arcade scoreboard. Not sure if either of them would want to do commentary, anyway, though.

[BIL]

As far as Espgaluda II with Gus... as much as I'd love to see it happen, the powers that be (coughAquascough) had suggested that he (and medal, for similar reasons) shouldn't be chosen to do more commentary for a while. But maybe it is time... maybe the world is ready to once again experience the one who has gone full shmup.

I'm really curious as to why that is. Those two have made some of the funniest episodes ever. They know how to entertain.

Bring back MEDARU aka TRB plz!

[CStarFlare]

Maybe I'm all alone in this, but my favorite episodes are those that are content heavy and comedy-light (whether said comedy is intentional or not).

But I'm an accountant by trade, so evidence suggests that I am boring.