[X360] Mushihime-sama Futari Ver. 1.5 is region free

[Elixir]

Now... Will the Black Label DLC be region free as well? Or will CAVE make it available globally (on every marketplace)?

It's DLC? I thought it was all included on the disc.

I wonder how much extra the Black Label DLC will cost, then.

Probably the same as the Death Smiles MBL DLC was.

[Solarus]

Well the main reason that THIS game is going region free, is to gauge interest in non-japanese areas of the world in shmups in general (probably to see if the popularity magically spiked in recent years). In other words, Futari is being used as a guinea pig, but a very nice one at that

Worst case, no localization in the future and this is the only game to go region free. Best case, Cave gets a local publisher to pick it up in other regions and starts mass producing their games in NA/Europe with translations, possibly unique content, and a likely a delay in release in non-JP countries.

People with J360s shouldn't be mourning just yet.

[Daigoro]

wow. awesome news. pre-ordering for sure.

i want that damn stick too...

[Van_Artic]

going to pre-order right now, i'd buy the LE, but i don't have much money left

[neist]

I'll probably definitely pick this up, though I'm not sure how big of a fan I'll be.

I can't pass up the chance when I don't have a J360. Gotta take the games I can get.

[Dragoforce]

Best case, Cave gets a local publisher to pick it up in other regions and starts mass producing their games in NA/Europe with translations, possibly unique content, and a likely a delay in release in non-JP countries..

Mobile Light Force 3.

[dmauro]

People with J360s shouldn't be mourning just yet.

Oh don't worry. I paid $120 for mine and I've been playing DS for months, so no mourning going on here. I'm excited for my friends that don't have j360s!

[Depth Charge]

New guy here.

This site has been great for the strategy section and what not, but I had to register for this.

I think this is great that CAVE is doing this for the western fans. I have to say I feel a little silly since my j360 will be arriving in a day or two I guess I can still enjoy Death Smiles and DOJ. It's still great news and I hope they continue the trend so more people can enjoy their games.

[Momijitsuki]

Now... Will the Black Label DLC be region free as well? Or will CAVE make it available globally (on every marketplace)?

It's DLC? I thought it was all included on the disc.

I wonder how much extra the Black Label DLC will cost, then.

Probably the same as the Death Smiles MBL DLC was.

Ah. Well as long as it's available, I'm happy.

[Fenrir]

Ok, something may have been lost in translation, but as I read it subsequent release may be localised (for North America) and I strongly suspect the japanese releases will be region locked in that case.

So those of use in Europe should probably leave the next packet of tissues on ice...

Why does everyone write just "NA" - you're scaring me . Possibly even PAL, or it would be absurd, unless the NA version will be region-free.
But apart from that, what's the point in buying the japanese release once the NA will (eventually, maybe, if this goes well) be made available? To see kanjis overall? Or what? The jap version can be region locked all they want for me, if we can get hold of the localized version.

On a side note, I was wondering how wise could this move be for Cave.
Mushi2 is indeed quite famous even among non-shmuppers due to the Youtube-viralvideo stunt of the HARDEST BOSS EVAR LOL you all have seen. And, apart from that, it's still one of the finest games they've produced lately. This will rack quite a bunch of casual gamers with too much money on their hands who simply want to get hold of "that game everybody speaks of".
It is BOUND to sell relatively lots of copies, both in japan and in the west. And this is good, because they don't spend a dime in making the game region-free (I still don't see why they don't do it automatically - are they afraid to sell more copies?).

But region free is one thing, estabilishing a localization is another, very expensive thing. What if they are please with the Mushifutari feedback and, oh, I don't know, they decide then to start a western office and localize their next game... like... dunno, Death Smiles 3. It's never going to be as famous as mushi2 and I'm sure it's going to sell potentially less copies because it's way more niche and the loli-goth fad couldn't be enough to attract non-shmuppers or casual buyers. Also, Reco has boobs. How many of their future shmups will include boobs? This is very important
Anyway. If their localization-stunt fails because Mushi2 sells, dunno, 60.000 copies worldwide and DS3 sells 12.000, they'll be very angry at us. And you people know how much of a prick can Cave be.

[undamned]

Buy this game even if you don't have a 360, as a payment towards all those hours spent in MAME playing older Cave titles.

I'm not convinced that's how most mame kiddies think. In my experience, their thought process is more along the lines of accessibility == entitlement.

I love Death Smiles, but it's just ONE game, and it's absurd to own an entire system for just one piece of software.

Color me absurd. I bought a:

SNES for Tetris Attack
N64 for Tetrisphere
DC for Marvel Vs Capcom 2
PS2 for DDP DOJ
360 for Death Smiles

(Note: this is not a matter of throwing money all over the place, as most of these systems, save the 360, which like dmauro, was purchased for $120, were purchased used or way late in the life of the product and were therefore reasonably priced.)

The other side of the coin: If Mushi does NOT sell more than projected expectations, ESPGaluda II, Ketsui, etc. might go back to region-locked. I guess we should keep our Japanese units for now.

No joke. We're not "out of the woods" quite yet. This game is a "bonus" for non-JP owners, not an announcement that 360 shmup region-locking is a thing of the past.

Also, Reco has boobs. How many of their future shmups will include boobs? This is very important

Cave has had boobs since Exy in DDP DOJ and, save Ketsui, has stuck with that theme.
-ud

[Raizen1984]

Color me absurd. I bought a:

SNES for Tetris Attack
N64 for Tetrisphere
DC for Marvel Vs Capcom 2
PS2 for DDP DOJ

With the exception of DOJ, those games were all localized I believe. We're mostly talking about buying an extra console to one we already own to play import releases.

[E. Randy Dupre]

Download content is typically region free but they will have to make it available to all the marketplace regions now.

No, that doesn't necessarily follow at all. In fact, I can see the opposite being true: there's no official US or European release for this, therefore MS won't allow them to distribute DLC to those regions.

I'm going with a much more reliable source, especially as all these online stores tend to land me with customs charges.

That's the one area where NCSX are definitely better than P-A: they'll knock the marked value down if asked. Although I forgot to ask them this time, which is clever of me.

[Kollision]

Damn, there's far more than just Cave with the Japanese Xbox 360.
You moaners.

[Fenrir]

Cave has had boobs since Exy in DDP DOJ and, save Ketsui, has stuck with that theme.
-ud

We all know about the past. But the future is uncertain. I mean, shouldn't be excessive like Ibara but for me, DS hasn't enough boobs to be defined "boob game" (and rightfully so, phew!). Also, whereas Galuda was only moderately boobified, Galuda 2's boobage is fairly irrelevant. This sounds like a decrease in boobification, unless they decide to make Pink Sweets 2 or summat.
Also, this post is not about boobs.

[Van_Artic]

pre ordered from play-asia, i had a 5$ coupon code so i used it

now status is Paid via paypal *cross fingers*

[Momijitsuki]

Download content is typically region free but they will have to make it available to all the marketplace regions now.

No, that doesn't necessarily follow at all. In fact, I can see the opposite being true: there's no official US or European release for this, therefore MS won't allow them to distribute DLC to those regions.

Mushihimesama Futari v1.5 Limited Edition + Bonus DLC Card
The limited edition of Futari includes a 2-CD Mushihimesama Futari Arrange Soundtrack which is bundled with the game in a special slipcase.
Preorder Price: JPY9200 or US$109.90 from NCS.

So the DLC card won't have any function at all?

[Solarus]

I can't say I've had any experience with XBL and DLC cards, but if it's anything like PSN has worked, there's an option for "redeem card" online without even having to access anything. Upon typing in the code on the card, it automatically locates and downloads the content in question. I'm only hoping it will be that easy, because making a new JP account and navigating the JP marketplace just to redeem a card seems like a bit of a hassle

[Momijitsuki]

Ah, what the hell.

Limited Edition pre-ordered from NCSX. I am thrilled right now.

[brokenhalo]

The dlc card is for the 1.01 modes. If you're interested in that I'd
make sure you preorder. Black label will be available later on down the road as paid dlc.

[Momijitsuki]

Oh. That's cool too, I suppose.

[z0mbie90]

Now we just keep hope that the same thing happens with Ketsui

[Skykid]

Now we just keep hope that the same thing happens with Ketsui

It's unlikely Cave will let them butcher it after DOJ BL, but in the event it is released by 5pb they may choose not to allow it as region free.

Then again if Mushi sells bucketloads...

[agustusx]

Now we just keep hope that the same thing happens with Ketsui

Isn't that still in the hands of 5pb (for now).

Anyway, its great news. It will be interesting to see if Mushi2 can outpace DS, and what the delta is. If nothing else this could prove to Cave and potential licensees that Cave Shmups could sell copies outside of Japan. I think Cave values their new IP too much license for cheap though (just a hunch). The future will be interesting.

Last time I looked at the numbers it appears Raiden IV sold more copies in the US than japan. But of course the source (vgchartz) is suspect. Additionally Raiden IV was released in the US so its more visible than a region-free game not sold locally.

[BrightSuzaku]

I finally joined here, lol. My life is starved of shmup fans, so I had to.

Anyways, I basically gave Play-Asia seventy bucks to burn when I pre-ordered Mushihimesama Futari ver. 1.5 yesterday... And, come November, there goes whatever the hell I called a life. I probably should get to work playing my other Xbox 360 games (and practice more in Raiden IV, since I still suck). I'm excited to finally be able to play this game!!

I hope sales are good, because I really want to play Espgaluda II when it comes out next year. Itchy trigger finger is itchyyyyy.... And, my Itchy (uhm, dodging thumb?) is itchy, too! Lawls~

[JOW]

Cave's 'experiment' seems to be going well: I've just been browsing P-A and Futari is at the top of the X360 Bestsellers list

[icbluscrn]

lucky i look in here from time to time , would not have know about the region change. Would not matter so much for me as i just got a j360 couple of weeks ago but since its not region locked i think the pre orders may sell out. Any one know anywhere they are taking pre orders for the LE ? could not even find the pre order for the regular version on ncsx.

[Thunder Force]

Black label will be available later on down the road as paid dlc.

As an FYI in regards to this subject (paid 360 dlc for shmups) folks here will need to keep in mind the Microsoft Marketplace DRM system for paid dlc, which is the same kind of DRM used for locking XBLA games. First of all, the dlc will only be available on the JP Marketplace, so you will need a JP Silver account.

Essentially, you need to be careful of which physical console you then make your JP Marketplace dlc purchase on - you should only purchase the dlc from the actual physical 360 console you will be playing the game on most frequently. Since your other non-JP Gamertags (e.g. your primary local region Gamertag) will then only be allowed to access that dlc on the single physical console where it was purchased on. On any other consoles the dlc will only be usable by the JP account that purchased it. There is a DRM adjustment tool on Xbox.com that lets you migrate Marketplace DRM to a new physical 360 console, once per calendar year, but I'm not sure how easily that will work for JP accounts (and note the once per calendar year restriction).

lucky i look in here from time to time , would not have know about the region change

Yep, "region free" should be added to the thread title for this reason, otherwise everyone will assume (I certainly would have) that this 360 shmup will be region-locked like all the others.

[BrightSuzaku]

Wait, does anyone know what makes the "Limited Edition" different from the normal one? I might need to change my order...

[Momijitsuki]

Black label will be available later on down the road as paid dlc.

As an FYI in regards to this subject (paid 360 dlc for shmups) folks here will need to keep in mind the Microsoft Marketplace DRM system for paid dlc, which is the same kind of DRM used for locking XBLA games. First of all, the dlc will only be available on the JP Marketplace, so you will need a JP Silver account.

Essentially, you need to be careful of which physical console you then make your JP Marketplace dlc purchase on - you should only purchase the dlc from the actual physical 360 console you will be playing the game on most frequently. Since your other non-JP Gamertags (e.g. your primary local region Gamertag) will then only be allowed to access that dlc on the single physical console where it was purchased on. On any other consoles the dlc will only be usable by the JP account that purchased it. There is a DRM adjustment tool on Xbox.com that lets you migrate Marketplace DRM to a new physical 360 console, once per calendar year, but I'm not sure how easily that will work for JP accounts (and note the once per calendar year restriction).

Okay, so when this comes out, I have to make a JP silver account... and where do I go from there to get it on my US console? I've never done something like this before.