Mushihimesama HD (360) 24th May 2012

[Blackbird]

I think Top 20 is actually pretty impressive for a game that caters to such a niche, hardcore market. Hardcore gamers are a pretty small subsection of the games market, after all, and hardcore arcade shooting game players are a small subsection of that small subsection.

If you think about it that way, the people to which this game is actually relevant must have bought the heck out of this game in order to actually make a dent in the sales chart.

I guess compared to Cave's other releases it's pretty low though.

[Kiken]

I think Top 20 is actually pretty impressive for a game that caters to such a niche, hardcore market. Hardcore gamers are a pretty small subsection of the games market, after all, and hardcore arcade shooting game players are a small subsection of that small subsection.

If you think about it that way, the people to which this game is actually relevant must have bought the heck out of this game in order to actually make a dent in the sales chart.

No, Cuilan's right. 5k is pretty bad. Just about all of Cave's other releases sold at least 10k in their first week. It's definitely odd considering that Reco is easily Cave's most marketed character. Maybe it's due to a combination of the game being a re-release of a prior port coupled with the fact that SDOJ is still pretty fresh and drawing attention from their fanbase.

[Cuilan]

Any idea if those figures include copies that we've imported?

I'm 99% certain those numbers do not include online sales (and by extension, import sales). Also worth noting that they don't include every single retailer in Japan. That said, I doubt you could squeeze more than an extra 2,000 sales out of that, for this game at least.

[Blackbird]

Ugh, no good. Hope they at least broke even on it -_-...

[Cuilan]

Ugh, no good. Hope they at least broke even on it -_-...

I'm sure they have. It's really just a port of work that had already been completed for other reasons (arcade releases, PS2 port, etc), and also keep in mind that Cave can port their games to the 360 fairly quickly and without much effort. But it probably hasn't generated as much profit as Cave had hoped (at least so far), and Cave could really use as much profit as possible right now.

[stryc9]

Oh well, we did our bit.

And I would say the likelihood of another 360 port hinges on the success of this one, so here's hoping eh?

[Illyrian]

So anyway,

Am I going totally mad or is 1.5 maniac harder than 1.0? I noticed earlier on people saying they thought 1.5 was easier.

I just can't understand that. There are more enemies, more bullets etc. on screen. Stage 3 especially is a fair amount harder in a few places. Stage 4 is rather unpleasant as well.

[Friendly]

Oh well, we did our bit.

And I would say the likelihood of another 360 port hinges on the success of this one, so here's hoping eh?

Prior to Mushihime-sama's release, Cave said this would most likely be their last 360 port, and it doesn't look like it's selling in a way that would make them change their minds.
Don't be greedy, 360 had an awesome run as far as Cave shooters are concerned. Except for Ibara we got every recent game, and Saidaioujou wouldn't be due for a home release so soon after its arcade debut anyway.

[stryc9]

I'm not being greedy.

Agreed, 360 has had an excellent run with shooters, and an unbelievable one with CAVE in particular.

It would of course be cool if SDJ had a port, but with the backlog we have already in place I'm not too worried either way.

[DrTrouserPlank]

I'm surprised to see that the novice modes aren't completely trivial for once.

[Illyrian]

I'm surprised to see that the novice modes aren't completely trivial for once.

Are they bullshit and impossible plankytrousers?

[DrTrouserPlank]

I'm surprised to see that the novice modes aren't completely trivial for once.

Are they bullshit and impossible plankytrousers?

Dunno yet, haven't really tried them much. They haven't got auto-bomb for once though so that makes quite a difference. They're also harder than normal.

If they had scanlines they'd probably be perfect.

[Illyrian]

I'm surprised to see that the novice modes aren't completely trivial for once.

Are they bullshit and impossible plankytrousers?

Dunno yet, haven't really tried them much. They haven't got auto-bomb for once though so that makes quite a difference. They're also harder than normal.

If they had scanlines they'd probably be perfect.

Funny fucker, aren't you

[xbl0x180]

If ver. 1.5 had been on the disc, I would have bought this. Foolish move.

It is on the disc. The DLC is merely an unlock code (the file size is only 1.87 MB).

Sounds like a distinction without a difference (for me). I don't care about hard drive space. I just can't be bothered with doing the Japanese account thing.

It seriously takes like...10 minutes to make the account...

Not when you're piggybacking on a weak wi-fi connection (paid for by the HOA fees here). Sometimes, the Internet connection goes out midway through a page download hahah. I can't be arsed to deal with doing anything "live" or on-line when it comes to gaming, so CAVE - and any other gaming developer - can shove their "DLC" up their arse

[Bee Cool]

Don't be greedy, 360 had an awesome run as far as Cave shooters are concerned. Except for Ibara we got every recent game, and Saidaioujou wouldn't be due for a home release so soon after its arcade debut anyway.

I don't see how it's being greedy to have a pipe dream of having all SH3 shooters on the 360. No one is demanding it or saying that Cave is being stupid for not doing it. We just think it would be awesome if it did happen.

[Shelcoof]

Don't be greedy, 360 had an awesome run as far as Cave shooters are concerned. Except for Ibara we got every recent game, and Saidaioujou wouldn't be due for a home release so soon after its arcade debut anyway.

I don't see how it's being greedy to have a pipe dream of having all SH3 shooters on the 360. No one is demanding it or saying that Cave is being stupid for not doing it. We just think it would be awesome if it did happen.

1+

[trap15]

I DEMAND AN IBARA PORT FOR 360 CAVE IS LITERALLY WORSE THAN HITLER IF THEY DON'T DO IT I DON'T CARE THAT I HAVE ONLY PLAYED THIS PORT 2 TIMES SINCE MONDAY AND I HAVEN'T PLAYED ANY OF THE OTHER PORTS IN WEEKS BUT I WANT ANOTHER PORT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GAMES

[DrTrouserPlank]

I'm fairly sure you'll get your SDOJ port in a year or so. It's just whether they decide to fill the interim period with Ibara as well. Since I think I remember someone mentioning it in an interview with Cave (and them not discounting the possibility) and following the mushihimesama remake, I'm inclined to think that an Ibara port is more likely then not as well.

[evil_ash_xero]

I really doubt it. The way this one is selling, I can't see them putting any money into an actual HD remake of an unpopular game. I doubt it'll get any kind of release.

[Illyrian]

In my opinion every port by CAVE is a bloody miracle. I honestly didn't expect the Mushi port to ever leave the drawing board. That it actually got released, and with 1.5 as free DLC is amazing.

I would queston whether an Ibara port would realky sell at all given the brutality of it's difficulty and the number of CAVE ports already around. Also you can always play it in MAME these days. I wonder how many people who want the IBARA port have actually played it before.

[DrTrouserPlank]

Odd thing with this game.

When you fight a mid-boss or boss where it's health is displayed at the top and bottom of the screen, the bottom health bar causes the bomb counter to get pushed off the screen a bit. Is it meant to do that? it looks very odd having half the bomb counter cut off the screen.

[Illyrian]

That doesn't happen on the PCB as far as I am aware.

I hadn't actually noticed it myself. It may have to do with the zoom settings you use on your monitor. I have to zoom to 113% with all the CAVE ports on my screen. Try reducing the zoom on yours a few % and see if that helps.

[trap15]

It does that in the PS2 version as well. Probably happens on the PCB too, but I couldn't tell you.

[MagicT]

I DEMAND AN IBARA PORT FOR 360 CAVE IS LITERALLY WORSE THAN HITLER IF THEY DON'T DO IT I DON'T CARE THAT I HAVE ONLY PLAYED THIS PORT 2 TIMES SINCE MONDAY AND I HAVEN'T PLAYED ANY OF THE OTHER PORTS IN WEEKS BUT I WANT ANOTHER PORT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GAMES

Yeah CAVE!!! PLEASE fuc.ing fantastic X360 IBARA port!!!!!

First day purchase for me too!

( Someone would start a petition has CAVE )

----
Mushi 1.5 version very fan!!!

[ancestral-knowledge]

I'm so jaelous that everyone seems to have his copy already and mine is still being shipped.
I want to play this game very badly.

I don't like DLC very much. Sure it's okay for maybe an additional, very exotic mode or some costumes but not for full games. I am kind of old-fashioned. I like having a Disc in my shelves. PCBs are simply beautiful with all their flyers, marques etc. It's a good idea that CAVE released Guwange and (i think) Dangun Feveron online but peronally i always dream of a Disc that has all their old games included. How about a rare limited 3 disc monster package with artwork and OSTs of all their old games like Dangun, Guwange, Donpachi and Dodonpachi, Progear and whatever for 150 -200 EUR. That would be amazing.

[Cuilan]

If they do port Ibara to 360, expect a very bare-bones and non-HD port with nothing but the preexisting modes included. It's the only way they could hope to turn a worth-while profit on it.

[Kiken]

If they do port Ibara to 360, expect a very bare-bones and non-HD port with nothing but the preexisting modes included. It's the only way they could hope to turn a worth-while profit on it.

So long as they still have the original art assets, 're-rendering' them at a higher resolution really isn't that much of an issue. And the entire point of re-releasing Ibara would be to make Black Label available. Just like the Mushi HD release, it'd most likely have 4 modes: Novice, 360, Black Label and Arrange (probably a quick retooling of the PS2 Arrange Mode). Granted, Black Label would probably end up as a DLC.

[nZero]

If they do port Ibara to 360, expect a very bare-bones and non-HD port with nothing but the preexisting modes included. It's the only way they could hope to turn a worth-while profit on it.

So long as they still have the original art assets, 're-rendering' them at a higher resolution really isn't that much of an issue. And the entire point of re-releasing Ibara would be to make Black Label available. Just like the Mushi HD release, it'd most likely have 4 modes: Novice, 360, Black Label and Arrange (probably a quick retooling of the PS2 Arrange Mode). Granted, Black Label would probably end up as a DLC.

Pre-order DLC Honestly since they didn't use hi-res assets in the MMP+PS pack, I wouldn't expect them to do it for an Ibara + Kuro pack.

[Kiken]

If they do port Ibara to 360, expect a very bare-bones and non-HD port with nothing but the preexisting modes included. It's the only way they could hope to turn a worth-while profit on it.

So long as they still have the original art assets, 're-rendering' them at a higher resolution really isn't that much of an issue. And the entire point of re-releasing Ibara would be to make Black Label available. Just like the Mushi HD release, it'd most likely have 4 modes: Novice, 360, Black Label and Arrange (probably a quick retooling of the PS2 Arrange Mode). Granted, Black Label would probably end up as a DLC.

Pre-order DLC Honestly since they didn't use hi-res assets in the MMP+PS pack, I wouldn't expect them to do it for an Ibara + Kuro pack.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and wager a guess that MMP+PS were left in low res because they didn't feel like recapturing the assets from 2 different games. With an Ibara collection, they'd be looking at 4 different modes that basically all draw from the same set of art assets. Although, I guess they could also just say "NO YAGAWA IN HD FOR YOU!" again.

[DrTrouserPlank]

With the way they have moved away from low-res modes in all their recent releases I'm not sure they'd try releasing another game in purely a low res form.

Whilst I'm sure that these games (even in Japan) only sell to people who have already decided they are going to buy them almost irrespective of features, maybe Cave would view trying to sell a low-res version of an already niche title as a stretch too far?

I think as long as Cave are turning over a profit of some sort (and I'm not convinced that there are massive costs in these ports) I think they'd consider more ports. I think SDOJ is a given really but that'll be over a year away so another older title touched up might bring in a few pennies to tide them over.