Hello from Rising Star Games!

[bcass]

Oh my LOL.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Yes, I won't buy a game because of the cover art. Sometimes I don't buy digital games on XBLA because of their icons. Bad art is bad art, and bad art is offensive to me. There's such an overabundance of media to consume and games to play in this world, I can afford to pick and choose according to my tastes.

I hope SaiDaiOuJou gets released with the shittiest boxart ever just to spite you. protip: the people who make the cover art are not always the same people in charge of making the art in-game or the game itself, this happens with novels all the time

[bcass]

Video game boxart is almost universally wank. It's amazing he has any games in his collection.

[Op Intensify]

I happen to actually like RSG's cover art, though I'd prefer if it showed off the game's characters. They're probably trying to distance it from anything animu-related in hopes that Joe Sixpack who likes choppers and explosions will impulse buy it.

[EmperorIng]

That's what I was thinking.

The Japanese box-art follows the convention of anime girls*, where the western art takes the MAN'S MAN approach by showing us what we REALLY want to see: HELICOPTERS making things EXPLODE with GUNS.

The consumer will be like HOLY CRAP THIS LOOKS LIKE BLUE THUNDER: THE GAME and immediately purchase it. And when said-consumer plays it he'll be like THIS MIGHT NOT BE BLUE THUNDER: THE VIDEO-GAME BUT I AM YET STILL SATISFIED WITH MY PURCHASE.


*cute ones in military uniforms hello

[Macho De Luxe]

It's like how they added the spaceships to the cover of Dodonpachi Resurrection to let people know that the game is about exciting spaceship shooting action. This time they made sure it's a lot more in your face.

[Op Intensify]

The weirdest one was how Valcon added gun barrel flashes to the Aegis on Raiden Fighters Aces' cover. I mean, geez, it's already covered with jet planes.

[drunkninja24]

The weirdest one was how Valcon added gun barrel flashes to the Aegis on Raiden Fighters Aces' cover. I mean, geez, it's already covered with jet planes.

But how will anyone know that you shoot stuff with the plane? I mean, come on, geez

[NeoStrayCat]

Video game boxart is almost universally wank. It's amazing he has any games in his collection.

If that's what you say, I'm surprised no one forgot to mention Ubi's fucked up cover art with Wartech.

[Eaglet]

lol you think that's bad?
Check out the US one.

[KidQuaalude]

Under defeat was a really solid shooter on the DC, I'm sure this port is the same.

Some people on this forum have a VERY NARROW view of what makes a 'shmup', based mainly on their own taste and get stupidly upset when any game dares to be different (often any game that deviates from the typical CAVE style).

Variation is essential in any genre. If all games are the same (or very similar), the genre will eventually die by backing itself into a corner imho.

[RealPlumpBox]

Under defeat was a really solid shooter on the DC, I'm sure this port is the same.

Some people on this forum have a VERY NARROW view of what makes a 'shmup', based mainly on their own taste and get stupidly upset when any game dares to be different (often any game that deviates from the typical CAVE style).

Variation is essential in any genre. If all games are the same (or very similar), the genre will eventually die by backing itself into a corner imho.

I have to agree 100% on this. sir, I think you are great

[Tokyo-J]

lol you think that's bad?
Check out the US one.

Gunbird



Shikigami No Shiro



Charlies Angels? Same Cover art on both games? Butchered Ports.

Maybe the worst of all time!

[sjewkestheloon]

Got each of your shmup releases and a whole ton of other things on Wii, DS, PSP and 360, keep up the good work.

Personally I am interested in PAL releases of any high quality shmup ports and would prefer them to be fixed by the dev before the UK release which unfortunately seems not to be the case with UD. Not your fault obviously.

I also would like a variety of different developers' work so GRev is a good start. I like Cave and all but I don't see the need to own too many shmups from the same developer, especially when they are content rich like the Cave ports that you have put out.

How about working on some compilations of older shmups for release on the 360?

On a side note, with EDF4 in development and no confirmed PAL release, that might be something to keep an eye on.

[MR_Soren]

You guys should seriously, seriously look into getting the PAL 360 version of UDHD certified as dual-region.

I believe Samuel has already implied that this won't happen, but I agree. I'd import a copy if I could play it on my NA-360. I enjoy Cave's games, but it's good to have some other developers take on an STG. However, I don't know if a few guys on a forum is enough for this to be financially viable for RSG.

Also, I'm curious if the lack of a 360 release here was due to Microsoft's minimum print run restrictions and hefty licensing fees in the US. That is some corporate bullshit right there, designed specifically to weed out the bothersome little guys in favor of endless "triple-A" Calladooties.

I've wondered that as well, and I think it is a terrible policy. Most of the mainstream stuff is dual-platform. Niche games sell consoles. Really stupid to chase away some of the most devout fanbases just because they're smaller. Even stupider to have MS Japan pushing shmups onto the 360 and then MS North America creating policies that make it impractical to release them here. Fucking idiot company, that Microsoft.

[Matskat]

Hi Samuel!

I'd just like to say thank you and RSG for helping to bring Dodonpachi resurrection and Akai Katana to western consumers.

It's great to see that RSG is interested in what the fans want to see, and it's GREAT news to hear that RSG is looking at Under Defeat HD.

Depending on sales, I'd guess that Dodonpachi sold more units than Akai Katana - which brings me to this:

Please advise RSG to secure rights to localize\distribute Dodonpachi SaiDaiOuJou in the west.

It's said to be Cave's last major shooter, and if that proves to be true it'll sell like hotcakes.

Also, I've seen a few people mention it already but I must mention it as well : MUSHIHIMESAMA HD! Please!

Thank you for your company's work!

-Matt

[Zeether]

Is it too late for me to request Kokuga for a US release as well?

[evil_ash_xero]

Sometimes western cover art isn't bad, if the original artist do the "action" cover. Like Sin And Punishment 2 or Bayonetta. It can be debated that the JP cover art was better, but it still looks nice.

[Alfred]

Hey Sam Deathsmiles II for Europe please.

[Op Intensify]

I've wondered that as well, and I think it is a terrible policy. Most of the mainstream stuff is dual-platform. Niche games sell consoles. Really stupid to chase away some of the most devout fanbases just because they're smaller. Even stupider to have MS Japan pushing shmups onto the 360 and then MS North America creating policies that make it impractical to release them here. Fucking idiot company, that Microsoft.

Yeah, Sony will allow publishers to do stuff like 300-unit print runs (DJ MAX Portable 3's LE). For whatever moronic reason, Microsoft is not okay with anything ending up on their system without a wide release.

I don't think Cave's games are quite as niche as we tend to believe, though. Every localization gets a decent amount of attention on NeoGAF/Escapist/Kotaku, as did the recent news of Cave's dire financial situation. Deathsmiles in particular seems to have been popular with the Touhou kids.

If no other options are available, it may be worth RSG's while to ask Microsoft about doing a Games on Demand release of DDP SDOJ, or even UDHD. They've shown surprising flexibility in allowing DSIIX and the Resident Evil HD Collection on the service, even without retail releases of those games in the US.

[MJR]

I need to also add my two cents: there are couple of titles we really need from RSG. I list them here, with my explanations as of why:

1. Dodonpachi saidaioujou - this may well be cave's Final Proper Entry (read:shmup) on their most famous franchise. Plus, it is not available on any other platform (at least atm), so it should sell

2. Mushihimesama - this has never been available for PAL consoles, only version available was the blurred-out conversion for japanese PS2.

3. Raiden fighters aces - If you look at the similar thread in the shmups chat you will see that this title has almost mythical quality among PAL gamers; as the 'Title That Was Almost Promised But Which Never Came Into Being'. Despite years and years of false starts, people are still hoping against hope that Raiden Fighters could see a PAL release before Xbox 360 finally takes the exit.

Only company who can make these things happen for us is Rising Star Games, no one else. We are looking up to you. Our future rests in your hands.

Thanks for reading.

[Op Intensify]

this may well be cave's Final Proper Entry (read:shmup) on their most famous franchise.

They already stated outright that it's the end of the DDP series. The question is whether it's going to be their final proper shmup, ever. They weren't even going to do a 360 port until Microsoft Japan pretty much instructed them to.

[Deca]

saidaioujou plz

Aside from that thanks and good job with everything so far!

[Jeneki]

Screw teh dramaz. I for one am looking forward to purchasing whichever shmups get a disc release in my region.

[moonwhistle]

I think that any cover art that RSG thinks might help in selling obscure Japanese games to westerners is a good call.

I mean who gives a shit as long as they manage to sell enough copies to secure future releases.

[Op Intensify]

I think that any cover art that RSG thinks might help in selling obscure Japanese games to westerners is a good call.

Careful now. XS Games had to have thought the same thing about Mobile Light Force.

What you mean is, any tasteful cover art.

I would appreciate if the cover art was reversible, with the Japanese art on the other side, but that would probably drive up costs too much.

[1up]

Hey Sam Deathsmiles II for Europe please.

+1

I really like the first Deathsmiles and as I understand it, it was the most succesful shmup in Europe, so why they didn't bring Deathsmiles 2 over seems odd?

[KidQuaalude]

I have to agree 100% on this. sir, I think you are great

Hehehe. Thanks!

[exquisite_torture]

Ketsui
Raiden Fighters Aces
The new Don Pachi
Deathsmiles 2
Mushimesama HD

You can do it, Sam. I have faith in you.

[cools]

Hey Sam Deathsmiles II for Europe please.

+1

I really like the first Deathsmiles and as I understand it, it was the most succesful shmup in Europe, so why they didn't bring Deathsmiles 2 over seems odd?

+1 . DSIIX is a brilliant game.