It's been a while, what shmups have I missed?

[8 1/2]

Hello all. I've been way out of the scene for some time now but I'm glad to finally be back. I had to "adapt" my former screeen name as my old email address is now dead and I've long forgotten my password. In fact, this is the first time I've been online in about four or five months. I know I must have missed a ton of stuff. Recently, I went to a little import game store (network games in Burlingame... rad store) and scored a copy of Chaos Field for the DC. Pretty decent game too for what seems to be a fan-made effort.

So what else has come out in the last six months? Did that "insect queen" (forgive me as I've forgotten the real Japanese title) game by Cave ever come out? Are they even still around making shmups or is just pachinko machines based on Dangun Feveron for them now?

Are there any shmups in the works for the PSP (my current joy) or the DS that we know of yet?

Other than that, it's good to see the forum still up and populated with a lot of new faces. Looks like a lot of the old regulars are still lurking as well. Hope to get back into the fray here soon as my shmup skills are a little soft right now.

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

Hey, welcome back!
It looks to me that your back in Redding now?

What happend in San Fran? We thought that maybe you somehow managed to slip off the face of the earth or something.

[8 1/2]

Yeah, bad craziness in SF. Too many parking tickets sent me whelping back to Redding where I can actually have a whole nice apartment for the same price I was paying for a crappy room in the bay area. Good to see you're still around Twitch, but I didn't really doubt that. You're like shmup's own Norm.

[Super Laydock]

Nice to have you back 8 1/2!

I hope to read many of your nice topics again (loved the homemade shmup refferences with cereal and stuff!)

Anyway: guess you haven't missed to much since you played Chaos Field allready. On PS the was an nice Psikyo shmup collection featuring Sengoku Ace & Blade which is worth mentioning. In the Arcades Giga Wing Generations was released and was ported to ps2 and released a fewq days ago (haven't played it, but first reports say it isn't too good...). There's a Raiden III in the works as well for the arcade which looks pretty good (no home port announced AFAIK).

Also within one and a half week TRIZEAL is being released for the Dreamcast. Check for movies/screenshots, music samples and more on:

www.triangleservice.co.jp


About PSP an NDS: PSP is getting a psikyo shmup (when ?) and the NDS is getting Nanostray. Both get some namco museum and the DS got Space Invaders. These are just the ones I now of though!

Anyway: Welcome back!

[Dylan1CC]

Welcome back.

[Herr Schatten]

Yes, welcome back.

[Zach Keene]

Hello all. I've been way out of the scene for some time now but I'm glad to finally be back. I had to "adapt" my former screeen name as my old email address is now dead and I've long forgotten my password.

Wouldn't matter anyway; the forums went down in flames while you were gone taking out everyone's accounts. So your old screenname is still available if you want to take it (you can change your screen name now in the Profile menu.)

And welcome back.

[BulletMagnet]

Did that "insect queen" (forgive me as I've forgotten the real Japanese title) game by Cave ever come out?

Indeed it did, there should be a topic for it a page or two back...there are rumors of a home port in the works, although I put the emphasis on "rumors."

Are they even still around making shmups or is just pachinko machines based on Dangun Feveron for them now?

Their latest shmup is called "Ibara," we have a topic for that one around here someplace too, or you could just check the Cave site for some images and such.

[Stormowl]

good to see you back 8.5, here is some stuff you may have missed:

--- Mushihimesama (Insect Princess) was released. the game looks good, and the forum both here and at Click-Stick was quite abuzz about the true last boss...must be seen to be believed.

--- Cave has released info for another shooter called Ibara, which bears undeniable resemblance to Raizing shooters. some think former Raizing members are working on the game...only the credits will tell.

--- Takumi Released Gigawing Generations, and the general consensus is dissapointing.

--- The same people who developed Chaos Field have another Naomi Shmup in the works called Rajirugi. it has a very unique cell shaded style and looks quite manic.

--- Metal Slug Advance was good.

--- Taito released PsIkyo shooting collection volume 2, with Sengoku Blade and Sengoku Ace. volume 3 w/ Dragon blaze and Sol divide is coming shortly.

--- Moss has released Raiden 3, and from the videos out, it looks very badass.

--- Nicola Salmoria and the Mame team completed emulation of the Raiden Fighters Games. the sound and alpha blending is a little rough, but it works fine.

hope this is what you are looking for.

[iatneH]

Nice to meet you!

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Where's my "bear man" follow-upl!!!????

Welcome back.

I hope you change your screenname as it was before. It was cooler. Ask the mods, they could probably do it.

[Ord]

Welcome back 8.5.
Stormowl has pretty much covered it, however Skonec the makers of Psyvariar have a new Type X shooter heading for the arcades soon called Homura, and it's looking rather dandy. In fact it's a pretty cool time for shooter fans.

[professor ganson]

PSP is getting a psikyo shmup (when ?)

I haven't heard about this. Is it a port or an original title?

Greetings, 8 1/2.

[sffan]

Welcome back...Your dreams were your ticket out...

Anyway, 17/2, Viper Phase was also added to mame. No sound though.

[alpha5099]

Hooray! 8.5 is back. It hasn't been the same around here.

[IlMrm]

Recently, I went to a little import game store (network games in Burlingame... rad store) and scored a copy of Chaos Field for the DC. Pretty decent game too for what seems to be a fan-made effort.

Welcome back. I remember seeing a copy of Chaos Field there before, and then it was gone. Last time I was there, they have Shiki 2 and four new copies of Giga Wing 1 US. Hobby Unlimited, couple of stores over, has a Dimahoo machine.

[Neon]

Where's my "bear man" follow-upl!!!????

Agreed . Good to have you back.

I think no one mentioned that the Saturn pad got released for PS2...but real men use sticks anyway.

Speaking of those, Hori Real Arcade Pro was released recently as well and comes with a sanwa stick and easily modified buttons...must buy.

[8 1/2]

Welcome back. I remember seeing a copy of Chaos Field there before, and then it was gone. Last time I was there, they have Shiki 2 and four new copies of Giga Wing 1 US. Hobby Unlimited, couple of stores over, has a Dimahoo machine.

Yes indeed they do. I dropped a few quarters in that one and tried to get out the door without buying a bunch of Transformers. I saw those Giga Wings as well and was really tempted as they were quite cheap, but all the new stuff called to me more as I already have the game. Pretty cool store for how small it is. I'm surprised by how much stock they carry and how good their prices on used games usually are. Mint import Power Stone for $10? OK with me.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the welcome back. I've been working at a Gamestop for the last six months or so and have been just going crazy trying to find some real gamers. I worked through the holiday season and even did the midnight opening for Halo 2. I did what I could on the frontlines of the mainstream gaming scene, pushing Alien Hominid and Metal Slug Advance (along with Astro Boy for GBA) as much as I could but most people just want to know if Call of Duty is anything like "Those Medal of Honor" games. Plus, this place I'm in now (Redding CA) is a hardcore rightwing redneck hole of intelectual death... meaning you can't keep Reel Fishing III or MX Unleashed in stock, but a mint copy of Ikaruga will rot on the shelves.

I suppose it's the same everywhere, and I don't mean to completely bag it as I've had a lot of fun and met some good people, but at the end of the day when I can finally gather some gamers over to play, no one wants to touch the shmups. Oh, how I've tried to get them going, to break them in gently, to blow them away with the killer titles, but everyone always says the same thing. "I can't play these things... I can barely tell what's going on at all." Are shmups really so far removed from modern gaming that the simple idea of moving an avatar around on screen and shooting badguys is totally lost on most modern eyes when the view isn't first or third person? I suppose so, and it's such a shame.

Beyond that, it's good to hear that there are still a good number of new shmups coming out. That Giga Wing Generations (with full freakin' TATE!) is going to be hard to not snap up no matter what the reviews say. Man, I thought I'd hear about one or two games on the horizon but now I want to throw down for Trizeal and of course I simply must have Psikyo Collection volume 3... Back for a day and already broke again. That's the shmup life I guess.

[Neon]

(with full freakin' TATE!)

Guess it's my duty to break the news...no tate.

(just getting everyone's goat at this point, but you gotta admit that sucks)

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

^ You guys DO know that GigaWing 1&2 never were in TATE, right?
Even the PCB's are "Horzie-verts".

[Neon]

That's a horrible argument Twitch. GWG was TATE in the arcade and should have a tate mode so there aren't crappy borders and zoomed in/out whatever.

Of course if the game's fun it doesn't matter...like I said I was kinda being sarcastic.

[8 1/2]

Oh what? That was the whole selling feature of it for me. So, there's no tate in the home port? Is there ANY reason for that? I've always wished for a true vert game by Takumi and I thought this would be it, but maybe I'll have to check out the screens now and see what you guys are talking about with these borders.

[Ganelon]

So, there's no tate in the home port? Is there ANY reason for that?

Possibly unfamiliarity in porting from Type-X to PS2 hardware. Or that the PS2 can't handle the handle the game and would've caused too much slowdown with a full tate screen (which is possible considering the game is supposedly relegated to only 30 fps).

[tehkao]

Wow, I guess everyone in the Bay Area knows about Network Video....

[cigsthecat]

Wow, I guess everyone in the Bay Area knows about Network Video....

Haha. Yup, cool little store- Only place I know you can buy cigarettes and shooters.

Great to see you back 8 1/2. Shame you moved from SF, I was hoping I'd be able to make it back at some point and play some games with ya.

[the2bears]

Yeah, bad craziness in SF. Too many parking tickets sent me whelping back to Redding where I can actually have a whole nice apartment for the same price I was paying for a crappy room in the bay area. Good to see you're still around Twitch, but I didn't really doubt that. You're like shmup's own Norm.

Hey, we just drove through Redding on our way up to (and back from) Seattle. That's a long drive let me tell you. Had lunch at Lim's Cafe!

Bill

[the2bears]

...I went to a little import game store (network games in Burlingame... rad store) and scored a copy of Chaos Field for the DC...

Hey, off-topic but I thank-you for mentioning the name of the store... I found them on the map after reading this. Great to find a good store nearby.

Bill

[Thunder Force]

I've always wished for a true vert game by Takumi and I thought this would be it

Actually that would be Kyukyoku Tiger II Plus on the Saturn.

[8 1/2]

I've always wished for a true vert game by Takumi and I thought this would be it

Actually that would be Kyukyoku Tiger II Plus on the Saturn.

Ah yes, true enough. I haven't had the pleasure of it's true vert form yet. I don't have it myself, but a buddy does and he's afraid of flipping his TV on it's side for a real go at it. Plus he keeps calling it Tiger Heli 2 which just drives me crazy. I'll have to make a trade offer to him and swipe it as that game deserves a good home where it will actually get played.

Now, if I could just get a "Takumi Collection" with Giga Wing 1 &2 and Mars Matrix for the PSP I'd be in heaven.

[Ganelon]

Now, if I could just get a "Takumi Collection" with Giga Wing 1 &2 and Mars Matrix for the PSP I'd be in heaven.

I see your dream Takumi Collection won't have a certain other crappy manic shooter from a few years ago...