Designer's Republic + Japanese shmup developer is possible?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I've been thinking the arcade shmup world would given a new type of shmup if say a prestigious Japanese shmup developer (i.e. Cave, Raizing, Treasure, etc.) in conjunction with graphics support by the famous world-reknown "Designer's Republic" graphic design firm -- wow, what a cool "high energy-based techno shmup" could be done with such a high-profile joint venture.

If Designer's Republic did the cool futuristic graphic designs on the first three Wipeout games for the PSX platform, they surely could create a killer-app shmup title that would definitely be cool as say Sega/IGA's Rez or Squaresoft's Internal Section games...perhaps a even better unique visual style that would create a "buzz" in the hardcore shmup world combined with some new shmup gameplay/mechanics.

(I realize that Internal Section is a 640 x 480 high resolution game that runs at 60 frames per second {fps} & Rez on the DC only runs at 30 fps whereas on the PS2 version, it runs at 60 fps.) So a highly visual stylized shmup game would have to be displayed at least 640 x 480 resolution -- perhaps developed on a Naomi arcade developer's kit or say a Taito Type X platform. So techincally, all the released shmup based Naomi titles are high resolution games if run on a regular PC VGA monitor.

What do you think about this?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Tony Gradius]

Well, I think it would just be a shmup.

The above or beside perspective usual for shmups is just not optimized for spectacular graphics.

[Tony Gradius]

Of course I mean "spectacular" in a modern, mainstream way....

[scrilla4rella]

Yea, it's a nice idea.

I would rather see developers teaming up with some of the individual artists that made the Designer Republic what it is today. Like Chris Cunningham. Have any of y'all seen his Aphex Twin or Autechre videos? Pretty freakin' sweet.

I wasn't so impressed with the design in Wipeout for PSP. I think if they just got some cool cutting edge grahic design artist from Japan they could make a shooter with some cool atmosphere.

I love it when a shooter has great game play to back up it's design and atmoshphere: Ikaruga, RS, Battle Garregga, Souky, M.U.S.H.A, Spriggan, and Gwange.

I think ALL shmup developers pretty much do not have the resources to hire outside artists. I'm sure many developers and commpanies would not like the idea of having the visuals and gameplay made by people in different companies. You know, the whole us-them mentalitty of most Japanese companies.

c-

[icepick]

I can appreciate the idea that you have here! I liked TDR's work for the first three Wipeout games as well, though I did sign up for their products newsletter a couple of years ago and have to say that I haven't appealed to anything as much as I have with Wipeout 3. I haven't seen much of their recent works, but for now, I believe that Wipeout 3 might've been the pinnacle. That's moreso because of the whole package, though... Game design by Psygnosis, art by TDR, music by Sasha, and all working together so well.

I'm thinking that a high-profile global shmup release with similarly fantastic contributors would be excellent, but keep in mind that Wipeout and Rez were both still the most popular in their local markets. It was neat to see the familiar Adam Freeland name in Rez, but I'm wondering about how closely the two worlds could actually work together (forgive me for not knowing much about the history of shmups). The problem here is that there are very few (if any) Western shmup developers, so there'd either have to be some revolution or most of the game engine would have to come from established Japanese developers.

Given that TDR's Wipeout designs (not saying that those would be used in this high-profile shmup) were themselves largely influenced by Japanese designs themselves, it poses a question as to whether or not the end product would need to be a collaboration at all... But, to really break ground in the Western world (which is what I think would be cool) it would need to have some connection.

In any case, I hope that it happens.

I think ALL shmup developers pretty much do not have the resources to hire outside artists.

This made me think of G.rev with Condensed Milk providing character and mech(a?) designs+illustrations for Senko no Ronde.

[Turrican]

PC Engine Fan X, this is one of the most original questions I've seen on the forum!

I would like to see the outcome of this.

[uwfan]

Yes, i am also a huge fan of the wipeout series and DR's work.


i think if deisgners republic worked on a shmup the end result wouldnt be to far away from the ABA dojin shmups [rRootage, parsec 46 etc].