DBAC Utah is in trouble!!

[ProcoTaito]

Greetings fellow shmuppers,

I just received word that our Dariusburst: Another Chronicle machine is in trouble.
Our arcade owner, Adam needs help to keep the machine in his arcade, otherwise he will need to return it to Taito.

Our location test time is up and we need to come up with $8000 to be able to keep the unit in Utah. This is a rare event for our community and we're hoping we can get people together to donate and help keep DBAC alive!

Adam, of course will be assisting where he can as well.

http://www.gofundme.com/bu9gc

A donation of ANY KIND will be greatly appreciated!
If you donate, please let us know here at the shmups forum.

Support the cause!
Silverhawks GO!!

[Bee Cool]

Buy SDOJ and keep the extra 5.5k

[NTSC-J]

Goddamn, 8 grand? Let it go, man. Let it go.

Also seems a little strange to me to ask people from all over the world to give you money so that you and your friends can play a video game. Hell, I'm taking donations so that I can play some more SDOJ this week, 100 yen a credit adds up and I have bills to pay.

I think just asking people in your community (who would be able to enjoy the game) for support would be more appropriate.

[Ed Oscuro]

I think just asking people in your community (who would be able to enjoy the game) for support would be more appropriate.

Well, you never know, they might be around...

[Op Intensify]

Buy SDOJ and keep the extra 5.5k

This. I can bet you the collections will at least match those of Darius Burst if you present it well, and you'll get to own it forever.

There is also a 1 minute free trial mode for people who might need a bit more incentive to get going. It's a great idea, and I don't know why no other arcade games I'm aware of have ever used it.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

It sucks that the arcade lost money due to mall relocation/renovations, but donations just to keep one $8000 machine (one that costs probably above-average to maintain too) does seem a bit excessive. Could probably even pick up some older Darius titles or far less.

Buy SDOJ and keep the extra 5.5k

Don't Cave's games tend to have the "you're only allowed to play this in Japan" legal warning? Although, the XBox 360 port of Futari is region-free and even it says that... if they expect people to ignore the legal warning and are cool with arcades buying the PCBs, what's the point of it being there?

[Op Intensify]

The legal warning is probably just a tradition at this point. I've never heard of a single case of an arcade owner being brought to court for putting an imported machine on the floor.

I'd also guess that Cave is much more concerned about piracy within Asia.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

The piracy thing makes sense I guess; as long as arcade owners are actually buying their games legitimately they have no reason to prosecute them to the full extent of the jam.

[casualcoder]

The piracy thing makes sense I guess; as long as arcade owners are actually buying their games legitimately they have no reason to prosecute them to the full extent of the jam.

You were just dying to work that one in somewhere... Well played.

[casualcoder]

My honest opinion is that an $8000 arcade game, a niche one at that, and with a prior console release no less, is just a bad business decision. I think that costs have to factor heavily in a genre such as this, and in arcades in general. Arcade success probably has to have to cater to the nostalgia crowd, curious hardcore gamers, and the few who demand new arcade releases. There have been very few arcade releases in recent years that could warrant a price tag over $5k... If that even (maybe Sf4 and ddr judging from popularity at local arcades). But for a shmup that is niche even amongst the niche of shmuppers in general? Like a previous poster said, it's probably best to let it go.

There are tons of great 2nd market pcbs of proven shmup crowd-draws from the past that is financially viable and may actually get played at your arcade.

And, I think this crowd-sourcing thing is getting a bit out of hand. It is amazing to me that people are willing to give some developer the money just for the promise of producing the game, for instance, and getting little in return (certainly not earnings or *gasp* market shares) if the product is successful.

But in this case it is even harder to understand given that the product is so niche, in a market that is niche, in a genre that is niche, and as a donor your potential benefit is.... If you find yourself in Utah you may just get a chance to play on a arcade dariusburst...???

My supposition is that if you can't even get enough local players to support the game, then you won't get anyone to shell out just to keep the game there. Its worth knowing when to cut your losses in business even though it is hard to take failure.

[cj iwakura]

Is the game even that good? Serious question.

I hope it works out, but yeah, that's probably not worth the investment, to be brutally honest. I doubt he'll make that money back.

[Ed Oscuro]

I doubt he'll make that money back.

I think the implication is that the arcade operation is thinking economically, not as an arcade preservationist.

I admit, the idea of a fine location test machine being lost doesn't sit well with me...but I'm an arcade preservationist at heart.

[Arcatech]

A lot of great advice in this thread.

Agree is WAY to much money to justify a glorified psp port. It is impressive to look at but 8000?


Use a fraction of the cost to get Batrider, newer Cave, and so many others to replace it. Just a thought

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Is the game even that good? Serious question.

Yes.

[ProcoTaito]

Is the game even that good? Serious question.

Yes.

Very much, Yes.

[Ed Oscuro]

$225 raised! You can do it!

Well...maybe...

I have in mind that Taito is going to throw the thing in the dump, aren't they? Or is the game getting a "fuller" release (as much as anything can get these days), so it might just be recycled out to somebody else?

[Elixir]

8000? What, USD? It sounds like a financially awful investment, not only to invest in - but to maintain. Does the local community even warrant enough activity for them to break even?

a glorified psp port.

[BPzeBanshee]

Damn man, you could get the entire Raiden series about 10 times over for that price. Forget Cave, now THERE's a worthwhile investment.

[Nate]

Elixir:

It sounds like a financially awful investment, not only to invest in - but to maintain. Does the local community even warrant enough activity for them to break even?

I live in Texas; I was SERIOUSLY considering traveling up there to play DBAC this Summer. I'm sure others not in Utah have considered doing this.

[Elixir]

Elixir:

It sounds like a financially awful investment, not only to invest in - but to maintain. Does the local community even warrant enough activity for them to break even?

I live in Texas; I was SERIOUSLY considering traveling up there to play DBAC this Summer. I'm sure others not in Utah have considered doing this.

Admirable, but a handful of people from outside the state visiting to have a few plays isn't going to justify keeping it around; it isn't a valid source of regular income.

[Skykid]

Agree is WAY to much money to justify a glorified psp port.

Obvious when someone hasn't actually played DariusBurst AC. You have no idea what you're missing.

[ProcoTaito]

Agree is WAY to much money to justify a glorified psp port.

Obvious when someone hasn't actually played DariusBurst AC. You have no idea what you're missing.

Actually, AFXisatwin is a personal friend of mine from Utah and he HAS played the DBAC machine before.
He supports the arcade scene and owns 2 candy cabs himself. I think he just feels that for what you get in DBAC, it's not really worth the price. I kinda see his point of view, but Adam and I have worked to get the machine here, and we are just trying to keep it there for the future.

We've made $225 so far, and we're looking at a couple more donations here in the following days, so it's not over yet!

Let's see where this goes....

[Skykid]

Agree is WAY to much money to justify a glorified psp port.

Obvious when someone hasn't actually played DariusBurst AC. You have no idea what you're missing.

Actually, AFXisatwin is a personal friend of mine from Utah and he HAS played the DBAC machine before.

Well then clearly not enough. The experience of DBAC is on a level of awesome the PSP can't quite hope to match (great as it is.)
Its ergonomics, enormous panoramic playfield, stereo sound, vibrating seat, billion Chronicle challenges, new stages, bonus soundtracks, 4 player beauty, extended boss fights and 2 way firing, it's pretty far from a glorified PSP port.

Good luck keeping it there!

[Arcatech]

Ya, its an awesome arcade game. Kind of makes me wonder why Taito hasn't tried to release the game for home consoles. But for me its just kind of lame that its pretty much going to be one of the only shmups in that arcade.

Yes, its impressive to play 4 players and turn around and all that. But I think it would be many times more impressive to have a wall full of cool shmups.

I really do hope it works for Adam though. He's a nice guy and it would be good exposure for his arcade.

[Nate]

Elixir:

it isn't a valid source of regular income

Income for whom? Clearly this is not about "cha-ching" for Game Grid; this is about KEEPING a monumental piece of arcade history in its proper place; a place that takes its possession AND accessibility of the finer things very seriously and very likely strives to be one of, if not THE greatest arcade in the U.S. today! This may not pertain to you (sorry, I don't know where you are), but for "us" this is huge!

AFXisatwin:

Yes, its impressive to play 4 players and turn around and all that. But I think it would be many times more impressive to have a wall full of cool shmups.

I get that, totally, but I'll bet you a kneecap the *point* that they probably would (eventually) go THAT direction when the time (and money...more emphasis on the money) is right; it's just that now they're trying to secure the "signature" pieces...like DBAC which costs a SHITload of money before they "touch-up" the walls with Cave/Seibu/Psikyo/Toaplan deliciousness. If I'm right, then this is a brilliant approach to building a truly magnificent arcade.

ProcoTaito:

Greetings fellow shmuppers

You know it takes a LOT of courage to approach this board opening with this. I have tons of admiration for you, ProcoTaito...i really do. That said, I would hope that others REALLY recognize their favorite genre/hobby as well as the irrefutable comradery that exists here just as you did. I'm not going to draw any analogies today; like: "What if Udderdude needed 'life-saving' surgery" or "What if it was a fifteen-foot, "elite" Dodonpachi title only 5 in existence"...or some nonsense. I just want ask my friends here how far they would go to hold onto one particular, favorite *SHMUP* that they truly love and that truly MATTERS and that they would very likely NEVER have a chance to have again?

I just dropped $100; surely YOU can break off AT LEAST $5 today!!!???!!!


Come, on "Shmupheads". Do the right thing!

[Shou]

If the owner is willing, I'd suggest that you sell your campaign as a means to dump the game for preservation. The English version is and will always be a rare piece so by doing this you can bring in the emu crowd.

[ProcoTaito]

Nate:

You know it takes a LOT of courage to approach this board opening with this. I have tons of admiration for you, ProcoTaito...i really do.

Thank you for saying that Nate, DBAC does mean a lot to us and we just want to see it live on in Utah.
Your awesome, and thank you very much for your donation!

And thank you to everyone else here who has made a donation as well!
We're very happy that people have come forward to help us.

[Elixir]

Elixir:

it isn't a valid source of regular income

Income for whom? Clearly this is not about "cha-ching" for Game Grid; this is about KEEPING a monumental piece of arcade history in its proper place; a place that takes its possession AND accessibility of the finer things very seriously and very likely strives to be one of, if not THE greatest arcade in the U.S. today! This may not pertain to you (sorry, I don't know where you are), but for "us" this is huge!

Income for the arcade operator to break even and to justify keeping it around. I mean, hear me out. You're not getting 8k. There's just no realistic way. Say that, for example, you wind up with $1000 in donations. The rest of that is going to come out of the arcade operator's pocket. Maybe others will chip in, I don't know, I don't know what the situation is. But the rest of the people using the machine are going to be contributing towards the difference between the total donations received, and the 8k. Anything else is profit.

Also seems a little strange to me to ask people from all over the world to give you money so that you and your friends can play a video game.

This. It's completely inaccessible to anyone not living near or within distance to Utah. I mean, it's just being kept around for the sake of keeping it around. It's not a tourist attraction.

[Nate]

Elixir:

Income for the arcade operator to break even and to justify keeping it around. I mean, hear me out. You're not getting 8k. There's just no realistic way. Say that, for example, you wind up with $1000 in donations. The rest of that is going to come out of the arcade operator's pocket. Maybe others will chip in, I don't know, I don't know what the situation is.

I always thought that this genre was inherently based on optimism; from the average "premise" of every shmup known (your measly 3 ships VS. the immense evil horde) to the promise of endless renovations and expansions on shmups themselves? I don't think there's any room for pessimism, especially when we're talking about a dedicated and historic dev house like Taito; who brought us Space Invaders, Rayforce, Darius Gaiden...seriously do I need to continue?

Yeah, I will agree that the price for this machine is massive; I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be! It's not a standard arcade game by any stretch of the imagination! It is dedicated. It is wildly expansive. It is an experience that many in the U.S. and A. could boast about playing (someday) without having to make a ridiculously expensive journey to Japan just to play...or NOT AT ALL! Fuck! I can't take a train or bus to Japan! Simply knowing it can BE THERE to play is good enough for me.

And, again. Not taking away from any sort of "candy-stacker" standard arcade bullet-hell arcade shooter (which are fantastic), THIS machine is in a class all its own. Anyone who genuinely respects shooters in any form would be able to relate to this.

Drop a $5 spot on it lads...enrich your "shmup-karma".

[trap15]

You should probably just dump the software and let it go. Then it can be preserved forever.