Favorite non-Cave arcade shmup developers?

[heisenbergman]

Excluded Cave because they seem both too popular and polarizing to make the poll interesting (read: they would run away with the win and some people will start complaining about it).

Limiting this to Arcade devs. Thought to include PC, but Zun seems to be king of PC shooters and a significant amount of votes may filter to Team Shanghai Alice.

Basically, the poll is what it is since I think that would be the most interesting compared to the alternatives.

I think I've said too much now. Discuss. And vote.

Going with Psikyo. Both Sengoku Blade and Gunbird 2 have been two of the most appealing shooters for me thus far. Same goes for Dragon Blaze, but to a lesser extent. Close second would be Toaplan.

[BrianC]

Disappointed that Capcom and Namco are missing, but I voted Toaplan since I like their games quite a bit.

[trap15]

Y U NO ADD NMK

Voted Toaplan because they're next in line.

[Vyxx]

Raizing for the sex

[KAI]

[Aleksei]

I vote for Qute Corp.

edit: Actually I don't think Qute can count since I don't know whether they released an arcade port, I know that there is what they call arcade mode, anyone in Japan seen Ginga/Eschatos?

Oh and you've upset KAI

[PurpBullets]

No NMK?

Raizing!!!

[Hagane]

Voted Psikyo, but I also really like Seibu and some Raizing. Can't stand Toaplan games at all, and don't like most Konami games either but I love Gokujou Parodius.

[EmperorIng]

My vote goes to Taito, because of their excellent mixture of pick-up-and-play game style in their shmups, mixed with often wholly unique, bizarre, surreal, and memorable aesthetic choices.

After that it would be Psikyo and Konami, with Takumi after them. I may love Soukyogurentai, but I don't think Raizing games are all that hot. I just haven't 'gotten' them.

[Kollision]

No Milestone is depressing
No Capcom and no Namco either

[heisenbergman]

I got the poll choices from the "Breakdown by Developer" here, btw.

[autumnmotor]

non-arcade, but I vote for Qute.
and MileStone(Klon).

[friedrich]

Irem

[Zengeku3]

Yeah, would've voted ZUN given the option since those games are really cool. At least until you play them for score

Among the options given here I'll probably go with Psikyo because I like some of their games while I can't really say the same for the other devs ww. Admittedly though, my experience with not-Cave, Psikyo and ZUN games is quite limited but it's hard to find good looking ones from other developers

[Hagane]

I find it rather interesting how a lot of Touhou players seem to be fond of Psikyo, while Cave fans tend to dislike their games.

[Cuilan]

Where's G.rev? They'd get my vote just for the two Senko no Ronde games.

My 2nd choice isn't on the list either; Studio Siesta should count since Trouble Witches got an actual arcade release.

Ended up voting for Takumi, since based on everything I've played so far, they're the only developer on the list that has made more than one shooter that I've greatly enjoyed.

[To Far Away Times]

I went with Irem due to R-Type and R-Type Delta.

I was really tempted to pick Raizing for Batrider and Bakraid though.

Taito's G-Darius is ace as well.

[Zengeku3]

I find it rather interesting how a lot of Touhou players seem to be fond of Psikyo, while Cave fans tend to dislike their games.

We grew up playing really good (compared to just good - very mature) games so it's only natural that we would like other good games too.

[chempop]

I grew up playing the classics, zaxxon, 1942, lifeforce.. so it's only natural I have an appreciation for a variety of good games.

Voted for Raizing, although I like games from all of the listed devs.

[ciox]

I didn't think Success would make it, so Raizing it is. I'm actually getting tired of them but at the end of the day Garegga and Bakraid is all I play now.

[NTSC-J]

STG DEVELOPERS LISTED BY HEISENBERGMAN POWER RANKINGS

1. Toaplan
2. Raizing
3. Psikyo
4. Takumi
5. Taito
6. Seibu Kaihatsu
7. Konami
8. Irem
9. Treasure

[chum]

If I had been asked a year ago, the answer would've been Raizing, no hesitation. I have to go with Psikyo now, since having spent some more time with Raizing, I think their games are often poorly designed, even though I must give them credit for a number of other things.

Psikyo games are very fun and easy to play, and rarely do any design choices make me question the games. The Psikyo games just work well no matter how you look at them. I would definitely say I prefer Psikyo to Cave, as well, no doubt about that, but again, I'm not too well versed in either of these and merely have some 1cc's, haven't tried playing these games very seriously yet, opinions can always change. I didn't actually play Psikyo much after all.

For the other developers, I guess I would like to say I like Taito, Toaplan and Seibu Kaihatsu are pleasing as well. Takumi and Irem haven't clicked with me much (Mars Matrix is good, though) and with Konami I have to question some of the design choices in the games.

[Drachenherz]

I picked Takumi, because I'm really hooked to Gigawing 2. It's the first non-CAVE game in a long time that really clicked with me and just makes me come back to it for more. I really want to sink my teeth in it and eventually 1cc it - just love the artstyle of this game and the implementation of the reflect mechanism.

Psykio would follow as a close second, though. Love strikers 1945 II and Dragonblaze.

[stryc9]

Why limit this to arcade devs? The genre's too thin to leave out guys like Qute

No Milestone is a bit of a kick in the pants for some too I'm sure.

As it stands, I'll go with Psykyo.

[Bananamatic]

Skonec/Success

[dunpeal2064]

NMK for sure. Since they are absent though, I'll have to go with Raizing.

[Domino]

Easy choice, and no it isn't Raizing.

[Atra776]

Would Yotsubane and Moss also count?
For now, I'm voting for Seibu Kaihatsu, wouldn't mind for Raizing, Taito or Treasure.

[tinotormed]

Seibu favors me more as I mostly liked the Raiden Fighters series. I seconded Psikyo and the Giga Wing 'Takumi' guys.

[BPzeBanshee]

Glad I wasn't the only guy who voted Seibu.