Ray'z Arcade Chronology [Taito x M2] - PS4/Switch [2023]

[hamfighterx]

I had several preorders that I attempted to cancel two days ago. Have yet to hear a response from SLG.

Confirming that SLG did reply to me in a reasonable time, a few days after my initial request (which I don't think is too bad, especially considering the high volume of support requests they may be receiving). They did send their new shipping targets and asked if I really wanted to cancel, to which I said yes. To their credit, SLG did issue the refunds promptly.

I already have the Japanese Ray'z PS4 retail version, and I'm no longer interested in waiting out this SLG saga. Also cancelled my orders for Dezatopia/Mecha Ritz (ordered Jan 2023), Shinobi non Grata (Feb 2023), Steel Empire Chronicles (April 2023), and Eschatos (May 2023). I'll maybe try to grab those if they ever do release (or might even be tempted to put in a new preorder if SLG starts consistently shipping again and showing improvement in hitting target dates), but I'd like to see them prove it first before letting them continue to hold my money.

[XtraSmiley]

This may or may not ever come out from SLG, but if you already have the Japanese one and $50 isn't too much to spare, you might as well wait and see. That's what I'm doing, although I don't own the Japanese yet. I figure the game is like 20+ years old by this point, what's another 2-3 more?

[hamfighterx]

This may or may not ever come out from SLG, but if you already have the Japanese one and $50 isn't too much to spare, you might as well wait and see. That's what I'm doing, although I don't own the Japanese yet. I figure the game is like 20+ years old by this point, what's another 2-3 more?

Nah, I'm good with taking my money back. I cancelled 7 pre-orders for over $300 refunded, I'd rather have that money under my control, instead of waiting too long and risking these games never shipping and maybe losing the money entirely if SLG folds. I'm usually fairly patient with these kinds of companies, but SLG has not shipped ANY new releases in over a year. I got a couple of the last ones they did ship, Drainus and Cannon Dancer in early 2023 before they just fell off a cliff with their production.

This isn't something like Limited Run taking a long time on a specific release, at least they are routinely shipping new games and they have ALWAYS come through and eventually shipped my games for the dozens of titles I've ordered from them. This is a more of a systemic issue with SLG not shipping ANY new games in over a year, which makes me quite nervous. And aside from Ray'z and its "I'll believe it when I see it" June 2024 target ship date, none of the other games I had ordered in the first half of 2023 even have a projected ship date, making me think that 2024 releases are unlikely.

I'll let SLG earn my trust back, if they manage to start releasing stuff maybe I'll pick some of those games up. Most still have pre-order stock available, so I expect most will have some copies available when they actually start shipping (especially with other people getting on the refund train). I'd rather take my chances with that approach.

I did have irem collection 1&2 ordered as well, but seeing how the download and Japanese releases turned out, I'm kinda fine just dropping those two . Will keep my eye on the others I cancelled.

[XtraSmiley]

That's fair too. I wouldn't let $300 ride like that either, but $50? I'll take a chance!

You're right about the NO new games thing all year though, we'll see what's up in June.

[Moosmann]

I asked about a way to split the order, because Drainus and Osman ist already in stock. Response from customer support, they can ship me the games now, but for Rayz Arcade, it is only possible to cancel and I have to reorder this game.

In this case, I canceld Rayz (from the Order with the other In-Stock Games) and Dezatopia/Mecha Ritz (Single Order).

They shipped me the In-Stock-Games very fast. I shall to get the money for the canceled games within 14 Days.

I was wondering, why other peoples get the money for canceled orders within one day...

[hamfighterx]

I was wondering, why other peoples get the money for canceled orders within one day...

Probably due to how different banks (and in different countries) handle the refunds. Even for my cancellations, I had differences between the two different US credit cards I used for the purchases. One of those accounts got the refund almost immediately after Strictly Limited issued it, the other account took another day and a half for the refunds to post. I'm pretty confident SLG issued all of the refunds promptly at the same time (they did send me individual email cancellation/refund confirmations too).

[Moosmann]

Update, received the money after 3 Days, but didn`t get an eMail from Paypal. I only noticed the money, when I logged into Paypal for another payment.

[dmk1198]

On sale in UK ps store

[AGermanArtist]

Still a bit steep. Darius Cosmic crashed a bit quicker than this iirc. Figured on it being £15 by now.

[SeafoamGaming]

https://twitter.com/RealStrictlyLTD/sta ... 3226506544

Delayed to September (from June/July)

[Ghegs]

https://twitter.com/RealStrictlyLTD/sta ... 3226506544

Delayed to September (from June/July)

The collector's edition is delayed to September, the "regular" limited edition is still slated for June/July.

[XtraSmiley]

I don't think this was a change, just a bad Tweet.

Still, we are about 75 days from seeing if this company is going under IMO. If they miss June/July, then they really are out of money.

[Steven]

Yes, it will be June/July

Spoiler

of 2026

[SeafoamGaming]

https://twitter.com/RealStrictlyLTD/sta ... 3226506544

Delayed to September (from June/July)

The collector's edition is delayed to September, the "regular" limited edition is still slated for June/July.

Huh, yeah that tweet did not make the distinction clear at all; with them shooting stuff like akai ito until 2025 i wasn't surprised if it did get delay. I'll believe SLG Rayz hits PS4 when I see it, though, then I'll buy a copy to support it.

Still pretty convinced the company ain't doing well and it's making me also wonder how the only SLG games with stable release dates are only the taito ones...

[Steven]

Akai Ito is getting a non-Japanese release? That's kind of interesting, especially since the PC/Switch port released like a year ago, so they are kind of behind the times, as usual. Good game, although it took them until about three weeks ago to finally finish fixing all of the stuff they broke in the port.

[samspot]

This doesn't save local high scores! Wtf ... such a simple thing missed out and what a way to spoil an amazing release ... shame on you m2

Do all m2 releases not save the local scores?

Thank god for the saturn core on mister fpga ... I will revert back to it

The m2 ports i have are like this. What I do is use save state slot 1 to keep a persistent scoreboard. Every time I game over I save the state, and when I come back I load slot 1 before playing. I have to save a state while the continue timer is counting down since you can’t save state on the title screen.

It would be cool if m2 optionally automated this in the future.

[Steven]

I believe all of the M2 ShotTriggers games that are published by M2 do save high scores locally. The ones that are published by other companies are a mystery, but I think they don't.

[Jonpachi]

I believe all of the M2 ShotTriggers games that are published by M2 do save high scores locally. The ones that are published by other companies are a mystery, but I think they don't.

Nope. Each time you start a game, it's like you've reset the PCB. The high score board will just show the default high scores, unless you do the Save State trick stated above.

[Steven]

Yeah, I just checked and Ray'z does not save scores locally at all. Darius also does not, I think. The Toaplan ones only save it for the primary versions of the game and also not for the extra non-STG.

[cfx]

Tangentially related: Is there a way to turn off online score uploads in Mahou Daisakusen so I don't get an error that it can't connect to the network nagging me every time upon game over? I'm hoping it's buried in a menu somewhere that I missed. As far as I can remember, I've been able to turn it off in most of the M2 games.

[käyttis]

Has anybody received their copy of the game? Supposedly the normal limited edition of the game was supposed to come out on June of this year.

[Bar81]

Has anybody received their copy of the game? Supposedly the normal limited edition of the game was supposed to come out on June of this year.

WOW. So they blew the June shipment date? Maybe they are actually broke after all.

I have the Amazon Prime Day version, and it's very cool to have, but I wouldn't say it's *essential*. Still sucks they made it this exclusive.

Agreed. Was finally able to get my hands on an R-Gear code. Very cool extra and really neat to play it after seeing the video so many years ago but doesn't really add anything (and Rayforce is my GOAT shmup). Yes, and a horrible decision not to include it for all buyers

[TransatlanticFoe]

It was changed to July a couple of months back, so not quite First Press' silent "move it back a whole year" but not exactly promising either.

[Bar81]

It was changed to July a couple of months back, so not quite First Press' silent "move it back a whole year" but not exactly promising either.

Thanks. Found the doc with the updated release dates for whoever has preorders with them:

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https% ... a5706179b1

[käyttis]

They haven't updated it in their store pages though.

[EmperorIng]

Like any good grabber, I finally double-dipped, now having the Switch boxset (from play-asia lol), and the steam version. It feels pretty good on steam, as to be expected.
I think I've mentioned this before but RayStorm and RayCrisis get better and better, the more i play them.
Though admittedly the rng in RayCrisis is maddening, for such a short game your run can be utterly destroyed by the random enemy placement (and randomized bullet spreads).

[Marc]

It was changed to July a couple of months back, so not quite First Press' silent "move it back a whole year" but not exactly promising either.

I've been waiting on fucking Parasol Stars for 18 months now. Apparently the ROM is 'under testing'. Fuck these guys, between Turtrican and this, I'm not getting burned again.

[TransatlanticFoe]

I just wish they'd be honest. Muttering something vague about an industry slowdown, which as far as I can tell only impacted them - seems legit. At least they gave updates for Turrican, which was delayed by a mix of bugs and feature creep. Nothing substantial for these - maybe stop putting out the gimped ININ versions if it's that much of a struggle??

[Arino]

Is there something like a list of games published by ININ that were done/handled/ported by M2?
Because iirc M2 have done some work for ININ but were uncredited or something?

Also I got a big box from JP of this release, I think it's the normal Limited Edition (not Famitsu DX), not sure, for PS4. Is that good? I still haven't played it. I don't even know what's inside but it's large and pretty.

[XtraSmiley]

It was changed to July a couple of months back, so not quite First Press' silent "move it back a whole year" but not exactly promising either.

Thanks. Found the doc with the updated release dates for whoever has preorders with them:

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https% ... a5706179b1

Thanks for this. WTF isn't it on their website in an easy to find location (or any location)?

I doubt they make July too...