Here we have it (albeit a tad late on my part, sorry folks) – Cave’s magnificent feudal Japanese manic shooter : GUWANGE! Only 800 MSP on Xbox Live Arcade!
Anyone who reads my blog or knows me personally can attest to the fact that I am a big fan of the Japanese arcade game developer, CAVE. Some time ago Cave held a survey asking which one, of several of their back-catalogued games, the fans would like to see fully localized and released on XBLA. Among the choices were Progear, Dodonpachi, ESP Ra.De., and Dangun Feveron (aka Fever SOS).
Votes were cast and Guwange (pronounced GOO-WANG) came out the victor! On November 10th 2010 , Cave fans around the globe saw the interspectacular sight of Guwange available on XBLA – for ten bucks!
I encourage Cave fans in the USA to go ahead and drop a Hamilton on this game. Consider it your vote for more Cave games released in the US. Officially the only North American releases thus far have been Deathsmiles NA and Guwange.
What’s up next for Cave on XBLA?
The discomen collecting romp known as DANGUN FEVERON! Keep checking back for news on a release date, etc.
But back to Guwange…
I’m not going to bother reviewing this game…I’ve seen several game sites with the headline “REVIEW: Guwange is Bullet…HEAVEN?” – so I’ll spare you all the pun laden review. I’ll just say that the game is a faithful port and also incluses two interesting extra modes of play : Xbox360 Arrange Mode (basically a novice mode) and the PUNISHINGLY difficult “Blue Label” Mode. Blue labe mode is a port of a very rare, specially made version of the original Guwange arcade PCB. Originally given to the three highest scoring players at a Cave hosted event in Japan, the “Blue” version is an extremely tough arrange mode. Imagine walking without an umbrella in a severe rainstorm, where the rain is bullets…
Well, whether or not my attempt at evoking an image just now was successful or not, I digress…
How about some pictures and video? Now THAT’s what I’m talking about!
In lieu of my standard style box, this stick has a gradient slope towards the player, and chamfered edges all around give it a “princess” or “gem” cut look.
It’s the top brick in the pyramid of gaming addiction.
It’s the height of geekness.
Today I got a SEGA Aero City candy cabinet. Candy cabinets are sit-down Japanese style machines – usually found in rows inside a Japanese game center.
Crazy story, I posted a “want to buy” on Craigslist – 30 seconds later I get a tip from a random dude to check out the forums over at Aracde Museum. 24 hours later I have the object of my desire.
It has the original Capcom Street Fighter II board in it currently, but after I clean it up and do a little restoration, it’s gonna be a dedicated shooter cabinet. The monitor looks FANTASTIC! I cannot believe that this thing is in as good of shape as it is. Everything works 100%. Buttons and sticks are a little grimy, and will soon be replaced, and the vinyl overlay on the control panel is old and cracked – another easy fix.
My wife is gonna move in with the bleach soon 🙂 That should take care of the 25 years of cigarette smoke that gives it a slight beige hue.
Readers of my blog certainly are aware of my nearly unhealthy love of shoot-em-ups or SHMUPS, right?
One would surmise that if a good shmup was available on a mobile platform, I’d probably be in love with it and play it while on the toilet at work – muttering, in hushed tones, about high scores and score multipliers, right?
Well, now you too can play a killer shmup – while on the toilet at work, or anywhere else for that matter, if you have a cell phone running Google’s Android operating system.
I’m a big fan of Android, and personally believe that Android is poised to kill the iPhone – but enough of that.
This is about games.
This is about mobile ship-flying, shoot-em-up action.
The games, graphically, look similar to the Donpachi series by shmup gods, CAVE. The similarity ends there as these have much lover bullet counts, but are just as challenging – incorporating touch controls and an auto-fire mechanic.
Both of these games ran fine on my Samsung Moment, running a modified Android v2.1 AND even better on my HTC EVO.
Both games are avaibable for free (in demo form) in the Android Market. The full versions run 1.99 Pound, roughly $3.50 USD.
Check out some pics.
Sky Force:
Sky Force Reloaded:
*** Just a note: The Funny looking squares of black and white pixels there, yeah those are called QR Codes. If you have an Android device, you can scan them with any of the Barcode Reader apps on the market. Scanning the QR code will take you directly to the download link for each game. Cool huh? ***
That’s right folks…that’s “STREET FIGHTER VS. TEKKEN” you see typed right there above.
After years of these two fighting franchises spawning several games each, soon we’ll be able to settle grudge matches with titles like “Ryu vs. Law” and “Yoshmitsu vs. Chun Li”.
At the 2010 EVO Fighting Championships, in Las Vegas, sever lucky attendees got the chance to watch a teaser video – sending waves of hype through the fighting community.
For years, Capcom’s “Vs.” series of games, starting with Street Fighter vs. X-Men (and currently, with the upcoming Marvel vs. Capcom 3) has wowed audiences of the genre, and spawned several other “Vs.” games, most recently Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.
But…this isn’t the first time that Capcom has taken the “Vs.” series not just across franchises, but across DEVELOPERS. Lest we not forget about Capcom’s fantastic “Capcom vs. SNK” series.
Players have a lot to look forward to, and to imagine as all the info we have is a few camera shots, and a teaser\trailer.
This is it folks, after a decade of demand Capcom has finally given in…
MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3 IS IN DEVELOPMENT!!!!!
Here’s the reveal teaser, via YouTube.
From the looks of things, it appears that the 2.5D SFIV engine will NOT be used, dashing our hopes of maybe getting high-res 2D sprites a laBlazBlue Capcom is stating that the game will be played with 3D characters on a 2D plane, but that an advanced version of the MT framework (used in games such as Lost Planet 2 and Resident Evil 5) will be utilized.
Described in the press kit as a “living comic…with a deep story”, MvC3’s announcement today is a big deal and it’s mainstream success might open the door for more games in the VS. series or hopefully a completely original fighter.
Capcom’s Seth Killian had this to say “It’s important that game’s have strong stories for Marvel, with fighting games it’s not as essential as an action game or role playing game but we are very much insisting there be some cohesive kind of story for this game. We actually have a subtitle for the game that means something this time. In the coming months we will be giving you more information about.”
As far as characters go, it appears that the following are confirmed to be in the game:
Wolverine, the Hulk, Iron Man, Street Fighter’s Ryu, Darkstalker’s Morrigan, Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield, Captain America, Super Skrull, Chun-Li, Deadpool, Felicia, Dante, Frank West, Mephisto, Black Widow and Doctor Doom.
Now if only Capcom would give us another Darkstalkers! Hey, I can HOPE….
Check back here for more news from Captivate 2010 … I’m sure Capcom has more surprises for us.
The largest, most competetive fighting game tournament in the WORLD.
July 9-11, 2010 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Compete with the best of the best players from all over the world in the soon to be released Super Street Fighter IV along with Tekken 6, Tatsunoko VS. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Marvel vs Capcom 2, and the player’s choice MELTY BLOOD : Actress Again.
Personally, I won’t be able to attend this year, but 2011 may be a different story. I’ll certainly be watching this year though. Check back here or at the official Evo page for details regarding video coverage, etc.
Today I read the best piece of writing, from a gamer’s perspective, that I have ever encountered.
The demise of American arcades pains me, along with the idea that my daughter will never experience the wondrous and challenging world of arcades, as I had the privelege of experiencing – THIS is why I’m so passionate about building and sharing my custom joysticks with anyone and everyone who bothers to read this page. To keep the culture alive in America.
In this essay, Alex Kierkegaard wraps up, and ties with a bow, the essence of arcade culture. More importantly, it explains, for those who just don’t get it (not YOU, beloved reader! You are distinguished, elegant, and have impeccable taste in blogs) the concept of playing a SINGLE CREDIT.
I’m not just preaching to the choir here, this is a great read, even for arcade vets.
So read it, then make a friend read it, then get together with that friend and…
GO FIND AN ARCADE!
**Note** The following link contains salty language, if anyone gives a shit. Sorry kiddies.
Matskat's Custom Arcade Sticks 