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http://mihara.sub.jp/top/picts/k-sample-2.mpg
A poster at HK-STG said that a Ketsui DVD will be coming this winter. One thing you'll notice in the trailer is a "Distribution by Arika Co., Ltd." watermark. Now this has me wondering if there'll be a PS2 port. This is a good sign IMO- there's enough interest in the game to warrant it. Given how good the other two ports on similar hardware turned out, I would not be surprised if Ketsui did hit PS2.
Come on Arika- let's see a consumer port. :)
I would hope so, isn't kinda pointless to release a DVD for a arcade-exclusive? THEM CRAZEE BASTARDS AT CAVE!!!
*-neo
I've got some bad, bad news. The Ketsui DVD is on indefinite hold.
So what went down? According to Arika's vice president Mihara on his blog, CAVE provided some internal info on Ketsui and a special No-Death PCB of the game so that the superplayer could practice. To reach the final boss "DOOM" you have to get a perfect run.
Cave did this understanding that it would be done covertly and that the superplayer wouldn't go out competing with the acquired skills. Regrettably, there was no written contract- just a spoken agreement. :( Damnit Arika.
So there he goes, taking the #1 spot in Arcadia. Arika nixes the DVD release possibly as a sanction against him. Mihara has essentially said that Cave is pissed right now, and he wonders what will happen to the port of "that" game- does this mean a Ketsui PS2 port would have seen the light of day barring this incident?
If Arika will not be allowed to port any more Cave games, here's hoping Taito can pick it up. Knowing these two companies are on good terms (remember Type-X), surely they could strike a deal on consumer ports of Ketsui and Mushihime in the meantime?
Much sadness :(
If they bypass Mushihime-sama, I'm personally sending a package bomb to Cave.Quote:
Originally Posted by gameoverDude
ASHCROFT IS WATCHING
wait, he resigned, nevermind
So, let me get this straight.
Arika is fucking interested consumers over because the person they wanted to use for filming this went and subimtted a score for the game in a magazine (ie not in a specific competition, last I checked), which was contrary to their non-concrete agreement?
Doesn't this really mean Arika are fucking themselves? Selling a DVD of someone playing a game is practically free money. They can't find anyone else to take this player's place?
I mean, hey, if Arika wasn't happy with Espgaluda's PS2 sales (which wouldn't surprise me), then fine, but this line of reasoning is point-blank retarded.
I sure hope Cave and Arika can sort this out amicably. If they really have a problem with this guy then they need to get someone else (just get in touch with Arcadia, folks) and put them under a written contract. Arika needs to get this DVD out whatever it takes- and quit fucking over Cave and Ketsui fans.
7F- The lack of a home port of Mushihime-sama definitely doesn't sound fun to me either. Getting Ketsui on PS2 would also be nice- personally I think Arika should've gotten on that one long ago.
If I were in charge at Taito, I'd be watching this drama very closely, getting ready to make Cave an offer if the deal with Arika gets severed.
Bah, thanks for the additional info Steve. This couldn't get worse it seems. Really stupid situation the two have put themselves in either way, especially Cave's little stunt with the no death PCB. And here's hoping Taito partners with Cave on home games also (a company will probably have to seek *them* out). They at least are probably a little more stable of a company than Arika and can maybe port stuff and get it to market quicker anyways. Anyways, basically the same thing I said on the shmups BB before it went down..again. Yarrrrgggh.
Anyways, if Ketsui doesn't get a home release I still have my Progear board to keep me busy 'till I can afford a Ketsui PCB. :D
But yeah, we need a Mushihime port stat, I'm not gonna even attempt to save for that thing. And it's always a plus to be able to save your scores to a memory card.
More info here in the thread for it in click's forum, scroll down aways:
http://click-stick.com/ipw-web/bulle...topic.php?t=93
From Yamo Skrap who has been filling us in on more about this:
Ouch!Quote:
So,... after reading Mihara's blog, it seems he seems really down about this whole thing, plus some other stuff that's just made it a bad week for him.
In news related, people have been writing to Mihara/Arika saying that they should release the DVD anyways, and that even though it was a bad thing to have happen, they still want to see stuff from Arika. Mihara said he even got letters from players that work competing for the Ketsui hi-score (although he can't confirm if the letters are from the real person or not), it's nice to see that people are trying to help support.
Anyways, the unfortunate thing I read in the most recent entry is that it seems that he's really beating up on himself, and saying that he can't be forgiven and that he won't be able to do ports anymore. He said that once you lose the trust of someone (Cave), it's hard to get it back. And then he mentions that he wonders what will happen to the port of "that".... I wonder what "that" could be....
OK, now I am still a bit confused as to why both parties did this, but the whole thing sounds like major dishonesty on both Cave and Arika's part. BUT, is it just me or is Cave totally hanging Arika out to dry on this? Sure they should have gotten the kid to sign a NDA but it looks like Cave is embarassed they got caught and is using Arika as the whipping boy on it. Pretty lame. But maybe I still misunderstand exactly what the hey is goin' on. Anyways, a non-death PCB sure defeats the point of a superplay DVD regardless.Quote:
OK... I have a better feel for what the Arika page says now,... don't know if the translation above is clear to everyone, but I'll go ahead and write up what it says one more time.
So,... apparently when making the Ketsui DVD (and maybe the two previous ones as welll...?) they employ someone good at the game and have him practice a lot to make up a good DVD. Arika got help from Cave in the way of extra internal information and an invincible ROM, which I sorta had wrong, but it is pretty much the "no-death" ROM stated before which means you can practice the game without dying.
Now all this was done by Cave for Arika based on the fact it will be done secretly and this player wouldn't go out and compete using his new found skills. Unfortunately there was no official contract, just an agreement in words.
And so this player goes out and takes number one in Arcadia (I believe) and when Arika finds out, they have to make a decision on how to punish him for this, so they end up not releasing the DVD (maybe he makes a % off of the sales?).
In any case, Arika takes responsibility for all this and apologizes to all Ketsui gamers that were practicing so hard, and to Cave for not being able to keep a cap on the boy.
Anyways, that seems like the deal. I wonder if everyone was able to pull that out of the translation above.... Have I said too much?
What Steve said. Oof!Quote:
gameoverdude: Cave should not have given out a no-death version of the board. They should blame theirselves for what could be an "Ashlee Simpson" incident of gaming. Those who need to practice should do it for real with an unneutered version of the PCB like the rest of us.
People are writing to Mihara? I think people should start writing to Cave telling them (politely) that they should cool off and make nice with Arika since THEY gave them the no death PCB and they were BOTH in on this sham together anyways. How much could it cost to just make up, give them a LEGIT PCB and hire a new player then tape it? But I guess in Japanese culture this is in total honor code violation territory but the DVD sure doesn't seem to have been an honorable affair to begin with.
I do fault both parties in various ways.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kosh_H
Arika should hire Imakichi or someone who ALREADY has an Arcadia record (I have a hunch Imakichi might). This should be a prerequisite. Imakichi's first loop movie is brilliant.
If I were at a company and in charge of a Superplay DVD for Border Down, YOH (320+ M) would get the first shot at being hired for the DVD given his track record.
If Cave got enough kind mails from the fans, maybe they'd consider cooling off. Cave has to get some cut of the yen from the sales on the conversions of DOJ and Galuda. I think it's asinine that they would deprive theirselves of profits from Ketsui and Mushihime ports even if it's "on principle".
Well, they seem to answer fan questions on their site quite a bit don't they? Maybe yamo or someone could forward some messages to them after a bit of organization.Quote:
If Cave got enough kind mails from the fans, maybe they'd consider cooling off. Cave has to get some cut of the yen from the sales on the conversions of DOJ and Galuda. I think it's asinine that they would deprive theirselves of profits from Ketsui and Mushihime ports even if it's "on principle".
EDIT: I just posted a reply to yamo in the thread asking him what he thinks about fwd'ing Cave some letters.
It's hitting the 2 year mark since launch (where as ESPG's PS2 release was within a year), so the future of a PS2 port is looking grim. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by gameoverDude
Too true. :( IIRC Ketsui was released on 1/1/03 so it's just about there. ESPGaluda's release was QUICK- I think it may not have even been a whole year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Seven Force
On the other hand, I do remember a few arcade ports from Japan coming out years after the original - like Elevator Action 2 which arrived about three years after the arcade version, Metal Black (6 years), and Gun Frontier (ditto). But these have been exceptions.
Realistically, Arika would probably opt for Mushihime-sama first since it's much newer. I think the future of a Ketsui home port would have hinged on the sales of the Ketsui DVD.
True, like I said before I already plan on buying the PCB when I can. But maybe something will happen between then and now, ya never know.Quote:
It's hitting the 2 year mark since launch (where as ESPG's PS2 release was within a year), so the future of a PS2 port is looking grim.
Click-Stick has this scan of Arcadia's Ketsui hi-score page up. Could the mystery ARIKA DVD Super Play guy be responsible for one of these? I bet so.