THE RGF SHMUP LEAGUE GAME #3: SONIC WINGS 2

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GAME #3 - SONIC WINGS 2/AERO FIGHTERS 2 - 23rd March - 11th April -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vertical scrolling, 10 levels with 2nd loop. No checkpoints.
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This game can be played on the Neo Geo MVS-AES-CD & via MAME.

All submissions are to be done on default settings with 1 credit:

Difficulty: 4 or pick MVS setting on the home versions.
Lives: 03

No continues

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SCORE SUBMISSION:

The following info is needed for submission:

Player name - Initials - Score - Stage Reached - Character/ship used - Region & Format

eg. AmidstStorm - AMS - 120,550 - Stage 2 - F-14 - JAP MVS (Japanese Neo Geo MVS)
eg. AmidstStorm - AMS - 86,400 - Stage 1 - Ninja - MAME
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BONUS POINTS:

Any player who manages to clear the 1st loop, so have to submit a score reaching stage 2-1 or higher, will receive 3 bonus points.
Any player who manages to clear the 2nd loop, will receive an additional 2 bonus points, for a maximum bonus of 5 points.
Once a bonus is achieved. All future high score submissions won't affect the bonus.
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As the shmup league enters into it's 3rd competitive game we welcome 3 new players, who joined during Game #2. kollisionBR, coffeejoerx & Grunthos.

It's been a quick start to the Sonic Wings competition with some high scores showing face already. I'm currently having a battle with the brick wall known as Stage 6. It's driving me mad. I can pass the stage but just not consistently.

Here is my first credit score:

AmidstStorm - AMS - 355,200 - Hi-en - JAP MVS

  

I'm looking to perhaps clear the first loop of this game, but being as we're playing on MVS arcade settings, the rank system can become quite brutal if you're doing well and haven't lost any lives.

SHMUP LEAGUE STANDINGS AND RESULTS AFTER GAME #2

My personal progress for game's 1&2 are as follows:

Sexy Parodius

1st credit score, 72,500

Final submission, 456,500 (Stage 5)

Arrow Flash

1st submisson score: AmidstStorm - 180,620

Final submission score: AmidstStorm - 859,510 (1CC)

It's been a fun competition so far. Friendly for the most part and some close scores here and there. Here's how the first two games shaped up and the current high score table after two games played:

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High Score Ranking - Game #1: Sexy Parodius - (25th Jan - 24th Feb)
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High Score Ranking - Game #2: Arrow Flash - (1st Mar - 20th Mar) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
THE RGF SHMUP LEAGUE TABLE 
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For the original thread visit here

SHMUP PICKUPS IN PICTURES - JAN/FEB 2012

JANUARY PICKUPS

From top left to bottom right:

Strike Force Hydra - Playstation (PAL)

Super Dropzone - Playstation (PAL)

Sexy Parodius - Saturn (JAP)

Crimzon Clover - PC (JAP)

Trouble Witches - PC (JAP)

Bike Banditz - PC (JAP)

Radirgy Noa Wii - Wii (JAP)

Shikigami No Shiro III - 360 (JAP)

The Hunt For Red October - NES (PAL)

FEBRUARY PICKUPS

From top left to bottom right:

Gyruss - NES (US)
Magmax - NES (US)
Dragon Spirit - NES (US)
Alpha Mission - NES (US)
Defender II - NES (US)
The Adventures Of Dino Riki - NES (US)
Air Fortress - NES (US)
Cobra Triangle - NES (US)
Retro Force - Playstation (PAL)

Under Defeat HD - 360 (JAP)

The RG Forum Shmup League - Game #1: Sexy Parodius

 RULES OF PLAY - (All rules have been shaped by feedback I have received in the thread visit here)

- We choose one shmup to play.

- The current game time will be a period of 30 days, rather than starting on a set date, like the first day of each month which was originally planned.

- The top five high scorers of the current game will each nominate a new game to play for the next 30 days.

- The rest of the league players including the ones who nominate, then get two votes each to cast on two of the five games nominated.

- Highest voted game out of the five nominated then becomes the new game we play. In a case of a tie of votes. A re-vote on the two games will be asked by all players to pick just one of the two.

- There will be a short period, hopefully no longer than 5-7 days between each game played, to give players the chance to decide their nominations and cast their votes for the new game.

-Once all nominations and votes by the current league players are made. The next game will start immediately.

- There will be 10 different consecutive games played in the league which will make up a season.

- Emulation is allowed. Save states are classed as foul play in a high score run submission. Practice techniques are down to the player's choice. If someone suspects a player has been cheating, anyone in the league has the right to ask for video evidence of your skills if they suspect foul play. You also might get booed at, or internet face punched.

- People should take a little consideration for others when Nominating games. eg. easily emulated and available to all involved. Please keep this in mind when nominating. Modern arcade games may not yet be emulated or the quality not up to scratch. Also try avoid expensive titles such as Radiant Silvergun, Hyper Duel. etc. unless the emulation is of good quality or enough people own it.

- If people do vote for a game that not everyone can play. Then i'm afraid majority vote rules. Especially in the case of modern 360 titles which some of us are itching to play. I just ask for people to be considerate when nominating.

- The use of auto fire is allowed on a game if agreed by most players. Some games it will not be allowed due to it's enhancement of the scoring. This will all be bought up for discussion as and when is needed.

- Games being played across multiple formats, ie. Sat, PS1 versions. Should play similarly, but not in all cases and may have different scoring issues. If playeers bring it to attention that they have noticed a difference between ports then we will select one.

- In the case of using any type of MAME emulator for arcade titles. Please choose the Japanese rom as default. Console emulator rom region version will be decided after selection of new game.

- You have one credit on a default difficulty to record your highest score. In most cases this will be Normal difficulty which is standard default. If a game's default difficulty is set to Easy, we then change it to Normal.



IN REGARDS TO THE LEAGUE TABLE AND POINTS

- The top 10 highest scorers of the current game at the end of that 30 day period will be awarded points. Point values to be as follows:

1st - 10 points
2nd - 9 points
3rd - 8 points
4th - 7 points
5th - 6 points
6th - 5 points
7th - 4 points
8th - 3 points
9th - 2 points
10th - 1 point

- An additional 3 bonus points will be given to any player (whatever position they finish at the end of current game period, even if outside the top 10 high scorers), that manages a 1 credit clear.


- Additional bonus points may be agreed at the start of a particlular game if for example the game warrants it. A second loop clear for example or a one life clear.

- It is possible to score a maximum of 130 points throughout the season if a player scores highest in all 10 games played and manages to 1 credit clear all of them. "I will personally donate a kidney if someone pulls this off.. or maybe just buy you a few pints "



POSTING SCORES

- All high score submissions to be made by photograph and posted in this thread for all to see. Please see post 2 or 3 on page 1 of this thread for current submission details needed as these may change from game to game.

Eg. of submission info needed.

Player name - Scoreboard initials used - score - stage reached - character used - shot type - format used

AmidstStorm - AMS - 213,400 - 3 - Michael - Auto - MAME



- A suggestion for only scores to be made during the 30 day period to be posted for submission into the league. Though this cannot and won't be strictly policed. It would be nice to think somebody wouldn't just come in, post a pic of a score they did 5 yrs ago with a 1 credit clear, when now they can't even play the game to any sort of similar standard.

- You can submit as many high scores as you like throughout the 30 day period of the current game. "I highly recommend this. I like to see people's progress and it will keep the thread busy which = potentially more players", and also perhaps iron out any doubts from what was mentioned above.

- No scores will be accepted after the last day of the date stated for the current game.



HOW TO ENTER

- Just post a high score in this thread for the current game in play, or post a comment and get involved.

- You CAN join the league even if you don't play all games, or come in late.

- You cannot re-visit previous played games and post scores after the closing date for that game to catch up.

- Any unknown new forum members joining after the start of the league will have to be accepted by the league players group decision.

GAME NO. 1 chosen by majority vote is Sexy Parodius.

This can be played on Japanese Saturn or PS1, the PSP Parodius collection, MAME or the PCB if you are so lucky.

Score submissions taken from 25th Jan - 24th Feb


*for people playing on MAME - you will need to download a file called konamigx.zip otherwise the rom won't load up properly.

This can be found as easily as typing it into google or contact me via pm.

Please visit here

December 2011 Shmup Pickups

 After a brief period of uncertainty about my collecting, everything seems to have slotted into place and I have realised that I need to just enjoy what I'm doing, not worry about having to own everything ever released, hunt out bargains (they do really exist in the shmup world!), and bottom line.. just enjoy playing the damn games.

So, I started by trawling Ebay and my import sites like I used to, and one or two purchases, soon turned into a few :)

Let's take a look at the shmups I picked up during December. I would just like to add that all the following, I picked up at very good prices, hence the amount I got in December. Sometimes if you see something at a price you know will be hard to beat, especially with Japanese Xbox 360 games, it's sometimes worth taking the fall now if it saves you money on something you were looking to buy anyhow at a later date.

DECEMBER SHMUP PICKUPS

Game: Gyrodine

Developer: Taito

System: Famicom

Released: 1986

Only my second boxed and complete Famicom shmup. A Japanese exclusive that bares a resemblance to Tiger Heli perhaps.

Gyrodine

 Game: Mr. Heli no Daibouken

Developer: Irem

System: PC Engine

Released: 1989

A Japanese PC Engine exclusive.

Mr Heli

Game: R-Type

System: PC Engine

Developer: Irem

Released: 1989

R-Type

The following 3 PC Engine titles do not include the Hu-card games. I managed to pick these up in mint condition just the jewel case and instructions for just £1.50 each. I figured I would come across cheap hu-cards only of these games at some point, and would probably work out cheaper than buying the games complete.

Game: G-Darius

System: Playstation NTSC-J

Developer: Taito

Released: 1998

G-Darius

Game: Intellivision Lives!

System: Playstation 2 (PAL)

Released: 2004

Astrosmash

Game: Taito Legends 2

System: Playstation 2 (PAL)

Developer: Taito

Released: 2006

What a beast of a release. 40+ Taito games and the following shmups all on one disc at a bargain price of a few english pound, new and sealed.

• Darius Gaiden, Gekirindan, Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer, Gun Frontier, Insector X, Metal Black, Space Invaders '95, Space Invaders DX, Space Invaders '91, G-Darius, Raystorm, Syvalion

Game: R-Type Final

System: Playstation 2 NTSC-J

Developer: Irem

Released: 2003

R-Type Final

Game: Radirgy Precious

System: Playstation 2 NTSC-J

Developer: Milestone

Released: 2006

Radirgy Precious

Game: Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy

System: Wii (PAL)

Developer: Budcat Creations

Released: 2009

A build your own shmup.

Blast Works

Game: Geometry Wars: Galaxies

System: Wii (PAL)

Developer: Sierra

Released: 2008

Geometry Wars: Galaxies

 Game: Illvelo Wii: Illmatic Envelope

System: Wii (NTSC-J)

Developer: Milestone

Released: 2008

Illvelo

Game: Milestone Shooting Collection: Karous Wii

System: Wii (NTSC-J)

Developer: Milestone

Released: 2008

Karous

Game: Deathsmiles

System: XBOX 360 (NTSC-J)

Developer: Cave

Released: 2009

I wasn't planning a hurried purchase of the Japanese version of Deathsmiles as I own the PAL version, but was planning on getting it sooner or later When one came up on ebay for under £30 delivered, it seemed rude not to take it off the seller's hands.

Deathsmiles

Game: DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu 1.5

System: XBOX 360 (NTSC-J)

Developer: Cave

Released: 2010

Another unplanned purchase considering I already own the Black Label version and had ordered the below PAL version, but at the price (about 50% cheaper than VideoGameImports and Genki had it listed for), I couldn't turn it down. Simple decison really.

DDP DF 1.5

 

Game: DoDonPachi Resurrection

System: XBOX 360 (PAL)

Developer: Cave

Released: 2011

All praise Rising Star Games for yet another fantastic port and for having the balls for releasing a Cave game in PAL regions, probably knowing it's not going to really break any record sales in this modern game age of moronic modern warfare mentalities. May we have many more please?

DDP Resurrection

Overview pic of December Pickups

2012 SHMUPS, PHYSICAL RELEASES

ST?RMW?ND

It seems not too long ago that I first stumbled across the news that a new Dreamcast shooter was in development called Sturmwind. This excited me no end as it hadn't been long since the release of NG-DEV's, Fast Striker, and I was inspired to start my shmup blog again. This was back in Febuary 2011, but I still have no Sturmwind lining my collection shelving.
It seems the previous release date on Red Spot Games pre order site was late December 2011 and has now been penned in as "won't be released BEFORE MARCH 2012!!". This isn't the end of the world, as I'd rather see them take longer if the game ends up being more impressive overall.


Sturmwind LTD Edition package


2012 PHYSICAL RELEASES

After 2011 being such a big year for shmup releases in my eyes, well certainly in regards to the Xbox 360, 2012 was always going to be one of either excitement or void.

In 2011, Cave repackaged some of their fine bullet hell shooters from their back catalogue, such as Muchi Muchi Pork! and DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label, as well as giving us new releases in the shape of Akai Katana Shin, not long after it was released in Japanese arcades! Others included, Bullet Soul From 5pb Games, Eschatos from Qute (suprise Shmup of the year for me), and a new Otomedius game in Konami's series (please revive Gradius, Twin Bee and Parodius Konami?), not forgetting Rising Star Games' efforts for PAL releases of Deathsmiles and DoDonPachi Resurrection.



DDP Daifukkatsu/Resurrection



So what's on the cards for 2012 you might ask? Well I haven't heard of alot so far. When I say this I mean more in a sense of Xbox 360 releases and physical releases at that. I find it hard to keep up with the Digital releases and although the first half of last year I was buying every 360 digi and Indie shmup I could get my hands on, It soon became apparent that I was forgetting I had bought most of them before I even played them. Out of sight, out of mind perhaps? I even passed on the Radiant Silvergun HD release and I was looking forward to that one earlier in the year, even though I own the Saturn version.

Over here in the UK we never received our PAL releases of Raiden Fighter Aces on the 360 and Shikigami No Shiro III on the Wii, so although I'm not holding my breath for these, it's always a possibility we might see these at some point this year. Look what happened with Duke Nukem :P

UNDER DEFEAT HD

The cracking Dreamcast shooter, Under Defeat is getting a HD overhaul and is due for release as early as February. I was so pleased to hear that as well as a 360 release, that a PS3 port is happening too. This will be only the second physical shmup release available for Sony's beast, after last year's Mamoru Kun port.

Check out some gameplay footage of the new High Definition Under Defeat below.



AKAI KATANA SHIN (PAL RELEASE)

Other releases to get excited about, are a port by Rising Star Games of Cave's 2011 Hori shooter, Akai Katana Shin. This is just fantastic news for anybody not owning a Japanese region Xbox 360 living in the PAL regions. It will also be considerably cheaper than the Japanese release if you haven't already picked it up and they often contain the bonuses of extra content and a soundtrack cd. I can only take my hat off to Rising Star Games for continuing their efforts to keep porting these fantastic games, and hope there are many more to come for this year and the ones preceding.

Akai Katana Shin 2011

Lastly I throw a small mention to news of a Capcom compilation to be released this year of their previous digi only releases, which will include the not so exciting, vertical shmup, 1942: Joint Strike.

My apologies for the lack of coverage on PC shmups such as the Doujin/Indie scene, I began playing some games last year such as ones in the Touhou series and the fantastic Crimzon Clover, but I just haven't really hit that scene yet, as with the modern arcade scene. Watch this space. Any suggestions, or recommendations are always most welcome though :)

QUESTION(S)

1) So what shmup releases are you most looking forward to in 2012?

2) What shmup(s) would you like to see get a remake or new port to a console?


Keep a look out for my upcoming December 2011 Shmup Pickups post, it's a big one!

Happy New Year!

GH x