Hands Down, The Best Marketing Ever

The FM Towns Marty was a Japanese console released by Fujitsu. It was able to play super accurate ports of arcade games and is highly collectible today. I’m not exactly in the market for one of these, but I like to keep tabs on the prices on eBay, just in case.

I was checking out the photos of one when I noticed some incredible copywriting on the chassis:

Marty is a powerful ally with the brains it takes to make ‘smart television’ a reality. With Marty, you can experience a marvelous new dimension in intelligent, interactive television performance.


I’ll take five of them, please.

Check it: A Short History of Video Games & The Compact Disk
Buy: The Video Game Bible, 1985-2002

Gunslinger Stratos Looks Awesome

While I think arcade games that use fake guns as controllers are mildly problematic, this arcade game made by Byking and published by Square-Enix looks really cool. You can combine the gun controllers - either horizontally or vertically - to form new weapons. No way it’s ever making its way to the West though.

RIP Andriasang.com We’d like to pour one out for Andriasang.com, who will no longer be posting updates to their blog. Getting Famitsu translations just got a bit harder. On the bright side, the site will remain open as an archive of import gaming news.

RIP Andriasang.com

We’d like to pour one out for Andriasang.com, who will no longer be posting updates to their blog. Getting Famitsu translations just got a bit harder. On the bright side, the site will remain open as an archive of import gaming news.

DoDonPachi Saidaioujou Confirmed for Xbox 360 Phew! I was worried that Mushihime-sama HD would be Cave’s last 360 game, but early this morning they announced that the latest game in their DoDonPachi series will be getting a home version. The arcade port with spiced up visuals and several extra features will be out next Spring. No word on region-lockout but it’s not likely this one will be region-free. [andriasang.com]

DoDonPachi Saidaioujou Confirmed for Xbox 360

Phew! I was worried that Mushihime-sama HD would be Cave’s last 360 game, but early this morning they announced that the latest game in their DoDonPachi series will be getting a home version. The arcade port with spiced up visuals and several extra features will be out next Spring. No word on region-lockout but it’s not likely this one will be region-free.

[andriasang.com]

A Little Bit on the Pomeranian-Lion Side: I just watched this trailer for Tokyo Jungle four times in a row. I hope the game gets a plushy pomeranian-lion pre-order bonus.

Cave Report: Game Over? A few months ago, there were reports that Cave would abandon their shooter roots for “social” games. When DoDonPachi: Saidaiohjou hit arcades, a lot of concern was quelled. But now things aren’t looking so great again. Andriasang.com reports that the company’s VP / COO / Representative Director has resigned and that the company has canceled both of their Playstation Vita games, one of them being a shmup. That’s a lot of bad news in one day. And the fact that they canceled bother their shmup and their social game for the Vita makes it sound like Cave might be packing it in altogether. Who know, but hopefully we get a 360 port of Saidaiohjou before that happens.

Cave Report: Game Over?

A few months ago, there were reports that Cave would abandon their shooter roots for “social” games. When DoDonPachi: Saidaiohjou hit arcades, a lot of concern was quelled. But now things aren’t looking so great again. Andriasang.com reports that the company’s VP / COO / Representative Director has resigned and that the company has canceled both of their Playstation Vita games, one of them being a shmup. That’s a lot of bad news in one day. And the fact that they canceled bother their shmup and their social game for the Vita makes it sound like Cave might be packing it in altogether. Who know, but hopefully we get a 360 port of Saidaiohjou before that happens.

Cave Report: Akai Katana out May 16, Japanese Budget Version on June 14 The North American version of Cave’s most recent 360 port will be available on May 16, courtesy of Rising Star Games and Aksys. Akai Katana is Cave’s only horizontal shooter other than Progear no Arashi. At $40, it’s a steal. But now I’ve got a dilemma. There’s no way I’m paying the $75+ for the original Japanese release. But on June 14, the “Cave the Best” budget version is being released for the same price. Do I pay $40 for an American version or do I pay $40 (plus shipping) for the Japanese budget version? Where’s my Magic 8 Ball?

Cave Report: Akai Katana out May 16, Japanese Budget Version on June 14

The North American version of Cave’s most recent 360 port will be available on May 16, courtesy of Rising Star Games and Aksys. Akai Katana is Cave’s only horizontal shooter other than Progear no Arashi. At $40, it’s a steal. But now I’ve got a dilemma. There’s no way I’m paying the $75+ for the original Japanese release. But on June 14, the “Cave the Best” budget version is being released for the same price. Do I pay $40 for an American version or do I pay $40 (plus shipping) for the Japanese budget version? Where’s my Magic 8 Ball?

DoDonPachi: Saidaiohjou Gets a Trailer

Cave’s latest shooter hit arcades on Friday and if you’re wondering what it looks like, check out the above video. The big question for me is if this will get a 360 port. On one hand, I doubt it because there is usually a three-year gap between a Cave arcade release and a console port. So this may get ported to a next-gen console. On the other hand, Cave have heavily supported the 360. And if the 360 can handle Dai-Fukkatsu without a problem, it should be able to propertly represent Saidaiohjou.

New Macross Game from Namco Bandai Macross is one of my favorite series of all time. Usually, those go hand-in-hand with shitty tie-in games [*ahem* Evangelion], but some Macross games are pretty great, from the Super Famicom’s Scrambled Valkyrie to the PSP’s Ace Frontier. Namco Bandai will release a new PS3 game, My Boyfriend Is a Pilot 2012, on July 26 as a double pack which includes the 1986 movie, Do You Remember Love? Judging by the screen caps, it looks like the game will follow the original Macross’ story line, which is awesome news. [Famitsu via Andriasang.com]

New Macross Game from Namco Bandai

Macross is one of my favorite series of all time. Usually, those go hand-in-hand with shitty tie-in games [*ahem* Evangelion], but some Macross games are pretty great, from the Super Famicom’s Scrambled Valkyrie to the PSP’s Ace Frontier. Namco Bandai will release a new PS3 game, My Boyfriend Is a Pilot 2012, on July 26 as a double pack which includes the 1986 movie, Do You Remember Love? Judging by the screen caps, it looks like the game will follow the original Macross’ story line, which is awesome news.

[Famitsu via Andriasang.com]

Random Purchase of the Month (March 2012)

This month I randomly purchased a Millennium Edition Dreamcast controller. These limited edition pads were released in Japan during late 1999 and early 2000 (basically one year into the system’s life, at least in Japan) in a variety of colors. They came in windowed boxes to show off the transparent awesomeness of the pads.


I didn’t even think when I saw this hanging on a peg hook in the store. One second it was there and the next it was in my hand. They usually go for $40 to $60 but this one was $11. Deal.

I got it home and realized why it was $11. The thing was filthy. After completely dismantling the controller, giving its plastic parts a thorough bathing, and de-gunking the cord, it was back to good condition.

[Check out the previous RPotM]

A Little Bit on the Virtual-On Side: Check out this awesome bonus that came with the limited edition of Virtual-On Force for Xbox 360. Tiny replicas are way cooler than sloppily made figures (cough, Street Fighter IV, cough).

(Source: oratan.com)

A Little Bit on the Virtual-On Side: Virtual-On Force (AKA Virtual-On 4) is getting the Platinum Collection treatment next month. The re-release will run about $35 and feature Fei-Yen on the cover. I hate Greatest Hits / Platinum Collection banners on my game art, but the Fei-Yen art makes up for it. Plus, the price is too good to refuse.

A Little Bit on the Virtual-On Side: Virtual-On Force (AKA Virtual-On 4) is getting the Platinum Collection treatment next month. The re-release will run about $35 and feature Fei-Yen on the cover. I hate Greatest Hits / Platinum Collection banners on my game art, but the Fei-Yen art makes up for it. Plus, the price is too good to refuse.

A Little Bit on the Mushihime-Sama Side: So we’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that Mushihime-Sama HD will be out on May 24. The bad news is that the standard edition will cost nearly $90 and the special edition (which includes alternate cover art and a soundtrack) will cost over $110. And that’s before import shops like Play-Asia jack up the prices. Is that going to stop me from buying it? Hell no.

A Little Bit on the Mushihime-Sama Side: So we’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that Mushihime-Sama HD will be out on May 24. The bad news is that the standard edition will cost nearly $90 and the special edition (which includes alternate cover art and a soundtrack) will cost over $110. And that’s before import shops like Play-Asia jack up the prices. Is that going to stop me from buying it? Hell no.

A Little Bit on the Mushihime-Sama Side: Here’s our first look at Mushihime-Sama HD from Cave. I can’t wait for this game. Hopefully it has as many features as its sequel, Mushihime-Sama Futari.

A Little Bit on the Mushihime-Sama Side: Here’s our first look at Mushihime-Sama HD from Cave. I can’t wait for this game. Hopefully it has as many features as its sequel, Mushihime-Sama Futari.

A Little Bit on the First Footage of Saidaiohjou Side: Cave are location testing their latest and maybe last shoot ‘em up, DoDonPachi Saidaiohjou. Here’s the first footage of the game. I’m happy to see a traditional Cave shooter rather than something like Akai Katana.

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