Microsoft Says No To Ketsui and Dodonpachi
I'm sure when Noun sees this, he is going to be inconsolable. In a recent issue of Famitsu, Masaki Sakari of 5pb discussed his frustrations; namely trying to get two of the greatest cave shmups, Dodonpachi Daioujou Black Label X and Ketsui X released on Xbox Live Arcade. Licensing was secured, everything was golden until Microsoft denied their request.
Out initial plan was to port lots of good arcade titles to XBLA. We talked to IP holders of these titles, and persuaded them. We secured these licenses, and finally talked with Microsoft. There they rejected all of our proposals saying, 'We are going to cut down faithful arcade ports.' We felt so frustrated. We wanted to show them that their decision was wrong. So we switched our two most promising projects into retail.
I personally have mixed feelings about this. I like downloadable titles, but I also hate how flooded the Xbox Live Marketplace as become with old arcade ports. At least 5pb appears to be taking the retail release route, so maybe we won't be missing out.
XBLA rejected Ketsui and Dodonpachi [XBLAH!]
Asterick
Posted to Video Games on 31 March 2008
· Comments (4)
Other stuff like this: 5pb, cave, dodonpachi, ketsui, microsoft, xbla
I hate that most of the arcade ports are of crappy games, or the ports themselves are lame-tronic. I bought Gauntlet for some awesome retro 4-player madness without realizing it had an "add extra life button," MAME-style. This quickly turned the game into a boring trudge through endless levels - no need to even press the attack button.
Cave, on the other hand, has FREAKING AMAZING arcade games that NEVER RELEASED OVER HERE! As a giant shmup geek, I am PO'd that the crappy arcade ports like Frogger have now ruined the chances for putting decent games onto XBLA. And if there's no Ikaruga, heads are gonna roll.
Andrew, you hit it right on the head.
Even though I would be upset if Ikaruga slipped from US distribution though XBLA, there is always the chance to find a copy on the GameCube, unlike these Cave titles.
'Tis a sad day, indeed.
Move them to the playstation marketplace and wiiware. Show microsoft what they lost out on.
MS failed hardcore on this one, I'd have loved seeing those on XBLA.
So chalk this up as a loss for everyone.