Googlewhack - Barbiturates Planktonology

Been fascinated with the concept for days, found one of my own:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8185014334_7703ab2679.jpg

AvsG Series 1 Challenge 2: Gunhed

Gun Unit Heavy Elimination Device

So with some sadness I leave Gunhed and post my final score of 3,135,780 just behind Amidststorm’s score of 3,530,900. Those scores seem very close but the difference of 395,120 points represents possibly a level’s worth of scoring or a boss battle point tally. This competition was a nail biter all the way to the end with myself putting in an 11th hour run, well a 10:00 run in order to squeeze one more attempt in before the 12:00 deadline on the 15/03. I was going well and had amassed a ton of lives and no deaths up till level 7 but fatefully I lost concentration and died losing all my power ups. I limped onto level 8 but my severely depleted ship didn’t stand a chance. I know Amidststorm hates level 9 but the level I dislike is 8 because of all those evil bubbles, so frustrating. Due to busyness I’ve only just put some runs in on this game towards the end of the challenge and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t start this sooner – curse you real world getting in my way! Congrats to AMS he thoroughly deserved his victory, this is one challenge I’d like to revisit at some point because I’m sure, as I fell my friend will agree that 1cc is so tantalisingly close!

Compile/Hudson RIP

I’ve enjoyed this challenge so much because it given me the chance to spend some time with an iconic title from my gaming memory GUNHED! Nothing screams or epitomises the PC engine more than this game – the little console firing out a stream of technically impressive shooters and generally punching above it’s weight. Another reason why I’ve been enthralled by this challenge is because it gave me the opportunity to dust of my PAL(ised) TurboGrafix which has had hardly any use since I bought it brand new 3 years ago. I’m starting to change my opinion of this machine - it’s still ugly, the plastic it’s made from is nasty, and the artwork on the games is generally not as nice as their gorgeous Japanese counterparts, but the console runs those us release games perfectly in the UK and there’s a certain amount of charm in the way the console is over-engineered.

Roll on challenge #3

AvsG Series 1 Challenge 1: Result and Aftermath

Ketsui > 360 > X-Mode > 1 Credit

Well the amazing first challenge has been done and dusted for over a month now and what fun it was, shamefully this is my first post about it.

Congrats to Amidststorm on his destruction of my score, I'd love to say it was close but I was trounced!!

I don't care though I enjoyed ever second and now feel like I know the game a little better.


Amidststorm - 112506227
Gmintyfresh - 064762608

So the current state of play is 1-0, I've subsequently had a few blasts on the game outside of the challenge and managed to drop a 74 million point score and I can see how the 100 might be possible.

Anyway challenge 2 is nearly over, more details about that in the next blog - I'm personally a little bit less hectic at the moment so I promise to pour more time and energy into this wonderful project.

Let the games commence!

Amidststorm's post regarding the challenge.

The Curse of Pal Raiden Fighters Aces

Ahh the long and twisted tale of the Pal Raiden Fighters Aces (360) release might be nearing an end. I downloaded a demo of the game when I first picked up my 360 all those years ago and in the intervening years the rights to the game have shuffled from publisher to publisher. Indeed after numerous shifting release dates and company bankruptcies, there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

It appears that Raiden Fighters Aces might be getting a German PAL release at the end of March:

http://www.amazon.de/DTP-Raiden-Fighter-Aces/dp/B006M8HGME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327667187&sr=8-1

Listed on Amazon Germany

http://www.dtp-entertainment.com/de/index.php

Company listed as publisher - DTP

http://forum.dtp-entertainment.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=19924

And an interesting question on DTP's forum.

Considering that the company tend publish its titles as European releases and not soley for the German market this might mean we'll actually get a PAL release.

We have been here before though with the Australian PAL release last year which never made it out. I'm if it does make it out the game won't include the superplay DVD of the wonderful Japanese version (please prove me wrong). I'll keep you informed about this story as it unfolds.

AVSG Series 1 Challenge 1: Ketsui. Update Vid #1

I'll be posting a new run video here tonight, this video represents the second best run I've done. Despite making some daft mistakes I still end up with a decent score, hopefully I'm going to get a better example because I forgot to save a replay of my top run!!

AVSG Series 1 Challenge 1: Ketsui

This long and waffling post (as I know it will be at the beginning of writing this) could also have been titled "How Geoff found his way back to shmups" or "Geoff loves shmups again". I'm conscious over the last year that whilst bolstering my collection with quality shooters I've enjoyed the chase collecting these games rather than dusting off the consoles and playing them. In a way I've been unfair to these games and the genre I love so much, all this is changing. I felt at the beginning of the year the pull of blasting and weaving my way through hoardes of alien scum - I blame the PAL release of Dodonpachi Resurrection for this. Why does DDR have the distinction of reigniting the engines? Well being an owner of the Japanese version I picked up the PAL version as an afterthought because it was cheap, I could skim off some cheap achievements, and also because I wanted it for the 360 collection. As always when i pick up a new game it gets a test before it goes onto the shelf to be played at some future date - this was a fatal mistake. Thinking "I'll have just one go I might as well" led me to an hours worth of gaming and an urge to play more shooters.
So on a fateful night (13/01/11) whilst playing DDR my good friend AmidstStorm popped up online and a frustrating 20 mins trying to get a two player online game working (we still don't know how to do it) turned into a shmup challenge of epic proportions! Myself and AmidstStorm have decided to conduct a monthly shmup competition with each participant choosing a game to decide the king of shmups!! Well it's for fun really weve both admitted that we're average shmup players but for both of us it's an opportunity to play some of the games in our collection and have a friendly competition at the same time.

We set up a few rules that have been expalined very eloquently by AmidstStorm here: http://gunheadshmups.blogspot.com/2012/01/amidststorm-vs-gmintyfresh-high-score.html and on a basic level there are 2 laws to stick to

1> Default settings
2> 1 Credit



So the first choice in the series is Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi EXTRA X-Mode on the 360, I must admit that I've not played the game that much. When it was originally released I really wondered what all the fuss was about becuase the game is held in such high regard by Cave fans, I'm starting to see why this is when playing for a score rather than survival. The game is set up to get as close to the enemies as possible in order to score higher. The levels and enemy patterns are set up maximise scoring potential and theres a great risk and reward structure to gameplay. There's nothing nicer than pulling of a big showboating chain successfully.

Personally so far I've enjoyed comparing gaming experiences with the stormy one and challenging myself to beat that last score, something that's sadly missing from more modern games.

Announcement Video:



First Run Video:

Top Tens - Games 2012

Watch "Top Tens - Games 2012" on YouTube

List of 360 Shmups

Just a personal list for my own reference:

Physical Releases:

Senko no Ronde Rev.X - Jul 25, 2006 / I own the LE version
Shikigami no Shiro III - Dec 12, 2007 / Jap version
Senko no Ronde Rev.X - Mar 04, 2008 (Platinum Collection)/ Don't own will pick up if I see it cheap
Raiden Fighters Aces - Mar 25, 2008 / Own the Jap version will pick up US if I see it cheap
Raiden IV - Sep 30, 2008 / Own Jap version will pick up the US release if I see it cheap
Otomedius Gorgeous - Nov 19, 2008 / Jap version owned
Dodonpachi Daioujou Black Label Extra - Feb 19, 2009 / 1st print version with tip/art book included owned
Shooting Love 200X - Feb 19, 2009 / Still yet to purchase
Death Smiles - Apr 24, 2009 / Jap Limited Edition owned
Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta - Jun 25, 2009 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
Mushihimesama Futari - Nov 26, 2009 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
ESPGaluda II - Feb 25, 2010 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
Otomedius Gorgeous (Platinum Collection) - March 11, 2010 / Will pick up if I see it cheap
Deathsmiles (Platinum Collection) - April 8, 2010 / Will pick up if I see cheap
Ketsui - Apr 22, 2010 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
Senko no Ronde DUO - May 20, 2010 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
Death Smiles II X - May 27, 2010 / Jap Limited Editon Owned
Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta - Jun 29, 2010 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
Strike Witches Shirogane no Tsubasa - July 29, 2010 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
Radirgy Noah - Oct 28, 2010 / Jap Version owned
Mushihimesama Futari (Platinum Collection) - Nov 11, 2010 / Will pick up if I see Cheap
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu - Nov 25, 2010 / Jap Limited Editon Owned
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu: Black Label - Feb 3, 2011 / Still to Purchase
Muchi Muchi Pork & Pink Sweets - February 24, 2011 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
Bullet Soul - Apr 7, 2011 / Jap Version Owned
Eschatos - Apr 7, 2011 / Jap Version Owned
Otomedius Excellent - Apr 21, 2011 / Jap Version Owned
ESPGaluda II (Platinum Collection) - Apr 28, 2011 / Will pick up if I see cheap
Akai Katana - May 26, 2011 / Jap Limited Edition Owned
Deathsmiles II X - Nov 10, 2011 (Platinum Collection) / Will pick up if I see cheap

>Others

US

Deathsmiles LE
Qubed
Otomedius Excellent LE

Uk

Wartech
Deathsmiles
Dodonpacho Resurrection
Popcap Hits Vol.2
Arcade Unplugged
Arcade Hits
Namco Hits Virtual Arcade - Still to buy

XBLA releases:

Aegis Wing - 2007 (US Marketplace only)
Ikaruga - 2008
Triggerheart Excelica - 2008
Omega Five - 2008
R-Type Dimensions - 2009
Raystorm HD - 2010
Space Invaders: Infinity Gene - 2010
King of Fighters: Sky Stage - 2010
Guwange - 2010
Strania - 2011
Trouble Witches Neo - 2011
Bangai-O: Missile Fury - 2011
Radiant Silvergun - 2011

Geoff's Top Ten Most Anticipated Games 2012 PT.1

Another huge year for gaming, I’ve decided to pull together my 10 most anticipated games of 2012. This will form the basis of a video I'm planning to upload in the next few days.


10. Darkness II - I loved the underrated original which played better after the first few levels were trudged through, the game went to some very sick and twisted places and the actual implementation of the darkness in the game was very novel and original. The sequel seems to ramp this up even more and I’m really looking forward to this. Released 10/02/12 – I’ve opted for the 360 LE which has more DLC than the standard version.


9. Catherine – Mad, bonkers, Japanese, and a bit seedy. Released 10/02/12 I’ve preordered the PS3 Stray Sheep Special edition, you get a lot of crap with it, man February is going to be an expensive month.




8. Halo 4 – Otherwise know as the return of the Master Chief in my mind!! I love this series and hopefully the change of developer will shake the series up a bit, don’t get me wrong I loved 3, in fact I think it’s my favourite game in the series. However by the end of Reach the game formula seems a bit samey, the game needs to evolve in order to stay relevant in my opinion. Released Autumn 2012 Wouldn’t be surprised if this slipped.


7. GTA V – Always a big deal when a new game comes out in the series and the title always delivers on home consoles. Little is known about the game except it appears to be set in Los Santos and that the game resembles the mighty San Andreas which is no bad thing in my opinion. The game looks sprawling and hopefully will have a bit more to do in it than GTA4. This is going to be huge!! Released Possibly 2012



6. Bioshock Infinite – Easily my favourite FPS series and with Ken Levine back at the helm this can only be a fascinating adventure. Early indications are good, the game looks startlingly different and yet similar to BS1 & 2. Released 01/06/12 Going to plump for the 360 version unless the PS3 port is drastically better. Surly there will be special editions…

Part 2 tomorrow.