Good PC-Exclusive Import games, what's out there?

[Wyrdwad]

Also, responding to an earlier statement:

Pretty sure Fabrizo mean recent games (Windows XP foward). Games from those older PCs would either require a port or emulators (which is a can of worms by itself). Neither sound feasible for localization to me.

Don't forget about Project EGG! Started by a company called Bothtec, Project EGG is essentially official, licensed emulation of early Japanese computer games, designed to play on modern Windows systems. So it's not entirely unfeasible -- the last game I completed, for example, is "The Scheme," a PC-88 game that came as part of a disc called "All About Bothtec" and played 100% perfectly on my Windows 7 system. So it's definitely doable... but the question is, how feasible is it to release older games like that from a marketing standpoint? And is there really an audience for them?

...If it were up to me, the answers would be "very" and "absolutely." We all need a little more retro in our lives, I say!

But again, this is me postulating things, unsanctioned by anyone else at XSEED. So take anything you read from me with a grain of salt... but do know that the idea has at least crossed my mind, and will definitely be SUGGESTED at work, at least.

Same goes for things like the Experience titles. Rest assured, we won't ignore anything that might potentially be an awesome game for us to release!

-Tom

[TG_Judgement]

Plus ZUN doesn't want any stupid gaijin playing his games.

haha,that's so stereotypical!Common! :v
I really don't think it's him "not wanting" as much as is that he just can't be bothered to cater to those "baka gaijin".

stuff

-Tom

Oh,that's quite neat.I still have some reservations on those kind of projects coming west for a few reasons (Does licensing extend to the west?Are they allowed to sublicense the emulator?And the cost/benefit of translating those old of a game as you mentioned are all possible roadblocks). Don't get me wrong,I wouldn't mind seeing those happening,but it's a long way between wanting and happening.

Either way,can't wait to see what's next on your PC lineup......yes,I am that confident that you guys are prepping more PC stuff for down the line. :P

[AweOfShe]

I don't know how into SHMUPs you guys are, but I know I'll be ordering this game at the end of the month (when the TokyoSHMUPs store re-opens, after the guy returns from his vacation):



Scoring looks quite fun. I have to find a video on the higher difficulty though.

[yeshua]

but the question is, how feasible is it to release older games like that from a marketing standpoint? And is there really an audience for them?

...If it were up to me, the answers would be "very" and "absolutely." We all need a little more retro in our lives, I say!

You should take a look at Zeboyd's games : Breath of Death VII and Cthulhu save the world (I have an extra copy of each in my steam account if you wish), while those games are recent graphicaly they are more outdated than the Gagharv trilogy and seem to have done rather well. And more recently they released Penny Arcade On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode 3 which had a good start.

I think there is definitely a market for retro games, the only con is those games sale if they are relatively cheap which might be a problem for old text heavy games like the Gagharv trilogy.

[Chaosblade]

Pricing is definitely the problem, since you have to deal with things like licensing for localizations (on top of the cost of the actual localization). But maybe those licenses would be dirt cheap if someone is crazy enough to actually go after them for localization?

[Wyrdwad]

A lot of older games have little to no text, though, which might make them "easy pickings," so to speak. Remember, they're not all RPGs! Sometimes you get a really good platformer in there as well.

-Tom

[Shizuka]

Pricing is definitely the problem, since you have to deal with things like licensing for localizations (on top of the cost of the actual localization). But maybe those licenses would be dirt cheap if someone is crazy enough to actually go after them for localization?

That's quite the conundrum you got there.

[Zeta]

Well, the English version of the La-mulana remake came out on PC recently.
It's awesome if you're into Metroidvania type games.



http://www.playism-games.com/games/lamulana/

The Scheme

-Tom

Oh man, my Yuzo Koshiro senses are tingling.

[Wyrdwad]

Oh man, my Yuzo Koshiro senses are tingling.

Yeah, the music in that game is mindblowing.



Fortunately, the game itself is also really good. I've read some negative reviews of it, but honestly, it's really a pretty well-designed Metroidvania. I had a lot of fun exploring it, and some of the challenges in that game were absolutely intense -- I felt shades of the hammer quest from Zelda 2 when I was fighting through some of the craziest rooms you'll ever see to get the high-jump boots.

-Tom

[Macho De Luxe]

Wow, The Scheme looks so awesome! I can't believe I've never heard of this game before.

I don't know how into SHMUPs you guys are, but I know I'll be ordering this game at the end of the month (when the TokyoSHMUPs store re-opens, after the guy returns from his vacation):

That guy's site is a good listing of games. Interesting to look at. I might try to get Crimzon Clover or Gigantic Army from there sometime.