New US company to specialize in SHMUP/doujin games

[jeffx]

http://www.rockinandroid.com/

This marks the first time that fan-created, anime-style games for the PC have ever been officially licensed for commercial sale outside of Japan. Among the five titles, SUGURI Perfect Edition and GUNDEMONIUM Collection will be released for direct retail sale, while Flying Red Barrel –A Diary of a Little Aviator–, Qualia and Miku Miku will be exclusively available as download-only titles. All five titles are side-scrolling, shooting/fighting action games slated for a summer 2009 release.

“Doujin games are basically home-made videogames programmed, coded and created entirely by hardcore fans and game enthusiasts, but contrary to the perception of something ‘home-made,’ they look and play like professionally produced arcade games,” says Enrique Galvez, president of Rockin’ Android. “In Japan, doujin videogames are the innovatively cool, small indie label alternative to mainstream console games, as thousands of anime, manga and videogame fans regularly seek out these limited-run products at conventions and specialty shops in Tokyo. As such, we’re thrilled to finally have the rights to introduce these very unique retro arcade-style games to a wider audience in North America, South America and Western Europe.

“SUGURI Perfect Edition, GUNDEMONIUM Collection and our other licensed doujin games all feature a combination of highly stylized anime visuals and stunning character designs with easy-to-follow interface controls, making for a competitive, fun and addictive game that has multiple replay value,” Galvez explained. “With the look and feel that’s reminiscent of old-school retro games, they’re a refreshing change from the current wave of videogames plagued by convoluted storylines and needlessly complicated controls and moves. At the same time, they’re contemporary enough to appeal to today’s gamers who are looking to experience a little-known side of Japanese videogame fandom that’s uniquely different and fun.”

Rockin’ Android’s first PC game release will be the SUGURI Perfect Edition, streeting on June 30, 2009 and value-priced at $19.99 SRP. This DVD-rom contains the two complete games (SUGURI, Acceleration of SUGURI), an expansion pack (Acceleration of SUGURI X-Edition) and two soundtrack albums (TRANCENATION of SUGURI original soundtrack and Acceleration of SUGURI Soundtrack). In addition to the DVD-rom release, downloadable versions of SUGURI, Acceleration of SUGURI and Acceleration of SUGURI X-Edition will be also be made available for purchase at a later date on the company website, www.RockinAndroid.com. Further details regarding the release of GUNDEMONIUM Collection, as well as for the download-exclusive games, Flying Red Barrel –A Diary of a Little Aviator–, Qualia and Miku Miku, will be posted in the coming weeks on the company website.

About SUGURI and Acceleration of SUGURI:

Fan-acclaimed SUGURI is one of the most unique side-scrolling shooter titles ever created by doujin game developer Orange_Juice. Showcasing beautifully rendered designs and backgrounds, innovative weaponry, captivating gameplay action and a cool techno-trance soundtrack, SUGURI is a must-have, must-play doujin game.

Experience the rush of battle as you wage intensive aerial duels in Acceleration of SUGURI, the follow-up to the fan-favorite SUGURI. The rapid-fire combat action that players have come to love in the first game is all here, but now in the form of a hybrid shoot-em-up/fighter. You’ll choose from among multiple fighters (such as Suguri, Nanako, Hime, etc.) each equipped with an automatic lock-on targeting system and an arsenal of hyper weapons, power shields, etc. So get ready to focus and concentrate like never before, because you’ll have to fight your way through multiple, harshly difficult stages and overwhelmingly powerful foes with deceptively distracting weapons firing a bombardment of missiles, laser spears, and beams coming at you in every insane direction imaginable!

About Rockin’ Android:

Established in 2008 and based in Los Angeles, California, Rockin’ Android is a privately owned entertainment specialty group and publisher working alongside creators and clients within the videogame field to license untapped and overlooked independently produced videogames to fill a void in the PC-dominant gaming market within the U.S.

Figured this would be of interest to some members here!!! A new US-based company is going to bring hardcore Japanese doujin games to the English-speaking world starting this Summer!! Here's a brief recap of the four announced titles, two of which are collections.

GUNDEMONIUM Collection

http://www.rockinandroid.com/images/stories/gundemonium_gallery/gndmnmshot01.jpghttp://www.rockinandroid.com/images/stories/gundeadligne_gallery/gndlgnshot03.jpghttp://www.rockinandroid.com/images/stories/hitogata_hapa_gallery/hitohapshot04.jpg
Out of their 4 announced games, I'm looking forward to GUNDEMONIUM collection (http://www.rockinandroid.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=93) the most, as I have spent a fair amount of time playing Hitogata Hapa (third pictured game, which actually has a fan-made English patch) but the others look really good!!! These are all straight-forward, blow-everything-up kind of SHMUPs. The good kind!

GUNDEMONIUM Collection includes 3 complete games
• GUNDEMONIUM Recollection
• GundeadliGne
• Hitogata Hapa




SUGURI perfect edition

http://www.rockinandroid.com/images/stories/suguri_gallery/sugurishot01.jpg
SUGURI (http://www.rockinandroid.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=91) is also a sure-buy, so here's 40$ from me, Rockin Android. Never played SUGURI, but this looks like a mix between a SHMUP and an advanced type of fighting game. The expansion pack is EXCLUSIVE to this new collection! This looks like it is a 2-player game?!?

Perfect Edition DVD Includes 2 Complete Games and 2 Original Soundtracks
• SUGURI
• Acceleration of SUGURI
• Acceleration of SUGURI X-Edition Expansion Pack




QUALIA
http://www.rockinandroid.com/images/stories/qualia_gallery/qualiashot02.jpg
QUALIA (http://www.rockinandroid.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=147) looks too much like a Geometry Wars clone for me to care, but I think I've actually played it some time ago and it looked beautiful.



Flying Red Barrel
http://www.rockinandroid.com/images/stories/flying_red_barrel_gallery/frbshot01.jpg
Flying Red Barrel (http://www.rockinandroid.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=146) looks fantastic (deep Milestone influence) and I've only heard good comments on SHMUP blogs, but I think I'll be satiated with the two collections for quite a while. Plus this one is only available as digital download.


At about 10$/game, all of these sound like absolute steals to me. Not to mention that we're talking about physical copies in the case of the two compilations, which greatly pleases this materialistic gamer pig. I'll be contacting them about what sort of plans they have for the packaging. I'd much rather get a standard DVD plastic case than a plain CD jewel case.

If we support them enough, we could be looking at an official Touhou compilation or better yet some console Cave games in the future??? One step at a time...

[ViolenceJack]

I dunno, the one with the side view in gundumo, looks pretty ridiculous. The top down view seems better though.

Think I'd rather hunt down Philosoma.

[Kakizaki]

Interesting find Jeffx.

[Yet Another Tim]

Jeffx, so, I should suggest to them "Tsundere Wars" from this point on?

Gameplay vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi3GrRc1wpQ

[Fuyukaze]

Looks as if I'll be getting more PC shooters in the near future. Thanks for the heads up Jeff.

[Yazarc]

This is incredibly niche. Does this company not like making money?

I certainly don't think any of the games look bad, but I don't expect this publisher to be around for very long. It's a shame though.

[CSXLoser]

Touhou series plz :D

[Sanctine]

This is incredibly niche. Does this company not like making money?

lol. Exact same thing that crossed my mind.

But then again, they probably get the licensing for these games a dime a dozen. And I can't imagine many of them need a lot of translation work. It could be viable.

[jeffx]

Annual research by the research agency Media Create indicated that of the 1.65 billion USD of the Otaku industry in 2007, doujin sales made up 48% (792 million dollars).

OK, so I know these figures are JAPAN-ONLY, but still. You can see what they're after. Or maybe this is really a drug-money laundering front.

[Tivor]

Or maybe this is really a drug-money laundering front.

Well, some would argue that Touhou games are drugs, so hey. ;)

This is a very interesting news nonetheless. Thanks for sharing.

[sfried]

Well, some would argue that Touhou games are drugs, so hey. ;)

Oh God, I hope they don't bring that overrated bullet hell shooter franchise that gets old fast...I never understood the hype behind them, and I'm good at bullet hell.

That said, it's better for a published to properly translate stuff like Trouble Witches, rather than doing the translations themselves (http://trouble_witches.mails.ne.jp/tw_eng.htm). But again...:
"It’s only within the last 5 years that creator-owned games have emerged onto the scene, offering more visually stunning graphics and innovative game play that can only be crafted by the Japanese mind."
Makes me believe they're just weeaboos with no knowledge of the demo scenes in Europe.

[jeffx]

wow, harsh.

[Isshin_Ryori]

Damn. Didn't even cross my mind hehe

[Pibbman]

Nice, but I really gotta get around to building a windows PC someday.

[Decept]

So I am pretty sure I am going to get that Seguri game. I looked at some youtube videos on Seguri Accelerated and it looked like the chaotic mess of a shooter fused with the strategic finesse of a fighting game. Kinda looks hard to grasp. I think I might invest in a gamepad controller for my PC for this game.

Also, it does look like it's 2p, but I can't look at their website. I hope there is an online feature implemented that way I don't have to find someone to fight me.

Edit - I searched for a way to pre-order, but no luck. As soon as anyone finds a way to pre-order "Suguri Perfect Edition" it would be most helpful to post here for me. It seems the website is having a vote on the best way to distribute and I voted retail because I prefer having a hard copy of games I buy. However, digital distribution is winning :(

On the bright side it seems only the Homepage isn't viewable from work :P

[jeffx]

Finally got Suguri today. It's pretty awesome. Feels good to support a smaller company! Especially since I was order #47... yeah their sales probably aren't stellar.

[Soushi_Grapple]

If they do an RPG or a pure fighting game, Id probably pick it up.

[Enzeru]

I'm thinking of getting Shuguri. I don't trust it's 500MB of RAM recommendation, though. xD

[kat_ears_kahrain]

Ooh! I hadn't even realized they finally released something.

Now if only I had the money. T_T

[Enzeru]

Ooh! I hadn't even realized they finally released something.

Now if only I had the money. T_T
Suguri's only 25 dollars with shipping, and 20 dollars if you download it digitally.

I ordered Suguri. ^^

[Hraesvelgr]

"It’s only within the last 5 years that creator-owned games have emerged onto the scene, offering more visually stunning graphics and innovative game play that can only be crafted by the Japanese mind."
Makes me believe they're just weeaboos with no knowledge of the demo scenes in Europe.I kind of think anyone who says "visually stunning graphics and innovative gameplay that can only be crafted by the Japanese mind" is very likely someone who could be classified as a "weeaboo", yeah. Especially when you consider that a majority of Japanese games absolutely do not have "visually stunning graphics"...

[Enzeru]

that can only be crafted by the Japanese mind."
Makes me believe they're just weeaboos with no knowledge of the demo scenes in Europe.[/quote]I kind of think anyone who says "visually stunning graphics and innovative gameplay that can only be crafted by the Japanese mind" is very likely someone who could be classified as a "weeaboo", yeah.[/quote]
Pretty sure they're just trying to sell their product, guys.

Especially when you consider that a majority of Japanese games absolutely do not have "visually stunning graphics"...
There is no real need to include "Japanese" in that sentence, reason being that most games in general are not visually stunning, or else visually stunning would be a very light term.

[Hraesvelgr]

Pretty sure they're just trying to sell their product, guys.That's going a bit too far with it, imo.

There is no real need to include "Japanese" in that sentence, reason being that most games in general are not visually stunning, or else visually stunning would be a very light term.Yes there is. But since I agree with what you say outside of that, I'll let it be.

[Enzeru]

Finally got Suguri today. It's pretty awesome. Feels good to support a smaller company! Especially since I was order #47... yeah their sales probably aren't stellar.
On this, the sales haven't improved much...I was order number 56. That means they had like, 9 orders in the whole month between us...Maybe it sells well online...?

[jeffx]

It's been a long time coming: GUNDEMONIUM COLLECTION IS OUT TODAY (http://rockinandroid.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=93)!

I just bought my copy for 25$ shipped.

http://rockinandroid.com/images/stories/gundecol-1.png

[Enzeru]

I'm all out of money now due to Technika 2 Soundtrack, but that's definitely next on my list. It comes with the soundtracks to all the games and an artbook (although it's probably just a manual-sized one).