The new issue of Retro Gamer just dropped through the door and imagine my surprise to find halfway through there is a 6page feature/interview on Cave
The first 3 pages are your standard history lesson, but the gems come from the interview with Ikeda and Asada. I don't know how much of this is common knowledge and some has been mentioned elsewhere (like from EOJ) but these were the standout points made:
- Until progear all slowdown was due to a lack of processing power and from DOJ they begun adding programmed slowdown
- PGM had inferior graphics power but superior cpu which led to changes in design and bullet sizes and spreads
- With SH-3 they began throwing bullets all over the place because of the increased power.
- Ikeda's influences are Salamander (number of bullets), Battle garegga (bullet patterns) and Kukyoku Tiger and Raiden for enemy timings
- Guwange was a trial for international releases, with a sales target of 50,000 downloads.
- Asada says there are "no costs" associated with making a game region free, it's purely a business decision based on the market and licensing opportunities. The reply was a response to a direct question of Microsoft's approval process
- There were offers to license the ps2 titles to the west but Cave preferred to concentrate on Japan at the time
- There are offers "on the table" for more publishing deals, Asada believes there will be more games coming to the west
- Dangun Feveron's release is still undecided, but will depend on how they look at Guwange. They don't correct the assumption it will be on XBL.
- Asada's previous mention of Death Smiles 3 returns, but Asada mentions he and Inoue are actually working on the design concept. If the game is made it will be the last in the series
- 360 was chosen because of other shooter companies using it, no plans for ps3
