Raiden - The Aces High Superplay (pic heavy)

Andrew76 · 20-01-2012 10:18PM #1

As mentioned earlier in the shmup thread my Raiden superplay arrived this morning. Bought it on Monday from tokyoshmups.com (thanks Pyongyang for the link) run by a very nice chap called Jeff. Standard shipping is only $8 but for an extra $8 you get EMS which is mighty fast (it only shipped on Tuesday). In the package you get 2 DVDs, 2 CDs, an inlay card/leaflet and an 88 page book. Overall it's excellent quality, especially the book - I've taken a whole bunch of pictures of it to give an idea of the contents. It was a bit awkward trying to keep it open and take pics without creasing it too much.

Front and back sealed pics:

Front and back of the case and book. The sprites on the back of the book are cool and very apt - those damn tanks always seem to kill you! :pac:

Front and back of the leaflet that shows what's on the discs.

DVD1 has superplays of Raiden and Raiden II. DVD2 covers Training and Expert modes in Raiden DX and also has what it calls 'Out Take' for all three games - they're short clips of gameplay showing tips and tricks I think. There's an awful lot of content in there which will keep me busy for years. The CDs have soundtracks from the PS version of DX (think it came with a soundtrack), PC Engine Super CD-ROM version and some remixed tracks. Nice graphics on the discs too including that purple Miclus bonus chap.

More to follow...

Andrew76 · 20-01-2012 10:18PM

Here's the 88 page book, has tons of info in it but of course almost all of it is in Japanese. Think I might try and find someone to translate it properly, same goes for the tips in the superplays (if I can find someone willing to sit through it for a few bob). It really is a gorgeous little book.

Contents:

Artwork from Raiden II:

Raiden II Setting Material - I'm not sure but these look like sheets of paper used by the designers? Maybe to write notes beside different enemies or plan out gameplay? Bottom right you can see a section of a level and a grid beside it - I wonder was it used to describe what should be happening at each section.

There's quite a few level map drawings:

Some alternative artwork (with some decidedly dodgy tight jeans on that chap):

There's several different sections towards the back of the book, this first one looks to be detailing tips or strategies for each level in each game, it goes on for pages.

This looks like it's related to the arcade scene or players? Not sure about the pictures of the hand and fingers - they seem to show red marks, maybe from prolonged play? No idea really. There's also a very interesting picture at the bottom that shows a thumb tac stuck in the side of the P1 Start button - keeping it permanently depressed. Anyone any ideas why?

Here's a close up of it:

Another section this time talking about Seibu Kaihatsu's history. You can see a pic of one of their non-shmup games Senkyu (Battle Balls), the SPI motherboard that runs the Fighters/Fighters Jet/Viper Phase 1 games etc.

There's plenty more in the book but I'll stop the pic spamming now. I do like the Cave style shmups but there’s something about the early Raiden games that I’m very fond of, real old school feel to them.

Thanks for looking!

Pyongyang · 20-01-2012 10:24PM

When I saw (pic heavy) in the thread title I immediately grabbed myself a couple of pairs of spare pants. Cripes Andrew you did not disappoint on the SHMUP SMUT!

What a Superplay DVD this is! I know what it set you back and can safely say mate, money well spent indeed, especially for such a huge Raiden fan as yourself.

The art book is lavish! I love the map layouts and grid designs. That thumb tack picture is intriguing, I wonder what it does?

Jeff is a top, top guy. With something as precious as this DVD set, you were absolutely dead on buying the EMS shipping. I would have done too if in your position.

Lovely stuff mate, enjoy it, it's gone to a good home.

o1s1n · 20-01-2012 10:27PM

Holy crap, that looks like the bee's knees!

I absolutely love that bit of art on the back with the red ship, the tank and one bullet. Sums the whole game up really

Were you saying the shop is sold out of them now? I'd really love to pick that up. Looks like one of the nicest pieces of game related paraphernalia I've ever seen. I'd even love it just for all that production art!

Thanks a mil for the photos, they came out great.

Andrew76 · 20-01-2012 10:35PM

Cheers lads! I'm delighted with it. I'm a total novice at the games themselves so looking forward to learning a bit more from the videos.

Pyongyang wrote: »

...That thumb tack picture is intriguing, I wonder what it does?

...you were absolutely dead on buying the EMS shipping. I would have done too if in your position.

Lovely stuff mate, enjoy it, it's gone to a good home.

Yeah I'd love to know the reason for keeping the Start button held down. I went with the EMS only because if was so cheap, approx €12. I was worried after that I might get hit by customs but I can see the value was put down as €15 - I feckin wish!

o1s1n wrote: »

Holy crap, that looks like the bee's knees!

I absolutely love that bit of art on the back with the red ship, the tank and one bullet. Sums the whole game up really

Exactly what I thought too, 3 sprites that sum up the game perfectly. It would make a lovely picture to frame I think.

o1s1n wrote: »

Were you saying the shop is sold out of them now? I'd really love to pick that up. Looks like one of the nicest pieces of game related paraphernalia I've ever seen. I'd even love it just for all that production art!

Thanks a mil for the photos, they came out great.

There was only one on his site when I got it but you could always email him incase he gets another in. He has Raiden III and IV superplays too but this one will do me for quite a while I think. He has plenty of other superplays all in mint condition, might be another shmup one that takes your fancy.

o1s1n · 20-01-2012 10:44PM

The pin thing is really weird alright.

At first I thought it might have been some cheap way of getting free credits or something - but the pic is from a standard Astro City cab, so I dunno! Must find someone who speaks Japanese to have a look

Pyongyang · 20-01-2012 10:44PM

The only way these photos could be improved is if you connect your camera to your Trini in tate mode, slideshow the photos you took and use another camera to take photos of your photos on the Trini of your photos of photos with scanlines on your photos!

Pyongyang · 20-01-2012 10:47PM

o1s1n wrote: »

The pin thing is really weird alright.

At first I thought it might have been some cheap way of getting free credits or something

Not on a superplay DVD Pantrylad!

It is intriguing though, never ever seen that before. I guess we could try it out on my cab one day and see what it does?

Andrew76 · 20-01-2012 10:57PM

Actually, Pyongyang, you should use your now famous blog to get some in-depth interviews form former Seibu Kaihatsu staff (game designers and programmers etc, not the cleaning lady!).

Andrew76 · 20-01-2012 10:59PM

Pyongyang wrote: »

Not on a superplay DVD Pantrylad!

It is intriguing though, never ever seen that before. I guess we could try it out on my cab one day and see what it does?

The pic is not from a superplay though, it's from a proper cab as o1s1n mentioned. Not sure which Raiden it's from though. Actually he could bring his Raiden II pcb over to yours and you could test it out while musing over the merits of pantry's and €700 sweaters. :P

Pyongyang · 20-01-2012 11:00PM

I've a couple of bits interview-wise in the pipeline. One coming very soon. The other is still in limbo somewhere. There's another one that is a huge deal, but it's a long shot (no, not Cave). We'll see.

o1s1n · 20-01-2012 11:01PM

Any chance you can get my Raiden II PCB signed while you're at it? :pac:

Pyongyang · 20-01-2012 11:02PM

Andrew76 wrote: »

pantry's.

pdbhp · 21-01-2012 11:47AM

Extremly smutty stuff there Andrew, lovely looking book aswell.
Is it all just DVD's about the game?

Gotta get me some new shmups after seeing that....... off to Ebay!!

Andrew76 · 21-01-2012 01:52PM

pdbhp wrote: »

Extremly smutty stuff there Andrew, lovely looking book aswell.
Is it all just DVD's about the game?

Gotta get me some new shmups after seeing that....... off to Ebay!!

Yeah the 2 DVDs show someone playing Raiden, Raiden II and Raiden DX and then there's some extra clips. Just checked, there's just over 6 hours of footage. The CDs are just soundtracks and remixes.

pdbhp · 21-01-2012 06:59PM

Andrew76 wrote: »

Yeah the 2 DVDs show someone playing Raiden, Raiden II and Raiden DX and then there's some extra clips. Just checked, there's just over 6 hours of footage. The CDs are just soundtracks and remixes.

Nice, those damn Japs get all the good stuff.
Got me a new shmup for the Gameboy earlier thanks Andrew:pac:

Pyongyang · 21-01-2012 07:28PM

pdbhp wrote: »

Got me a new shmup for the Gameboy earlier thanks Andrew:pac:

:eek:

pdbhp · 21-01-2012 08:11PM

Pyongyang wrote: »

:eek:

Solar Striker for €9.95 CIB, only issue is a price tag in the top right hand corner of the box, it's bloody welded on and I can see the box coming apart underneath the sticker:(

Not from Andrew, it was his blatent showing off that spurred me on

o1s1n · 21-01-2012 10:14PM

Decided to try and make a Raiden sprite. Think I may may that tank and bullet to go along with it

Lighting is weird in the room so it was really hard to photograph. You get the idea though!

Pyongyang · 21-01-2012 10:34PM

That looks superb, nice build!

I was looking in to some Darius 1:60 model kits. But the power of Batrider keeps slapping my wrists telling me no!

Great stuff though Pantryboy.