After Burner Climax Possibly Coming To Consoles

[DJ_Izumi]

After Burner Climax has been submitted for ratings in both Australia and Korea.  It's listed as 'Multiplatform' in Australia but for Korea it was submitted by Sony itself.   Personally I picked the Xbox 360 so I'm hoping this goes to XBLA.

http://kotaku.com/5413240/new-afterburner-game-coming-to-home-consoles

This would probably be awesome if played with the Hori Flight Stick EX that came with Ace Combat 6.



I'm liking the way these online networks like PSN and XBLA are going.  A lot of titles that wouldn't be worth $50+ like arcade game ports do a lot better at $10-$20 each and distributed online.  Back in the day Outrun 2 came out with a $39.99 MSRP and House Of The Dead 3 at  $49.99 (Light gun not included).  Both great games but they lack in total gameplay compared to other titles at that price.  XBLA and PSN are the kind of place where games like this could thrive.

[Gorotsuki]

Love afterburner, and that controller is sweet too.
Not so crazy about digital downloads.
You never own anything.
Got burned with multiple red ring
of death console swaps, and
subsequent slavery to x-box live.
What happens when the next console comes out?
You know they aren't going to maintain
these current downloadable titles.
So it ultimately is a rental service.
That hurts me, because I like to play new
games and all my old games too.

[DJ_Izumi]

You know that Microsoft has a system to allow you to transfer titles lisences to other Xbox 360's, so it becomes 'native' to that new Xbox 360, right?  There is a limit, you can only transfer the game once per year to keep people from abusing it.  But if your 360 red rings and you get a new unit or you just replace the unit yourself, you can go to the Xbox site and transfer the lisences of all the games to another system.  That means also if say, you bought some shiney NEW bundle and are selling your boring non-super-red/black/whatever 360 you can keep your XBLA games.

So you don't have to be 'enslaved' to Xbox Live to activate your game on another system.  And when the next console platform comes out... Well, you'll be as SOL as any other system without backwards compatability.

[Gorotsuki]

I wasn't aware of the transfer service.
I don't think it was offered at my last
360 death. If it was, the Microsoft phone service
techs failed to mention it. As losing around $100
worth of games was my reason for discontinuing
x-box live.
I'm not going back.
I do hope they release some of
the really cool download games
on discs some day.
I know I'm missing some good ones.

[DJ_Izumi]

Well, quite frankly, I think online services are where arcade ports like this will go.  There just isn't enough gameplay to get titles like this onto retail shelves.  Honestly some of the best arcade ports BOMB at retail.  House Of The Dead 3 did TERRIBLE on Xbox and that's why they cancled the Virtua Cop 3 port.  Meanwhile on these networks they can charge a more fair price and have access to the entire userbase as customers and not worry about which retail outlets will carry the product.

I think that without systems like PSN, XBLA or WiiWare, we'd NEVER have a chance of seeing After Burner Climax go to consoles at this point.  I hope it's a success and that it thusly encourages other companies to port their arcade offerings to these platforms.

[Gorotsuki]

There was a Virtua Cop 3?
Awesome, I play the other 2
on my Saturn to this day.
Really fun games.
Had fun with the House of the dead
series on Wii as well.

[DJ_Izumi]

There was a Virtua Cop 3?

Yeah it ran on the Xbox based Sega Chihiro like Outrun 2 and Crazy Taxi: High Roller did.  Ghost Squad also ran on Chihiro and so did House Of The Dead 3.  However only Crazy Taxi, Outrun 2/2 SP and HOTD3 ever got home console ports to 360.  It wasn't untill Wii that we saw Ghost Squad and VC3 we'll probably never see unless someone makes a Chihiro emulator.

[hypernova]

There was a Virtua Cop 3?
Awesome, I play the other 2
on my Saturn to this day.
Really fun games.
Had fun with the House of the dead
series on Wii as well.

You and Xioau2...
Always feels like I'm reading reeeeeeeeally bad poetry.

[Ginsu Victim]

There was a Virtua Cop 3?
Awesome, I play the other 2
on my Saturn to this day.
Really fun games.
Had fun with the House of the dead
series on Wii as well.

You and Xioau2...
Always feels like I'm reading reeeeeeeeally bad poetry.

I know what you mean
It is like reading haiku
and it bothers me

[DJ_Izumi]

Outrun 2 could be worth $39.99 to some people for sure.  Especially if they would toss $1 per play into the real machine at the arcades and wanted the experience at home.  That's how I justify my light gun collections, but at the same time that would never be enough people to make the product profitable.  Heck I got Outrun 2006 for Xbox for $4.99 at EB Games and it was new.  The games just rapidly depreciated due to aweful sales.  $10-$20 though, there are a LOT of games that would sell very wel on PSN and XBLA.  I really hope this is where we'll see more and more arcade ports go.  ...For as long as arcade's exist. o.o

[DJ_Izumi]

http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/after-burner-climax-26-live-arcade-shots_497.html

Bumping for updates.

A gallery of 26 screen shots from the 360 version of After Burner Climax has materilized.  I'd say these look authentic because they are 16:9 when the arcade port was 4:3, also some of the menu shots feature Xbox 360 button graphics.  This makes me happy because the 360 release was less promising as previous information only related to Sony.

Since there are screen shots that means the game should be formally announced soon.  Pretty awesome.  I know they'll be getting my Microsoft Points the day it comes out.

[versapak]

http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/after-burner-climax-26-live-arcade-shots_497.html

Bumping for updates.

A gallery of 26 screen shots from the 360 version of After Burner Climax has materilized.  I'd say these look authentic because they are 16:9 when the arcade port was 4:3, also some of the menu shots feature Xbox 360 button graphics.  This makes me happy because the 360 release was less promising as previous information only related to Sony.

Since there are screen shots that means the game should be formally announced soon.  Pretty awesome.  I know they'll be getting my Microsoft Points the day it comes out.

Awesome. I hope it supports my Ace Edge flight stick.

This will be an instant purchase. Heck, I might even stay up Tuesday night to buy it, and I am on the east coast.

[DJ_Izumi]

Awesome. I hope it supports my Ace Edge flight stick.

My understanding is that the Ace Edge for other games acts as a standard Xbox 360 controller.  Someone once even demonstrated playing Halo 3 on it.  Move over, in reviews it was reported that the Ace Edge has a signifigant dead zone but I had a friendlook at that.  The dead zone is not physically in the Ace Edge but apparently exists in software for Ace Combat 6 when the game detects the Ace Edge, in any other game that dead zone doesn't exist.

With the Xbox1 and Xbox 360 it seems Microsoft has mandated that specialty controllers must 'fall back' as regular controllers.  This is why the racing wheel will work with games not built for it too, even though it can specially be recognised and then the games made for it can use force feedback instead of just 'rumble'.  I saw this on the Xbox1 too, HOTD3 specificly detects the light gun as a light gun, but in other games they think it's a game pad and all face buttons can be used to control the game.  Outrun 2 detects a wheel on Xbox1 and changes which control profiles it offers and shows a wheel graphic instead of a gamepad graphic.  Yet the wheel can be used in ANY other game.

The Ace Edge seems to have every Xbox 360 button on it so it should be useful for any game.  Not like a racing wheel which obviously doesn't have a Y axis on the whele, just an X axis.

[versapak]

My understanding is that the Ace Edge for other games acts as a standard Xbox 360 controller.  Someone once even demonstrated playing Halo 3 on it.  Move over, in reviews it was reported that the Ace Edge has a signifigant dead zone but I had a friendlook at that.  The dead zone is not physically in the Ace Edge but apparently exists in software for Ace Combat 6 when the game detects the Ace Edge, in any other game that dead zone doesn't exist.

With the Xbox1 and Xbox 360 it seems Microsoft has mandated that specialty controllers must 'fall back' as regular controllers.  This is why the racing wheel will work with games not built for it too, even though it can specially be recognised and then the games made for it can use force feedback instead of just 'rumble'.  I saw this on the Xbox1 too, HOTD3 specificly detects the light gun as a light gun, but in other games they think it's a game pad and all face buttons can be used to control the game.  Outrun 2 detects a wheel on Xbox1 and changes which control profiles it offers and shows a wheel graphic instead of a gamepad graphic.  Yet the wheel can be used in ANY other game.

The Ace Edge seems to have every Xbox 360 button on it so it should be useful for any game.  Not like a racing wheel which obviously doesn't have a Y axis on the whele, just an X axis.

Well...

It is a regular controller in that it has all the functions of a regular controller, but it is all about placement and function within a game.

Playing Halo 3 with a flight stick is less than enjoyable, and without proper support of the button layout of flight stick contollers (which are a standard thankfully) then After Burner could be just as bad as Halo with it.

There are a few early flight games on 360 that are absolutely worthless with the flight sticks, but they were made before the standard was set by MS.

I am buying After Burner Climax regardless of whether it supports flight sticks or not, but will be most pleased if it does support them.

[DJ_Izumi]

It is a regular controller in that it has all the functions of a regular controller, but it is all about placement and function within a game.

The main stick is left analog and the throttel is left trigger, that trigger almost universally being 'Make thingy go fast' in every game'.  But you are right, some games offer very flexable control mapping while others offer 'profiles' and it might not sync up effectivly.  I've considdered getting an Ace Edge after I get After Burner, please report your results after you've tried it.

Either way, I'm eager to see another arcade game, one I've never gotten to play in real life come to Xbox Live Arcade.  My 360 is starting to look like a portable arcade rig. XD

I'm also hopeful for SystemLink/LAN suport like Virtual On had.  It'd be nice to get two machine local multiplayer going rather than only going agianst strangers across Xbox Live.

[DJ_Izumi]

Interesting, look at the shots of the plane selection screens. Notice the timer in the bottom left? The menus are actually timed, I presume they'll force the player to play weather he decides or not when it reaches zero. This is common in arcade games to ensure a game can't be abandoned and stuck on a menu but will always force something to happen untill game over and it returns to attract mode.

You very rarely see that in console ports of arcade games. I guess this means it will be a very true arcade port. Hopefully it'll include the attract mode, I was sad to see Outrun Online Arcade not have an attract mode. Maybe cause I have so many memories of being a 10yo kid with no quarters, still pretending to play the machines while they looped in attract mode.

[DJ_Izumi]

http://www.console-arcade.com/2010/01/20/after-burner-climax-confirmed-for-psn-xbla/

Today Famitsu announced After Burner Climax for PSN and XBLA, $10/800MSP for 'Spring'.  It's a Japanese magazine, but apparently teh game is on the Xbox 360 Developer unit only PartnerNet (Basicaly Xbox Live for Devs that gets lots of early access) and it's entire in English.  We can expect After Burner Climax here too.

Great price but I wonder if the PlayStation 3 will get screwed out of this Sega game in North America like they did for Outrun Online Arcade.

[gavkiwi]

http://www.console-arcade.com/2010/01/20/after-burner-climax-confirmed-for-psn-xbla/

Today Famitsu announced After Burner Climax for PSN and XBLA, $10/800MSP for 'Spring'.  It's a Japanese magazine, but apparently teh game is on the Xbox 360 Developer unit only PartnerNet (Basicaly Xbox Live for Devs that gets lots of early access) and it's entire in English.  We can expect After Burner Climax here too.

Great price but I wonder if the PlayStation 3 will get screwed out of this Sega game in North America like they did for Outrun Online Arcade.

I hope not, I liked the arcade version, hope this makes it to PSN

[DJ_Izumi]

I hope not, I liked the arcade version, hope this makes it to PSN

Considdering the huge sales of the PS3 this fall and holiday season, the PS3 has a much stronger install base in North America than it did a year ago.  So hopefully North American PS3 users will get some Sega love.

[DJ_Izumi]

Wow, this game is gonna have a LOT of unlockables. :O  Awesome, that should add some nice replayability.

[DJ_Izumi]

The offical Sega Europe blog announced After Burner Climax today and posted an offical announcement trailer.  It also passed ESRB ratings and the ESRB certificate lists it as being for PS3 and 360, so it seems like both core consoles in North America are getting love from Sega.

[SNAAKE]

I think I just climaxed 

[gavkiwi]

Thats Awesome news, cant wait to play this

[DJ_Izumi]

It'd be nice if Sega would give us an actual release date.  'Spring' is so vague afterall and I wanna know when I can hop into my F-14 and take on an absurd ammount of missiles and enemies.  But here's to a future where Sega releases more reasonably modern coin-ops to XBLA and PSN. :3

[Dartful Dodger]

I feel air sick.

I couldn't figure out from that demo if it's going to be like the original where you more or less are going in one direction or is it going to be an open field?

It'd be great if it was an arcade style simulator where you have a giant map that you can fly in all directions to cover it.

If it was like the original with better graphics, I'd rather just play the original.

[versapak]

I feel air sick.

I couldn't figure out from that demo if it's going to be like the original where you more or less are going in one direction or is it going to be an open field?

It'd be great if it was an arcade style simulator where you have a giant map that you can fly in all directions to cover it.

If it was like the original with better graphics, I'd rather just play the original.

It is on rails like the original.

[DJ_Izumi]

It is on rails like the original.

It apparently lacks online play, which is sad when the arcade version could link machines together for team play.

[Dartful Dodger]

Too bad.

It looks gorgeous, I would've like a flight simulator game that allowed me to
fly around a map, but didn't require me to have an actual pilots licences to play.

[DJ_Izumi]

Too bad.

It looks gorgeous, I would've like a flight simulator game that allowed me to
fly around a map, but didn't require me to have an actual pilots licences to play.

So... You want Ace Combat?

[Dartful Dodger]

So... You want Ace Combat?

Ace Combat looks great.  It will eventually come to the PS3, but are there any GOOD games like that on the PS3 already?

[DJ_Izumi]

Ace Combat looks great.  It will eventually come to the PS3, but are there any GOOD games like that on the PS3 already?

I wouldn't bank on a PS3 port of Ace Combat 6. o.o

[DJ_Izumi]

It would be so cool if someone could homebrew up a cab for this game.

Xbox 360, large LCD TV, Ace Edge flight stick, cutting torch... F-4 Phantom or some other kind of cold war jet fighter easily found in surplus. :3

Do you think the Canadian Air And Space Musuem needs this?  I mean, there's only one left in existence so no one would miss it, right? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/AvroCF105ArrowRL206Serial25206.jpg

[AldousHxlE]

Wow! After Burner Climax is actually the only arcade game in 10 years I've actually bothered to pump enough tokens in to finish... twice! This is very exciting news for me.

Anyone have an Ace-Edge they want to get rid of?

[DJ_Izumi]

http://kotaku.com/5505004/after-burner-climax-comes-to-xbox-live-playstation-network-in-april

It's offical.  April 21st After Burner Climax will come to consoles.

[geocab]

Looks like I checked this forum at the right time.  i just saw Afterburner Climax for the first time at a Gameworks in Indy a couple of weeks ago and I was thinking it'd be great to see it on XBLA sometime.  Sweet!

[gavkiwi]

Looks like its today for XBL & Tomorrow for PSN, 1 more day 

[Malenko]

it was up for download last night. I didnt buy it, but I saw it.

[versapak]

Anyone buying it for 360...

It does indeed support flight sticks. Great stuff. Just go to Options>Controls> and select Type D.



 

[DJ_Izumi]

I've already played a couple of rounds.  I like how it has an attract mode now, in the PartnerNet demo that was online for some time you couldn't escape the menu so it always ran ontop of the attract.  The shame is the PLOT segments of the attract have been dropped and you only get instructions and game demonstrations.  That's something minor.

Otherwise I'm impressed, you get a pretty solid and accurate console port of an arcade game for a meer $10.  It's fast, it's pretty, it's shiney and it's fun.  The EX Option cheats are fairly easy to unlock, they seem to have no skill required you just have to do something X ammount of times untill it's unlocked.  If you keep you will eventually get all 35 cheats.  Of course these don't work on Score Attrack mode which is the only mode that gets you on the leaderboards.  You can cheat your ass off but it'll only apply to arcade mode with your own local score board.

[DJ_Izumi]

Okay, I have one problem with this game.  The EX Mode cheats still let you get local high scores in arcade mode, which means you can get damn high scores with little actual effort, with say, auto fire, auto-lock on, unlimited missiles and no damage, you can just fly along blowing everything up and never dieing.  Sure you take out 1000 planes and get over 2 million points but at the same time any 'ligit' attempt at arcade mode is knocked down by these unfairly high scores.

Having unlocked all of the achivements already, I think I'm going to delete my player data so as to reset the high scores to default.  I think the only EX Option I want is freeplay mode and the rest are kinda, ya know, BS.  Granted some make the game harder, most make the game much easier.