I find this very interesting. I'm currently at work making a Wikipedia-esc site for all things Namco, and while writing an article for Starblade I came across this:

https://arcadeheroes.com/2015/01/19/interview-star-wars-battle-pod/

It's an interview with Kazushi Imoto, the lead producer for Star Wars Battle Pod. What's interesting is that towards the bottom, the interviewer brings up Starblade: Operation Blue Planet and that the ORBS cabinet was the inspiration for the POD cabinet design used for both this game and Mach Storm. Imoto's reply was essentially saying that Starblade: Operation Blue Planet (and other similar canned projects) could be released if there is enough demand for such.

Maybe we could see this getting a release after all...?