In the previous version of my website, I had a dedicated page to Starblade (still available but ugly
right
here) were I mentioned
Star Blade: Operation Blue Planet prototype game. I didn't rebuilt that page when I moved the website into this last DLF/ALS revision in 2007
...and there's no more
STARBLADE : Operation Blue Planet mention here?! Let's fix that
. In short
A NEW STARBLADE GAME TO COME ?
AM Show 2001: Star Blade: Operation Blue Planet
Namco unveils an impressive new 3D polygonal shooter with an unorthadox cabinet.
TOKYO - Perhaps one of the surprises during the 39th Amusement Machine Show today was the demonstration of Star Blade: Operation Blue Planet. Namco released a 3D shooting game named Star Blade for the arcades back in 1991, and it was later ported onto the 3DO and PlayStation. The sequel couldn't have returned at a better time, as the current technology available for graphics and sound have allowed the developers to bring the experience closer to reality. The game is contained in an arcade machine in the shape of a spherical pod. At the rear of the machine is a slot where the seat slides in and out of the pod. The interior contains the control panel and a half-sphere monitor, complete with a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio system. Since the monitor wraps around, players will see the game as if they are looking through a fish-eye lens.
Namco provided further information during a conversation with GameSpot. "Though both machine and game were displayed at the show for demonstration purposes, we will make announcements regarding the release of the game in the future," the company representative said. "The machine will not be limited to this game, but can even be used possibly in a driving game."
The Star Blade: operation blue planet demo was certainly one of the most popular games at the show, and there was a 70-minute wait to play the game.
The game uses Namco System 246 hardware. That game is only a prototype and it's still not released yet ( shame on Namco ! )
At the time I published on youtube a video footage of that game during the AM Show 2001. Until today, it was the only video footage available...but not anymore :Namco has created a UGSF website dedicated to Namco’s space games, and they just released from their archive the complete (and only) level available from the game
More pictures of the cockpit that should be used for that game
Flyer :
As you can see, the game was not completed by Namco .. what a shame because it looks 'almost' finished!
Maybe the creation of the UGSF site and the release of new information indicates that Namco is working on something new about the Starblade franchise or other of their 'shooters' game?
Let's dream about a release of that 'Blue Planet' on modern consoles
Link :
UGSF homepage (Japanese)
