PSN, XBLA: 'Shotest Shogi' Passes The XBLA Certification Process
Paul Johnson over at Rubicon Development have claimed that after an apparent 7 months sitting in Microsoft's certification process, Shotest Shogi has finally been passed and ready for release.
Shotest Shogi is a game based on the "harder and more subtle" style of chess generally used in Japan. While most screenshots have been based off of the classic "Kanji" style tiles, they are also added several other styles to the game so to not "scare" away Western players.
Rubicon's previously dealt with Novadrome on the XBLA at the end of 2006, though that's a little confusing, as Stainless Games also claim to have created it. Most likely a joint project.
Shotest Shogi has been fully funded by Rubicon and AI Factory and are publishing the title themselves - but have admitted that Microsoft did help with getting the game out there in a variety of languages. Good to know, at least this game will certainly have Japanese - usually they're left out in the cold.
While the game did take 7 months to get through certification, it certainly was not because of Microsoft, stating that it was "partly our fault and partly some specifics I can't mention".
In other Rubicon news, their other XBLA title, Basement Pool, appears to be on hold for the time being. It will get a PC release, however it "won't be on 360 until Bankshot [Billiards 2] gets retired", referring to the delisting process Microsoft has discussed.
While that's certainly the best way to make money - I'm not too sure if that's going to happen anytime soon. While I'm sure many people weren't buying Bankshot Billiards due to the 1,200 Point original asking price (now 800), the game is included in many Xbox Live 12 month starter kits. Basement Pool is already a hard sell. At the same time though, we do have Chessmaster and Spyglass Board Games...
Paul does mention that they were thinking of releasing it as a PSN title, but they would need a commercial project (aka hired to do another PSN project) to make the cost of PlayStation 3 development kits worth their while.
Good luck to them either way.
Source: Indiegamer Developer Discussion Boards - "Our game actually passes XBLA cert shocker"
Comments
The VIP or the XBLAH, now known as GameBytes.com, still sees the Shotest Shogi as a GREAT addition to the XbxoLiveArcade.com
Posted by: VanIslePimp | July 5, 2008 3:14 PM
Great job Rlan, how do find this stuff? Do you hang on the indiegamer boards all the time or something?
Posted by: Terrence Stasse | July 5, 2008 8:57 PM
Ninjas told me :)
Actually Simon Carless pointed it to me. I'll definitely be looking at it from now on though :)
Posted by: Rlan | July 6, 2008 12:13 PM
Of course, he sometimes has help from others, indeed we compliment each other rather well from our respective positions. Anyway, not sure whom exactly is going to read this little posting of mine, but it looks like I am out for the week. Don't worry, my exile is rather temporary, seems The Staff felt like making a few examples for an ancient accident. Still, I am going to need Rlan and a few others to step-in during my vacation.
Posted by: Shard of Neogaf.com | July 7, 2008 7:54 AM
You can get more on this AI Factory / Rubicon developed product on www.shotest.co.uk, the official website. The actual release date is not yet determined, but Microsoft are likely to announce this very soon.
Posted by: Jeff Rollason | July 7, 2008 9:35 PM
Novadrome was (and still is) Stainless' game and IP. We simply ported it to 360 for them from a nearly complete PC original.
Regarding Basement Pool, there are currently no plans to put this on PSN or any other platform. We're very happy with our relationship with Microsoft and our next big project will hopefully also be with them. Obviously can't say more on that just yet, but suffice to say that whilst it's not dead, basement pool is sadly a long way from coming out on anything.
Posted by: Paul Johnson | July 8, 2008 7:54 PM