Hey guys.
So, I came accross The Guru's Naomi Rom Dump News page sometimes, and noticed a game I knew absolutely nothing about: ExZeus.
Quick Google search, the game exists, is available on Steam, Switch, Wii, PS2, PC, it's playable, it's actually quite a decent rail shooter, openly inspired by Planet Harrier, go and give it a try !
View: https://youtu.be/psSsznQSUK8?si=hND28BWSk7OYqtHw
https://store.steampowered.com/app/..._Collection/?l=french&curator_clanid=42604691
But what about an arcade Naomi version ? Does it actually exist ?
Very few info exist about it, Wikipedia page mentions a Naomi GD Rom version of the game, but I couldn't find any proof attesting its actual existance.
The only pics you can find of an arcade version are from flyers of these "Tsunami Motion" cabinets, but still no pic of the actual game.
Turns out the game was actually first released in 2003 as a PC shareware game by HyperDevBox Japan, created by french developper Carlo Perconti.
I contacted him through facebook and he happily answered a few questions about ExZeus on Naomi.
As it turns out, the studio developped a Naomi version of ExZeus to be edited by Taito. The game was even presented by Taito at Jamma Show 2003 running on some Egret 3 cabs, I have managed to find some blurry pictures on this video:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=CHoP1iDYdYo
So, what became of it ?
According to Mr Perconti, they did make a Naomi port of their PC game to be published by Taito. Around 20 Naomi copies of the game were produced by Taito for Location Tests around Japan in 2003. M.perconti insisted that they were Naomi Cartridges and not GD-Rom. The location tests results were "not bad" , but due to timing issues, the release of the game was ultimately cancelled by Taito, as they were abandonning Naomi hardware in favor of the Taito TypeX that got released in 2004 (dang I'm getting old).
The same video of Jamma Show 2003 features Pochi to Nyaa that was also supposed to be released by Taito in 2003 on MVS but ultimately got cancelled so I'd take it as true.
Taito grabbed back the game carts and devkits after that. If they still exist, they are certainly somewhere in Taito archives. Yeah, no rom for you guys.
Regarding the "Tsunami Motion" cabinets, those also did exist. M. Perconti moved for 3 weeks to the USA to develop a version of the game developped specially to run on TsuMo PC arcade hardware, featuring analog controls, as well as a throttle controller, and of course, a moving seat. They were produced at a very low quantity for dedicated arcades only in the USA.
Afterwards, the game was released on PS2 and Wiiware with little to no marketing, so it went quite unnoticed, untill it got released on Android and iOS on which it became quite popular, enough to get a sequel.
Still, give this game a go. It's not a tripple A game, and it's no Planet Harriers, but it's enjoyable enough to give it a try. And you don't require an analog joystick to play it on your cab.
As for M. Perconti, he is still making games with HyperDevBox Japan, their upcomming title is a Beat'em Up called Kings Do Not Fall
View: https://youtu.be/T8mD60kxtyo?si=TalN97-EzXgrHsUc
So, I came accross The Guru's Naomi Rom Dump News page sometimes, and noticed a game I knew absolutely nothing about: ExZeus.
Quick Google search, the game exists, is available on Steam, Switch, Wii, PS2, PC, it's playable, it's actually quite a decent rail shooter, openly inspired by Planet Harrier, go and give it a try !
https://store.steampowered.com/app/..._Collection/?l=french&curator_clanid=42604691
But what about an arcade Naomi version ? Does it actually exist ?
Very few info exist about it, Wikipedia page mentions a Naomi GD Rom version of the game, but I couldn't find any proof attesting its actual existance.
The only pics you can find of an arcade version are from flyers of these "Tsunami Motion" cabinets, but still no pic of the actual game.
Turns out the game was actually first released in 2003 as a PC shareware game by HyperDevBox Japan, created by french developper Carlo Perconti.
I contacted him through facebook and he happily answered a few questions about ExZeus on Naomi.
As it turns out, the studio developped a Naomi version of ExZeus to be edited by Taito. The game was even presented by Taito at Jamma Show 2003 running on some Egret 3 cabs, I have managed to find some blurry pictures on this video:
So, what became of it ?
According to Mr Perconti, they did make a Naomi port of their PC game to be published by Taito. Around 20 Naomi copies of the game were produced by Taito for Location Tests around Japan in 2003. M.perconti insisted that they were Naomi Cartridges and not GD-Rom. The location tests results were "not bad" , but due to timing issues, the release of the game was ultimately cancelled by Taito, as they were abandonning Naomi hardware in favor of the Taito TypeX that got released in 2004 (dang I'm getting old).
The same video of Jamma Show 2003 features Pochi to Nyaa that was also supposed to be released by Taito in 2003 on MVS but ultimately got cancelled so I'd take it as true.
Taito grabbed back the game carts and devkits after that. If they still exist, they are certainly somewhere in Taito archives. Yeah, no rom for you guys.
Regarding the "Tsunami Motion" cabinets, those also did exist. M. Perconti moved for 3 weeks to the USA to develop a version of the game developped specially to run on TsuMo PC arcade hardware, featuring analog controls, as well as a throttle controller, and of course, a moving seat. They were produced at a very low quantity for dedicated arcades only in the USA.
Afterwards, the game was released on PS2 and Wiiware with little to no marketing, so it went quite unnoticed, untill it got released on Android and iOS on which it became quite popular, enough to get a sequel.
Still, give this game a go. It's not a tripple A game, and it's no Planet Harriers, but it's enjoyable enough to give it a try. And you don't require an analog joystick to play it on your cab.
As for M. Perconti, he is still making games with HyperDevBox Japan, their upcomming title is a Beat'em Up called Kings Do Not Fall
