One of the greatest arcade games of all time (at least in my mind) is being ported to the PSP.  For some reason, I don’t think it’s going to be quite the same game.

That’s right, the arcade Gundam game that costs about five dollars a play but really gives a great immersion factor is being made portable for the PSP in Japan on March 26th.  With really no way to redo the cockpit design or control scheme for a portable device, the game takes a big hit. Halving team play from 8v8 to 4v4 probably won’t be a deal breaker for probably anyone, though.

Last time I checked, you can’t sit inside a PSP.

I used to play this game a bit too much.  Every Friday I would spend about 20 or 30 bucks just hopping in the cockpit for around 10 to 15 minutes a go and really just getting my tail handed to me by much, much better pilots.  The crazy part is that I wasn’t alone.  There was a line at my arcade to even play it — it was a real classy setup of put your card down behind everyone else and wait for their cards to disappear.  The reason I really got into this game probably has something to do with my love of MMORPG’s.  Your pilot grows the more you play the game and is allowed access to better gundam’s and parts, your stats are also stored so you can compare with people all over Japan.  That in itself kept me coming back.

The friend I played with on those Friday nights when I should have been out socializing loved the feeling of really flying a gundam.  There are two foot pedals and two joysticks that you have to use to pilot the gundam.  The seat isn’t made for an adult really but those are the only people I ever saw playing.  It didn’t matter how tight the fit is, having that giant screen display like I’m inside the Gundam is an experience in itself.  Sitting in a room with a PSP is nowhere near the same thing.

Who knows — the game may still sell like hot cakes because it’s Gundam, but it just won’t be the same in my eyes.

Source:  Famitsu

Tags: Arcade, gundam, Japan, Mobile Suit Gundam, MSG, port

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