The long running Shining Force fansite known as Shining Force Central run by the biggest Shining Force fan there is ‘Moogie’ has sprung into action with a new campaign to convince Sega and/or Camelot to give us a new Shining FORCE game in the classic style for next years Shining Forces 20th anniversary.
Who better to introduce the idea then Moogie herself?
Hit the jump for what she had to say on the matter!
“Remember how great the original Shining Force games were? I’m not talking about the hack’n’slashes released in more recent years (EXA, NEO) – I mean Shining Force 1, 2 & 3. Quality games which are still incredibly playable to this day (see how popular it is on the iPhone, Wii VC etc!). The only game to really come close was Shining Force: Feather, but that was only released in Japan. Shining Tears was enjoyable, but not the classic turn based tacitcal RPG.
The series certainly took a downward turn when the original development team (Camelot) and Sega fell out in the late 90’s, but recent signs indicate there may be the chance of this relationship being re-established. Wouldn’t it be great to get a new SF game in the original style? The glory days of the Shining series could yet be restored.
We, the fans at Shining Force Central, have begun a new campaign. It’s not an online petition, which we know have little impact as they can generally be faked and therefore mean nothing. We’ve campaigned before with co-ordinated letter writing and more, and in fact received some very positive feedback from Sega and Camelot. But that was years ago. It’s time to try again.
This time we’re trying to show Camelot just how much we loved their work on the original games. This isn’t about whining or making demands. The Shining series turns 20 years old in March next year and we all think this is the ideal time to send Camelot a “bundle of love” – letters, fanwork in various forms and a huge Shining birthday card designed by fans, and signed by as many fans as possible. We know how much Camelot love their fans and want to please them (for example, the various Shining freebies they’ve given out to fans over the years, the way they always reply to their fan mail etc). It’s time we showed them how much we love them.
Making demands and whining achieves nothing. Let’s try a positive approach for a change!
In addition to the postal campaign, we’re also organising a YouTube campaign – a different take on an online petition. Fans are submitting brief video clips of themselves reading out a standard campaign message. We’ll also be writing to Sega (and possibly Nintendo & Sony, since their consoles have hosted the recent Shining titles) to explain the campaign & its aims to them and include photos of the package sent to Camelot.
If you’re a fan of the Shining series and would like to help the campaign, please visit the site at:
http://sos.shiningforcecentral.com
We all know that the odds are stacked against us, as with any fan campaign, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying It won’t take long for you to lend a hand, but think what it might achieve.
As an incentive to aid the campaign, this week I will be announcing a prize draw which all who send a video and/or postal letter for the campaign will be entered into. The prize is really quite special. I almost can’t believe I’m giving it away! ”
So there you have it! I’ve been a Shining Force fan since Shining Force 2 and have been desperately hoping for a return to form. Ever since I saw the Canvas engine used in the Valkyria Chronicles games and the classic European look of some of the characters I’ve pined over the thought of a new SRPG Shining Force with all the flair and classic Lord of the Rings inspired stories and art of the classic games.
Lets help support this move by SFC with every means possible!
Make sure to go HERE to find out what you can do to help, however small it is!
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It would be cool to see a SRPG in the Shining series again. To be fair though, the first game in the series was a first person dungeon crawler.
Still, I am glad to see this will be a positive request to Sega, I'm really tired of how people think the best way to get results is to be a big jerk about it.
Here's hoping!
Rememeber to go to the site and do your part Cosmic Castaway.
I really miss the days when the Shining series was not only SEGA's second biggest RPG IP, but one of the biggest in the whole industry, and considered one of the best to boot.
Oh yeah, and the new games being terrible in game, art, world, story and character design has upset me a lot too.
I hope something good comes from this.
Yes, save our series!
Give us a follow-up to Shining Force EXA! Call it "Firklin's Adventures" or something. ^__^
Also Sega could make a partnership with 'Camelot' again.
Or how about they don't.
Action RPG follow-up to EXA = YES PLEASE
Shining Force III…. Ahhh… Count me in for any help I can provide!