Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portland)

Having a shmupmeet? Want to find one in your area? Come on in here then...
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Dante2k4
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Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portland)

Post by Dante2k4 »

Alright, so I work at a gaming... place. We have arcade cabs, pinball machines, 360s, a projector room, tabletop stuff, etc. We're basically an all encompassing gaming location. As a way to get people in to the shop, I've been trying to get groups of people to come in for events based around gametypes that I enjoy. I've done events for Netrunner, I've TRIED to do events for Street Fighter and BlazBlue, and now I'm thinking I want to do some kind of meetup for shmuppers.

I live in Oregon City, OR, but I work in Milwaukie, and Portland is close enough to us that it's no big deal to get here.

The desire to create some kind of local group for shmup players is how I found this board, and the fact that there are shmup MEETS is encouraging! Thing is, I'm not sure what would happen at these things. Do people just get together and play shmups independently? Is it basically just a meetup so you can maybe try some games you wouldn't normally have been able to try? What is it that entices people to attend these events?

I personally have always played shmups, but I didn't take them seriously until the Dreamcast/360 stuff started coming out. As it is, I still play them pretty casually. I don't know most of the systems very well, and I generally just play them for fun when I have time to do so. Despite this, I still love 'em to death, buy more of them than I probably should, and would actually like to get better at them.

So, while I'm not a pro or anything, I DO possess a love for the genre, and a willingness to get a group organized. My workplace is an absolutely perfect venue for such a meetup, so... any tips? Info? Anything?

Also, if any of you are from Portland (or any of the surrounding cities), let me know! Another hurdle is going to be finding the local shmup scene, as I don't know if there's any kind of organized... well, anything, at this point :p
Zerst
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by Zerst »

Lots of over the shoulder watching, a couple casual vs games on the side, PBR everywhere. Mostly just a big hangout.
Dimahoo is a fun game.
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rancor
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by rancor »

People meet up and bring games / systems that others haven't seen or played. Talk, play, eat. Make new friends. Get new contacts. Sell things you don't want and buy things you do. Show off your latest acquisition. Not much drinking happens at our meetups (dulls the reflexes), but there is always food and interesting people to talk with.
Make sure there are plenty of places to sit, some quiet(er) places to talk, and let the magic happen! :wink:
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Davey
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by Davey »

rancor wrote:Not much drinking happens at our meetups (dulls the reflexes), but there is always food and interesting people to talk with.
Ha, drinking was involved at most of the ones I've been to. Usually the early part has been mostly about gaming, then things gradually shifted towards drinking and bullshitting as the night progressed.

I've met up with a few different groups at shmup meets, and even though the forum has a reputation for being elitist or overly pedantic or whatever (or least I thought it did? I just kinda lurk nowadays), everybody I've met has been really nice. I remember the first one I went to was kind of surreal, because before that I'd never actually met anybody in person that knew what the hell these games were, let alone played them.
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PROMETHEUS
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by PROMETHEUS »

Davey wrote:I remember the first one I went to was kind of surreal, because before that I'd never actually met anybody in person that knew what the hell these games were, let alone played them.
haha yes that's totally the feeling :D
"this is real, i'm not alone" :D
Scores, replays, videos || I have written a guide about getting good at shmups. Check it out !
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Sonic R
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by Sonic R »

Davey wrote:
rancor wrote:Not much drinking happens at our meetups (dulls the reflexes), but there is always food and interesting people to talk with.
Ha, drinking was involved at most of the ones I've been to. Usually the early part has been mostly about gaming, then things gradually shifted towards drinking and bullshitting as the night progressed.

I've met up with a few different groups at shmup meets, and even though the forum has a reputation for being elitist or overly pedantic or whatever (or least I thought it did? I just kinda lurk nowadays), everybody I've met has been really nice. I remember the first one I went to was kind of surreal, because before that I'd never actually met anybody in person that knew what the hell these games were, let alone played them.
lols.. what Davey says!

the Midwest region meets seem to be social events with games as a backdrop.. a common interest that brings fellows together... games are played and discussed, as well as other things and beverage consumption is commonplace, though not required.. I seldom drink, as well as some others, while some enjoy a reasonable amount of fine beverages!

for Davey, time is soon we should have some sort of gathering.. I owe you money for warez!
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Davey
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by Davey »

Sonic R wrote:for Davey, time is soon we should have some sort of gathering.. I owe you money for warez!
Not just you, ubersaurus too! You know me, I'm pretty much always down for gathering (on weekends in which I'm not Planeswalking...).
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spadgy
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by spadgy »

As everyone's already said, t's a fairly casual thing. Here in the UK we've always met up, people bring a few new/rare games along to focus on. Sometimes theirs a friendly scoring competition, and always there's loads of relaxed shmup play, plenty of talking rubbish about scoring strategies and such, and maybe a trip out for a meal or to the pub.
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shmuppyLove
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by shmuppyLove »

Zerst wrote:PBR everywhere
Peanut butter and ... raspberry??
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Skub
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by Skub »

shmuppyLove wrote:
Zerst wrote:PBR everywhere
Peanut butter and ... raspberry??
Pabst Blue Ribbon, cheap beer.
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jonny5
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by jonny5 »

HA, I think I bought like 5 or 6 PBR 12 packs when we were in Chicago for the last winter carnival meet. It was like 6bux a 12 for crying out loud!! I love American alcohol prices, but if I lived there it would probably end up being the death of me. :oops:
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shmuppyLove
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by shmuppyLove »

Yeah in Ontario apparently Lakeport is the cheapest you can buy. Some law prevents them from selling it for less than a buck.
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by amdiggywhut »

Bumping this pretty late but oh well...

Dante2k4 - I live in Bend but am in Portland all the time. I literally know zero people who play these games aside from myself. I'd be down to bring games, sticks, etc. Let me know if anything ever materializes or if you want to try and put something together.
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Krooze L-Roy
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by Krooze L-Roy »

Not terribly relevant, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snhiofL2Rh4
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cuttingagent
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by cuttingagent »

Hi, necrobumping to say I also live in Portland. Happy to bring a low-spec PC setup if this ever happens.
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by amdiggywhut »

I was in Portland on Thursday & Friday and spent a couple hours at Ground Kontrol. They had Raiden II (lots of issues with the controls, unfortunately), Raiden Fighters Aces II (fun, but no autofire), and Dragon Blaze. I had never played DB before and it was inconceivably fun. I should be up there again fairl soon in case someone wants to organize a legitimate meet up.
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cuttingagent
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by cuttingagent »

They also have 1943 and Strikers 1945 in the same cab as Dragon Blaze.
DQ187
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by DQ187 »

Wish this was a regular thing! :? I'm in the Beaverton area and don't really know alot of people that are into Shmups. My cousin and Brother get down on em with me here and there but aren't as into it as I am. I think I sorta burnt my cousin out on them to be honest. And my girlfriend doesn't really play em at all with me outside of Resogun on PS4. Figured I would bump this and see if there is any interest.
amdiggywhut
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by amdiggywhut »

Definitely interest, I have zero actual friends that play shooting games. I live in Bend though. Also, I've never tried out Resogun's multiplayer and would be interested in doing so. Hit me up on PSN if you want to play some time, same username as on here.
DQ187
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Re: Shmup Meets: What are they? What happens at them? (Portl

Post by DQ187 »

amdiggywhut wrote:Definitely interest, I have zero actual friends that play shooting games. I live in Bend though. Also, I've never tried out Resogun's multiplayer and would be interested in doing so. Hit me up on PSN if you want to play some time, same username as on here.
Sweet! :) I'll hit you up for sure!
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