STGWeekly@SoCal Regionals (Saturday, March 1st)

[Softdrink 117]

Ratikal: That would be pretty awesome actually. Logistically there would be a lot of issues to work out, but in theory I'd love to try it sometime. Plus, given the number of good players on the East Coast, we could have some seriously high-quality demos instead of just mediocre stuff from me.

Next MAGfest is going to be early next year right? In January or something? We'll definitely consider it and keep a lookout for event submissions, it would be amazingly cool to be able to contribute something like that.

[GDLKscrub]

Hi, I'm actually really new to the scene, I actually met you guys at SCR in the BYOC room. Growing up in the arcade scene I knew of this community's existence from afar, and I occasionally played whatever random shmup cab was at AI during downtime or long lines, but I never really delved into it as much as I have in the recent weeks since SCR. I just wanted to say thanks for bringing your set ups at SCR and introducing me to this scene.

I do have a question about it, as I never got the names of the people running the event, who was the blonde guy playing on the main set up? I need to thank him personally for helping me understand stuff. >_>;; and to apologize for asking questions while he was trying to play a few times.. ..........>_>;;; >_>;;; >_>;;;;;.......

[Softdrink 117]

That would be me.

Glad to have helped! I'm really happy with how well that event went. If we were able to get even one or two more people interested, then we've done our job. And don't worry about talking to me while playing; I actually enjoy talking to people while playing most of the time, and I occasionally livestream while giving commentary too.

We recently got confirmation that we'll be able to set up for a panel at Anime Expo, and once that finishes we have dedicated space in their console gaming room as well. Not sure if you're part of the con crowd at all, but if you are we'll be there.

[GDLKscrub]

What a coincidence I just applied to be a staff member in the electronic gaming room. Hopefully I'll see you guys there!
I had a question about your set up though, since getting into the scene, I've "struggled" playing verticle shooters, as you can see below, and am now in the market for a portrait capable monitor with no lag that supports DVI and HDMI. What monitor did you use at SCR, and how big was it? Would you be able to suggest a 27/32 inch monitor as well?

https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos ... 0989_n.jpg

Thanks a lot for your time, and helping me get into this scene, I've had alot of fun recently. So far picking apart system mechanics and scoring systems have been my funnest experience.

P.S. (if you have contacts with Champ Tangwongkitsiri who is, if i remember correctly, the overseer for all the gaming rooms, and you can put nudge my name in there somewhere next time you talk to him I'd very much appreciate it. My app is under Justin R. Rossi >_>)

[Softdrink 117]

Frenetic and I use the Dell U2312HM. It's a 23" IPS panel which comes with a very good portrait capable stand. I actually use two of them at home for design and animation work, and can vouch for its color reproduction and picture quality (although the A00 version has a slight yellow cast that needs calibration correction). I can't give a recommendation for a larger screen, as the only thing I have that's bigger is my 29" arcade cabinet CRT. :3

What games are you playing right now?

I personally don't have contact with any AX staff, but I can put a word in with Frenetic about it, since he's been handling that side of the prepwork.

[CKR]

What a coincidence I just applied to be a staff member in the electronic gaming room. Hopefully I'll see you guys there!
I had a question about your set up though, since getting into the scene, I've "struggled" playing verticle shooters, as you can see below, and am now in the market for a portrait capable monitor with no lag that supports DVI and HDMI. What monitor did you use at SCR, and how big was it? Would you be able to suggest a 27/32 inch monitor as well?

I have an Asus PA248Q that I bought about six months ago. It has low lag, portrait mode, and a 16:10 screen. (which is closer to shmups 3:4 format than a 16:9 screen) There is an excellent review at http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus_pa248q.htm. Also displaylag.com reviews lag in monitors and tvs.

[GDLKscrub]

What games are you playing right now?

well my collection is a bit... small, but since I've gotten into these games, I've been playing through some of the touhou series, Castle of Shikigami 3, dodonpachi, dai-fukkatsu, pink sweets... dragon blaze.... mushihime-sama (which I think is the hardest one so far >_<)

Do you have any suggestions on good vertical shmups to start with?

I really like the vertical shooters, not a huge fan of the horizontal ones.

[Softdrink 117]

Which Mushihimesama? The first (Mushihimesama), the second (Mushihimesama Futari), or Futari Black Label? Futari Black Label Original is generally considered the easiest to start with, and is often recommended as a beginner clear. Mushihimesama Original is also very forgiving; I find that overall Mushihimesama has a better progression in difficulty compared to Futari.

And are you talking about OG Dodonpachi, or Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu? The original game is also very beginner friendly. Some of the Touhou games are also very good; Perfect Cherry Blossom Normal mode was one of my earliest shooting game clears.

Pink Sweets is great fun, but is NOT a good game to start with, since it has very complicated game mechanics behind the scenes. I can't comment on Shikigami because I've never played it and don't know much about it.

[GDLKscrub]

Which Mushihimesama? The first (Mushihimesama), the second (Mushihimesama Futari), or Futari Black Label? Futari Black Label Original is generally considered the easiest to start with, and is often recommended as a beginner clear. Mushihimesama Original is also very forgiving; I find that overall Mushihimesama has a better progression in difficulty compared to Futari.

And are you talking about OG Dodonpachi, or Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu? The original game is also very beginner friendly. Some of the Touhou games are also very good; Perfect Cherry Blossom Normal mode was one of my earliest shooting game clears.

Pink Sweets is great fun, but is NOT a good game to start with, since it has very complicated game mechanics behind the scenes. I can't comment on Shikigami because I've never played it and don't know much about it.

the first mushihimesama, the reason i said hardest was because I was playing on the hardest difficulty I've now realized that its okay to start from normal but even on normal, there is that level with the whole level being on what seems to be a giant Hercules beetle... i died alot
I got both dodonpachi games, the OG and the Daifukkatsu games, I'm having a lot of fun with those ones. Somebody suggested that I "2 all DOJ WL" Is this a troll post or is this a pretty good starting place?

since I made that original post, I haven't played pink sweets much more after, like you said, I felt it was a bit more complicated. However, I've started playing the Raiden Fighter series, and even though I dont fully understand the simulation level concept, I'm having alot of fun with that as well.

Also what is this forum's opinion on mame roms? I'm not talking about "where can I find X game rom" but more... "hey I dont actually own these games... but heres a replay of me playing on mame, or heres me trying out this new mame rom, etc"

also I'd love your guys' input on this please http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... &p=1012369

[Doctor Butler]

Also what is this forum's opinion on mame roms? I'm not talking about "where can I find X game rom" but more... "hey I dont actually own these games... but heres a replay of me playing on mame, or heres me trying out this new mame rom, etc"

also I'd love your guys' input on this please http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... &p=1012369

A lot of guys here collect arcade boards, but that is, understandably, a tall order to ask of someone. I would recommend only replaying games you legally own in some form, but you could almost be forgiven if they are unobtainably rare, or never received a console/PC port at all.

[CloudyMusic]

Also what is this forum's opinion on mame roms? I'm not talking about "where can I find X game rom" but more... "hey I dont actually own these games... but heres a replay of me playing on mame, or heres me trying out this new mame rom, etc"

Many of this forum's most impressive scores were achieved on MAME. There is almost no stigma attached to it, as long as the emulation is accurate enough to allow for score comparisons.

As far as the legality...I'd just refer to the Forum Rules sticky. It sounds like you know where the line is, though.

[Softdrink 117]

the first mushihimesama, the reason i said hardest was because I was playing on the hardest difficulty I've now realized that its okay to start from normal but even on normal, there is that level with the whole level being on what seems to be a giant Hercules beetle... i died alot

Hahahahahaha yeah Ultra will do that to you. I've been playing Ultra for months and the best I've ever done is stage 4; never even seen stage 5 Ultra on one credit. As a beginner you definitely want to start with Original mode; it's vastly more approachable, and the scoring system actually makes sense on a surface level.

Somebody suggested that I "2 all DOJ WL" Is this a troll post or is this a pretty good starting place?

Considering that as far as I know not a single Western player has actually managed to get a DOJ WL 2-ALL, no, it would not be a good starting place.

DOJ is a great game, but it is hard. DOJBL is a better starting place since it has a more graduated difficulty curve. I still wouldn't recommend it as a first project, but a DOJBL 1-ALL is very doable once you're confident in your skills.

since I made that original post, I haven't played pink sweets much more after, like you said, I felt it was a bit more complicated. However, I've started playing the Raiden Fighter series, and even though I dont fully understand the simulation level concept, I'm having alot of fun with that as well.

Incidentally the Raiden Fighters games *also* have a lot of hidden mechanics. But I don't think they have as dramatic an effect as those in PS, and are certainly nowhere near as debilitating if you don't fully understand them.

also I'd love your guys' input on this please http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... &p=1012369

Awesome! I agree with much of the advice in that thread, particularly about not sticking with one game straight off. Choosing a game early on to devote to as your first 1CC or 1-ALL is a good goal, but choosing one to start scoring is NOT a good idea. Your tastes will probably change greatly as you play more and different games in the genre. Case in point, the first time I played Garegga I thought it was decidedly meh; now, my favorite STG is Ibara, which is in many ways the spiritual successor to Garegga (and Garegga is in my top 5). My advice would be to do something easy-- Blue Wish Resurrection+ Original mode or something like that-- as a first clear, and after that just spend a month or two exploring the genre and getting to know the different companies and 'flavors' of STG. Once you have a good understanding of what you like and don't like, then choose a game as a project to clear or score.