Shmup Related Questions That Don't Deserve a Thread

[CloudyMusic]

1) What is the mame to use now? I've seen groovymame but I can't make it work, and I think I really followed the step by step instructions. Mame plus XT is pretty good despite being a little buggy, but I don't think it has the lagless type thing.
Playing with 3-4 frames of lag seems like playing underwater, I think I didn't mind so much because I used to play on CRTs. On my random ass LCD it's literally inertia.

The latest version MAME Plus is a safe choice. The latency is fine, but if your monitor is adding even more then that's a separate problem.

[Xyga]

GroovyMAME is my pick. It can really reduce lag but it's not n00b friendly as it's not used like your average mame/mameui, at least not in the beginning, for instance you first have to create a mame.ini through command line.
I'd suggest you go to BYOAC forums or open a dedicated thread here in the hardware section, because it actually deserves a thread.

PS/ also about roms: those have some quirks now, like some previously 'bios' roms are now grouped in a new category called 'devices'. for instance the capcom 'qsound' is required for cps2 to work.

[copy-paster]

2) Why do recent cave games look like ass in mame? Even DOJ and ketsui, altho not as bad as DFK and all. It looks...weird, as if they were lower rez than donpachi for some reason. Is it because of LCD? I've seen most of these games running on a cab and they look good.

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56027

[Shepardus]

Hay guys, couple questions, I'm coming back to shmups after not playing for a couple years and I'm a little lost.

1) What is the mame to use now? I've seen groovymame but I can't make it work, and I think I really followed the step by step instructions. Mame plus XT is pretty good despite being a little buggy, but I don't think it has the lagless type thing.
Playing with 3-4 frames of lag seems like playing underwater, I think I didn't mind so much because I used to play on CRTs. On my random ass LCD it's literally inertia.

I use MAMEPlus, it doesn't have the reduced lag hacks but it's fine for most games. Shmupmame seems to be the most popular for reduced input lag but it hasn't been updated in a while.

[Xyga]

Really it's the other way around, I don't know why people still use it; Shmupmame is based on dirty hacks and outdated, when GroovyMAME is using legit methods that don't break emulation, and is up-to-date.
The only other way is using RetroArch with opengl and its Hard GPU Sync thingie, but personally I got mixed results depending on the builds, windows, and computers I was using.
GM though is using d3d9ex, which makes it highly compatible with all modern Windows (afaik) while keeping its reduced lag capability.
Both solutions (GM & RA) require a certain amount of preparation and learning, but heh we get what we work for.

[Captain]

Dammit, what was the name of that arcade game where mashing the fire button non-stop filled a bar at the side of the screen and increased your shot power? Thanks!

Pulstar and Blazing Star?

[Xyga]

Dammit, what was the name of that arcade game where mashing the fire button non-stop filled a bar at the side of the screen and increased your shot power? Thanks!

Pulstar and Blazing Star?

Lethal Thunder ? (aka Thunder Blaster)

[vvv_stg]

Really it's the other way around, I don't know why people still use it; Shmupmame is based on dirty hacks and outdated, when GroovyMAME is using legit methods that don't break emulation, and is up-to-date.

Because people don't really like the idea of getting a special old GPU in order to hook their computer to a CRT and the resulting 240p resolution?

[Xyga]

Really it's the other way around, I don't know why people still use it; Shmupmame is based on dirty hacks and outdated, when GroovyMAME is using legit methods that don't break emulation, and is up-to-date.

Because people don't really like the idea of getting a special old GPU in order to hook their computer to a CRT and the resulting 240p resolution?

I'm not talking about GM in 15khz with Calamity drivers, for what i'm talking about it works on any normal windows in 31khz output and any gpu, even intel igpu's.
If people thing GM is only useful to 15khz setups, well: they're wrong.

[AxelMill]

So... Diadra Empty is borderline unplayable and Rockin' Android doesn't give a f**k? Does anyone know how to fix, well, everything? Like, the excessive autofire when moving, main character sprite flickering and lack of animation...
Or do I have to download a non-Steam version somewhere?

[Squire Grooktook]

The Steam version works fine for me. Maybe post on tech support?

[dink]

http://gameordie.com/halfwaytohell/progearredlabel/

where does one get this? (physical or digital)

[trap15]

Go up one directory.

[dink]

thanks

[AxelMill]

The Steam version works fine for me. Maybe post on tech support?

A lot of people has done that, and, as I stated, RA doesn't care.
Looks like this bug appeared with the last update back in August, but what do I know, I bought it last week with that IndieGala bundle. Reinstalling DirectX9 also doesn't work, those users say, but maybe, just maybe, it'll work on my end.
Nah, it won't.

[hien]

Is the manual for the first print of Raiden DX for the PSX printed in b&w (like the Major Wave release) or is it colored?

[BIL]

The original Seibu release's manual is full colour, and the disc also contains a playable Senkyuu/Battle Balls demo missing from Hamster's Major Wave reprint.

Never seen Hamster's DX, but I do have their Major Wave reissue of Wolf Fang and the manual is very bare-bones (monochrome, pamphlet-thin). I guess it was standard procedure for them. Perhaps they are staffed by hamsters ROFL >_>

[hien]

The original Seibu release's manual is full colour, and the disc also contains a playable Senkyuu/Battle Balls demo missing from Hamster's Major Wave reprint.

Never seen Hamster's DX, but I do have their Major Wave reissue of Wolf Fang and the manual is very bare-bones (monochrome, pamphlet-thin). I guess it was standard procedure for them. Perhaps they are staffed by hamsters ROFL >_>

Great, thanks for the detailed info!

[Stevens]

I fortuitously have acquired the following games via Taito Legends 2:

Darius Gaiden
Metal Black
Gun Frontier
Gekirindan
Grid Seeker

There are other shooters, but these are the ones I want to play. I would also like to start playing things I haven't played before to broaden my horizons a bit.

I ask you - which should I play first?

I'm leaning towards Metal Black. I dug it right away and no matter how hard I tried I could never get into Border Down.

What say you?

[trap15]

G U N F R O N T I E R
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F
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[EmperorIng]

I don't know how playable Gun Frontier is on Taito Legends without autofire. Same goes for Grid Seeker, which I enjoy quite a bit. Granted, I have an turbo-enabled PS1 controller (Sunsoft Sunstation), but I don't know why it wasn't enabled as an option like it was for other games on the collection.

In Taito Legends 2, you can't go wrong with Darius Gaiden or RayStorm. Gekirindan is good fun as well, though it's not as ambitious as the other shooters you listed. You might have to change to display options so the game doesn't do something moronic like stretch the vertical display to fill your screen (luckily, this is a one-time thing).

[Stevens]

G U N F R O N T I E R

I love the setting in GF, reminds me a bit of Bravestarr.

I don't know how playable Gun Frontier is on Taito Legends without autofire. Same goes for Grid Seeker, which I enjoy quite a bit. Granted, I have an turbo-enabled PS1 controller (Sunsoft Sunstation), but I don't know why it wasn't enabled as an option like it was for other games on the collection.

I have a PS 1 auto fire controller too. I don't need carpal tunnel:D

In Taito Legends 2, you can't go wrong with Darius Gaiden or RayStorm. Gekirindan is good fun as well, though it's not as ambitious as the other shooters you listed. You might have to change to display options so the game doesn't do something moronic like stretch the vertical display to fill your screen (luckily, this is a one-time thing).

If that collection has one flaw it is that they included RayStorm instead of RayForce. Not a fan of RS - wish I was though. I love the bosses.

[Kollision]

I fortuitously have acquired the following games via Taito Legends 2:

Darius Gaiden
Metal Black
Gun Frontier
Gekirindan
Grid Seeker

Too bad Taito Legends 2 lacks TATE mode, those verts certainly suffer from that.
Having played Gun Frontier not so recently on JPN Taito Memories, I'd say having a turbo controller is a must.

I'd start your list from Gekirindan, by the way.
It's the easiest one and has a Toaplan feel all over it.

[BulletMagnet]

I seem to recall that Metal Black's laser somehow doesn't work correctly in Taito Legends 2 (I have the JP version so I can't speak from personal experience), so watch for that.

[Stevens]

Thanks for the input guys. I think I am going to begin by splitting time between Gun Frontier and Gekirindan.

Also kind of hyped because I usually don't get into horis and now I have two I want to play.

Don't want to forget Elevator Action Returns either - it's why I bought the collection in the first place.

[EmperorIng]

Elevator Action 2 is one of my favorite games. Rocket Launcher = Best!

I seem to recall that Metal Black's laser somehow doesn't work correctly in Taito Legends 2 (I have the JP version so I can't speak from personal experience), so watch for that.

The laser at max power only does the lightning spread. In the arcade, between power levels 4 to MAX you can concentrate the lightning back into a larger beam though the lightning bomb-spread auto-forms back into a smaller beam once power drops below 4.

It's annoying, but it's not a total deal-breaker, imo, because just about every time you set off a beam at MAX power you want that screen-clearing spread anyhow. The lack of decent auto-fire options in Gun Frontier and GRID Seeker is far more irksome, because your play is affected so much more.

[EmperorIng]

Is there a recommended proxy service for using YAJ? I want to expand into a few PCE/Saturn titles and ebay is not cooperating; however, I've never used YAJ before.

[The Armchair General]

I've been watching some blindfolded speedruns and that has got me wondering.... Has anyone completed a STG blindfolded? Probably a silly question but it would be cool if anyone has done it.

[SMC]

You inspired me to try Futari Novice 'blindfolded'. Credit ended at the stage 2 boss. It looks like I spent most of my time trying to tap dodge into a corner.
I think with some good audio cues you could do it.

[AxelMill]

If that collection has one flaw it is that they included RayStorm instead of RayForce. Not a fan of RS - wish I was though. I love the bosses.

There's the PC version for that. Unfortunately, it lacks, besides RS, Syvalion, G-Darius and (*gasp*) Baloon Bomber.
But it has Pop n' Pop, Cadash, Bubble Symphony and of course, Rayforce.
If only the PC had G-Darius (and Syvalion, if you're into that), too, it would have been the ultimate version.

Sigh, I demand a final, complete Taito collection.