What was the first shump you ever played?

[DC906270]

Mine was "Arcadians", a space invaders rip-off for the Acorn Electron home computer

[Neo Rasa]

Defender for me.

[Alpolio]

If you guys want to get technical: Space Invanders, Asteroids, ect. ect. aren't true shmups either because they don't scroll.

Not to start a holy war or anything, but...

Oh well whatever - here's the grenade

Space Invaders is a shmup. We've been through the argument a thousand times now, trying to categorise them with details, do they scroll, push-scroll, how many axis of movement are there, and so on. It's utterly pointless, because there are some facts that cannot be denied.

When it comes down to it, common sense says that as the founding stones of our entire genre, these are clearly shmups. Space Invaders leads to Galaxian. Galaxian to Galaga. Galaga to Halleys Comet. If you reject these as part of the genre, you're being very, very short sighted. This is why games such as Metal Slug obviously /don't/ count, as they don't fit in the logical progression or evolution, when looking at the whole.

If I see people claiming Space Invaders is not a shmup again, I'm going to force them to play Barbie Horse Adventures for an ENTIRE MONTH. No Ibara for you!

You're talking to someone who would classify Sea Wolf, Space Wars, and even Metal Slug as a shmup. Why? Berzerk -> Robotron 2084 -> Contra -> Metal Slug -- there's your progression. I'm just pointing out that if they want to go by their definition of a "true" shmup, they just disqualified about 80% of the classic shooters of the 70's & 80's.

[Danny]

Space Invaders on the Atrai 2600 was my first shmup and we brought the system with a whole load of games from a car boot sale when I was a lot younger. A fairly good port if my memory serves although I do remeber being hooked on Centerpede a lot more, I even managed to clock/loop that game several times while I was younger.

[MadSteelDarkness]

In the arcade: Phoenix.

At home: Chopper Command.

[Turrican]

The first one I remember playing at home was Menace on the amiga.

edit = right, as Alpolio says, the year... Must have been like 1989. I feel so noob around here.

[sffan]

Arcade Space Invaders for me too.

Me too.

[PFG 9000]

Space Invaders on the 2600 was the very first, but I played it in the arcade along with 2600 Vanguard and River Raid shortly after.

[Alpolio]

You know that we're not saying what year we played these games. I played Sea Wolf in a Holiday Inn in 1977 while on vacation with my family. I think that they had Space Invaders too, but there was a line of people in front of those machines.

[Ex_Mosquito]

River Raid on the Spectrum.

[Ceph]

I think my first shmups were 'Caverns of Mars' and 'Rear Guard' on my Atari XL (don't remember in which order). In the arcade, I think it was Time Pilot first and then Galaga (though Galaga was released first). All this around 1982/83.

In case 'Centipede' is cosidered a shmup then that was the first one I ever played; if I remember correctly it was the first cartridge I got for the XL.

[J-Manic]

Gradius, for the NES, was the first shmup I can remember playing. I also remember having Lifeforce as well. I had both of them at the same time, and both were played alot.

[Acid King]

Gorf on a commodore something or other.

[professor ganson]

I believe it was Space Invaders at the arcade, when it first came to my home town. It might have been Asteroids, though. Defender was more memorable, however.

[fl0w]

It was Space Invaders for me. My first ever "shmups" game that I owned was this though.

Space Invaders for me too (2600), close to Asteroids, then Vanguard.

BTW my GF has the French version of Astro Wars, called Galaxy II She occasionnally plays it sometimes...

[Thunder Force]

Man, I have almost forgotten this game, it was on C64.
In this game you where flying a helicopter from above (like Asteroids) the setting looked a bit like River Raid, something over water with ships. It was a bit like dessert strike.
I also remember you had to collect fuel and that I died a lot this game, it was way too hard for me.

Man, I had totally forgotton about this game... and I have no idea what it's name was...

That game was Raid On Bungeling Bay.

[Blade]

"Demons" aka Phoenix for Atari.

[MJR]

If we're technical, then it is 'missile command' in arcade at late 70's (though I was just a toddler!) or then 'demon attack' in the mattel intellivision, or we only accept scrolling games then it is 'scramble' on Vic-20..

[howmuchkeefe]

The first shmup (and first video game) I ever played was Space Invaders, which I played whenever my parents took me to this restaurant near our apartment in Frankfurt. I think it cost a DM to play, and I must have been five years old.

[iatneH]

Mine was Tiger Heli on the NES.

I hated that game I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT
It was so hard, I couldn't beat the first level, what could an uncoordinated child such as myself do? Trade it for a complete copy of Dragon Warrior III, that's what.

I didn't start seriously enjoying shooters until I played Ikaruga a few years ago.

[Marc]

If you guys want to get technical: Space Invanders, Asteroids, ect. ect. aren't true shmups either because they don't scroll.

Not to start a holy war or anything, but...

Oh well whatever - here's the grenade

Space Invaders is a shmup. We've been through the argument a thousand times now, trying to categorise them with details, do they scroll, push-scroll, how many axis of movement are there, and so on. It's utterly pointless, because there are some facts that cannot be denied.

When it comes down to it, common sense says that as the founding stones of our entire genre, these are clearly shmups. Space Invaders leads to Galaxian. Galaxian to Galaga. Galaga to Halleys Comet. If you reject these as part of the genre, you're being very, very short sighted. This is why games such as Metal Slug obviously /don't/ count, as they don't fit in the logical progression or evolution, when looking at the whole.

If I see people claiming Space Invaders is not a shmup again, I'm going to force them to play Barbie Horse Adventures for an ENTIRE MONTH. No Ibara for you!

You're talking to someone who would classify Sea Wolf, Space Wars, and even Metal Slug as a shmup. Why? Berzerk -> Robotron 2084 -> Contra -> Metal Slug -- there's your progression. I'm just pointing out that if they want to go by their definition of a "true" shmup, they just disqualified about 80% of the classic shooters of the 70's & 80's.

From Robotron to Contra

[Alpolio]

From Robotron to Contra

Berzerk & Robotron are multi directional shooters that allows you to run & shoot in all directions. So... name a hori where you run & shoot in all directions. If it's not Contra, then it's gotta be something else.

[system11]

From Robotron to Contra

Berzerk & Robotron are multi directional shooters that allows you to run & shoot in all directions. So... name a hori where you run & shoot in all directions. If it's not Contra, then it's gotta be something else.

Can't be Contra - you've made the jump from an overhead arena based shooter to a side (mostly) scroll game with heavy platforming elements. You could potentially go from Robotron -> Gauntlet, but that's a too shaky, because Gauntlet is as much about the actual maze running than the killing of enemies.

So, what else could come after Robotron? Well, Psycho Pigs UXB (forgotten the arcade name) doesn't actually have shooting, and fits more with whatever genre Bomberman lives in. Then we have Smash TV of course, which probably qualifies, but is shit.

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

If you guys want to get technical: Space Invanders, Asteroids, ect. ect. aren't true shmups either because they don't scroll. The first "true" shmup ever made was Scramble in 1981. Or was it Vanguard? Hmmm..... I kind of think that Scramble beat Vanguard to the arcades by a few months.

I have to jump in too, as Bloodflowers has already.

Yea, Scramble was cool in its time, so was Defender. I"ve loved them all.
Vangaurd may be the closest incarnation to a "modern day side scroller"...because it is. It even has a "boss", and you can "loop" it.
All the forementiond "shmups" are "shooting games", thats pretty much it.
Of course one cannot compare DoDonPachi to Space Invaders, but they are so closely realated, its not even funny.

Kinda like the first Ford Car...it looked like a "carriage" with big wheels...MUSH!!! Hit those horses in the ass!!! But is it really THAT different from the car you drive today? Get my meaning? Lets stop before the "Is Tempest A Shmup" thread comes up.
For the record, fuck yea it is!

Maybe if you were born yesterday, Space Invaders ain't no "shmup". But, if you've been around since the late 70's PLAYING GAMES...you'll know what a shooting game is!

[Alpolio]

Can't be Contra - you've made the jump from an overhead arena based shooter to a side (mostly) scroll game with heavy platforming elements.

So once you add a platform for him to run on for true side scrolling gameplay, it stops being a shmup. By that logic, there can never be a side scrolling shmup with Robotron's player mechanics.

And the RPG crowd has laid claim to Gauntlet a long time ago. But that's still a top down multi directional... whatever.

[IlMrm]

Dragon Spirit at an arcade in Hong Kong.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

I would say "gravity" is what separates shmups from run n guns - and Robotron from Contra.

Also, I would say that scrolling backgrounds are only a relevent gameplay element where scenery is involved - for the player to crash into and stuff. Clearly, not all shmups have this kind of scenery.
Going by the logic that a shmup is defined by a scrolling background, I could actually stop DDP from being a shmup by loading it up in Raine and turning the background layer off.

[Alpolio]

I would say "gravity" is what separates shmups from run n guns - and Robotron from Contra.

Also, I would say that scrolling backgrounds are only a relevent gameplay element where scenery is involved - for the player to crash into and stuff. Clearly, not all shmups have this kind of scenery.
Going by the logic that a shmup is defined by a scrolling background, I could actually stop DDP from being a shmup by loading it up in Raine and turning the background layer off.

Why is gravity a factor? You're not flying in Robotron or Berzerk. And lets not forget that the very first shmup, Space War, used gravity. There was a star in the center that's constantly pulling you in. And then there's Gravitar. And a really cool Genesis shmup called "Sub Terrania" that used some serious gravity.

All of those are still shmups despite their use of gravity. Why should it be a deciding factor with Contra?

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Why is gravity a factor? You're not flying in Robotron or Berzerk. And lets not forget that the very first shmup, Space War, used gravity. There was a star in the center that's constantly pulling you in. And then there's Gravitar. And a really cool Genesis shmup called "Sub Terrania" that used some serious gravity.

blagh, and Datastorm too. Okay, scratch that - it was a bad point.

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

Can't be Contra - you've made the jump from an overhead arena based shooter to a side (mostly) scroll game with heavy platforming elements.

So once you add a platform for him to run on for true side scrolling gameplay, it stops being a shmup. By that logic, there can never be a side scrolling shmup with Robotron's player mechanics.

And the RPG crowd has laid claim to Gauntlet a long time ago. But that's still a top down multi directional... whatever.

No, please don't mention and "rape" the term RPG, as gaming has done nowadays... Just because its medieval fantasy, doesn't mean it an RPG.
In modern definition, any game that allows you to save progress is an "RPG".
Radiant SilverGun is an RPG?....fuck no!!!

RPG= Role Playing Game= Dungeons& Dragons...pen and paper!!! Nuff said.
Make your "saving throw", please!

The only thing "geek" about me, is that I admit to actually enjoying a few D&D sessions at one point in time...
Ahh, all "Trekies" are dorks!

See ya...I'm too tired and drunk now to "discuss" any further.

No! I'm not a "Trekie"!!! (spelling? See? Can't even spell thay shit!)

I'm off to see the wizard...!