Arena shmups the only modern shmups?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

It is no lie to say that Geometry Wars was a hugely popular shmup. However, some people feel that the widly popular game will cause there to be a loss of interest in more traditional Japanese style shmups among would-be new players. What are your thoughts?

[Damocles]

However, some people feel that the widly popular game will cause there to be a loss of interest in more traditional Japanese style shmups among would-be new players. What are your thoughts?

How can there be any less interest in traditional shmups? I don't think there is any correlation among these things.

[damakable]

Hmm... well as a fan of Geometry Wars I'd have to say... whatever. Arena shmups are shmups too, and they're awesome. I think a bullet hell scrolling arena shooter tactical adventure RPG could be good (all it Disgaea: , but who's to say until it happens. Since when have shmups been a popular genre outside of Asia, anyhow? Since a long time now. If anything Geometry Wars et al are great gateways. "If you liked that," you say, "then wait til you get a loadda this." Mushihime is a hit with a few of my friends, and I haven't had a chance yet to really show it 'round.

If anything it's 'casual games' that are getting more popular, not arena shooters in general. But consider that to a lot of people shmups are just that, casual. Even hardcore gamers find shmups incredibly difficult, but on lower difficulties with arrange modes and the like even bullet hell games are fun for pick-up-and-play people. They're not playing for score, they're hardly even playing for survival; they're just playing to waste time. With that in mind, truly difficult bullet-hell games will have a harder time than cute-em-ups and zany puzzle shooters... but the 'hardcore gamer' is a pretty niche market, really, standing beside all those people who are more 'hardcore' about other things, like their jobs, or their families, or golf, or opiates. You know, whatever it is they do.

[Observer]

I think a bullet hell scrolling arena shooter tactical adventure RPG could be good

Did someone say Diadra Empty?

Horizontal scrolling free-roaming shootan gaem with loli, epic value, lasers, options, different weapons, levelling up system, shield systems, grazing, chaining, weapon+stats upgrading and more. Loads of purple bullets ala Cave and bullet cancelling.

... it'll eat computers and kitties for breakfast and features Pedobear. What else can I say?

Oh, yep, time for the shameless promotion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2VMJCHrwP0 (not happy with an Extra Stage, this thing has an Extra Campaign composed of four chapters, Youtube is evil...)

Wait. mmm, DE isn't much of a tactical game. And the 'story' isn't even present in the site. In fact, not even the main characters had names till the wiki appeared... Well, whatever, expect a review of this monster soon. I'm almost done with it.

[Davey]

If anything Geometry Wars et al are great gateways. "If you liked that," you say, "then wait til you get a loadda this."

Yeah, pretty much. I don't think Geometry Wars keeps people away from shmups any more than Guitar Hero keeps people away from real guitars.

[RackGaki]

However, some people feel that the wildly popular game will cause there to be a loss of interest in more traditional Japanese style shmups among would-be new players.

What people?

I would suppose that among the hundreds of thousands of people who have played Geometry Wars, a select few have used that game as an entry point to other shoot 'em up titles. Most SHMUPs aren't accessible to the average gamer, so anything to ease them in should be seen as a good thing.

damakable has it right... most people do not play their shoot 'em up for 1cc or high score. Most of the folk here are a niche crowd in a niche genre. The more shooters that are exposed to the general gaming population, the more likely it is that some of them will take it up as a full-time hobby.