what is this type of game mode called?

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:07 pm

The game mode consists of:
- infinite lives
- limited time
- purpose is to get highest score possible

I have rummaged through the Unofficial Shmup Glossary and it appears to be called Time Attack:

Time Attack: A selectable play mode available in some shmups, in which the player can access a single, unique, endless stage available only in this mode; usually he is given infinite lives, but also a strict time limit, during which he tries to score as many points as he can before the timer runs out (in some cases, the player can extend the time he has left by performing certain in-game tasks), or else to reach a certain score mark as quickly as possible. High scores for this mode, as in Score Attack mode, are usually recorded on a separate list from that of the “main” game. - http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=9665

However, the general idea of time attack, to non-shmup fans, is a time trial or speed run where you try to beat the stage as fast as possible. I admit that when I first heard about puting a Time Attack mode in my game, from my co-developer, I thought he meant a speed run mode, too.

Many computer and video games include a time attack (or time trial) mode, in which the main goal is to complete levels — or, in some cases, the entire game — as quickly as possible. This mode prioritizes completion time ahead of other measures of success such as high scores. In cases where a game does not have a dedicated time attack or trial mode, a fast completion is frequently known as a speedrun. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Attack

So I am going against the unofficial shmup glossary, and asking WHAT ELSE should we call it, besides for time attack? Is there anything else available to us, that would not confuse the gamer into thinking he/she is about to play a speed run?

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:08 pm

high score challenge?
score run?

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:14 pm

Score run (based off speed run) was my choice. It clearly states it is the score that matters, not the time. The time matters, too, but the score is what gets posted.

Geometry Wars calls it Deadline, but I do not like it for our game.

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:18 pm

The Compile games seem to use the term "Caravan mode" for the time-limited stuff.

Plasmo · Post by **Plasmo** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:20 pm

Dangun Feveron and Pink Sweets have it as Time Attack and when I hear the term I think of limited time and infinite lives first.

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:25 pm

Plasmo wrote:Dangun Feveron and Pink Sweets have it as Time Attack and when I hear the term I think of limited time and infinite lives first.

It's too bad it's ambiguous. So gamers like you will get it immediately, and other gamers (who probably outnumber gamers like you) will confuse it for a Speed Run. I do not like ambiguity. It's why we have Difficulty Modes, not Difficulty Levels. And Stages 1 through 8, not Levels 1 through 8. Anyway...

"Time Attack" does make sense, once you understand it. It is about time! I.e., get the biggest score in X minutes. (Wow, I just had deja vu as if I've already discussed ths point before.) For now it is still called Time Attack in our game. Score Run is an option, though.

Maybe Time Attack will make sense to everyone, even newcomers, when they see the scoreboard right next to it showing all the scores IN POINTS and not in TIME. I just thought of that. That's how we have it set up.

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:39 pm

"Score Attack" is also an option.

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:41 pm

ZOM wrote:"Score Attack" is also an option.

Indeed!

I like these:

- Score Run
- Score Attack
- Time Attack (ambiguous, point of this thread)

The caravan one I just don't get at all!

dmauro · Post by **dmauro** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:43 pm

How about Score Rush. Conveys that you are playing for score, and the sense of urgency because you are playing with limited time.

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:44 pm

dmauro wrote:How about Score Rush. Conveys that you are playing for score, and the sense of urgency because you are playing with limited time.

That is awesome. Tops my list. Score Rush. Love it. Love the reasoning behind it. Thank you!

dmauro · Post by **dmauro** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:44 pm

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:44 pm

dmauro wrote:How about Score Rush

+1

FIL · Post by **FIL** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:45 pm

Caravan mode is so called because of the Hudson Caravan events in the late 80s and early 90s.

captpain · Post by **captpain** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:47 pm

Score Rush is a good idea.

People would still be able to figure out Time Attack after one play, though.

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:48 pm

FIL wrote:Caravan mode is so called because of the Hudson Caravan events in the late 80s and early 90s.

Ah! I just got a crash course in what it was about from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAFFCsVIcJc .

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:51 pm

captpain wrote:Score Rush is a good idea.

People would still be able to figure out Time Attack after one play, though.

Score Rush wins my vote. Anyone would figure out time attack, quickly, but what about reading about Duality: ZF before they play it? I have to think about them, too. "SCORE RUSH!" or "TIME ATTACK!"... I don't know. Score Rush is very to the point and less ambigious. It emphasizes both SCORE and TIME, whereas time attack only emphasizes time.

Plasmo · Post by **Plasmo** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:05 pm

ZOM wrote:"Score Attack" is also an option.

Actually I was wrong earlier, Pink Sweets indeed has a Score Attack mode

croikle · Post by **croikle** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:26 pm

By the way, Recca has both Score Attack (limited time, max your score) and Time Attack (get to 1M points as fast as you can) modes.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:42 pm

score attack

nimitz · Post by **nimitz** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:50 pm

Some older games also call it "X minutes mode". Sometimes as subtitles under the main "Score Attack" title.

the most common are:

2 minutes mode

5 minutes mode

Anything over 5 minutes can grow a bit thin.

b.t.w. This is that kind of attention to every detail that separates good shmups from poor ones. Seems the game wont feel too rough around the edges.

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:00 pm

croikle wrote:By the way, Recca has both Score Attack (limited time, max your score) and Time Attack (get to 1M points as fast as you can) modes.

Yes, that's why I think "Score Attack" (or Score Rush) is more appropriate than "Time Attack"; when I hear Time Attack I think of getting the best time on a game, not score.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:41 pm

Hmm, maybe an adjustment to the Glossary is in order?

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:00 am

BulletMagnet wrote:Hmm, maybe an adjustment to the Glossary is in order?

Hehe... that would be cool if I inspired a change. We should have a vote on this issue. I will be voting before I was educated on the matter, and will vote that "Time Attack", to me, first sound like a "get the lowest time" attack.

Lloyd Mangram · Post by **Lloyd Mangram** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:36 am

Timed Challenge would be fairly unambiguous. But also kind of boring.

I vote for Score Rush too.

drboom · Post by **drboom** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:10 am

Always liked Time Attack myself. I like time. Even if its an invention of man to monitor his own decay.

Xonatron · Post by **Xonatron** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:50 pm

Score Rush wins. It is awesome. Making games is about feelings and emotions, and this one I could feel. Just jumped out at me. And it passed the logic test, too (it makes sense).

originalz · Post by **originalz** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:02 am

Eh, I've always thought of it as Caravan

yyr · Post by **yyr** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:26 pm

Just FYI, Time Crisis 1 had a mode like this that was called "Timed Game" as opposed to the main mode, "Story Game."

Of course, the goal in that mode was to finish with the fastest possible time, not the highest score. But it did have unlimited lives and limited time.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:12 pm

Score Attack (Donpachi calls it this)
Time Attack is something else - I'm trying to remember what it entails outside of Time Crisis and "survival horror" games. But it's different. However, it's a term that I've seen used in a shooting game before.
Caravan Mode (all the many Compile games)

GrimoreLibrarian · Post by **GrimoreLibrarian** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:35 pm

freeplay?