How do you explain our SHMUPS hobby to your loved ones?

[lgb]

I don't

"shmups" are grouped into "video games" as far as anyone around here cares (actually that's a good mindset in some cases), no one even knows what the word is

I was yelled at for "being racist" the last time I ever used "shmup" in public

[TLB]

for realz?

[captpain]

for realz?

Well, he was wearing KKK robes at the time.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I was yelled at for "being racist" the last time I ever used "shmup" in public

I dont understand why folk hate the word shmups, I use the word most of the time and nev thought of it been leet in any way its just a shorterned way of spelling shoot 'em up to me. But the acromin STG is even shorter so i might start to use that since im lasy and shorter is better in my book. (apart from in the bedroom)

[BrightSuzaku]

I use "STG" and "shmup" interchangeably, but the latter works better when you're talking with people IRL.

I just find it hard (sometimes) to explain shmups in general to people. Since I love the genre, I don't shut up about it. Actually, I might border on fanatical...

Although I have some friends that enjoy them like I do, so it's all good. ah, but I've never met anyone that said they outright hate them yet...

It used to be that mentioning Darius helped. These days, I can get by with mentioning either Ikaruga or Touhou, to make people "get" what I'm talking about... But when I'm talking about methodical shooters, Touhou is NOT the example to use. Sad to say, it takes some prodding to get people to go, "OH YEAH! Gradius... I think I know that."

It's sad, really.

If all else fails, I have to talk about Galaga and Space Invaders. Why is it that people just don't seem to know about shmups...Aren't they, I think, the oldest game genre out there? Oh, the irony.

[captpain]

acromin

[emphatic]

STG could be mistaken for STD.

[TLB]

hahahahahaha. especially if they're talking to you, right, emph? ^_~

[SFKhoa]

I like to play sexually transmitted games.

[emphatic]

hahahahahaha. especially if they're talking to you, right, emph? ^_~

Yes.

-"So, how was you weekend".
-"It was awesome. I finally got the all clear on this new STD I picked up while I was in Japan last year".

[BrightSuzaku]

"So, got any tips on surviving that second wave in STDs?"

I generally use the word "shmup" more... Although this is hilarious.

Sexually transmitted games... That has nothing to do with the infamous Rez vibrator, does it?

[SFKhoa]

Sexually transmitted games... That has nothing to do with the infamous Rez vibrator, does it?

[emphatic]

Thou shalt always cleanse thy hands before sharing of the sacred sticks of a fellow STD aficionado.

[captpain]

Shmumps, the STD.

[jonny5]

Thou shalt always cleanse thy hands before sharing of the sacred sticks of a fellow STD aficionado.

ask the guys who come to my meets.....im nuts about that shit.....

[Engineer]

My passion for STD's seems to be quite infectious. Now my fiancee and most of my friends have STD's which we sometimes share.

[spadgy]

I use physical performance to make things clearer. Arms out, and dash off into the distance making a childish machine gun noises.

Pain in the arse finishing off the conversation.

[BrightSuzaku]

spadgy, how many times do you shout "Speed Up!" in such conversations, if at all?

[lgb]

I dont understand why folk hate the word shmups, I use the word most of the time and nev thought of it been leet in any way its just a shorterned way of spelling shoot 'em up to me. But the acromin STG is even shorter so i might start to use that since im lasy and shorter is better in my book. (apart from in the bedroom)

true story, "STG" is for weaboos

you might actually be better off saying "shooters" and fighting it out

[peace4myheart]

Yesterday my mom came into my room, took a look at my tate 24" monitor and asked me, "Why is your monitor on the side?" I look at her and couldn't think of anything to say so I kept silent until she changed the subject.

[BrightSuzaku]

If that happened, I could try to explain really quickly... Uh, and it's the only way to read the score, without turning your head and having "OMFGCRASH!DIES!CONTINUE?NOPLZ" happen. That could work. Depends on the parent, I think, though. Mine totally don't care that I pre-ordered Futari, for example... maybe they're just glad I'm not doing anything worse, like being on drugs or creating needless drama in the house.

Although, it's really hard to explain danmaku shmups. And, it's really hard to show them anything without resorting to youtube, since I'm a pretty bad player. Hahahaha... Yeah. >_>;

[TLB]

my parents don't know i preordered futari. they'd probably be pretty pissed, seeing as how my dad is laid off for, like six months.

one time my dad saw me playing DOJ death label or something, and i showed him how i had a billion points and shit. then i showed him a superplay of someone playing the game, then a superplay of hibachi, and he was like "how's that even fun."

he saw my supergun with my ibara board hooked up to it and went "what a cyberdork". didn't even question the cost ($350+) of such shit. in fact, i get packages from people all around the world all the time, and they don't even say anything anymore. when my Tekken 5 HRAP came, they didn't even say a word, just put it by the fridge. 75 dollar stick, 12 dollar shipping.

he saw my 20''CRT tipped on its side on top of a nightstand with the stick in front of it and he was like "it's just like at the arcade, huh". this is a guy who was raised in a bar and on a farm, and hates video games. and he's just like "yeah totally i'm cool wid dis". he saw me playing strikers 3 in the living room a couple of times and he was just making jokes. "how can you lose?! you get all doze bullitz! you must really suck!" he's a pretty cool guy, all told. don't really need to do much explaining with him.

with peers, on the other hand, it's pretty much a lost cause unless they go "AW YEE, DAWG, I UZED 2 LUV 1942". and even then, i'd really have to try to get them to play anything. they're all occupied with wow and halo and kall uv dudie.

i shouldn't talk. i used to play cs:s like it was my job. if my laptop hadn't broke, i probably would never have started playing shooters. i mean, i loved viewpoint on the genny when i was 8, but the one or two times i ever saw a shooter cab somewhere i'd write it off as a quartermuncher and steer the fuck clear. but back then, that's all it would have been to me anyway. wisconsin was pretty barren in the realm of shooting fans, i'd wager.

[BrightSuzaku]

I admit, I only got into shmups rather recently, about a yearish to be exact. But oh, how I do LOVE them.

I'm glad when people know what I'm talking about when I talk shmups... it's rather exhausting to have to explain them all the time. I get the feeling people who play videogames kind of respect me for liking them though. I think it has to do with how most people see all those superplays and then write off "shmup fan" as synonymous with "masochist" or "uber skills". I may be a masochist (I love old-fashioned, difficult games and level-grinding in RPGs), but I'm far from skilled at shmups.

I think a fair amount of people are actually surprised I like shmups, since I play Japanese RPGs and the like. The genres are practically polar opposites. But I'm actually more "fanatical" about shmups than even RPGs, which is really weird...

[spadgy]

you might actually be better off saying "shooters" and fighting it out

That's what I actually go with. That's what they are.

[t0yrobo]

Typically I don't try to hard to explain. Usually I just bring up either Ikaruga or Raiden, that seems to work on most people around my age, and it's all they really need to know. If they actually show some interest then I'll go more in depth, but that's rare. It's nice when my friends show some interest though, usually they wind up with a mame cd from me and at least play a little bit.

[HenshinStorm2001]

Sounds like parents can be a danger for some of you guys.
Never really had a problem with that. Just my shorty

[Hibachi]

I admit, I only got into shmups rather recently, about a yearish to be exact. But oh, how I do LOVE them.

I'm glad when people know what I'm talking about when I talk shmups... it's rather exhausting to have to explain them all the time. I get the feeling people who play videogames kind of respect me for liking them though. I think it has to do with how most people see all those superplays and then write off "shmup fan" as synonymous with "masochist" or "uber skills". I may be a masochist (I love old-fashioned, difficult games and level-grinding in RPGs), but I'm far from skilled at shmups.

I think a fair amount of people are actually surprised I like shmups, since I play Japanese RPGs and the like. The genres are practically polar opposites. But I'm actually more "fanatical" about shmups than even RPGs, which is really weird...

I have to admit that I've been into shooters for 15 years but that's around the time I was completing Phantasy Star 2 so I'm also a polar opposite.

But if I went on a show and they asked my wife what game I was most looking forward to this November, her answer would be 'some Japanese game' but she would mean Mushi Futari. She does take some interest as it makes me happy to have these things.

[Jockel]

But if I went on a show and they asked my wife what game I was most looking forward to this November, her answer would be 'some Japanese game' but she would mean Mushi Futari. She does take some interest as it makes me happy to have these things.

nice! My Girlfriend even knows the difference between Dodonpachi and Ketsui.
But thats all, she knows all possible names and recognizes them as shooters, but doesn't get which one i mean.
I guess she just sees Mushihimesamaespgaludabatriderguwangeprogearibaragareggablackdeathlabelfutari ver 1.5 in all of them.

[chempop]

The only issues I've had were back when I wanted Trouble Shooter but my mom thought it was inappropriate because of the chicks on the cover. My older brother stood up for me and told her that it was just like all my other games and the girls in it were just like all the cartoons we watch (robotech, heman, g.i. joe etc). Still though, I developed a big crush on Madison and Crystal which probably resulted in some inappropriate behavior

I'd probably be less than motivated to show "loved-ones" what my latest games look like though, they all have some pretty disturbing images whether it is the the hottie Reko surounded by insects, panties and garter belts of Ibara, loli goth youngins fo deathsmiles, or emerald fiending tranny fairies of Galuda.... geesh, what have I become

[BrightSuzaku]

Would this be a good reason why shmups should return to their roots and give us more spaceships/planes?

Actually, I really just want that to happen. All the girls and lolis and currentanimetrendsDAMMIT make me feel all weird and alone, because I'm female. And of course, most shmup players are guys, and in Japan, the guys tend like that kind of thing so... There will never be a shmup with loads bishonen in it.

No, I don't want yaoi, I don't like my anime/manga/videogames that way, exactly. O_o;;;