pc shmups

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Its a shame that descussion about doujin shmups is pratically non existant on this forum. And the odd few of us who like doujin shmups tend to post in the (admittingly very quiet) Shmups section on the DoujinStyle forum. Although even then indepth descussions about doujin STGs are quite rare since most of the denizens there are just casual tohou fans and have no intrest in strategy descussions.

I remember a thread (in the genral doujin games section) asking about which controllers are good for doujin games. Most ppl posted to say they used standard analog pads and advised others to do the same. I tried to inform them that analog sticks while great for 3D games arnt so good for 2D games especially Touhou. And how playing with a decent dpad or arcade stick would make playing the games much easier, especially those guys since touhou was what most of them played. Unfortunatly no one seemed intrested in what I was saying, their loss I suppose.

Anyway enough about them, the point I was making it that its a shame more ppl dont talk about doujin shmups, hell even euroshmups seem more popular here. Maybe those of us who are into doujins should do something about it and be more active descussing doujins here? Hell nobody even bothered to make a C79 thread to descuss the upcomming games last comiket.

[Blackbird]

I'm interested in playing some doujin shooters, but I haven't had a chance to yet (I won't disgrace a videogame by installing it on this POS machine). It's on my to-do list after I replace this heap.

If I haven't been conversational about the topic before, it's because I simply have nothing informative to add.

I'm actually very interested in shooting game development (as in, making games) so I've been intently studying various games to learn about how the genre has evolved, what the best features of various games are, what not to do, etc. etc. The doujin games are really fun that regard because they tend to be a bit more outlandish in their design than the typical mainstream games. Sometimes too much so =P.

Edit: Oh, and for what it's worth, seeing Crimzon Clover didn't make me want to pack up my bags and go home. To the contrary, that game has inspired me to begin development of an indie game. I saw this game and thought, "Damn, you can make a game that looks this professional with just 2 or 3 people? I could do that!" and then began development of my own game. The bar has been set pretty high... I'll have to try hard =).

[rancid3000]

Its a shame that descussion about doujin shmups is pratically non existant on this forum. And the odd few of us who like doujin shmups tend to post in the (admittingly very quiet) Shmups section on the DoujinStyle forum. Although even then indepth descussions about doujin STGs are quite rare since most of the denizens there are just casual tohou fans and have no intrest in strategy descussions.

I remember a thread (in the genral doujin games section) asking about which controllers are good for doujin games. Most ppl posted to say they used standard analog pads and advised others to do the same. I tried to inform them that analog sticks while great for 3D games arnt so good for 2D games especially Touhou. And how playing with a decent dpad or arcade stick would make playing the games much easier, especially those guys since touhou was what most of them played. Unfortunatly no one seemed intrested in what I was saying, their loss I suppose.

Anyway enough about them, the point I was making it that its a shame more ppl dont talk about doujin shmups, hell even euroshmups seem more popular here. Maybe those of us who are into doujins should do something about it and be more active descussing doujins here? Hell nobody even bothered to make a C79 thread to descuss the upcomming games last comiket.

I've been playing them on and off for a few years. I remember Shoot the Core got me into them along with downloading Imperishable Night. When shoot the core was still around I would just browse the site and look for the best ones.

There is X which has a pretty impresive database of PC and doujin shmups but it's no shoot the core. They haven't even added Crimzon Clover yet.

I would like a thread about doujin games and their releases but I just don't know enough about them, or where to look, and I can't read japanese.

[LtC]

Its a shame that descussion about doujin shmups is pratically non existant on this forum. And the odd few of us who like doujin shmups tend to post in the (admittingly very quiet) Shmups section on the DoujinStyle forum. Although even then indepth descussions about doujin STGs are quite rare since most of the denizens there are just casual tohou fans and have no intrest in strategy descussions.

I remember a thread (in the genral doujin games section) asking about which controllers are good for doujin games. Most ppl posted to say they used standard analog pads and advised others to do the same. I tried to inform them that analog sticks while great for 3D games arnt so good for 2D games especially Touhou. And how playing with a decent dpad or arcade stick would make playing the games much easier, especially those guys since touhou was what most of them played. Unfortunatly no one seemed intrested in what I was saying, their loss I suppose.

Anyway enough about them, the point I was making it that its a shame more ppl dont talk about doujin shmups, hell even euroshmups seem more popular here. Maybe those of us who are into doujins should do something about it and be more active descussing doujins here? Hell nobody even bothered to make a C79 thread to descuss the upcomming games last comiket.

I've been playing them on and off for a few years. I remember Shoot the Core got me into them along with downloading Imperishable Night. When shoot the core was still around I would just browse the site and look for the best ones.

There is X which has a pretty impresive database of PC and doujin shmups but it's no shoot the core. They haven't even added Crimzon Clover yet.

I would like a thread about doujin games and their releases but I just don't know enough about them, or where to look, and I can't read japanese.

That site also has download links to non freeware games so I don't know if you should link it here.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

That dodgy site (the listing is cloned to other sites aswell) was the exact list I had in mind when recommending ppl use to get good info on the genre, as it was what I used when I first got into shmups, but I refrained from mentioning it here for obvious reasons. Its worth noting that anybody who sees this link before the mods zap it, is that its atleast a couple of years old and hasnt been updated.

As for an compehensive doujin site thats in english (or an european language that translates well), after doujinsuki stopped updating (still worth checking out for its database) there really isnt anything else on the net, as all the others are blog sites like mine that just review a few of the more popular games and provide no news. Thats why I suggested you use other means like forums and pirate sites to keep up to date.

There might be one such site thats in japanese and that translates properlly but all ive found are image boards (like 4chan) that no good unless you can be bothered investing time into trailing through all the shite to find info.

EDIT: Also You Tube and NicoNico Video are usefull for finding about some of the more popular doujins. Vysethedetermined2 is well worth subscribing to as he plays allot of doujin and retro games (although hes going through a bit of a FTG phase atm) he also writes a short review about the game in the describtion bar aswell. Although its a massive shame that YT blitzed his original account as that was chocablocked full of douijins.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Vysethedetermined2

Also worth subbing are GloriousLight (aka Observer) http://www.youtube.com/user/GloriousLight
Plus Lte7 (Ive no idea who on this forum Lte7 is (Ltc?), but whoever he is ild like to thank him for posting that 20 best doujin vid as it was stumbling across it that originally got me intrested in shmups)
http://www.youtube.com/user/lte7

Also its worth checking out theirs and others public favorites & playlists, for example I have an habit of saving any intresting Vids in a playlist. Unfortunatly I have over 96 playlists but only 36 are showing up on my public profile page and many of the best lists are missing, still anybody can have a gander if they want (just switch to grid view to see every playlist)

http://www.youtube.com/user/TrevHead10?feature=mhum#g/p


As for starting up a dedicated thread for genral Doujin Shmup descussion I (or somebody else) will do that once activity in the doujin world picks up again probably in another 3 months just before C80. Ill also start a Genral Doujin thread in off topic for anything non shmup related. Hopefully we can show folk here that theres more to shmups then just whats on the 360.

[maxlords]

I've just started to get into these myself. Just did a big order from rancor *wink* and I've DLed a bunch of the free stuff and a few that are apparently out of print. That being said...how hard IS it to get the out of print doujin shmups? Say I wanted refleX or Hellsinker...how the heck can I get em? I can't find em on eBay...can't find em for download mostly, and can't find them for sale at ALL! Is there anywhere at all to get em?

As for controllers...I bought 2 USB Saturn pads off eBay cheap...hoping they do the trick. They're from China, but they're ones with Sega logos and the reviews on Youtube were quite good for them. If they don't end up working, I'll just get a USB convertor for my Saturn or SNES controllers...

Other than that...um....I'd like to see someone start reviews for these things. There's just VERY little English info out there it seems like!

[Observer]

RefleX is for sale at White-Canvas. They take international orders:

http://w-canvas.com/shopping/detail.php?item_id=24879

You can find many, many other STGs there too, including CRIMZON MOTHERFUCKING CLOVER.

As for Hellsinker, the only place that was carrying it was Messe-Sanoh:

http://www.messe.gr.jp/doujin/view_item ... ZcR9RcroZ8

It's been out of print since january or so. But Ruminant's Whimper has been reprinting the game several times since the 2007 release (I have the second print edition).

Regarding reviews, I would gladly write some... if I ever had the time, argh. I think Mischief_Maker did a couple of doujin reviews, including the recent Sora.

I tend to do mini-reviews in my video descriptions at Youtube. I usually divide things in mechanics/controls, graphics and everything else (for example the storyline/excuse).

You can also purchase Cloudphobia and exception via their respective sites. Melonbooks Dojin Broadband service also as 7Servants Blade, a Fate/Stay inspired shooter.

There are places indeed, but I reckon you have to be either too passionate or look carefully to find 'em.

Rockin' Android did several localisations of doujin games for PC and PSN but they seem to be on a crisis regarding PC... that is, until they can get into Steam to achieve a boost in sales. Hopefully, that could open the flood gates.

You can still get Suguri Perfect Edition and Gundemonium Collection as retail releases though and they are worth every penny.

[maxlords]

Awesome...thanks for the info! I'll definitely check out those sites...sadly I can't read a word of Japanese though so I suspect getting hooked on these will end up frustrating

[RNGmaster]

Messe Sanoh doesn't take orders outside of Japan. I know of no way to get Hellsinker legally.

That said, CRIMZON CLOVER YEAH

[Ghegs]

I recommend Eurotaku. I've used them a few times and all the games arrived safely with some extra goodies (candy, phone straps, that sort of stuff). They have both RefleX and Hellsinker still in stock.

[Sumez]

Monty Python's Flying Circus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV7r-p3W0nA

Haha! I remember that game. Had no idea it exists for PC.

[ZacharyB]

Just found this site: GYA SOFT. I'd downloaded a few of his shmups previously, like WTS II and AGATING. They have some interesting mechanisms and styles. WTS seems to be a parody of a bunch of shmups (watch for the tangerine boxes imitating Black Heart & crew).

[Mischief Maker]

I think Mischief_Maker did a couple of doujin reviews, including the recent Sora.

Sora and The Siter Skain shmups at Caltrops so far. I wasn't getting much feedback and assumed people weren't reading them. If there is interest, I've got partially completed drafts of a doujin Cybernator-clone roundup and Crimzon Clover that I could finish.

Is there?

[Treasurance]

Review HELLSINKER

[beam]

I've got partially completed drafts of a doujin Cybernator-clone roundup and Crimzon Clover that I could finish.

Is there?

Yes there's interest .

I made some new short reviews on my blog.

Try Bullet Hell if you can, it's THAT great ! It just requires a more powerful computer than mine to be enjoyed to the fullest. Sometimes it crawls down to 40 fps .

Otherwise, for those who want shmup only news, there's always http://stg.liarsoft.org.