Does anyone occasionally get burned out with the STG genre?

[Siren2011]

There is no doubt about it, Shoot 'em Ups are some of the most rewarding games to master, and the most enjoyable to play.

But recently, my interest in them has started to wane. I don't feel the same need to beat the final bosses of Mushihime and Ketsui, or to play them at all. How many of you have experienced periods like this? For how long did they last before your interest was renewed? It is my hope that mine will come back, but for the time being, I'm just not feelin' it.
I just find it astonishing and sad that the same games which were the central source of my recreational enjoyment for years now bore the shit out of me. I hope this isn't permanent...I miss that rush.

[Observer]

Trust me. The longer you spend boring the shit out of yourself with the whole "experience" and "cinematic" of the "Hollywood" games (or any genre that requires to sit through 3+ mins cutscenes), the more you appreciate shooters for being "press X button and start shooting shit, no drama" providers.

Of course there are exceptions with games like Shatter, RTS, puzzlers, turn based stuff that doesn't go Xenosaga on the user, etc.

I had my moments where I just couldn't force myself to play any shooters (like when I bought Arkham Asylum or the indie pack that included Aquaria or when I got Starcraft II and played only that for 3 months straight) but, as soon as things get busy or I get a job, the only games I know won't frustrate me or consume my time offering too little action are the STGs. Especially when I can end up so tired that I sleep through whatever cutscene they throw at me...

[lift]

as soon as things get busy or I get a job, the only games I know won't frustrate me or consume my time offering too little action are the STGs.

This. It's really hard for me to get tired of shooting games when there's such a small threshold separating me from the gameplay.

Personally I go through a cycle where I play all sorts of STGs; discovering new ones on a whim, challenging myself, or just falling back on favorites. Makes it hard to find a stale moment. If I get tired of being demolished by hard games and making no progress I retreat to Thunder Force, Gradius or Takumi games. Playing those helps to remind me why I love this genre.

Maybe you just need an unconditional favorite you can fall back on. You shouldn't force yourself to play if you aren't having fun, that interest will renew when it's ready.

[Ruldra]

I am completely burned out

I kind of discovered shmups a few years back and played the shit out of them in 2008 and 2009. The turning point was most likely the Mars Matrix competition I had at another forum. I played the game like 6 hours a day for 4-5 days straight, and managed to beat the game with a 12-digit score in less than a week. Quite a feat, but from that point on I just couldn't enjoy shmups (and arcade games in general) like before.

Playing many hours a day and using savestates dramatically improves your performance and bring results really fast. But in the process, you stop playing for fun and the whole thing feels like work. All the enjoyment suddenly goes away.

So I found myself unable to devote to shmups anymore. I couldn't play them seriously without feeling frustrated at all the failed attempts. It doesn't help that my favorite shmups are the oldschool types that focus a lot on memorization. I couldn't even bring myself to play during STGT 2010 (sorry team!).

In the end, I got myself a PS3 and I jumped ship. I still play shmups once in a while but it's rare for me to post a new score in the highscore boards nowadays.

Sorry for the rant.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Its probably best for you to have some away time from shmups and go and play some other games, even better if its a genre you have little or no experience with, you might find something that really captures your full intrest. (or even time away from games full stop)

As for your question as to if anyone else is feeling a bit meh at times. Ild say that im kinda in the same boat. As when I first caught the shmup bug almost 2 years ago It had my attention hook line and sinker, especially the whole 1CC doolally, where ild play just a single shmup for weeks and months just to beat it. This continued up to about 3-4 months ago where I was starting to burn myself out. Since then the amount of time and energy I put into shooters has declined to the state where atm im having a bit of a time out period where im only casually playing Crimson Clover once per 1-3 days and nothing else while I tryout some different genres. Would I say ive gone off shmups? no way, I still enjoy my sessions of CC more then the other most games Im playing. And in another month or 2 will be fully invigurated when I fully delve back into them

But as a gamer who generally moves onto different genres every couple of years this is just how I am. However since getting into shmups / arcade games ild say that my gamer DNA has been radically altered where im currently finding many of the games I played before nolonger hold my attention for long enough especially PC FPS games / western rpg hybrids that I used to enjoy and contined to buy for the last 2 years while I played nothing but shmups and 2d platformers. What a waste of cash that was I must say though I do have way too much time on my hands atm so im never gonna have true quality time with my gaming until my circumstances change.

The turning point was most likely the Mars Matrix competition I had at another forum

Thats funny it was while playing MM where I started to burn myself out. Its all Robs fault!

[apple arcade]

I take breaks from shmups all the time.

I also play fighting games and rpgs, and on occasion action/hack & slash games.

It's good to mix things up, no reason to get burned out by playing only one genre of games.

Currently I'm playing Catherine, Dream Club, & Guilty Gear AC (though, I've been always paying GGXXAC since 07 when it came out, lol) I'm looking for a PS2 RPG to play as well, something to fill the gap until my copy of FFXIII International arrives.

Notice how I didn't name any shmups? However I do have my eyes on Otomedius X, just don't have the means to buy it yet. I'm sure I'll pick DDP DFK BL up and play it again at any random moment but it hasn't been in my 360 in at least 2 days lol.

My point being, mix things up!

Fighting games are great. You can use an arcade stick, and going into training mode to learn some combos is rewarding in the same way figuring out a high scoring path is in a shmup.

[Vamos]

I used to play most days a couple hours a day for a couple years but i to am burned out for the time being and have only been playing some puzzle games and predominantly wipeout pulse ps2. Just do what you feel and dont think about it to much , i might play shmups again one day but maybe not who knows gonna be a whilst before i get bored of futuristic racers though but im having fun so who cares !

[TrevHead (TVR)]

I think its all too easy for gamers to be always chasing the next big thing, playing one game intensly so they can finish it off and move onto the next must play game. I think while shmuppers generally spend longer with each title they arnt immune to the same things. With the large back catalog all the newly emulated Cave / saturn shmups plus the increased number of new 360 shmups and other 2D xbla games recently its all too easy for us guys to get burned out as we try to play everything.

Infact ild say its worse for our kind especially old timers who hate modern games and have only had the 2 or 3 new titles they like per year in the past, always making sure they spend a great deal of time with each title to get all they can out of it

[Rob]

Thats funny it was while playing MM where I started to burn myself out. Its all Robs fault!

Mars Matrix cuts down the weak.

I've been enjoying older shooters lately: single screen, 80s Toaplan, etc. The old stuff gets the basics of the genre right. Cave games do not - they're not exciting pick up and play types of games. They will wear you down like grind-heavy RPGs.

[captpain]

So I found myself unable to devote to shmups anymore. I couldn't play them seriously without feeling frustrated at all the failed attempts. It doesn't help that my favorite shmups are the oldschool types that focus a lot on memorization. I couldn't even bring myself to play during STGT 2010 (sorry team!).

This happens to me every so often. I have periods of intense interest, then frustration, and then boredom. Eventually, I stop playing... but once a couple weeks pass, I'm back and playing again. I think the worst period was when I was playing Batrider seriously -- after a while, I could hardly stand to play it because any little error would drive me crazy. It's hard to have fun when you take your failures too seriously.

I save my dispassionate self-evaluation and mega seriousness for music, now, and try to play shmups just for the parts I know I'll have fun with.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Thats funny it was while playing MM where I started to burn myself out. Its all Robs fault!

Mars Matrix cuts down the weak.

You might have a point Although it didnt help that I originally played the game with an analog stick, I have since swapped over to Dpad which made it harder at the time since my muscle memory for the game is analog. Its still one of my fave shmups though, I like the fact that the scoring system is quite easy to grasp unlike Crimson Clover where I cant fill my break guage fast enough and fuck everything up, its kinda stopping me from fully enjoying playing that game for score

I plan on revisting MM when I finally get myself an arcade stick and have fully got used to playing with it

[Blackbird]

Variety is the spice of life.

[Observer]

I guess working really does change the perspective. Add children to the mix and I bet you start to cherish whatever moment you have to play anything at all. Again, that's why I find schmukmups so awesome, because if you pick the right one at the right time, you simply have a blast. In 30 minutes you play more than in pretty in pretty much any other genre.

Obviously, there is Mame and the grotesque amount of different games you can find there (4-player meeting with Armored Motherfucking Warriors of Glory is priceless) can help too.

Now, that's where the problem lies Pick the wrong one, you start getting obsessed and restart all the time, blam, no fun. Like Rob said, MM cuts down the weak. You can always go play Thunder Force VI for a quick dose of adrenaline, heh. (Actually, I really like Thunder Force VI... I must be the only one)

Variety is the spice of life.

And this.

[shadowbringer]

sometimes during STGT 09 and 10 I felt like if I could get lucky and push my highest scores further I'd relieve myself from playing further (when doing this near deadlines), but really anything which requires (or overrewards) memorization turns me off. But, you can't just give up on an STGT, because there's the idea that by doing so you're hurting your team. So I had to fight the chore which was Mars Matrix, after which I had to keep repeating to myself that shmups aren't all highly memorization-intensive.

I think I grew up developing my ability to understand rules, working with them and figuring patterns, while having troubles with memorizing schoolwork's data (historical dates weren't as fun to work with as learning new formulae), but since understanding things got me well through school tests, I could get through childhood with an underdeveloped memorization ability. But this means that I can hardly benefit from savestating, since I take too much time to even memorize the first stages well enough. The solution in 2009 was.. grinding the games, when I had time.

[DragonInstall]

Yes I get burned out all the time. The shmup genre is actually quite stressful imo.

Currently I've been playing Arcana Heart 3 constantly for about a month. Once Akai Katana Shin comes out, I'll probably get back into the genre.

[Kollision]

It's gotta be fun. If it's not fun, it's not worth it.

Variety is the spice of life.

And this.

And this.

[BPzeBanshee]

Wow, this thread came at the perfect time.

I've started losing interest in most of the games I like to play as of lately. Not nearly as bad as some people I know of but this is something I think happens frequently.

My main reason for it is having a right hand that is not quite RSI but sore enough to irritate me and stop me from playing most shmups when I get home from school or uni. I find that a lot of the time with others it seems to be a result of getting frustrated with trying to play for score, or have the highest in the scoreboard, or just be playing the same game over and over and over.

My solution to this is NOT to play for score but for survival, this is how I've always played shmups and I thoroughly enjoy the game when I do. Playing for score is okay too but going extreme on it like some is just too much. I should also take more breaks from computers but when most of your subjects involve computers there's not much room for breaks.

You can always go play Thunder Force VI for a quick dose of adrenaline, heh. (Actually, I really like Thunder Force VI... I must be the only one)

I like it too, but I don't have anything Sony in this house so I'm left with emulating it on a PC that's just old enough to not handle PS2 games properly. Its main gripe is difficulty and too much homage (did you know the Stage 5 boss theme prior to the Vasteel ripoff is actually from Segagaga?).

[mesh control]

Thats funny it was while playing MM where I started to burn myself out.

Mars Matix and Gradius are the only thing keeping me interested in shooters. It's a shame that the genre is flooded by Cave games ATM.

[BPzeBanshee]

Thats funny it was while playing MM where I started to burn myself out.

Mars Matix and Gradius are the only thing keeping me interested in shooters. It's a shame that the genre is flooded by Cave games ATM.

Out of curiosity, have you played any of the Thunder Force games? Not like Gradius but they're horizontally scrolling (with the exception of 1 which is a bitch and 2 which does a mixture of horizontal and vertical).

[Rob]

So I had to fight the chore which was Mars Matrix, after which I had to keep repeating to myself that shmups aren't all highly memorization-intensive.

STGT is a really terrible way of experiencing a game like Mars Matrix.

[Ruldra]

The solution in 2009 was.. grinding the games, when I had time.

I guess grinding is the right word to describe this.

When you're playing competitively and need to get a good score, it's nothing but a grind. You repeat the same stages over and over and over again until it becomes muscle memory and you're able to perform without mistakes. Of course, replaying stages is a normal thing in shmups but during competitions you need to take this to absurd levels. To the point where it becomes unbearable.

Playing for fun and only when you feel like it is the correct way to handle this. It'll take much more time to get the desired results (good scores, 1cc, etc) but you'll enjoy every minute of it. And that's what games are about.

[mesh control]

Thats funny it was while playing MM where I started to burn myself out.

Mars Matix and Gradius are the only thing keeping me interested in shooters. It's a shame that the genre is flooded by Cave games ATM.

Out of curiosity, have you played any of the Thunder Force games? Not like Gradius but they're horizontally scrolling (with the exception of 1 which is a bitch and 2 which does a mixture of horizontal and vertical).

Oh, yes. TFII was one of my favorites for awhile. I've played TFIII for a little bit, but I usually died because I nodded off.

[captpain]

So I had to fight the chore which was Mars Matrix, after which I had to keep repeating to myself that shmups aren't all highly memorization-intensive.

STGT is a really terrible way of experiencing a game like Mars Matrix.

It's just one of the many terrible ways of experiencing Mars Matrix.

[Siren2011]

Whew! I'm so glad that I'm not the only one.

...I could hardly stand to play it because any little error would drive me crazy. It's hard to have fun when you take your failures too seriously.

Definitely. Passion and motivation make it easy to be persistent during power struggles, even when you're getting owned. But both are like the tide; they are not always there.

...I'd say that my gamer DNA has been radically altered where I'm currently finding many of the games I played before no longer hold my attention for long enough..

I am in the same boat, my friend. Re-playing all of my traditional favorites (Shenmue I and II, Zelda OOT, Kingdom Hearts I and II, Jet Set Radio Future, etc) is like torture to me now. It just goes to show you that the magic WAS there the first time these games were played, but after that the excitement is gone forever...in my case, anyway. It makes me cherish those memories of when they were "completely new".

It's gotta be fun. If it's not fun, it's not worth it.

I live my life by this motto! Truer words have never been spoken!

Unfortunately, I got it into my head that EVERYTHING has to be fun or else life is unfulfilling, which is fatal in a society such as ours, where working long shifts is expected of practically everyone. So the second I do something that is boring, regardless of being mandatory or not, a fog of depression hits me like a bag of bricks.

The old stuff gets the basics of the genre right. Cave games do not - they're not exciting pick up and play types of games. They will wear you down like grind-heavy RPGs.

I sort of disagree. Kind of. Like I mentioned before, when the passion is there, it is easy to have fun with these type of games, regardless of how mentally demanding they are. But if you're playing bored, like I am lately, they will indeed feel like grindfests. I guess I need to move on to Odama or some shit. That game is awesome (I've been meaning to start a thread about it, but never got around to it).

[BPzeBanshee]

Mars Matix and Gradius are the only thing keeping me interested in shooters. It's a shame that the genre is flooded by Cave games ATM.

Out of curiosity, have you played any of the Thunder Force games? Not like Gradius but they're horizontally scrolling (with the exception of 1 which is a bitch and 2 which does a mixture of horizontal and vertical).

Oh, yes. TFII was one of my favorites for awhile. I've played TFIII for a little bit, but I usually died because I nodded off.

Yeah, TF3's a bit of a snoozefest due to its lack of difficulty for the most part. Haides stage is a ragefest for me though so I play AC which is somewhere in between.
What about TF4? That's the most awesome one in the series.

[Treasurance]

not necessarily burned out, but I've ran out of any interesting shmups to play. Except HELLSINKER, that is. It's fun to give one of those extra stages a run every once in a while.
Looking forward to STELLAVANITY though

[jepjepjep]

Lately, I've been playing other types of arcade games like Strider, Shinobi, and Metal Slug. It gives me the same immediate gratification that I originally started playing shmups for, and it's a little change of pace.

By the way, I'm playing Strider to death and I love it. It's a phenomenal game. I've got my board set on the highest difficulty and I'm 1cc'ing it just about every day. If anyone has a Cannon Dancer board, I'd love to get a hold of one.

[TodayIsForgotten]

Its not STG that is burning you out. You'd experience the same thing with any genre of game. It's most likely a couple things: You aren't as into gaming as you used to be or your interests have changed. There will be a spark of interest in a game or genre for me personally every few months. Aside from that, I personally see games that "interest" me and ill talk about how i'm looking forward to trying the game out but then the game comes out and my body is like, "eh."

I find myself playing games and getting no satisfaction out of them. I play them out of habit rather than out of need or want. Aside fro the times where i challenge myself with a goal. Even then, that desire is rare.

[Kaiser]

Well. I am out of competitive scoring play too. I burned out entirely since like months ago.

I have been a shmupper since 2004 (since I was 12 years old haha), my first 1cc being Thunder Force V on PSX... years have been passing and my skills were shaping up to the point some months ago. It's a long story so i'll just sum it up in short.

There were 3 turning points in my career:
- Armed Police Batrider Advanced ALL in 2007 (80 hours of playtime)
- Battle Bakraid Advanced ALL in 2010 (80 hours of playtime too)
- STGT 10... which is where my career ended.

Why it ended after the tournament? It's very simple fellas, I was so good at the tournament that my life was nearly as whole in ruins. In order to avoid irresponsibility and such turn of actions again, I stepped down from being a competitive arcade player, I am no more the guy my friends recalled me. Will I come back? I'll be honest, I won't return until June 2012 to the competitive scene full force, because the school will last until then. AND I don't want to ruin myself again!

I still play for 1ccs here and there but barely and rarely due intensive school work. There you go, my rant, my history in short.

[Ghegs]

Funny timing with this thread, I've been drifting towards other genres as well. I've picked up many titles from GOG that I missed the first time around like Space Rangers 2, XIII, Ground Control...I've never really played much FPS or RTS (or whatever GC counts as) titles so it's a refreshing change of pace. I still have Sands of Time to play too, never touched that before.

There are still shmups I want to clear so there's little doubt I'll be returning to them sooner or later, but right now this is what feels good.