Selectbutton.net podcast shmup episode

[Frederik]

I had a pretty shitty day today so I was very delighted to be able to end it with this:

http://forums.selectbutton.net/viewtopic.php?t=32859

STG's, Shooting Games, SHMUPS, Cute'em ups, Loli-Witch Sims: whatever you choose to call them, some of us at selecbutton.net really, really love playing them, and therefore I am understandably proud to present to you one of the most dense and informative podcasts in the show's history. A great listen whether or not you've ever seriously played one of these shoot man game-things (play Mars Matrix).

Heeeyah!

Select Button Podcast 36, ft. deets, kiken, Schwere Viper, Texican Rude, and VgameT

I wasn´t sure how good this was going to get, but then I heard they have Kiken on this so I´m guessing this isn´t going to be one of these Gradius/R-Type/Raiden/Ikaruga-only-type discussions where nobody has played the japan-only releases. Then again, on the SB podcasts they usually know what they´re talking about. I especially recommend the first batch of episodes - "The Magic Is Gone" and "Hey! Listen!" being my favourite ones. The regular speakers are all quite likeable as well. Also, play Mars Matrix.

Thankfully I have tons of dishes to do - perfect timing for a new podcast

[Rob]

One of the few game podcasts I like, so it's kind of funny/weird to be mentioned in one. If any of the guys see this thread, a little further explanation about Ikaruga & Mars Matrix:

There's no doubt that both games require a lot of time investment, but (ABDN-style) Ikaruga is “a piano recital”. The game gives you a superplay to unravel, at best. You get a few hundred enemies per stage to chain in specific groups. If you do this efficiently you get a few "bonus" sets. Replays of different players doing well will show nearly identical routes since they can't choose where the enemies are positioned. You can only choose to shoot fewer enemies and score less.

Enemies might drop items in Mars Matrix, but the main source of chaining material is from bullets and there are thousands per stage. Any bullet can be shot back at any on-screen enemy/teapot, immediately or seconds later and in any direction. This system doesn't need for the levels to be as guided as they are in Ikaruga or other enemy chaining games. Players can chain stages in entirely different ways. It's the room for variation that keeps it interesting.

p.s. Touhou sux

[TodayIsForgotten]

I'm surprised no one mentioned in the podcast 1942 or tiger heli or games like valtric...gunsmoke. Even Raid on Bungeling Bay. Maybe I was hoping for nostalgia. Pretty cool listen.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Enemies might drop items in Mars Matrix, but the main source of chaining material is from bullets and there are thousands per stage. Any bullet can be shot back at any on-screen enemy/teapot, immediately or seconds later and in any direction. This system doesn't need for the levels to be as guided as they are in Ikaruga or other enemy chaining games. Players can chain stages in entirely different ways. It's the room for variation that keeps it interesting.

This, I found chaining quite forgiving and could choose to not bother with certain scoring tricks while still holding my chain. Stage 3 is especially like a old choose your own adventure book.

[Blackbird]

Well, they must have at least played Deathsmiles if they refer to shooting games as "Loli-Witch Sims", haha.

[TreasureFanMax]

I love this podcast! This should be required listening for any shmup fan.

[DJ Incompetent]

Thank god, people who know what they're talking about.

[Snake]

Some good conversation here. Not only intelligent conversation about the games themselves but trends within the genre, such as the influence of Touhou, commercial releases being disk vs. download format.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Some good conversation here. Not only intelligent conversation about the games themselves but trends within the genre, such as the influence of Touhou, commercial releases being disk vs. download format.

I agree, most podcasts arnt as indepth as this, I found it very intresting to listen to even though I didnt agree with all their opinions. I hope the podcast does more shmup episodes and / or STG borderliners in the future. STG podcast discussions have been very thin on the ground this year

THX to Frederick for letting us know about this show. If anyone else comes across similar podcasts / vids pls let us know

[Deets]

Thanks for listening, guys! Glad you enjoyed it. We organize podcast recordings in an extremely informal manner that is subject to the whims of whoever happens to be on the ventrilo channel, and in this case everyone interested in talking about shooting games showed up. It's impossible to say when the next time the moons will align like that, but it was about a year between the first fighting game cast and the second, so.

It's really participant driven, though -- when I say in the recording that you should visit the forums to participate in future episodes, I totally mean it. Start posting and checking the podcast organization thread, and I'm sure we'll get around to doing another shmupscast eventually.

Enemies might drop items in Mars Matrix, but the main source of chaining material is from bullets and there are thousands per stage. Any bullet can be shot back at any on-screen enemy/teapot, immediately or seconds later and in any direction. This system doesn't need for the levels to be as guided as they are in Ikaruga or other enemy chaining games. Players can chain stages in entirely different ways. It's the room for variation that keeps it interesting.

This makes a lot of sense. I think I just have to sheepishly chalk this one up to my never "clicking" with Takumi games, and that's just a personal thing that's liable to change the next time I sit down to play one of their games, so. One of these days.

[JoshF]

There's no doubt that both games require a lot of time investment, but (ABDN-style) Ikaruga is “a piano recital”. The game gives you a superplay to unravel, at best. You get a few hundred enemies per stage to chain in specific groups. If you do this efficiently you get a few "bonus" sets. Replays of different players doing well will show nearly identical routes since they can't choose where the enemies are positioned. You can only choose to shoot fewer enemies and score less.

The thing I don't get about Ikaruga is that the dodging is really weak. The shield gimmick basically means there's only 2 conditions of "can get hit by this color bullet" and "can't get hit by this color bullet" rather than many constantly changing conditions depending on how you position the ship in relation to the bullet trajectories. Homing missiles also don't require good positioning. Combine this with your criticism and it sounds like a very rigid game indeed, maybe a cool gimmick for one game, but calling it a masterpiece is questionable (especially with grey-brown art direction dullness.)

[Siren2011]

...especially with grey-brown art direction dullness.

Stage 2 immediately comes to mind. The first stage looks quite impressive, though. Especially with the various, oddly designed enemies and that giant building. Of course, this is compensation for the ugly as sin boss at level's end. I can't speak for anything past stage 2, because I have yet to reach that point. The explosions are not quite as cool as Psyvariar 2's, but they're still awesome.

But yeah, the only Treasure game that I've found satisfying to play was Mischief Makers. I loved being able to pick up almost everything and use it as a weapon or tool of some sort.
If it wasn't for that stupid minigame-filled Olympic tournament and the ridicules amount of health you're given, it would be a near perfect game.