Playing for a 1CC or for Score-- Which is more meaningful?

[EOJ]

First of all, I'm assuming full default settings for this question. Anyway, I play shmups for Score more than for a 1CC. For me, a higher score is more meaningful than a 1CC, and usually if I play long enough to get the skills to acheive a high score, the 1CC comes naturally later on. But even if it doesn't, I'd be happier with a higher score without a 1CC than a lower score with a 1CC. So for the shmupper like myself, the high score is primary, and the 1CC secondary.

I know some people just play for a 1CC then move on to another game. Perhaps they fiddle around with the scoring system for a bit and do a brief score attack with other shmuppers, but once they get the 1CC they soon move on to something else, lured by the chance for another 1CC to add to their list. So for this shmupper type, the 1CC is the main reason they play, the score is secondary.

I guess you can answer this question by asking yourself which do you get a greater thrill from, 1CCing a game or improving on your score? Which is the more meaningful experience for yourself, and which drives you to continue playing?

Anyway, this is all just my opinion. I'm wondering what others think about this subject.

[crithit5000]

Play for score myself...but I don't really count, because I've never had a 1cc. But if I did, I'd still go back and get a better score, so...

[WarpZone]

Depends on the game for me, really. A lot of the time they just go hand in hand. Usually I can't manage a 1CC without extra lives, and I get those from score.

In most cases, I think the developer's objective is for the player to learn and try to master the overall system- the mechanics, the scoring, etc. If you become good enough at that, ideally the game will be balanced so that you can finish it without continuing.

[Rob]

The challenge of dodging patterns gets very redundant after awhile, so I prefer the depth and detail of scoring games.

[Damocles]

1cc, then score. The only way I'll go back and try for a higher score is in a game with a complicated scoring system like Cave games, rather than flatout destroy everything to get the biggest score.

Warpzone, you touched on something that I've been thinking about for a while now: How score and survival are not mutually exclusive. In short, playing for score _to a point_, i.e., to garner enough extra lives, is playing for survival. Then again, if you're good enough to earn extra lives, you probably won't need them.

[MNK]

I go for both 1CC and score.

[infested_ysy]

1cc. It's always impressive watching people completing any game (which usually translates into half an hour to one whole hour for games like Time Crisis series, or the Metal Slug series) in the arcades in just one credit.

[RoninBuddha]

i go for a 1CC, dunno why, but i never really cared that much for scores...

[Bloodreign]

I can't 1 CC any kind of shmup, I tend to try for score, especially in older titles which basically was the only point to play them. Closest I got to a 1 CC was three credding Gradius 4 on default settings, and even then I was proud when the whole top ten for that was all my scores (not godly scores but hey great for when I was learning Gradius 4's levels).

[ArrogantBastard]

I used to play for the scores until I just said "fuck it" and went for my first 1CC on Progear no Arashi. Second 1CC came along when I played Armed Police Batrider, and now I'm working on getting higher score for it.

It depends on what I really want to do with a shmup game, really.

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

1CC for me!
If and when I complete a game, AND I get a high score...well, thats just a bonus my man!!!

Too many games these days have very complex scoring systems, so the player who simply wants a 1CC...getting a high score can be impossible.

Example, even though I have completed the 1st loop in DoDonPachi, there are players who will topple my score even halfway through the game!
It can get discouraging, but I'd rather "beat" a game, rather than just have a high score.

As I said before, if you're lucky/skilled enough to achieve both, then thats great. Thats the best you can expect from yourself.

[Icarus]

For me, a higher score is more meaningful than a 1CC, and usually if I play long enough to get the skills to acheive a high score, the 1CC comes naturally later on. But even if it doesn't, I'd be happier with a higher score without a 1CC than a lower score with a 1CC. So for the shmupper like myself, the high score is primary, and the 1CC secondary.

That's me in a nutshell.

[CMoon]

Although I'd say I'm more likely to play for the 1cc, the truth is I PLAY FOR FUN! There are a lot of games I will never 1cc or get a high score in but enjoy them anyway.

Am I disqualified?

[oxtsu]

For me, a higher score is more meaningful than a 1CC, and usually if I play long enough to get the skills to acheive a high score, the 1CC comes naturally later on. But even if it doesn't, I'd be happier with a higher score without a 1CC than a lower score with a 1CC. So for the shmupper like myself, the high score is primary, and the 1CC secondary.

That's me in a nutshell.

Same here.

[BulletMagnet]

I dunno, I think that both high scores and 1CCs are pretty "meaningful," I'll take either one when I can get 'em.

[Ramus]

I'd like to say 1cc because it feels nice to do it, but I always find myself keeping track of score and saying, "OK, good; 5 million points improvement from my last run." So to be honest with myself and the forum, I guess score matters most even though I don't plan to do it that way.

[Skyline]

Score is what it's all about.

[captain ahar]

fun. i play so many games that i don't get enough practice to reach the clear or score high. the first game i can NOT apply this to is Mushi (on arrange ), it's shaping up to be my first "real" accomplishment shmup-wise.

edit: actually there are some games i just want to clear, the r-types for, what? 6?

[toiletduk]

Don't most games reset the score if you continue anyway? It seems a 1CC is a prerequisite for a high score.

[diOdesu]

i guess i would say 1cc, kind of. i prefer games with limited continues to make it more of an accomplishment when you complete a game for the first time even though you're given like 3-5 continues. ive had mushi for a few days and played until the end my first time using around 7 continues. i love the game, and its challenges, but finishing it just like that was disappointing. so i went into options and turned off continue. i can only get to the boss of stage 3 (normal/manic), and its a lot more satisfying. one day soon i shall 1cc mushi and the score wont matter to me at all.

[BulletMagnet]

Don't most games reset the score if you continue anyway? It seems a 1CC is a prerequisite for a high score.

In a way it is, but it depends on the game...in a lot of games you can focus just on beating the thing without bothering with the scoring system, and get all the way through with a low score, while someone else who does focus on scoring well can run out of lives halfway through and still have a higher score than the guy who finished the game. Obviously someone focusing on scoring AND getting all the way through the game will get the highest score of the three scenarios, but that's tough to do in most cases, though a lot of players generally aim the closest to that "ideal" as they can.

[Randorama]

Both.

1-CCing a game is usually the first passage though, as a 1-cc lasts longer: i played in arcades, more gaming time=less coins.I always preferred a high score with a 1-CC and, to my knowledge, this is the best way to get the best score. Beside that, i don't even care about 1-CC if i don't like to play the game, be it for score (its engine) or other factors (nice atmosphere, music, etc). In a nutshell, 1-CCs and good scores go together, contrary to common belief.

[diOdesu]

as a 1-cc lasts longer: i played in arcades, more gaming time=less coins.

in arcades of course i try to live as long as possible, but id have to say i focus more on score just to put in my name. a day of shmup fame! but last time at roundtable pizza i couldnt even get on the board in strikers 1945 plus (my friend works there so i get free pizza and beer and the beer surely doesnt help). i forgot the score, i'll write it down next time and shoot to destroy it!

[professor ganson]

I dunno, I think that both high scores and 1CCs are pretty "meaningful," I'll take either one when I can get 'em.

Same here, though lately I've been focusing on scoring. Doing so has opened up a whole new aspect of this forum for me. I look at the High Scores section of this forum about twice a day, and have been working on getting my scores up for submission. It's nice to discover that I don't competely suck at shmups. Provided I dedicate myself to a game, I can usually find a slot somewhere on the board. I'll probably submit a few scores before the summer is over.

[EOJ]

In a nutshell, 1-CCs and good scores go together, contrary to common belief.

This is true, particularly in games with big end bonuses upon 1CCing them. But low/average scores and 1CCs also go together, and better, higher scores without a 1CC similarly can occur. In essence, in many games with deep scoring systems you can get a 1CC with a low score if you focus more on the 1CC, and a higher score with or without a 1CC if you focus more on scoring (good examples are Ikaruga and ESPGaluda). If you acheive a good score with a 1CC I believe this shows you focus more on scoring (whether you realise it or not), whereas a low or average score with a 1CC shows you focus more on the 1CC.

[zlk]

Arcadia the gaming magazine always sorts their scores by stage reached, then by score. I agree with this philosophy. I would almost always prefer to see someone finish a game with a low score, to seeing someone complete half the game while scoring really high. When I play, I also make it my goal to finish the game on one credit. Once that is done, I worry about score if I still feel like playing the game.

[landshark]

Both and depends on the game.

[Elixir]

This thread I pronounce pretty lame -- score doesn't really count unless it's a 1cc.

[SFKhoa]

Go for a 1cc first, and until you know your stuff really well, THEN go for score.

[EOJ]

This thread I pronounce pretty lame -- score doesn't really count unless it's a 1cc.

You sir are quite lame if you think score doesn't count without a 1CC.
Out of curiosity, what kind of high scores do you have with a 1CC? Put up or shut up.