However, shmups is a genre that's pretty accessible when it comes to simply "how to play", as long as you play for survival. I mean, anyone know how to fire a shot and dodge incoming attacks - just about every game out there has those elements, even if not anywhere as tight as what you see in true shooters. The games ARE more fun when you know about the scoring system, but for beginners, simply surviving should be first priority.
I think your misunderstanding me what im talking about is teaching gamers simple techniques that most shmup fans use to play the games (ie bullet herding and how to dodge very basic bullet patterns). As you know theres no "simply playing for suvival" as even that requires a decent degree of skill stage 2 and above. Gamers when they play a shmup are thown into the deep end with little knowledge and no skill.
Whilst the techniques are available from other sources other then the game itself (ie this forum) not everybody who plays a shooter will find their way here, imo devs need to make it available inside the game.
A tutorial stage would be a great thing, something with a few simple basic bullet patterns with a ghoasted ship showing player easy ways to dodge them with a bit of text or a vioce over. Lots of other genres have tutorials ie space sims, rts, fps (although the current trend to to put it inside the main game which wont work in shmups).
Imo this would a win / win situation for the noob / casual, the devs and best of all us guys since theres less chance of the meat and potatoes of the game been "dumbed down" as its raising their skill level closer to us. I do agree on what you say about rank / easy modes but why cant we have tutorials aswell.
EDIT ill add a hats off to RSG for putting up a PDF guide for their release of DS though