Every name for this genre sucks!

[blackoak]

I agree with OP, it's a real annoyance. To me, saying 'shmups' feels a bit like ordering some infantilizingly named fast food item from the 90s... "Can I 'go biggie' on that?" ...says the guy who named his website shmuplations, haha. Well, at least it's a proper noun. Problem is, kids these days (hehe) don't even know what it refers to in the first place, and further tedious explanation is almost always necessary. Every other option on that list is similarly problematic.

[Some-Mist]

I usually use "2D shooters".

THIS.

oh, you mean like contra and metal slug?


:p

[chempop]

I usually use "2D shooters".

THIS.

oh, you mean like contra and metal slug?


:p

Well then.... how about: Flying-Contra/MetalSlug-Games

[Squire Grooktook]

I usually use "2D shooters".

THIS.

oh, you mean like contra and metal slug?


:p

Yes because gravity doesn't change up the arcade style shooting/dodging focused experience enough to label them anything more than a sub-genre of shmups, while still being members of the genre as a whole.

Did you guys hear something? Heh, must've been the wind *nervously laughs and readjusts glasses*

[IseeThings]

If you're talking about them to people who don't widely know the genre then using a popular game they know to describe the genre works best.

so Raiden-type games if dealing with people who had some exposure to the arcades / current scene

The problem is the genre is so unpopular these days it's actually difficult to find a starting point, although pretty much everybody knows space invaders, so saying that they're more advanced versions of space invaders usually works

[LordHypnos]

I like "Arcade Shooters." Seems like most folks think of Time Crisis / House of the Dead as "Rail Shooters" or "Lightgun Shooters / Games"
Otherwise, I usually end up having to fall back on "Galaga-type games," because you'd have had to be a little older than me and my peers to recognize Raiden, I think. That's early 90s stuff. Everyone knows Galaga. I imagine Space Invaders would be similar.

Most of the time, I try to avoid actually mentioning shmups, though.

[PAPER/ARTILLERY]

Most of the time, I try to avoid actually mentioning shmups, though.

'My secret shmup shame'.

[Squire Grooktook]

The problem is the genre is so unpopular these days it's actually difficult to find a starting point, although pretty much everybody knows space invaders, so saying that they're more advanced versions of space invaders usually works

Say they're like Touhou (even if they're not). Everyone on the internet knows Touhou. Everyone.

[SuperSoaker360]

Schmups: get out

[NTSC-J]

I like the original Japanese abbreviation for them: SHT.

[Xyga]

SHT

Nope. Too close.

"- I play SHT games.
- You mean SHIT !?"

[Loris Biaggi]

Shootemups is how i write about them usually, written on a single word.
In italian i use to call them colloquially "sparini" (or a single "sparino") something like "shootie", not because they are cootie, but because the small ship view makes me think of a small shooter..

[NTSC-J]

SHT

Nope. Too close.

"- I play SHT games.
- You mean SHIT !?"

That would be the joke.

[spadgy]

I roll with '2D shooters' when I'm talking about them in normal conversation. Seems to be universally understood to cover scrollers, arena shumps and run 'n' guns, which is fine by me.Then if people can still endure me talking about shmups I'll move on to explaining that I specifically mean the type us lot love.

[chempop]

My brother always says “shmups” and then does this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOuMWFO59_A

Not joking.

[Van_Artic]

smups

[nekketsu]

Shmup always sounded too close to "schmuck" for my liking, but it's the standard term now so I'll take it. Whatever differentiates them from platformers with guns, FPS, rail shooters or anything else. I used to say shoot 'em ups back in the day but that always seems to lead to debate/confusion now.

Shpum

[Ed Oscuro]

Scrolling shooters: awesome but uninclusive when you consider games like Galaga and Space Invaders
Spaceship shooters: uninclusive of my anime underwear magic girl games

Well, tough. "PSchapeshiff shootans" doesn't include biplanes, either, and biplanes - and the occasional monoplane or chopper (see - Winning Hawk, but also the different kinds of choppers in Seta games, that are either mobile gardening platforms, or motorcycles) - make up easily 50% of the awesome parts of the genre. Another sizable percentage of the awesomeness of the genre has escaped the bounds of logic through being taken over by Toaplan's motorcycle game, which no have shootings at all! The name doesn't really need to include these things, because there are some secrets we keep to ourselves. These are secrets like: Carpal tunnel syndrome - how and why to get it! Magical girls - only when chubby and fighting against easy y-shot bosses (gotta pay the bills by selling the Mega Drive's steamers sometimes)! The meaning of life - actually 573. Hidden chests - no longer just for GnG players! Hovering in space while moving backwards slowly - how to spend your time!

Flying-Contra/MetalSlug-Games

"Flying Contra, Metal Circus" has a ring to it. I'm not thinking of wuxia right now. You better not be thinking of wuxia either.

[ELabit]

pew pew pews

[null1024]

I say just "shoot-em-up" works. I've honestly never heard people confuse it with things like Metal Slug or whatnot.
It's slightly confusing [remember when magazines and shit would use the term "beat-em-up" for 2D fighters sometimes?], but better than the the other options.

STG is a nice second place, but doesn't that just mean "shooting game," with all the ambiguity that provides ["like Halo?!" ]?

"Flying Contra, Metal Circus" has a ring to it. I'm not thinking of wuxia right now. You better not be thinking of wuxia either.

Man, I'm thinking of "Rambo meets wuxia."
Would be the most amazing thing ever.

[MR_Soren]

In writing, I often use shoot-em-up. I'll occasionally write "shmup" when posting within the community. Never say "shmup" aloud. It's awful.

When talking to outsiders, I usually say "2D shooters". It's a bit broader as it also includes games like Metal Slug, but I am okay with that.

[eebrozgi]

Shpum

[broken harbour]

My non-shmup playing buddy watched me play Futari on Ultra last night, his reaction was "Hey cool, what kind of game is ...... ZOMG WHAT THE SH*T???!!??!?!?"

So maybe we should call it "WTFShooters"?

[LordHypnos]

shumps

[Obiwanshinobi]

"Shmup, shmup, shmup..." - you heard it.

[50Hz]

Shusmps.

[Captain]

crap