I now that this is a stupid question, but with all the power I had I couldn`t find a consistent and easy-understandable description of what point-blanking is. Sure, I checked Wikipedia and all, but still I don`t get it. My english is really not that bad, but this term is mentioned so often and I still don`t know what that is supposed to mean.
Please please, try to explain it to me, and if you sound like someone trying to explain how a TV works to a retarded kid, then do it, I just want to UNDERSTAND it!
What the f*ck is point-blanking?
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BulletMagnet
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Shameless Plug!
Hopefully the description there is clear enough...it probably needs editing after all this time.
Hopefully the description there is clear enough...it probably needs editing after all this time.
Thanks a bunch. And hey, I didn`t even know we had a glossary. Today, Frederik learned two important lessons! Me happy now. 
EDIT: This is a real nice glossary. I was thinking about some sort of "Beginners Guide to Shmups" which explains the different game types and tips and tricks on dodging in general, but... geez, I don`t have time for that. That thread should be a sticky one, for all newbies (and semi-newbies like me
)
*printing the glossary now*
EDIT: This is a real nice glossary. I was thinking about some sort of "Beginners Guide to Shmups" which explains the different game types and tips and tricks on dodging in general, but... geez, I don`t have time for that. That thread should be a sticky one, for all newbies (and semi-newbies like me
)*printing the glossary now*
BM's glossary didn't cover some strategic uses of point blanking, but this is fine since the advantages differ across games.
In many older (8 and 16-bit) shooters, you can have only a limited number of player-fired bullets on screen at once. Being very close to an enemy effectively decreases the lifetime of your bullets and you can enjoy a higher firing rate (especially if you use an auto-fire controller).
Also, in certain games with ground and air-based enemies, ground enemies cease fire when the player ship is within a certain radius. What you can do in such games is hover almost directly above the ground enemies, and they will be damaged by your weapon; however, they will not attack you.
In many older (8 and 16-bit) shooters, you can have only a limited number of player-fired bullets on screen at once. Being very close to an enemy effectively decreases the lifetime of your bullets and you can enjoy a higher firing rate (especially if you use an auto-fire controller).
Also, in certain games with ground and air-based enemies, ground enemies cease fire when the player ship is within a certain radius. What you can do in such games is hover almost directly above the ground enemies, and they will be damaged by your weapon; however, they will not attack you.
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BulletMagnet
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Glad you like the glossary. It's not exactly "mine," though, as I got a lot of the definitions and such therein from various people around here, and I pretty much just served as the guy to plotz it all in one spot. I've actually added/edited quite a bit of stuff since the last time I edited the topic, I just haven't posted it yet...once I actually get it to a point where I want to update it again I'll probably just ask the mods to close/delete the present thread and replace it with a whole new one, since the discussion was getting a bit cluttered in there, and there's still a good amount of work to be done...
It's not exactly "mine," though, as I got a lot of the definitions and such therein from various people around here, and I pretty much just served as the guy to plotz it all in one spot. I've actually added/edited quite a bit of stuff since the last time I edited the topic, I just haven't posted it yet...once I actually get it to a point where I want to update it again I'll probably just ask the mods to close/delete the present thread and replace it with a whole new one, since the discussion was getting a bit cluttered in there, and there's still a good amount of work to be done...-
Pixel_Outlaw
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Well you got these two gray plastic guns called Guncons, and you have these two semi homosexual guys called Dr. Don and DR. Dan. Basically you do things like shooting bees and killing ghosts. Actually the 2 guys are like a Japanese Burt and Ernie.
Some of the best shmups don't actually end in a vowel.
No, this game is not Space Invaders.
No, this game is not Space Invaders.
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gameoverDude
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In Darius Gaiden, one of my favorite uses of this is to point-blank the boss and beat the shit out of the fire button as fast as possible (just holding the fire button doesn't cut it IMO). Make sure that it's not just your main shot but also the two missiles in front that are hitting the weak point.
Done right, this cuts down on the time taken to kill bosses- important, since you'll have to deal with YZK-Takami enemies if you take too long.
Done right, this cuts down on the time taken to kill bosses- important, since you'll have to deal with YZK-Takami enemies if you take too long.
Kinect? KIN NOT.
I sometimes call point-blanking "The Shotgun Effect," because I used to play alot of FPSes before getting into shmups and the thing with shotguns is that they do more damage the closer you are to your enemy.
Basically, you do more damage because the bullets have less distance to travel and with most shmups, you can only fire a certain number of bullets onto the screen at a time, so less distance=more bullets, which means more damage.
Some shmups will give you more points for point blanking enemies. Also, most ground enemies won't shoot at you if you get near them.
Basically, you do more damage because the bullets have less distance to travel and with most shmups, you can only fire a certain number of bullets onto the screen at a time, so less distance=more bullets, which means more damage.
Some shmups will give you more points for point blanking enemies. Also, most ground enemies won't shoot at you if you get near them.
Shmups: It's all about blowing stuff up!
Point Blancking is shooting from a very short distance away.
When you are point blanking you are getting very close to the enemy in order to shoot faster (the shot limi affectss you less) and/or to keep the enemy from shooting at you.
When an enem point blanks you it shoots you when you are too close to dodge.
Most games have some enemies that wil point blank you, and some that won't.
Stationary turrets and most bosses, for example will nearly always point blank you. if you get right in front of their big laser of doo, they don't care, and will fire it at you anyway.
Most mobile ground targets in vertical shmups (like slap fight or raiden) will NOT point blank you. If you are nearly overlapping the tank it won't fire. this is because it can't hit you as it takes time for the bullet to float up high enough into the atmosphere to strike you. (lol, actaully it's just for game balance, but that's a perfectly reasonable explanation)
The "point blank safe distance" is the distance which if you are within enemies won't shoot you.
The first game with a point blank safe distance was space invaders, where enemies on the bottom row about to drop to the ground wouldn't point blank you. they will drop bombs when you are not under them, but they will stop when you approach!
In some games, even aerial minibosses won't point blank you (truxton 2 is a good example)
The point blank safe distance is often affected by rank.
When you are point blanking you are getting very close to the enemy in order to shoot faster (the shot limi affectss you less) and/or to keep the enemy from shooting at you.
When an enem point blanks you it shoots you when you are too close to dodge.
Most games have some enemies that wil point blank you, and some that won't.
Stationary turrets and most bosses, for example will nearly always point blank you. if you get right in front of their big laser of doo, they don't care, and will fire it at you anyway.
Most mobile ground targets in vertical shmups (like slap fight or raiden) will NOT point blank you. If you are nearly overlapping the tank it won't fire. this is because it can't hit you as it takes time for the bullet to float up high enough into the atmosphere to strike you. (lol, actaully it's just for game balance, but that's a perfectly reasonable explanation)
The "point blank safe distance" is the distance which if you are within enemies won't shoot you.
The first game with a point blank safe distance was space invaders, where enemies on the bottom row about to drop to the ground wouldn't point blank you. they will drop bombs when you are not under them, but they will stop when you approach!
In some games, even aerial minibosses won't point blank you (truxton 2 is a good example)
The point blank safe distance is often affected by rank.