Shoot Em Up
by Kornelije Petak · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 01/30/2001 (3:49 am) · 6 replies
I am just interested how people like space shoot em up games where you have the shuttle and have to kill anyone... buying and picking weapons, addons and stuff... like Tyrian, StarGunner and such... Anyway, if anyone have a good idea, let me know, cause I have a big plan for a game like that... still working on RPG, so I can't just abandon it.
kornelijepetak@hotmail.com
kornelijepetak@hotmail.com
#2
I spent some true quality time with Tyrian, and if you'd like to create something people like, I'd say it sets a good example.
First of all, it's just well made. This isn't what set it apart from the crowd though, as you yourself are most probably thinking to yourself already. What made it interesting was the millions of secret levels, the multitude of codes, secret ships, and what have you. Even to this day, I'm not sure I found everything, and would gladly return to that wonderfull game had I but the time. Other then that and the fast paced action though, it also made good use of my good old soundblaster, setting a hot tempo not only through action but also through my ears. In a game that relies so heavily on fast set on action, this is a necessity. Find yourself someone who creates some nice industrial techno or rock and use it.
In any case, best wishes on the project.
03/19/2001 (3:28 am)
I'd say go for it =)I spent some true quality time with Tyrian, and if you'd like to create something people like, I'd say it sets a good example.
First of all, it's just well made. This isn't what set it apart from the crowd though, as you yourself are most probably thinking to yourself already. What made it interesting was the millions of secret levels, the multitude of codes, secret ships, and what have you. Even to this day, I'm not sure I found everything, and would gladly return to that wonderfull game had I but the time. Other then that and the fast paced action though, it also made good use of my good old soundblaster, setting a hot tempo not only through action but also through my ears. In a game that relies so heavily on fast set on action, this is a necessity. Find yourself someone who creates some nice industrial techno or rock and use it.
In any case, best wishes on the project.
#3
Raptor was another very long project for us, and although it sold several 100,000 copies, I wouldn't make another shooter because I'm not sure the market is there to support this genre, which still takes the effort of a triple A project to do right, yet doesn't garner near enough respect or support.
Scott, 3DR
03/19/2001 (1:28 pm)
Stargunner was one heck of a tough game for us to develop -- taking three years! Too bad it came out just as Windows 95 hit the scene, and unfortunately didn't support it well, thus hurting its success great because it was a terrifically fun game (one of my personal favorites among the 35+ we've released).Raptor was another very long project for us, and although it sold several 100,000 copies, I wouldn't make another shooter because I'm not sure the market is there to support this genre, which still takes the effort of a triple A project to do right, yet doesn't garner near enough respect or support.
Scott, 3DR
#4
03/19/2001 (1:53 pm)
Just thought I'd say that I played Stargunner when it came out - good game :) but I agree that the same kind of game would not do very well on the market today.
#5
Altho this genre of games are FAR from the current main stream...they are still being made on console sytems (Einhander, R-Types, Gigawing, Bangaio etc..) So basicly this has become a nitch PC market waiting to be tapped...
There are several websites you may want to check out (the excellent SHMUPS! site at: http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/ being one of them) with an active web forum of it's own, tons of game reviews, and links to other like minded sites...its the perfect stomping grounds for shoot-em-up fans...as well as an excellent resource :)
03/20/2001 (10:06 pm)
Let me start by saying that these are my FAVORITE types of games :)...Thanks Scott for Stargunner and Raptor!Altho this genre of games are FAR from the current main stream...they are still being made on console sytems (Einhander, R-Types, Gigawing, Bangaio etc..) So basicly this has become a nitch PC market waiting to be tapped...
There are several websites you may want to check out (the excellent SHMUPS! site at: http://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/ being one of them) with an active web forum of it's own, tons of game reviews, and links to other like minded sites...its the perfect stomping grounds for shoot-em-up fans...as well as an excellent resource :)
#6
Looking at what everyone I know plays these days, I think games like that are beginning to fade out of existence.
In one year, the market will be ripe for more games like Raptor, begin their production now!
03/21/2001 (9:21 pm)
Just thought I'd add my say that Raptor is still my favourite game to waste an hour or two playing, although I hadn't heard of stargunner till now (Me bad)...Looking at what everyone I know plays these days, I think games like that are beginning to fade out of existence.
In one year, the market will be ripe for more games like Raptor, begin their production now!
Alexander Bierbrauer
we finished last a year a shoot em up and are currently developing a new one. Shoot'Em'Ups are cool but very hard to design because there must be action the whole time.
You can compare shoot'em'ups with old 3d-shooters(yes, I know....there's a third dimension...). Action(,Story) and Graphics are the most important part of this genre.
You can get a demo of our released game @ http://www.notatric.de/data/g2demo.exe
What kind of ideas do you have for a shoot'em'up? What would be cool to see in such a game?