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| Origin of the Term "Shmup" | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 20 2010, 04:53 PM (1,381 Views) | |
| Nester | Aug 20 2010, 04:53 PM Post #1 |
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I've noticed at least a couple of times now that the AGG hosts seem a little confused about where the word "Shmup" came from. I thought maybe I would post what I know about it in case some of you might be interested. As it turns out, it's not a new term. In fact, it's a very old term. It's just really, really obscure. As most of you already know, it's an abbreviation of "shoot-em-up," mainly referring to 2D shooting games like R-Type, Gradius, Ikaruga, etc. I first heard it in association with the website shmups.com. The site has been around since the late 90's, but according to the site's creator, the term originated from a UK magazine for the Commodore 64 called Zzap!64. It had a print run between 1985 and 1992. So, the term actually dates back to that time period. It's only because of the Internet that it has spread around and become a little more common. |
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~ Nester - Twitter - Blog - Tumblr - | |
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| Jonny Justice | Aug 20 2010, 06:09 PM Post #2 |
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Only 6 posts on the forum and already making really educating and meaningful posts? I'm impressed! Haha. |
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| Xsleepyx3 | Aug 20 2010, 07:30 PM Post #3 |
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VAPĂ–R
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exactly! this is what we need more of. ppl like him, is what makes this forum good. ![]() to tell you the truth. i didnt really know about it until i think HCG talked about it. and this post helps
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| undamned | Aug 21 2010, 05:24 AM Post #4 |
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Indeed. -ud |
| Righteous Super Hero / Righteous Love | http://therealundamned.blogspot.com/ | |
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| Nester | Aug 21 2010, 12:36 PM Post #5 |
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Uh, heh. Thanks, guys! I hope I haven't set the bar too high for myself.
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~ Nester - Twitter - Blog - Tumblr - | |
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| SplatterTrigger | Aug 23 2010, 02:24 AM Post #6 |
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I actually think I just read the history of the term on Retro Gamer magazine(after recording the podcast).I forget which volume though.Thanks for the education lol! |
| http://www.youtube.com/user/SplatterTrigger | |
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| retrocalypse | Aug 23 2010, 07:42 AM Post #7 |
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I know it's an old term, but I still loathe it. If I've ever used that word in the past (except to reference shmups.com) I'd like to repent for that right now. I just say "shooter" and the old folks know exactly what I'm talking about. If I want to talk about "Call of Duty" or something like that, I just say FPS or "first person shooter". Does anyone remember when magazines (I can specifically recall GameFan) called FPS games "corridor shooters"? That still cracks me up to this day when I read backissues. |
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| Gorby78 | Aug 24 2010, 09:14 PM Post #8 |
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Back in the day they were referred to as "Shooters". It's interesting to see that the term really is from the 80's or 90's, since I always figured it was a new term to differentiate between old style spaceship shooting games and shooters nowadays (fps games). |
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| max330 | Aug 25 2010, 11:28 PM Post #9 |
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Back in the day, all the game magazines refered to vertical and horizontal spaceship games as"shooters"(such as Gradius, R-type or Raiden). Once first person shooters became popular, they kind of stole the original definition. Whatever you want to call them, they're still fun games. |
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| Chameleon86 | Aug 25 2010, 11:38 PM Post #10 |
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I have never used this term. It is totally new to me. I grew up in the 90's so called Shooters "shooters." |
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| undamned | Aug 25 2010, 11:59 PM Post #11 |
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Did you play Klax? -ud |
| Righteous Super Hero / Righteous Love | http://therealundamned.blogspot.com/ | |
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| RefaTheGreat | Aug 26 2010, 03:02 AM Post #12 |
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You don't need to post a lot to be educational and meaningful. I mean, look at my posts, they're garbage, and I've posted a lot more than 7 posts! About the post, I never knew that. I assume the reason everyone calls FPS games shooters is because noone plays the new oldschool shooters....at least in the US. |
Can we please fix the quoting system? Pretty please?
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| Killert2010 | Aug 29 2010, 11:14 AM Post #13 |
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I Like Tekken *sobs*
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Dont know but I do hate the word. I actually really like the phrase shoot 'em up
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![]() I am a big fan of movies and games......BUT NEVER BOTH IN ONE. I HATE GAME MOVIES AND MOVIE GAMES!!!!!!! | |
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| prince_david | Aug 30 2010, 09:50 AM Post #14 |
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Saying shmup outloud is no different than pronouncing "LOL". Shoot-em-ups are one of my favorite genres, the first NES game I ever played was 1942 on the NES at my grandfather's house. |
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| mattwhite924 | Aug 30 2010, 10:31 PM Post #15 |
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Personally I don't care what we call them now days, as long as they are still being made. After all, a rose by any other name, right? I used to hate "shmup" but after referring to R-Type and such as "shooters" and getting my friends confused I started using it for their sake. |
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| Sentinel | Sep 14 2010, 04:39 AM Post #16 |
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It wasn't until I heard about the usage on the AGG podcasts that I've noticed that the writers and editors at my fav magazine Retro Gamer seem to love to use that term. I guess it's just a matter of preference but I think shooters should just be shooters. |
| PSN gamertag: Sentinel57 | |
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| Jye | Sep 16 2010, 05:29 PM Post #17 |
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My friends and I always said Shoot 'em Ups. I first came across Shmup in the mid 2000s online somewhere. I still say Shoot 'em Ups though. |
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I mean, look at my posts, they're garbage, and I've posted a lot more than 7 posts!

Dont know but I do hate the word. I actually really like the phrase shoot 'em up


3:15 AM Jul 11