Are 1st person shooters, Shoot 'em ups now?

[MidnightRider]

I think there's some term ambiguity here. The term "Shoot 'em up" brings about thoughts of ships blowing up other ships with varying abilities/ammo.

When FPS's first hit the scene, they were more reminiscent of a run n gun(Contra, Metal Slug, etc.) in first person view, but still remained different enough.

[Niode]

No.

[Hatta]

Before FPSs came around, "shooter" was the generic term for what we now call shmups. Then everyone started calling FPSs shooters, and we had to find a new term. That term was "shoot em up", but that wasn't specific enough for people. I mean, you "shoot em up" in an FPS game too right? So they mangled the term and invented a new word "shmup". Hopefully that's unique enough and we won't have to change again.

Are people really marketing FPSs as "shmups" in the UK? Whenever I've used the word "shmup" I either get a complete "WTF" reaction or instant recognition. No one I've talked to has used that term for any other meaning.

[k.vlaros]

Interesting question!

I would say... not yet. Genuine shumps are still very much alive in Japan. And worldwide, the retro fad is maintaining the classical definition of shump remarkably well among the more devoted gamer types. But I could easily see a few more years eroding the vestigial definition to the point where Space Invaders bears no resemblance to the newest generation's conception of 'shoot em up'.

Also, a google search (who knows how much my cookies/profile and region are modifying the results) for 'shoot em up' returns ZERO first page hits to what hardcore gamers would call shumps. It has one hit to a listing of web (Flash)-based semi-shumps. And it has one entry with the following preview text for a link about a World of Warcraft quest: "Shoot 'Em Up - Quest - World of Warcraft I noticed it, but it's not necessarily a movie reference. This quest is sort of like FPS game, which are also called "shoot 'em up" games. ..." All other links are to a recent action movie.

[corn619]

A FPS is a FPS.

A Shmup is a Shmup.

While a banana is a fruit it is not a apple.

While you may iceskates on your feet they are not rollerskates.

While you may shoot things in both genres, a FPS is not a Shmup.

[Limewater]

A FPS is a FPS.

A Shmup is a Shmup.

While a banana is a fruit it is not a apple.

While you may iceskates on your feet they are not rollerskates.

While you may shoot things in both genres, a FPS is not a Shmup.

Yet the entire Zelda series is classified under the same genre.

[corn619]

A FPS is a FPS.

A Shmup is a Shmup.

While a banana is a fruit it is not a apple.

While you may wear iceskates on your feet they are not rollerskates.

While you may shoot things in both genres, a FPS is not a Shmup.

Yet the entire Zelda series is classified under the same genre.

Because it is a action adventure and always has been since the 80s.

[Limewater]

Because it is a action adventure and always has been since the 80s.

The perspective is different (overhead vs. sidescrolling vs. behind character). The controls are different (overhead combat vs. platforming-style vs. target locking). The combat is different (and the more modern games don't tend to focus as much on combat).

I'd argue that Metal Slug is closer gameplay-wise to Parodius than Twilight Princess is to the original Legend of Zelda.

Game taxonomy is fun and often useful, but I don't see the big deal about it.

[dsheinem]

Game taxonomy is fun and often useful, but I don't see the big deal about it.

We've been down this road...

[Limewater]

We've been down this road...

Yes, we have. I just don't see where else genre disputes can end up.