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Masters of the Shoot 'Em Up: A Journey Through Gaming's Most Intense Genre

Dustin Richardson

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Published in Masters Of The Shoot Em Up: Conversations With Directors Actors And Writers Of Vintage Action Movies And Television Shows

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The shoot 'em up genre has been around for decades, and it's still going strong today. This book takes a look at the history of the genre, from its humble beginnings to its modern-day iterations. It also features interviews with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Yu Suzuki, Irem Kazuma, and Satoru Iwata.

The Early Days

The shoot 'em up genre has its roots in the early days of video gaming. The first shoot 'em up, Space Invaders, was released in 1978 and quickly became a huge hit. Space Invaders was followed by a number of other successful shoot 'em ups, including Galaga, Galaxian, and Defender.

Masters of the Shoot-'Em-Up: Conversations with Directors, Actors and Writers of Vintage Action Movies and Television Shows

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Language	:	English
File size	:	5508 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	241 pages

These early shoot 'em ups were simple in design, but they were incredibly addictive. Players controlled a spaceship that moved left and right, and they had to shoot down waves of enemy ships. The goal was to survive as long as possible and to score as many points as possible.

The Golden Age

The shoot 'em up genre reached its golden age in the 1980s. This was a time when arcades were filled with shoot 'em ups, and new games were being released on a regular basis. Some of the most popular shoot 'em ups from this era include Gradius, R-Type, and 1942.

The shoot 'em ups of the golden age were more complex than their predecessors. They featured better graphics, more enemies, and more challenging levels. They also introduced new gameplay elements, such as power-ups and boss battles.

The Decline

The shoot 'em up genre began to decline in the 1990s. This was due in part to the rise of other genres, such as fighting games and first-person shooters. Shoot 'em ups also became more difficult to develop, as hardware became more powerful and players demanded more complex games.

Despite the decline, the shoot 'em up genre has never completely disappeared. There have been a number of successful shoot 'em ups released in recent years, including Ikaruga, DoDonPachi, and Crimzon Clover.

The Future

The future of the shoot 'em up genre is uncertain. However, there are a number of reasons to be optimistic. The genre has a loyal fan base, and there are a number of talented developers who are still creating new shoot 'em ups.

If you're a fan of shoot 'em ups, then you should definitely check out this book. It's a comprehensive look at the genre, and it's packed with interviews, screenshots, and other bonus content.

Interviews

This book features interviews with some of the biggest names in the shoot 'em up industry. These interviews provide a unique insight into the development of the genre, and they offer some great tips for aspiring shoot 'em up developers.

Here are just a few of the people who were interviewed for this book:

Yu Suzuki - Creator of Space Harrier, After Burner, and Virtua Fighter
Irem Kazuma - Creator of R-Type and Gradius
Satoru Iwata - Former president of Nintendo
Masamitsu "Matt" Miyamoto - Creator of Donkey Kong, Mario, and The Legend of Zelda
Hideo Kojima - Creator of Metal Gear Solid

Screenshots

This book is packed with screenshots from some of the greatest shoot 'em ups ever made. These screenshots showcase the evolution of the genre, and they provide a glimpse into the minds of the people who created these games.

Here are just a few of the screenshots that are included in this book:

Space Invaders (1978)
Galaga (1981)
Gradius (1985)
R-Type (1987)
1942 (1985)
Ikaruga (2001)
DoDonPachi (1997)
Crimzon Clover (2001)

Bonus Content

In addition to the interviews and screenshots, this book also includes a number of other bonus content. This content includes:

A timeline of the shoot 'em up genre
A glossary of shoot 'em up terms
A list of the best shoot 'em ups of all time
A guide to creating your own shoot 'em up

If you're a fan of shoot 'em ups, then you need to check out this book. It's the definitive guide to the genre, and it's packed with tons of great content.

Free Download your copy today!

Masters Of The Shoot 'Em Up Masters Of The Shoot Em Up: Conversations With Directors Actors And Writers Of Vintage Action Movies And Television Shows