Learning to play fighters/shumps properly!

[sj33]

I'm not that bad at fighters. I don't button-mash, and I know most of the moves... but I was raised playing these things (mainly SF and VF) at home on a pad, not in the arcades on a stick. Also, I'm terrible at combos and anything remotely fancy.

Same goes for shumps... I'm not bad, but I'm also not good, and don't get very far in them, desipte enjoying them.

The recent Battle of Destiny tourney made me realise something - I'm sick of being crap! I could never go to such an event, because I know I'd be too embarrased to take part!

So anyway, if there's one useful gaming thing I do this year, it's to play fighters and shumps properly!

First thing's first though - a stick! Educate me! What do you guys use? Why do you all replace the buttons as soon as you get them?

For the record, I intend to use stick mainly on PC for Mame and the like, though cross-platform compatiblity would be exceptionally handy.

[BeyondJumpFish]

I use the hori 360 arcade stick on my laptop for mame. Works a treat. I still can't play 2d fighters with an arcade stick, but playing Shmups with one is much better, you can get more subtle movements with the crafts then you can with an analoge stick.

[fuse]

Best system for variety of sticks, games, and USB/parallel adaptors to use for PCs would be PS2.

The stick of choice would be a Hori Real Arcade Pro 2, and even after that, some would tell you it's essential to swap the buttons out for a set of Sanwa Denshis. IMO the standard Hori ones that come in there will do just fine. Stick is obviously the other big issue, but unless you have a particular preference in that sense (Seimitsu over Sanwa for instance) most would agree the stock stick is fine.

Personally, when I'm not being a robbing git and using my mates RAP2, I use one of the el cheapo Namco sticks. Picked it up for a tenner from Gamestation years ago and has been doing me well since

[kernow]

yah, I have one of those sticks too and its a pretty damn good stick for a standard one.

love it

[Nijo]

Out of interest, do those sticks come in a 'reverse' configuration? I much prefer to use my right hand for the stick and left for the buttons and it always felt cack-handed in the arcades with layouts as pictured above. I'm right-handed btw.

Then again I have to play Tempest with the controller upsidedown (controls facing the floor) so maybe it's my brain that's in backwards.

[dvdx2]

I have quite a few sticks, inc HRAP2/Neo Geo stick 2&3/Namco arcade stick a rather nice custom with all the arcade parts and a VSHG.

The HRAP2 is a great stick, but the buttons are a bit ****, so i'd advise changing them. The Neo sticks arent great (i mainly use them for authenticity) with Final burn - the neo 3 is much better finished/sturdier. The Namco stick is ok too (but not brilliant), compared to the others

Customs are the way to go (but are pricey) - so to sum up if you want a superior arcade stick go for a custom or a HRAP2 (with added sanwa buttons)

[charlesr]

I lose track of shmups so quickly after stopping playing them. I was trying to buzz Psyvariar1 (ie. not shooting everything and just grazing them) at Sean's place and embarassingly died super fast. It's all about practice

I used to be terrible but after watching Saurian, decided I should give shooters a go properly so starting with Border Down, I really got stuck in and tried to analyse what was going on around me rather than just trying to survive. Replaying level 1 over and over (of whatever game) should give you the confidence that you are improving. Look on the shumps.com forum (or here) for high scores for level 1 and tactics so that you know how far off the pace you are. Check out http://www.super-play.co.uk/ for some amazing vids for you to copy. Sensational.

Zone out the debris. Hone your senses to the bullets only. Try not to concentrate on your ship - instead look at the path.

[BeyondJumpFish]

Zone out the debris. Hone your senses to the bullets only. Try not to concentrate on your ship - instead look at the path.

Competely agree. You can tell when you are getting it right because suddenly you just focus on the gaps between the bullets...and your eyes begin to bleed.

[charlesr]

Yeah, worth pointing out that "hone your senses to the bullets" means "be aware of them". It does not mean "stare straight at them". Otherwise you'll go where you look. Always look at the gaps!

[Vince]

It is just practice as far as i know. Really if you want to get somewhere with either type of game you need to just to pick one, and really concentrate on learning it. With shmups its worth looking at the strategy section on the shmups forum, but as has been said playing it over and over is the way forward.

With fighters it is slightly different, you really have to play other people. The problem with 1 player is you can get quite good but you will learn tactics simply to beat the AI opponents rather than actually becoming skillful. The problem with playing other people is finding people around, and this is the main reason i don't really play fighters any more, even though i love them and lost way too much time to SF and Samurai Spirits in the 90s.

[sj33]

Thanks guys. Just two quick questions when it comes to choice of stick -

1) Do 360 sticks work on PC?

2) Do PS3 sticks work on PC?

[Number45]

No and yes, I think. PS3 ones being USB and all.

[Soundwave]

No and yes, I think. PS3 ones being USB and all.

Are you sure??

I've not tried my 360 Hori Stick on my PC but I'm sure that it's USB as well so I'd have thought it should work in the same way that the wired Control Pads do.

Not sure myself though so please dont hurt me if I am wrong

Neil

[Number45]

I thought the 360 used a proprietary interface (and digital signatures)?

[Soundwave]

I thought the 360 used a proprietary interface (and digital signatures)?

It might well do then in that case.
I'm not sure of the inner workings thingies so just assumed that it would be like the Pads & compatible under Windows through the USB

Might attempt it tonight if I can at home on the Laptop.

Will keep you posted

Neil