Shoot'em Up Video Games

Xah Lee, 2006-09-30, 2010-08-10

The following are a type of video game called “shoot'em up.”

These games are extremely mathematical. In the sense that the core concept is to predict projectile direction.

• Centipede (video game) (1980)
• Tempest (arcade game) (1981)
• Scramble (arcade game) (1981)
• Xevious (1982)
• Space Harrier (1988)

The “shoot'em up” died out due to 3D games of course. But There are a few new ones released after 2000.

Geometry Wars is like a modern version of R-Type.

Some fascinating readings:

• Killer List of Videogames
• Twin Galaxies
• Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Arcade
• Perfect Cherry Blossom; Perfect Cherry Blossom

• Ghosts 'n Goblins

A highly recommended book for game programing is: Game Engine Architecture (2009), by Jason Gregory, et al. amazon.