Gamefaqs top list -The Top 10 fixed shooters on the Atari 2600

[8th lutz]

http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/top10/598.html

 

I didn't make this list.

 

The top has these games in following order:

 

10.) MAD

9.) Wall Defender

8.) Assault

7.) Demon Attack

6.) Space Invaders

5.) Atlantis

4.) Cosmic Ark

3.) Missile Command

2.) Megamania

1.) Spider Fighter

 

I thought Demon Attack was to low, and where was phoenix on the list? I never played 10,9,,8,5,4-do own 4, but can't work on 7800. I would put Phoenix, Astro Blast, Galaxian. I think Centipide should replace Missile Command in the list. I was hoping that person bought any one the hack or homebrew games for the 2600 before doing this list.

 

Any thoughts and what would of been your top ten list on fixed shooters?

Edited September 5, 2006 by 8th lutz

[Cybergoth]

What is a "fixed" shooter? The opposite of a broken shooter or what?

[8th lutz]

What is a "fixed" shooter? The opposite of a broken shooter or what?

It is a genre of a shooter with you having limited control like going left or right on the bottom of the screen to my understanding or going a little bit up or down on your controller.

Edited September 5, 2006 by 8th lutz

[Cybergoth]

What is a "fixed" shooter? The opposite of a broken shooter or what?

It is a genre of a shooter with you having limited control.

 

Ok... so what would a shooter with unlimited control be then?

[vdub_bobby]

Ok... so what would a shooter with unlimited control be then?

 

Probably a "free" shooter.

 

"Fixed" as in "the player is fixed in position."

[Cybergoth]

Ok... so what would a shooter with unlimited control be then?

Probably a "free" shooter.

 

"Fixed" as in "the player is fixed in position."

 

Why is Missile Command on the list then?

[8th lutz]

What is a "fixed" shooter? The opposite of a broken shooter or what?

It is a genre of a shooter with you having limited control.

 

Ok... so what would a shooter with unlimited control be then?

 

Maybe a free shooter.

Edited September 5, 2006 by 8th lutz

[vdub_bobby]

Ok... so what would a shooter with unlimited control be then?

Probably a "free" shooter.

 

"Fixed" as in "the player is fixed in position."

 

Why is Missile Command on the list then?

My guess is because the thing(s) that actually shoots in MC is fixed in position. I agree that it doesn't really fit, but if you squint you can see the reasoning behind including it.

[Brian R.]

Some of my favorite 2600 games are on that list... Demon Attack, Cosmic Ark, Missile Command, Space Invaders...

 

I don't play Megamania or Spider Fighter as often as I should. I'll have to give them a go tonight.

[8th lutz]

Ok... so what would a shooter with unlimited control be then?

Probably a "free" shooter.

 

"Fixed" as in "the player is fixed in position."

 

Why is Missile Command on the list then?

I think the person scewed up or didn't know what genre Missle Command belongs in for the most part.

Edited September 5, 2006 by 8th lutz

[Cybergoth]

My guess is because the thing(s) that actually shoots in MC is fixed in position. I agree that it doesn't really fit, but if you squint you can see the reasoning behind including it.

 

I see. What about Battlezone? Technically the tank is on a fixed position and it's the world that moves around it

[godzillajoe]

Here's how it's described on Wikipedia for whatever that's worth

 

Fixed shooters represent the bulk of the earliest shoot 'em up games. They have the most simplistic premises and the most simplistic controls, especially in terms of aiming. They are characterized by a static environment and a static number of enemies per level, although this stipulation does not preclude that each level can have a different number or enemies or a different setting, as is the case with Midway's Gorf.

[pocketmego]

There is NO WAY in the hottest region sof hell that Megamania is higher on that list than Demon Attack.

 

Demon Attack should be #1, with Spider Fighter at #2, and Space Invaders at #3. This guy has no idea what he's talking about.

 

 

-Ray

[Sayton]

Someone hasn't played alot of 2600 shooters have they? (Talking about the one who made the list). But everyone has their own opinions I guess.

[shadow460]

How on Earth did MAD make any kind of top ten list?

did the makers not ever play Spacechase, Commando Raid, the Earth Dies Screaming, Outer Space, Commie Mutants or anything like that!?

 

Commie Mutants should be way up there, and it's not even on the list at all!

[pocketmego]

How on Earth did MAD make any kind of top ten list?

did the makers not ever play Spacechase, Commando Raid, the Earth Dies Screaming, Outer Space, Commie Mutants or anything like that!?

 

Commie Mutants should be way up there, and it's not even on the list at all!

 

That's OK, get this BS quote...

 

"The VCS port had some downgrading like watered down graphics,"(Space Invaders)

 

Watered Down Graphics? Is he on drugs?

If anything Space Invaders had better graphics than the Arcade version, with actual color and some of the creatures had individual moving parts. The graphics aren't at all what makes the Space Invaders on the 2600 and inaccurate port. And where are Gorf and Galaxian anyway?

 

This man is a fool.

 

-Ray

Edited September 6, 2006 by pocketmego

[candiru]

Cosmic Ark? I never really thought of that one as a shooter.

[llabnip]

Fixed Shooters simply means a non-scrolling shooter. Scrolling shooters are sometimes referred to as shmups (short for shoot-em-ups but implying 2D scrolling shooters in either a traditional vertical or horizontal orientation). These "fixed shooters" are sometimes referred to as proto-shmups.

[Cybergoth]

Fixed Shooters simply means a non-scrolling shooter.

 

I see, thanks for making things clear.

 

Ok, so now answering the original question, my personal (alphabetically ranked) "Fixed Shooters" Top 10 would be:

1. Beamrider
   
2. Crossbow
   
3. Galaxian
   
4. Millipede
   
5. Phoenix
   
6. Polaris
   
7. Return of the Jedi
   
8. Seaquest
   
9. Turmoil
   
10. Venture
    

[vdub_bobby]

I've never thought of Centipede and Millipede as "fixed" shooters.

[Cybergoth]

I've never thought of Centipede and Millipede as "fixed" shooters.

 

Tsk, tsk... and for this I extra spent hours on discussing the question what "fixed" means and what not. So, in Millipede there's:

 

no scrolling + limited movement

 

So which additional condition of "fixed" does it not meet?!?

[n8littlefield]

I don't consider Centipede a fixed shooter because to me a fixed shooter means you are limited in movement along one plane. Centipede allows free movement, just in a limited area.

 

Side note: Cosmic Ark shouldn't be there - it's amazing, but not a shooter.

[vdub_bobby]

I've never thought of Centipede and Millipede as "fixed" shooters.

 

Tsk, tsk... and for this I extra spent hours on discussing the question what "fixed" means and what not. So, in Millipede there's:

 

no scrolling + limited movement

 

So which additional condition of "fixed" does it not meet?!?

 

I've always understood "fixed" to refer to the player, specifically to the player's movement - i.e., it's movement is fixed to one plane, like Space Invaders, Galaga, Galaxian, etc. I've never thought that scrolling had anything to do with it.

 

So: I consider River Raid a "fixed" shooter while Centipede is a "free" shooter. But what do I know?

 

EDIT: I suppose a "true" fixed shooter would be one where the player (who is shooting) is, indeed, fixed in one place - like Missile Command. But I've never read/heard "fixed shooter" used in this way; I've always heard it referring to games where the shooter is fixed to a single plane/axis of movement.

Edited September 6, 2006 by vdub_bobby

[Cybergoth]

I don't consider Centipede a fixed shooter because to me a fixed shooter means you are limited in movement along one plane. Centipede allows free movement, just in a limited area.

 

What about Wall Defender from the original list then? You have free movement on the grid, no?

[Cybergoth]

EDIT: I suppose a "true" fixed shooter would be one where the player (who is shooting) is, indeed, fixed in one place - like Missile Command. But I've never read/heard "fixed shooter" used in this way; I've always heard it referring to games where the shooter is fixed to a single plane/axis of movement.

 

Pretty pointless a category it seems. So does it mean the player must "not move at all" or does it mean the player "can't freely move"? Considering the second, any "rails" game like "Rebel Assault" would auto-qualify for "fixed" then, no?

 

Have a look here for some more meaningful categorisations of shoot'em ups: Shoot!