The Shmupcast - Episode 1 - The 1CC Mentality - feat. Aktane

Hey everyone!
Aktane and I are hitting up some collab action and here's our first episode on the "1cc mentality".
Massive thanks to Uncle Aktane for doing this!
Be sure to check out Aktane's channel: / @aktanearcade
And a HUGE thanks to Autumn for edits!
Also, apologies in advance for my mic quality, next episode will be greatly improved.
Enjoy the video!
If you're interested in reading my reviews or blog posts, feel free to check out www.shmuptopia.com
Or you can find me on Twitter and Instagram @shmuptopia
and we have a Discord server too for those interested!
/ discord

[@onemorequarter1087]

This is an excellent way of letting people know it's about fun first. Interacting with the community is as much fun as playing the games. Remember don't have to be an awesome player just an awesome person. Thanks guys🍻

[@Shmuptopia]

100% bro! Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! Always appreciate your contributions!

[@AKTANEARCADE]

Thanks for this opportunity to be on your channel ! Hope people enjoy this one, it was fun to do.

[@EMMA-GAMES]

Love you and have been looking fwd to this video -- just don't say Rayden or the vein on my forehead will increase in size by a scary margin

[@AKTANEARCADE]

@@EMMA-GAMES *gradyeus has entered the chat*

[@Shmuptopia]

No worries man! Loads more magic to unleash in future episodes!

[@EMMA-GAMES]

@@AKTANEARCADE dgJSKGDSLKJGLDSAGKS

[@1CCJAM]

Goes without saying you need to be having fun, but I think a lot of the fun, depth and ingenious design of these games really shines during the 1cc process. Most modern shmups these days have novice modes you can 1cc first. Even with the harder arcade games you can always set yourself smaller goals, like reaching and defeating the 3rd or 4th stage boss on 1 credit. You can then come back to the game when you have gained more experience. I totally agree with the sentiments in this video though, shooting games are so much more than just superplayers, high scores and 2-alls.

[@Shmuptopia]

Hey Jam! As someone who loves to delve deeply in these games, I definitely agree there's a lot of fulfillment and enjoyment to be had when tearing into the 1cc experience. Entire facets can be missed otherwise. I think getting people more comfortable with the idea of a dollar clear (or more) can serve as a gateway method for naturally developing an interest in wanting to improve and do better. Thanks for swinging by and checking this out! Always great hearing from you.

[@scienceandmatter8739]

Love from Germany. First bullet . Only Infinite left. Letssss goooo Shmupargeddddooonnn

[@Shmuptopia]

Just getting started here;)

[@letsblocking]

I agree, demystifying these games so that "normal" people are able enjoy them is essential for the growth of the genre. Getting into shmups is tough and the only gameplay you see is from super skilled experienced players. Most STG players are not superplayers, they're just normal dudes who really like the games. I love the point about credit feeding too, as far as I know this is how Japanese arcade players learn the games since they don't have access to save states and it seems to work well for them! Of course watching others play and discussing the games also helps them improve and that's another reason why the social aspects (streaming, sharing videos, social networks, etc.) are so important for the western community. I'm still a beginner at these games but the community spirit is a big part of what keeps me playing, probably even more than the games themselves. Thanks for the great insights, I look forward to your next videos!

[@Shmuptopia]

Incredible response and you nailed it! It's all the more reason to encourage people to post 2cc videos or 8cc videos! It will start to show others that it's completely acceptable and still awesome - and before long, people who struggled to pull of their first 8cc will get better and better instead of giving up on attempting a 1cc right away. Thanks so much for checking this out and sharing!

[@stgcvlt]

My 2 fav peeps on the internet on a shmup podcast, this can’t get any better! Thanks for putting this together dudes ❤️

[@Shmuptopia]

Thanks bro! Lots more in the works;) Always appreciate having you here!

[@stgcvlt]

@@Shmuptopia sweet brother! It keep it coming!

[@NareKICK]

Just wanted to let y’all know that after watching your Mushi video, I finally got past stage 3 and made it to stage 5 but died midway to the boss. Looks like I’m on my way to my first 1cc after training for a while on original and then switching back to novice. I’ll definitely go for Mushi original afterwards but it’s been great to really dive into one game for a while. I have found this conversation today really helpful for someone who was just really struggling to figure out how to get into the genre. If I had a capture card, I’d share my progress, but eventually I’d like to.

[@Shmuptopia]

This is amazing to hear! Thank for sharing this and if you ever get a capture card, we'll totally be checking out your runs. It's amazing because stage 3 can be such a mountain but the moment you get beyond it, you're cruising onward! If you're hitting stage 5 now you'll clear it very soon. Super happy to hear more of your progress. If you ever want to chat more, feel free to dm on Twitter or on Discord. Thanks again and have a stellar night!

[@NareKICK]

@@Shmuptopia to another point that was said here, I granted myself to just play to stage 5 and spend some time learning my own route there, I think that’s also a helpful thing to push me over that hill. I know that Mushi was probably a harder game than others to really start with, but it’s also what resonated the most with me and kept pulling me back. That and Esprade on original was just too hard. But, maybe it won’t be after all of this.

[@Shmuptopia]

@@NareKICK Mushi is definitely going to be hard as a first tackle but a great and rewarding experience either way! The great thing is, if a game feels too difficult, going back later will likely have it feeling easier because you've grown from other games.

[@GojiGuy]

This was a great podcast! It's so nice hearing about different people's shmup journeys and how the genre is perceived outside of the community. I'd love to chat with more people about the reality of Shmups as a genre in the market and industry at large. Happy to hear a new shmup pod!!

[@Shmuptopia]

Hey Alex! Thanks for checking this out and glad to hear you enjoyed it! I saw your recent tweet about how you sneak SHMUPs into the game projects you're a part of - this is great. I also see that you're in T.O. I keep coming across people who are super-close! (KW area). I'm no expert when it comes to the industry and market but eager to chat with you more! Have a stellar weekend!

[@ryan_d.v]

Great conversation. Been really enjoying shmups lately, modern gaming just doesn't do it for me anymore with having to balance work/relationships/fitness. Feels like a return to tradition and I really feel arcade games in general will make a comeback. I don't own a lot of Shmups, but of the ones I have Crimzon Clover World Ignition is easily my favorite. I got it a few years ago and would just credit feed my way through Unlimited just because it was so fun to play. Took me right back to my childhood playing Raiden on a cabinet at our local Papa Gino's (R.I.P.). This was before I knew of the Shmup community, much less what the term "Shmup" was, I just thought the game was kickass. Like you guys talk about here your enjoyment of the game is everything and as I've gotten older I've realized this with other games too, especially competitive multiplayer games. I'm currently working on my Arcade Original 1CC for Crimzon Clover, even keeping a notepad on my desktop for notes on the stages. But holy smokes is Stage 3 hard. 1, 2, and 4 are a cakewalk compared to this stage. When you guys talked about this concept in this episode my mind immediately went to that. It really changed my perception on stages and their difficulty, and that just because the stage is later doesn't always mean it's harder. Or it can mean that the fundamentals of the stages differ and you might be better in one area versus another, meaning you need to refine your abilities for the parts that are "harder". I love how much self reflection goes into shmups, I never in my life could have imagined how complex these games really are. They remind me a lot of going to the gym and lifting weights, or playing a Soulsborne game, it all comes down to the player. Just wanted to say thanks for the good content and looking forward to catching up on the rest of these.

[@Shmuptopia]

I always really appreciate and enjoy such well-rounded comments. I still play a variety of game types, though non-Shmups are pretty minimal at this point, and things like RPGs are almost non-existent. Stage 3 in Crimzon Clover is an absolute beast when you go up against it for the first time. Stage 4 is a cakewalk by comparison. By the way, if you need a full breakdown of the game, including stage 3, I have a complete guide video for Arcade Original mode, if you were not yet aware. Stage 3 specifically will demonstrate how to approach the stage without burning through precious resources, if that helps the longevity of your run. If there is anything in particular you need help with, let me know and I’ll put together a personalized, private video. Shmups, in many ways, are a complete mirror to us. Stoked to hear you’ve been enjoying the ride so far. Also, we no longer do this series. I’ve switched to the Coffee & Shmups episodes, which delve into mindset and whatnot.

[@ryan_d.v]

@@Shmuptopia Ah sorry to hear the podcast ended. But I have been listening to your Coffee & Shmups videos, really like those as well. Had me seriously contemplating sleeping on the floor when you mentioned that in one of your episodes Thank you for the offer with the unlisted video, that's very generous of you. I've been watching your Arcade Original clear, as well as Electric Underground's and Jaimers', to get multiple perspectives and it definitely has been helping. I may have missed it in your uploads, so excuse me if this is redundant, but I think a series breaking down the fundamentals and dissecting terms and concepts would help very much for newer players and exposure of the genre to a larger audience. Coming from someone fresh to the community, I feel not many people play because no one is really told how to play/what to do, it's like driving a car on the freeway without knowing how to drive. I like the self discovery and trial by fire personally, that's how I learned, but a lot of friends have told me it just doesn't work for them that way. An example is multiplayer competitive games like League of Legends, Dota, Counter Strike, etc that have KZbin channels that are dedicated to fundamentals and concepts from beginners all the way to advanced. Not saying you need to do all that but if there's one thing I noticed that is lacking in the Shmup community, as a new enjoyer of the genre, it's that

[@Shmuptopia]

Glad to hear you're enjoying the coffee chats. I thoroughly enjoy doing those. One of the things I immediately noticed about the Shmup sphere when I first got into these games is that anything to do with mindset/the actual experiences/inner struggles of the players was essentially non-existent, and for me, mindset is one of the most significant factors involved when it comes to growing and progressing in this genre. I have plans for other topics, though limited time these days and other priorities has those on hold for the time being. As for material that is more geared toward beginners, I started a mini series in this direction almost two years ago or so. I only ended up doing two episodes. One is on beginner dodge theory (which essentially covers attack types, patterns, homing attacks, and other facets, and the other episode is on gaining a better of understanding of how to use bombs as a strategic tool and not a panic item. I am certainly not opposed to the idea of putting together additional resources for beginners. However, it boils down to available time these days - which is extraordinarily limited. Oh, by the way - I do have an almost 1hr long Shmup terminology episode, if that helps at all. @@ryan_d.v

[@ryan_d.v]

@@Shmuptopia Amen to the scarcity of time brother. Thanks again for your thoughtful responses, I will be checking out your terminology video next. I'm about halfway through your Coffee Chats now, I have been taking a lot away from them with fixing my mindset and approach to these games. I came up with a surprisingly easy route for Crimzon Clover Stage 3 Arcade Original. where just a few days ago in my first comment it was near impossible! Crazy what a simple change in perspective can do. Thanks again for the content and I am excited to catch up on your older videos and whatever else you have in store for the channel. 😁

[@Shmuptopia]

Glad you've been able to see tangible results! That's super cool to hear about stage 3. You don't need to go too far back into previous videos. For the first long while, I was treating the channel more casually and the quality certainly wasn't there. As for things in the works, I've got tons planned and will have some announcements or subtle mentions soon enough. Thanks for being a part of things here!@@ryan_d.v

[@driftingautumn751]

This is such a great chat with you two! It's nice to see Aktane "in the flesh" :) I'm a beginner to shmups myself, and although I don't have the drive to 1CC any shmup I pick up, it's still great to be reminded I don't need to "go hard." Currently into Steredenn and just enjoy the fun of doing runs. Thanks you two!

[@Shmuptopia]

Yeah, I think while some people may never develop an interest in doing a clear as a goal, it's still something that can seep in over time for others. You went hard into Dead Cells to accomplish 0 and 1 boss cell runs and sometimes an STG will strike you a certain way where you really want to clear it. Glad you enjoyed the vid! Plenty more to follow.

[@AKTANEARCADE]

@@Shmuptopia whoa we go a dead cells conquerer here?! Not an easy game if I may say it! Let's gooo! I also LOVE DEAD Cells! An indie institution and classic among classics. I hold it as a very high bar in games 🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@Shmuptopia]

@@AKTANEARCADE Yeah, we love that game! I went all out personally. If interested, I can link you to some of my most wild moments in that game. I think my biggest thing was 5cell difficulty with no mutations acquired via disabling them. The Collector "tlb" fight in that situation was bonkers. But yeah, have been into that game since it hit Switch!

[@999samus7]

This is a really good video, I was watching other stuff and I was feeling soooo tired of them, this is so laid back and chill and it is contagious, thank you guys, your words is something I needed to listen to.

[@Shmuptopia]

Hey Samus, thanks so much for giving this a spin! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. One thing I definitely strive for in my videos is keeping things laid back, so it's great this shined through for you. Have a stellar one and all the best during your Shmup journey.

[@mattatsu]

Awesome video guys! And is perfect timing and I was getting down about my struggles to 1cc Natsuki Chronicles on Medium/Normal, lol! I did use 4 credits as opposed to my 6, though, so thanks for making me feel good about that! Also, R-Type Final 2 has a “kids” difficulty which is just insulting lol… My stubborn, 38-year old ass refused to play on that and got absolutely destroyed on Normal.

[@AKTANEARCADE]

You're speaking my language completely; I could not agree more

[@Shmuptopia]

Thanks for watching and sharing! Glad you enjoyed this and stoked to hear how your progress goes! It's easy to get down when we're not seeing the desired results but the pace cannot be forced if we're to maintain a healthy approach.

[@mattatsu]

Wise words! Thanks Dace!

[@prodoomer3166]

Oh cool!! Thanks guys!!

[@Shmuptopia]

No problem! Enjoy!

[@RetroChampion]

Awesome episode can’t wait for more of them! Great advice.

[@Shmuptopia]

Hey Jason! Thanks for swinging by for this vid! We are almost finished the next one so it'll be up either this weekend or during next week sometime! Thanks again and have a stellar one!

[@soratheorangejuicemascot5809]

26:00 as someone who plays fighting game, its also the same for me on shmups. If I dont like the ships/character enough, there is no point for me on trying to do such thing like 1cc. If the ships/character arent just your generic mister wide shot or miss narrow shot, there is a chance that I may not like the game. Its also the reason why I like G-Darius over Darius Gaiden, the ship that uses "kamehameha" will always be better for me than your average ship that just shoots and bombs.

[@Shmuptopia]

Yeah for sure, I think games like Caladrius Blaze shine in this regard because they offer so many playable characters so there's something for everyone to enjoy and explore!

[@soratheorangejuicemascot5809]

@@Shmuptopia totally. I feel like I can also do 1cc on this game if I pick the dude in Caladrius but I dont wanna see a naked dude over naked gal so.........hehehehe

[@Shmuptopia]

Whatever gets the job done;)

[@RewdanSprites]

A lot of people do seem to put a lot of pressure onto themselves to get a 1cc. I tend to only do it if I like the game as a way to give me a reason to keep playing a game I like in a new way. If I don't enjoy it I won't do it or if it starts to feel like work 🤣.

[@Shmuptopia]

Exactly! I think a game feeling like work is ok but it really depends on the person and their intention. Some of my most challenging clears felt like a lot of work but the overriding factor was always my overpowering determination to beat the game - and, of course, the game was still fun since I love a good challenge. Thanks so much for checking this out and commenting!!

[@RewdanSprites]

@@Shmuptopia Good video. I like these podcast type things. I mean, for me personally; it's ok if it's a challenge or what have you but it better be an enjoyable one or I'm onto the next game 😅.

[@Shmuptopia]

@@RewdanSprites I hear you on that. I only tackle what I love and when I love it, it doesn't matter how insanely hard it is haha I'll go all in! For sure, we'll do more of these vids. Got a whole list of topics to hit up in addition to what I produce on my own.

[@HideAndRead]

I love the monkey & baby modes! I forget which game it was but I remember seeing a girlfriend mode for co op, in which all bullets were aimed at player 1. Have fun, get good 🤙

[@Shmuptopia]

Thanks for checking this out Chef! I don't recall the last time I saw a baby mode (if ever) but Psikyo's monkey mode is likely the closest thing to it. Trust you're enjoying some wicked games this weekend!

[@AKTANEARCADE]

I really want to do an episode on 2 player modes and their nuances soon! I have a special guest who plays these games with their wife that I'd love to bring on to share their experiences!

[@Shmuptopia]

@@AKTANEARCADE Yeah man! 2p is a whole other realm that gets next to no spotlight!

[@HideAndRead]

@@Shmuptopia if I remember correctly baby mode is right after monkey. I am proud of my monkey and baby mode 4 cc psikyo clears lol

[@HideAndRead]

@@AKTANEARCADE please do, I'm always trying to get my girlfriend to pick up the controller.

[@davy_K]

Credit feeding is a valid tool when going for a 1CC as well just for enjoying a game. I find if I continue too much it starts to feel "cheap". You can end up just spamming bombs and credits if you don't show control. I try and budget myself to 2,3 or 4. It's a good way of practicing a game if your aim is for a 1CC and the version you are playing doesn't have save states, a level select or a training mode. Like the idea of a dollar clear - a 1DC!! 😀

[@Shmuptopia]

Ha 1DC! Davy K is busting out the new lingo! and I totally agree. Mindless credit feeding will always end up feeling empty but if it's being done with the intention of returning to improve, that's a healthier approach for sure.

[@AKTANEARCADE]

@@Shmuptopia we need to steal 1DC from Davy. I also liked the 50 cent clear as well when I was first trying to 1CC things. 1DC is sick

[@Shmuptopia]

@@AKTANEARCADE Davy K settin the trends!!

[@aLe-be2fq]

I started to experiment this way to play, like back in the day with my sega genesis, most games have like 3 continues, 5 at max, and always worked for me, so now I give myself 3 continues to try to go as far as I can, in later stages I can use 2 more if is the first time getting there, and now I'm seeing real progress this way

[@AKTANEARCADE]

@@aLe-be2fq yasssss awesome!!!! It's important to keep the train rolling forward and having fun and keeping your brain engaged with different kinds of enemies and bosses vs being stuck. Glad you're finding progress!

[@scienceandmatter8739]

Get some Sound FX beginning Background to get the Shooting Vibe in Folks Hope for more EPISODES

[@Shmuptopia]

For sure! We'll see what we can come up with.

[@scienceandmatter8739]

Also language barrier hold a Lot potentiell for the Genre Back.

[@soratheorangejuicemascot5809]

For shmups I've been working on.... I keep banging my head on the stage 1 of Dodonpachi Resurrection BL-A because I always end up having less than 1st extend score. I think its a sign thar I should really drop the game. I also got the same problem with Deathsmiles right now. On Sora, I keep dying from my risky play going melee since I barely even shoot in that game, and I am almost close to the last stage.

[@Shmuptopia]

Totally your call. Sometimes it's not about dropping the game but dropping our current method if it's not fun. If you don't feel it's worthwhile either way, then it's safe to let go and play what you're going to enjoy more.

[@AKTANEARCADE]

I agree with Dace of course... But also let's keep in mind in my Deathsmiles run that cleared I didn't get the second extend and barely got the first... So it's not necessary really! Don't worry so much about getting an extend, just play. You'll get better just by playing and then if you want to come back and optimize you can also do that but you might be limiting yourself by making your goal too restrictive, my opinion. I drop games so fast so also dropping the game for a bit is an option 😆

[@Shmuptopia]

@@AKTANEARCADE Totally agree. Rest periods can be extremely potent!

[@soratheorangejuicemascot5809]

@@AKTANEARCADE so if I fail on small objective(such as getting early extends), I should just continue playing my run with survival in mind? Ok, I'll keep that in mind. I'll comment on your channel when I got progress, if you dont mind.

[@AKTANEARCADE]

@@soratheorangejuicemascot5809 sure would love to hear your progress! I would say you should keep playing with both survival AND scoring in mind. Just keep playing period! Play the run out and have some fun. We can't keep stretching the same muscle over and over again right? Have to stretch a different muscle ... Then when you come back you'll be refreshed.

[@scienceandmatter8739]

This should BE #episode ∅

[@scienceandmatter8739]

The Archive Arcaden Hamster shmup Ports only 6.99€ the Game . But Theres a Lot of them . Maybe you can review & Rank them ? LEEEETTTSSS gooooo

[@Shmuptopia]

I'm slowly reviewing as many of the Arcade Archives games as I can. They take a considerable amount of work though due to wanting to provide a certain level of quality.

[@flottenheimer]

Nice interview. So, Shmuptopia, what are some of the easiest stumps you've 1cc'ed (as opposed to Crimzon Clover 'Arcade' and Vesara 2 being some of the hardest)?

[@Shmuptopia]

Hey, flottenheimer - thanks for checking this out and commenting. It's tricky to pin down easiest since there are different reasons for why something might feel on the easier side. For instance, I beat the game Red Death the first day of having it and same with Lazy Rebel Galaxy (I think that's the name). It's not that you don't have to put some effort into them but, in ways, they don't throw too much challenge your way. Any given novice mode will likely feel easy to me as well, so things like Espgaluda II on Novice is one I no-missed and the same goes for Esp. Ra. De Psi.

[@flottenheimer]

Thanks. I never want to go for Novice. I want to beat this stuff 'for real'.

[@Shmuptopia]

⁠@@flottenheimer I’m not saying don’t aim for a normal difficulty clear right off the bat, because that’s great but I would encourage you not to solidify the idea that Novice is any less real than a normal mode. I say this because, generally speaking, difficulty modes are relative and also fluctuate quite a bit from game to game. If you look at the novice modes from Crimzon Clover, Devil Engine and Mushihimesama, you’ll notice that all three of them have very different difficulties despite all being labeled Novice or an equivalent term. Novice modes are simply another way to experience the games and, for example, Devil Engine’s Very Easy mode will pose a serious challenge for most despite how they chose to label that particular difficulty mode. Either way, enjoy whichever games you jump into as we near the end of the year and beyond.

[@EMMA-GAMES]

I wanna go to ak's arcade...

[@Shmuptopia]

You and I both.

[@AKTANEARCADE]

You are both obviously invited ☺️🕹️🕹️