Expert: Helen Joan Casper - 1/16/2006

Question
Yeah sorry Helen I wasn't making sense.
I was trying to find out how you searched and found retro/classic games yourself, so that I would be able to search myself and leave you alone, for a while anyway!!
but if you ever find info on vertical shooters can you let me know?

Alan

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Followup To
Question -
Hey Helen

You're a bundle of knowlegde.
I search for shoot-em up (shmups) but it comes up with the old classics ie capcom atari etc and when I search for shooters well thats even worse,
but you got back to me with plenty of answers and so quickly.

I don't know the names of the companies or the game names BUT! I know they are out there waiting to be found and thrashed

I'd like to know of a source that can give me a list/link of games that have been converted to Playstation 2/Xbox.
Hope this one's not that tricky for you

Again Thanks
Alan

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Followup To
Question -
Hi Helen

Thanks for that, but yeah I have ps2 and xbox though I much prefer xbox which is soon to be 360. If you could help me with a list for the xbox and websites I could buy from I would be really happy.

Regards
Alan

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Followup To
Question -
Hi Helen

I've always been a big fan of vertical scrolling shooters, but they are very rare nowadays unless you want the 3D style which is the closest you'll get to that style of game.
What I'm looking for is games like Aero Fighter, Alpha Mission, Ghost Pilots... The list is endless!

Do you know if any of these games have been brought out in any other format for todays systems like PC or console?

Regards
Alan
Answer -
There are still several out there. Raiden III for PS2 just came out in September 05. A lot of the old games have been re-released. Capcom Classics, for instance, was released on PS2 and contains the oldskool 1942 vertical shooter as well as several others. Also for PS2 there is Silpheed: The Lost Planet, RayCrisis: Series Termination (actually released on PS1 but you can play it on PS2), Mobile Light Force 2, Castle Shikigami 2, etc.

Give me a specific platform (Xbox, PS2, PC, Mac, etc.) and I'll list for you some games. You could also go to your local EB Games, Game Stop, or other game store and ask the employees there to direct you to some. =)

Thanks!
Helen Casper
Answer -
There are currently no vertical scrolling games for the Xbox 360. Other Xbox titles you might enjoy: The Red Star, Capcom Classics (available on both platforms and has more oldschool vertical shooters than you can shake a stick at), Castle Shikigami 2 (also on both platforms though Mobile Light Force 2- which is its prequel- is only on PS2. Raiden III, which I had recommended earlier, is also only on PS2 as is Xevious 3D/G.), Tecmo Classic Arcade (which is similar to the Capcom Classics in that it features oldschool vert. shooters).  

You can purchase these games at http://www.ebgames.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.gamestop.com, and some of the more popular games (like Capcom Classics) you can purchase at http://www.target.com and http://www.walmart.com.

Let me know if I can help you with anything else.

Thanks!
Helen Casper =)
Answer -
I am not entirely sure I understand your question as I believe I've already provided the information, but here's my attempt. Please let me know if I've misunderstood you and you were wanting some other type of information.

You can find all of the games I mentioned previously at the retailers I also mentioned. You can search their websites just with the game names (The Red Star, Capcom Classics, etc.) but I can list for you all the makers if you'd like. I just went on to both Amazon.com and Ebgames.com and was able to find all of the games just by typing in those game names in the search toolbar on the site.

As for the list I provided above, I went off my own knowledge and several websites as there doesn't appear to be a list of those games, especially ones for consoles. For converted games, your best bet is to check compilations released by the old makers. For instance, Capcom Classics has 22 games re-released by Capcom. Sega, Atari, and Activision have also re-released their old games in compilations. Just go to any of the retailers I listed and type in the company name (Sega, Capcom, etc.) in the site's search bar and it will pull up any compilation games the company has released.

There is a website that lists old vertical scrolling games that have been converted to PC format and also lists some new games for the PC:
http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/654/654685p1.html

As for the previous games you mentioned: Aero Fighter, Alpha Mission, and Ghost Pilots. Those games were not re-released on PS2 or Xbox but they are available for download online for your PC. If the company who made the games is no longer in business, it is rare that the game will be re-released to a modern console unless a larger company (Sega, Atari, etc.) bought the rights to it. However, many games that are no longer supported because the companies have gone out of business have come into public domain and have been ported for play on modern computers.

Let me know how else I can help!  

Thanks!
Helen Casper

Answer
I would be happy to do so and will edit this answer if I hear of any new developments!

You may also want to subscribe to the EBGames newsletter as they feature articles about new game releases. You may also want to add video game blogs and other new release feeds to your daily reading list to gain more up-to-the-minute insight on new games, especially for the Xbox 360 as they're released. Befriending the employees at local game shops is often a good idea as well. When I'm looking for games, they will often call me when one gets in and/or is traded in to the store.

I'm glad I was able to help. Ask me a question anytime!

Thanks!
Helen Casper