Whats the first shmup you EVER played

[Arkhan]

THe thought crossed my mind yesterday.   My first one was Dinoriki for NES.

f*ck was that game a bitch.

[sunteam_paul]

Probably Space Invaders if you count those old hand held games.

[SignOfZeta]

I guess it depends on what your definition of shooter is. I played Space Invaders (arcade) in 1979 or so (when many arcade games were still b/w) but the first real shooter I played with scrolling and an actual ending was Vanguard (arcade) which would have been around...1983? 1984? Something like that.

Is Defender a shooter? It obviously looks like one, but doesn't really play like one.

[Colossus1574]

I guess it depends on what your definition of shooter is. I played Space Invaders (arcade) in 1979 or so (when many arcade games were still b/w) but the first real shooter I played with scrolling and an actual ending was Vanguard (arcade) which would have been around...1983? 1984? Something like that.

Is Defender a shooter? It obviously looks like one, but doesn't really play like one.

Atari 2600 - Galaxian or Asteroids, can't remember

[termis]

I can remember far back as:

space invaders
galaga
phoenix
time pilot
xevious

All when I used to frequent arcades as a kid... all those games are in my memory as far back as I can remember, so I can't say which one I played first.  There may even be some that aren't as memorable that I still played around with at the same time.

[Arkhan]

I guess I should have been a bit more specific, hah.

I meant scrolling ones.  The ones that we define as hori/vert shmups nowadays.

The precursor stuff (Defender, Galaxian, Gorf, etc) is an entirely different genre to me.

[bartre]

hmm, i don't think i played a single one until i got my DC.
and I know the first one i played was Zero Gunner 2.
effing awesome game.

[Colossus1574]

then i'm gonnna have to change mine to more NES era games...
it's probably either a shitty game by FCI called Mag Max (i was a kid and the box art had this killer robot on it....)
or
1942 which was one of my earlier vertical shmups....

[blueraven]

Centipede in the arcade. Forever ago.

[TheClash603]

There are a flood of games I played in a relatively small period of time, so I would be lying if I named one.  BUT, Defender scrolls, so I count that.  Then Defender it is.

[Arkhan]

then i'm gonnna have to change mine to more NES era games...
it's probably either a shitty game by FCI called Mag Max (i was a kid and the box art had this killer robot on it....)
or
1942 which was one of my earlier vertical shmups....

dude, we do not dis the Mag Max.

hory shet that games sweet.

[turbogrfxfan]

Astroids, combat, defender.  is missle command a shooter?

[Joe Redifer]

Centipede in the arcade.  Forever ago +1.

Don't remember what my first horizontal shooter was.  Maybe Transbot.  They don't make 'em that awesome anymore. No game can compare.

I'd have to see a list of shooters listed by date to really answer as I played most of them day and date since I am f*cking old.

[Colossus1574]

then i'm gonnna have to change mine to more NES era games...
it's probably either a shitty game by FCI called Mag Max (i was a kid and the box art had this killer robot on it....)
or
1942 which was one of my earlier vertical shmups....

dude, we do not dis the Mag Max.

hory shet that games sweet.

My lil' brother picked that one when our parents let us each choose a game....u couldn't blame him, the box was hella cool...the game not so much 

[BlueBMW]

I remember playing Sky Shark on our DOS computer, I think that was the earliest.  Some time around that same time I first played Zaxxon and Blue Max on our Atari 800.  I guess Galaxian was on there too.