Does this thing have a name?

23 September 2016, 01:07

You'll find them in many side-scrolling shoot 'em up games, but do they actually have a common name? POD? SAT? Gizmo?

idrougge · 23 September 2016, 01:13

Pod.

Retro-Nerd · 23 September 2016, 01:13

Yes, some kind of Pod. In R-Type it's called "the Force". The Z-out it's a "Drone".

http://rtype.wikia.com/wiki/Force

23 September 2016, 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by idrougge

Pod.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro-Nerd

Yes, some kind of Pod. In R-Type it's called "the Force". The Z-out it's a "Drone".

http://rtype.wikia.com/wiki/Force

Thanks! In the article above, they also mention that even though the technical name (in "R-Type") is The Force, it's also been referred to as Force Pod, and Power Pod, so I guess pod is what most people call them ...

Devlin · 23 September 2016, 01:55

Gradius calls that sort of thing an "Option", although options tend to trail behind the player instead of sitting in front of you blocking bullets

dreamkatcha · 23 September 2016, 12:24

I have nothing useful to add. I just wanted to say nice job pointing out exactly what you were referring to. That's genius!

Predseda · 23 September 2016, 12:58

Bumper?

Shatterhand · 23 September 2016, 21:03

For shmups enthusiasts, this is called " Pod ", while "Force" is acceptable because of R-Type. But it's usually "Pod" indeed.

The Shmups glossary on the shmups.com forum is offline for some reason, but that's how this is explained there.

an "Option" or a "Multiple" like the Gradius/Nemesis series is different, it doesn't attach to your ship and usually doesn't absorb bullets. Multiple its accepted because thats how Nemesis ( USA/PAL version of Gradius) calls it. But most people refer to it as Option indeed. You also usually can have only 1 pod at time while you may have lots of options.

Last Resort (an arcade gamy by SNK) for example has a POD you can move around, but you can also fix it in a position and it does absorb bullet. Since you can only have one and it does absorb bullets, it's a POD, not an OPTION.

Videogame Theory its a lot of fun

Akira · 24 September 2016, 21:00

What about the ones that are sort of attached to the side? On R-Type they are called BIT I think. They absorb bullets and also shoot them.
(I Know, I should know this as I am one of the shmups.com people, but go on, pitchfork me

. I'll look into the glossary being offline btw)

DamienD · 24 September 2016, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

What about the ones that are sort of attached to the side? On R-Type they are called BIT I think. They absorb bullets and also shoot them.

That's a good point; I'd say "orbs"

Predseda · 24 September 2016, 22:53

Orb is something that orbits you, isn't it? Like in Cybenoid or Cybernetix.

DamienD · 24 September 2016, 23:22

Yeah maybe... Orb / sphere whatever

...according to the interweb definitions:

Orb:
a spherical object or shape.

Sphere:
a round solid figure, or its surface, with every point on its surface equidistant from its centre.

23 September 2016, 01:07	#1
Noctumus Posts: n/a	Does this thing have a name? You'll find them in many side-scrolling shoot 'em up games, but do they actually have a common name? POD? SAT? Gizmo?

23 September 2016, 01:13	#3
Retro-Nerd Missile Command Champion Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Germany Age: 50 Posts: 12,339	Yes, some kind of Pod. In R-Type it's called "the Force". The Z-out it's a "Drone". http://rtype.wikia.com/wiki/Force Last edited by Retro-Nerd; 23 September 2016 at 01:18.

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23 September 2016, 01:13	#2
idrougge Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 4,113	Pod.

23 September 2016, 01:55	#5
Devlin Bane of Magic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bradford, UK Age: 36 Posts: 335	Gradius calls that sort of thing an "Option", although options tend to trail behind the player instead of sitting in front of you blocking bullets

23 September 2016, 12:24	#6
dreamkatcha I've got a new byline Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 1,118	I have nothing useful to add. I just wanted to say nice job pointing out exactly what you were referring to. That's genius!

23 September 2016, 12:58	#7
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 45 Posts: 7,191	Bumper?

23 September 2016, 21:03	#8
Shatterhand Warhasneverbeensomuchfun Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rio de Janeiro / Brazil Age: 39 Posts: 3,448	For shmups enthusiasts, this is called " Pod ", while "Force" is acceptable because of R-Type. But it's usually "Pod" indeed. The Shmups glossary on the shmups.com forum is offline for some reason, but that's how this is explained there. an "Option" or a "Multiple" like the Gradius/Nemesis series is different, it doesn't attach to your ship and usually doesn't absorb bullets. Multiple its accepted because thats how Nemesis ( USA/PAL version of Gradius) calls it. But most people refer to it as Option indeed. You also usually can have only 1 pod at time while you may have lots of options. Last Resort (an arcade gamy by SNK) for example has a POD you can move around, but you can also fix it in a position and it does absorb bullet. Since you can only have one and it does absorb bullets, it's a POD, not an OPTION. Videogame Theory its a lot of fun

24 September 2016, 21:00	#9
Akira Black Lives Matter Join Date: May 2001 Location: No Posts: 19,579	What about the ones that are sort of attached to the side? On R-Type they are called BIT I think. They absorb bullets and also shoot them. (I Know, I should know this as I am one of the shmups.com people, but go on, pitchfork me . I'll look into the glossary being offline btw)

24 September 2016, 22:53	#11
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 45 Posts: 7,191	Orb is something that orbits you, isn't it? Like in Cybenoid or Cybernetix.

24 September 2016, 23:22	#12
DamienD Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London / Sydney Age: 46 Posts: 20,421	Yeah maybe... Orb / sphere whatever ...according to the interweb definitions: *Orb:* a spherical object or shape. *Sphere:* a round solid figure, or its surface, with every point on its surface equidistant from its centre.

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