That Man Is Playing Galaga

Shmups are weird. They are one of the oldest genres in video games, but they are rarely spoken about in media. The last time I heard a shmup mentioned in media was when Tony Stark pointed out that a Shield agent was playing Galaga in The Avengers. Can you remember another shmup moment in media? For a genre that is 99% gameplay, gamers rarely talk about a shmup's mechanics. The reason is simple. The biggest gameplay difference between most shmups is vertical or horizontal orientation. That is why ever shot in AWOL Ahab lowers the score. People needed something to talk about.

Once people are talking, they need something to show off. Something they can take a selfie with. That is why I make Artist Editions of my released games. An Artist Edition is a physical copy of the game that includes original art. More people have seen AWOL Ahab on Instagram than on any game store.

If people have something to talk about and an image to solidify the topic in their minds, then you are doing a good job at marketing. Remember that next time you see an ad that is weird.

AWOL Ahab is available for download now.

Artist Editions are available at conventions.