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[Stahlkaiser]

Do you think a shmup always needs a scoring system?

[alvarop]

It is a very interesting and motivating feature for high-level play. But it really depends on the sort of game you're making. Any more details^?

[Sik]

Again it's one of those things that depends on the player. If your challenge is just to make it to the end then you probably don't care about the score at all. (I suppose what mindset you push the player to have also matters here)

[andyfromiowa]

Again it's one of those things that depends on the player. If your challenge is just to make it to the end then you probably don't care about the score at all. (I suppose what mindset you push the player to have also matters here)

I agree.  For a lot of players, a scoring system is what motivates them.  I think now that the glory days of arcades are gone, that a shoot 'em up could be successful without any scoring, but it would need something else to motivate replaying the game - ie. unlockables, branching paths, secrets, etc.

[Zencha]

Does Starfox 64 have a "score" system? I forget, but if it did it's forgettable. I used to replay that games specifically to get the branching paths and because the gameplay was inherently fun. The fly-through-arches secret in the first level was so cool to me when I was younger.

So, yea, I agree with the people above.