I find myself using abbreviations for types of games subconsciously. I recently realized that many people out there have no idea what those types of games are, or even what the abbreviations stand for. I decided that defining and explaining these terms would help a lot of us with understanding gamerstation posts.
We will start with shooter games. Shooters are games that revolve around combat with firearms. They are action oriented and usually graphic and violent. There are first person and third person shooters. First person shooters or FPS refer to games in which the view on-screen is perceived as coming from the characters point of view. This is a very popular type of game containing names like the Halo series and Call of Duty. Third person shooters are generally similar to first person shooter except that the view displayed is from a third person perspective, usually from an over-the-shoulder angle. While FPS typically try to aim at more of an action I’m-a-loose-cannon feel, third person shooters have more strategy involved, such as squad based games where you control the leader of a squad of soldiers. They include games such as Gears of War and Metal Gear Solid.
Next, there are strategy games. Strategy games are basically exactly what they say. They are games that require you to make a strategy and initiate a plan to win. Typically played on PCs, they usually focus on combat, but the genre also includes empire building and tycoon games. There are real time strategy, turn based strategy, and tycoon games. Real time strategy games or RTS typically center on battlefield command. Usually, you are an omniscient being with complete control over anyone under your command. You have a top-down view of a map with people, vehicles, animals and buildings, all moving and fighting in real time. Some big names include Age of Empires, Command and Conquer, and Total War games. Turn based strategy games are generally similar to RTS except instead of actions occurring in real time, teams take turns. There is a limit to how much you can do during your turn and at the end of your turn your opponent takes his. Turn based strategy titles include Civilization, Strategic Command, and computer versions of the board game Risk. Tycoon games revolve around taking a business or something like that and making it as successful as possible. You adjust prices, advertise, and expand. Popular titles include Rollercoaster Tycoon and Railroad Tycoon (notice the signature tycoon name, usually a dead give-away that it’s a tycoon game).
Role Playing Games or RPGs are third on the list. They involve having a character who has ‘stats’ that you continually improve throughout play. The stats govern how powerful or skilled your character is. Lots of RPG games are set in fantasy type settings with swords and dragons and magic and such. However, there are RPGs that are set in more realistic settings. RPG games typically have huge worlds and involve you completing missions or quests (usually pointless tedious tasks) for random people you meet on your travels. Many RPGs involve turn based combat though there are so called action-RPGs where you are always playing in real time. RPG games include Fable, Final Fantasy, Oblivion and Diablo.
There are also MMO games or massively multiplayer online games. These are generally RPGs but have a few extra perks. They are played entirely online with thousands of other players at the same time. They have a persistant world in which hundreds of people can play on at the same time.
I hope you are now a little less confused when I talk in later posts. Most of the games I mentioned are ones I have played and enjoy. If the genre sounds interesting to you, then those are the best games to try.
We will start with shooter games. Shooters are games that revolve around combat with firearms. They are action oriented and usually graphic and violent. There are first person and third person shooters. First person shooters or FPS refer to games in which the view on-screen is perceived as coming from the characters point of view. This is a very popular type of game containing names like the Halo series and Call of Duty. Third person shooters are generally similar to first person shooter except that the view displayed is from a third person perspective, usually from an over-the-shoulder angle. While FPS typically try to aim at more of an action I’m-a-loose-cannon feel, third person shooters have more strategy involved, such as squad based games where you control the leader of a squad of soldiers. They include games such as Gears of War and Metal Gear Solid.
Next, there are strategy games. Strategy games are basically exactly what they say. They are games that require you to make a strategy and initiate a plan to win. Typically played on PCs, they usually focus on combat, but the genre also includes empire building and tycoon games. There are real time strategy, turn based strategy, and tycoon games. Real time strategy games or RTS typically center on battlefield command. Usually, you are an omniscient being with complete control over anyone under your command. You have a top-down view of a map with people, vehicles, animals and buildings, all moving and fighting in real time. Some big names include Age of Empires, Command and Conquer, and Total War games. Turn based strategy games are generally similar to RTS except instead of actions occurring in real time, teams take turns. There is a limit to how much you can do during your turn and at the end of your turn your opponent takes his. Turn based strategy titles include Civilization, Strategic Command, and computer versions of the board game Risk. Tycoon games revolve around taking a business or something like that and making it as successful as possible. You adjust prices, advertise, and expand. Popular titles include Rollercoaster Tycoon and Railroad Tycoon (notice the signature tycoon name, usually a dead give-away that it’s a tycoon game).
Role Playing Games or RPGs are third on the list. They involve having a character who has ‘stats’ that you continually improve throughout play. The stats govern how powerful or skilled your character is. Lots of RPG games are set in fantasy type settings with swords and dragons and magic and such. However, there are RPGs that are set in more realistic settings. RPG games typically have huge worlds and involve you completing missions or quests (usually pointless tedious tasks) for random people you meet on your travels. Many RPGs involve turn based combat though there are so called action-RPGs where you are always playing in real time. RPG games include Fable, Final Fantasy, Oblivion and Diablo.
There are also MMO games or massively multiplayer online games. These are generally RPGs but have a few extra perks. They are played entirely online with thousands of other players at the same time. They have a persistant world in which hundreds of people can play on at the same time.
I hope you are now a little less confused when I talk in later posts. Most of the games I mentioned are ones I have played and enjoy. If the genre sounds interesting to you, then those are the best games to try.
3 comments:
Shooter games are by far the best because of the action involved in them. I can't stand to sit down and think about a strategy to overcome my opponent, I would much rather pop out from behind a building and "own" him. I think in some games the less thinking that is involved and the more action there is makes it better. There's nothing like shooting some of your opponents, who happen to be ur friends sitting in the room next to you. It makes the thrill of gaming that more interesting, just proving your dominance over them in a less violent way.
I personally disagree with jeepman, but I'm not trying to be rude or anything. It's just adifference in tastes. I like RPGs which have a stst-building, adventure strategy to them. Again, it's just tastes. Anywho, I like how you're reachingmout to the non-gamer, because your right, they might not know what the crap we're talking about. Keep up the good work!
Sorry Supervanman but you are going to be out voted here, because I also have to say that shooter games are the best. I have trouble playing with RPGs just because I will make it to one point in the game that is extremely difficult or repetitive and then I just lose interest. Another thing about RPGs is they go on forever, I mean that the series does not end. Remind me how many Final Fantasy games there are? I cannot tell you how annoying it is to hear about Final Fantasy VX. I have played some other RPGs and they were ok but I would prefer to gun someone down at close range.
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