Video Game Genres

Video Games are often usually put into categories or genres. Their classified by how the game is created and how the gameplay and style is. Some of the genres I will be explaining in full detail are;

Sports Games

Games that stimulate sporting experience, which includes sports such as Football, Baseball, Golf, Boxing, Skate Boarding, Tennis etc.

Some sports game place the emphasis on the experience of playing the sport, sport whilst others focus on the strategy behind the sport. Here are some familiar examples;

·         FIFA

·         Football Manager

·         Madden

·         NFL

·         UFC Undisputed

·         Fight Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nepBG1PtFd0 - (Video link, that needs uploading)

Adventure Games

Typically the player is the protagonist of a story and in order to progress they must solve puzzles. The puzzles can often involve manipulating and interacting with in-game objects, characters, etc.

Here are some of the following examples:

·         Uncharted

·         Far Cry

·         Tomb Raider

·         Super Mario

Action Games

Action is quite a broad term in terms of games, as action is normally represented as fast paced events and movement that requires a lot of hand-eye coordination and reaction time. It is often sub categorised into different genres e.g. Adventure, Sports, Shooting, First and Third Person shooters etc.

Here a few examples that come under this genre:

·         Halo

·         Assassins Creed

·         GTA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvoD7ehZPcM - (Video Example, need to work)

Simulation Games

Many simulation games aim to simulate physical activities such as flying an aircraft (Microsoft Flight Simulator), playing golf or football etc. (sometimes with as much realism is as possible).

Other forms of simulation game aim to provide simulations of forms of management, e.g. football management games, city management (SimCity), railroading, etc.

Here are a few examples;

·         Sims Franchise

·         MS Flight Simulator

·         Bus Simulator

·         X3 and Wing Commander

Fighting Games

In fighting games the player usually control one or more characters to ‘fight’ against other being the CPU or other players in a one-on-one situation. The aim of the game is to defeat the opponent to claim victory and progress further. Some popular examples are listed below;

•          Street Fighter
•          Mortal Kombat
•          Virtua Fighter
•          Tekken

Strategy Games

There are two types of Strategy games Real-Time Strategy (RTS) and Turn Based Games (TB). In Real time strategy games, is mainly focused on collecting and earning resources that help you in achieving a goal of defeating or finishing a task through planning and constructing. Whilst Turn Based games is the same as RTS but also quite similar to Board Games in terms that you have to take turns on making a move or attack.

Notable Examples are;

·         Civilization

·         X-COM

·         Master of Orion

·         Rome Total War

Puzzle Games

Puzzle games often require the player to solve puzzles or problems and can involve the exercise of logic, memory, pattern matching, reaction time, etc.

Few Examples:

·        Tetris

·         Lemmings

·         Minesweeper

·         Candy Crush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y_TiOJXVbo - (Video example need uploading)

Role Playing Games

Often characterised in terms of providing the player with an in-depth story line it gives the player flexibility in terms of character development, problem resolution, etc.

Few examples are:

·         Final Fantasy

·         Mass Effect

·         Fallout

·         Dragon Age

Educational Games

Educational games are designed to teach new skills which can span from pre-school onwards. It helps the user gain knowledge and understanding in that particular topic/subject.

Few examples are;

·         Dr Kawashima Brain Training

·         Carmen Sandiego

·         Mavis Beacon Teaching Typing