Game World Report

Game World

A video game world is the universe or world the game is set in. The world doesn't necessarily have to be artificial (made up), it can be set in real life settings such as cities in different countries, sport stadiums and arenas, racing tracks and many more. Video games such as Assassins Creed rely on historical settings and architecture as the base of the game, due to the concept of the game is playing as an ancestor of someone set in the modern day. Different game worlds differ from each game as the concept or storyline of the game is set in that certain time and place. It will be irrelevant for sporting games such as FIFA be set somewhere other than a football stadium/pitch as it will not impact the real life feel for the game and making the game obsolete for the people playing, which making the game world right more the important. 

Throughout the years, games have become more developed, with graphics becoming more and more real every day, the obstacles, terrain and architecture of game worlds have increased in number and detail, for instance the difference of Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 have a gap of only 5 years but from the images below you can clearly see the difference between the two, with precise graphic improvements which is looking more lifelike. This is true for all modern games now with the next generation of game consoles playing a part.

Terrain

Terrain is the surface of the game world, it is the texture of the game world that is made up of. It can vary from different types of surfaces it consist of sand, concrete, grass, tarmac etc. The terrain doesn't actually play a part on the characters actions or behaviour, it is more of the landscape in the game, and it can be in 2D or 3D depending on the game. The terrain could alter throughout one game whereas other games it stays consistent, Action Adventure games are a popular in altering terrains, whereas sport games usually have the same surface as it may not be relevant if a Football game was played on sand, as it will take the life like feel out of the game.

Architecture

Architecture in video games usually make up the game’s environment and surroundings, with the use of buildings, structures and monuments in the game world. Architecture is a key aspect in games when developing a video game, it acts as the games scenery and a base for characters to move, act and occasionally die. The Assassins Creed series make full use of architecture as it uses Real life historical buildings and monuments in the game and also acts as physical objects which the game character can interact with in the game. 

Game designers also understand that accurate and detailed architecture can make or break a game it’s an integral part on modern day games, it can also increase the sales and popularity of the game. The game world has changed over the years with the surroundings in games have become more realistic. Here is a comparison of a game series that has been developing along the years.

Objects

Objects inside a video game are usually interactive with the character(s) you are using or sometimes with non-characters. They can normally be collected or used to your advantage but they can also be in the background just for display to increase the look of the game. Common objects in video games that can be collected, are some type of currency within the game that helps you purchase equipment and other objects that helps you progress further into the game. Items or objects within a game that can be used usually through picking up are guns or weapons that help you defeat a common enemy without losing too much health. Games that can be associated with the items spoken above are Action Adventure Games such as Grand Theft Auto, due to having a currency that can be increased though a death of a civilian or/and enemy also through completed missions or tasks, with in conjunction of using weapons that are normally purchased with the currency or through picking it up from a downed enemy.

The improvement of objects in different game worlds has helped the game industry a lot, due to the increase of higher quality and more in depth games that include weapons and objects that help the aesthetic of the game and making it more playable and profitable for the gaming industry. Objects that have been used in the past compared to the present have changed dramatically over the years with more attention to detail objects along with other aspects of the game.

Single vs. Multiplayer

Single player video games is when the game is played only by one player against the computer’s AI throughout the course of the game, whereas single player mode is a specific section of the game where it is designed for one player to play the game although in modern video games, other players can play alongside you simultaneously in the single player mode.

During the early stages of video games, single player mode was vastly successful as it was simple for designers to create as it usually focused on having one character to play as. It was also highly influential in the development of video games as it became the core element in the making of video games and further enhanced different modes that can be incorporated in video games such as multiplayer mode.

The most common genres to feature single player modes are; action-adventure games, platform games, first-person shooters and many more. Here is a little clip of some popular single player video games that has sold for millions and popular till this date.

There are quite a few positives and negatives about single player video games, I am going to state a few, such as playing the game without relying on anyone to complete an objective, as sometimes players with a different skill level may hold you back from progressing further in the game. You may feel that completing the “campaign” by yourself feel like a more deserved victory than having a companion to help you out. However, if you get stuck on a certain mission/level and you do not know how to overcome the mission you cannot get help from another player to help you complete the mission, which may make the player stop playing and resent the game overall.

Multiplayer video games consist of more than one player in the same game world which aren’t controlled by AI but rather by other players at the same time. This type of game allows players to work alongside each other to complete a common goal/objective or go against each to compete for the winning spot for instance, Call of Duty multiplayer modes, players are put into two separate teams which is made up of other players then try to defeat the opposing team using the items (weapons, grenades) that are available to them.

There are different types of Multiplayer Games some are; Co-Op and Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO).

Co-Op is a feature in video games that allows players to bring in other players during a single player mission, or play with other players on the same console in a specific game mode i.e. Co-Op or Split Screen. Internet access is usually not needed for this game type.  Games that implement Co-Op mode are Battlefield, Call of Duty and Mario Kart just to name a few. A split screen is normally required when playing in co-op mode as each player can have their view of their character which could restrict the view for each person as they may not be able see the surroundings around them, although they can quickly help each other if one player is overwhelmed by an enemy they can quickly figure out where they are and help them out.

Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) games usually consists of a large number of players in one game world in different servers.  Final Fantasy, League of Legends and Dungeons and Dragons are some popular examples of Role playing games (RPG) that are in MMO format, these became popular due to the accessibility within the game that allows players to communicate and play together as a community which make gamers become more immersed and make friends with new people. This could be seen as an advantage of MMO type games however, an internet connection is needed to run the games as without an constant internet connection, the player become offline in the middle of an important mission/event and be costly to them i.e. may lose certain credits or seen as an failed mission by default.

Feedback Interface

Feedback Interface is the information provided by the game which allows the player to see their progress during the game. There are two separate types of feedback interface, simple interface is the minor helpful information such as duration left (timer), health remaining, and how many wins. Whereas advanced feedback is the visual effects in a certain move, Power bar and the recent move that has been applied. These are just a few examples.

In every game there will be some type of feedback interface in the game to state what is currently happening or what is needed to advance further on. Above I have used Street Fighter as an example of feedback interface in a video game. The time counter for instance, is a common example in all types of games, which shows how much time you have left to complete task or the game to finish. Another Prime example is the Health Bar, in this case Vitality Gauge is a general interface in most games as it helps the user see and estimate how much life he has left to complete the level or be alive to defeat the opponent. This aspect of the game makes it a vital part of any game.

Video Game Character Report

Characters that are portrayed in video games are usually either the protagonist (main character) the one you control, enemy characters that who usually get in your of achieving your goal and a non-playing/supporting character are usually controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) and you can use to your advantage when in need of help.

The main character or the player characters (group of main characters) are usually playable and help you achieve the intended goal. The main character aren't usually portrayed as real life people they can be objects or physical parts such as racing cars and motorbikes. For example, in the Burnout series you can choose from a range of racing cars and motorbikes for racing or just free roaming. This aspect help make the game more diverse and varied, displaying different game styles.

It’s important for the creator of the game to include detailed game characters as they are crucial part of the game, they can literally make or break the game. Creating a strong main character who usually have an interesting back story or relatable story makes the gamer more immersed in the game, making it successful. Video games normally have more than one main character. Video games offer a group of main characters to choose from as each character or object have different features that are helpful in different game modes and objective. Fighting are normally common in having a large range of player characters, games like Street Fighter, Tekken and even racing games such as Need for Speed.

Non-Playing Characters (NPC) are characters that are not controlled by a player. The actions of the NPC are usually coded the game’s AI or triggered by a certain action or dialogue within the game for the character to appear and interact. They differ from enemy characters as their non-hostile against the protagonist(s) of the game and usually helpful unless provoked for example Pedestrians in Grand Theft Auto. The Boss or Boss battle of the game usually appear at the climax at a particular level of the game, usually at the end. The Bosses are much stronger than the more regular enemies and bigger in size compared to the player’s character. This is to make the game more challenging and dramatic, this is a crucial feature in any game that include enemies and a goal to defeat the Final Boss.

Video Game Perspective

Perspective is how meant how the controller or game player controls and views the visual aspect of the game i.e. from a first or third person view of the character in the game world and his journey within the game. There are different perspectives on how the game is played there are 4 main types which are; First Person View, Third Person View, Aerial and 2D Side-Scrolling. I am going to describe each perspective and how we use it in the modern day, first perspective I am going to describe is First Person.

First Person

In the First Person Perspective, the game player is usually playing through the eyes of the protagonist(s). The viewpoint is not always through a physical character is could be through a cockpit, either being a car or plane as simulators is mostly in first person. First person games are usually categorised under adventure, shooting and simulation games, few game titles are listed below:

·         Call of Duty

·         Far Cry

·         Gran Turismo

·         Doom

The Advantage of First Person games is how the game player can easily get engaged with the game as they believe that they are part of the game and can easily immerse themselves in the game, which gives a realistic feel of the game. In shooting games, the controller has a more accurate shot in terms of aiming as the viewer can easily aim down their sights and see the cross-hairs of any shots that has the target making it a more thrilling experience for the gamer.

Drawbacks of this perspective however is the limited field of vision, the user will only have a view of what is in front of them which can be quite troubling for those who play non-stop action games as you will not have an idea of where an enemy is attacking you from.

In First Person Shooters, the view from taking cover is very limited as you will not be able to see where the enemy/target is which can be quite troubling, there is some features in certain games where they would let you alternate between first and third person which does eliminate the problem.

Third Person

In Third Person games, the gamer is usually on looking the game from afar usually an aerial view of the game character, in most cases the whole backside of the character is usually visible which enables the player to navigate easier in the game. The gamer can also predict where to go as they have wider range of sight in the game and look out for any hidden items or enemies in an instant. Third Person games is commonly used out of all perspectives in games as it helped enhance gaming for the future. 

The most common genres used in third person games are; Action, Adventure, Action-Adventure, Shooting. Some examples of games in these categories are;

·         Grand Theft Auto

·         Uncharted

·         Need for Speed

·         Resident Evil

The Advantage of this particular perspective is that it allows the user to have more practical abilities compared to a side scroller where it is only left/right, jump, crouch, shoot or attack etc. 3^rd person view can make it especially n shooting games to take cover whilst having a view of the surrounding area making it better for the user to not get killed in action. Minor things like jumping to one place to another is easier to do as you can make a quick judgement on whether or not it is the right moment to make it i.e. if there is gunfire coming towards you, improving your overall awareness. Graphics are usually better in terms of the protagonist(s) as there will be more attention to detail than other aspects of the game. This may also effect the Special effects of the game for example in the Devil May Cry series the protagonists fighting moves will have added special effects when attacking an enemy which improves the overall aspects of the game making it more entertaining for the player.

A drawback is that it may not be as realistic as 1^st person games as the player may not feel as

engaged which can affect the game play. For example shooting in a 3^rd person game the accuracy will be dreadful as the aim down sight is a large circle which will cause the gun to shoot aimlessly and recoil to be off. In some cases, the camera view can also hinder the view of the character which can be annoying for users when they are halfway through a mission then all of a sudden the camera angle turned funny which would make you restart the whole mission.

2D Scrolling

2D Side-Scrolling games are usually viewed from a side-view camera angle, usually controlling the on-screen characters going from left to right, to achieve the goal/objective. This type of camera view is commonly used in platform games where there is obstacles that you have to jump, climb and run throughout the progress of the game. Not just platform games have a 2D view, some fighting games also this view to show a focus on the characters rather than the environment. Some examples that help back up my points:

·         Super Mario

·         Sonic the Hedgehog

·         Street Fighter

·         Streets of Rage

·         Mortal Kombat

The advantage of 2D side scrolling games is that is very easy to make, in terms of being an amateur games maker as they can easily create an image of what type of game they want to make. In contrast, modern day side scrolling games lets you create depth in the game i.e. the jumping, climbing aspects of the game. This creates a world of possibilities for the game to have platforms, different tiered levels which aren't possible in aerial view games. The graphics of the game can also be in more detail as there is less artwork to deal with so the graphics of the game can be more focused on. The Side Scrolling aspect of the game are still commonly found in handheld consoles, as popular games such as Super Mario and Street Fighter are still playing right now.

Disadvantage of 2D side scrolling games are that is does not allow character to move in 360 motion, only allowing them to move forward and backward. It’s also more difficult for items to be hidden in games as the item will always be visible to the player when the character is in proximity of the item.

Aerial View

Aerial or top down view is a game perspective where the player sees from above looking down that shows the player and the area around him/her. This can also be referred to as bird’s eye view. This specific camera view is usually at a fixed point or rotation. Commonly used in 2D role playing video games and even action and adventure games. Games such as Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda and one of the really first Grand Theft Auto games are a few games that feature a top down view. Some more examples are also listed below:

·         Dead Nation

·         Pokémon

·         Sim City

·         Bomberman

·         Civilization

An advantage of a top down view is that is easier to create a new environment content, meaning that you can add in extra features in the game flawlessly, this can improve the layout of the game and the users experience. Secondly, from the players perspective, this viewpoint allows for easier control by keyboard on (PC), using the arrow keys to move the player around.

A disadvantage of the view is that the viewpoint is quite outdated in comparison to modern day games, which would be quite difficult when creating a game for the new generation as they are use to high quality graphical games. Another reason is that you don't get to see from the characters point of view, therefore you don't become immersed in the game as you are basically navigating throughout the entirety of the game.

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