Gaming University
Gaming 101
VIDEO GAMES! For more than six decades, in some shape or form, entertainment media has become a part of our daily lives. Whether you are young or old, digital entertainment can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways. We all have seen whats out there in advertisements, but for those who are new or a seasoned professional in this scene, let’s look at the various types of genres, in order to gain clarity in this complex, yet convoluted space of entertainment.
What is a Sandbox game?
The overall concept of this genre is freedom. Free to roam, free to explore, and expandability. Here, the players are not bound by specific tasks. You know these types of games, due to their open world environment. With game titles such as Grand Theft Auto and Minecraft, players are able to create environments, and explore different ways of playing the game. In other words, there are no set goals, for the players determine that themselves.
What defines a Strategy video game?
This genre are for those who love to take on challenges. If you enjoy a game of Chess or Checkers, this genre is for you, as it incorporates planning your next move, and critical thinking to get the job done. With games such as Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector and XCOM, Strategy video games consist of several sub-genres, so there is always something for someone.
How many different Sports are there?
Are video games a sport now? Well, this genre goes really without any explanation. If you are a fan of the NFL (football), NBA (basketball), MBA (baseball), NHL (hockey), FIFA (soccer), and even pro-wrestling such as the WWE, you will find that they have developed video games just for you, but they are not the only brands that do so. EA Games, through EA Sports develop a large quantity of sports video games each year, but they are not the only ones, with companies such as Take-Two Interactive, which as of this writing, own Rockstar Games and the 2K company. Who remembers Madden 2004 and NBA2K?
Why are Action games so popular?
Action video games are the number one most popular genre over all the video game genres. This genre involves your entire being, for it requires hand-eye coordination, motor skills, as well as brain power and strategic planing. You play as a character, and engage in combat with another player or the computer, known as a CPU. What is great is that you can adjust difficulty levels to enjoy and improve at your own pace. Ever hear of Mortal Kombat or Super Smash Bros?
What is considered a Role-Playing Game (RPG)?
As the name suggests, you are playing a role within an established story. The objective of the genre is simple. Pick a character, complete challenges and goals to gain points to upgrade your character’s abilities, and finish the game. Titles such as Final Fantasy VII and Elden Ring, are just some of the most popular titles in this genre.
What happens in Simulation games?
A simulation is defined as the imitative representation of something real. In the world of video games, it can be both real or fictional. What you are doing here is experiencing a representation of life, as it is established by the game developers. Titles such as The Sims and Animal Crossing, are a type of Simulation game.
What makes a good Party Game?
Are puzzle video games good for your brain? If you love Mahjong, Sudoku, and crossword puzzles, then you will feel right at home here. This genre is honestly the easiest genre for anyone who is a Baby Boomer to dive into, in my opinion. You will find familiar titles here, which you may already be accustomed to already. For those looking to transition, playing a game of Tetris or Wordle will eventually become second nature, and you might just be able to enjoy a game of Mario Party (which have many titles), depending on your skillset.
How Adventure games differ from RPG
Next to the Action genre, we have this one. Who doesn’t love adventure? That’s why most of us go to the movies, but what if you were able to control what was happening on the screen? That’s why this genre is loved by almost every gamer in the community. God of War and Far Cry are very popular titles in this entertainment sphere. In this genre, the progression of the game is predetermined, where the player follows the instructions provided by the game developers within the story, in order to clear the game. In RPG, the story progression is more open, where the direction of the game is determined by the player. It is important to note that Adventure also differs from the Action genre, by not having really any enemies to fight, which leads to our next genre.
The growing popularity of Hybrid games
With a plethora of genres (and sub-genres) in this form of entertainment, there is no surprise that a lot of game developers love merging two or more genres together, to form an enhanced gaming experience. One such game, titled Sonic Adventure was a Sonic the Hedgehog Action-Adventure video game, which was also an RPG with some elements of Puzzles and Party Games built into it. Games like these can also be noted to be an Action-Adventure game, due to the blend of Action and Adventure genre characteristics.
