Revelade
06-06-2006, 11:46 PM
Well, you've heard all those FPS, RTS, RPG mumbo jumbo in reviews, but what are these games really about?
Let me break it down into three types:
Reflex
The first type we have is reflex. Now what someone can expect from this term is that the game will test their reaction time and judge them accordingly on that. Whether it's aiming at your friend's head in CS or getting perfects in DDR, these games are all about timing.
Popular subtypes include: FPS, Rhythm, Racing, Fighting
Logic
The second type that is introduced is logic. Games in this type focus on analyzing and solving skills, rather than fighting time as with the reflex category. This extends from solving puzzles in Resident Evil, making decisions in Myst, to calculating moves in chess.
Popular subtypes include: Strategy, Adventure, Puzzle
Statistic
Finally, the last type we have is statistic. Rather than deciding the outcome based on player performance or decisions, conflicts are calculated through mathematical equations. It's as simple as two is always bigger than one, therefore it wins. Whether it's battling in Pokemon to button mashing in Diablo 2, numbers decide the game.
Popular subtypes include: TBRPG, RTRPG
Chance
There is actually a fourth type known as luck, but games of this type have not seen commercial releases. This is because winning is neither decided by the player or through equations. Flipping a coin or rolling a dice demonstrate the randomness of this.
Popular subtypes include: (none at the moment)
Wait. It's not over.
Now you may be thinking, aren't there games that have MORE than one gametypes in them? And right you are.
Starcraft for instance uses logic in a large way, whether it's choosing to expand, use lurkers on marines, etc. However, a lot of players agree that micro, or control speed plays a large role in determining competitive play.
While games like SC might bleed two types together, whatever type is used the MOST should be the type that the game falls under. While micro does decide many games, using firebats will never beat a player that uses mutalisks. I would go ahead and throw SC under logic.
Here's a poor visual that explains how types are meant to structure the existing genres:
Let me break it down into three types:
Reflex
The first type we have is reflex. Now what someone can expect from this term is that the game will test their reaction time and judge them accordingly on that. Whether it's aiming at your friend's head in CS or getting perfects in DDR, these games are all about timing.
Popular subtypes include: FPS, Rhythm, Racing, Fighting
Logic
The second type that is introduced is logic. Games in this type focus on analyzing and solving skills, rather than fighting time as with the reflex category. This extends from solving puzzles in Resident Evil, making decisions in Myst, to calculating moves in chess.
Popular subtypes include: Strategy, Adventure, Puzzle
Statistic
Finally, the last type we have is statistic. Rather than deciding the outcome based on player performance or decisions, conflicts are calculated through mathematical equations. It's as simple as two is always bigger than one, therefore it wins. Whether it's battling in Pokemon to button mashing in Diablo 2, numbers decide the game.
Popular subtypes include: TBRPG, RTRPG
Chance
There is actually a fourth type known as luck, but games of this type have not seen commercial releases. This is because winning is neither decided by the player or through equations. Flipping a coin or rolling a dice demonstrate the randomness of this.
Popular subtypes include: (none at the moment)
Wait. It's not over.
Now you may be thinking, aren't there games that have MORE than one gametypes in them? And right you are.
Starcraft for instance uses logic in a large way, whether it's choosing to expand, use lurkers on marines, etc. However, a lot of players agree that micro, or control speed plays a large role in determining competitive play.
While games like SC might bleed two types together, whatever type is used the MOST should be the type that the game falls under. While micro does decide many games, using firebats will never beat a player that uses mutalisks. I would go ahead and throw SC under logic.
Here's a poor visual that explains how types are meant to structure the existing genres: