Genres of Video Games

Genres of Video Games

Games

Games have been a controversial subject since the invention of modern day gaming. Often touted as reasons for violence gaming has never really been explored in media beyond as a scapegoat for political leanings. However what might just seem at first glance like the reasoning behind all the worlds "problems" has as rich a history as the world of cinematography, with its own genres, ways to play, and worlds to explore. Gaming is something magical, a way to tell a story, not by watching or reading it, but by truly interacting with it. Making the story come to live as you live through it is a unique way that gaming shows you worlds in ways you could never experience in any other way or medium. With modern gaming being a new medium with a history of less than a hundred years and being so radically different by including the player within the narrative, it becomes obvious that modern day gaming needed to forge its own genres to continue to innovate.


Generally there are four main genres to gaming but always be aware that if you look a little deeper you will find many other genres lurking below the obvious four.

Strategy Games or "RTS's"

Age of Empires IV

Real Time Strategy games or RTS's were one of the games genres to take shape. Utilizing simulation technology, you the player get to explore vast historical battles, spanning intergalactic conflict or managing relic empires of the past by simulating battle, politics, or even stewardship. Real time Strategy games usually have other benefits as well. For example Sid Meier's Civilization games are famous for there use of tangential learning through the Civilopedia an in game encyclopedia that allows you to look up anything you find interesting in game. Strategy games are famous for teaching the history and rise and falls of civilizations.

First Person Shooters

Call of Duty

First Person Shooters have usually been the topic of criticism throughout there existence. However beneath the violence tells many stories that might never be as truly impactful outside of this specific genre. First Person Shooters allow the player to see war and conflict firsthand by putting you directly into the the action with all of the horrors and glory that come with it. This gives people a unique perspective on what really happens outside the boundaries of our safe cities and countries and allows us to connect more closely to conflict challenged areas around the world,

Role Playing Games or "RPGs"

Final Fantasy

Perhaps the first genre of game play to develop outside of classic arcade style games is the Role playing game. These games are almost always designed to tell a story by allowing the player to take the roll of a main character to experience the world through there eyes. Living there role and life while experiencing the story of there deeds in first person is something that many books attempted to explore (See second person perspective "You") but only really took shape with the advent of gaming, Role playing games are famous for the stories they tell, the worlds the develop, and the characters they form. Prime examples of this genre are the Final Fantasy Series, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokemon.

Massively Multiplayer Online Games or "MMO's"

World of Warcraft

Breaking from the mold an MMO or Massively Multiplayer Online Game is not so much a genre of game as it is a way to play. An MMO takes advantage of humanities need to socialize by putting us in a world with each other. Within an MMO we are all the main character, however only by working together will we succeed against obstacle far to difficult for a single person alone. Prime examples of this type of game are the long running World of Warcraft and the more recent Final Fantasy XIV.