Friday, December 14, 2012

Video Game Genres based on Gameplay and Video Game Platforms


There are many ways of classification of video games but the most popular and effective ways are based on Gameplay (method of play or interaction) and  Video Game Platforms (electronic devices, hardware & software).

I. Video Game Genres based on Gameplay:


1. ACTION GAMES

subgenres:

Shooter games

- First-person shooter (FPS) [Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Crysis, Borderlands]
- Massively multiplayer online first person shooter games (MMOFPS) [(A.V.A), Quake Live, Halo,  Combat Arms, Global Agenda]
- Third-person shooters (TPS)
- Shoot 'em up (arcade shooter)


Fighting games

- SoulCalibur
- Tekken 3
- Tekken Tag Tournament
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium
- Virtua Fighter 4
- Super Street Fighter II: Turbo Revival
- Street Fighter IV
- Mortal Kombat 4
- Dead or Alive 4


Beat 'em up

- Final Fight
- Dynamite Cop
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Streets of Rage
- Double Dragon
- X-men


Slasher games (hack and slash)

- First-person slasher [Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Tribunal, Bloodmoon expansions]
- Third-person slasher [Prince of Persia, Onimusha, Diablo series & expansion packs, Ninja Gaiden]
- Massively multiplayer online first person slasher


Platform games

- Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
- Wario Land 3
- Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
- Banjo-Tooie
- Super Mario Galaxy
- Banjo-Kazooie


2. ACTION-ADVENTURE GAMES

subgenres:

- First-person action-adventure games
- Third-person action-adventure games
- Platform-adventure games
- Stealth games
- Survival games
   

3. ADVENTURE GAMES

- The Longest Journey
- Syberia
- Might and Magic
- Myst IV: Revelation
- Myst III: Exile
- Heavy Rain
- Endless Ocean: Blue World
- Machinarium


4. ROLE-PLAYING GAMES (RPG)

subgenres:

- Action role-playing game (action RPG) [Final Fantasy XIII, Dragon Age: Origins, Guild Wars, Mass Effect 2]
- Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs)


5. STRATEGY GAMES 

subgenres:

- Real-time strategy (RTS) [Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, Age of Empires III, Rome: Total War, World in Conflict, Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising, Medieval II: Total War, Supreme Commander 2]
- Turn-based strategy games (TBS) [Civilization IV, Heroes of Might and Magic V, Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, X-COM: UFO Defense, King's Bounty: The Legend]
- Real-time Tactics (RTT)
- Turn-based tactics (TBT)


6. SIMULATION GAMES

- Flight Simulator 2002
- Flight Unlimited III
- California Gold Rush
- The Sims 2: Castaway
- Dawn of Discovery
- Falcon 4.0: Allied Force
- Silent Hunter III
- Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge


7. SPORTS GAMES

- MLB 10: The Show
- Major League Baseball 2K10
- NBA Live 10
- NCAA Basketball 10
- FIFA Soccer 10
- Football Manager 2010
- NHL 10
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
- UFC 2009 Undisputed
- Need for Speed Most Wanted
- Forza Motorsport 3
- Gran Turismo 4
- WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010
- Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage




II. Video Game Genres based on Video Game Platforms:


1. CONSOLE GAMES

- Sony PlayStation 2 [Grand Theft Auto, Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest]
- Sony PlayStation 3 [Call of Duty, Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted, MotorStorm, Resistance, Killzone, Resident Evil]
- Microsoft Xbox [Halo, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Star Wars, Counter-Strike, Need for Speed, Madden NFL]
- Microsoft Xbox 360 [Halo, Call of Duty, Fable, Gears of War, Forza Motorsport, Grand Theft Auto]
- Nintendo GameCube [Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. Melee, The Legend of Zelda, Luigi's Mansion, Metroid Prime]
- Nintendo Wii [Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Sports Resort]


2. HANDHELD (PORTABLE) GAMES

- Sony PlayStation Portable [Monster Hunter Freedom, Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy, Daxter, Gran Turismo, Tekken]
- Nintendo DS [Nintendogs, New Super Mario Bros., Brain Age, Pokémon, Animal Crossing]
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance [Pokémon, Super Mario World]
- Nintendo Game Boy Color [Tetris, Pokemon, Super Mario Land, The Legend of Zelda]


3. PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC) GAMES

- The Sims
- World of Warcraft
- Counter-Strike
- StarCraft
- Half-Life
- Guild Wars
- Myst
- Doom


4. MOBILE GAMES

- Block Breaker Deluxe
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Final Fantasy 
- Flight Control
- Brain Challenge


5. ONLINE GAMES

examples:

- Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) - [Alliance of Valiant Arms (A.V.A), Quake Live, Halo Multiplayer, Counter-Strike Online, Combat Arms, Global Agenda, Fallen Earth]

- Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) - [World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, Guild wars, Lineage, Star Wars,  Lord Of The Rings, EVE Online, Ragnarok Online]

- Massively multiplayer online real-time strategy (MMORTS) - [Avalon Heroes, Heroes of Newerth, Galaxy Online, BattleForge, Battle of Shadows, Kingdom Under Fire]
   

6. ARCADE GAMES

- Pac-Man
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Street Fighter
- Mortal Kombat
- Double Dragon
- Space Invaders
- X-Men

LINES OF ADVANCE - A guide for advancing your troops to the enemy: Tactics and Strategy in FPS, RTS, RPG Video games


The following is a guide for advancing your troops to the enemy serving as Tactics and Strategy used in the computer video gaming world especially in FPS, RTS, RPG Video games of military or similar in nature.


ADVANCE TO THE OBJECTIVE/TARGET:

Considerations and factors:

- Send scouts to maintain security
- Appropriate battle formations
- Tactical movements
- Appropriate movement techniques when approaching the enemy
- Maintain the direction of the advance but adjust according to situation changes
- Take advantage of terrain protection and ground features
- Actions to take and quick reaction under enemy fire and fast reaction times on enemy contact
- Selection and choice of a point of observation allowing best view of the terrain and ground
- Use of Reference points/Markers/Rendezvous points
- Nearby ground covers or terrain or any means of cover
- Boundaries passed by
- Notes of possible enemy locations
- Spacing and visibility between troops and teams
- Covering teammates during approach by firing on enemy
- Use of information on known and probable enemy positions
- Consideration of all the circumstances affecting the situation
- Anticipation of unforeseen events


LINES OF ADVANCE

Considerations for selection of lines of advance :

- detailed map study and usage of pertinent terrain tactical information and intelligence reports
- line of advance should provide the best positions for observation and fire
- line of approach should offer the best protection from enemy fire and observation
- high grounds provide good observation posts and fire positions
- use of dead grounds as covered lines of approach
- proper timing and reaction as to whether stop, halt, crawl, crouch, stand, walk, or run
- proper courses of actions and reactions under enemy fire and attack
- preparation for the unexpected
- direction of approach to objective should be without enemy detection
- foggy or smoky areas should be used to conceal movements especially in open fields
- element of surprise
- covered approaches should be used when troops are near the enemy position
- selected route or direction


BATTLEGROUND AND TERRAIN ANALYSIS

Acronym: GROUND

 * General characteristics and features of the area -- open field, valley, hills, mountainous, slopes, rolling ground, flat and grassy, wooded areas and thick tree lines

 * Ridges and Prominent Points -- ridges, hills, mountains, high grounds

 * Observation -- good positions of observation (hidden and undetected by the enemy); places to observe without being seen by enemy; troop movement free of enemy observation

 * Undergrowth -- bushes, woods, trees

 * Non-passable -- rivers, oceans, deep bodies of water, canals, areas with civilian population

 * Dead ground -- covered lines of approach, pieces of ground that provide cover and concealment during advance


DETAILED MAP STUDY

Acronym: COPPED

Cover and Concealment -- cover and concealment offered by the course of action, route of advance; camouflage for stealth; cover from enemy fire

Obstacles -- presence of obvious obstacles and how to escape and overcome these obstacles and constraints; freedom from obstacles to movement of your troops; obstacles, constraints and dangerous zones, areas, grounds

Positions for fire -- best position to fire to support the attack of your troops to the enemy; possible locations of enemy fire and enemy counterattack and counterfire; good fire positions

Positions for observation -- locations and areas to best observe the enemy without detection; possibility of being observed by the enemy during your approach

Enemy -- Acronym: SALUTE - Size, Actions, Location, Unit, Timings, Equipment; weakness and strength of enemy, probable enemy movements, probable enemy locations, probable enemy courses of action, tactics and strategy to defeat the enemy

Distance -- distance to the enemy, time of travel to the enemy; how long will I cover fire in order to approach the enemy, how far does the enemy think you are to them

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Common BATTLE FORMATIONS used for soldiers, troops in fighting: usually found on RTS(Real time strategy) and RTT(Real time tactics) Video games


Battle formations are necessary battlefield strategy and tactics as it can be used to accomplish a certain objective or mission. If a troop just wants a faster advance and movement of troops, then column formation is the best. When attacking, the wedge formation or line formation is the best as it puts every attacker on a definite advantage with respect to his team mates against the enemies. The circle or orb formation is a defensive arrangement of troops as it has defender on all sides against enemies attacking from anywhere.


 

Listed below are the most common advantages and disadvantages:



1. WEDGE formation (V-shaped arrangement)

advantage:

- good for charging and breaking in an enemy wall of defense

- effective for attacking enemy lines or blokades

- destructive advantage on the offensive

- wedge formation is ideal for heavy cavalry

disadvantage:

- less defended because the main objective is to attack and break through the enemy

- vulnerable when attacked and enveloped from the sides

- less effective once the tip of the wedge is broken down



2. ORB formation (Circle arrangement)


advantage:

- very defensive against attackers of the invading army

- this is a good formation to adapt when surrounded by enemy forces

- useful when a troop unit is separated from the main army

- a weaker member (archer, etc.) can be defended inside of the circle

disadvantage:

- no movement, stationary and focused on defense

- because they are positioned in one place, orb or circle formation poses an easy target for archers (or other missile troops)

 


3. COLUMN formation

advantage:

- fast movement, easily advancing on roads and other narrow path ways

- in case of an enemy attack, maneuvering and mobilization of troops is easier

disadvantage:

- least effective for fighting when engaged with enemy attackers

- considerable weakness if attacked on the front and the sides



4. LINE formation


advantage:

- this troop formation is ideal for open field battle ground to engage with the enemy

- it has a good frontal advantage and useful when attacking an enemy target in one direction

- good for attacking a known fixed enemy location

- this formation acts as a shield for the defense of less armed units

- ideal arrangement for heavy infantry in attacking the enemy

disadvantage:

- slow movement when path is narrow

- weak when attacked from the rear and the flanks

- forces and troop units are harder to maneuver and mobilize

- weakness of defense when attacked by cavalry