Game Art and Design

Unit 3 Lesson 7
Categorize Game Genres

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Big Idea
Knowledge of the basic skills and
components of any field makes one
uniquely prepared to perform at a high
level in that area.

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2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
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GAME GENRES
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Game Genres
The gaming and entertainment industry
are divided into categories by media and
genres.
Media category includes examples like
film, literature, and games.
Genres involve categories describing
generalities of style, and content.
Genres are very loose categories that
may overlap.
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Game Genres

Action
Action-Fighting
Action-FPS
Action-Platform
Action/Adventure
Adventure

Casual
Educational
RPG
Simulation
Sports

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Game Genres: Action

Characterized by a fast paced plot, quick
responses, and motor coordination.
Includes diverse subgenres such as
fighting games, shooter games, and
platform games.
Player usually controls the character.
Usually contains levels, health, lives,
and an ending boss level.

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Game Genres: Action

Examples:

James Bond 007:Nightlife

Frogger
Pac-Man
Robotron 2084
Space Invaders
Double Dragon

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Game Genres: Action Fighting

Emphasize one-to-one combat between
two characters, one controlled by a player.
Games can be linked together.
Many of the movements of the character
are usually physically impossible.
Some combat games have multiple
combatants.
First appeared in 1976 with Sega's
Heavyweight Boxing.
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Game Genres: Action Fighting

Examples:

Super Smash Brothers

Heavyweight Boxing
Street Fighter II
Mortal Kombat series

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Game Genres: Action FPS

First-person shooter.
Emphasize shooting and combat from
the perspective of the player/character.
The player can aim and feel part of the
environment.
Fast paced and require quick reflexes.
High difficulty level.
Have a multi-player feature.

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Game Genres: Action FPS

Examples:

Wolfenstein 3D
Doom
Halo
Unreal Tournament
Call of Duty

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Game Genres: Action Platform

Character usually travel between
platforms by jumping, climbing ladders,
running, and leaping.
Most successful were 2D although some
3D game exist.
Examples:

Donkey Kong
Sonic the Hedgehog
Mario Brothers
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Game Genres:
Action/Adventure
Combine action and adventure genres.
Usually with long term obstacles with
many smaller ones along the way.
Focus on exploration along with
gathering, puzzle solving, and combat.
Examples:

Adventure 1979
Colossal Cave Adventure
Thief
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Game Genres: Adventure

Puzzle related and involve story driven
exploration.
One of the earliest games created.
Very little pressure in the form of action
and time constraints.
Considered the purist genre.
Large appeal to all players.

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Game Genres: Adventure

Examples:

Colossal Cave Adventure

Myst
Nightfall
Zork

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Game Genres: Casual

Wide variety of games that appeal to a
very large audience with very short play
sessions.
Usually have a gradual learning curve, a
scoring system, no or little story, linear
progression, and well-defined levels.
Make up most of the game sold as apps.
Have become a huge success with the
smart phone.
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Game Genres: Casual

Examples:

Angry Birds
Candy Crush
Wheres my Water
Card Games Online

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Game Genres: Educational

Used to teach real-world skills through
gameplay.
Most games target younger players up
to the mid teens.
Growing field with many new entries
each year.
Colleges use as classes especially in
history and art areas.

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Game Genres: Educational

Examples:

Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a

Day
Brain Spa
Mind Quiz
Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear 1st Grade
JumpStart 2nd Grade
Elementary Edge

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Game Genres: Role-playing

Most cast the player in a role within an
adventure where specialize skills are
needed in a predetermined storyline.
Many maneuver the player through an
overworld containing monsters where
access to other worlds can be obtained.
Has seen a shift from turn-based to
real-time combat.

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Game Genres: Role-playing

Examples:

Final Fantasy IV
Soul Blazer
Ultima VII
KQ

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Game Genres: Simulation

Closely simulate aspects of real or
fictional reality.
Players build, expand, or manage virtual
communities or project with a limited
supply of resources.
Subcategories include construction, life,
vehicle, and other operable machines.
Can be a serious game to teach
operation of dangerous equipment.
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Game Genres: Simulation

Examples:

SimCity
Flight Simulator
NASCAR Formula I
SimLife
Wolf

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Game Genres: Sports

Emulate the playing of traditional sports
such as football, basketball, racing,
NASCAR, and soccer.
Some rely on the gameplay of the sport
while others concentrate on the strategy
behind the game.
Some use satire for a comic effect.
FIFA series is one of the best selling in
this genre.
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Game Genres: Sports

Examples:

Madden NFL
2003
NFL 2K3
NBA Jam 2002
NCAA March
Madness 2003
Kelly Slater's Pro
Surfer

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Game Genres: Strategy

Gameplay requiring careful and skillful
thinking and planning in order to win.
The player has a God-like view of the
game controlling all of the elements.
Moving from turn-based to real-time
systems.
4X games use explore, expand, exploit,
and exterminate gameplay.
RTS are continuous online games.
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Game Genres: Strategy

Examples:

EndWar
Freeciv (image)
Dawn of War
Risk
Combat Mission
Scorched 3D (image)

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Video Sales by Genre:2013

Use this website to see the latest sales by
genres [based on 2013, check for updates]
http://www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/esa_ef_2013.pdf

22.3% Action
21.2% Shooter
15.3% Sports
8.6% Family
8.3% Adventure
6.5% RPG
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Create Three Different Genres

Puzzle
Mouse race/maze
War at Sea

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2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
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Big Idea
Knowledge of the basic skills and
components of any field makes one
uniquely prepared to perform at a high
level in that area.

2011
2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning

Game Art and Design

Unit 3 Lesson 7
Categorize Game Genres

Images
Clipart, Student images, Free images from GNC General Public License,
and Photos by Phyllis Jones

2014 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,

STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning