BTEC Extended Diploma in Computer Games
Game Design Assignment (Week 4)
Researching Games

Different Types Of Genres In video Games
Task (1)

1.) FPS, (First Person Shooters) 

First person shooters are games that are shown through the characters eyes, which you have control of. Games like Call of Duty or Battlefield 3 are similar in the genre and don't seem to have other genres in their games.

Call of Duty is a good example of a FPS game:

 

 This is an image taken from Call of duty Black ops game-play which shows its a First person shooter. As it shows you are the character and you are viewing everything from the characters perspective.

Another great example of a FPS game is Battlefield:

 

This is an image taken from Battlefields game-play which shows that both games have the same type of genre and that they are making the player view the game through the character.

2.) RTS (Real time Strategy games)

Real Time Strategy games are games that require thought on tactics. For example you could be building a base or an army or even something that just requires you to play with some thought.

Examples of games that have this type of genre are:

Command and Conquer, Star Craft 2, War-hammer Etc.

 

 This is an image taken from A game-play of Command and Conquer Tiberium Wars. This is viewing the battle field from above. This view point is very common on strategy games as you need a good view point.

Another example of a game that is a RTS game is StarCraft 2

 

This is StarCraft 2 this is another RTS game which has the same view point and mission type as the other examples shown.

3.) Platform

 Platform games are usually 2D games that go left or right, however some games go up or down. Platform games are usually a character trying to jump to one platform to another. Games like Sonic or Mario are classic examples of platform types.

This is Sonic which is a platform game, its view is at the character with a good amount of view from behind and in the front of the character, so the player can see the platforms of the game. Games like this have simple controls like: jump, moves (left, Right)

Another example is a Mario game.

This is an image of gameplay from the game Mario. This looks similar to Sonic yet are to different games, the type of genre (Platform) makes these games seem to be similar. Also the use of art styles are also similar with bright colours being used.

4.) Sandbox

A Sandbox Game is a endless game which allows you to do most things that other games don't allow you to do. Games like Minecraft or simulators are wanting people to play for endless amount of hours which is why sandbox mode in most games are found popular.

Minecraft is a good example of a type of sandbox genre.

 In Minecraft the point of the game is to do what you want which is the main point for sandbox genre type games. It allows you to build or survive of your choice with no timer which makes the game endless in time.

Another good example of a sandbox genre is simulators.

This is Goat simulator which is a sandbox genre, this is an endless game with many achievements and it offers endless amount of game-play similar to the other examples.

Sandbox mode doesn't have a point to the game except a long period of time played doing anything you want.

5.) RPG, (Role Playing Game)

RPG is a game in which each participant assumes the role of a character, generally in a fantasy or science fiction setting, that can interact within the games imaginary world.

An example of games that are RPG type games are: Skyrim, Dark Souls, Fallout 3

This is an image taken from Skyrim, Skyrim is a good example of a game that is a RPG. This is a fantasy type game which the character takes the role of being a dragonborn. With dragons and other creatures in the game and powers that the character has and can learn, this game is good RPG game.

Another Example of a RPG type game is Dark Souls.

This is an image taken from gameplay of Dark Souls 2. This is also a fantasy type game that is a RPG. In this game the view of 3rd person is very common. In Dark souls the character plays a role of being brought back to life and taking quests and collecting souls.

6.) Puzzle

A puzzle game is usually a game that has a range of different ways of finishing game, for example using objects to open a door. Puzzle games usually makes the player think before they act and this type of genre is known to be one of the best to help the human brain. Games like portal 2 and Professor Layton etc. these are games that involve the player to think. 

This is Portal 2, in this game you can use portals to go through walls and complete puzzles, theirs some different ways the game can be done, however their is a certain root to go, to complete that mission.

Another example of a puzzle game is Professor Layton

 

 In this game (Professor Layton) their are many different types of mini puzzle games that this game has, which are different at times. these puzzles are great to get you thinking and it has arrange of different puzzles which would make the game popular.

Puzzle type genres are just trying to make the player think in different ways on how to fix a problem which can be handy in later life.

7.) Horror

Horror type games are to make the player feel scared and to make the emotions of the story come out, much better with the story. Horror games are good at making people feel arrange of emotions and to be into the game. Examples of games that have this type of genre are: Until Dawn, Dying light, Five Nights at Freddy's.

 

This is an image taken from a scene of Until Dawn. This game you can chose different choices which can end up characters losing their life's. It involves the player and has a big amount of scenes which you watch to build up the intensity.

Another example of a Horror game is Five Nights At Freddy's

This is an image of one of the examples for Five Nights At Freddy's 3. In the game its main scare factor is jump scares which is to make the player uneasy through out the gameplay. Its a very popular horror game and is addicting to try to get to the fifth night.  

8.) Sports

Sport Game types are a range of different type of sport which people would want to play. This is aimed at people that like to watch sport and would like to play. Sport types already have an audience at the start as its aiming at people that are interested in watching sport.

An example of games that people like to play are: Fifa, Kinect Sports, Fight Night.

 

Fifa 16 is a game which is about football. The game is Very popular for those that like football, the game allows you to make a team up and to control any of the characters on your team which gives the player more to play with.

The game has different types of leveled footballers which would be cool to tell a friend that you got on the rarest, this also advertises the idea of paying for football cards.

Another example is a sport which involves the player more.

This is Kinect sports which involves the player to actually get in involved with the different type of sports. This is mainly aimed at family's and in the teens. This is great game to play to have fun and win someone at a sport you love without even playing the real thing.

9.) Racing

Racing genres are aimed at people that are into racing and vehicles. The latest versions of racing games show off the style of the newest cars which are advertising for other companies. The racing games have different tracks to short to long and to different places for example a mountain or in the country side.

Examples of racing games are Fast and furious, Need for Speed etc.

 
Fast and Furious is a racing game that is about winning races to win the opponents car. Each win gives money and other cars which can be useful to go through when choosing certain missions. Each race is different, for example; the country side or the streets, theirs also a mode where you can free play and try and earn achievements by doing stunts and skills.
Another example of a racing game is "Need for Speed"

Need for Speed is a newer version of a racing game compared to Fast and Furious. This game has higher graphics and try's to make it seem photo-realism. This game is aiming to look like an actual real life racing game which cops and other races involved.

10.) Stealth

Stealth games are used when a player needs to be quite and do a mission in a certain way. Most of these games have a range of ways to do a certain activity. Games that are stealth type, don't usually want front on combat and so the difficulty of the AI are much harder to survive because of the difference in strength. Games like Hitman and Thief are great examples of games that would find it hard on front on combat and so the game has to be played in the way of stealth.
An example of a stealth game is Hitman:

Hitman is a great example of a game that has a range of ways to kill someone and to not be detected. This game has weapons as a second resort, which most players don't use until they are detected. This game has great graphics and good mission types. This game is trying to make the player feel like an actual hitman.
Another example is Thief:

Thief is a good example of a stealth game as it wants you to play with the skills of stealth, for example melee weapons to a bow which none of them would make sound. The games goal is for the player to play with skill and to not be detected by the enemies. The game is about a man that takes valuable objects from people with out them knowing. Both examples have ways to kill someone and are both trying to make the player play in a certain way.

The Impacts of Computer Games on Society 

Task (2)

The Bad that computer games bring:

Concerns such as excess playing time.)

There are a lot of health problems with playing games for long periods of time without breaks, some games even offer suggestions to take a break after a hours game play and repeat the warnings.

This can create depression and anxiety and ignoring responsibilities.Time that has spent on gaming can affect the activities that are fundamental to their physical, social and intellectual development.

Addiction is a severe problem in Asian countries such as China and Korea.

(Social isolation)

Social isolation is when a player spends more time on games than in the real world. This can cause huge problems that can end in extreme ways if its not handled. People that are addicted to playing video games for a long time can create a addiction, which can be severe in some cases. The higher the addiction the less likely they are to have good social skills.

(Cost)

All video games come with a price to either buy the product or to later pay in the game. Most games now a days like the idea of making you pay for it, then showing you exclusive deals you can get, for example: DLCs, game extensions, weapons. Some games are made to be that impossible to beat you would likely have to buy the products its recommending.

Theirs another way games produce money and that's the things the game requires for example:

Kinect, microphone, live, console, controller etc...

Phones especially are giving out free games that have ads that pop up and other mission which you have to unlock by a very high level or some money.

(Separation from reality) 

Separation from reality is when the player doesn't know what's the real world, this usually happens to those that are addicted to gaming. These people will not interact with anyone and can be dangerous depending on how bad their addiction is. Which can result in tragic endings.

 Some examples of this are games that include things such as, stealing cars, racing, violence and even murder. An example of this is the game "Manhunt" in which you play a character in a strange and dangerous situations, this was also related to a murder in the UK after someone playing the game was claimed to be obsessed with the game.

The Good that computer games bring:

Benefits (hand-eye coordination, brain training)

A growing body of research indicates that playing first-person action games, particularly shooters, improves brain function. Studies cited by Scientific American Mind found that players who played shooters often fared better in tests of abilities such as spatial reasoning, spatial focus, visual acuity and decision-making.

Games can help the brain improve with English and Maths though simple objectives, a good game which is a good example for helping you with English is "The typing of the dead", which makes you have to type certain words to kill the zombies (18+)

(Thinking and strategy skills)

A new British study finds that some video games can help to train the brain to become more agile and improve strategic thinking.

From biological and chemical  research doctor said

"Previous research has demonstrated that action video games, such as Halo, can speed up decision making but the current work finds that real-time strategy games can promote our ability to think on the fly and learn from past mistakes,"

Strategy games such as war games were the player has to think of a strategy to play the game help players develop thinking skills. Instead of actually controlling the player through a game time needs to be taken to make the correct decision to guide the main game playing character through the game

Video games can have positive and negative affects on the future.

(Future impact)

Their are positives and negatives when playing video games for sometime.

The positives is that:

gaming has seen benefits for hand-eye coordination in various sectors. Some reports say that surgeons who play games have become more skilled after they have practiced gaming over a period of time. Other simulation games such as pilot or driving games have advanced so far recently that virtual environments are used to train pilots and drivers.

Specific brain training games have been developed in a range of subject areas so that hand held consoles can be used as brain training games. It is thought that by giving players challenge and fun activities in game format that they are challenged using a platform that they are used to and find learning more enjoyable.

Designing a computer game.

Task (3) and Task (4)

I Decided to create a platform game that goes up and down. The game is called Leap Frog as it fits the idea that its to do with a frog and jumping.

This games Art style is Cel shaded and is exaggerated. The game wants to seem fun and have humor within the game. I decided to design the platforms as Lilly pads as it gave a better look to the game and it made sense with the title. The frog was designed in three ways. The first one is when you start on the game, this frog is small and looks harmless. The second frog is much bigger and looks a little funny. The third Frog looks similar to the second yet it has a fly in its mouth to show it won and the eyes of the frogs have increase in resolution.
The small flies were made simply using a quick paint tool to make some lines. The main fly's out line on the other hand was originally taken from the internet then changed to make it my work. The paint tool made the character seem more dangerous compared to the others that have been created. It was also edited to seem like it was the biggest fly in the world. With darker tones and exaggerated features it links in well. 

The game's main character is a frog which wants to eat as many flies as possible, The main objective in this game is to reach the top, where the biggest fly lives. The frog wants to become the biggest and the best frog in the world. 

The Game scores in two ways. The height and the amount of flies that have been eaten. The game has a sandbox mode which never ends, For example like "Flappybirds". The Game has a leader-board which would be fun and and addicting for players to beat. The game wants an endless time of fun and humor while playing the game.
When the frog reaches the top on the main mode the game turns into a mini game which would be unlocked after winning. The game involves you and a fly, to win the game you need to jump on the Lilly pad that the fly is hovering other which is can be frustrating, this part requires skill and thought. The Fly can call in a fly swarm which heads in a straight direction trying to knock you off the Lilly pad, if the frog falls into the pond its game over.

Also in this game collecting flies, help in the future of the game as it increase your size which will be much easier to take out the main fly at the end yet harder when jumping to each platform.
In the game on different platforms better and worst objects start to hover over the Lilly pads, for good example bigger flies can be found and frogs that will increase your health bar. A bad example is that some Lilly pads are weak and cant handle the weight which means that the frog will fall into the pond (Game-over). 

An Image of the platforms in Leap Frog

This is an example of what the good platform looks like and the bad one. The one that is good is green when the other is brown. The colours of the different Lilly pads are easy to notice at the start and then the colours slowly fade which makes the player have to concentrate.

This is an image of when you reach the top of the game and then sent to the mini game which you have to eat the fly to win.
With simple graphics and complex objectives this game would aimed at teens and younger as its aimed at phone users or people that have computers. The game doesn't want to seem too serious so the graphics are done on paint.
The colours used are also helping the idea of a fun non-serious game.