4 Game Genres:
- Platform Games
- Adventure Games
- Sports Games
- Puzzle Games
What is a platform game?
Until beginning my research, I had no idea, but, seeing examples and the definition cleared that right up for me. A platform game is, well, according to wikipedia (I trust them on this one), when "the player controlled character must jump and climb between suspended platforms while avoiding obstacles". Most people would be familiar with this type of game if they have ever played the global sensation Super Mario, which is one of Nintendo's most viral games of all time. It would be cool to simplify this down and make my own version, and go behind the scenes, and basically make a skeleton of Super Mario in terms of design and layout. Including obstacles and power-ups.
Super Mario Bros. Gameplay (source: nintendo)
What is an adventure game?
For the most part I think that the main RPGs that I play are adventure style. But what exactly is, by definition, an adventure game? Well, according to idtech.com, "In adventure games, players usually interact with their environment and other characters to solve puzzles with clues to progress the story or gameplay. Aside from an occasional mini-game, adventure games rarely involve any traditional video game action elements." Examples include: fantasy RPGs and storytelling games, like The Elder Scrolls/Fallout/The Witcher series or, the Life Is Strange series. They use lots of writing to add lore and backstory to game being played, you just want to find out more and more as you play. It would be interesting to lean towards making a game where the more information and clues you find, you get to the main goal at the end, only if you find every clue.
What is a sports game?
It's not as obvious as you'd think. Sports games are really just strategy games in disguise. I say this because the objective is to win, or complete a task using physical and intellectual skill. Sports games aren't actually sports, but because so many strategy games are designed or inspired by real sports (soccer, pool, basketball and so on), they get their own category. Most examples are in mobile phone games, or social media mini-games. The biggest example for me is Miniclip's 8 Ball Pool. I take a lot of inspiration from this game, I want to design a game that looks and feels similar to a pool game, with cues and pockets.
What is a puzzle?
I assume that everyone reading this knows what a puzzle is and has played one, and probably solved one at the very least once in their life. Puzzles are like brain workouts, they make you think hard and use your logical skills to clear an obstacle or an object, mostly getting more difficult each time, as your skills keep increasing. Puzzles can be relaxing, like the app Unblock Me. Or filled with energy and intensity, like Smash Hit. I personally want to create something more relaxed, perhaps a recreation of Unblock Me - where you have to move obstacles out of the way to clear your own.
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