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Action-Adventure |
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 Lara Croft in Tomb Raider II |
These games combine parts from different game types: shooting
from Shoot-'em-ups, fighting from Beat-'em-ups, the walking and
jumping from Platform-games, and solving puzzles from the Adventure
games.   The Action-Adventure game has one central character. With this character a quest is played, often consisting of several missions. The missions are often very linear, and are part of one story which forms the background for all actions. |
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Adventure |
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 Myst |
In these games the player literally seeks the adventure. These
games know an exciting and imaginative story in which the player
is the central character. The task is to solve a mystery, not
by force, but by searching and solving puzzles.   The puzzles and riddles can be found during the investigation of different spaces. Part of the problems can be solved by communicating with other, non-player, characters. Step by step the mystery is solved, which makes the games very linear. And if you miss one clue, the gameplay gets stucked. |
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Beat-'em-up |
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 Tekken 3 |
The goal in this type of game is to kick and beat as much and
as hard as the player can. His goal is to knock out the opponent,
by using techniques derived of the martial arts, and different
types of boxing.   Normal moves consist of single kicks or blows. For complex actions the player has to use a combination of keys or buttons. Normally a story-line is absent, the player enters a tournament, and tries to reach the final. |
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Flightsims |
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 Microsoft Flightsimulator 98 |
This is probably the most complicated type of games, as they
try to simulate reality as detailed as possible. This means the
player has to handle in detail simulated controls, and navigation
and communication systems.   Realistic flightsims offer the possibillity to fly real airplains from one existing airport to another, crossing real landscapes in real weather conditions. Another type is the Flight-Shooter: main aim of this type is to destroy enemy forces, and therefor the flying is a lot easier. Finally, a third type consists of the Space Flightsims. In this latter type, the player flies a science-fiction like spacecraft through deep space. |
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Platform games |
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 Jazz Jack Rabbit |
These games require a fast reaction from the player. The player's
character has to run, jump, dive, and climb through a 2 dimensional
orientated level. During this journey traps and opponents have
to be avoided or fought.   There is a fixed character to play with. The character has to move from the starting point to the final destination. In a 2 dimensional world the image looks like a scaffold, in a 3 dimensional world the character has to run down a road. |
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Puzzle games |
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 Tetris |
These games are dedicated to the solution of a puzzle by the
player. The players insight in the problem and its possible solution(s)
are the main action in the games, often combined with time limited
solutions.   Usually there is no character nor story to play with. The puzzle stands on its own, with minimal graphical outlook. |
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Race Games |
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 Driver |
This is one of the most popular type of games. These games can
be played with racing cars, but also with other vehicles: trucks,
tanks, motorbikes, speedboats, pods. Races take place in different
types of environment, varying from very realistic simultaed racing
circuits to non-existing futuristic environments.   Racing is possible against a time limit or against opponents, driving one single race or a tournament. These games can be divided generally in two types: arcade and simulation. In the first type cars get no damage and can rach impossible speeds: the most important thinmg is the fast reaction as in platform games. The second type simulates reality as good as possible: in a collision damage is inclined to the vehicle, and other responses of the vehicle are as much as possible as it would react in real life. |
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Role Playing Games (RPG) |
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 The Legend of Zelda |
The player is entering the role of one of the main character,
often the hero: a knight, a wizzard, a thief, or a combination
of these elements. Other characters often help the hero, these
can be both player and non-player characters. The hero has certain
skills, like speed, strength, magical powers, morale, which start
at a certain level and further develop during game play. Goal
in thes type of games is to finish a quest, normally defeating
an evil power by finding and using an important artifact.   These games can be played both from a first-person and a third-person pespective. The point-of-view changes because of the nature of the action that occurs. The environment has very often medieval traits, or otherwise fantasy elements of very modern, futuristic parts. Magic, and the battle between good and evil are often the central themes. Fighting and solving puzzles are both present in these games. Finally, through Internet it is possible to play MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games). |
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Shoot-'em-Ups (Shooters) |
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 Quake II |
In this type of game the main action consists of shooting. Most
shoot-'em-ups use the first-person perspective, showing the view
of the main character, and one hand with a type of shooting weapon
in it. The goal is simple: shoot everything and everybody down
as soon as you can, and try to reach the exit to the next level.   The hero of a shooter is very often a Rambo-type, and has a wide arsenal of weapons, which can be found in each level. With the progression through the different levels, the weapons become more powerfull, and so do the opponents. The minimal story is only present as a background and explanation for the different environments and opponents, but do not add anything further to the gameplay. Gradually, more shoot-'em-ups use a stronger story-line, and gain depth and contents. A different type is the Tactical Shooter. Often based on real situations, the player is situated in wartime or a rescue operation. Often the player controls several characters that form a special team. |
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Sims |
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 Civilization: Call to Power |
Sim or simulation games focus on the settling of an imperium,
either economical or political, or a combination of both. The
background can be anything: holiday islands, ancient empires,
cities, planets. In some sims warfare is important, in other
it does not appear at all.   In this type of game the player has control of all aspects of life in the sim-world. All of these aspects have a relation and have to be kept in balance in order to be able to further develop the imperium the player controls. |
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Sportgames |
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 FIFA 2000 |
Almost every type of sport has a virtual equivalent in a sportgame.
Most of them are made for the more widespread sports as soccer,
baseball, basketball, golf, tennis and icehockey. But also other
sports can be found as snowboarding and skateboarding.   There are two types of games: arcade and simulation. In the first type the characters have unrealistic capabilities. It is the reaction of the player that counts, not the acurate representation of a sports action. The simulation type of games try to simulate reality as good as possible. The player has to know all rules and tactical manouvres of the sport type he is playing, to be able to win a game. Often these type of games use an existing league, as the NBA (basketball) or NHL (icehockey). A third category is formed by the soccer-management-simulations: the player becomes the coach of a soccer team, and has to train, buy and sell, and try to win the competition. |
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Strategy Games |
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 Dungeon Keeper 2 |
In these games the player is the strategical leader in a warfare
situation. These battles can be either historical, based on a
historical situation, or completely fictional, both science fictional
and mythical.   The player is the leader of one of the armies involved in the conflict. Each army consists of different units, each with different special skills. The environment is limited, and the view on the available map is isometric. There are three types of strategy games: real-time, turn-based, and action-strategy. Real-time Strategy (RTS) is the most popular. Time keeps on running while the player has to divide his attention between resourcement and battle. A RTS-game usually consists of several missions. Turn-based Strategy (TBS) are often based on historical battles. The player takes turns, and during his turn can make all moves his wishes to take. The entire action is focussed on the battle and strategic decisions. Action-Strategy games concentrate on smaller parts of the battle, not the entire war. The combats are fought with a few identical specialised teams. With these units bases and units from the enemy must be conquered. |
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Party-games |
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Mario Party |
Games that focuss on the use in a party-setting, based on easy-to-play direct-fun, often consisting of smaller games (mini-games) |
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