Game Maker Resource Bank

Types Of Game

Objectives

• Be able to describe the different genres of computer game.

Arcade Games

• Based on reaction speed of players.
• Pacman, Tetris, Breakout, Space Invaders.
• Usually 2D graphics is enough.

Puzzle Games

• Based on clever thinking and problem-solving.
• Board games, sliding puzzles, mazes.
• Sometimes a computer opponent needs to be designed as well.

Role Playing Games (RPG)

• The player steers a character through a dangerous world.
• Zelda
• These games usually have a strong story and the character learns or acquires new skills as the game progresses.

Strategy Games

• Players set out strategies for the game but have less direct control over game resources.
• Age of Empires, Caesar, Command & Conquer

Management Games

• Players build an empire by managing cities, parks, railroads etc.
• Sometimes called GOD games.
• SIM City, Theme Park
• How the player manages the resources is the most important element of these games.

Adventure Games

• Usually controlled with the mouse. Players point and click to interact with the game world and work out puzzles.
• Simon The Sorcerer, Monkey Island.
• The story is the most important part of the game.

First Person Shooters

• Like 3D versions of arcade games. Fast-paced games based on reaction speed and hand-eye coordination.
• Doom, Quake

Sport Games

• Where an existing sport is simulated.
• A lot of thought goes into making the game play work.

Simulators

• Like Flight Simulators, the aim is to give the user the most realistic experience possible.
• Usually based on how the thing being simulated works in real life.

Racing Games

• A cross between a Sports game and a Simulator.
• Some racing games, like, for example, many Formula-1 games, try to model the driving of a car as realistic as possible.
• Other games are more arcade style and make racing very easy