Computer strategy game
A computer strategy game is a computer game that requires strategic or tactical skill to be mastered. The computer either takes on the role of an opponent or it offers a platform on which several players can play with or against each other (" multiplayer "). Computer strategy games include both adaptations of conventional strategy games and completely new games that only exist on the computer.
According to Ralf Vollbrecht, a distinction is made between three types of computer strategy games: turn-based strategy games ("TBS games"), real-time strategy games ("RTS games") and development strategy games.
Turn-based strategy game (TBS game)
In turn-based strategy games (English turn-based or TBS for short ), players often make their moves in individual rounds one after the other, similar to e.g. B. in chess . Other round strategy games, such as B. Age of Wonders , in addition to this classic mode, allow simultaneous planning and execution of moves in order to shorten the waiting time, especially in multiplayer games. Other game systems separate the train and action phases (e.g. History Line ) to enable hot seat games , or give all game units initiative values to dynamize the sequence of the train (e.g. Heroes of Might and Magic V ) .
Continuous round systems are particularly common in computer role-playing games , in which game units receive a constant supply of action points but use them up in short time phases. Thus, the action for the viewer runs like in real time, but the game mechanics are based on rounds and can therefore be paused at any time. Example of this is z. B. Dragon Age: Origins , but such a system is also introduced in the game Jagged Alliance under the name Plan & Go . The rigid beginning and end of a round is dynamized by the player's manual pause function and automatic pause when events occur (e.g. detected opponents) and necessary counter-reactions (e.g. shelling of one's own units).
Since the players are not under time pressure, more precise planning of the actions is possible. This is why turn-based strategy games are usually more complex than real-time strategy games and often also cover social aspects such as diplomacy and politics. The actual warlike aspects often take a back seat and are presented in a much more abstract way than in real-time strategy games.
The palette ranges from games
- tactical level such as Panzer General or the Battle Isle series
- about planet-wide games where you lead a nation, like the very popular Civilization franchise
- to games that span entire galaxies in space (for example the Master of Orion series).
- The rogue-like games also fall into this category
- Games from a side perspective that focus on ballistics, like Worms .
An essential part of many computer strategy games is the acquisition and / or management of resources , as a strategy in the sense of the military definition. If, especially in military strategy games such as Panzer General or Panzer Corps, only military building blocks in the sense of associations and units , which are grouped together in the sense of a game page to form a large association , are used, in the military sense it is a tactical game like those used for training military ones Managers are used. The first- person shooters, referred to as tactical games in the sense of computer games, are computer games for the representation of the fire fight of individuals or partial units in the sense of several people, mostly in a multiplayer role-playing game.
Multiplayer functions are widespread in order to be able to compete against other human players. In the meantime, of course, LAN and Internet functions have come first. But because of their turn-based nature, turn-based strategy games also enable other game functions such as hot seat or e-mail games .
Real-time strategy game (RTS game)
Real time strategy games ( RTS for short ) are computer strategy games in which all players perform their actions at the same time.
That is why real-time strategy games reduce the complexity of game processes and focus on quick reactions and strategic planning under time pressure.
With the growing technical possibilities, the real-time strategy games surpassed the turn-based ones in commercial success and popularity and are now in the attention of gamers behind the genre of first-person shooters . The real-time strategy games have not displaced the turn-based ones, but appealed to a fundamentally different audience with the high speed of the games. A sub-genre of real-time strategy games is tower defense , which is particularly popular with players due to the high game speed. Tower defense was popularized by flash games and titles like Starcraft or Warcraft 3, but the system is also used in MMORPG titles ( e.g. Dragonica ).
Building strategy game
Building strategy games are computer strategy games in which building (for example a city ) is in the foreground. They are often single-player titles and compared to other strategy games, military strategy and combat play a subordinate role. Building strategy games are similar to business simulations .
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ralf Vollbrecht : Computer games as a media educational challenge In: Jürgen Fritz: Computer games (r) understand. Access to virtual play worlds for parents and teachers. Federal Agency for Civic Education , 2008, p. 13. ISBN 9783893318322 . Online here , accessed January 18, 2020.