Game mode (computer game)
A game mode is a game variant in a computer game . In the multiplayer part of a computer game, you can often choose between different game modes. Usually the starting or winning conditions change. Known game modes in computer games are shown below.
Single player and multiplayer modes
Single player
Most games have a single player mode (also called single player in English), in which the player plays against computer opponents represented by an artificial intelligence without any other human players ( player versus environment ). Sometimes he can also conduct dialogues or trade with so-called non-player characters (NPCs). The player often plays individual levels or missions in this mode .
Some games have their own story and plot that is told in the form of cutscenes , script sequences , text fields, dialog boxes or a full motion video . This mode is therefore also known as a campaign . In many games, the player also has the option to adjust the level of difficulty of the artificial intelligence. Some games also offer a " New Game Plus " mode, in which the player can restart the game with changed values after playing the game or having reached a certain value, thus increasing the replay value . In addition, some games offer a tutorial or test mode to familiarize the player with the game.
Mixed forms
A measurement with other players can also be done in a single player, e.g. For example, by comparing them with a highscore table , individual challenges or as part of a speed run (in racing games also called “time trials”). Furthermore, some games have a co-op mode , which enables the player to play a typical single player mission with other players. While many co-op missions transfer the single player and thus make co-op mode optional, there are also some missions that only work properly in co-op mode, as each player has to perform certain tasks.
Multiplayer
In pure multiplayer mode (also called "multiplayer" in English), the player fights against human opponents ( player versus player ) or fights together with other players against computer opponents. Communication between the players via text or voice chat is an important part of this. The process of creating and managing multiplayer game sessions is also known as matchmaking .
The multiplayer mode can be played via a game server in a network , i.e. either via LAN in the home network ( LAN party ) or via the Internet ( online game ). Furthermore, in some games, players can play on the same screen in a so-called split-screen mode. This mode is also known as local multiplayer or couch multiplayer . An asynchronous multiplayer mode can take place by changing players in front of the computer or console ( hot seat ) or exchanging game data such as the savegame via e-mail ( play-by-e-mail ), the Internet or data storage media . In crossplay mode, the player plays on a server with players from different platforms such as computers, consoles, handhelds or smartphones.
A distinction can also be made between the number of players. A mode with many players is also known as a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG). While many single players support the use of cheat codes and mods , these are mostly forbidden in multiplayer mode and are also known as hacking. However, some games have user-operated game servers with their own game modes ( user-generated content ) or fun servers. Furthermore, some games have a free mode in which the players can move freely in the open game world and often complete quests . Often, the game world is also a persistent world that changes dynamically. Many games with a “ Games as a service ” model try to maintain the long-term motivation of players through regular new game modes, events and changes in the modes. Other games also allow game modes to be adapted very differently so that they can deviate from the actual principle and rules of the mode.
Ego shooter
A first-person shooter is a computer game in which the player moves freely in a three-dimensional game world from a first-person perspective and has to achieve a goal through the use of firearms.
Deathmatch
Deathmatch (roughly the fight for life and death ) describes a popular multiplayer variant of computer games , mostly in first-person shooters.
The goal of the game in Deathmatch is to get as many points - so-called frags or kills - as possible by killing other players . After death, players rise again after a few seconds at another point in the level in order to participate in the game again. The course of the game is limited by a set time or frag limit.
Since there are no overarching strategic goals and every player has an infinite number of lives, the battle between two or more opponents becomes the sole element of the game. But the attraction of Deathmatch is by no means the violence, but primarily the fact that the skill of the individual is decisive for the game: quick reactions, accuracy, skillful use of the various weapons, skill in movement and the exact knowledge of the respective level come with Deathmatch comes into its own in an elementary way.
The term Deathmatch was first coined in 1993 by the company id Software with the game Doom ; when starting the co-op mode on the command line , the additional parameter "-deathmatch" could be used to initiate an all-versus-all game instead of a co-op game. Occasionally other terms such as "Slayer" or the less martial term Free for all (often indicated with the abbreviation "FFA") are used for the same game principle .
Standard deathmatch
Also called Straight Deathmatch or Free for All (freely translated as everyone against everyone ). Each player tries to win against the other players on his own.
1-on-1 deathmatch
This variant of deathmatch, also known as duel (duel) or tourney (tournament), is carried out in the form of a duel. In contrast to the somewhat confusing Deathmatch with many players, duels are strongly tactical. The two players must know the respective game environment exactly and try to always find out where their opponent is and to assess his actions in advance in order to adapt their own tactics accordingly.
Team deathmatch
Two or more teams fight against each other, the individual questions of each player are added to the team account. In Team Deathmatch , the control of strategically important areas (e.g. locations of weapons or power-ups ) in the level by your own team plays a major role.
Last man standing
Last Man Standing (LMS) is a variation on Deathmatch mode in which each player has a limited number of lives. With this rule change, the game starts with many players and usually ends in a duel situation between the last two players. The last surviving player wins the round.
Battle Royale
A special variant of Last Man Standing is the Battle Royale or Hunger Games mode, which also adds survival elements. The player usually has to find randomly distributed objects on the map and collect them in order to equip himself for the fight. The games are based on works such as Battle Royale and The Hunger Games and add a limit to the map that is getting smaller and smaller and thus directs the player to a certain point, or they use airdrops or certain zones. Non-playable characters such as zombies and sandbox game elements (building and crafting) can also be present. Players can usually play alone, in pairs or in a team.
Well-known examples are PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds , Fortnite Battle Royale , Ring of Elysium , Apex Legends , H1Z1: King of Kill , ARK: Survival of the Fittest as well as mods , game modes and plugins for shooters and sandbox games such as Minecraft or ArmA 2 .
King of the Hill
The game mode King of the Hill combines the basic rules of Deathmatch with those of traditional catching games : One player is the King of the Hill , who gets more points for his kills or who stands out from the other players through special abilities (e.g. in Unreal Tournament 2003 in the variant called mutant infinite ammunition, camouflage and higher speed). All remaining players must try to kill the King of the Hill . If a player succeeds in this, he receives additional points and becomes King of the Hill himself . Killing a normal player usually has no effect on your own points account.
Examples: Unreal , Jedi Master mode in Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Rambo Match
The King of the Hill has a special weapon that kills his fellow players with just one shot (see also below: InstaGib ).
Capture the flag
The model for this game mode is the children's game Capture the Flag .
In Capture the Flag (CTF), 2 teams face each other (traditionally identified by the colors red and blue), usually with a team strength of five to seven. Depending on the nature of the computer game, fewer or more players can form a team. Each team has a mostly identical designed base (Engl. Base ) in which a flag (Engl. Flag ) in their own team color on a permanent site is located.
The aim of the game is to bring the opposing flag into your own base and there in contact with your own flag in order to score points. Each player can steal the flag of the opposing team and thus become a flag carrier . Usually, in order to capture the opposing flag, your own flag must be at its location, i.e. it must be secured. In order to bring your own flag back there in the event of a theft, a team member simply touches the dropped flag and it is immediately teleported back to your own base ( return ). If the opponent's flag has been captured, the team is credited one point and the opposing flag reappears in its base so that it can be defended or stolen again. The whole thing is made more difficult by the fact that the flag bearer is usually restricted so that he can no longer jump and / or sprint, for example. As a result, the focus is more on "team play", as the flag bearer has a very difficult time getting to their own base on their own.
There are (Engl. Generally points from capturing capture ) the flag, and (often irrelevant for victory and defeat) points (or frags ) given for the opponent to turn off. A round of Capture the Flag is limited either by a point limit or by a time limit.
Variations
A game mode similar to the CTF occurs in the game Halo: Fight for the Future . The players' task is to bring their own flag to the opposing base and to touch the flag there. This makes the game run faster, as the way to the opposing base must be fought free, but the way back is not necessary. (See also #JailBreak )
In other games the object to be fought for is varied. B. in Mercenaries - Secret Wars , instead of the flag (depending on the map), vehicles can be defined as the target ( capture the vehicle ). To prevent a point, the vehicle must be destroyed before reaching the enemy base. With open vehicles it is also possible to kill the driver, which prevents the point for a short time, but then leaves the vehicle relatively unprotected outside the base.
In Star Trek Elite Force 2 there is an option where instead of stealing the opposing flag, the opposing singularity is destroyed and, if necessary, your own must be repaired by team members.
Bombing Run can also be seen as a variation of Capture the Flag . This game variant, developed under the name Freakball as a mod for Quake III Arena and later included in a similar form in Unreal Tournament 2003 , has, in contrast to CTF, only one ball (instead of two flags) that has to be shot or carried into the opposing goal. The player carrying the ball cannot use his weapons unless he or she releases the ball (either through a pass or by dropping it). If the ball carrier is killed, he automatically loses the ball, which can now be picked up by another player. If the ball is not put into play for a period of time, it returns to the point of contact in the center of the card.
Another variant is the Chaos Capture the Flag from the Mod ChaosUT2: Evolution for Unreal Tournament 2004 . Actually there is no difference to the classic Capture the Flag in terms of the goal of the game. The difference is that a dropped flag is not immediately transferred back to your own base upon contact, but must be carried like an opposing flag. Regardless of whether your own flag is carried, the opposing flag can also be carried at the same time, which may have an unintentionally funny effect. In order to score, as in the classic Capture the Flag, both your own and the enemy flag must be in the base.
For Unreal Tournament there is the “MultiCTF” -mod, whereby two to four teams try to steal the flags from each other. The points principle follows last man standing, ie each team starts with the capture limit. If your own flag is now successfully captured by any opposing team, you lose one point. The team with the last remaining points wins the round.
history
Among the computer games in the first person shooter genre, Rise of the Triad (1994) is the first game to include a capture-the-flag mode. Became popular Capture the Flag, but only in 1996 by the Quake - modification Threewave CTF to both teams to offer that became the model for subsequent conversions of CTF and the first time its own CTF-level developed that are symmetrically constructed a fair starting position. At the same time as Threewave, the modification Team Fortress , also for Quake, developed its own variant of the game mode. Today, Capture the Flag is one of the most popular team-oriented game modes.
Domination
In this game mode, two or more teams play for control of different target points, which are located at different points on the map . Each target point can only be occupied by one team at a time. In order to occupy a target point, it is usually sufficient to briefly walk over its center point. If a target point is owned by a team, it generates a point after a certain time (usually approx. 5 to 10 seconds). The more target points are controlled by a team, the more points are generated - the first team to reach the predetermined maximum number of points (e.g. 100 points) wins. Killing players on the opposing team is important in order to get possession of the target points, but does not earn any points itself. Usually there is an odd number of target points with an even number of participating teams.
The game mode first appeared in Unreal Tournament , developed by Epic Games . Here each team receives one point every five seconds if one strategy point is dominated, three points for two or more strategy points.
In some games there is a "course factor" which is the average of each team member's questions divided by the total number. Which team has the lowest in the end wins.
Double domination
There are only 2 target points which can be controlled by a maximum of 2 teams. If a team controls both target points, a countdown is started (usually between 10 and 20 seconds), if this runs out, the team that controls the points wins and the round starts again with uncontrolled points. This game mode first appeared in Unreal Tournament 2003 , developed by Epic Games .
Conquest
In German Eroberung , a game mode that was included as standard for the first time in Battlefield 1942 . Before that it was only the subject of various mods for Half-Life , such as Day of Defeat or FireArms . Similar to classic domination, the aim here is to control target points. In order to take over a target point, you have to stay in its immediate vicinity for a short time (about 15 to 30 seconds), no players from the opposing team may be present. In contrast to classic domination, the points (so-called tickets) for controlled target points are deducted from a previously defined account of the opponent (depending on the card), and one point is also deducted from the team's account with each spawn . (So every question indirectly, in some games also directly, causes a point deduction for the opponent). If the score reaches zero, the corresponding team loses.
Onslaught
The Onslaught ( attack ) introduced with Unreal Tournament 2004 is based on the Conquest mode, but players of the two teams cannot take any point (power nodes). First, a connection must be established between the points via other points, unless the point is directly on the base (power core). The points over which a connection must run is determined at the beginning of a round. Connections can go over any number of points. If there is a connection to the enemy base via these points, it can be destroyed. If this happens before the time runs out (usually around 20 minutes), this gives 2 points. When the time runs out, the round continues and the bases slowly disintegrate by themselves. The more points a team has under control, the faster the base of the opposing team disintegrates. The winning team then only gets one point. Another difference to Conquest mode is that Onslaught doesn't have tickets. The only goal is to destroy the enemy base.
Build FortWars
This game mode mainly combines capture the flag and domination . Up to four teams play against each other in absolutely symmetrical cards, the aim of the game is to have a ball (also: cookie, flag, beacon) for as long as possible - after a predetermined time (usually around 8 minutes) the team wins the longest possession. However, this game mode is particularly attractive because of the variable fortress construction. Before the start of the actual game round, each team has a certain amount of time (usually about as long as the subsequent game time) to build a fort out of boxes - the better the teamwork and the more sophisticated the concept of the fortification, the more chances the team has in the to keep the ball as long as possible. In the course of the game, there are some changes in tactics: if the ball is in the possession of your own team, it must be protected for as long as possible in order to generate points - in the event that the ball falls into the hands of an opposing team, of course be played offensively again - the third variant is ultimately still a classic deathmatch: if the ball is not in possession of a team or has not yet been hidden in a fort, an open fight breaks out between the rival parties.
Examples: Garry's mod ( Half-Life-2 modification)
Kill the King
This mode is almost equivalent to Build FortWars and is probably only used in "Gotcha!" (Paintball simulation). The maps are not necessarily symmetrical and you don't have to / can't build a fort. The item is a crown. However, there are plenty of hiding spots in most maps anyway, with space for "bodyguards". There is also a fixed time after which the game is won automatically (usually 1–5 minutes). In league mode there are illegal duels. After a variable period of time, the police “come” and the game ends.
Oddball
Too German eccentric . This game mode was first used in Halo: Fight for the Future (Bungie, Microsoft 2001). Oddball can be played on any map (symmetrical or asymmetrical). In this game mode, one or more oddballs are distributed on the map, which the player must collect and hold. Usually there is a point for every second held. The winner is the player who has accumulated a predetermined time or has accumulated the most possession time after a predetermined lap time. However, the player who owns the ball cannot use his weapons. In some variations, however, the oddball can be used as a close combat weapon. This makes it more difficult for him to defend himself against his opponents. In most cases all players can see the location of the oddball on a radar or through walls, making it impossible for the ball carrier to hide. In some variants, however, the ball carrier has special abilities such as B. Damage resistance, invisibility, or a higher running speed. Oddball is suitable for groups of around 10 players. The winner is the player who has accumulated a predetermined time or has accumulated the most possession time after a predetermined lap time.
JailBreak
In this game mode, two teams play against each other on a map with two normally symmetrical bases. If an opponent is killed, he spawns in the opposing prison and cannot do anything relevant until he is freed (or until the end of the round). There is also a switch in the opposing base with which the prison door can be opened and the imprisoned players can be freed. If an entire team is locked up, the opposing team wins.
InstaGib
In this variant, each player has only one weapon with unlimited ammunition, which he always carries with him. This weapon fires in hit-scan mode, which means it hits instantly with no delay. A hit leads to the instant virtual death of the victim. Due to this game operation, there are no other weapons that can be picked up in the game.
The word is made up of the two English words instant (immediately) and giblets (intestines). The origin can be traced back to early Quake games.
Instagib changes the original game to a very fast, and for beginners quite frustrating game, because you "die" very quickly. For fans of this type of game, the advantages are obvious:
- Every player has the same chance from the start (no power-ups , no weapon hunting).
- The game is very fast.
- The game requires very good reflexes and a lot of experience (opponent and card knowledge).
- So-called spamming ( barrage ) with scatter weapons is almost impossible here.
- Can be combined with almost any other game mode.
In the past, Instagib mode was only offered as an add-on or mutator, as it was not originally part of the game. This mode is often built into newer games. Instagib, especially with Capture the Flag, is enjoying growing popularity. That is why there have been independent Instagib leagues in which even international matches are held for years. This is why the Instagib CTF game mode was added in Unreal Tournament 2004 . The InstaGib mode of the open source shooter Cube is also popular . In the two largest European online gaming leagues, the Electronic Sports League and the ClanBase , the InstaGib ladder has significantly more players than a normal ladder.
Examples: Quake II , Quake III Arena , Warsow , Unreal Tournament , Unreal Tournament 2004 , Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast , Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy , Cube , Cube 2: Sauerbraten , Nexuiz , Xonotic
Game with mission objectives
In this variant, goals are set for one of two game parties, which lead to winning the match. For example, a fuel store has to be blown up, or an object or person has to be stolen and brought to safety. The other team must try by force of arms to prevent the first (attacking) team from achieving the goals set for them. In this game mode, teamwork and tactics are more important than in Deathmatch, for example.
This mode was first introduced into the game in Unreal Tournament ; there he called himself, however, Assault (English: attack). Further examples of this game mode are the game Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory by id Software or the paid Call-of-Duty series. In the latter case, the game type is also referred to as SD (search and destroy; in German: search and destroy). There one team tries, for example, to destroy one of two flaks with a bomb, while the second team tries to eliminate the enemy early or to defuse the bomb in time before the detonation. In Rainbow Six: Ravenshield , for example, the anti-terror team has to search for a hostage ( NPC ), protect it and bring it to a safe zone. In Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 there is also the fact that the attacking team ( Ghosts ) cannot re-enter the game after death. For it can Ghosts sighted opponents "tag" (German: Mark ), so that every other Ghost can see the location of the enemy through walls, for example. On the other hand, the defenders can get back in infinitely often, but they have poorer material.
In Counter-Strike , mission objectives must also be met. There are different scenarios , the most important of which are hostage rescue and bomb disposal; each card is dedicated to a scenario. The mission goals of the two teams are opposite and asymmetrical, only eliminating all opponents leads to round victory on both sides.
Co-op
Koop (of cooperation ;. English co-op ) is a special game mode, play together in which several human players against computer opponents. Usually levels of the single player mode are played together. Pure multiplayer variants, on the other hand, are game modes such as Invasion ( Unreal Tournament 2003 ) or Zombie ( Call of Duty: World at War ), in which the players compete cooperatively on multiplayer maps against randomly spawning computer opponents.
Death Run
In the Death Run, the player must overcome various obstacles ( Jump 'n' Run ) and must not die in the process. If the player is dead, he spawns again at the beginning of the map or has lost. Often the other players on the opposing team try to shoot down the participants in the death run from a safe distance. Well-known games that support this mode are Garry's Mod , Counter-Strike , Grand Theft Auto V , Fortnite and Team Fortress 2 . The game mode is mostly created on maps generated by users .
Surf
In this mode, the player can slide on walls and achieve long jumps. The most famous game that supports this mode is Counter-Strike .
Strategy games
Single mission / scenario
In this game mode, sometimes also referred to as a scenario , the player or players are initially given fixed mission objectives that must be fulfilled (defeating the opponent, occupying a certain building, holding a certain position, etc.). The design of the map and the initial situation (number, position and condition of buildings and units, number of resources) are also determined. Individual missions occasionally expire with a time limit and are initiated by a briefing or a mission description. Occasionally missions are interrupted by cutscenes . At the end of a mission there is usually a statistical evaluation.
Scripted events often take place within individual missions , which are triggered by the occurrence of certain situations ( triggers ) such as entering a certain area, the destruction of a certain building, the reaching of a certain amount of resources, the elapse of a certain time, etc.
In building games the objective is usually different from that of military strategy games . Instead of tactical or strategic goals, victory here is tied to reaching or restoring a given state. The SimCity series was a pioneer in this field ; For example, in some scenarios from SimCity 2000 , the player had to protect the city of Charleston from flooding or restore the ailing industrial area of Flint .
campaign
This game mode consists of a sequence of individual scenarios that are linked to one another via a background story told between the missions in videos or text messages. In military strategy games there are usually several campaigns for the respective warring parties. In newer games (e.g. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos ) it is also common to take characters who have gained experience during the missions to the next mission.
Free game
Instead of a campaign, build-up games usually include what is known as free play. In contrast to the individual scenarios, the player has no time or other limits with regard to the end of the game. The player can carry out his activities according to his own will on a self-created, randomly generated or given map. In so-called global strategy games, computer opponents also come into play.
Since the earliest strategy games, free play has usually been the core of the game. As global strategy games, Civilization , Kaiser or Empire each offered no campaign at all, only free play.
Skirmish
Combat is also known as battle, skirmish, or skirmish ( Engl. Called "skirmish") and is the most common form of confrontation. Usually starts each player with the same starting point, depending on the game only a few workers, a construction vehicle and a certain amount are usually on Start-up capital / resources available to build his base. The cards are usually designed in such a way that a fair starting situation arises: the same amount of raw material deposits at the same distance, the same positioning compared to the other players. Many cards are therefore symmetrical and intended for an even number of players (usually 2 or 4, due to the predominantly square or rectangular nature of the cards) - for many games, however, there are also 3, 5, 6 or 8 that are largely equal Player cards. In games that do not allow entry during a game, cards are usually chosen that correspond to the number of players or a multiple thereof.
The goal of the game is very simply limited to destroying all enemies. Depending on the game, this includes buildings, units or both.
King of the Hill
As with first-person shooters, the King of the Hill is an above-average player who has some starting advantages (e.g. more resources) right from the start, the primary goal. The goal of the other players is to destroy the King of the Hill.
Depending on the game, however, this can also be a completely different game goal. “Hill” is a specific map zone that needs to be checked. Whoever controls most of the units in this area after a certain time or at the end of the round is the King of the Hill and thus the winner.
More game modes
In some games, special game modes appear that have not been widely used, but sometimes differ significantly from the usual ways of playing:
- Age of Empires II offers the Regicide mode , which is largely similar to the Skirmish mode. However, each player receives a special pawn in the form of a king. A player whose king is killed is eliminated.
- Total Annihilation offers a similar game mode as Mutator. The fate of the central game and building unit, the commander , decides about the defeat. If the mutator is switched off, however, multiplayer rounds run like in skirmish mode.
- Sudden Strike offers a multiplayer part similar to the Conquest mode, in which the player has to occupy target points marked by tethered balloons . The more target points a player controls, the more likely his units will receive reinforcements.
- Cossacks offers Historical Battle mode . The map and troop lineups are based on actual battles in history ( Lützen , Leuthen , Narva, etc.). The players fight without supplies or strategy, but only have to control the tactical events and use the units given at the beginning effectively.
- The game Z is based entirely on a division of the map into sectors that are captured by occupying a flag point for the respective player. Within these sectors there are factories that automatically produce units for this player. The more sectors a player has, the shorter the production takes. The aim of the game is to destroy all units of the enemy or to penetrate his fort .
- There are also mods for various games , which enable game modes known from first-person shooters in strategy games. There are capture-the-flag cards for StarCraft and also a Counter-Strike mod.
Racing games
Arcade mode
Arcade mode (English Arcade Mode ) are game modes in computer games that differ from normal game mode by fast, skill-based gameplay. Arcade mode is all about the fun of the game, regardless of the background story or other elements, such as puzzle solving or the realistic driving physics in a racing game.
Individual race / circuit
The most common form in racing games (simulations as well as fun racers). Here, all participants (whether human or computer-controlled) drive on a predetermined circuit for the best placement, the number of participants does not matter, but usually between 4 and 16. All participants start behind the start-finish line and set their vehicles after the start signal moving. A certain, pre-defined number of laps is driven - however, at least two or more laps are common. The ranking is based on placement, the first three ranks ( “gold, silver and bronze” ) are usually decisive .
Time trial
The time trial is a common form to prove one's skills on an empty track. The drivers start individually, each driver is allowed to complete a certain number of laps alone on the track. The round with the best time is scored, then it is the next player's turn.
Rally simulations usually run in this game mode due to the type of sport. In many other racing simulations, the time trial serves as a qualification , which determines the starting grid in the race.
Point-to-point racing
Instead of driving on a circuit, this game mode drives from A to B, either against each other (like individual races) or for a limited period (see time trial), the fastest player (s) wins.
The routes in rally simulations mostly correspond to this scheme.
Knockout race / knock-out
This form is similar to the trip to Jerusalem (or the first person shooter game mode Last Man Standing ). Any number of players drives on a circuit, but the number of laps is tied to the number of players and is calculated according to the number of players n - 1; With five players, four laps are driven. After each round of last-placed player is eliminated fly out of the race - so the number of participants becomes less and less until it finally is only one winner.
Drag racing
This race takes place on a (largely) straight track. In this mode, only the skill at shifting (it is played with manual gearbox ) and the ability to avoid possible obstacles such as oncoming cars are important. This type of race simulates the classic quarter-mile races , known e.g. B. from the film series The Fast and the Furious .
Drift racing
In drift mode, points are awarded for the most spectacular or long-lasting drifts possible , with a combo bonus often being given for several consecutive drifts in different directions. Drift races take place either alone or with several vehicles on a track, whereby collisions with other vehicles or the track boundary reset the current point counter. The number of points after a certain number of laps determines the winner of the race.
Free race
This game mode is used to try out the route. This is done until the race is stopped, there is usually no rating.
championship
A championship consists of several connected individual, point-to-point, time or other races. The individual results are added up - the driver with the greatest number of wins wins the championship.
As a variant, the scoring can also be done differently: from a predefined pool of points - e.g. B. 48 points - the first placed driver receives half (24 points), the second placed a quarter (12 points), the third 6 points, the fourth 3 points and the fifth 2 points and the sixth the remaining last point - such systems are Especially interesting if there are large numbers of drivers in championships, as points can also be obtained with a poor placement.
Career
Many games, especially Fun Racer, support a career mode, which is often only available in single player mode. The player has a player profile that can be improved primarily by winning races. The player can win prize money and so z. B. acquire new tuning parts for your vehicle or buy new vehicles. Within the career mode, the player can usually take part in individual races or championships.
Simulations
Single mission
Similar to strategy games, the player here completes a predefined mission, which is initiated by a briefing and then receives a statistical evaluation. The player plays a complete mission and has to reach the mission area with his vehicle or airplane, fulfill the objectives there and return more or less unscathed. So-called waypoints are important orientation aids and thus play elements . Often the player can determine some parameters himself before the start; in most military flight simulations, for example, you can choose your own armament and occasionally the wingmen . Some games also allow the player to plan the entire operation.
In military simulations, the objectives of individual missions are mostly based on real types of operations such as Combat Air Patrol , Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses , interception, or - in the case of marine simulations - an enemy mission with a given patrol area.
Campaign / career
Here, too, the campaign represents a sequence of individual missions in analogy to military strategy games. Campaigns usually take place as a so-called career. The player gives his character a name and accompanies it through the campaign. With increasing success, the player can receive an order of merit or a promotion to a higher rank , which means that further powers in the further course of the game such as. B. Command authority over computer-controlled colleagues go hand in hand. Campaigns always end with the death of the game character or the end of the war, which is also balanced at the end.
The so-called dynamic campaign is a special form. In most cases, the player is directly involved in the planning of the mission and has to make strategic decisions about the next mission. The outcome of the mission has a significant influence on the course of the game. B. hostile airports, infrastructure or defensive positions are hit and fail in the subsequent period. This was e.g. As early as 1990, for example, in Secret Weapons of the Air Force , where the player had to organize the defense of his aircraft production on the side of the Air Force .
Immediate use
An immediate bet (English: Quick Action ) is intended for a quick start to the game and is based entirely or partially on randomly generated scenarios. The player can only set rough characteristics of the scenario (time of day, weather, type of operation, etc.) and then start an operation without extensive preparation such as weapon configuration, deployment planning, take-off / landing, etc.
Multiplayer modes
The modes Deathmatch (often called Dogfight ) and Coop are common in simulations .
Sports games
Friendly match
Two freely selectable teams compete against each other in a friendly game , whereby all parameters (playing time, rules, weather conditions, possible extra time, etc.) can usually be freely selected. In this mode it is also possible to have the same teams compete against themselves.
Championship / tournament
Several teams play a championship or a tournament among themselves, each consisting of a number of individual encounters. The respective tournament form (league / knockout system / group system and knockout phase) can be freely selected, as can the teams belonging to the tournament.
Career
Here, the player looks after a team for several seasons, with each season including league operations, national and international tournaments and, in some cases, friendly games that can be freely arranged. In addition to the game itself, the player in this game mode also has management tasks such as game transfers , training the team or setting up the line-up.
Player career
In this game mode, which is usually used in soccer , but also in tennis or golf simulations, the player does not control an entire team, but an individual player and supervises them throughout their entire career. Here, the player must work through successes the opportunity to compete in larger tournaments or to receive transfer offers from larger teams. Over time, the player character also improves their skills, which adds role-playing elements to this game mode.
New Game Plus
New Game Plus (also New Game + or NG + ) refers to a game mode that is only activated when the player has played a game at least once or has reached a certain value (e.g. experience points ) in the game. The mode enables the player to restart the game with changed framework conditions or results, so that the player can discover differences in the game world or notice changes in the gameplay when playing again . This is intended to increase the replay value and long-term motivation. Examples of such changes are a higher level of difficulty, alternative storylines, the introduction of a new playable character or the receipt of special items or achievements . Depending on the game, some values or items can also be transferred to the new game status. This mode mainly exists in single player and role play. Many games use the mode to tell the story (from a different perspective) or to reveal backgrounds or to create new challenges and incentives. The mode was first mentioned in 1995 in the role-playing game Chrono Trigger , but can also be found in older games.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ GameStar 08/2010, p. 97
- ↑ Paul Tassi: 'PUBG' Developer Unironically Calls Out 'Fortnite' For Copying Its Battle Royale Format . In: Forbes . ( forbes.com [accessed March 28, 2018]).
- ↑ Meet Brendan 'Playerunknown' Greene, Creator of 'Battlegrounds' . In: Rolling Stone . ( rollingstone.com [accessed March 28, 2018]).
- ↑ Minecraft Hunger Games - What it is and how you can find the right server . In: GIGA . August 6, 2013 ( giga.de [accessed on March 28, 2018]).
- ↑ Paul Tassi: 'Fortnite: Battle Royale' Is Breaking Records On YouTube, Not Just Twitch . In: Forbes . ( forbes.com [accessed March 28, 2018]).
- ↑ heise online: Phenomenon Battle Royale: How Fortnite PUBG has overtaken the rank. Retrieved on March 28, 2018 (German).
- ↑ Battle Royale Shooter 2018: The Top 10 PUBG Alternatives . In: PC GAMES . ( pcgames.de [accessed on March 28, 2018]).
- ↑ New Game Plus: Cheers to the repeated playthroughs [column]. February 16, 2019, accessed September 23, 2019 .
- ^ New Game Plus. Retrieved on September 23, 2019 (German).
- ^ Benjamin Beil, Gundolf S. Freyermuth, Lisa Gotto: New Game Plus: Perspektiven der Game Studies. Genres - Arts - Discourses . transcript Verlag, 2014, ISBN 978-3-8394-2809-2 ( google.de [accessed on 23 September 2019]).
- ↑ A Japanese RPG Primer: The Essential 20. Retrieved September 23, 2019 .