Shooter (computer game genre)

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A shooter is the generic term for a computer game genre , in which the core game mechanics , the shooting is. The aim of the player is to shoot either at computer opponents ( player versus environment ), other players ( player versus player ) or other game objects according to certain guidelines for progressing in the game , without the game character dying from counter attacks or the game physics . Shooter games are usually also an action game . 3D shooters usually use a hitbox to range goal to accurately determine and evaluate. In classic shoot 'em ups, on the other hand, the high score is usually calculated by calculating the number and type of objects hit depending on the damage of the weapon used. Due to the responsiveness required in most shooters, most shooters also belong to the game of skill , with other shooters also placing more emphasis on tactical and strategic elements.

history

The idea of ​​the shooting game goes back to shooting booths at fairs . The first mechanical game with the support of the light gun was Ray-O-Lite from 1936. The first shoot 'em up is the game Spacewar! from 1962. Maze War and Spasim from 1974 are considered the first first-person shooters. Other influential arcade shoot'-em-ups include Gun Fight from 1975, Space Invaders from 1978, Asteroids and Galaxian from 1979, Battlezone from 1980, Galaga , Defender and Scramble from 1981 and Commando from 1985. The first shooter with an isometric perspective is Zaxxon from 1982. As the first multiplayer first Person-Shooter is considered MIDI Maze from 1987. In addition to the development of 3D graphics, the genre also gained popularity with the development of the computer mouse for the mass market in the 1980s. The first first person shooter with a 2½D graphic was Wolfenstein 3D from 1992. Other earlier successful 3D shooters were Doom , Quake , Descent and Half-Life .

Among the most successful modern shooter series include Call of Duty , Battlefield , Grand Theft Auto and Counter-Strike , which mainly through its online - modes are distinguished. Many shooters now also rely on the free-to-play , crossplay or games as a service model or private game servers .

Subgenres

According to perspective

Shoot 'em up

Spacewar! (1962), one of the first computer games

Shoot 'em up (English, literally "shoot them up" - in English also short Shmup) is considered the first shooter computer game genre. In a broader sense, shoot 'em up describes any game in which the character controlled by the player is supposed to destroy a large number of enemy units with a virtual firearm (also known colloquially as a "shooting game"). In a narrower sense, shoot 'em up describes a "shooting game" with restricted freedom of movement, as it is displayed in two dimensions. In many games the player can improve the weaponry of the character through upgrades or power-ups . The aim of the genre is usually a good high score.

Scrolling shooter
Game scene of a horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up

A scrolling shooter is a sub-genre of shoot 'em up, in which the player looks at the game from the side ( side scroller ) and has to move the character and shoot at the same time. In connection with shoot 'em ups, the term scrolling refers to the level background moving past. A basic distinction is made in the genre between horizontal, vertical and multidirectional scrolling. In the first two types, scrolling is usually specified, while in the latter type, the player can usually freely choose the movement of his character. The first computer games like Spacewar! (1962) were multiscrolling . In the 1970s, the games were more fixed (examples: Galaga and Space Invader ). Shoot 'n run / Run and gun / Soldier Combat are shoot' em ups in which the player runs and shoots at the same time. Examples are Commando and Metal Slug .

First person shooter / first person shooter

First person view in a first person shooter, here from the game Nexuiz

Ego shooters are a category of computer games in which the player acts from the first person perspective in a freely accessible, three-dimensional game world and fights other players or computer-controlled opponents with firearms. The character controlled by the player is often human or human-like. Ego-Shooter is a word creation from the German-speaking area, in the English-speaking area one speaks of the first-person shooter . Ego shooters are now among the most successful computer game genres and are the most popular shooter genre in current games and are particularly popular in multiplayer. For the different game modes in first-person shooters, see Spielmodus_ (computer game) # first-person shooter .

Third person shooter

Screenshot of the free third-person shooter Dead Justice from Cat Mother

Third-person shooters (abbreviated TPS, from English third person , " third person " and shooter , "shooting game") are computer games in which the player observes the world from a perspective that is normally positioned behind the main character ( third- Person perspective ) and in which ranged combat is an essential element of the game. It often offers more narrative possibilities, more freedom of movement and platforming elements, as well as puzzles. Well-known examples are Max Payne and open world titles such as Grand Theft Auto or Mafia .

According to game mechanics

Artillery

Schematic representation of the game principle

Artillery is the general name for a (mostly turn-based ) multiplayer computer game in which players use two or more artillery positions , i.e. tanks , cannons , etc., in order to hit other players' units via a ballistic trajectory and ultimately defeat them. Artillery was also the name of the first graphic implementation of the genre on the Apple II from 1980. In 1976, the magazine Creative Computing published what was probably the first representative that was still text-based . As of MS-DOS 5.0, the artillery game Gorillas was included on every PC .

The opposing sides are usually separated from each other by a hilly landscape or something similar. The projectiles therefore not only have to hit the enemy, but also overcome these obstacles by adjusting the firing angle and firepower . Sometimes the wind direction and strength must also be taken into account.

Successful series include Worms and Angry Birds .

Arcade shooter / horde shooter

In arcade shooters , which are played in emphatically fantastic environments, the player fights in mass battles against hordes of monsters. The focus here is on the speed of reaction.

Arena shooter

In so-called arena shooters , the players play in a demarcated area, which is usually characterized by fast movements, long jumps, wall runs by the players and the use of explosive weapons. There can also be parallels to the horde shooter. Examples are Quake and Unreal Tournament .

Battle Royale

Depiction of a battle royale game

Battle Royale is an online computer game genre in which the player fights each other with a predetermined number of other players in a delimited play area, which becomes smaller and smaller as the game progresses, using items collected in the play area . The aim is to survive as the only player or team in the end. The genre is no longer limited to shooters, but is most common with shooters. The genre is named after the movie Battle Royale .

Danmaku

Representation of different shots in a danmaku

Danmaku or Bullet Hell is a sub-genre of shoot 'em ups . The player is often faced with an overwhelming number of opposing crossfire . The hitbox of the game character (e.g. the player's spaceship) is in most cases only a few pixels in size in this type of game. The challenge here is to successfully avoid the hail of bullets. Often a single hit leads to the loss of an attempt.

The genre was basically invented by Cave in the mid-1990s with the DonPachi series, even though Summer Carnival '92: Recca was a shoot 'em up with a similarly large selection of balls as early as 1992.

Hero shooter

In hero shooters , which work similarly to MOBAs and are therefore also called MOBA shooters , the players control a hero character who has special abilities and characteristics, and fight against other hero characters, usually in teams in which the heroes make their way through their own support mutual skills. Most of the time, they also have to protect their own base. Hero shooters often use cel shading graphics to create a comic look and reduce hardware requirements.

Team Fortress from 1996 is considered one of the first successful hero shooters . The genre achieved a new hype with the game Overwatch from 2016. Other well-known hero shooters are Apex Legends , Battleborn , LawBreakers , Paladins , Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare , Quake Champions , Valorant and Team Fortress 2 .

Light gun shooter

An early popular lightgun game: Duck Hunt

In the lightgun shooter, the player does not use classic input devices such as mouse, keyboard or gamepad to shoot, but the lightgun. The "Lightgun" bears its name because it uses the light to register which point on the screen the player is aiming at. The name suggests that the weapon itself shoots a beam of light, but in reality it receives light from the screen through a photodiode in the pistol barrel. It was initially used at fairs, but later found its way into arcade machines and home consoles. For well-known games see also: Category: Lightgun Game

Loot shooter

In loot shooters , the player collects weapons, ammunition and other items (so-called loot ) for combat. Often this can also improve his weapons and equipment. Examples are Borderlands , Destiny , Anthem , Warframe, and Tom Clancy's The Division .

Rail shooter

Representation of a rail shooter, here on the Space Harrier arcade machine

This term usually describes games in which the player only moves his character on a vertical, fixed line and has little control over the horizontal. The control options are limited to the control of a virtual weapon, since the player cannot exercise any direct control over the path of his game character. The field of vision of the player is also determined by the game. This genre usually has fewer opponents than scrolling shooters, as evading and shooting is made more difficult by the limited perspective. The first 3D rail shooter was Silpheed .

Stealth shooter

Schematic representation of the current field of vision , direction of view of the opponents (red dots) and the player figure (white dot) in the Metal Gear Solid series

A stealth shooter or Germanized sneak shooter is a sub-genre in which, in contrast to the action game, the game has to proceed secretly and inconspicuously by sneaking and should avoid open fights. The visibility and the noise level generated by the player can often be checked in the status display. Most of the time, there are additional movement options such as slow sneaking or peeking around corners, which allow a secret approach. These can be 2D or 3D games. The topics are diverse. There are games like Thief , in which you act as a master thief in a fictional medieval world, spy thrillers like Metal Gear Solid , or even games like No One Lives Forever , which are in the style of a comedy.

Tactical shooter

In contrast to the classic first-person and third-person shooters, where in addition to tactics, above all, skill and responsiveness play an important role, through the realistic gameplay in tactical shooters latter largely suppressed and the emphasis on carefully budgeting, tactical Procedure laid. Tactical shooters are basically played in a team: While teams are made up of human players in multiplayer mode , team members are simulated by the computer ( bots ) in single player mode . The player usually takes on the position of the team leader who commands the computer-controlled team members.

Another common feature of tactical shooters is that they play in a realistic setting; weapons and units are usually true-to-detail implementations of real models, even if they do not necessarily have their names for licensing reasons. Police operations against hostage-takers or terrorists ( special unit ) or the various scenes of the Second World War are particularly popular as scenarios, but increasingly also fictitious conflicts in the present or the near future. Tactical shooters therefore often overlap with military simulation .

The most prominent representative of the genre in multiplayer mode is Counter-Strike . Games with a world war scenario are for example Medal of Honor Allied Assault or the Battlefield series.

Shooter elements in other genres

In vehicle simulations such as flight simulation , space flight simulation , tank simulation or marine simulation , the player can often fire shots, even if these games do not count as shooters. In sports simulations , the player can sometimes shoot with sports balls.

Some puzzle and puzzle games can be counted as shooters even though little or no opponents are attacked. An example is portal where the player shoots portals to solve puzzles.

In survival games , the player can often collect firearms as loot or craft them , which is why there are overlaps with the loot shooter. In some survival horror games, the player can partially defend himself by using firearms. Even in a jump 'n' run , the player can sometimes use firearms. Usually it is a metroidvania . Early 3D Maze games also received the first shooter elements. Although a fighting game is mainly about close combat, long-range weapons and techniques can sometimes also be used. Many computer role-playing games meanwhile also enable the player to use firearms or to shoot at opponents with magical abilities in addition to close combat defense in the hack-and-slay style.

In turn-based strategy and tactical games , the player can sometimes control, position and assign units for automatic shooting. In real-time strategy and real-time tactical games such as tower defense and, above all, multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA for short), the game can partially specify shots and control the direction and strength of the shot itself.

A racing game in which the player can or must shoot at the same time or does so as a passenger is called vehicular combat . In fun racers , the player can often shoot power-ups . Shooter elements are also often part of a mini-game .

Position in e-sports

Next to strategy games, shooters are the most popular genre in esports. Shooter genres in esports are primarily first-person shooters, tactical shooters, battle royale and hero shooters. Well-known esports disciplines in the field of shooters are Counter-Strike , Halo , Quake , Unreal Tournament , Overwatch , Paladins , Fortnite , PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds , Rainbow Six Siege , Call of Duty and Battlefield .

Killer Game Debate

Shooters, in particular first-person shooters, have come under fire for their explicit and realistic fictitious portrayal of violence . The name Killer Game is derived from the mission objectives that focus on killing enemies in the game. Another derogatory term for shooter games that has become established is shooting game . There was also criticism of the lack of protection of minors in shooter games. The research could not find a single development of violence through shooters and instead names multiple psychological reasons that lead to violence. The controversy escalated with the rampage of Winnenden and Wendlingen in March 2009 and led to discussions about a ban on such shooter games.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ First light-gun game. Retrieved April 19, 2020 (UK English).
  2. ↑ The Essential 50 Part 1 - Spacewar from 1UP.com. September 27, 2007, accessed April 19, 2020 .
  3. ^ Maze War, the First Networked 3D Multi-User First Person Shooter Game: History of Information. Retrieved April 19, 2020 .
  4. ^ Wolf, Mark JP (2012). "BattleZone and the Origins of First-Person Shooting Games". In Call, Josh; Whitlock, Katie; Voorhees, Gerald (eds.). Guns, Grenades, and Grunts: First-Person Shooter Games . ISBN978-1-4411-9144-1.
  5. ↑ Zaxxon - Videogame by Sega / Gremlin. Retrieved April 19, 2020 .
  6. ↑ AtariProtos.com - All Your Protos Are Belong To Us! Retrieved April 19, 2020 .
  7. ↑ 25 years of Wolfenstein 3D - The shooter grandfather who led to the swastika problem - GameStar. June 18, 2017, accessed April 19, 2020 .
  8. ↑ a b Kushner, David (2003). Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created An Empire And Transformed Pop Culture . Random House. 226. ISBN0-375-50524-5.
  9. ↑ First fully 3-dimensional FPS. Retrieved April 19, 2020 (UK English).
  10. ↑ Matt James: The Enduring Legacy of 'Half-Life,' 20 Years After Its Release. November 29, 2018, accessed April 19, 2020 .
  11. ↑ Matt Suckley: Are arcade shooters really dead? In: PC Gamer. January 12, 2018, Retrieved April 19, 2020 (American English).
  12. ↑ Return of the Arena Shooter - Why the good old gameplay is coming back in 2017. March 28, 2017, accessed April 19, 2020 .
  13. ↑ This is the next hot shit in gaming. May 9, 2016, accessed April 19, 2020 .
  14. ^ A b Austin Wood: What the strange evolution of the hero shooter tells us about the genre's future. In: PC Gamer. October 25, 2016, Retrieved April 19, 2020 (American English).
  15. ↑ a b Alex Wawro: Hero Shooters: Charting the (re) birth of a genre. Retrieved April 19, 2020 (English).
  16. ↑ The best hero shooters that you absolutely have to play. August 6, 2016, accessed April 19, 2020 .
  17. ↑ Sponsored: Investigating the Origin of the Looter Shooter. In: PC Gamer. June 29, 2018, Retrieved April 19, 2020 (American English).
  18. ↑ Sponsored: The top six looter shooters of all time. Retrieved April 19, 2020 (English).
  19. ^ German Past Haunts Gamers' Future . In: WIRED . ( wired.com [accessed April 19, 2020]).