The world of video games, as well as computer games, can be an intimidating one, with the vast variety that is available. However, there is a new field of study under development that is aiming to classify and view video games in a similar way that entertainment such as film and music is viewed. This field of study is called game theory and while it does have roots in board and card games, it is still being fine tuned to the point of general agreement on viewing video games.
Cooperative Vs Non-Cooperative – This classification is fairly obvious and easy to understand. Non cooperative games feature solo players, with no partners, while cooperative games have players working together as a team. Some cooperative games have the choice to have partners, where others, such as Resident Evil 5, require a partner to play. There are also hybrid games, which melds the two types of game play together. There are quite a few games of this style, referred to as MMO, or massive multiplayer online, that are have gained much popularity over recent years.
Simulation – Games of this classification hold a simple concept, which is to run a virtually simulated world. This type of game gives the player control over a multitude of situations, whether it be running a business, a person or family, or even something as simple as a garden. Viva Pinata is one example of this type, wherein a player builds and cultivates their garden, and gains new types of animals and plants.
Non Zero Sum vs Zero Sum – This is one of the oldest and most basic classifications for games because it is the effect that players have within the game itself. Those games, such as checkers, where players stand to “gain nothing” are referred to as zero sum games, based on the Latin meaning of zero sum. Non zero sum games, the polar opposites, are games where players compete for resources in order to have an advantage over one another. These games are usually closer to simulations than pure games.
Drama – The games that fall under this category tend to lean more towards the narrative role of the story than the action section. For example, the role-playing game, or RPG, Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, follows a band of adventures that are mere moments behind the group that is featured in the actual film, Lord of the Rings. This RPG has fantastic fight scenes, however, the storyline of following in the footsteps of Aragon, Gimli, and Frodo gets much more screen time, during which he player gets to enjoy graphics with quality close to the big screen, due to large advancements in technology.
In the end, with the multitude of games that are readily available for players of all ages, even classifications as strong as these quite often have to be blended with others in order to encompass the many ranges of different types of play that are featured in the games.
