Social & Technological Trends Of Computer Games

What is a gaming genre? A gaming genre is a category that each game would specifically be put into. For example, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive would be putted into a first-person shooter genre because the content of the game contains a first person view and guns to kill the enemies. There are a range of genres that games can be putted into and games can be fitted into multiple genres. The most popular genre games that games get organised into are:

• Role-playing game

This genre is for games that is created to allow players to create their own imaginary characters and they go on a quest. An example of a role-playing game is Dungeon & Dragons which is a game that allows players to create their characters and then go on an adventure to defeat bosses and build up their character skills.

• Action & adventure

This genre is for games that has danger and physical action to challenge reflexes of a player and problem solving. For example, Rise of the Tomb Raider is a female called Lara Croft that goes on an adventure and get into battle with other Non-Player Characters (NOC) but also comes across problems such as being trapped. Therefore, the player needs to think of a way-out showing problem solving.

• Strategy

This genre is for games that players need to think before taking action because the wrong move can make you lose. For example, Clash of clans is a mobile strategy game which player create bases and attack other player’s bases to get trophies and loot, so they can upgrade their base.

• Sandbox

This allows the player to roam around the map and alter the world without any limitations. For example, Minecraft is a game that is about survival and you can do anything you want on the game and you can build on the map and change the map.

• FPS (First Person Shooter)

This is a genre that games which you see in a first-person perspective. For example, CS: GO is a first-person shooter which focuses on your gun or any other weapon and you must eliminate the enemies.

• Platform games

This genre is a player that controls the character and jumps through suspended platforms and the player need to not get hit by any obstacles. For example, Mario is a platform game which the player needs to reach the end of the map without getting hit by the objects such as a turtle.

• Puzzle

A game that needs to make a player think because needs to put the pieces in the correct space and get the highest score possible before losing. For example, Tetris is a game which shaped blocks are falling, the player must rotate and move the shaped block right or left before touching the ground.

• Educational

Games that are designed to teach a player. For example, QuizUp is an online game that two player challenges each other on specific category and whoever gets the rightest wins the match. They begin on level 1 on the category but every time they win then their level increase on that topic and there are a range of topic such as maths, science and geography.

Types of players Age range & Gender

Players can play games on multiple platforms such as PCs and consoles such as Xbox, PS4 and Wii. The average age for users to play games is 31 years old also games are mainly played on consoles instead on PCs. However, people over the age of 36 plays more games (39%) compared to people between the age 18-35 (32%). Games are mainly played between the age of 3-35 (61%) compared to people over the age of 36 (39%), this shows people that are young is most likely going to play games compared to people that are old. Games are played by all genders. However, there are more male playing video games compared to women.