First of all let me state that genre is and always will be mildly confusing to me. For example, the difference between action, adventure, and action/adventure is nebulous at best in my mind. This article helped a bit, as did the textbook. But my inability to concisely define these genres without first explaining what they are not led me to this question: is there such things as games in only one genre? In these modern times, when games are pushing the envelope with every release, it's increasingly difficult to pigeonhole games into particular genres.
I don't really think that's a bad thing. Honestly, I think trying to label a game with a genre is not unlike attempting to catch water in a net. The only thing gained is mild frustration. Look at Halo for instance. This article's entire premise is that Halo is a first-person shooter, or FPS, but it goes on to say that "...in effect, Halo pleases the whole spectrum of the action game audience." Is action used here as a genre description or a simple adjective, stating the game contains moments of action? It's hard to say really. According to the Holy Grail of truth and righteousness, an "action" game is defined as a game that "requires players to use quick reflexes and timing to overcome obstacles." If that description is so broad, hundreds of games must be considered "action." Pong is an action game. Mario is too. But I thought Mario is a platformer? Or is it a "collecting" game? Hell if I know.
What's the point of all this ranting? Besides giving my fingers exercise, the previous paragraphs were intended to show how futile genre pigeonholing is. With the release of games like Borderlands upcoming, it's clear genres are outdated. I have no suggestions on how to refer to games like this without genres though. I admit, they're handy at generalizing a game's content, but it'd be nice if there were a way to describe a game more accurately. Is Borderlands an FPS? Or is it a role-playing game? Or a hack-and-slash with guns (which I guess would make it a shooter all over again.) Or is it an RPGRPSHAS?
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Ok so putting games into genres is pointless as you say. However, do you not think that at some point it needs to be done. If the industry wants to start being taken seriously they need to be able to catergorize games into something more than what they are by FPS or RPG etc....
ReplyDeleteFrom a marketing standpoint, yes, labeling is required. It's the only way to simplistically label a game to appeal to mass audiences that have come to recognize certain genres as ones they typically enjoy. I think it's gone beyond that, though, as if instead of the genre representing only itself, it has become a symbol for a standard of gameplay for which a game may strive. From an analytical standpoint, though, genre is irrelevant. Games should be described based on what they are, not on what aspects they have in common with other games.
ReplyDeleteI can see the futility of trying to place every game in a perfect "pigeonhole" of a genre, but I never really see that happening. Instead, I see a game, let's say Borderlands, given a primary descriptor (FPS), and then secondary qualifiers (RPG elements/ Driving sequences). In that way, genre's work great, it's just when genres are thrown about willy-nilly they become useless.
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