OBLIGATION, RESEARCH

Types of Video Games and their emotional benefits/drawbacks:

1. Multiplayer Online (MMO)

These games are played over a local area network of via the internet. Players use a network to interact with other players in the virtual game room. You can play against people from all over the world. The creation of these games involves thousands of hours programming, giving you, the player.

- Sense of community and participation

- Extreme motivation

- Friendly competition

- Encourages collaboration and interaction

- Promoting violence

e.g. Fortnite is a completely free multiplayer game where you and your friends collaborate to create your dream Fortnite world or battle to be the last one standing. Players leap out of a flying bus on to a small island and fight each-other. Hidden around the island are weapons and items including rifles, traps and grenade launchers, and players much arm themselves while exploring the landscape and buildings. It is also possible to team up with a friend or group to complete as a squad.  

The bright and friendly visuals communicate optimism and motivation within a non-realistic world. The game does also not depict bloody violence. Although this could be seen as a good thing, it means that children who are playing this game are not seeing the realistic consequences of shooting someone. However, the non-realistic nature of the visuals could create a strong barrier between this game and the real world.

2. Simulations

These games involve taking control of real-world activities. In some cases using vehicles, including tanks, ships and aircraft. You learn how to control vehicles, and use simulation games that can also be used to train professionals.

- Independence

- Realistic motives reflecting reality

- Beneficial for real-world situations

- Realistic rewards and satisfaction

- Concentration skills

e.g. Sims is a form of escapism and a chance for the player to create their ideal world. Perhaps this is unideal as it could become more exciting then reality, and encourage depression and anxiety. The average sims player is

It is a common curiosity to create chaos within a sims virtual world. Therefore, perhaps certain actions are forced upon the characters which would be incredibly inappropriate in the real world. Within sims, they have their own language which could, arguably, create a clear barrier between the sims and the real world.

The Sims does, however, have realisitc and real-world issues such as unemployment, social anxieties and needs

3. Adventure

These are usually single player games, and are often set in fantasy or adventure worlds. You complete puzzles to advance levels. Game will start with a back story of your character, and let you know what your mission is. You have to figure out how to complete the mission.

- A sense of requirement and being relied on to complete the missions

- Single player games and therefore no sense of community

- Does not encourage interaction or socialising

- Unrealistic aims and motives

e.g. Assasin's Creed

4. Real-Time Strategy

For these games, you build up your inventory of items, armies etc. These games move in real-time, and players can play at once without taking turns so you can play together at the same time.

- Encourages collaboration

- Real-time to complete deadlines - Realistic

e.g. Age of Empires

5. Puzzle

These games appeal to those who love to solve different puzzles. There are many levels, from beginner to expert, and games usually have coloured shapes and simple actions. These are brain games, with no action involved.

- Good for the brain

- No interaction of collaboration could lead to depression

- Simple and unrealistic

- Rewarding

e.g. Candy Crush

6. Action

Fast-paced games requiring excellent reflexes. Challenges are completed by fighting enemies, and use a character of your choice to represent yourself and jump into the action.

- Promoting violence

- Not rewarded appropriately

- Could encourage unsociable behaviour

- Can create your own character that resembles you or somebody completely different. Could cause anxieties and promote the idea of being perfect

e.g. Grand Theft Auto

7. Stealth Shooter

War games or spy-based games, where stealth is used to defeat your enemies.

- Promoting violence

- Community

e.g. The state of Stealth

8. First Person Shooters

You are the protagonist, and the game is viewed through your eyes. You are not able to see how you look in the game, because you are seeing things through your own eyes.

- Realistic and promoting shooting and violence

- Cannot see yourself and therefore risk of it becoming too real?

e.g. Halo

9. Sports

Real-world sports like baseball, basketball, football etc. The most popular sports games are usually based around specific popular sporting events.

- Promotes sense of community and teamwork

- Does not involve same actions as sport in the real world and therefore discouraging from this?

- However, could generate an interest and curiosity in new sports

e.g. Tracks and Tricks

10. Role Playing

Acting out part of the main character e.g. a hero. Decisions are made that go along with the games story lines. Many of these have narrative guides.

- Constructed story line (unrealistic)

- Lack of control

- Encouragement and rewards/positive feedback

e.g. FarmVille

11. Educational

Games that can help with learning processes. They train in a variety of subjects, using games to make learning fun instead of boring. These are testing functions, where you can answer multiple choice questions. Most commonly used for maths, science and ICT.