racing and fighting games
TRANSCRIPT
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Racing and fighting games
Introduction
Like other media, video games are sorted according to their genre. The main principle for categorizing games is the gameplay and the features in the games. The purpose of this document is compare both racing games genre and fighting games genre discussing their key traits and characteristics that signifies these genres including games examples, screenshots, reviews score and who they appeals to.
Racing Games
Racing games mostly revolve around racing allowing players to compete in races, trying to move faster than an opponent to reach a specified goal or beat a specified time. Usually racing using cars and other vehicles (motorcycle, powerboat, trucks etc...)
Racing games come in varying degrees of realism from cartoon cars and character like in Sonic & All-‐Stars Racing Transformed, to highly detailed grand prix races like F1 2012. Most distinctively racing games come in arcade or racing simulation. Arcade racing games put fun and a fast-‐paced experience above all else, cars usually compete in unique ways than just racing. These games often encourage the player to power slide the car to allow the player to keep up their speed by drifting through turns, including things like collectables or pickups such as weapons or speed boosts, also able customization vehicles and often creating your own racing track like in LittleBigPlanet Karting. Arcade racers mainly focus on these sorts of racing element including more exotic settings and vehicles. Racing in can be multiple-‐laps and circuits like in Sonic & All-‐Stars Racing Transformed (allows players to transform from land, sea or air base vehicles due to the change of courses).
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Other typical arcade racing games like F1 Race Stars which uses F1 drivers and more mechanism of F1 into a fast-‐to-‐the-‐fun arcade racing game, it reveals how drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel have been transformed into personality-‐packed heroes and Formula One circuits are converted into over the top tracks built for super-‐charged speed.
There is also Fireburst which uses interesting heat boost mechanic generated by the boost fuels flames of your car that can fry your opponent in races, the heat boost should be managed carefully as it can blow you up, if you boost for an instant longer than your car can handle. Maintaining that delicate balance between maximizing your speed and not destroying yourself with fire is just one of the main challenges in this game. These are just some examples of unconventional ideas and unimaginable creations implemented in racing games that just typifies arcade racers, they
are very popular in today’s world and greatly praised by users for the fun elements and gaming experience provided. Like Sonic & All-‐Stars Racing Transformed which has a great reception for the concept of transforming into multi type of vehicle in races, IGN giving it a score of 8.6, calling it "a bright, handsome and thoroughly enjoyable ride." and User Score 8.8 in Metacritic on PS3. Better yet Joe Danger: Special Edition which uses elements of both racing and side-‐scrolling platform genres, in which the protagonist can move to the right and also by reversing to the left as well as hopping over and ducking under various obstacles. The single-‐player gameplay mode of Joe Danger was well received by critics and overall gained a 9.5 from IGN reviews and 8.8 by Metacritics score.
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In contrary to simulation racers which are the sort of racing games that tends to emulate real life racing. These types of racing games strive to convincingly replicate the handling and characterises of an automobile, often licensed by real cars or racing leagues, imitating real drivers, competitions, events and tracks while also including such things like fixing car's tire condition and fuel level.
These refer to games like WRC 3: FIA World Rally Championship released this year which is the official racing video game of the 2012 World Rally Championship season. It captures the spirit and technicalities of the WRC well. The emphasis is supposedly on control and adaptability, emphasizing real-‐world rally drivers’ driving skills. The selection of locations reflects the full calendar for this year’s events, and the idols of the sport, including reigning champions Sébastien Loeb, Daniel Elena and more. Another excellent game of this genre is Trials Evolution which is one of the top rated Xbox games that has gained astonishing reception this year, receiving critical acclaim from media outlets like Metacritic (90/100) and GameRankings (91.58%). Reviewers praised the overall gameplay, challenge, visuals and editing abilities given to players. It imitating Motocross/ Motorcycle trials very well whereby the motorbikes are extremely lightweight, lack seating (they are designed to be ridden standing up) and have suspension travel that is short obliging riders to be skilled and technically driven when handling these vehicles, in regards to the tracks or routes they are designated carefully contrived to test the skill of the riders.
One of the more notable racing simulation is F1 2012, based on the 2012 Formula One season, the game features all twelve teams and twenty-‐four drivers competing in the 2012 season (except for mid-‐season changes), as well as circuits and Grands Prix included in the championship.
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The game allows player to pilot the cars exclusively from the interior driving view giving that realistic affect as shown on the images above. These racing simulators and arcade are specifically built for people who are fond of vehicles, enjoy the racing experience provided to then, yet alone fond of racing sports like F1, WRC, Tour De France, Motorcycle trial etc... Most of these games are suited for everyone (ESRB E, E10+, or PEGI 3 or 7), preferably teens with a taste in car, motorcycles and more. These games are less offensive, fun, has less violence, convenient and less tricky to play. But there are also games of these genres that do contain violence and are not suitable for young children involving shoot-‐em ups and vehicle combat, these are characteristic that signifies the difference within racing games i.e. Death Rally which involves lots of shooting and destruction of vehicles within races, but the most significant in destructions is Twisted Metal which is a car combat game released this year totally based on action, shooting and destructing opponents, these vehicle combat/racing games are usually rated M for Mature by the ESRB due to the graphic nature of the cut scenes, harsh language and violence.
Real life First Person view
In game First Person view
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To clarify racing game genre, they are mainly distinct in a the fact that they involve racing, usually with cars but not necessarily feature vehicles, though some games may also feature characters running. However they all involve competing in races against other players on a series of different tracks or levels, where the goal is to reach the end before everyone else or complete a racing course with the quickest time, they usually consist of rounds or laps within a race, check points are often imposed to remark a certain stage in a race and at the end of races players are accommodated in position which is mainly given according to their time endured in the race i.e. 1ST mainly finish with quickest time, last finishes with longest time and so on.
Elements of racing games Description
Driver's-‐Eye View One of the various camera angles that can be found in many racing games that allows you to see the vehicle from an eye point view as if you were in the car.
Accurate Physics Simulation of real racing vehicles
Typical examples are vehicles of Formula One, World Rally Championship, Superbike World Championship
Collectables (pick-‐ups) i.e. bombs, speed boost
To be collected, used to challenge opponents for first position
Weapons Very common in "vehicle combat genre” which includes many sort of weaponry
The Steering-‐Wheel Controller Racing games are often supported and compatible with driving accessories like steering wheel, foot pedals and a gearstick.
Car Tuning or Customization Tuning up the vehicle to enhance performance such as speed or handling. Customization is generally for user’s preferences.
Power-‐Sliding/Drifting/Over steer controls Used to allow better handling and controls of vehicles
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Sub genre These games are often in first person or third person view, platform, some include multiplayer (MMOG) aspect and vehicle combat.
Mostly rated E for Everyone (E, E10+, Teens, 3+, 7+)
Most of these games contain some violence in a comical context but age-‐appropriate for young children.
Mostly targeted Mostly targeted at racing fans or those fond of vehicles and driving.
Difficulty Playable by any type of gamer from casual to hardcore, changing difficulty level are occasionally given to be adjusted for users preferences, as these games are primarily made to challenge players driving skills and ability to maintain controls of cars, using short-‐cuts, turbo boost and more to challenge opponents for pole position from start to finish.
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Fighting Games
Fighting games are traditionally divided into two broad categories: Versus fighters and Beat 'em 'ups or Brawlers. They mainly emphasize one-‐on-‐one combat between two characters, one of which may be computer controlled but often playable able with two or more players. These games are usually played by linking together long chains of button presses on controller to create precise moves and combos (punches, kicks, etc.) while using melee weapons to render opponents unconscious or dead. Many of the movements employed by the characters are usually dramatic and occasionally physically impossible like RYU (Street Fighter) powerful fireballs.
These games generally show fighters from a side-‐view, normally in 2D but contemporary in three-‐dimensional (3D) graphics. The obvious fact of these games is mainly due to the major reliance on many different fighting techniques such martial art, judo, sumo, kickboxing and more, focusing on close range combat which are very violent in a way which is why they are mainly rated T (Teen) as they often contain lots of aggressive conflict, crude Humor, violence, blood and strong language and more. Typical examples of these games are SoulCalibur V, Street Fighter X Tekken or the famous Mortal Kombat which is known for its high levels of bloody violence and fatality finishing moves. Fighting games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat were a major catalyst for bringing violence, blood, and controversy to the video game industry. Besides being hugely popular with gamers, these games were the subject of dozens of court cases involving the use of violence in video games and gave rise to the ESRB rating system.
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The genre has always pushed the limits and has won over audiences around the world with some of the best character development in all of gaming. The genre continues to push forward along with strong contributions from cross over titles like Marvel V.S Capcom and Street Fighter X Tekken. While other emerging titles like Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations and One Piece: Pirate Warriors are rising within this category, as they are based on popular fighting anime TV series, they are mainly targeted at fans of these series but mostly underrated by reviewers like IGN or Metacritic in contrast to users scores. The main aspect of these games is generally based on moves and attribute of heroes like Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto), Goku (Dragon BallZ), Monkey D Luffy (One Piece). Other than cartoon anime series, there are also fighting games that actually tend to emulate real fighting sports by featuring all their fighters and properties of their sports. I.e. UFC Undisputed 3 which is based
on mixed martial arts featuring Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters like Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz and more. Another notable fighting game, usually not expressed as a fighting genre is wrestling: WWE 13 which is based on professional wrestling featuring WWE superstars including WWE Champion CM Punk. This game focuses on the Attitude Era allowing player to play through the Attitude Era in 6 different storylines with characters like Stone Cold, The Rock and more. These games do get a lot of praises and good reception (WWE '13 received a 8.4 out of 10 by IGN, praising the Attitude Era Mode while UFC Undisputed 3 gained an amazing 9 out of 10) due to way developers try to replicate and recreate real sporting experience into video games. To clarify fighting game genre, these are games that the main objective is to win against the enemy involving fighting, usually feature different rounds and fights. Normally the player who wins the most rounds would win in the game. Players would usually choose from different kinds of characters which are available male and female who usually have various kinds of movements and fighting styles typically judo, sumo, kickboxing, martial art and more. These fighting games would even allow the player to customize the looks and abilities of his fighter.
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The following are more elements that typify fighting games.
Elements of fighting games Description
Flying and jumping Like in Dragon Ball Z or Naruto shippuden games
Player one fights Player two These fighting games remain solely about fighting the other player.
Show fighters from a side-‐view This is the main camera view found in many of these games that allows you to see all fighters during gameplay
Health bar and lives These games allow you to see how much health and live you have as well as your opponents and vice-‐versa.
Win and lose These games are generally based on either beating an opponent or losing to them
Characters differentiation Characters in fighting games are very distinct and come in different varieties and taste, with different appearance, catch phrases, humour, strengths and techniques, most notably their finishing moves used to finish of their opponents, these allows players to chose their favourite and least favourite characters.
Sub genre Normally in 2D but now days in 3D, in most of these games fights are usually 1v1 but some now include tag team fights like in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, better yet PlayStation All-‐Stars Battle Royale allows up to four players to battle each other in a brawling adventure filled with action. Action, Beat' Em Up, wrestling, boxing, brawling, platform, flying and simulation are probably the main sub genre of fighting
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games. Also includes Multiplayer (MMOG) which allows you to compete with other players online.
Mostly rated T (Teen) or M (Mature) This is because of the violence and the harsh scenes of combats included in these titles, they mostly contain blood, strong language and crude humour, these are some of the content included in fighting games that are just suitable for teens and above
Mostly targeted These games are generally targeted at every gamer though it mainly suits hardcore gamers especially those with skills and technical ability with good use of controller to be able to perform many different button combinations of attacks and combos, these are not necessarily targeted at those who love fighting but also to those who enjoy action, and beat-‐em-‐up sort of games.
Difficulty These games are extremely difficult if you want to play at the highest difficulty level. The gaming experience is unlike any other genre, most of these games allows you to pick the difficulty level but most often when playing these games the difficulty gets harder every time you progress in tournaments or during single player modes. You would notably get use to repeat fight after humiliating defeats.