Serious Discussion for Gamers!

I was laying in bed, failing to sleep, and thinking for some reason of how I started gaming and why. Just like anything else that relates directly to personal choice (i.e. favorite colors, music, television shows, food etc.) gaming can say a lot about a person, and even go deeper than you think.

For instance: My brother was shot and killed 2 years ago, right before I started gaming. Before this, I had played the occasional game (Nintendo, Play station), but nothing serious. Of course, I think anyone who hasn't atleast tried a game, is a strong minority.

*Side Note* I'm not admitting to this for sympathy. I simply want to convey the deeper meaning of my post, and to influence some thought into responses.*

Anyway, My usual internet addiction before this was mainly messaging and what have you. I stumble across a beta testing for a game one day, and I have no idea what compelled me to try this foreign thing, but I did. Something in me changed that day and I fell in love with what is known as the "FPS" Genre.

I've spent some time throughout the past couple of years thinking why I prefer this specific genre over any other, especially considering my unusual circumstances. (One would think I would be completely against guns and violence after losing a brother to it).

So, Do I prefer this genre solely because I just generally find it a lot more fun? Is there an underlying reason why I may prefer this genre? I am a lot more competitive in the FPS genre than any other, as well. Perhaps playing this game makes me feel like I am, in some weird way, gaining control of a horrible experience. There are so many scenarios that may be true, and may not. I don't spend too much time contemplating it, until now, when I'm sleep deprived.

My question to you is:

What is your favorite genre of gaming?
Why do you feel this particular genre draws you to it more so than others?
Is there anything underlying you can possibly think of that may contribute to this?
What do you think your specific genre says about you?

I don't know that I will get any replies from this. Hopefully some of you can see something deeper in it. If finding deeper meaning in a color is possible, surely it is for a game. Happy thoughts.

Tags: fps, gaming, genre, personality

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TyphoidKitten on January 18, 2009 at 5:45pm: My favorite Genre is FPS and RPG (not MMO, unless you count Diablo)

FPS is just intense and RPG's usually have a good story and I like the feel of my character getting stronger as he/she lvls.

Not really.

I'm intense with a lot of depth and intelligence.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jaym on January 18, 2009 at 5:45pm: My favorite is the MMGS genre. I've played almost every single one since they came out (minus a few of the most recent ones, like Age of Conan and Warhammer.)

The reason I love the genre is simple. I feel there is a dirt simple formula for a great game: Massively long game play time, character customization and "improvement" (the "RPG" element), and the most important one: randomness. If a different thing happens each time I play a game, there's no reason to stop playing that game- it will always change! But if I know that monster X is going to jump out at me around the corner yet again... why bother? I saw it once.

The thing that's interesting to me is I would say I reach out to the MMGS genre as a means to be socially exposed- I miss having friends and that feeling of belonging to a group of like-minded others. The problem is, my play style doesn't mesh up with how other people play. If I'm in World of Warcraft, for instance, I will NOT let you give me even one copper piece. If you want to give me some incredible weapon, you have to wait until I can pay you the auction price for it- no shortcuts. This way I know everything on my character is made by me, or properly earned by me- I didn't bypass the spirit of the game design to get a leg up... something that ruins the game experience for many (which causes them to whine and complain, when the fault is theirs in the first place.) MMGSs fit all these to the ultimate degree- they never end, the customization is immense- and often changing, and random is the name of the game (to some degrees.)

With my unique play style, I therefore find it hard to group or guild, because people refuse to understand my philosophy. To them, it's a game with an end (which MMGSs don't have), and they are in SUCH a rush to get there (probably to complain about how bored they subsequently are.) I also have a pet peeve with abbreviations and net slang being used too much- I don't roleplay, but then again, I don't want the night elf I just sold a weapon to say "k thx" to me before leaving. It ruins my gaming experience, since it's not appropriate to the material within the product. How hard is it to type "Thank you. Safe journeys!" or even just "Thanks." Yeesh.

So what this says about me is something I already know- I have difficulty getting along with many others because of some intellectual barriers (on the other players' parts) and general shyness and my understanding of the true design spirit via which the game was intended to be enjoyed. Therefore I always join these games, push my way hard as a soloist, normally going "farther" than you are told you can solo, but it always becomes a point where the game design funnels into forced grouping, and that's when I normally fold, leaving myself where I always am- lonely and wishing I could find others of my ilk.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Errol on January 18, 2009 at 5:47pm: >What is your favorite genre of gaming?
I like Adventure games, Turn based games, RTS games, and RPG games.

> Why do you feel this particular genre draws you to it more so than others?
Adventure - solving puzzles, finding a story
TBS - strategy
RTS - strategy with consequences
RPG - level building addiction

>Is there anything underlying you can possibly think of that may contribute to this?
I was raised on video games.

>What do you think your specific genre says about you?
I'm a geek?

Sorry, that probably didn't go deep enough. But that may say something too. :D; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by tetete on January 18, 2009 at 5:50pm: Of course it is not because of the violence you like FPS.
It is because of it's realism.
It fell like you are there,
not someone else who you control
but you that you control yourself.

I know a good FPS that is not violent yet very good and fun = Portal.
It is one of my favorite game ever.

I am a Zelda, Metal gear and Metroid fan also.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matt DeFazio on January 18, 2009 at 5:58pm: My personal favorite are First-Person Shooters.

I enjoy this genre because it has an intensity and realism that can't be unmatched, that (usually) has unparelleled physics and a roaring game engine behind it.

In all honesty, i can't think of anything to make a good FPS better, especially the Call of Duty series.

And finally, I think that FPS genre says that you simply like an intense and enjoyable experience when you pick up a gamepad.

(Oh, and my favorite games are Halo 3, CoD: World at War, and Gears of War 2 (Even though GOW isn't technically an FPS.)); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Greg De Santis on January 18, 2009 at 6:44pm: My favorites are :

RPG (like Fallout - all of them, Diablo - all of them). I like RPG's because I can have an ever changing hero that affects the world and environment around the world / story. You get to do things that you can't do in real life.

Open world ( like Grand Theft Auto series and Saints Row series). I like open world games for the exploration factor along with finding multiple ways of accomplishing the tasks at hand. The methods of travel are diverse: planes, trains, motorcycles, cars, trucks, helicopters and boats. I cannot own most of these things in real life. I cannot pilot planes, helicopters in real life so this simulated fun is a riot to play.

First Person Shooters (like everyting from Doom to Quake to Call Of Duty to Crysis). Even though my military days are long over, and I am an avid Sci-Fi fan - being a fantasy space marine / super soldier is a fun type of hero in gaming that overcomes the most impossible odds. Plus it is a great stress reliever.

Survival Horror (like the Resident Evil series and Dead Rising). I have been a fan of the Survival Horror genre ever since the original movie airing of the "Night Of The Living Dead".

Racing (like Project Gotham Racing, Burnout Paradise and GRID). I like racing games, because I can't race in real life and they are fun and challenging.

I like all of these types of games for the adventure and challenge and the small sense that you accomplished something successfully (even though its only a game) and that fact that you can be the good guy /the hero and win at the same time - how rare is that when compared to real life?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by tetete on January 18, 2009 at 7:22pm: Fallout 3 is good.
I did not liked it in the beginning because I am on PC and I was using the mouse.
Some games are better played with a mouse, some better with a controller.

Now I play Fallout 3 with a controller and it is so much better.
It was mean to be played with a controller.

In the other hand, games like Portal was mean to be play with a mouse.
Games like Need for speed are mean to be played with a wheel and gas pedal.

Each game have their own way to control them.

Maybe the other reason why XXownXY like FPS games
is because most FPS games play better with the mouse.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Greg De Santis on January 18, 2009 at 8:02pm: Yea I know what you mean with Fallout 3, I have an Xbox 360 controller hooked up to my pc and the button layout follows the Xbox 360 it makes it much easier to control.

Portal is one of my favorites - it never gets old. I like it for the re-playability where you can experiment with different ways to beat each puzzle - just to see how creative you can get.

I am thankful for all of the different kinds of controllers available. I think I have a good controller for each type of game except for a good racing wheel / pedal combo. One of the ones I like that I did not mention is my Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick for my flight simulator games like the Descent Freespace 1 and 2 series and the World War 2 fighter simulators like IL2 Sturmovik series.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mateus Augusto Lopes on January 18, 2009 at 7:29pm: I prefer adventure, that's why installed Lego Indiana Jones here, good game.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Act X on January 18, 2009 at 8:12pm: Q:What is your favorite genre of gaming?
A:I don't have a preferred genre. I guess anything new-ish. I don't like adventure games I guess, like: Super Mario games or like Zac and Wiki. Puzzle stuff gets boring =P

Q:Why do you feel this particular genre draws you to it more so than others?
A:I like games that change, be it with a Dynamic Protagonist, or with an expanding community base. I like getting better, with levels or with skill. Puzzle games are like IQ tests, you don't really get better, you're either good, or you have a lot of time to waste.

Q:Is there anything underlying you can possibly think of that may contribute to this?
A:I like having fun playing games. Solving puzzles isn't really fun for me. I guess this could stem from puzzles being boring and me having OCADD (cwutidider).

Q:What do you think your specific genre says about you?
A:Impatient, lazy, unwilling to waste precious brain thinkings on game entertainment.

Yay.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by CozmoCon123 on January 18, 2009 at 8:35pm: I really like playing

RPG
Driving
FPS
and some sports and adventure every now and then

games can say many thing really but i really dont know wut; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben Williams (BenWmsOnline) on January 19, 2009 at 12:01am: Generally my favourite genre is FPS and a few RPG's.

I think I play the games I play because the majority are online multiplayer, meaning that I can meet new people and game with them. Also the fact that my first game, Star Wars Republic Commando, was a FPS so I think I just never turned back.

To my recollection it was my friend, William, that got me interested in gaming; he did then, and still does, game alot and I think I just became interested when I saw him - then I set about getting a better PC to play such games and here we are now; I game a lot.

I'm not too sure what it says about me; probably that I enjoy concentrating and achieving a goal and like having something to aim towards.

Thanks for making this post :); ▶ Reply to This