Genre analysis
Posted by Leroy on Oct 8, 2009 in Introduction into Entertainment Theories |
For this analysis I am taking a look at 3 games in the RPG genre (console based)
| Title | Basic | Formal | Experiential | Structural | Differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phantasy Star Online | Pre-set story lines and plots, Pre-set goals and quests, Fantasy/Anime/Fiction, social-oriented | Third person view, GUI: health, tp(mana), map, action menu. 360 degree movement, spacial and kinesthetic-based. subjectively immersed. Realtime | Predictable (due to planning objectives, player generally knows what to expect), Suspenseful (will, or won't you beat that timer/boss), reactive (can't pause the game, immediate response usually required), not really performative | incremental, highly linear and repetitive. channeled. character/quest orientated. | First online multiplayer rpg on any console, ever. Sci-Fi anime theme. |
| Monster Hunter | Pre-set story lines and plots, Pre-set goals and quests, Dino/Fantasy-themed | Third person view, GUI: Life, magic, action menu, health, map. 360 degree movement, spacial and kinesthetic-based. subjectively immersed. Realtime | Predictable, Suspenseful (will, or won't you beat that timer/boss), not reactive (can pause and think at any moment), performative(team-based online battles). not really performative | incremental, highly linear, character/quest oriented, repetitive | Slay huge dino-inspired monsters, then eat them, and use their remains to craft items. |
| Fat Princess | Pre-set story lines and plots, Pre-set goals, Cartoon-violence/humor themed | Third person view, GUI: hearts, score. Realtime. 360 degree movement, spacial and kinesthetic-based. subjectively immersed. Left right up down camera controls. | Unpredictable, performative (team-based online player versus player battles), Suspenseful (never know what will happen next), highly reactive (quick response required to defend/capture the princess) | incremental, storyline progression, objective-oriented, not linear, repetitive | Humor, blood, and cartoony with team fortress-like gameplay that mixes FPS game modes with RPG gameplay. |