Shooter Genre Distinction

[kommando367]

I prefer to classify shooters by gameplay elements rather than settings.

RPS - action-RPGs that focus on shooting
EX: Borderlands, Mass Effect 2

Tactical Shooter - lots of tactical shooting I guess. I'm not very familiar with this one.
EX: ARMA and SOCOM

Plaform shooter- shooting and platforming
EX: Mirror's edge, Infamous, Ratchet and Clank

Stealth shooter - shootin' and sneakin'
EX: MGS4, SC: Conviction

Action shooter - pretty much every shooter that doesn't fit into the above sub-genres.

 

[confluxfighter]

The term does not need to perfectly fit what it describes. For example, Persona 4, despite being developed in Japan, has several elements of a Western RPG.

I like the term 'tactical shooter' for the genre, even if there isn't much, or any, tactics in it.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I thought the entire reason for the term "spunkgargleweewee" was that "realistic" was a complete misnomer for the genre, given that they seem to involve as a rule regenerating health, RPG elements, tactical aerial strikes, ridiculously characterized 'terrorists', and other nonsense that is the staple of NRA fan-fiction.

It was to make a joke, and see if the fans would latch onto it or not.
"Forced Meme-ification"

I'd offer the term "Clancy-Shooter" but ironically, the oldest Tom Clancy-esque shooters actually were more realistic than their competitors. However most of the books fetishize military hardware and procedure, much like a Michael Bay film and the general tone of each of those games is EXTREMELY Clancy-esque.

 

[Lugbzurg]

I've heard the term "Corridor shooter" used a lot, particularity in reference to Doom.

Corridor shooters is a good name for the COD like games because they're constantly funneling you from one corridor to the next. No room for exploration, trying out different tactics, flanking...Just basically shoot the respawning enemies as they appear on your way to the next set piece/scripted event.

But Doom's maze like levels would definitely not fit into the corridor shooter genre. The pic on the right would be the corridor shooter.

Ahh, I've seen that picture, before. But Doom is undoubtedly a corridor shooter. the exploration isn't the deciding factor. It's the fact that you're often going through narrow passages, be they linear or not.

 

[TheSteeleStrap]

I think we should use Modern Military Shooter (MMS) for those shooters.

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

Also the term "Spunkgargleweewee" is one of the stupidest terms I've ever heard used. Its slightly annoying when Yahtzee uses the term, but I expect that sort of dickery from him, its just in his character. But when so many people just copy him and use the term, its really annoying, and sounds super damn immature, even worse than the 12 year old kiddies who play those games

I rather like it. Nearly every other genre of video game has some carry-over with other genres of pop-culture with a mocking baggage to keep it grounded. People who get too into fantasy RPGs have all the jokes that were ever made about D&D fans over the years. Sci-fi games have every Star Trek/Star Wars joke to remind them not to take themselves too seriously. Simulation games practically make the joke themselves, as do dating sims, visual novels, etc. Sports games don't really have much baggage, but I've never encountered a rabid sports game fan- I suspect the genre insulates itself nicely from the rest of gaming society. But the so-called "realistic" shooters don't have any baggage to take the piss out of them, and I kind of think they should. Something to remind them not to take their hobby too seriously. That in the end it's not much more than playing "Cowboys and Indians".

Modern Shooters have the whole "12 year old" stereotype, and the belief that they're full of assholes and the worst kind of gamers. Many "serious" (I use that term lightly) constantly insult people who enjoy Modern Shooters, and frequently claim that they arent "real" gamers and that they're a blight on the industry.

Modern Shooters get enough crap as it is

 

[confluxfighter]

The term does not need to perfectly fit what it describes. For example, Persona 4, despite being developed in Japan, has several elements of a Western RPG.

I like the term 'tactical shooter' for the genre, even if there isn't much, or any, tactics in it.

Especially since JRPG and WRPG aren't really subgenres as they signify nothing but geographic location of creation.
Which is stupid.

The true RPG subgenres are:

CRPG (Classic, turn-based - eg. Final Fantasy VII, Dragon Quest)
SRPG or TRPG (Strategy or Tactical - eg. FF:Tactics, Valkyria Chronicles, Disgaea)
ARPG (Action - eg. Mass Effect, Dark Souls, Dragon's Dogma)
MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online eg. World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2, Everquest)
Hack n' Slash {could be merged with ARPG but some insist it is different} (eg. Diablo, Sacred, Dungeon Siege 3, Champions of Norrath)
Dungeon Crawler (eg - Wizardry, Class of Heroes, Etrian Odyssey, Persona 3)
Roguelike (eg. Rogue)

OP: I don't play enough shooters to tell you the difference. Except for camera (Third or first) I really don't see much difference between them. For me one FPS looks almost identical to almost any other. I guess I can see a difference if its modern or futuristic. But beyond that - they look to me like identical games.

Your mileage may vary considerably though.

Dude, you don't need to bring this up. I'm an RPG vet, alright? The difference is NOT geographical location. Go watch the Extra Credits video to see what I mean. Anyway, back to the shooter.


As the guy right above me said, we don't need to degrade a genre. Spunkgargleweewee, yeah, that's a term you can use in conversation without seeming to be the gigantic asshole that Yahtzee is when he reviews games. You know he is, just admit it. He admits to it! Move on!

So when we want to talk about modern/tactical/realistic shooters, we... hey, how about MTR? MTR shooters and old school shooters?