Why are shooters so popular?

[Belated]

This thread is probably better suited to those who do like shooters. But if you don't like shooters, maybe you have a theory anyway.

Games like Grand Theft Auto, or Halo, or Call of Duty, or Gears of War, or Left 4 Dead. Why are they so popular? Now I'm not saying this is a bad thing. I actually love shooters. But I'm just asking, why?

Personally, I think it has to do with that primal urge to kill. Somebody suggested to me that those who enjoy these games for the murder is probably a danger to society. But why else would one enjoy these games? I think that's precisely the case. It's that animal instinct to dominate other life forms in the field of battle. Especially members of our own species. But I wouldn't say it's a dangerous desire. I think most of us have it in us because it's something that animals do a lot. Fighting each other.

Or maybe it's for the score. Maybe we enjoy the games not because we're killing, but because of the feeling of accomplishment that comes from winning, or trying to win, or killing in a really epic and impressive way, or gaining something like new weapons or prestige. Considering there are some games that are total timesinks like WoW or Runescape or Monster Hunter Tri or Minecraft, that people love to play anyway. The sense of accomplishment theory would explain why people like THOSE games. So maybe it explains why people like shooters too.

What do you think it is that makes shooters so popular? Why do we generally like them so much?

 

[nukethetuna]

Because you can't shoot people en masse in real life without:
A. Putting yourself in danger (joining the military, a lot of work)
B. Risking ruining your entire life (jail?)
C. Possibly killing someone (which isn't pleasant for the average person's psyche)
So why not do it in a (increasingly realistic) virtual setting with no drawbacks, and have fun to boot?

At least that's what I ASSUME.

 

[Astoria]

I think it's a combination of the primal instinct to kill and the sense of acomplishment. I personally am not a huge fan of them but I can see some are. That and those types of games are fun to play with friends so they sort of cover everything.

 

[DaHero]

Because teenagers have to flaunt their E-Peen to overcompensate, and no-scoping someone then pretending to rape their corpse while screaming about their mother just seems to be the only way it can be done.

 

[Matt225distraction]

In contrast to my previous, relatively well-constructed post in a different thread, allow me to state my opinion.

*Boom* Tee-hee. *Squish* I presses dem buttonz and my gun goes 'bangbang' and the bad guys all fall down!

So yes, primal urge to kill- but I think nukethetuna nailed it. Half-Life alone has prolonged the inevitable school/workplace shooting I shall commence by 10 years, which would have been rather unpleasant.

(although it might have improved my skills in violent behavior, though... toss grenade, pull out machine gun, shoot at the masses, run back, fire alternate, hide, toss out some exploding alien ant thingies... very horribly realistic- the game industry alone is making me a violent teen. Really, I'm too lazy; not fat yet, just lazy.

 

[The Bandit]

People over-analyzing things that don't need to be analyzed.

Shooters are popular because they're fun. There's no discernible difference between played Peggle or Halo: Reach. You play them because you enjoy playing them. I don't play Mario Tennis because I fucking love tennis, I play it because it's fun. And I don't play a shooter because I have some subconscious desire to maim my fellow man. I play it because it's fun.

 

[Matt225distraction]

Then again, yes. It's just fun.

 

[kickyourass]

Because you can't shoot people en masse in real life without:
A. Putting yourself in danger (joining the military, a lot of work)
B. Risking ruining your entire life (jail?)
C. Possibly killing someone (which isn't pleasant for the average person's psyche)
So why not do it in a (increasingly realistic) virtual setting with no drawbacks, and have fun to boot?

At least that's what I ASSUME.

Is there really anything else to say?

 

[EternalFacepalm]

To Call of Duty, it's always said to me "okay, if you play constantly from launch day so you'll have a high level, you can kill everything without trying because you have better weapons", thus making people feel accomplished. Somehow.
And yes, I do hate the CoD-franchise, it's a heap of shit.

 

[MattyDienhoff]

I like first and third person shooters because they can be very immersive. I enjoy combat in these games not because I want to kill things, specifically (that's a means to an end), but because I enjoy the fight itself. I enjoy finding myself in a difficult, dangerous situation and fighting my way out of it in a skilled and effective way. It's satisfying.

But shooters aren't just about combat (not all of them, anyway), I also enjoy the more passive elements.. I enjoy exploring the game world and observing action as much as participating in it. This is why I like story-driven single player or cooperative shooters, and especially FPS/RPG hybrids. The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series of games, for instance, which are first person shooters with some RPG elements. In Stalker the combat is in-depth and enjoyable but that's far from the sole focus of the game. You also spend a lot of time exploring, creeping through dangerous areas trying to avoid anomalies and mutants, seeking artifacts to sell for profit, managing your equipment, talking to characters and doing jobs for them... I enjoy all of that, and the fact that you're not constantly fighting makes the times when you are all the more intense.

In light of all the above, I don't really enjoy multiplayer FPSes (unless it's very strongly team based, because I enjoy cooperating), because most multiplayer shooters omit all of those other elements and just have combat, combat and more combat, and I find that monotonous no matter how good the combat is.

 

[DaHero]

To Call of Duty, it's always said to me "okay, if you play constantly from launch day so you'll have a high level, you can kill everything without trying because you have better weapons", thus making people feel accomplished. Somehow.
And yes, I do hate the CoD-franchise, it's a heap of shit.

Someone who shares my sentiments...*looks for aerial pork*

 

[General_Potatoes]

I wouldn't call GTA a shooter cause there's also other elements to them besides just shooting. Nothing really to learn.

But isn't that the only thing that people do because GTA is so freaking boring?

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

People over-analyzing things that don't need to be analyzed.

Shooters are popular because they're fun. There's no discernible difference between played Peggle or Halo: Reach. You play them because you enjoy playing them. I don't play Mario Tennis because I fucking love tennis, I play it because it's fun. And I don't play a shooter because I have some subconscious desire to maim my fellow man. I play it because it's fun.

I think it's a given that they are "fun", what the OP is wondering is the "why" they are fun. But I think you are onto something - because just the fact that you shoot in a game doesn't automatically make it fun. There are some games where you shoot people which are unsuccessful or just plain boring, next to the mountain of FPS's being the most popular genre today I think.

For me though, it's more an obsession with guns and the tactics involved in using them; their destructive power/force, their ability to put lead so quickly so far and so accurate. So games that have guns feeling just right are winners for me, bit of recoil, nice kick in the sound and muzzle flash, even the little things like reloading animations and flying brass clinking on the floor. Despite all that though, I'm a very pacifist non-violent guy, believe it or not.

 

[JET1971]

I couldnt tell you why they are so popular, I myself cut my teeth on them back in the 90's with quake where i did the mindless spray and pray noob tube thing. did it until Delta Force 1 came out then i played SP, and COOP for many years. now I cant stand playing multiplayer where everyone is bunnyhoping and noob tubing.I can give it back so much more than most will believe it just i cant be arsed to do so since I get no enjoyment out of it. but I think many of them prefer or gravitate to the multiplayer FPS genre is stats. espcialy K/D ratio. take a look at forums that are about FPS games and stats are highly prominant. what other genre has such simpleton stats and such simple as 1 stat is the end all end of uberleet as Kill to death ratio?

I say just be happy them assholes are busy playing COD rather than messing up what you are playing. they understand teamwork as well as a fish understands kites, and they realy dont get sportmanship. I did try arguing that one with a bunch of them, I didnt fail but rather gave up.