In the world of video and computer games there is a field of study known as game theory. The object of game theory is to attempt to understand games as their own unique form of entertainment, similar to the way that critics and audiences seek to understand film or music. This is a new and still developing field that has its roots in board and card games, so many of the ideas being put forth today will be fine tuned over the years until there comes to be a general global agreement on how to view video games. The classification of games in a system similar to taxonomy in science helps us understand more than ‘what they are about’ by defining what kind of gaming experience they provide.
Cooperative vs Non-Cooperative – This is a very obvious and easy to understand classification for games because they are simply either a game where players work together or one in which they do not. Even cooperative games can have elements of competition within them such as players being able to form and dissolve alliances within the span of play. Games that involve both of these forms of play are sometimes called hybrid games. The ever more popular online games involving multiple players are especially prone to being classified in this way.
Simulation – In these types of games there is an attempt to reproduce reality in varying levels of detail. Simulation games whether for consoles or computers are attempts at letting the player or players experience a virtually simulated reality. Instead of relying on drama or creating an entirely fictional set of rules, these games will often pull in real world economics, physics or other aspects that exist outside the game itself to offer players a point of reference that they can use when strategizing to win.
Non Zero Sum vs Zero Sum – This is a classification for games that goes back to the very earliest forms of games. The idea here is that if players are able to increase the resources available to them while playing the game, such as by growing things in the game world or taking things from other players or characters, then the game is a non zero sum game. If the players all have the same exact resources within the game, such as in chess, then the game is a zero sum game because there is zero benefit to any of the players no matter what strategy they use to try to win. Many games based on board or card games of old are zero sum type games.
Drama – Games such as adventure games or similar types of titles incorporate a level of play that extends beyond the basics of strategizing to win in a mathematical type way. In drama or narrative focused games, players still often strategize, but the focus is on the story rather than on the act of trying to gain odds over the other players or a computer opponent. These types of games have become increasingly more popular as technology has expanded to allow for further development in sound and graphics to create more film like stories. Role playing games are a prime example of a game that emphasizes story and narrative.
Of course, as strong as these classifications are today, there are many games which fall under multiple classifications as the medium tends to involve a range of separate types of play in any give game with the complexity today’s technology allows for.
