Video games are interactive entertainment.
A video game is an entertainment-oriented interactive application that, through certain commands or controls, allows you to simulate experiences on the screen of a television , a computer or other electronic device.
Video games differ from other forms of entertainment, such as movies, in that they must be interactive; In other words, users must actively engage with the content. To do this, it is necessary to use a controller (also known as a gamepad or joystick ), through which orders are sent to the main device (a computer or a specialized console) and these are reflected on a screen with the movement and actions of the controllers. characters.
Arcades and video game consoles
Machines created specifically to host video games are known as arcades . Until a few years ago, it was possible to find them in many leisure establishments. With the advancement of technology , video games became more common on video game consoles (a device that connects to the television) and on computers.
For this reason, the concept of video game is used to refer to any interactive digital game, regardless of its physical support.
Types of video game
Video games can be very different from each other, both in complexity, graphic quality and theme. As with film and music, there is a long and complex list of genres and subgenres, and the classification of the same title can vary depending on who analyzes it.
Video game consoles are video games for home use.
Let's look at some of the main genres below:
* platforms : this is an experience that revolves around physical challenges, which require a high level of precision from players to advance through complex structures, generally facing various enemies. The platform game par excellence is Super Mario Bros. , developed and published by Nintendo in 1985; Its design, direction and production were carried out by Shigeru Miyamoto , an eminence in the world of video games;
* shooter : a broad genre, to which both some war and spaceship titles belong. Its name in English is shooters and, although it refers to the action of shooting, it should not necessarily be a firearm, since any game that focuses the progress of the main character on the use of some power that is fired towards the Enemies, whether in the form of a projectile or a beam (among many other possibilities), can fall into this category;
* adventure games : these are games in which the story is the protagonist. They must be built based on a rich narrative, which gradually traps the player in the virtual world, and conveys the need to solve a series of mysteries. They generally contain a wide variety of elements that are essential to progress, and these are usually found in the scenario itself, which invites constant exploration;
* role-playing games : they are often confused with adventure games but, unlike the latter, their focus is on the characters and their evolution throughout the story. This genre is especially popular in Japan, although there are many role- playing communities in all parts of the world. One of its main characteristics is the use of the term level to refer to the degree of experience of its protagonists and not to the different worlds and scenarios that they must go through;
* sports : although its name seems to say it all, there is a very thin line between this genre and simulation . These two, in turn, are related to the action genre; It all depends on the degree of realism of the experience and the type of interaction expected from the player, among other factors. A sports game faithfully reflects the rules of the original discipline, but not at millimeter levels, but rather uses certain licenses, such as time moving faster than in reality.
Debate on the social role
The social role of video games is often under discussion. Initially they were considered entertainment for children and adolescents, but the age range has expanded considerably in recent years.
Very often video games are seen as a waste of time and a source of distraction, especially by people who have never tried them; On the other hand, many experts highlight its educational and pedagogical values .