The Breakdown
Because it’s impossible to address every single game individually, I have decided to group some of the most popular genres into categories. These categories were primarily based on how similarly I believe they perform in a projector environment. Keep in mind, this is simply a “guide”. Some games may fit in between or into multiple categories or into
none at all.
- First Person Shooters (FPS) – As you could probably guess from the name, these games are “shooters” played from the “first person” perspective. They require the fastest reaction times, quickest panning speeds and pin point accuracy. They are also currently the pinnacle of competitive gaming in the MLG (Yes, Major League of Gaming). Thousands of gamers compete in cash tournaments both online and in tournaments across the country. Most professional FPS players will gladly sacrifice picture quality to ensure good vision in dark areas or quicker response times.Ex) Halo, Call of Duty, Unreal Tournament, Half-Life, Rainbow Six 3
- Old School and Puzzle Games – It is pretty obvious that 8, 16 and even 64 bit graphics systems (N64) were not built with HD projectors in mind. It is interesting, and sometimes humorous to watch how they perform on large, high resolution screens. Puzzle games and strategy games are usually slower paced and don’t require much in terms of graphics, which is why I grouped these three together.Ex) Super Mario Bros, Chrono Trigger, PixelJunk Monsters, Echochrome, Braid
- Role Playing Games (RPG)– Games in this categories are played as if you are living the life of someone else in either the 3rd or 1st person. They are often the most impressive and graphically detailed games and very focused on story line. Many RPGs are more comparable to watching a movie than playing a video game. I also tend to lump 3rd person shooters into this category, as they are usually very similar in pace, camera angle and graphics quality.Ex) Legend of Zelda, Elder Scrolls, Resident Evil, Fable, Mass Effect
- Racing Games – The games in this genre are pretty self explanatory. Though there are huge differences between realistic driving simulations like Gran Turismo and party favorites like Mario Kart, they are relatively the same. Start when the light turns green and get to the finish line first.Ex) Mario Kart, Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport, Burnout
- Real Time Strategy Games –These games are made for true “generals”. Imagine 8 player chess, each player with 100 pieces and everyone making moves simultaneously. I believe these games require the most “skill” of any of the video game genres. The amount of mental strategy and controller (usually keyboard) skills you need to be good at these games far exceeds other genres. (Please watch this...)Ex) – StarCraft, Age of Empires, Command & Conquer
- Motion Control Games – Made popular by the Wii, these types of games require the most physical interaction. They are great party games and are fun for all ages and all skill levels. However, these can often be the toughest to accommodate in a projector setup if you don’t plan ahead or are limited by space.Ex) Wii Sports, Wii Fit, XBOX Kinect, Playstation Move
