Editing Shooter video games

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'''Shooter video games''' are a sub-genre of [[action video games]], which often test the player's speed and reaction time. It includes many sub-genres that have the commonality of focusing "on the actions of the avatar using some sort of weapon. Usually this weapon is a [[gun]], or some other long-range weapon". A common resource found in many shooter games is ammunition. Most commonly, the purpose of a shooter game is to shoot opponents and proceed through missions without the [[player character]] dying.

==Characteristics of shooters==
There are many criteria to determine the type of shooter; listed below are some of the major divisions. Using the following, it is possible to categorize almost all shooters developed.

===Perspective===
The player usually views the events from behind the eyes of the character (a [[first-person shooter video games|first-person shooter]]) or from a camera that follows the character, usually a few feet behind (a [[third-person shooter video games|third-person shooter]]). It is also possible for a game to have a fixed camera, especially shooting gallery games and some 2D overhead shooters such as ''[[Robotron: 2084]]''.

===Realism===
Games that attempt to emulate lifelike ballistics and character damage include [[tactical shooter video games]]. But many shooter games involve varying levels of realism, with some verging on complete fantasy.

===Number of characters===
While most shooters are played as '''solo''' ventures, several offer the players the opportunity to control a '''squad''' of characters, usually directly controlling one, and giving orders to computer-controlled allies. Games which feature [[non-player character]]s fighting alongside the player, but which are not directly controllable (either by switching player control, or issuing orders to the character) are not considered [[Man-to-man wargame video games|squad-based game]].

===Multi-player===
If a shooter game is available online, there are several other sharp divisions it can take. '''Team''' games are where players are assigned to one of two (sometimes more, but very infrequently) factions which are competing for some goal. '''Co-Op''' games have several players on the same faction playing through either the single player or custom missions against computer-simulated enemies. '''Individual''' (often called ''[[Deathmatch]]'') has all players competing with each other. Many times a game will offer differing modes which allow players to choose from among these various types.

===Focus===
This is often an optional way to categorize a shooter, but in some cases it's needed to help distinguish it. A game may quite often heavily rely on [[Stealth action video games|stealth]] as opposed to direct [[action]]. Others might have large [[survival horror video games|horror]] elements to them. However, the one thing in common with all shooters is that combat with a gun or similar long range/projectile weapon is the primary focus of gameplay itself.

==Sub-genres==
===Shoot 'em up===
{{Main|Shoot 'em up video games}}
{{See also|Rail shooter video games|Run & gun video games|Side-scrolling shooter video games}}

'''[[Shoot 'em up video games]]''' are a specific sub-genre of shooters, wherein the player has limited control over their movement; if done with [[2D]] gameplay, as in ''[[Ikaruga]]'', this means that a moving background continually pushes the player forward, though they may move up and down and left and right around the screen, typically firing straight forward.

Shoot 'em ups share common gameplay, but are often categorized by viewpoint. This includes '''fixed shooters''' on fixed screens, '''[[Side-scrolling shooter video games|side-scrolling shooters]]''' that mainly scroll in a single direction, '''top-down shooters''' where the levels are controlled from an [[Top-down perspective|overhead]] viewpoint, '''[[rail shooter]]s''' where player movement is automatically guided down a fixed [[2.5D|forward-scrolling]] "rail", and '''isometric shooters''' which use an [[Isometric|isometric]] perspective. This genre also includes "'''[[Run and Gun|run and gun]]'''" games which emphasize greater manoeuvring or even [[Platform game|jumping]].<ref>Provo, Frank, [http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/action/bloodywolf/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review Bloody Wolf], ''GameSpot'', July 7, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2008.</ref><ref>Dunham, Jeremy, [http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/533/533263p1.html First Look: Alien Hominid], ''IGN'', July 27, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2008.</ref>

The sub-genre includes fixed shooters such as ''[[Space Invaders]]'' and ''[[Galaxian]]'', scrolling shooters such as ''[[Xevious]]'' and ''[[Darius (series)|Darius]]'', top-down shooters such as ''[[Bosconian]]'' and ''[[Time Pilot]]'', [[rail shooter]]s such as ''[[Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom]]'' and ''[[Space Harrier]]'', isometric shooters such as ''[[Zaxxon]]'' and ''[[Viewpoint (video game)|Viewpoint]]'', and run & gun games such as ''[[Thexder]]'', ''[[Contra series|Contra]]'', and ''[[Metal Slug]]''.

=== Top-Down/Isometric Shooter ===
Similar to many early arcade games, this style was simplistic and originated from spaceship shooters, but slowly created a new style. Sometimes auto-scrolling, open-ended levels, sometimes in a maze, this sub-genre is usually presented in an overhead, isometric or top-down perspective and differs itself from others due to its multi-directional shooting controls, the idea of a character moving in a solid plane generates different movement controls than most Shoot'em ups and the level itself usually has more emphasis in the way the player traverses throw it. Earlier examples of this sub-genre are ''[[Alien Syndrome]]'', ''[[Ikari Warriors]]'', ''[[Smash TV]]'', ''[[Space Dungeon]]'', ''[[SAR: Search And Rescue]]'', ''[[Robotron: 2084]]'', ''[[Total Carnage]]'', ''[[Loaded]]''.

These games in the 90s PC market had the advantage of mouse and keyboard controls while the new dual joystick controls in the 5th and 6th gen consoles started a new trend so-called "dual joystick shooters" all taking advantage of the newly established technology to move and aim at the same time. Examples include ''[[Cannon Spike]], [[The Red Star]], [[Assault Android Cactus]], [[Helldivers]], [[Halo: Spartan Assault]], [[Alien Breed]], [[Renegade Ops]]''.

===Shooting gallery===
'''Shooting gallery video games''' are often interchangeable with [[light gun]] games, although many can also be played using a regular [[Gamepad|joypad]] and an on-screen cursor to signify where the bullets are being aimed. When these debuted, they were typically played from a [[first-person]] perspective, with enemy fire that occurred anywhere on the screen damaging or killing the player. As they evolved away from the use of light guns, the player came to be represented by an on-screen avatar, usually someone on the bottom of the screen, who could move and avoid enemy attacks while returning fire. These sorts of shooters almost always utilize horizontal scrolling to the right to indicate level progression, with enemies appearing in waves from predestined locations in the background or from the sides. One of the earliest examples is the 1985 arcade game ''[[Shootout]]'' produced by Data East.

A specific sub-genre of this type of game is the '''Cabal shooter''', started by none other than ''[[Cabal]]'', in which the player controls an on-screen avatar that can run and often jump around the screen in addition to being able to aim their gun. Other games in this sub-genre include ''[[Blood Bros.]]'', ''[[Dynamite Duke]]'', ''[[NAM-1975]]'', ''[[Wild Guns]]'', and ''[[Sin and Punishment]]''.

As light gun games became more prevalent and started to make use of fully 3D backgrounds, such as the ''[[Time Crisis]]'' or [[The House of the Dead (series)|''House of the Dead'' series]] series, these sorts of games fell out of popular production, but many like ''[[Blood Bros.]]'' still have their fanbase today. Other notable games of this category include ''[[Operation Wolf]]'' and ''[[Laser Invasion]]''.

===Light gun shooter===
{{Main|Light gun shooter video games}}
{{See also|Rail shooter video games}}

'''[[Light gun shooter video games|Light gun shooters]]''' use a [[game controller|control device]] for [[arcade game|arcade]] and [[video game console|video games]], or a pointing device for [[computer]]s. Early mechanical light gun games used small targets (usually moving) onto which a light-sensing tube was mounted; the player used a gun (usually a rifle) that emitted a beam of light when the trigger was pulled. If the beam struck the target, a "hit" was scored. Modern screen-based light guns work on the opposite principle—the sensor is built into the gun itself, and the on-screen target(s) emit light rather than the gun. Like [[rail shooter video games]], movement is typically limited in light-gun games.

Notable games of this category include the 1974 and 1984 versions of ''[[Wild Gunman]]'', ''[[Duck Hunt]]'' for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], the ''[[Virtua Cop]]'' series, ''[[Time Crisis]]'' series, ''[[House of the Dead]]'' series, and ''[[Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles]]'' & ''[[Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles|Darkside Chronicles]]''.  
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===First-person shooters===
{{Main|First-person shooter video games}}
{{See also|Light gun shooter video games|Rail shooter video games}}

'''[[First-person shooter video games]]''' are characterized by an on-screen view that simulates the in-game character's point of view. While many rail shooters and light-gun shooters also use a [[first-person]] perspective, they are generally not included in this category.

Notable examples of the genre include ''[[DOOM]]'', ''[[Quake]]'', ''[[Half-Life]]'', ''[[Counter-Strike]]'', ''[[GoldenEye 007]]'', ''[[Battlefield]]'', [[Medal of Honor (series)|''Medal of Honor'' series]], ''[[Unreal]]'', ''[[Call of Duty]]'', ''[[Killzone]]'', ''[[Timesplitters]]'' and ''[[Halo (series)|Halo]]''.<ref>Bryant, Carlton, [http://gamesshooting.net Shooting Games], ''GamesShooting'', January 7, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2012.</ref>

===Third-person shooters===
{{Main|Third-person shooter video games}}

'''[[Third-person shooter]]s''' are characterized by a [[third-person]] camera view that fully displays the player character in his/her surroundings. Notable examples of the genre include the ''[[WinBack]]'' series, ''[[Jet Force Gemini]]'', ''[[Max Payne]]'', ''[[Kill Switch (video game)|Kill Switch]]'', ''[[Star Wars Battlefront]]'', ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'' and ''[[Resident Evil 5]]'', the ''[[Metal Gear series|Metal Gear Solid]]'' series, ''[[Gears of War]]'' series, and ''[[Vanquish]]''.

===Tactical shooters===
'''[[Tactical shooter video games]]''' are shooters that generally simulates realistic, squad-based or [[Man-to-man wargame|man-to-man]] skirmishes. Notable examples of the genre include [[Ubisoft]]'s ''[[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six]]'' and ''[[Ghost Recon]]'' series and Bohemia Software's ''[[Operation Flashpoint]]''.

Additionally, [[artillery game]]s have been described as a type of "shooting game",<ref name=armchair>{{Cite web | last =Barton | first =Matt | title =Scorched Parabolas: A History of the Artillery Game | publisher =[[Armchair Arcade]] | url =http://www.armchairarcade.com/aamain/content.php?article.51 | accessdate =2007-11-25  }}</ref> though they are more frequently classified as a type of [[Strategy game|strategy game]].

==Controversy==
Shooter games have been accused of glorifying and promoting violence and several games have been the cause of notable [[video game controversies]]. After school shootings in Erfurt, Emsdetten and Winnenden, German conservative politicians accused violent shooter games, most notably ''[[Counter Strike]]'', to incite young gamers to run amok.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2007/02/72619 | work=Wired | title=German Past Haunts Gamers' Future | date=February 5, 2007}}</ref> Several attempts were made to banish the so termed "Killerspiele" (killing games) in Germany and the European Union.<ref>http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2006/12/8433.ars</ref><ref>http://www.infoworld.com/d/security-central/germany-seeks-common-eu-rules-violent-video-games-933</ref> Shooter games were further criticised when the Nirwegian terrorist Anders Breivik claimed he used a ''[[Call of Duty series|Call of Duty]]'' game to gain target acquisition.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/19/anders-breivik-call-of-duty Anders Breivik 'trained' for shooting attacks by playing Call of Duty] retrieved 3 May 2012</ref>

==Roots of Shooters==
The following diagram traces the roots and influences of several [[shooter]] sub-genres:

[[File:FPS.png|thumb|800px]]
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Genres}}
[[Category:Genres]]