Types of Board Games
A game is a structured type of activity, normally undertaken as entertainment or recreation, and at times used as an instructional tool. Games are different from work, which is typically performed for profit, and from literature, that is more often a form of personal or aesthetic expression. In most cases, the object of the game is to achieve some objective, although not necessarily to pass any level of achievement. In contrast with literature, video games do not usually aim to provide messages or insights, but are usually interactive in nature, and therefore the content is directed toward providing amusement. Game players can become immersed in the activities and storyline, so much so that other players may find the player’s experience almost magical, especially if such an occurrence as a message board or chat function is available to communicate the game to other players.
The content of real world games is almost always limited to a single locale or population, whereas most video games take up a considerable number of time, effort, memory, and energy to manipulate the environment according to the developers’ will. For example, a virtual environment consists of a game platform, various game types, multiplayer modes, special functions, graphics, music, special effects, control schemes, etc. Most people are familiar with the majority of the popular real world games, such as Mario, Zelda, Pac-Man, Super Mario, etc., and recognize the basic structures of most games. However, many new games are being developed each day. The following categories are considered to be real world games:
Board Games: There are virtually unlimited possibilities when it comes to the kinds of board games that can be played, both in terms of difficulty and rules. In a lot of board games, such as Monopoly, Clue, etc., there are multiple levels of advancement depending on how quickly the player can acquire more property, cards, etc. In these real world games, players often compete against each other and only one player acts the same way repeatedly. There are also different board games that have the real atmosphere of a particular era or setting. Examples include Chess and Risk.
Card Games: Video games, such as Texas Holdem and Solitaire, require players to discard cards before they draw new cards. This rule-based strategy game requires the player to carefully consider the amount of time it will take to get their hands on a particular card type, such as a Jackpot. Many players enjoy the experience of playing a strictly rule-based board game over a video game that involves random chance. Video games often include characters that are drawn from a wide variety of comic book and movie characters, as well as icons from a wide range of popular computer applications. Video games that involve character growth, such as Pokemon, allow the player to influence the characters generated by the computer program. However, many video games are now coming up that feature non-player characters, such as Nintendo’s Mario and Sonic games.
Strategy Games: Often considered to be one of the most popular types of board game, strategy games require players to carefully think about how to conquer a particular game space. Often the more complex the game, the more complex the strategies that must be employed. For example, a popular strategy game, Settlers of Canaan, requires players to build an economic society in the midst of an ancient desert. Players must carefully manage resources, while trying not to waste precious water sources.
Role-Playing Games: Many people enjoy playing a role-playing game that features a single character, interacting with a group of other characters. These games often involve exploring the environment and finding out more about a particular character. Often, these games are played according to a specific theme, such as a fantasy role-playing game or a political thriller. However, some people also enjoy role-playing games that are played according to a personal narrative, such as those written by Charles Dickens.