For the Love of First-Person Shooters

 If I asked you what your favorite video game is, would you know what kind of genre it belongs to? In the world of video games, companies and video game publishers produce many and different kinds of games. Fans would often associate the genre based on the mechanics or its looks. This is what gives variety to video games — the experience is kind of like going into a library or bookstore if you think about it.

One particular genre that people like is the First-Person Shooter or FPS for short (not to be confused with ‘frames per second’). You may or may not be familiar with it, but if you’ve heard about or have played Call of Duty, then you would know what I mean. Its the game style that puts you in the shoes of the character as you traverse the game world to clear its objectives, to give it some better perspective.

Now the main question we have to concern ourselves with is, “why are they fun?”

Typically, the genre tries to immerse the player into the game by means of using the first-person perspective, hence where the genre got its name. Performing tasks, completing missions while only viewing your “hands and equipment” on screen can make the player feel as if they are a part of the game (the character or game avatar’s face is almost always never seen). This immersion of the player definitely seems to be a factor of why these games are fun. If you’ve ever had to answer this question, “Did my body try and move to dodge my enemies’ bullets the last time I played an FPS?”, then you’re on the right track.

But that still does not give a definitive answer as to why they are enjoyed.

To better understand and answer the question would take a long time; it is a universal fact that people have their own opinions especially when it comes to something as subjective as liking a video game genre. For this, we must take a look at two modern FPS games as well as ask ourselves if we are casual gamers or hardcore gamers.

First up, let us look into the debate that has gamers firing shots at each other (mostly in game), the whole “Call of Duty versus Battlefield” argument.

Right off the bat, both games have their strengths and weaknesses. Both are very popular amongst gamers with either game having hordes of fans on the front lines, controller in hand. However, that is where the similarities end. At one point, someone probably called out Call of Duty as the better game and a Battlefield fan fired back. Fans would probably say that Call of Duty is better because it fast-paced and exhilarating while others would say that Battlefield’s more tactical approach is far more realistic. Other arguments might include sales or how many games they can come out within in a given time frame (usually in a few years). Either case, this argument can go on and on until the end of time.

However, that does not mean that these games are not fun. Again, people are entitled to their own opinions. If one person likes Call of Duty or another prefers Battlefield, that does not mean that these games are bad. If one doesn’t like either, maybe Counterstrike or Minecraft (its still a First-Person perspective game) is more their style. When a game is truly bad, it is hated by all; something that these games are not.

Now that we have an idea of what the world of FPS can be like, let us ask ourselves, what is it we are looking for in a game? Are we casuals or hardcore gamers?

To put it simply, do we play for fun or do we play “for sport?”

If you are a casual gamer, either game is good for you. Actually, the whole genre is for you. As a casual, you have no exact preference and you are definitely just playing for the fun of it all. Although sometimes you may feel more connected to a certain game, it is the fact that you are a casual that makes any game from the genre (like those mentioned above) something that you would enjoy. Now, if you are a hardcore gamer, choosing one over the other may definitely be a difficult task. Simply asking “is fast-paced your style or are you slow and strategic?” can sometimes not be enough. Often times, things such as graphics or technical details flow into the mix of the games’ pros and cons. However, whichever class of gamer you consider yourself to be in, it is undeniable that you do find enjoyment in playing an FPS game.

At this point it is obvious that casual and hardcore gamers do find entertainment in playing FPS games, but why it has remained for so long is still pretty much a mystery. Looking at your hands can actually become a little bit boring at times and eventually dragging and droning. It may come to a point where you will say “Oh no, not another one.”

For this, it is probably best to look into FPS games over the years and see how the genre came to be universally loved by most. This would give a better understanding as to why they are fun to play.

Before going into that, understand that FPS games, though the multiplayer aspect is seen to be the defining factor in the modern age, include the single-player campaigns that give gamers a compelling story. Stories are an important part; especially because it is what gives the background or premise of the game. Without the premise, the multiplayer may seem to be a bit lacking and probably confusing as well.

A look back history would tell you that Wolfenstein 3D and Doom are the games that brought FPS into the mainstream. These games were so popular with gamers that you could probably call them the grandfathers of the FPS games we have today. The compelling stories they have as well as the enjoyable gameplay gave gamers something new at that time. Although they are only single-player, they are still universally loved by most gamers.

With regards to the multiplayer aspect (the aforementioned important element in modern FPS) video game publisher Rare came out with Goldeneye 007 sometime after Wolfenstein 3D and Doom and showed the world how much fun it is to have an FPS multiplayer is; the potential for great franchises could have possibly stemmed from this. This is true, as today, most of the modern FPS games seem to be more focused on the (online) multiplayer. Any gamer who was a kid in the ‘90s probably remembers this game.

These video game hallmarks seem to be the general basis for the modern FPS games of today. Fandoms were created from these games, and these communities eventually moved on to the modern games of today. Modern FPS games seem to live up to the hype of the genre (with Battlefield, Call of Duty and Halo to name a few). Although a few tweaks are seen here and there, at the core, these games live up to the FPS games of old.

Finally, to answer the question, “why are these games fun?” First of all, the immersive perspective of the first-person is a definite factor. Just being in the shoes of your very own avatar is already by itself something enjoyable. Second, either being a casual or a hardcore gamer is not a defining factor because being one or the other does not mean that these games are not fun and not enjoyed, in fact it is the opposite. Playing Call of Duty or Battlefield for fun or seriously (like trying to bring up your K/D ratio) means that you enjoy an FPS game. Even playing Minecraft (a more casual first-person) is something enjoyable. The game in question might matter, but generally, FPS games are seen as fun. Lastly, the history of FPS games do shed some light on the mystery of why they are loved. The grandfathers of the genre have played an important part in bringing the games into the mainstream; without them our modern games would not exist or at least not be as big as they are now. Its the mix of history, immersive gameplay and sheer fandom that gave rise to the FPS genre leading them to what they are today. With regards to modern FPS games, although not so novel anymore, there is still room for innovation and improvement.

*Note: The columnist’s views do not represent eSports Inquirer’s position on the topic or issue being discussed in this article.

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