{"id":2526,"date":"2025-08-26T02:41:24","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T02:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-fall-2024\/?page_id=2526"},"modified":"2026-02-19T11:40:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T16:40:19","slug":"genre","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/genre\/","title":{"rendered":"Genre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Genre began as an absolute classification system for ancient Greek literature. Poetry, prose, and performance each had a specific and calculated style that related to the theme of the story.<\/p>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Genre\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Genre<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Genre is a starting point for talking about different categories in art that share similar traits such as style and theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is always changing and endlessly debatable, but it&#8217;s a useful shorthand for describing the basic characterisitcs of a work of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s take a look at the differences in genre classification between video games and &#8220;traditional&#8221; mediums like literature, art and film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"literature\">Literature<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Forms: prose, poetry<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Genres: epic, tragedy, comedy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sub-genres of fiction: drama, fables, fantasy, fiction (novels and short stories), folklore, historical fiction, horror, humor, mystery, mythology, poetry (verse), realism, science fiction<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sub-genre of non-fiction: autobiography, biography, essay, narrative nonfiction, nonfiction, speech<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Literary genres are based first on the style of writing (prose vs poetry) and then on subject matter or plot elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Literary genres are also based on the historical period of specific works of literature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"film\">Film<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Genres: action, adventure, comedy, crime\/gangster, drama, epics, historical, horror, musical, dance, science fiction, war, westerns<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmsite.org\/genres.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Main Film Genres<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Film genres reflect setting, theme and plots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most films fit into at least one and often more than one of these genres. Films is also categorized with the Auteur System, or films by a particular director or influenced by their style, such as films by or inspired by Alfred Hitchcock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"art\">Art<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Art is categorized by mediums and historical movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mediums: drawings, painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage, textile, photgraphy, film, video, performance, multimedia<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Art_periods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Art periods<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Renaissance genres: history painting, portrait, genre (scenes of everyday life), landscape, animal, still life<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"video-games\">Video games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Main genres: action, adventure, role-playing, simulation, strategy, casual, massively multiplayer online<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Video game genres are determined by gameplay: what challenges face the player and what actions he takes to overcome those challenges. So we clearly have sports games, shooter games, racing games, and so on.<\/p>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gamedeveloper.com\/design\/the-designer-s-notebook-sorting-out-the-genre-muddle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Designer&#8217;s Notebook: Sorting Out the Genre Muddle by Ernest Adams<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Early simple arcade games are mostly action<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timing and hand-eye coordination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Real time gameplay<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/pong.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pong (1972)<br>Image source:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pongmuseum.com\/faq\/\">http:\/\/pongmuseum.com\/faq\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/mspacman.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ms. Pac-Man (1981)<br>Image source:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/i43.photobucket.com\/albums\/e358\/jessecrx\/DSCN1748.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/i43.photobucket.com\/albums\/e358\/jessecrx\/DSCN1748.jpg<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Action sub-genres<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Platformers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shooters (first person and third person)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Racing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fighting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/mario.png\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Super Mario Bros. (1985)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adventure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Early text based games<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slow game play with puzzles, exploration, story<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn based<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/rogue1.png\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rogue (1980)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Action adventure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Combine real time play with story and puzzle elements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Role-playing games<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Originate from Dungeons &amp; Dragons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Players controls character or group of characters, often an avatar of the real player<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gain experience throughout game<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full story lines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/finalfantasy.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Final Fantasy (1987)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Simulation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Replicating aspects of real world experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Real-time and turn-based games<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Application of real world rules<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/flightsimulator.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flight Simulator (1982)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Simulation styles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vehicle, ie flight sims<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Process, construction and management, ie building civilations, strategy, business<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sports<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Based on classic games like Risk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resource management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decisions and goals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/warcraft.png\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (1995)<br>Image source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Warcraft_II:_Tides_of_Darkness#\/media\/File:WC2_Tides_UI_01.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Warcraft_II:_Tides_of_Darkness#\/media\/File:WC2_Tides_UI_01.png<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Massively Multiplayer Online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cooperative play with up to hundreds or thousands of players<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Individual and in teams<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social interaction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commonly combined with first person shooters, sports, strategy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/eve.png\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">EVE Online (2003)<br>Image source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eve_Online#\/media\/File:EVE_Combat.png\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eve_Online#\/media\/File:EVE_Combat.png<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Casual games<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Short and relaxing or meditative<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Usually played in browser or phone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Puzzles, cards, word games, board games<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/270.owen.cool\/notes\/genre\/dinerdash.png\" alt=\"\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Diner Dash (2003)<br>Image source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mboeshart.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/21\/pab-4-1-affect-theory-video-games\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/mboeshart.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/21\/pab-4-1-affect-theory-video-games\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"roguelike\">Roguelike<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roguelike\">Roguelike<\/a>&nbsp;games are a good example of how a genre can emerge from a single game and grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rogue<\/em>&nbsp;was developed in 1980 by Glenn Wichman and Michael Toy at the University of California, Santa Cruz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The game was inspired by early text-based adventure games and interactive fiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to create a multitude of experiences from one very small code base, a library for random generation developed by Ken Arnold was used to create random levels in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rogue<\/em>&nbsp;is defined by procedural generation of levels, simple graphics, text interactions, turn-based play and permanent character death. These characteristics have grown to form a popular sub-genre, called &#8220;roguelike&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rogue<\/em>\u00a0inspired an entire movement, and many other games were inspired by it&#8217;s basic design. Today there are\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.roguebasin.com\/index.php?title=Main_Page\">communities<\/a>\u00a0dedicated to roguelike game development and many indie games are created combining new platforms with roguelike characteristics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Genre began as an absolute classification system for ancient Greek literature. Poetry, prose, and performance each had a specific and calculated style that related to the theme of the story. https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Genre Genre is a starting point for talking about different categories in art that share similar traits such as style and theme. It is always&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/genre\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Genre<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"portfolio_post_id":0,"portfolio_citation":"","portfolio_annotation":"","openlab_post_visibility":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2526","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2526"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2528,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2526\/revisions\/2528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mmp-270-spring-2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}