Arena shooter: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Subgenre of shooter games}} |
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[[File:AssaultCube screenshot.png|thumb|''[[AssaultCube]]'', a 2008 arena shooter]] |
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An '''arena shooter''' is a [[video game genre|subgenre]] of [[shooter |
An '''arena shooter''' is a [[video game genre|subgenre]] of [[shooter game]]s and [[multiplayer game]]s that cover both the [[first-person shooter]] and [[third-person shooter]] genres. These games emphasize fast-paced movement in enclosed map designs that foster engagement between players. |
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==Game design== |
==Game design== |
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Arena shooters are [[multiplayer]] shooter games with several key characteristics. Players will start with a basic load out that is upgradable via weapons and power-ups contained at certain points in a map. Arena shooters may employ movement mechanics that allow for skillful gameplay, such as strafing to avoid gunshots, using rockets explosions from weapons to jump higher, or using items to otherwise move quickly throughout the map. These mechanics are often paired with relatively fast movement speed. Maps in arena shooters are structured in a way that facilitate interaction and combat among players, often utilizing elements like portals or jump pads to provide additional options for movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-arena-shooter/|title=What Is an Arena Shooter?|date=August 7, 2021|website=Make Use Of}}</ref> |
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Arena shooters are a variation of multiplayer first- or third-person shooters, where the gameplay features fast mobility allowing players to quickly move around the map either by moving around normally or utilizing special techniques such as strafing or launching oneself with a gun such as a rocket. Since fast paced gameplay is the focus of the game, weapons in arena shooters usually don't require to reload weapons and the maps in which matches take place in are usually enclosed and small hence the term "arena" in the genre. The genre is also known for having relatively simple or limited modes when compared to other shooters. The main mode that is played in arena shooters being deathmatch with capture the flag being the second most popular. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Arena shooters can be traced back to the early days of first person shooters with the first modern shooter, [[Wolfenstein 3D]], establishing the basic groundwork of shooter mechanics which were later replicated in future games. In these early shooters the weapons were held and aimed in the middle of the screen and |
Arena shooters can be traced back to the early days of first person shooters with the first modern shooter, ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'' (1992), establishing the basic groundwork of shooter mechanics which were later replicated in future games. In these early shooters the weapons were held and aimed in the middle of the screen and did not require the player to reload. [[Doom (1993 video game)|''Doom'']] (1993) featured faster-paced gameplay and more action on screen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/02/headshot-a-visual-history-of-first-person-shooters/|title=Headshot: A visual history of first-person shooters|first=Ars|last=Staff|date=February 14, 2016|website=Ars Technica}}</ref> This style of gameplay would continue into the 3D era with [[Quake (video game)|''Quake'']] (1996) following the same formula. |
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While ''Wolfenstein 3D'' had no multiplayer capabilities, ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' introduced the [[deathmatch (video games)|deathmatch]] game mode which focused on combat between players on the game's maps. Other games that followed it, including ''[[Marathon (video game)|Marathon]]'', ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'' and the first two ''Quake'' games also allowed for such matches to be played online or on the local network. Nonetheless, these games still featured single player as the principal mode of play. The first real arena shooters were ''[[Unreal Tournament]]'' (1999), ''[[Turok: Rage Wars]]'' (1999) and ''[[Quake III Arena]]'' (1999). These games, in contrast to previous entries in their respective series, were focused on multiplayer matches, and the single player component focused on playing the same multiplayer maps with computer-controlled bots. More game modes besides the standard deathmatch were also introduced, including the popular [[capture the flag]] mode.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-history-of-the-first-person-shooter/|title=The history of the first person shooter|first=Edwin|last=Evans-Thirlwell|date=October 20, 2017|work=PC Gamer}}</ref> Both genres helped popularized the [[LAN party]] scene with the popularity of ''Quake'' leading to the creation of its own convention, [[QuakeCon]], where numerous people would meet up to compete in professional and amateur tournaments locally. The popularity of the genre was such that certain [[open-source]] games in a similar style were also developed in the early 2000s, such as ''[[Cube (video game)|Cube]]'' and ''[[Warsow (video game)|Warsow]]''. |
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While the arena shooters were wildly popular in 1999 and the early 2000s, arena shooters have fallen out of popularity |
While the arena shooters were wildly popular in 1999 and the early 2000s, arena shooters have fallen out of popularity compared to other subgenres in the shooter genre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://estnn.com/where-have-all-the-arena-fpss-gone/|title=Where Have All the Arena First-Person Shooters Gone?|date=June 16, 2019|website=Esports News Network | ESTNN}}</ref> There have been attempts to release new titles in the genre with ''[[Quake Champions]]'' in 2017. ''Quake Champions'' has a Battle Pass system with several content updates a year, as well as an e-Sports league known as the Quake Pro League, ran in joint effort by both Bethesda, and Pro Gamer League (PGL). [[Epic Games]] also tried to bring back ''Unreal Tournament'' with [[Unreal Tournament (cancelled video game)|a new entry]], but this was put on hold shortly afterward and was later canceled. The majority of arena shooters released today are by independent developers with the likes of ''[[Reflex Arena]]'', ''[[Diabotical]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/free-to-play-fps-diabotical-takes-another-shot-at-reviving-the-arena-shooter/|title=Free-to-play FPS Diabotical is another strong attempt to revive the arena shooter|first=Tyler|last=Wilde|date=September 6, 2020|work=PC Gamer}}</ref> and ''Master Arena''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/master-arena/making-it-in-unreal|title=Making it in Unreal: bringing the arena FPS to a new generation with Master Arena|website=PCGamesN|date=30 November 2020}}</ref> being popular among a niche group. While there have been some games with "arena" elements in recent times such as ''[[Doom (2016)|Doom]]'' (2016) and ''[[Doom Eternal]]'' (2020), ''[[Ultrakill]]'' (2020) there have been no games in the genre released by major publishers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/13/why-dooms-multiplayer-really-isnt-an-arena-shooter|title=Why Doom's Multiplayer Really Isn't an Arena Shooter |work=IGN|date=13 April 2016}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{VideoGameGenre}} |
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[[Category:Video game genres]] |
[[Category:Video game genres]] |
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[[Category:Arena shooters]] |
[[Category:Arena shooters]] |
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[[Category:Video game terminology]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:33, 2 November 2024
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An arena shooter is a subgenre of shooter games and multiplayer games that cover both the first-person shooter and third-person shooter genres. These games emphasize fast-paced movement in enclosed map designs that foster engagement between players.
Game design
[edit]Arena shooters are multiplayer shooter games with several key characteristics. Players will start with a basic load out that is upgradable via weapons and power-ups contained at certain points in a map. Arena shooters may employ movement mechanics that allow for skillful gameplay, such as strafing to avoid gunshots, using rockets explosions from weapons to jump higher, or using items to otherwise move quickly throughout the map. These mechanics are often paired with relatively fast movement speed. Maps in arena shooters are structured in a way that facilitate interaction and combat among players, often utilizing elements like portals or jump pads to provide additional options for movement.[1]
History
[edit]Arena shooters can be traced back to the early days of first person shooters with the first modern shooter, Wolfenstein 3D (1992), establishing the basic groundwork of shooter mechanics which were later replicated in future games. In these early shooters the weapons were held and aimed in the middle of the screen and did not require the player to reload. Doom (1993) featured faster-paced gameplay and more action on screen.[2] This style of gameplay would continue into the 3D era with Quake (1996) following the same formula.
While Wolfenstein 3D had no multiplayer capabilities, Doom introduced the deathmatch game mode which focused on combat between players on the game's maps. Other games that followed it, including Marathon, Duke Nukem 3D and the first two Quake games also allowed for such matches to be played online or on the local network. Nonetheless, these games still featured single player as the principal mode of play. The first real arena shooters were Unreal Tournament (1999), Turok: Rage Wars (1999) and Quake III Arena (1999). These games, in contrast to previous entries in their respective series, were focused on multiplayer matches, and the single player component focused on playing the same multiplayer maps with computer-controlled bots. More game modes besides the standard deathmatch were also introduced, including the popular capture the flag mode.[3] Both genres helped popularized the LAN party scene with the popularity of Quake leading to the creation of its own convention, QuakeCon, where numerous people would meet up to compete in professional and amateur tournaments locally. The popularity of the genre was such that certain open-source games in a similar style were also developed in the early 2000s, such as Cube and Warsow.
While the arena shooters were wildly popular in 1999 and the early 2000s, arena shooters have fallen out of popularity compared to other subgenres in the shooter genre.[4] There have been attempts to release new titles in the genre with Quake Champions in 2017. Quake Champions has a Battle Pass system with several content updates a year, as well as an e-Sports league known as the Quake Pro League, ran in joint effort by both Bethesda, and Pro Gamer League (PGL). Epic Games also tried to bring back Unreal Tournament with a new entry, but this was put on hold shortly afterward and was later canceled. The majority of arena shooters released today are by independent developers with the likes of Reflex Arena, Diabotical,[5] and Master Arena[6] being popular among a niche group. While there have been some games with "arena" elements in recent times such as Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal (2020), Ultrakill (2020) there have been no games in the genre released by major publishers.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "What Is an Arena Shooter?". Make Use Of. August 7, 2021.
- ^ Staff, Ars (February 14, 2016). "Headshot: A visual history of first-person shooters". Ars Technica.
- ^ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (October 20, 2017). "The history of the first person shooter". PC Gamer.
- ^ "Where Have All the Arena First-Person Shooters Gone?". Esports News Network | ESTNN. June 16, 2019.
- ^ Wilde, Tyler (September 6, 2020). "Free-to-play FPS Diabotical is another strong attempt to revive the arena shooter". PC Gamer.
- ^ "Making it in Unreal: bringing the arena FPS to a new generation with Master Arena". PCGamesN. 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Why Doom's Multiplayer Really Isn't an Arena Shooter". IGN. 13 April 2016.