A first-person shooter (FPS) is an action^[1] video game from the shooter game^[1] subgenre. An action game is a game that challenges a player's speed dexterity and reaction time A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. Shooter games are a subgenre of Action game. Because "shooters make up the majority of action games" Shooting gallery Often interchangeable with Like all shooters, they involve "an avatar, one or more ranged weapons, and a varying number of enemies". ^[1] FPSs are distinguished by a first person perspective, that renders the game world from the visual perspective of the player character. In video games first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model, by means of computer programs A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with unique background elements such as an imaginary history or geography and possibly fantasy or science A player character or playable character (PC is a Fictional character in a Video game or Role playing game who is controlled or controllable The character is nominally a literal person; humanoid movement is expected. The term " humanoid " refers to any being whose body structure resembles that of a Human. Games that primarily involve piloting vehicles are more correctly classified as vehicle simulation games. Vehicle simulation games are a genre of Video games which attempt to provide the player with a realistic interpretation of operating various kinds of vehicles

In the modern era of video games, FPS was one of the first genres to use key technologies such as 3D graphics, online play, and modding. 3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer Online games are games played over some form of computer network. Mod or modification is a term generally applied to Computer games especially First-person shooters RPGs and Real-time strategy games Enhanced realism combined with graphic violence has also made FPS a common topic in ongoing controversies over video games. Similar to other forms of media Video games have been the subject of debate and Censorship.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Gameplay 2.1 Realism 2.2 Structure 2.3 Environment interaction 2.4 Combat and pacing 2.5 Multiplayer 2.6 Control schemes 3 History 3.1 Origins 3.2 Doom era 3.3 After Doom 3.4 Strides for realism 3.5 Genre-blending 4 Modding 5 Platforms and hardware development 6 Controversy 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

Overview

The first-person shooter is a sub-genre of shooter games. Shooter games are a subgenre of Action game. Because "shooters make up the majority of action games" Shooting gallery Often interchangeable with Many other shooter genres, such as on-rails shooters, are viewed from a first-person perspective, while flight simulators frequently involve the use of weapons; however, these are not considered FPSs. A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large A flight simulator is a system that tries to copy or simulate, the experience of flying an aircraft In the early 1990s, the term came to define a more specific type of game with a first-person view, where the main character's gun and part of his/her hand is shown, almost always centered around the act of aiming and shooting hand-held weapons, usually with limited ammunition. The focus is generally on the aiming of one's own guns and the avoidance of enemy attacks, but the player is given more control over their movement than in on-rails shooters and most light gun games. A light gun is a Pointing device for Computers and a control device for arcade and video games.

Many third-person shooters (where the player sees the game world from a viewpoint above and behind the main character) are commonly treated as first-person shooters, due to similarities in gameplay. Third-person shooter ( TPS) is a genre of 3D computer and video games in which the Player character is seen at a distance from a number In some cases, it is possible to toggle the game between viewpoints and play the entire game from either perspective.

More frequently, a first-person view will be adopted in a third-person game only for brief periods for certain situations when it is advantageous. Since a first-person view usually allows more precise refinement of a player's aim than most third-person aiming systems, many third-person shooters allow the player to switch to their avatar's viewpoint in order to fire a weapon; sometimes this may only be done when specific weapons (a sniper rifle, for example) are equipped. Third-person shooter ( TPS) is a genre of 3D computer and video games in which the Player character is seen at a distance from a number In Military and Law enforcement terminology a sniper rifle is a Rifle used to ensure Accurate placement of Bullets at longer In addition, certain third-person shooters let the player switch to a first-person perspective in order to observe their surroundings, but do not allow them to shoot any weapons while using it, such as Metal Gear Solid on the PS1 . Some first-person games switch by default to a third-person view when a melee weapon, such as a sword or a lightsaber, is selected on the theory that a wider perspective makes those weapons easier to manage. The lightsaber is a Fictional weapon that plays a key role in the Movies, games and Novels that constitute the Star Wars

The term first-person shooter has also been applied to games that take advantage of the first-person view and allow for free movement by the player, but are not heavily dependent on the use of fired weapons but instead focus on melee attacks or even a different form of gameplay altogether, such as the action/puzzle game Portal.

Gameplay

All FPSs feature the core gameplay elements of movement and shooting, but many variations exist, with different titles emphasizing certain aspects of the gameplay. The lines between sub-genres are not distinct; some games include stealth elements in addition to action-packed sequences more typical of a "run and gun" FPS. A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large

Realism

Settings may vary from accurate recreations of historical periods to fantasy sci-fi depictions of the distant future. Damage to the player and enemies may be modeled fairly realistically, with the possibility of dying by a single shot (such as Rainbow Six), or wounds to different body parts having a visible effect on the gameplay (such as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl). Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six is the first in a series of first\third person tactical shooters computer and Video games It was developed STALKER Shadow of Chernobyl, previously known as STALKER Oblivion Lost, is a First-person shooter Computer game A very common simplification of the main character's overall condition is to represent it as two sets of hit points: a base "health" meter representing the "naked" character's vitality, and another gauge measuring external protection provided by body armor or shields. Health is a Game mechanic used in computer and Video games to give value to characters, enemies NPCs, and related objects A ballistic vest is an item of protective clothing that absorbs the impact from gun-fired Projectiles and shrapnel fragments from explosion A deflector shield is a form of Energy shield intended to protect space travellers from charged particles that might otherwise pose cancer or genetic risks

The type of weaponry found in an FPS, and the realism of guns' accuracy and power, is usually appropriate to that game's setting. Frequently, the most recently-found gun will be the most powerful, and players will retain every weapon they have discovered, ending the game carrying an unrealistically massive arsenal of guns and ammunition. However, developers have also attempted to improve the realism of their games by placing a limit on the number of weapons players may carry. Counter-Strike and Halo popularized restricting the player to two firearms, and this has been heavily adopted by other games, particularly the Call of Duty games. Counter-Strike (commonly abbreviated to CS) is a tactical First-person shooter Video game which originated from a Halo is a Science fiction Video game franchise created by Bungie and owned and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately This sometimes takes the form of a primary weapon (such as a rifle or shotgun) as well as a sidearm; these games will usually also allow you to carry grenades or other devices. A rifle is a Firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves ("rifling" cut into the barrel walls A shotgun (also known as a scattergun) is a Firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number Sidearm is a method of throwing an object in which the arm swings parallel to the ground and the palm of the hand points towards the target Alternatively, some in-game explanation of how the character is able to carry this vast arsenal is decided, such as in the Star Trek: Elite Force games, where it is explained through the use of that universe's transporter system. Star Trek Voyager Elite Force is a First-person shooter Computer game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision in

Some FPS games strive to increase visual realism while retaining unrealistic gameplay. As a result, in many games the player character demonstrates exaggerated physical capabilities and resiliency, such as absorbing many hits from small arms fire, surviving a direct hit from a tank shell, jumping an entire body length into the air, or falling several stories without sustaining injury. A tank is a tracked, Armoured fighting vehicle designed for Front-line combat which combines Operational mobility and tactical Often these super-human attributes are explained in canon, the most common are cybernetic or biological enhancements or the player wears a powered exoskeleton. Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the Structure of Complex systems especially Communication processes control mechanisms and Feedback Bioengineering (also known as Biological Engineering is the application of Engineering principles to address challenges in the fields of Biology and Medicine A powered Exoskeleton is a powered mobile machine consisting primarily of a skeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the This gameplay element is seen in such popular series as Quake, Halo, and Unreal Tournament. The Quake series is a line of First person shooter Computer and video games produced by Id Software. Halo is a Science fiction Video game franchise created by Bungie and owned and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Unreal Tournament is a First-person shooter Video game co-developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes. This gameplay style is more suited to "run-and-gun" type of combat and for "death match"-like multiplayer. Deathmatch (abbreviated DM) is a widely-used gameplay mode integrated into many Shooter and Real-time strategy (RTS Computer games The goal

Structure

Most FPSs employ the videogame convention of being split into distinct levels separated in time and space, each set in a specific environment such as a warehouse, desert, laboratory, or castle. The most common style in earlier days of FPS gaming was the "level" system; however, Half-Life popularized a progressive system where the point-of-view never leaves the character and the entire game is a single continual campaign with no breaks in time. Both styles are now utilized extensively. The linearity of FPSs also varies, with some leading the player as directly as possible through the game through as many gunfights as possible, while others give the player numerous options regarding how they tackle each section. More recent titles, such as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and Crysis, have allowed the player to wander around large sandbox environments. STALKER Shadow of Chernobyl, previously known as STALKER Oblivion Lost, is a First-person shooter Computer game CRYSIS is an acronym for CRY ogenic S tockholm I on S ource CRYSIS is an Ion source of EBIS type and is located in Stockholm

Environment interaction

Different FPSs allow different types and amount of environment interaction. The most common are simple doors which can be opened (either by pressing a specific "use" button or automatically) and the health and ammo packs and new weapons that can be collected (the player character gets the effect simply by walking over them). Buttons in the game environment allow a bit more interaction: they can open a door, start or shut down some machinery in the game environment which do a certain task (create a lethal trap for enemies, lower a bridge over a chasm) or whatever the programmers have scripted. These have been used in FPS games since Doom, although the variations have slightly increased. Doom (officially cased DOOM) is a 1993 Computer game by Id Software that is a landmark title in the First-person shooter

More recently games in general, but especially FPSs, have provided more realistic interactive environments. An old addition was the use of blood splatters and bullet holes as a graphical decal that are displayed on top of texture. A decal (ˈdiːkæl ˈdiːkəl or transfer is a Plastic, Cloth Paper or ceramic substrate that has printed on it a Pattern Barriers and specific objects that can be destroyed are now common, while the walls and such are still immovable and indestructible. More realistic physics have allowed for background objects (tables, cars, garbage bins) to be interacted with; for example Half-Life 2 (2004) was among the first games to incorporate the manipulation of objects both as weapons and as keys to environmental puzzles. Half-Life 2 is a Science fiction First-person shooter computer game and the sequel to the highly acclaimed Half-Life

Combat and pacing

Many FPSs maintain a focus on "run and gun" gameplay, with quick movement and near constant combat. A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large Other titles adopt a slower pace, with the emphasis on puzzle-solving, or interaction with characters in ways other than combat. Stealth is a common feature of FPSs — firefights in some FPSs are extremely risky and require the player to avoid detection. A stealth game is a Video game in which the player needs to avoid detection These games also retain much more of a focus on melee weapons. But even in games that feature numerous shootouts, sneaking up on an unaware opponent is an advantageous technique.

Strategy and planning are emphasized in tactical shooters and military simulations. A tactical shooter is a subgenre of Video game derived from the First-person shooter (FPS or Third-person shooter genres that generally simulate These often allow the player to fight alongside and issue commands to squads made up of AI-controlled companions or human teammates. There have also been games that blend real-time strategy gameplay to FPSs. A real-time strategy ( RTS) Video game is a strategic game that is distinctly not turn-based. In these games, the player appears on the field as a single unit, but is able to give commands to other units, construct new units, and control the overall strategy, such as in Battlezone (1998). Battlezone is a critically acclaimed remake (for Microsoft Windows) of an Arcade game of the same name. Some RTS/FPS hybrids use teamplay approach where one player is the commanding officer, responsible for the strategy part, and the other team members are ordinary soldiers, as in Battlefield 2 (2005). Battlefield 2 (abbreviated to BF2) is a computer game by the Swedish developer Digital Illusions in which players

Multiplayer

Almost every FPS contains a multiplayer component, and it was the first genre to make extensive use of and popularize multiplayer gaming (beginning as far back as Doom). A multiplayer video game is one which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time Doom (officially cased DOOM) is a 1993 Computer game by Id Software that is a landmark title in the First-person shooter Many games have almost entirely eliminated the single-player component, restricting single-player game to combat against bots (or rarely eliminating it altogether) and keeping the focus almost entirely on the multiplayer component. A bot, most prominently in the First person shooter PC game types (FPS is a robotic computer controlled entity that simulates an Online or LAN The Quake games were the first popular games that were almost exclusively multiplayer. The Quake series is a line of First person shooter Computer and video games produced by Id Software. The Unreal Championship and Battlefield series are other popular series that were designed almost exclusively for multiplayer play. Unreal Championship, or "UC" is a First-person shooter Video game co-developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes. The Battlefield franchise is a series of computer and console games that started with the PC / Mac game Battlefield 1942, the series is developed The MMOFPS genre (including Planetside) combines first-person shooter gameplay with a large number of simultaneous players over the Internet, but has struggled to gain prominence in a field dominated by MMORPGs. Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter ( MMOFPS) is a sub-category of the Massively multiplayer online game (MMOG Internet Computer game PlanetSide is a Computer game published by Sony Online Entertainment and released on May 19, 2003. A massively multiplayer online role-playing game ( MMORPG) is a genre of Computer role-playing games (CRPGs in which a large number of players interact with

Control schemes

The control scheme for first-person shooters require allowing the player to control the direction their character is looking, the direction the character is moving, other character movements such as running, crouching, or jumping, firing and switching weapons, and other actions that specific games may need. As such, the control schemes for first-person shooter games can be extremely varied depending on the game's platform, as well as with limitations of control hardware.

For most first-person shooter games on PCs, as well as for select console games that support such input hardware, the control scheme utilizes a combination of keyboard and mouse inputs. In Computing, a keyboard is an Input device partially modelled after the typewriter keyboard which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys In Computing, a mouse (plural mice, mouse devices, or mouses) Directional keys are typically placed on the WASD keys, with other character actions such as strafing, jumping, and the like placed on nearby keys. "Free look" or "mouse look" is controlled by moving the mouse around, weapon activation by the mouse buttons, and weapon management through the scroll wheel. A scroll wheel (or mouse wheel) is a hard Plastic or Rubbery disc (the " Wheel " on a Computer mouse that is perpendicular Prior to the common inclusion of the scroll wheel on computer mice, the number keys or the tab key was often used to switch weapons. Keyboard and mouse control schemes are almost always customizable, allowing the player to assign various actions to other keys or mouse actions to their preference.

The controls for console games are limited by the available keys and controls on the system's control pad. A gamepad, also called joypad or control pad, is a type of Game controller held in the hand where the digits (especially thumbs are used to provide input Pads for early consoles such as the Mega Drive's D-pad provided only a single digital directional input and limited buttons, and early FPS console games used the directional input and another button combination for the input of additional movement commands like jumping. The is a 16-bit Video game console released by Sega in Japan in 1988 North America in 1989 and the PAL region in 1990 A D-pad (short for directional pad) is a flat usually thumb-operated directional control found on nearly all modern Video game console Gamepads Game With control pads with a single analog stick, movement is primarily controlled by the analog stick, and additional movement and actions are performed using the other face buttons. An analog stick, sometimes called a thumbstick, control stick, or occasionally Most modern controllers offer two direction inputs through analog sticks in addition to several more buttons than previous systems. An analog stick, sometimes called a thumbstick, control stick, or occasionally This had led to two primary control scheme variations. In one configuration, one analog stick is used for forward and reverse motion and strafing relative to the current viewpoint, and the other thumb stick used to look around. An alternate variation provided forward and reverse movement and to look left or right on one thumb stick, and vertical aiming and lateral motion on the other thumb stick. Weapon activation is set to the control's shoulder triggers, and other functions such as jumping, reloading, or interaction with the environment is performed on other buttons on the controller. Many console-based FPSs include or offer both "lock-on" (auto-centering the aim to a target) and "auto-aim" (adjustment of the user's aim to a target when they are aiming slightly away from it) features to account for the loss of precision that a player has when aiming with the analog controls over a PC mouse. Control customization is available for console FPS titles, but is not as widely available as for PC games. Many games for both PC and consoles allow the user to invert the look axes as to allow the controls to behave more like a flight simulator joystick. A flight simulator is a system that tries to copy or simulate, the experience of flying an aircraft A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling

Newer controllers for the current generation of console hardware have brought additional variation to how the player interacts with an FPS game. Motion-sensitive remote controllers have allowed several FPS games to use the remote similar to a mouse to provide more accurate aiming than a typical controller and a more immersive environment as actions acted out by the player with the controller (e. g. , swinging a sword) translate into those same actions taken on the screen.

History

First-person shooters came to be recognized as a genre in the early 1990s, and many of the genre's most common conventions date to this time. However, the modern genre is an extension of earlier games, particularly those involving 3D graphics. While some of these early games are not first-person shooters in the modern sense, some of them might be retroactively included in the genre, and many others contained ideas which later influenced the modern genre.

Origins

It is not clear exactly when the first FPS was created. The Atari ST is a home / Personal computer that was commercially available from 1985 to the early 1990s Maze War is the most likely candidate, but even its developer cannot remember exactly when it was produced. Maze War (also known as The Maze Game, Maze Wars, Mazewar, or simply Maze) was a historically significant computer game ^[2] The initial development of Maze War probably occurred in the summer of 1973. Maze War (also known as The Maze Game, Maze Wars, Mazewar, or simply Maze) was a historically significant computer game ^[2]

In the early 1980s, the home computer market grew rapidly. A home computer was a class of Personal computer entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s While these machines were relatively low-powered, limited first-person-perspective games appeared early on. In these games, computer-controlled opponents were drawn using bitmaps. Phantom Slayer (1982) restricted the player to 90-degree turns, allowing "3D" corridors to be drawn with simple fixed-perspective techniques. Phantom Slayer is a Computer game released by Med Systems in 1982 for the TRS-80 Color Computer and Dragon 32/64.

Later in the decade, the arrival of a new generation of home computers such as the Atari ST and the Amiga increased the computing power and graphical capabilities available, leading to a new wave of innovation. The Atari ST is a home / Personal computer that was commercially available from 1985 to the early 1990s The Amiga is a family of Personal computers originally developed by Amiga Corporation. 1987 saw the release of MIDI Maze (aka Faceball), an important transitional game for the genre. MIDI Maze was an early First person shooter Video game for the Atari ST developed by Xanth Software F/X, published by Unlike its polygonal contemporaries, MIDI Maze used a raycasting engine to speedily draw square corridors. Ray casting is the use of ray-surface intersection tests to solve a variety of problems in computer graphics It also offered a networked multiplayer deathmatch (communicating via the computer's MIDI interface). MIDI ( Musical Instrument Digital Interface, ˈmɪdi is an industry-standard protocol that enables Electronic musical instruments Computers

In 1991, the fledgling id Software released Catacomb 3D, which introduced the concept of showing the player's hand on-screen, strengthening the illusion that the player is viewing the world through the character's eyes. id Software (ɪd officially is an American computer game developer based in Mesquite, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. Catacomb 3-D (also known as Catacomb 3-D A New Dimension, Catacomb 3-D The Descent and Catacombs 3) is the In 1992, id improved the technology by adding support for VGA graphics in Wolfenstein 3D. The term Video Graphics Array ( VGA) refers specifically to the display hardware first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, but through its widespread With these improvements over its predecessors, Wolfenstein 3D was a hit. It would be widely imitated in the years to follow, and thus marked the beginning of many conventions in the genre, including collecting different weapons that can be switched between using the keyboard's number keys, and ammo conservation.

In the year that followed the success of Wolfenstein 3-D, many imitators quickly arose, including Ken's Labyrinth by Epic Games, and several games licensing the Wolfenstein 3-D technology like Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold. Ken's Labyrinth is a First-person shooter DOS game, released in 1993 by Epic Megagames (now called Epic Games) Epic Games, also known as Epic and formerly as Epic MegaGames, is a Video game development company based in Cary North Carolina, United Blake Stone Aliens of Gold is a First-person shooter Computer game created by JAM Productions and published by Apogee Software Softdisk also released a series of sequels to Catacomb 3D using a modified version of id's engine, but id had no involvement with these games. Catacomb 3-D (also known as Catacomb 3-D A New Dimension, Catacomb 3-D The Descent and Catacombs 3) is the Because of this sudden boom of games with a pronounced influence from id's games, the term "first-person shooter" was coined to describe the budding genre.

Doom era

Id followed up Wolfenstein 3D the following year with Doom (1993). Doom (officially cased DOOM) is a 1993 Computer game by Id Software that is a landmark title in the First-person shooter Doom (officially cased DOOM) is a 1993 Computer game by Id Software that is a landmark title in the First-person shooter While still using sprites to render in-game opponents, and raycasting to render the levels, Doom added texture-mapping to the floor and ceiling, and removed some of the restrictions of earlier games. Walls could vary in height, with floor and ceiling changing levels to create cavernous spaces and raised platforms. In some areas, Doom removed the ceiling altogether to create the outdoor environments that were generally lacking in previous genre games. However, Doom wasn't truly 3D; id used a line map system which the game would make into a 3D looking environment, and they added the height later; this meant they couldn't put a room on top of a room, but they could create an Automap more easily.

While the graphical enhancements were notable, Doom also introduction network multiplayer against human opponents. Similar multiplayer modes existed in mainframe and arcade-based games, but Doom was the first PC game to gain a significant following dedicated to multiplayer. Doom was also one of the earliest FPS games to gain an active community of fans producing add-on maps.

Doom dominated the genre for years after its release. Every new game in the genre was held up against it, and usually suffered by comparison. However, some developers opted not to attack Doom head-on, but instead to concentrate on its weaker aspects or expand the new genre in alternative directions.

After Doom

Duke Nukem 3D, released in 1996, was the first game using what proved to be the most popular engine of the decade (12 released titles), Ken Silverman's Build engine. Duke Nukem 3D is a First-person shooter computer game developed by 3D Realms and published by Apogee Software. Ken Silverman (born November 1 1975) is a Game programmer, best known for writing the Build engine used in Duke Nukem 3D The Build engine is a First-person shooter engine created by Ken Silverman for 3D Realms. Build was outwardly similar to Doom's engine in that it used many 2D tricks, but was somewhat more advanced in this regard. It introduced the ability for players to swim and fly using a jetpack. Duke Nukem and its Build engine are also notable for having one of the simplest map editors of any 3D game ever made.

In 1996 id Software released their eagerly-anticipated Quake, which significantly enhanced the network gaming concept introduced by Doom. Quake is a First-person shooter Computer game that was released by Id Software on June 22, 1996. Like Descent, it used a 3D polygonal graphics engine to render enemies, but also added support for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics with GLQuake. In addition, id released an internet-optimized network client called QuakeWorld. Quake also actively encouraged user-made modifications. These "mods" contributed to its longevity and popularity with players; the most important of these was Threewave's CTF mod, which defined the now-standard Capture the Flag mode found in many FPS games. Mod or modification is a term generally applied to Computer games especially First-person shooters RPGs and Real-time strategy games

In 1997, GoldenEye 007 was released for the Nintendo 64. GoldenEye 007 is a 1997 First-person shooter Video game developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64 Video game console, GoldenEye 007 is a 1997 First-person shooter Video game developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64 Video game console, The, often abbreviated as N64, is Nintendo 's third home Video game console for the international market It was praised for a realistic setting, incorporating impressive artificial intelligence and animation, elaborate bullet-hit detection (permitting a player to inflict maximum damage through accurate "head shots"; a practice encouraged through the incorporation of a "sniper scope" weapon function), and mission objectives and well-designed environments based on the GoldenEye film's sets. GoldenEye (1995 is the seventeenth Spy film of the British James Bond series directed by Martin Campbell and the Its split screen multiplayer deathmatch mode was also well-regarded for the range of options offered. Split screen is a display technique in Computer graphics that consists of dividing graphics and/or text into non-movable adjacent parts typically two or four rectangular Deathmatch (abbreviated DM) is a widely-used gameplay mode integrated into many Shooter and Real-time strategy (RTS Computer games The goal Console first-person shooters have for many years been criticized for having control schemes less precise than the keyboard and mouse of PC titles, yet GoldenEye overcame such complaints to be considered the first great FPS for a console, as well as one of the best movie-to-game adaptations. In Computing, a keyboard is an Input device partially modelled after the typewriter keyboard which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys In Computing, a mouse (plural mice, mouse devices, or mouses)

In early 1998, Rainbow Six helped to popularize tactical FPS by using a realistic combat-simulation approach to the genre. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six is the first in a series of first\third person tactical shooters computer and Video games It was developed A tactical shooter is a subgenre of Video game derived from the First-person shooter (FPS or Third-person shooter genres that generally simulate Player characters and enemies could be killed or critically wounded with one shot, and weapons were relatively inaccurate and unreliable, especially at long range -- a player could not aim a perfect shot just by keeping the crosshairs steady. As a result, the game encouraged players to employ real-world tactics such as taking cover and using flashbangs and other forms of stun grenades to incapacitate enemies before exposing one's own body. Additionally, the cartoonish acrobatics that are possible with most FPS games were eliminated in Rainbow Six -- players could not jump, and movement speed was relatively slow.

In 1998, Half-Life was released, featuring a single-player game with a narrative focus directing the action and the goals of the player. Half-Life is a Science fiction First-person shooter computer game developed by Valve Software and the company's debut product The combat sequences were heavily scripted throughout the game. Half-Life was among the first games to feature a continually-progressing campaign with no true level breaks, and also eliminated cut scenes, never removing the player from the point-of-view of the main character. A cut scene is a sequence in a Video game over which the player has little or no control often breaking up the gameplay and used to advance the plot present It was also among the first games to place ammunition and health in more realistic settings, doing-away with the "power-up" feature that was the standard of FPS games, when ammo, health packs, and special abilities, among other items, would be scattered in random places around the map.

Another game of 1998, Starsiege: Tribes, was the first attempt to create a large, team-based arena FPS requiring strategic coordination. Starsiege Tribes (commonly referred to simply as Tribes) is a Sci-fi First-person shooter Video game. Supporting large numbers of players, vehicles, wide-open landscapes and movement mechanics provided by the jetpack all players spawned with, Tribes can be considered the ancestor of shooters like Battlefield 1942 and contributed greatly to the creation of the massively multiplayer FPS genre. In computer and video games, spawning is the in-game creation of an entity such as a player character, a Non-player character (NPC or an item Battlefield 1942 is a 3D World War II First-person shooter (FPS Computer game developed by Swedish company Digital Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter ( MMOFPS) is a sub-category of the Massively multiplayer online game (MMOG Internet Computer game This game also spawned a large functionality-based modding community that created numerous user interface changes and scripts that made play easier, including complicated inventory management scripts and movement aides. "Scripting" redirects here For other uses see Script.

1999 was another important year for FPS, as two competing franchises were pitched head-to-head: Quake III Arena and Unreal Tournament. Quake III Arena or Quake 3, abbreviated as Q3A or Q3, is a Multiplayer First-person shooter Unreal Tournament is a First-person shooter Video game co-developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes. At this point both franchises concentrated on multiplayer gameplay over a LAN or the internet, reducing the single player experience to arena-based bot matches. The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks

The Half-Life mod Counter-Strike was released in mid-1999, and became one of the most popular multiplayer FPS titles ever released. Counter-Strike (commonly abbreviated to CS) is a tactical First-person shooter Video game which originated from a The game is a tactical shooter in much the same vein as Rainbow Six, though it places slightly less emphasis on realism and more on team coordination. A tactical shooter is a subgenre of Video game derived from the First-person shooter (FPS or Third-person shooter genres that generally simulate

Strides for realism

In 2001, Operation Flashpoint was released, creating a new level of realism in an FPS environment with extensive vehicles and aircraft, seamless indoor / outdoor environments, and view distances an order of magnitude longer than anything else released before it in the genre. Operation Flashpoint Cold War Crisis, sometimes shortened to Operation Flashpoint, and abbreviated OFP is a Tactical shooter and battlefield Also released in 2001 was World War II Online (WWIIOL), which expanded the FPS genre to a massively multiplayer audience. World War II Online Battleground Europe, also referred to as WWIIOLBE, WW2OL or BE is a massively multi-player Unlike most FPS games of the time, which had limits of 32 players, WWIIOL could support thousands of simultaneous players. As such, WWIIOL is recognized as the pioneer of the massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) sub-genre. Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter ( MMOFPS) is a sub-category of the Massively multiplayer online game (MMOG Internet Computer game Placed in a WWII setting, players could compete as infantry and in realistically-modeled vehicles on a massive 1/2-scale map of Europe.

Doom 3 made use of a graphics engine featuring new real-time lighting and shadows, used to create an atmosphere of fear and danger for the player. Doom 3 is a Science fiction Survival horror Video game developed by Id Software and published by Activision. Half-Life 2 made extensive use of shaders, advanced lighting, 3d textures, AI with squad tactics, Havok middleware physics engine and relatively large maps for its level of graphic detail. Half-Life 2 is a Science fiction First-person shooter computer game and the sequel to the highly acclaimed Half-Life A shader in the field of Computer graphics is a set of software instructions which is used by the graphic resources primarily to perform rendering effects Havok Physics, better known as simply Havok, is a Physics engine developed by Irish company Havok. Middleware is computer Software that connects Software components or applications The level of detail seen in the game is perhaps best exemplified by the complex character facial models developed especially for the game. The behind-the-scenes character engines can use voice recognition software, and the mouths of the models in the game move according to what the character is saying and express emotions when combined with script.

The Nintendo Wii, which uses the motion-sensitive Wii Remote, approaches the genre from a new direction. is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on The Wii Remote, sometimes Nicknamed " Wiimote " is the primary controller for Nintendo 's First person shooters like Red Steel, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 use the remote as its gun-pointing input. is a First person shooter Video game published by Ubisoft for Nintendo's Wii console Metroid Prime 3 Corruption is a First-person Action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is a First-person shooter game for the Wii and the PlayStation Portable.

In 2007, the AGEIA PhysX engine was extensively used in the production of the game Warmonger: Operation Downtown Destruction. AGEIA, founded in 2002 was a Fabless semiconductor company. AGEIA invented PhysX – a Physics Processing Unit chip capable of performing Physics PhysX is a proprietary Realtime Physics engine Middleware SDK developed by NVIDIA (originally by Ageia, The game introduced extremely realistic cloth animation and almost perfect terrain destruction. The game introduced free-form building destruction - for example, a sniper could drop a grenade under a set of stairs to destroy them, and firing a rocket into the floor below the sniper could cause it to collapse.

Genre-blending

While not an FPS, Ultima Underworld (1992) is of importance to the genre's development. Ultima Underworld is a series of two Computer role playing games published by Origin Systems in the early 1990s It was a 3D role-playing game developed by Blue Sky Productions, (later merged with another developer to create Looking Glass Studios) and marketed by Origin Systems. A role-playing game ( RPG; often roleplaying game) is a Game in which the participants assume the roles of Fictional characters. Looking Glass Studios was a computer game development company during the 1990s Origin Systems Inc (sometimes abbreviated as OSI) was a Computer game developer based in Austin Texas that was active from 1983 to Unlike Wolfenstein 3D, Ultima Underworld supported many true 3D features such as non-perpendicular walls, walls of varying heights, and inclined surfaces. A technology demo of this game was, in fact, John Carmack’s inspiration for Wolfenstein 3-D’s game engine. [1]

In 1993, Pathways into Darkness was released by Bungie. Pathways Into Darkness is a Video game created and published by the Bungie Software Products Corporation (now Bungie Studios) in 1993. It mixed the elements from an FPS with those of an adventure game. An adventure game is a type of Video game characterized by investigation exploration puzzle-solving, interaction with game characters and a focus on Narrative It is notable for having a stronger narrative component than its contemporaries. However, Pathways only experienced limited commercial success, partially due to its difficulty level, but mainly due to being available only for Apple computers. It is considered the spiritual ancestor of the Marathon and Halo series developed by Bungie. The Marathon Trilogy is a Science fiction series of First-person shooter Computer games from Bungie Software, originally Halo is a Science fiction Video game franchise created by Bungie and owned and published by Microsoft Game Studios.

The 1995 game Descent used a fully 3D polygonal graphics engine to render opponents (previous games had used sprites). Descent is a 3D First-person shooter Video game developed by Parallax Software and released in 1995 In Computer graphics, a sprite (also known by other names see Synonyms below is a two-dimensional/three-dimensional Image or Animation that It also escaped the "pure vertical walls" graphical restrictions of earlier games in the genre, and allowed the player six degrees of freedom of movement (up/down, left/right, forward/backward, pitch, roll and yaw). Flight dynamics is the science of air and space vehicle orientation and control in three dimensions Thus, Descent was the first FPS in the modern era to use a fully 3D engine. However, because the player character is in actuality a space vehicle, Descent is not always considered an FPS in the traditional sense and may be classified as a space-sim hybrid.

In 2000, Deus Ex was released, a single-player FPS that blended elements from RPG and adventure games. Deus Ex (abbreviated DX and pronounced as ˌdeɪəsˈɛks day-uss ex) is a Cyberpunk -themed Action role-playing game developed It featured many side-quests and multiple ways of completing each mission. This game also had a character building system similar to an RPG where the player gained experience points for completing various objectives, which were then spent on upgrades for your character, as in the System Shock games. System Shock is an Action role-playing game developed by Looking Glass Technologies and published by Origin Systems. Additionally, it incorporated stealth elements that first appeared in Thief: The Dark Project. Thief The Dark Project, or simply Thief, is a stealth-based first-person Computer game and the first game in the

The Half-Life mod Natural Selection blended a multiplayer FPS with some RTS elements. Mod or modification is a term generally applied to Computer games especially First-person shooters RPGs and Real-time strategy games Natural Selection ( NS) is a modification for the Computer game Half-Life. Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory blended some RPG elements with an experience and skill-based point system that can work across matches. Wolfenstein Enemy Territory (also referred to as simply Enemy Territory or ET) is a free multiplayer FPS set during Battlefield 2 has a stats-tracking system similar to that of Enemy Territory, as well as a complex scoring system. Battlefield 2 (abbreviated to BF2) is a computer game by the Swedish developer Digital Illusions in which players The Wheel of Time attempted to blend an FPS with an RPG and was one of the few fantasy games to be a first-person shooter, as most fantasy games are RPG's. The Wheel of Time is a First-person shooter Video game based on Robert Jordan 's fantasy series of the same name. The game S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl also blends FPS and RPG elements, notably creating a sense of non linearity gameplay in which the player can set their own pace or choose to accomplish sidequests, somewhat like an MMORPG. STALKER Shadow of Chernobyl, previously known as STALKER Oblivion Lost, is a First-person shooter Computer game

Modding

Main article: Mod (computer gaming)

Many FPS games are designed with a core game engine, separate from the graphics, game rules, and levels. Mod or modification is a term generally applied to Computer games especially First-person shooters RPGs and Real-time strategy games A game engine is a software system designed for the creation and development of computer and video games This "plug-in" design allows users to add new content to games. This has contributed to the longevity both of the genre and of individual games. Many games now include the custom software that the designers themselves used in the game's production. Some of the skills displayed by individual modders are of such high quality that FPS companies regularly hire new talent from the modding community.

Platforms and hardware development

The primary platform for modern FPSs has traditionally been the PC, though there have been notable games on other platforms, and the number of releases on consoles are increasing steadily. A personal computer ( PC) is any Computer whose original sales price size and capabilities make it useful for individuals and which is intended to be operated The dominance of the PC for FPS games also partially stems from the difficulty of creating mods and level creators on consoles. Although successful games such as GoldenEye 007 (1997) and Perfect Dark (2000) had been created on consoles previously, it was the game Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) on the Xbox that showed that successful, franchise-defining FPS games could be developed on consoles. GoldenEye 007 is a 1997 First-person shooter Video game developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64 Video game console, Perfect Dark is a 2000 First-person shooter Video game for the Nintendo 64 Game console. Halo Combat Evolved (commonly known as Halo or Halo 1) is a First-person shooter (FPS Video game developed The Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation.

FPS are among the most demanding programs for computing resources, persuading many users to upgrade computers that are still suitable for more mundane tasks, such as online browsing and office work. According to IDC analyst Roger Kay, high-end games serve as a catalyst for the mainstream personal computer market. FPS games can stretch the capabilities of CPUs and the graphics cards ([2]). A video card, also known as a graphics accelerator card, display adapter, or graphics card, is a hardware component whose function is to The rise of the genre has been a significant driver in the market for consumer graphics cards, particularly with regard to support for hardware acceleration of 3D graphics. 3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer Recently, consumer HMDs have been introduced which should further drive developments in virtual reality technology and better gameplay by providing a more immersive experience. A head-mounted display or Helmet mounted display, both abbreviated 'HMD' is a display device worn on the head or as part of a helmet that has a small display optic Virtual reality ( VR) is a technology which allows a user to interact with a Computer-simulated environment be it a real or imagined one

Controversy

Main article: Video game controversy

Critics argue that the first-person perspective adds a level of imitable realism to the act of killing, and that FPS desensitizes gamers to this sort of behavior. Similar to other forms of media Video games have been the subject of debate and Censorship. The most widely publicized link between FPS and real-world violence is the Columbine High School massacre. The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday April 20 1999 at Columbine High School in Columbine in unincorporated Jefferson County, Both of the shooters were fans of Doom, and Eric Harris had actually published a set of Doom levels on his website; the levels are now known as the "Harris levels". Doom (officially cased DOOM) is a 1993 Computer game by Id Software that is a landmark title in the First-person shooter Eric David Harris (April 9 1981 – April 20 1999 and Dylan Bennet Klebold (September 11 1981 – April 20 1999 were the High school seniors who committed

See also

• First-person shooter engine
• Free look
• List of free first-person shooters
• Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter
• WASD keys

References

External links

• MobyGames' collection of FPS documentation and reviews
• Blues News

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