Difference between revisions of "Simulation video game"

From TheAlmightyGuru
Jump to: navigation, search
m (TheAlmightyGuru moved page Simulation game to Simulation (video game genre) without leaving a redirect)
(Games)
Line 9: Line 9:
  
 
==Games==
 
==Games==
This is a list of beat 'em ups that are important to me. For all games in this genre, see the [[:Category:Video Game Genre - Beat 'Em Up|beat 'em up category]].
+
This is a list of beat 'em ups that are important to me. For all games in this genre, see the [[:Category:Video Game Genre - Simulation|simulation category]].
  
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"

Revision as of 12:28, 10 August 2020

Simulating ant colonies in SimAnt.

Simulation game is a video game genre which primarily attempts to simulate a process. The earliest simulator software came about in 1950s and 60s and included training programs designed for the military and businesses. As universities started getting computers, students and faculty began designing simulators like the lunar module landing program, Lunar (1969) and the Oregon Trail survival game, Oregon (1971). As home computing became popular in the late 1970s, simulation games were becoming more popular, especially with flight simulators and battle reenactments. The genre has since expanded to the point where even very specific tasks, as well as fictional tasks, now have simulation games devoted to them.

It's difficult to describe what is meant by a "simulation" game without arbitrarily excluding entire areas of simulation. For example, a chess game "simulates" the real board game and a football game "simulates" the real sport, however, I don't think that this is what people think of when someone mentions a "simulation" game. Generally, people think of simulating the decisions that take place during piloting a vehicle or managing resources. Of course, just because a game features these things doesn't mean it's a simulation game. For example, Wing Commander has you piloting a ship while also managing various factors of that ship, but it's ultimately a space dog-fighting game, not a simulation. To me, a game is a simulation if its primary focus is on verisimilitude instead of entertainment.

Personal

I don't remember the very first simulation game I played, but the first one I spent a lot of time on was SimAnt followed shortly thereafter by SimCity for the SNES.

Games

This is a list of beat 'em ups that are important to me. For all games in this genre, see the simulation category.

Title Released Developer
A-Train 1990-12-14 Artdink
F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter 2.0 1991-??-?? MPS Labs
Glittermitten Grove 2016-12-26 Twinbeard
International Bridge Contractors 1981-04-?? Philip Case
PHM Pegasus 1987-02-?? Lucasfilm Games
Red Baron 1990-12-19 Dynamix
SimAnt 1991-??-?? Maxis
SimCity 1989-02-?? Maxis
SimCity (SNES) 1991-04-26 Nintendo
SimCity 2000 1994-??-?? Maxis
Theme Park 1994-??-?? Bullfrog

Links

Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-MobyGames.png