Alternative Genres – A Level Media Studies Eduqas Revision

Understanding Alternative Genres

Alternative genres in video gaming offer players diverse gaming experiences outside the mainstream, often challenging conventional norms of gameplay and narrative.
These genres are frequently associated with indie developers who have the creative freedom to experiment and innovate.
Examples of alternative game genres include art games, serious games, interactive novels, and augmented reality games.

Art games attempt to elevate video games beyond just entertainment. They tend to focus on emotive impact, personal expression, or critique of societal norms.
They typically defy traditional game design principles, giving precedence to artistic intent and aesthetic value over mechanics or scoring systems.
Examples include ‘Journey’ and ‘Dear Esther’, both known for minimalist game design, emphasis on player emotion, and striking aesthetics.

Serious games are designed to educate or shed light on a particular issue as the primary goal rather than entertainment. Use of games for educational, therapeutic, or training purposes falls under this genre.
Unlike art games, serious games might still adhere to traditional gameplay mechanics but use these to communicate messages or teach skills.
Successful serious game examples include ‘Papers, Please’, which explores moral and ethical dilemmas, and ‘Peacemaker’, which seeks to educate players about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

These games emphasize narrative over mechanics, turning gaming into a more passive form of interactive story-telling.
Often presenting choices to players, these games explore branching narratives, with player decisions shaping the story outcome.
Games like ‘The Walking Dead’ series by Telltale Games and ‘Life is Strange’ by Dontnod Entertainment represent this genre.

Augmented reality games blend digital elements with the real world, often through a smartphone camera. They offer immersive experiences and involve physical activity, breaking the stereotype of sedentary gaming.
They leverage GPS technology and can involve real-world exploration, in contrast to most traditional video games.
‘Pokemon Go’ is a prime example, blending gameplay with real-world exploration.

Alternative game genres provide a substantial breadth of experiences, appealing to audiences outside of traditional gamer demographics.
They push boundaries in terms of what a game can be and promote the idea of games as art or as a medium for social commentary.
They challenge players to engage emotionally, intellectually, or physically in ways traditional game genres might not, hence broadening the spectrum of audience engagement in the gaming industry.