For over half of my life, I have immersed myself in the world of writing, with a professional focus on video games for the past three years. This journey has led me to a profound realization: the English language’s insistence on defining concepts can be a source of considerable frustration. The challenge becomes particularly pronounced when discussing something as fluid as genre.
While the distinction between a Strategy game and an RPG is undeniably valuable, the debates that arise over classifications can be exhausting. Take, for instance, the ongoing discourse surrounding the game Deadlock. Is it a MOBA or a hero shooter? The consensus among some is that it firmly belongs in the MOBA category, yet the arguments can feel almost futile.
Genre Confusion in Gaming
In a recent interview with FRVR, Joel Bylos, the director of Dune: Awakening, attempted to clarify the nature of his game. He has tentatively concluded that it does not fit the mold of an MMO, despite the swirling opinions suggesting it might be a unique hybrid. This ambiguity reflects a broader trend in the gaming industry, where definitions often blur and evolve.
Personally, I lean towards categorizing Dune: Awakening as at least an action RPG, given its incorporation of stronghold management—a feature not typically found in pure action games. Yet, this very discussion underscores the complexity of genre definitions. They can be a headache, prompting a whimsical thought: perhaps we should abandon the written word altogether in favor of more primal forms of expression, like panicked screaming. While such a shift would jeopardize my career, it would certainly liberate us from the endless debates over the nuances between roguelikes and roguelites.
