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| Delphi Graphics and Game Programming Exposed with DirectX 7.0 by John Ayres Wordware Publishing, Inc. ISBN: 1556226373 Pub Date: 12/01/99
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#### Untapped Markets The most actively pursued market for games are males from age 16 to 25 who buy several games a year. These are what you would call “hard-core gamers,” and are the type of individuals who buy games like Quake, Tomb Raider, and Command & Conquer. This market is the most competitive, results in the biggest profit margin, and is pretty tied up by all of the big names in the game programming industry. It is these types of people who demand games that would require the aforementioned team of people to make any serious effort to create. Are males ages 16 to 25 the only demographic to which games should be marketed? Certainly not. There are many untapped age groups and individuals that potentially offer an even greater market share of the gaming industry. Children Children’s software can be big business, with companies like Microsoft and others offering software that interacts with animatronic dolls or other devices. However, given the wide range of age groups and the commensurate knowledge to be learned at these ages, a plethora of software can be aimed at this group that combines education with entertainment. Several big-name companies are starting to dominate in this market, but there is still a lack of software for certain age groups that could be filled by the enthusiastic Delphi game programmer. Females Women and girls use computers just as much as men and boys do, yet there is an incredible void in available software aimed specifically at this group. In a very generalized manner of speaking, most gaming software aimed at males is violent, bloody, and very fast paced. Taking into account that there are exceptions for every rule, this type of software typically does not interest most females. A huge untapped market exists for game software aimed specifically at women and younger girls, and any research into recent articles in gaming magazines can turn up scores of discussions and analyses of the types of games that would do well with this group. Casual Gamers This group is starting to receive a lot of press coverage. A seemingly elusive and hard to reach group, the casual gamer is one who uses his or her computer for entertainment, but does not play the games aimed at hard-core gamers. These people like Solitaire and Tetris, and include everyone from housewives/househusbands taking a break while the baby sleeps to business people looking for something to do during lunch. Typically, this group doesn’t like games that require long commitments, as you would see in games like Shogo or Final Fantasy. They like games that you can play quickly, something you can drop into and out of during lunch or a quick break. Many people are now trying to market to this group, and some are having better luck than others. This group presents the largest potential, as there are many more housewives/househusbands and business people out there than there are hard-core gamers.
| Note: For a look at some professional games written in Delphi targeted for this market, visit http://www.gametropolis.com.
### Types of Games There are almost as many game type categories as there are games. Limited only by the imagination of the programmer, a game can take literally any form, as long as it is entertaining and interactive. There are probably many more game genres left to be discovered by inventive programmers than what is listed here. When Id came out with Wolfenstein 3D, and later Doom, an entirely new category was launched that spawned many successful imitations. Games such as Dune 2 and WarCraft heralded the real-time strategy genre, perhaps even more popular than first-person shooters. Below is an arbitrary categorization of different game genres, discussing the features typically implemented in a game of that category. Delphi, like C/C++, is adequately suited for producing games that fit into any category. #### Real-Time Strategy This genre, made popular by games such as Dune 2 and Command & Conquer, is one of the most prevalent in the industry. Real-time strategy games are typically war games that require the user to manage various units and other resources, attacking opponents and gathering supplies while the computer (or other human opponents) does the same. This action takes place in real time, meaning that everyone’s activity occurs simultaneously and continuously, and while the player is gathering resources in one area, other units owned by that player may be under attack somewhere else. Games such as StarCraft, Command & Conquer, and Myth all fall under this category. #### Turn-Based Strategy This category is similar to real-time strategy, in that these games are typically war games where the user manages various units and resources. However, unlike real-time strategy games, the action in a turn-based strategy game does not happen simultaneously. One player takes a turn ordering units to attack, defend, or gather supplies, while all other players wait. When the current player is finished, the next player in line takes a turn. Games such as X-Com and Civilization fall under this category. #### First-Person Shooters By far the most popular of all games, first-person shooters place the user in a virtual world, offering a first-person perspective of the surroundings and featuring freedom of movement and interaction with the virtual environment. These games typically have a multiplayer aspect, and offer a feature known as deathmatch. In a deathmatch, players usually hunt each other down in a virtual game of tag. Highly addictive and incredibly entertaining, games in this category are usually the most complex and competitive of all games in the entire industry. Games such as Quake, Halflife, and X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter fall under this category. #### Adventure Games While some first-person shooters could arguably be categorized under this heading, adventure games typically portray a virtual world with the player depicted in a third-person environment, usually in an isometric perspective. Interaction with the environment is usually very detailed and extensive, and a complex plot line gets the player involved in the story around which the game is based. Games such as the Ultima series and Fallout are in this category. #### Action Games This broad category involves games that have more action than substance, such as pinball games and arcade style games. Quick action is the focus of these games, and while there may be a little bit of a plot line or “purpose,” it usually serves as little more than a thin justification for the action taking place. These “twitch” games are fun, highly addictive, and do not require long-term commitment. Games such as Asteroids and Missile Command fall under this category. #### Puzzle Games Another broad category, puzzle games are games of logic that challenge players to exercise their cerebral muscles. Typically, they are abstract games that involve various fundamental abilities such as pattern matching or color grouping. This category includes games such as Tetris or Lose Your Marbles. #### Sports Games Arguably a category all its own, sports games are computerized simulations of various real-world sports. Several big development houses have created some very realistic simulations of various sports, going so far as to include current rosters of professional athletes, their likenesses, and an estimation of their talents. Games such as NHL 99, Madden 99, and BFL fall under this category.
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