2004 Web and Downloadable Games White Paper 

IGDA Online Games SIG 

literate than they are computer literate. The most successful word games only require a working 

vocabulary to begin playing.  

6. 

Sports 

Sports games differentiate themselves from action games with familiar gameplay and blend of 

strategy and action.  Players can easily transfer their knowledge from the original sport to those 

aspects that are being adapted to the web based game. Examples of sports games launched in 2003 

include: 

Nothin' But Net 

(http://www.shockwave.com/sw/content/nothing_but_net) and Skunk Studios' 

Gutterball 3D 

(http://www.skunkstudios.com/gutterball). 

7. 

Strategy 

Games of strategy, tactical squad games, artillery games, war games, and trading games, are 

increasingly drawing appeal. These games face an intrinsic difficulty in that if the pace of the strategy 

slips into contemplation, then the user will break her spell of concentration and find something outside 

the game to click on. JAMDAT's 

Lemonade Tycoon

 brought the popular strategic simulation model to 

online gaming (http://www.jamdat.ca/game_lemonade_pc.php). Swirve's 

Earth 2025

(http://games.swirve.com/earth) is another example in this very broadly defined category.  

There are almost as many categories for games as there are actual games.  Some of the most 

noteworthy other categories are: 

8. 

Pet Management 

This is not necessarily a true genre, distinct from strategy, in the framework of these others, yet virtual 

pet management has been rising in popularity over the last couple of years. Users create and raise a 

virtual pet, selecting various methods of nutrition, training, and care to mold the pet as desired. The 

overt game comes into play when pets compete against each other. The most prominent and 

successful example is NeoPets (http://www.neopets.com). 

9. 

Advergame 

Although more a business model than a genre, the advertisement game or  advergame  exploded in 

popularity during the last year. These games may contain broad and deep game play, or they may be 

reduced to a single scenario and test of skill or knowledge. The simpler examples might even run 

inside of a banner or popup ad, while fuller games are featured beside other web games on portals. 

Advergames seek immediate attention (to a brand) and the good ones offer instant gratification. 

Advergames are intended to achieve massive viral appeal or repeat play from a target audience, and 

the successful ones achieve both. Once the player engages, he has effectively clicked through an 

advertisement. Because it must load and play immediately, advergames are often developed in Flash 

with minimal assets. Shockwave.com reports that one of its most popular online games in 2003 was 

Redline Rumble 2

, which debuted as an advergame called 

ZipZaps 2: 2 Fast 2 Furious

. The game 

promoted RadioShack's micro RC car toys and leveraged graphic and sound assets from the 

2 Fast 2 

Furious

 movie license.  

10. 

Skill Based Games or Cash Games 

Skill based games are games that have been  skillified    a process that involves changing the rules 

of the game in order to eliminate elements of luck, without changing the essence of what makes the 

game enjoyable and alluring.  Skill based games where players can compete for cash prizes are 

another example of a business model rather than a genre.  Companies such as WorldWinner, Game 

Universe, and Arkadium offer popular mainstream games   with a twist   they provide tournaments 

where a player can enter a tournament where the fastest, smartest, most agile player is rewarded 

with cash and/or prizes.  The web games offered in this segment are usually mainstream card, puzzle 

and arcade types of games where users compete against other users for the chance to win real 

money.  One pays an entry fee to enter a tournament and the winner collects all the entry fees paid 

minus a tournament management fee to the company hosting the games.  The majority of these 

companies try to match users with similar skills to level the competition, though players often also 

have the option to compete with whomever they want.  There are also usually free practice games at 

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