FPS: Two definitions
The term FPS has two distinct meanings, one in the field of video games and the other in computing:
- First-Person Shooter: Indicates a first-person shooter (a game where you see what the character sees directly through his eyes). It is opposed to the third-person view. Indeed, RPGs or RTS for example use a top-down view. In addition, you should know that the most famous shooting games are free FPS. These include Counter Strike, Far Cry and Doom, for example.
- Frame Per Second: This term indicates the number of frames per second of a sequence. The higher the FPS, the smoother the sequence in question. In some games (e.g. shooters), a higher number of frames per second is preferable for the best possible gameplay,
FPS is also a sub-genre
The FPS is nowadays a separate genre. However, it is also a sub-genre of action games. After the appearance of the game Doom in 1993, games of this genre were called ‘Doom-like’. This term was later changed to “first-person shooter”. The game Wolfenstein 3D, released in 1992, is often credited with giving birth to the FPS, although older games such as Maze War and Spasim (1970s) already had some similarities with the genre.
In addition, there are also disagreements about the elements that make a first-person shooter. For example, games such as Deus Ex and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines are often seen as first-person shooters, but they are also considered role-playing games. Indeed, they borrow a lot of elements from this genre. MMOFPS is another name for them.
Like many shooters, FPSs require an avatar, one or more ranged weapons and a variable number of opponents. With a three-dimensional environment, these games are more realistic and immersive than 2D shooters, and have more detailed representations of various features such as sound, collision and lighting effects. Gamers usually use a keyboard and mouse to play FPS games on the PC. This mix is considered more precise than the classic controllers of home consoles, which often use 2 analogue sticks. In addition, in an FPS, the character’s hands and weapons are usually displayed in the centre of the screen, as well as a display concept that reveals information about health or ammunition, for example. Ammunition. Finally, a last bridge concerning FPS: It is often possible to visualize a map of the places in superposition of the rest of the screen.
See also >> Lexicon