Fundamentals of Shooter Game Design

What Are Shooter Games?

Reduced to its essentials, shooting is taking action at a distance with the aid of some kind of mechanical device. Therefore, shooter games are built around the player’s ability to control the device to achieve the desired effect. Usually, but not always, the effect is destructive. Shooter games may be implemented in two dimensions or three, but if they’re three-dimensional, the avatar is most often a person rather than a vehicle. 3D combat flight simulators aren’t considered shooter games even though these vehicles shoot. In 2D games the term is more inclusive.

Aiming is a key skill, particularly if the game provides limited ammunition. In a typical shooting game, the player must focus attention on two places at once: ...