[game_preservation] Descriptive terms for Video Games

[Rowan Kaiser]

I'm not sure what's wrong with calling Survival Horror "Action-Exploration."
But I find it more interesting as an attempt to standardize all games within
a conceptual framework. Given what a mess conventional genres are - go on,
label Sid Meier's Pirates! - any attempt with a finished product is noble.


Rowan

On Fri, Jun 10, 2011 at 6:26 PM, Jim Leonard <trixter at oldskool.org> wrote:


> That looks like it was done for comedic effect.  If not, then it has some

> odd choices, like Survival Horror being predominantly "Action-Exploration"?

>  And Driving being "Action-Exploration-Conflict"?

>

>

> On 6/10/2011 12:49 PM, Rowan Kaiser wrote:

>

>> Another interesting resource might be the Escapist's Genre Wheel, which

>> is quite clever although I'm not sure it jumps out as being more than

>> that:

>>

>>

>> http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_283/8400-Introducing-The-Escapists-Genre-Wheel

>>

>> On Fri, Jun 10, 2011 at 7:37 AM, Pugh, Richard <rpugh at loc.gov

>> <mailto:rpugh at loc.gov>> wrote:

>>

>>    Greetings all!

>>

>>    Thank you for your suggestions; I'll be looking into them later this

>>    today.  Some of you asked for additional information on our project.

>>

>>    Generally these terms will be used in a subject or genre heading

>>    style.  That is, when one searches the catalog by subject or genre,

>>    these headings will be referenced.  For good or ill, these terms

>>    will be treated the same way as standard LCSH or LCGFH terms.  As

>>    such, we're looking for descriptors like "First person action" or

>>    "Real time strategy;" terms that identify what a game "is" rather

>>    than what it's about.  For that, we can usually find a workable

>>    LCSH; emphasis on "usually."  Genres are a different story.

>>

>>    As Mr. Handy pointed out, the LC model is not necessarily the best

>>    one.  In this case that's probably true.  However, NAVCC is part of

>>    LC, so we must use an LC-style approach.  Internal politics are

>>    involved.  Need I say more...?

>>

>>    We're hoping that if we can build a thesaurus that is "LCSH

>>    compatible," the powers that be will accept it.  Even so, we're

>>    expecting some resistance, because the use of non-LC terms (even

>>    ones from well-established thesauri), is actively discouraged, no

>>    matter what the circumstances.  We're facing an uphill battle, but

>>    we'll do the best we can.

>>

>>    One list we've been looking at is the one from Allgame:

>>

>>    http://www.allgame.com/genres.php

>>

>>    Perhaps if we combine this with concepts covered in the other lists,

>>    we'll have a working base.  I'm tinkering with the Allgame list at

>>    the moment, and it has promise.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

>>

>>    Richard J. Pugh

>>    Motion Picture, Broadcast, & Recorded Sound Division

>>    National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of Congress

>>    (202) 707-6636 <tel:%28202%29%20707-6636> / rpugh at loc.gov

>>    <mailto:rpugh at loc.gov>

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>>

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>>

>>

>>

>>

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>

>

> --

> Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org)            http://www.oldskool.org/

> Check out some trippy MindCandy at        http://www.mindcandydvd.com/

> A child borne of the home computer wars:  http://trixter.oldskool.org/

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