This is an interesting chart, and I like the idea, but I think it's missing something. The four chosen components seem sound, but I think there's an inherent problem in looking at games as falling on a certain part of either axis, Exploration - Conflict and Action - Strategy. As has been mentioned, many games have substantial portions of both Action and Strategy, or both Exploration and Conflict. Fallout 3 immediately comes to mind as exhibiting all four in spades. The proposed solution of arguing "well, which does it focus on
more" seems limiting at best. Attempting to place this type of cross-genre game firmly on the circumference of the wheel seems a fool's errand.
Additionally, this four-point chart requires a very broad definition of Exploration if we are to include music games and reflex-based puzzle games like Tetris or Lumines on this side. Exploring... relationships between shapes or sounds? (Yes, music can be exploratory, but a game where you follow a chart and push buttons at the right time is not.)
Therefore, I propose a new system based on what The Escapist has created, but ammended in two major ways. First, the directions are not a spectrum, but are unique variables. Second, instead of using four points, I propose five.
The fifth point is "Execution." By this I mean the degree to which the focus of the game is on the precision of player input. Games leaning strongly toward Execution include rhythm games and reflex-puzzle games (thus avoiding the problem with wedging these into "Exploration"). Often, but not always, Execution is strongly tied to elements of timing. One might say that Execution is already covered under "Action," but I would suggest otherwise: Guitar Hero leans very strongly towards Execution but not towards Action, whereas highly scripted games that guide the player through a whirlwind without much responsibility from the player (such as Black Ops) lean toward Action but not Execution.
It looks like this:
Now to make use of the chart. One problem with the method that I'm proposing is that however accurately you may feel you have captured a game's essential nature with your selections of the parameters, it may become difficult to turn that image into words to describe the genre. This is where it's up to the viewer to create their own image to identify their personal taste...
...as I have done with the dashed line here here:
Mine is fairly large -I like a wide variety. And of course a game doesn't have to closely match the edges of my preferences to be something I'll enjoy (I might like strategy, but I'm not looking for it when I play Super Meat Boy). But if a game stretches too far outside your chosen pentagon, it would follow that it is not to your taste.
I decided to do up a few more charts. You may disagree with the values I chose for each, but let me know what you think of the idea.
Symphany of the Night:
Super Meat Boy:
Gran Turismo:
