Tactical Espionage Action.

[MK-Smash]

We all know it as the Metal Gear Series' trademark phrase, but could it be more?

I was thinking to myself after completing MGS4, could TEA really become a genre? Because currently Metal Gear and Splinter Cell are the only games to truly incorporate stealth well (with the possible exception of the Hitman series). The problem is, games that incorporate stealth at this level are so few and far between, would any other new games that tried to incorporate TEA be dismissed as copy cats and shunned from the general gaming community? Personally, since the MG series comes to a close (as to say the last games directed by MR. Kojima) could another game come in to fill the void?

Share you thoughts, because personally, i would love for a game to come out to give this fleeting type of game a fighting chance.

EDIT: Stick to games that incorporate stealth as a major gameplay element, also, TEA as a genre.

 

[shatnershaman]

Other than splinter Cell conviction I dunno man sorry.

 

[Jumplion]

I think "Tactical Espionage Action" is just a fancier term for "Stealth" as stealth usually takes tactic and sneakyness and if you're not careful then you're into action.

 

[shatnershaman]

I think "Tactical Espionage Action" is just a fancier term for "Stealth" as stealth usually takes tactic and sneakyness and if you're not careful then you're into action.

Then theres stealth in every game? (Kill grunts while asleep,don't get hit by goombas)

 

[Logan Westbrook]

I'm confused. How did you get TES from Tactical Espionage Action?

But like shatnershaman says, there are stealth elements in a lot of games that get released, often whether they warrant them or not. If you are referring to games where stealth is a major element, however, might I recommend the Thief series?

 

[MK-Smash]

I'm confused. How did you get TES from Tactical Espionage Action?

But like shatnershaman says, there are stealth elements in a lot of games that get released, often whether they warrant them or not. If you are referring to games where stealth is a major element, however, might I recommend the Thief series?

Woops, thank god for the edit button.

Yes i am refering to stealth as a major gameplay element.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

...could TEA really become a genre?

Being British, I certainly hope so.

That's right, I pointed out the typo for that joke.

 

[shatnershaman]

...could TEA really become a genre?

Being British, I certainly hope so.

That's right, I pointed out the typo for that joke.

That fricking hilarious.

 

[zirnitra]

hmm. While it is true their aren't many games devoted to stealth the only three that do immediately spring to mind our; The Thief series, The Metal Gear series and the Splinter Cell Series. Notice how they are all series which does prove these types of game are popular or they would all of turned out to be major flops.

It is or at least was the trend in the 6th console generation to have at least one stealth mission in every shooter usually mission 4 after the first vehicular mission. I don't know why you seem to be asking could TES become a genre because it already is, it just goes by the name Stealth they are the exact same thing. says here on Wikipedia's disambiguation page
"Stealth game, a genre of video games"

 

[Silver]

There already are a number of stealth games. Deus ex, Ghost recon, Thief to name but a few. (as everyone else has done already) Sure, none of those are really espionage cool stuff, but still. Stealth is almost a requirement.

Personally I love that kind of game. So I'd love to see more of them, even though I could stand to miss MGS. Of course, to really make it espionage, it should be more like Hitman, with blending in with the crowd and all that. And wasn't there an Alias game made too, which should fit the genre?

 

[MK-Smash]

I don't know why you seem to be asking could TES become a genre because it already is, it just goes by the name Stealth they are the exact same thing. says here on Wikipedia's disambiguation page
"Stealth game, a genre of video games"

I guess more of category, because, category wise, MG is considered action, not stealth.

 

[MK-Smash]

to the TEA joker.
Metal Gear Proper:Tactical Sipping Action.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

to the TEA joker.
Metal Gear Proper:Tactical Sipping Action.

I have far too much time on my hands

 

[GeeDave]

The thought of even more genres makes me cringe. It's like the music industry... I'm a young lad but I can't keep up with it, and have now completely lost interest in putting anything into the ole pigeon hole. If someone asks me if I like music, I promptly reply with a "Yes." and move on to something else.

You might come back at me for this and say things like "how will gaming ever evolve if we don't come up with new genres?"... Well my point is that genres have shit all to do with the evolution of games. We make genres so that people understand what they're buying.

- Do the majority of people need to understand what Metal Gear Solid is about?
Yes, like with any game.

- Do they already know such information, even though the "Stealth" genre doesn't exist?
Yes.

- So do we need to define another genre to put this game, and similar games in?
No!

Games will always evolve at the speed of money. Stamping everything that's a little bit different is just nonsense in my opinion. It's possible for current genres to exist due to the sheer popularity of the games that fit within them, so it's good business sense to make it easier for the general public to find the types of games that they would enjoy, based on previous experiences. But then you'd just be shooting yourself in the foot if you kept making more, and more, and more genres.

Have you ever walked into a shop with the intention of purchasing a sweety treat and found yourself stood, staring blankly at the thousands of available choices? I know I have, and I know all hope is lost when one day in the future I ask a "GAME" worker where the "FPS" section is, and he responds with something like:

"Oh right, yes certainly. Head down this aisle here which as you can see is 'Bouncies', full of games that have bouncy things in them. Take a left when you reach the end and you'll walk past a small stand selling 'Trumpet' based games, for other games featuring different musical instruments, take a right. Keep going until you reach the 'slightly less educational' section, then it's a right for 'more educational', left for just 'educational' and directly above your head you'll find 'First Person Shooters', we had to start sticking the older genres to the ceilings to make room. We've got a truck load of "Sort've spacey, sort've not" games tomorrow."

I would say, that we have enough Genres to categorise almost any games nowadays, but I do wish we'd never bothered with them in the first place, and instead... just called it whatever the developers call it.

As for Metal Gear, Thief, Splinter Cell, Assasins Creed? being "Stealth" games... what about Pac Man? If you can't see the relation between a game like Pac Man and Metal Gear... then I think you're over-thinking things quite a lot.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

As for Metal Gear, Thief, Splinter Cell, Assasins Creed? being "Stealth" games... what about Pac Man? If you can't see the relation between a game like Pac Man and Metal Gear... then I think you're over-thinking things quite a lot.

That's an interesting point, but the link is tenuous at best. As far as I was aware, 'Stealth Games' are fairly firmly entrenched as a genre. If you look at the games you listed, they all have many elements in common, although each one does certain things differently.

 

[GeeDave]

Actually, I probably have referred to some games as "Stealth" when describing them. But I hope my general point is still clear.

 

[chaostheory]

There is talk about MGS5 being anotehr prolouge staring Big Boss. Kojima only said it was the Solid Sake's last chapter. Check 1up for the news, I'm to lazy to look it up myself and post a link.

 

[huntedannoyed]

Search and Destroy, one of the Mutiplayer games on Call of Duty 4, is stealth based. Sorry to all of you who call us campers, but thats how you play this particular gametype!

 

[Ultrajoe]

What about Sly Racoon?

sure its toony, but its stealth all the same.

I love stealth games, to me, they take more skill and cognitive ability than some others... if they are made well

In MGS4 there are so many ways of getting to your destination, ive watched people stick to rooftops like a bird, worm their way across the ground agonizingly slow, or blow their way silently through an army and waltz across a mountain of surprised corpses.

So many choices... personally, i like to try a little of all of the above.

Stealth is the game for the thinking man... or the patient man.

 

[GeeDave]

Stealth is the game for the thinking man... or the patient man.

Same would go for Point and Click adventures. Not so much the patience part, unless you're lacking in the thinking depeartment!