HexaDrive
Games
Table:
Year

Title

Publisher

Genre

Platform(s)

2008

Rez HD

Q Entertainment

Rail shooter, music game

Xbox 360

2010

The 3rd Birthday

Square Enix

Role-playing shooter, survival horror

PlayStation Portable

2012

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D[3]

Konami

Stealth action

Nintendo 3DS

2012

Demons' Score[4]

Square Enix

Rhythm action game

Android, iOS

2012

Ōkami HD

Capcom

Action adventure

PlayStation 3

2012

E.X. Troopers[5]

Capcom

Third-person shooter

PlayStation 3

2012

Metal Gear Solid: Social Ops[3]

Konami

Action, Turn Based Strategy, Trading Card Game

Android, iOS

2013

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner HD Edition[a]

Konami

Action

PlayStation 3

2013

The Wonderful 101[b]

Nintendo

Action adventure

Wii U

2013

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD[c]

Nintendo

Action adventure

Wii U

2014

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS[6]

Capcom

Action role-playing game

iOS

2014

King Radish's Ambition[7]

HexaDrive

Tower defense

Android, iOS

2015

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD[8]

Square Enix

Action role-playing game

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

2015

Rampage Land Rankers[9]

Square Enix

Role-playing game

Android, iOS

2016

Final Fantasy XV[10]

Square Enix

Role-playing game

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

2017

Super Bomberman R[11]

Konami

Action

Nintendo Switch

2017

Mario Sports Superstars[12][d]

Nintendo

Sports

Nintendo 3DS

2017

Resident Evil 7: Not a Hero[12]

Capcom

First-person shooter, survival horror

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

2017

Ōkami HD

Capcom

Action adventure

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

2019

Monkey King: Hero Is Back

THQ Nordic/Oasis Games

Action

PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows

Based on the given table plus the relevant paragraphs provided.

Solve the question: What is the name of the original creator of the main character of the game released for PSP ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

2008 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games . New intellectual properties include Army of Two , Dead Space , Left 4 Dead , LittleBigPlanet , Mirror 's Edge , Race Driver : Grid , Grand Theft Auto IV and Spore .
Rez [ c ] is a musical rail shooter developed by United Game Artists and published by Sega for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 . It was released in Japan in 2001 , followed by releases to the United States and Europe in 2002 . The game was ported to Xbox 360 as Rez HD by Q Entertainment and HexaDrive in 2008 . A virtual reality-compatible expanded version dubbed Rez Infinite was co-developed and released through 2016 and 2017 by Enhance Games , Resonair and Monstars for PlayStation 4 , Microsoft Windows and Android . Following a hacker 's journey into a malfunctioning AI system , the game has players controlling their avatar as they shoot down numerous enemies . The gameplay and projectile hits sync with the music and have vibration feedback for different controllers , aiming to create a sense of synesthesia . The narrative is told using little description and no dialogue , and including thematic references to the journey of life and technological singularity . The game was conceived by Tetsuya Mizuguchi in 1998 , drawing inspiration from European disco music . Production began in 1999 after the team finished work on Space Channel 5 ; the developers included veterans of Panzer Dragoon creators Team Andromeda . The design concept drew from rave culture and classic rail shooters , and level design made extensive use of wire frame graphics drawing from the paintings of Wassily Kandinsky . The music , supervised by Keiichi Sugiyama , featured collaborations with multiple Japanese and Western music artists and influenced level designs . The game met with low sales , but strong critical reception due to its music , gameplay and graphics .
Q Entertainment ( Japanese : Qエンターテインメント , Hepburn : Q Entāteinmento ) is a Japanese video game developer . The studio creates , produces , and publishes digital entertainment content across multiple game consoles , PC broadband and mobile units . It was founded on October 10 , 2003 by Tetsuya Mizuguchi , formerly of Sega ( where he was best known for producing the Dreamcast games Space Channel 5 and Rez ) , and Shuji Utsumi , former founding member of Sony Computer Entertainment America , Senior VP of Sega Enterprises , Ltd. , and head of Disney ( Buena Vista Games ) Asia . It is best known for their music and luminary action puzzle game series Lumines , which was released worldwide in 2004/2005 for the PlayStation Portable system and has now developed into mobile ( Lumines Mobile ) , Xbox Live Arcade ( Lumines Live ! ) and PlayStation 2 ( Lumines Plus ) platforms . Q Entertainment 's line-up also includes the action puzzle title Meteos for the Nintendo DS and fantasy action title Ninety-Nine Nights for the Xbox 360 . Their latest title , Lumines Electronic Symphony , was released in February 2012 for the PlayStation Vita . Tetsuya Mizuguchi left the company in 2013 . He founded Enhance Games in 2014 and he is the CEO of that company .
Shoot 'em up ( also known as shmup or STG ) is a subgenre of video games within the shooter subgenre in the action genre . There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up . Some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of character movement ; others allow a broader definition including characters on foot and a variety of perspectives . The genre 's roots can be traced back to Spacewar ! , one of the earliest computer games , developed in 1962 . The shoot 'em up genre was later established by the hit arcade game Space Invaders , which popularised and set the general template for the genre in 1978 , and the genre was then further developed by arcade hits such as Asteroids and Galaxian in 1979 . Shoot 'em ups were popular throughout the 1980s and early 1990s . In the mid-1990s , shoot 'em ups became a niche genre based on design conventions established in the 1980s , and increasingly catered to specialist enthusiasts , particularly in Japan . Bullet hell games are a subgenre that features overwhelming numbers of enemy projectiles , often in visually impressive formations .
A music video game , also commonly known as a music game , is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player 's interactions with a musical score or individual songs . Music video games may take a variety of forms and are often grouped with puzzle games due to their common use of rhythmically generated puzzles . Music video games are distinct from purely audio games ( e.g . the 1997 Sega Saturn release Real Sound : Kaze no Regret ) in that they feature a visual feedback , to lead the player through the game 's soundtrack , although eidetic music games can fall under both categories . [ citation needed ]
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft . As the successor to the original Xbox , it is the second console in the Xbox series . It competed with Sony 's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo 's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles . It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12 , 2005 , with detailed launch and game information announced later that month at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo . The Xbox 360 features an online service , Xbox Live , which was expanded from its previous iteration on the original Xbox and received regular updates during the console 's lifetime . Available in free and subscription-based varieties , Xbox Live allows users to : play games online ; download games ( through Xbox Live Arcade ) and game demos ; purchase and stream music , television programs , and films through the Xbox Music and Xbox Video portals ; and access third-party content services through media streaming applications . In addition to online multimedia features , it allows users to stream media from local PCs . Several peripherals have been released , including wireless controllers , expanded hard drive storage , and the Kinect motion sensing camera . The release of these additional services and peripherals helped the Xbox brand grow from gaming-only to encompassing all multimedia , turning it into a hub for living-room computing entertainment . Launched worldwide across 2005-2006 , the Xbox 360 was initially in short supply in many regions , including North America and Europe . The earliest versions of the console suffered from a high failure rate , indicated by the so-called Red Ring of Death , necessitating an extension of the device 's warranty period . Microsoft released two redesigned models of the console : the Xbox 360 S in 2010 , and the Xbox 360 E in 2013 .
2010 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games , including several new titles such as Ace Attorney , Alien vs . Predator , Army of Two , Assassin 's Creed , Battlefield , BioShock , Call of Duty , Castlevania , Civilization , Crackdown , Donkey Kong , Darksiders , Dead Rising , Fable , Fallout , God of War , Gran Turismo , Grand Theft Auto , Halo , Just Cause , Kane and Lynch , Lost Planet , Mafia , Mass Effect , Medal of Honor , Mega Man , Metroid , Need for Speed , Pokémon , Prince of Persia , Red Steel , Red Dead , Resident Evil , Skate , StarCraft , Star Wars : The Force Unleashed , Super Mario , Super Monkey Ball , Tom Clancy 's H.A.W.X , Tom Clancy 's Splinter Cell and Total War . In addition , it saw the release of many new intellectual properties , such as Alan Wake , Darksiders , Deadly Premonition , Heavy Rain and Metro 2033 . Many awards went to games such as Red Dead Redemption , Mass Effect 2 , God of War III and Super Mario Galaxy 2 . Kinect from Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 was also released this year .
The 3rd Birthday ( Japanese : ザ・サード バースデイ , Hepburn : Za Sādo Bāsudei ) is a third-person role-playing shooter co-developed by Square Enix and HexaDrive , and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable . It was released in Japan in 2010 and in North America and Europe in 2011 . The game is both the third entry in the Parasite Eve video game series , based on the titular Japanese novel , and a spin-off , having only a loose connection to events from past games . The game features a third-person shooter-based combat system with role-playing mechanics . A key mechanic is the Overdive ability , which allows the player to possess pre-positioned human allies and inflict damage upon enemies . The game takes place in 2013 , a year after creatures known as the Twisted have appeared from beneath Manhattan and decimated the city . To fight back against the Twisted , an investigatory team called the Counter Twisted Investigation ( CTI ) is formed . Among their number is series protagonist Aya Brea , who was found unconscious and suffering amnesia two years before the game 's events . Using her Overdive ability , Aya travels into the past to alter the outcome of battles against the Twisted . At the same time , Aya attempts to find out the origin of the Twisted and regain her memories . The 3rd Birthday was created as a conceptual rebirth for Aya 's character , as well as a means of re-introducing her to the gaming community , with it being over a decade since the last game in the series . Among the staff were Hajime Tabata , Yoshinori Kitase , Motomu Toriyama , Isamu Kamikokuryo , and Aya 's original designer Tetsuya Nomura .
Square Enix Holdings Co. , Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer , publisher , and distribution company known for its Final Fantasy , Dragon Quest , and Kingdom Hearts role-playing video game franchises , among numerous others . Several of them have sold over 10 million copies worldwide , with the Final Fantasy franchise alone selling 144 million , the Dragon Quest franchise selling 78 million and the Kingdom Hearts franchise selling 30 million . The Square Enix headquarters are in the Shinjuku Eastside Square Building in Shinjuku , Tokyo . The company employs over 4300 employees worldwide . The original Square Enix Co. , Ltd. was formed in April 2003 as the result of a merger between Square and Enix , with the latter as the surviving company . Each share of Square 's common stock was exchanged for 0.85 shares of Enix 's common stock . At the time , 80% of Square Enix staff were made up of former Square employees . As part of the merger , former Square president Yoichi Wada was appointed the president of the new corporation , while former Enix president Keiji Honda was named its vice president . Yasuhiro Fukushima , the largest shareholder of the combined corporation and founder of Enix , became chairman . In October 2008 , Square Enix conducted a company split between its corporate business and video game operations . Square Enix reorganised itself as Square Enix Holdings Co. , Ltd. , a holding company , while its internally domestic video game operations were formed as a new subsidiary called Square Enix Co. , Ltd. During the 2014 fiscal year , the company made over ¥150 billion in revenue ( US $ 1.36 billion ) . In addition to its flagship subsidiary , Square Enix Holdings owns the arcade gaming corporation Taito , known for games such as Space Invaders , Bubble Bobble , and Darius .
Action role-playing video games ( often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG ) are a subgenre of role-playing video games . The games emphasize real-time combat where the player has direct control over the characters as opposed to turn or menu-based combat while still having a focus on character 's Stats in order to determine relative strength and abilities . These games often use action game combat systems similar to hack and slash or shooter games . Action role-playing games may also incorporate action-adventure games , which include a mission system and RPG mechanics , or massively multiplayer online role-playing games ( MMORPGs ) with real-time combat systems .
Survival horror is a subgenre of video games inspired by horror fiction that focuses on survival of the character as the game tries to frighten players with either horror graphics or scary ambience . Although combat can be part of the gameplay , the player is made to feel less in control than in typical action games through limited ammunition , health , speed and vision , or through various obstructions of the player 's interaction with the game mechanics . The player is also challenged to find items that unlock the path to new areas and solve puzzles to proceed in the game . Games make use of strong horror themes , like dark mazelike environments and unexpected attacks from enemies . The term survival horror was first used for the original Japanese release of Resident Evil in 1996 , which was influenced by earlier games with a horror theme such as 1989 's Sweet Home and 1992 's Alone in the Dark . The name has been used since then for games with similar gameplay , and has been retroactively applied to earlier titles . Starting with the release of Resident Evil 4 in 2005 , the genre began to incorporate more features from action games and more traditional first person and third-person shooter games . This has led game journalists to question whether long-standing survival horror franchises and more recent franchises have abandoned the genre and moved into a distinct genre often referred to as action horror .
The PlayStation Portable [ a ] ( PSP ) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment . It was first released in Japan on December 12 , 2004 , in North America on March 24 , 2005 , and in PAL regions on September 1 , 2005 , and is the first handheld installment in the PlayStation line of consoles . As a seventh generation console , the PSP primarily competed with the Nintendo DS . Development of the PSP was announced during E3 2003 , and the console was unveiled at a Sony press conference on May 11 , 2004 . The system was the most powerful portable console when it was introduced , and was the first real competitor of Nintendo 's handheld consoles after many challengers , such as SNK 's Neo Geo Pocket and Nokia 's N-Gage , had failed . The PSP 's advanced graphics capabilities made it a popular mobile entertainment device , which could connect to the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 consoles , computers running Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh software , other PSP systems , and the Internet . The PSP is the only handheld console to use an optical disc format - Universal Media Disc ( UMD ) - as its primary storage medium . The PSP was received positively by critics , and sold over 80 million units during its ten-year lifetime . Several models of the console were released , before the PSP line was succeeded by the PlayStation Vita , released in Japan in 2011 and worldwide a year later . The Vita has backward compatibility with PSP games that were released on the PlayStation Network through the PlayStation Store , which became the main method of purchasing PSP games after Sony shut down access to the store from the PSP on March 31 , 2016 . Hardware shipments of the PSP ended worldwide in 2014 ; production of UMDs ended when the last Japanese factory producing them closed in late 2016 .
The year 2012 saw the release of numerous sequels to critically acclaimed video games , such as Alan Wake , Assassin 's Creed , Borderlands , Call of Duty , Counter-Strike , Darksiders , Dead or Alive , Diablo , Fable , Far Cry , Forza Motorsport , Halo , Hitman , Mario Party , Marvel vs. Capcom , Mass Effect , Max Payne , Medal of Honor , Modern Combat , Need for Speed , Ninja Gaiden , PlanetSide , Pokémon , Prototype , Resident Evil , Silent Hill , Sniper Elite , Spec Ops , Super Mario , Tekken , The Darkness , Tom Clancy 's Ghost Recon , Transformers , Trials and X-COM . In addition , it saw the release of many new intellectual properties , such as Asura 's Wrath , Dishonored , Journey , Lollipop Chainsaw and Sleeping Dogs . Many awards went to games such as Borderlands 2 , Far Cry 3 , Journey , Mass Effect 3 , The Walking Dead and XCOM : Enemy Unknown . It began with the worldwide release of Sony 's newest handheld game console , the PlayStation Vita , that was launched in Japan in December 2011 . The end of the year marked the worldwide release of the second most recent home console by Nintendo , the Wii U .
Metal Gear Solid 3 : Snake Eater [ a ] is an action-adventure stealth video game produced by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan for the PlayStation 2 . It was released in late 2004 in North America and Japan , then in early 2005 in Europe and Australia . It was the fifth Metal Gear game written and directed by Hideo Kojima and serves as a prequel to the entire Metal Gear series . An expanded edition , titled Metal Gear Solid 3 : Subsistence , [ b ] was released in Japan in late 2005 , then in North America , Europe and Australia in 2006 . Set in 1964 ( thirty years before the events of the original Metal Gear ) , the story centers on the FOX operative codenamed Naked Snake as he attempts to rescue a Russian rocket scientist by the name of Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov , sabotage an experimental superweapon , and assassinate his defected former boss . While previous games were set in a primarily urban environment , Snake Eater adopts a 1960s Soviet jungle setting , with the high tech , near-future trappings of previous Metal Gear Solid games being replaced with the wilderness . While the environment has changed , the game 's focus remains on stealth and infiltration , while retaining the series ' self-referential , fourth-wall-breaking sense of humor . The story of Snake Eater is told through numerous cutscenes and radio conversations . Considered one of the greatest video games of all time , Metal Gear Solid 3 : Snake Eater received praise for its story , gameplay , graphics , setting , characters , and ending , as well as departing from the series ' conventions . Snake Eater was a commercial success , having sold 3.6 million copies worldwide by August 2005 .
Konami Holdings Corporation [ nb 1 ] [ nb 2 ] is a Japanese entertainment and gambling conglomerate . It operates as a product distributor ( which produces and distributes trading cards , anime , tokusatsu , slot machines , pachinko machines and arcade cabinets ) , video game developer and publisher company . Konami has casinos around the world and operates health and physical fitness clubs across Japan . Konami 's video game franchisee include Metal Gear , Silent Hill , Castlevania , Contra , Frogger , Gradius , Yu-Gi-Oh ! , Suikoden and Pro Evolution Soccer . Additionally , Konami owns Bemani , known for Dance Dance Revolution and Beatmania , as well as the assets of former game developer Hudson Soft , known for Bomberman , Adventure Island , Bonk , Bloody Roar and Star Soldier . Konami is the twentieth-largest game company in the world by revenue . The company originated in 1969 as a jukebox rental and repair business in Toyonaka , Osaka , Japan , by Kagemasa Kōzuki , who remains the company 's chairman . The name Konami is a portmanteau of the names Kagemasa Kozuki , Yoshinobu Nakama , and Tatsuo Miyasako . Konami is headquartered in Tokyo . In the United States , Konami manages its video game business from offices in El Segundo , California and its casino gaming business from offices in Paradise , Nevada . Its Australian gaming operations are located in Sydney . As of March 2019 , it owns 22 consolidated subsidiaries around the world .
A stealth game is a type of video game in which the player primarily uses stealth to avoid or overcome antagonists . Games in the genre typically allow the player to remain undetected by hiding , sneaking , or using disguises . Some games allow the player to choose between a stealthy approach or directly attacking antagonists , but rewarding the player for greater use of stealth . The genre has employed espionage , counter-terrorism , and rogue themes , with protagonists who are special forces operatives , spies , thieves , ninjas , or assassins . Some games have also combined stealth elements with other genres , such as first-person shooters and platformers . Elements of stealth gameplay , by way of avoiding confrontation with enemies , can be attributed to a diverse range of games , including Pac Man ( 1980 ) . Early maze games have been credited with spawning the genre , including Manbiki Shounen ( 1979 ) , Lupin III ( 1980 ) , Castle Wolfenstein ( 1981 ) , 005 ( 1981 ) and Metal Gear ( 1987 ) . The genre became a mainstream success in 1998 , with Tenchu : Stealth Assassins , Metal Gear Solid and Thief : The Dark Project all being released in that year . These games were followed by other successful stealth series , such as Hitman and Splinter Cell .
Action-adventure is a video game genre that combines core elements from both the action game and adventure game genres . With the decline of the adventure game genre from mainstream popularity in the early 2000s , the use of the term ( and the hybrid term action-adventure ) has been more liberal . It is not uncommon for gamers to apply the term adventure or action to describe the genre of fiction to which a game belongs , and not the gameplay itself . Action-adventure is a hybrid genre , and thus the definition is very inclusive , leading it to be perhaps the broadest genre of video games , and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres . Typically , pure adventure games have situational problems for the player to solve , with very little or no action . If there is action , it is generally confined to isolated minigames . Pure action games have gameplay based on real-time interactions that challenge the reflexes . Therefore , action-adventure games engage both reflexes and problem-solving , in both violent and non-violent situations .
The Nintendo 3DS [ a ] is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo . It is capable of displaying stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or additional accessories . Nintendo announced the console in March 2010 and officially unveiled it at E3 2010 on June 15 . The console succeeds the Nintendo DS , featuring backward compatibility with older Nintendo DS video games . Its primary competitor was Sony 's PlayStation Vita . The handheld offers new features such as the StreetPass and SpotPass tag modes , powered by Nintendo Network ; augmented reality , using its 3D cameras ; and Virtual Console , which allows owners to download and play games originally released on older video game systems . It is also pre-loaded with various applications including an online distribution store called Nintendo eShop ; a social networking service called Miiverse ( shut down in 2017 ) ; an Internet Browser ; the Netflix , Hulu Plus and YouTube streaming video services ; Nintendo Video ; a messaging application called Swapnote ( known as Nintendo Letter Box in Europe and Australia ) ; and Mii Maker . The Nintendo 3DS was released in Japan on February 26 , 2011 , and worldwide beginning in March 2011 . Less than six months later on July 28 , 2011 , Nintendo announced a significant price reduction from US $ 249 to US $ 169 amid disappointing launch sales . The company offered ten free Nintendo Entertainment System games and ten free Game Boy Advance games from the Nintendo eShop to consumers who bought the system at the original launch price . This strategy was considered a major success , and the console went on to become one of Nintendo 's most successful handheld consoles in the first two years of its release . As of December 31 , 2019 [ update ] , the Nintendo 3DS family of systems combined have sold 75.71 million units .
Demons ' Score is a rhythm mobile game developed by iNiS and published by Square Enix . The gameplay is similar to another iNiS-developed game , Elite Beat Agents . The game was released for iOS in September 2012 , and for Android two months later . The game was disconnected in September 2014 .
Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player 's sense of rhythm . Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments , and require players to press buttons in a sequence dictated on the screen . Many rhythm games include multiplayer modes in which players compete for the highest score or cooperate as a simulated musical ensemble . While conventional control pads may be used as input devices , rhythm games often feature novel game controllers that emulate musical instruments . Certain dance-based games require the player to physically dance on a mat , with pressure-sensitive pads acting as the input device . The 1996 title PaRappa the Rapper has been deemed the first influential rhythm game , whose basic template formed the core of subsequent games in the genre . In 1997 , Konami 's Beatmania sparked an emergent market for rhythm games in Japan . The company 's music division , Bemani , released a series of music-based games over the next several years . The most successful of these was the 1998 dance mat game Dance Dance Revolution , which was the only Bemani title to achieve large-scale success outside Japan , and would see numerous imitations of the game from other publishers . Other Japanese games , particularly Guitar Freaks , led to development of Guitar Hero and Rock Band series that used instrument-shaped controllers to mimic the playing of actual instruments . Spurred by the inclusion of popular rock music , the two series revitalized the rhythm genre in the Western Market , significantly expanded the console video game market and its demographics . The games provided a new source of revenue for the artists whose music appeared on the soundtracks .
Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open source software , designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets . Android is developed by a consortium of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance , with the main contributor and commercial marketer being Google . Initially developed by Android Inc. , which Google bought in 2005 , Android was unveiled in 2007 , with the first commercial Android device launched in September 2008 . The current stable version is Android 10 , released on September 3 , 2019 . The core Android source code is known as Android Open Source Project ( AOSP ) , which is primarily licensed under the Apache License . This has allowed variants of Android to be developed on a range of other electronics , such as game consoles , digital cameras , PCs and others , each with a specialized user interface . Some well known derivatives include Android TV for televisions and Wear OS for wearables , both developed by Google . Android 's source code has been used as the basis of different ecosystems , most notably that of Google which is associated with a suite of proprietary software called Google Mobile Services ( GMS ) , that frequently comes pre-installed on said devices . This includes core apps such as Gmail , the digital distribution platform Google Play and associated Google Play Services development platform , and usually apps such as the Google Chrome web browser . These apps are licensed by manufacturers of Android devices certified under standards imposed by Google . Other competing Android ecosystems include Amazon.com 's Fire OS , or LineageOS . Software distribution is generally offered through proprietary application stores like Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store , or open source platforms like Aptoide or F-Droid , which use software packages in the APK format .
iOS ( formerly iPhone OS ) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware . It is the operating system that presently powers many of the company 's mobile devices , including the iPhone , and iPod Touch ; it also powered the iPad prior to the introduction of iPadOS in 2019 . It is the second most popular mobile operating system globally after Android . Originally unveiled in 2007 for the iPhone , iOS has been extended to support other Apple devices such as the iPod Touch ( September 2007 ) and the iPad ( January 2010 ) . As of March 2018 [ update ] , Apple 's App Store contains more than 2.1 million iOS applications , 1 million of which are native for iPads . These mobile apps have collectively been downloaded more than 130 billion times . The iOS user interface is based upon direct manipulation , using multi-touch gestures . Interface control elements consist of sliders , switches , and buttons . Interaction with the OS includes gestures such as swipe , tap , pinch , and reverse pinch , all of which have specific definitions within the context of the iOS operating system and its multi-touch interface . Internal accelerometers are used by some applications to respond to shaking the device ( one common result is the undo command ) or rotating it in three dimensions ( one common result is switching between portrait and landscape mode ) . Apple has been significantly praised for incorporating thorough accessibility functions into iOS , enabling users with vision and hearing disabilities to properly use its products . Major versions of iOS are released annually .
Ōkami ( Japanese : 大神 , lit . great god or great spirit ) is an action-adventure video game developed by Clover Studio and published by Capcom . It was released for PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan and North America , and in 2007 in Europe and Australia . After the closure of Clover Studio a few months after the release , a port for Wii was developed by Ready at Dawn , Tose and Capcom , and released in 2008 . Set in classical Japan , Ōkami combines Japanese mythology and folklore to tell the story of how the land was saved from darkness by the Shinto sun goddess , named Amaterasu , who took the form of a white wolf . It features a sumi-e-inspired cel-shaded visual style and the Celestial Brush , a gesture-system to perform miracles . The game was planned to use more traditional realistic rendering , but this had put a strain on the graphics processing of the PlayStation 2 . Clover Studio switched to a cel-shaded style to reduce the processing , which led to the Celestial Brush concept . The gameplay is modeled on The Legend of Zelda , one of director Hideki Kamiya 's favorite series . Ōkami was one of the last PlayStation 2 games released prior to the release of the PlayStation 3 . Although it suffered from poor sales , the game received critical acclaim , earning IGN 's 2006 Game of the Year . The Wii version earned similar praise , though the motion control scheme received mixed reviews .
Capcom Co. , Ltd. ( Japanese : 株式会社カプコン , Hepburn : Kabushiki-gaisha Kapukon ) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher known for creating numerous multi-million selling game franchises , including Mega Man , Street Fighter , Resident Evil , Devil May Cry , Onimusha , Dino Crisis , Dead Rising , Sengoku Basara , Ghosts ' n Goblins , Monster Hunter , Breath of Fire , and Ace Attorney as well as games based on Disney animated properties . Established in 1979 , it has become an international enterprise with subsidiaries in North America , Europe , and Japan .
The PlayStation 3 ( officially abbreviated as PS3 ) is a home video game console developed by Sony Computer Entertainment . It is the successor to PlayStation 2 , and is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles . It was first released on November 11 , 2006 in Japan , November 17 , 2006 in North America , and March 23 , 2007 in Europe and Australia . The PlayStation 3 competed primarily against Microsoft 's Xbox 360 and Nintendo 's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles . The console was first officially announced at E3 2005 , and was released at the end of 2006 . It was the first console to use Blu-ray Disc as its primary storage medium . The console was the first PlayStation to integrate social gaming services , including the PlayStation Network , as well as the first to be controllable from a handheld console , through its remote connectivity with PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita . In September 2009 , the Slim model of the PlayStation 3 was released . It no longer provided the hardware ability to run PS2 games . It was lighter and thinner than the original version , and featured a redesigned logo and marketing design , as well as a minor start-up change in software . A Super Slim variation was then released in late 2012 , further refining and redesigning the console . During its early years , the system was negatively received , due to its high price ( $ 599 for a 60 gigabyte model , $ 499 for a 20 GB model ) , a complex processor architecture , and lack of quality games but was praised for its Blu-ray capabilities and untapped potential .
E.X . Troopers ( Japanese : エクストルーパーズ , Hepburn : Ekusutorūpāzu ) , stylized as E.X . Tr∞pers , is a third-person shooter video game developed and published by Capcom for Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 3 . The game was released exclusively in Japan to retail customers on November 22 , 2012 and later on Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Network on January 24 , 2013 . It is a spin-off of the Lost Planet series which Capcom describes as exhilarating manga-esque action ( マンガチック爽快アクション , Mangachikku sōkai akushon ) , rather than action shooting ( アクションシューティング ) like prior console instalments or Lost Planet 3 's cinematic shooting ( シネマティックシューティング ) .
Third-person shooter ( TPS ) is a subgenre of 3D shooter games in which the player character is visible on-screen during gaming , and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting .
Metal Gear Solid : Social Ops ( Japanese : メタルギア ソリッド ソーシャル・オプス , Hepburn : Metaru Gia Soriddo Sōsharu Opusu ) was a mobile entry in the Metal Gear stealth action video game series . It was released in Japan on December 6 , 2012 . The publisher Konami announced that the game would shutdown on December 13 , 2013 .
Action fiction is the literary genre that includes spy novels , adventure stories , tales of terror and intrigue ( cloak and dagger ) , and mysteries . This kind of story utilizes suspense , the tension that is built up when the reader wishes to know how the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist is going to be resolved or what the solution to the puzzle of a thriller is .
A turn-based strategy ( TBS ) game is a strategy game ( usually some type of wargame , especially a strategic-level wargame ) where players take turns when playing . This is distinguished from real-time strategy ( RTS ) , in which all players play simultaneously .
A collectible card game ( CCG ) , also called a trading card game ( TCG ) , among other names , [ note 1 ] is a strategy card game created in 1993 and consists of specially designed sets of playing cards . These cards use proprietary artwork or images to embellish the card . CCGs may depict anything from fantasy or science fiction genres , horror themes , cartoons , or even sports . Game text is also on the card and is used to interact with the other cards in a strategic fashion . Games are commonly played between two players , though multiplayer formats are also common . Players may also use dice , counters , card sleeves , or play mats to complement their gameplay . CCGs can be played with or collected , and often both . Generally , a CCG is initially played using a starter deck . This deck may be modified by adding cards from booster packs , which contain around 8 to 15 random cards . As a player obtains more cards , they may create new decks from scratch . When enough players have been established , tournaments are formed to compete for prizes . Successful CCGs typically have thousands of unique cards , often extended through expansion sets that add new mechanics .
Numerous games were released in 2013 , including new installments for well-received franchises , such as Ace Attorney , Army of Two , Assassin 's Creed , Batman : Arkham , Battlefield , BioShock , Call of Duty , Crysis , Dead Rising , Dead Space , Devil May Cry , Final Fantasy , Fire Emblem , Forza Motorsport , God of War , Gears of War , Gran Turismo , Grand Theft Auto , Killer Instinct , Killzone , Lost Planet , Luigi 's Mansion , Mario Party , Metal Gear , Metro , Need for Speed , Pokémon , Rayman , Pikmin , Saints Row , SimCity , Sly Cooper , Sonic The Hedgehog , StarCraft , Super Mario , The Legend of Zelda , Tom Clancy 's Splinter Cell , Tomb Raider , Total War and Zoo Tycoon . In addition , it saw the release of many new intellectual properties , such as Beyond : Two Souls , Papers , Please , Tearaway , The Wonderful 101 and The Last of Us . Many awards went to games such as BioShock Infinite , Grand Theft Auto V , The Last of Us and The Legend of Zelda : A Link Between Worlds . New video game consoles were also released in 2013 with the PlayStation 4 from Sony Computer Entertainment and the Xbox One from Microsoft .
Zone of the Enders : The 2nd Runner , known in Japan as Anubis : Zone of the Enders [ b ] , is a third-person shooter hack and slash video game that was developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 in 2003 . The sequel to Zone of the Enders is based around mecha combat with the player once again controlling the Orbital Frame Jehuty . Unlike its predecessor , the game is now centered on action elements with the player not needing to protect civilians in need and instead Jehuty contains more weaponry than in the previous game . The plot is set two years after the events from Zone of the Enders and focuses on Dingo Egret , a former member from Mars ' military organization BAHRAM whose leader Ridley Nohman Hardiman wants back with him . Nohman shoots Dingo following his rejection but the agent Ken Marinaris saves Dingo by connecting his body to Jehuty and forces to work in order to defeat BAHRAM . The game had a new director , Shuyo Murata , who producer Hideo Kojima appointed in order to provide a different experience . The team worked to cover the criticism the original Zone of the Enders received resulted in The 2nd Runner having more action elements . The game received generally favorable critical response due to the improvements it has in comparison to the previous game . Critics praised the game 's graphics and gameplay elements but criticized its short length and presentation . Despite the positive critical reaction , the game suffered mediocre sales . The 2nd Runner was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as a part of the Zone of the Enders HD Collection in 2012 . A remaster , The 2nd Runner M∀RS , was released in September 2018 for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 .
The Wonderful 101 [ a ] is an action-adventure game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Nintendo for the Wii U . The game was directed by Hideki Kamiya and produced by Atsushi Inaba ; the pair also worked together on the Viewtiful Joe series and Ōkami . It was released in August 2013 in all major regions except North America , where it released the following month . The Wonderful 101 received generally positive reviews , but failed to meet sales expectations . In February 2020 , PlatinumGames announced a remastered version for Nintendo Switch , Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 , which was financed through crowdfunding , with a planned release in April 2020 .
Nintendo Co. , Ltd. [ a ] is a Japanese multinational consumer electronics and video game company headquartered in Kyoto . Nintendo is one of the world 's largest video game companies by market capitalization , creating some of the best-known and top-selling video game franchises of all-time , such as Mario , The Legend of Zelda , Animal Crossing , and Pokémon . Nintendo was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produced handmade hanafuda playing cards . By 1963 , the company had tried several small niche businesses , such as cab services and love hotels , without major success . Abandoning previous ventures in favor of toys in the 1960s , Nintendo developed into a video game company in the 1970s . Supplemented since the 1980s by its major divisions Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe , it ultimately became one of the most influential in the video game industry and one of Japan 's most-valuable companies with a market value of over $ 37 billion in 2018 .
The Wii U ( /ˌwiː ˈjuː/ WEE YOO ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii . Released in late 2012 , it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft 's Xbox One and Sony 's PlayStation 4 . The Wii U is the first Nintendo console to support HD graphics . The system 's primary controller is the Wii U GamePad , which features an embedded touchscreen , directional buttons , analog sticks , and action buttons . The screen can be used either as a supplement to the main display or in supported games to play the game directly on the GamePad . The Wii U Pro Controller can be used in its place as a more traditional alternative . The Wii U is backward compatible with all Wii software and accessories . Games can support any combination of the GamePad , Wii Remote , Nunchuk , Balance Board , or Nintendo 's Classic Controller or Wii U Pro Controller . Online functionality centers around the Nintendo Network platform and Miiverse , an integrated social networking service which allows users to share content in game-specific communities . The Wii U was met with a generally positive reception , which included praise for its innovative GamePad controller , improvements to online functionality over the Wii , backwards compatibility with existing Wii software and peripherals , and relative affordability . However , the Wii U was also criticized for the GamePad 's short battery life and issues with the console 's user interface and functionality . The Wii U was met with slow consumer adoption , with low sales that were primarily credited to a weak lineup of launch titles , limited third-party support , and poor marketing .
The Legend of Zelda : The Wind Waker HD [ a ] is a 2013 action-adventure game for the Wii U , developed and published by Nintendo . It is a remastered version of the 2002 GameCube game The Legend of Zelda : The Wind Waker . The Wind Waker HD adds native 1080p resolution , an alternative lighting engine , and gameplay changes . The release marked the ten-year anniversary of the original , and was the first Legend of Zelda game released on the Wii U .
The year 2014 saw a number of events in the video game industry . No new major consoles were released , but updates and upgrades were : the New Nintendo 3DS was released in Japan and Oceania , and Sony released new model 2000 PS Vita systems in Europe & North America . In video game-related corporate acquisitions , Amazon purchased the online video game streaming service Twitch , and Facebook acquired the virtual reality company and product Oculus . Nintendo released Amiibo in 2014 , companion figurines that could be scanned by the 3DS and WiiU systems . On Twitter and other Internet social media , the Gamergate controversy began . Among video games originally released in 2014 , critics gave the highest reviews to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U , Dark Souls II , Bayonetta 2 , Shovel Knight , Velocity 2X , Dragon Age : Inquisition , Mario Kart 8 , and Hearthstone : Heroes of Warcraft . Other significant games that won awards included Destiny , Middle-Earth : Shadow of Mordor , and Monument Valley .
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is a 2008 video game in the Monster Hunter franchise for PlayStation Portable and iOS . It is an expansion of the original Monster Hunter Freedom 2 and was released on March 27 , 2008 in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G ( モンスターハンターポータブル2nd G , Monsutā Hantā Pōtaburu 2nd G ) .
Action role-playing video games ( often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG ) are a subgenre of role-playing video games . The games emphasize real-time combat where the player has direct control over the characters as opposed to turn or menu-based combat while still having a focus on character 's Stats in order to determine relative strength and abilities . These games often use action game combat systems similar to hack and slash or shooter games . Action role-playing games may also incorporate action-adventure games , which include a mission system and RPG mechanics , or massively multiplayer online role-playing games ( MMORPGs ) with real-time combat systems .
Tower defense ( TD ) is a subgenre of strategy video game where the goal is to defend a player 's territories or possessions by obstructing the enemy attackers , usually achieved by placing defensive structures on or along their path of attack . This typically means building a variety of different structures that serve to automatically block , impede , attack or destroy enemies . Tower defense is seen as a subgenre of real-time strategy video games , due to its real-time origins , though many modern tower defense games include aspects of turn-based strategy . Strategic choice and positioning of defensive elements is an essential strategy of the genre . Ryan Clements of IGN attributes the popularity of such games to psychology and human vulnerability . Tower defense , according to Clements , plays off of our need for security , ownership , and a desire to protect the people closest to us arising from a need to create intrinsic value through ownership over things , personal space and to repel our fears and insecurities .
The year 2015 saw releases of numerous video games as well as a follow-up to Nintendo 's portable 3DS console , the New Nintendo 3DS . Top-rated games originally released in 2015 included Metal Gear Solid V : The Phantom Pain , The Witcher 3 : Wild Hunt , Bloodborne , Undertale , and Fallout 4 . Sales of video games in 2015 reached $ 61 billion , according to analysis firm SuperData , an 8% increase from 2014 . Of this , the largest sector was in computer game sales and subscription services , accounting for $ 32 billion . Mobile games revenues were at $ 25.1 billion , a 10% increase from 2014 . Digital sales on consoles made up the remaining $ 4 billion . In the United States , the Entertainment Software Association ( ESA ) and the NPD Group estimated total video game market revenues at $ 23.5 billion , a 5% increase from 2014 . Of this , the total software market was $ 16.5 billion , with the NPD Group estimating retail sales subset at $ 13.1 billion . The ESA reported that there were 2,457 companies in the United States involved in developing or publishing video games that directly supported 65,678 workers ( 37,122 in developing , 28,556 in publishing ) with about another 154,000 indirectly supporting the industry , such as through contracting or video game journalism . The total contribution to the US 's gross national product from the industry was $ 11.7 billion . In the United Kingdom , the total video game market was valued at nearly GB£4.2 billion , according to figures from Ukie and MCV . The largest segments were in digital software ( £1.2 billion ) and mobile games ( £664 million ) , while sales of consoles dropped to £689 million .
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD ( Japanese : ファイナルファンタジー零式 HD , Hepburn : Fainaru Fantajī Reishiki HD ) is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and HexaDrive , and published by Square Enix for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One , and later for Microsoft Windows via Steam . It was released worldwide in March 2015 , while the Steam port was released in August 2015 . Type-0 HD is a high-definition remaster of the Japan-exclusive PlayStation Portable game Final Fantasy Type-0 , a spin-off from the main Final Fantasy series and part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis subseries , a set of games sharing a common mythos . The story focuses on Class Zero , a group of fourteen students from the Dominion of Rubrum who must fight the neighboring Militesi Empire when they launch an assault on the other Crystal States of Orience . In doing so , the group become entangled in both the efforts to push back and defeat the forces of Militesi , and the secret behind the war and the existence of the crystals . After Type-0 received a 2011 Japan-only release on PSP , Type-0 HD began development in mid-2012 as part of a move to promote the next generation of gaming consoles , and gave the opportunity for multiple changes to refine the experience for players . Outside of updated graphics and an expanded color palette , Type-0 HD is largely identical to the original PSP version , although the original 's multiplayer functionality was dropped , and additional difficulty levels were implemented . Type-0 HD reached high positions in international sales charts , and has sold over one million copies worldwide as of October 2015 . It received praise for its story and battle system , while criticisms have focused on its HD upgrade and localization .
The PlayStation 4 ( officially abbreviated as PS4 ) is an eighth-generation home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment . Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013 , it was launched on November 15 in North America , November 29 in Europe , South America and Australia , and on February 22 , 2014 , in Japan . It competes with Microsoft 's Xbox One and Nintendo 's Wii U and Switch . Moving away from the more complex Cell microarchitecture of its predecessor , the console features an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit ( APU ) built upon the x86-64 architecture , which can theoretically peak at 1.84 teraflops ; AMD stated that it was the most powerful APU it had developed to date . The PlayStation 4 places an increased emphasis on social interaction and integration with other devices and services , including the ability to play games off-console on PlayStation Vita and other supported devices ( Remote Play ) , the ability to stream gameplay online or to friends , with them controlling gameplay remotely ( Share Play ) . The console 's controller was also redesigned and improved over the PlayStation 3 , with improved buttons and analog sticks , and an integrated touchpad among other changes . The console also supports HDR10 High-dynamic-range video and playback of 4K resolution multimedia . The PlayStation 4 was released to critical acclaim , with critics praising Sony for acknowledging its consumers ' needs , embracing independent game development , and for not imposing the restrictive digital rights management schemes like those originally announced by Microsoft for the Xbox One . Critics and third-party studios also praised the capabilities of the PlayStation 4 in comparison to its competitors ; developers described the performance difference between the console and Xbox One as significant and obvious . Heightened demand also helped Sony top global console sales . By the end of September 2019 , over 102 million PlayStation 4 consoles had been shipped worldwide , surpassing lifetime sales of the PlayStation 3 . On September 7 , 2016 , Sony unveiled the PlayStation 4 Slim , a smaller version of the console ; and a high-end version called the PlayStation 4 Pro , which features an upgraded GPU and a higher CPU clock rate to support enhanced performance and 4K resolution in supported games .
The Xbox One is an eighth-generation home video game console developed by Microsoft . Announced in May 2013 , it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox series of video game consoles . It was first released in North America , parts of Europe , Australia , and South America in November 2013 , and in Japan , China , and other European countries in September 2014 . It is the first Xbox game console to be released in China , specifically in the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone . Microsoft marketed the device as an all-in-one entertainment system , hence the name 'Xbox One ' . The Xbox One mainly competes against Sony 's PlayStation 4 and Nintendo 's Wii U and Switch . Moving away from its predecessor 's PowerPC-based architecture , the Xbox One marks a shift back to the x86 architecture used in the original Xbox ; it features an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit ( APU ) built around the x86-64 instruction set . Xbox One 's controller was redesigned over the Xbox 360 's , with a redesigned body , D-pad , and triggers capable of delivering directional haptic feedback . The console places an increased emphasis on cloud computing , as well as social networking features , and the ability to record and share video clips or screenshots from gameplay , or live-stream directly to streaming services such as Mixer and Twitch . Games can also be played off-console via a local area network on supported Windows 10 devices . The console can play Blu-ray Disc , and overlay live television programming from an existing set-top box or a digital tuner for digital terrestrial television with an enhanced program guide . The console optionally included a redesigned Kinect sensor , marketed as the Kinect 2.0 , providing improved motion tracking and voice recognition .
Microsoft Windows , commonly referred to as Windows , is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families , all of which are developed and marketed by Microsoft . Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry . Active Microsoft Windows families include Windows NT and Windows IoT ; these may encompass subfamilies , e.g . Windows Server or Windows Embedded Compact ( Windows CE ) . Defunct Microsoft Windows families include Windows 9x , Windows Mobile and Windows Phone . Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20 , 1985 , as a graphical operating system shell for MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces ( GUIs ) . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world 's personal computer ( PC ) market with over 90% market share , overtaking Mac OS , which had been introduced in 1984 . Apple came to see Windows as an unfair encroachment on their innovation in GUI development as implemented on products such as the Lisa and Macintosh ( eventually settled in court in Microsoft 's favor in 1993 ) . On PCs , Windows is still the most popular operating system . However , in 2014 , Microsoft admitted losing the majority of the overall operating system market to Android , because of the massive growth in sales of Android smartphones . In 2014 , the number of Windows devices sold was less than 25% that of Android devices sold . This comparison , however , may not be fully relevant , as the two operating systems traditionally target different platforms .
A role-playing game ( sometimes spelled roleplaying game ; abbreviated RPG ) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting . Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative , either through literal acting , or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development . Actions taken within many games succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines . There are several forms of role-playing games . The original form , sometimes called the tabletop role-playing game ( TRPG ) , is conducted through discussion , whereas in live action role-playing ( LARP ) , players physically perform their characters ' actions . In both of these forms , an arranger called a game master ( GM ) usually decides on the rules and setting to be used , while acting as the referee ; each of the other players takes on the role of a single character . Several varieties of RPG also exist in electronic media , such as multiplayer text-based Multi-User Dungeons ( MUDs ) and their graphics-based successors , massively multiplayer online role-playing games ( MMORPGs ) . Role-playing games also include single-player role-playing video games in which players control a character , or team of characters , who undertake ( s ) quests , and may include player capabilities that advance using statistical mechanics . These electronic games sometimes share settings and rules with tabletop RPGs , but emphasize character advancement more than collaborative storytelling . This type of game is well-established , so some RPG-related game forms , such as trading/collectible card games ( CCGs ) and wargames , may not be included under the definition . Some amount of role-playing activity may be present in such games , but it is not the primary focus . The term role-playing game is also sometimes used to describe games involving roleplay simulation and exercises used in teaching , training , and academic research .
Numerous video games were released in 2016 . New hardware came out as well , albeit largely refreshed and updated versions of consoles in the PlayStation 4 Pro , PlayStation 4 Slim , and Xbox One S. Commercially available virtual reality headsets were released in much greater numbers and at much lower price points than the enthusiast-only virtual reality headsets of earlier generations . Augmented reality also became mainstream with Pokémon Go . Top-rated games originally released in 2016 included Uncharted 4 : A Thief 's End , Inside , Overwatch , Forza Horizon 3 , NBA 2K17 , Dark Souls III , and Battlefield 1 . The top five highest-grossing video games of 2016 were League of Legends , Honor of Kings/Arena of Valor , Monster Strike , Clash of Clans , and Dungeon Fighter Online .
Final Fantasy XV [ b ] is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix as part of the Final Fantasy series . It was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016 , Microsoft Windows in 2018 , and Stadia as a launch title in 2019 . The game features an open world environment and action-based battle system , incorporating quick-switching weapons , elemental magic , and other features such as vehicle travel and camping . The base campaign was later expanded with downloadable content ( DLC ) , adding further gameplay options such as additional playable characters and multiplayer . Final Fantasy XV takes place on the fictional world of Eos ; aside from the capital of Lucis , all the world is dominated by the empire of Niflheim , who seek control of the magical Crystal protected by Lucis 's royal family . On the eve of peace negotiations , Niflheim attacks the capital and steals the Crystal . Noctis Lucis Caelum , heir to the Lucian throne , goes on a quest to rescue the Crystal and defeat Niflheim . He later learns his full role as the True King , destined to use the Crystal 's powers to save Eos from eternal darkness . The game shares a thematic connection with Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy , a subseries of games linked by a common mythos which includes Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Type-0 . The game 's development began in 2006 as a PlayStation 3 spin-off titled Final Fantasy Versus XIII . [ c ] Tetsuya Nomura served as the original director and character designer . After a development period of six years , it was changed to the next mainline title in the series in 2012 ; Nomura was replaced as director by Hajime Tabata , and the game shifted to eighth generation platforms .
2017 saw the release of numerous video games as well as other developments in the video game industry . The Nintendo Switch console was released in 2017 , which sold more than 14 million units by the end of 2017 , exceeding the underperforming Wii U lifetime sales , and helped to revitalize Nintendo , alongside the retro Super NES Classic Edition console , the refreshed New Nintendo 2DS XL handheld , and a strategy for mobile gaming . Microsoft also released the higher-powered Xbox One X targeted for 4K resolutions and virtual reality support . Top-rated games in 2017 included The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild , Super Mario Odyssey , Persona 5 , Divinity : Original Sin II , and Horizon Zero Dawn . One of the most influential games of 2017 was PlayerUnknown 's Battlegrounds , which was released in early access for personal computers in March 2017 and by the end of the year had sold 30 million units , breaking several concurrent player count records and established the battle royale genre . The highest-grossing game of the year was the mobile game Honor of Kings , known as Arena of Valor internationally . Considerable debate was held over the use of loot boxes in video games and whether they constituted gambling , coming to a head with the release of Star Wars Battlefront II .
Super Bomberman R ( スーパーボンバーマン Ｒ , Sūpā Bonbāman R ) is an action-maze game developed by Konami and HexaDrive , and is part of the Bomberman series . The game was first released worldwide as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch in March 2017 , and later for Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 4 , and Xbox One in June 2018 . It is also the first main Bomberman entry in over a decade , as well as being the first to be developed following the dissolution of original series developer Hudson Soft on March 1 , 2012 . The game received mixed reviews , though many of the criticisms were addressed with post-release patches . By August 2018 , the game had sold over a million units worldwide .
An action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges , including hand-eye coordination and reaction-time . The genre includes a large variety of sub-genres , such as fighting games , beat 'em ups , shooter games and platform games . Multiplayer online battle arena and some real-time strategy games are also considered action games . In an action game , the player typically controls a character often in the form of a protagonist or avatar . This player character must navigate a level , collecting objects , avoiding obstacles , and battling enemies with their natural skills as well as weapons and other tools at their disposal . At the end of a level or group of levels , the player must often defeat a boss enemy that is more challenging and often a major antagonist in the game 's story . Enemy attacks and obstacles deplete the player character 's health and lives , and the player receives a game over when they run out of lives . Alternatively , the player gets to the end of the game by finishing a sequence of levels to complete a final goal , and see the credits . But some action games , such as early arcade games , are unbeatable and have an indefinite number of levels ; with the player 's only goal being to get as far as they can to maximize their score .
The Nintendo Switch [ b ] is a video game console developed by Nintendo , released worldwide in most regions on March 3 , 2017 . [ c ] It is a hybrid console that can be used as a home console and portable device . Its wireless Joy-Con controllers , with standard buttons and directional analog sticks for user input , motion sensing , and tactile feedback , can attach to both sides of the console to support handheld-style play . They can also connect to a Grip accessory to provide a traditional home console gamepad form , or be used individually in the hand like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk , supporting local multiplayer modes . The Nintendo Switch 's software supports online gaming through Internet connectivity , as well as local wireless ad hoc connectivity with other consoles . Nintendo Switch games and software are available on both physical flash-based ROM cartridges and digital distribution via Nintendo eShop ; the system has no region lockout . A handheld-focused revision of the system called the Nintendo Switch Lite , was released on September 20 , 2019 . The Nintendo Switch was unveiled in October 2016 . Known in development by its codename NX , the concept of the Switch came about as Nintendo 's reaction to several quarters of financial losses into 2014 , attributed to poor sales of its previous console , the Wii U , and market competition from mobile gaming . Nintendo 's then-president Satoru Iwata pushed the company towards mobile gaming and novel hardware . The Nintendo Switch 's design is aimed at a wide demographic of video game players through the multiple modes of use . Nintendo opted to use more standard electronic components , such as a chipset based on Nvidia 's Tegra line , to make development for the console easier for programmers and more compatible with existing game engines .
Mario Sports Superstars is a sports video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld video game console . The game contains five sports minigames , football , baseball , tennis , golf , and horse racing , and was released worldwide in March 2017 .
A sports game is a video game genre that simulates the practice of sports . Most sports have been recreated with a game , including team sports , track and field , extreme sports and combat sports . Some games emphasize actually playing the sport ( such as the Madden NFL series ) , whilst others emphasize strategy and sport management ( such as Championship Manager and Out of the Park Baseball ) . Some , such as Need for Speed , Arch Rivals and Punch-Out ! ! , satirize the sport for comic effect . This genre has been popular throughout the history of video games and is competitive , just like real-world sports . A number of game series feature the names and characteristics of real teams and players , and are updated annually to reflect real-world changes . Sports genre is one of the oldest genres in gaming history .
Resident Evil 7 : Biohazard [ a ] is a survival horror game developed and published by Capcom , released in January 2017 for Windows , PlayStation 4 , and Xbox One , and in May 2018 for the Nintendo Switch in Japan . Diverging from the more action-oriented Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 , Resident Evil 7 returns to the franchise 's survival horror roots , emphasizing exploration . The player controls Ethan Winters as he searches for his wife in a derelict plantation occupied by a cannibal family , solving puzzles and fighting enemies . It is the first main series game to use a first-person view . Resident Evil 7 is the first full-length game to use Capcom 's in-house RE Engine . The development was led by Koshi Nakanishi , director of the 2012 Nintendo 3DS game Resident Evil : Revelations . It was presented as a virtual reality demo , Kitchen , a year prior to its announcement at E3 2016 , and supports the PlayStation VR headset . Resident Evil 7 was considered a return to form for the series ; critics praised the gameplay , graphics , and design , but criticized the boss battles and the final chapter . The PlayStation VR version received positive reviews , with some criticism including decreased resolution and physical discomfort . As of December 2018 , the game has sold over six million copies worldwide . Two downloadable content scenarios , Not a Hero and End of Zoe , were also released for the game .
First-person shooter ( FPS ) is a video game genre centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a first-person perspective ; that is , the player experiences the action through the eyes of the protagonist . The genre shares common traits with other shooter games , which in turn makes it fall under the heading action game . Since the genre 's inception , advanced 3D and pseudo-3D graphics have challenged hardware development , and multiplayer gaming has been integral . The first-person shooter genre has been traced as far back as Maze War , development of which began in 1973 , and 1974 's Spasim . Later , and after more playful titles like MIDI Maze in 1987 , the genre coalesced into a more violent form with 1992 's Wolfenstein 3D , which has been credited with creating the genre 's basic archetype upon which subsequent titles were based . One such title , and the progenitor of the genre 's wider mainstream acceptance and popularity , was Doom , one of the most influential games in this genre ; for some years , the term Doom clone was used to designate this genre due to Doom 's influence . Corridor shooter was another common name for the genre in its early years , since processing limitations of the era 's hardware meant that most of the action in the games had to take place in enclosed areas , such as in cramped spaces like corridors and tunnels . 1998 's Half-Life - along with its 2004 sequel Half-Life 2 - enhanced the narrative and puzzle elements . In 1999 , the Half-Life mod Counter-Strike was released and , together with Doom , is perhaps one of the most influential first-person shooters . GoldenEye 007 , released in 1997 , was a landmark first-person shooter for home consoles , while the Halo series heightened the console 's commercial and critical appeal as a platform for first-person shooter titles . In the 21st century , the first-person shooter is the most commercially viable video game genre , and in 2016 , shooters accounted for over 27% of all video game sales . Several first-person shooters have been popular games for esports and competitive gaming competitions as well .
Monkey King : Hero Is Back ( Chinese : 西游记之大圣归来 ; pinyin : Xīyóu jì zhī dà shèng guīlái ; literally : 'Journey to the West : Return of the Great Sage ' ) is a 2015 Chinese computer-animated film directed by first time director Tian Xiaopeng . The film was released on 10 July 2015 . The film was the highest-grossing animated film in China until it was surpassed by Zootopia and Kung Fu Panda 3 .
THQ Nordic GmbH ( formerly Nordic Games GmbH ) is an Austrian video game publisher based in Vienna . Formed in 2011 , it is the primary publishing subsidiary of Embracer Group . Originally named Nordic Games , as was the parent company , both companies were renamed THQ Nordic in August 2016 after the parent company had acquired the THQ trademark in 2014 . THQ Nordic 's core portfolio comprises assets that were acquired from other developers and publishers , such as from JoWooD Entertainment and its subsidiaries DreamCatcher Interactive and The Adventure Company in 2011 , from THQ in 2013 , and from NovaLogic in 2016 . THQ Nordic has acquired and established several subsidiary studios , including Black Forest Games , Bugbear Entertainment , Gunfire Games , HandyGames , Piranha Bytes , and Rainbow Studios .