Simulation
Description
Simulation games are created with the goal of putting the player in control of a certain activity while attempting to make it as realistic as possible.
In the strictest sense of the word, all electronic games are simulations, since they cannot exist without simulating aspects of real life. However, simulation genre only includes games that
focus (entirely or mostly) on imitating real-life activities. That does not mean that simulation games must be completely realistic; for example,
space combat simulation games simulate an activity that is (yet) unknown to human beings. The distinguishing feature of simulation games is their emphasis on realism and detail comparable to those encountered in real life.
Most simulation games are not story-driven, since they concentrate on describing general activities, not concrete situations. Among notable exceptions are
Wing Commander games, which combine space combat simulation with a continuous narrative.
Simulation themes vary greatly; theoretically, they are limited only by the amount of activities known to human beings. Simulation themes include, for example,
traffic networks,
medical care,
romance,
music, and many others.
Simulation games can be roughly divided into five main groups:
- Managerial simulations put the player in a position of a manager or a similar role.
- Construction simulations primarily involve building, for example cities.
- Life simulations may deal with human life or life in general.
- Professional / Social simulations are dedicated to specific social activities and professions.
- Vehicle simulations allow the player direct control of a vehicle with a certain sense of realism, for example plane, space ship, tank, etc.
Simulation can also be used as a modifier for other genres, for example Strategy (realistic re-creation of historical battles), Racing / Driving (particularly realistic vehicle-handling, tuning, repair, etc.), or Sports (team management, training, trading, etc.).
 Game Title |
DOS (1996) and Windows 3.x (1996) The Pilot's Toy Box is an add on for Microsoft Flight Simulator (v5.0) and Microsoft Flight Simulator (v5.1).This package contains... |
SNES (1990) and Wii (2009) Fly a selection of aircraft (including training vehicles, fighter planes and helicopters) through a range of training programs and missions.... |
Nintendo 64 (1996) PilotWings 64 is the update to the original PilotWings for SNES. The gameplay is somewhere between a flight simulation and... |
Nintendo 3DS (2011) Pilotwings Resort is a flight simulation game that takes place on the Wuhu Island already known from Wii Sports Resort... |
Browser (2009) Pimp Your Trolley is a promotional game for Rabbids Go Home.First the player can customise their trolley by adding spoilers,... |
Windows (1999) eGames' Pinball is a 3D pinball simulation with three tables. 3D acceleration is used for all sorts of realistic effects... |
Intellivision (1983) Pinball is a pinball simulation for one or two players. You begin the game with five balls, and need to... |
Dragon 32/64 (1983) In this simple pinball game, written in BASIC, you have one table. You earn basic points for bouncing on items,... |
PlayStation 2 (2000) and PlayStation 3 (2012) Play It Pinball is based on the popular American table game of pinball which involves using a pair of flippers... |
Commodore PET/CBM (1980) Pinball is a Dutch pinball game in which up to four players can compete for the highest score. Each player... |
DOS (1995) A pinball game with two tables, Rocket and Graveyard. It was derived from an Amiga game by Digital Illusions called... |
Android (2012), iPhone (2012), PlayStation 3 (2012), PS Vita (2012) and Xbox 360 (2012) Pinball Arcade is based on the Pinball Hall of Fame series and includes accurate simulations of pinball tables from Gottlieb,... |
Amiga (1997) PinballBD is the Amiga's most technically advanced pinball game. Whereas Pinball Illusions first made multiball feasible by switching from lores... |
DOS (1996) Pinball Fantasies Deluxe is a compilation of two previously released Digital Illusions pinball titles:Pinball FantasiesPinball Mania |
Xbox 360 (2007) Pinball FX is a pinball simulator. The core package contains three separate tables: Speed Machine (with a street racing theme),... |
Xbox 360 (2010) Pinball FX2 is an update to Zen Studio's previous Pinball FX. Upon release of this title, Pinball FX was de-listed,... |
Wii (2008), PlayStation 2 (2008), PSP (2008), Xbox 360 (2009) and PlayStation 3 (2009) Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is another entry in the PHOF budget series. Included in the PS2 version... |
DOS (1996), Amiga CD32 (1996) and Amiga (1995) The central theme of the pinball game Pinball Prelude is time. The first table is set in the past and... |
NES (1989) Pinball Quest is billed as a pinball role-playing game, though the term is used loosely, as you only earn gold... |
DOS (1995) Released after Pinball Illusions in the same year.As its namesake, "Pinball World" has nine pinball tables (rather then usual four),... |
NES (1990) Pin-Bot is a conversion of the arcade pinball game by Williams Electronics. The game is played with a split screen;... |
Windows (2008) A simulation of the Boy Scout's Pinewood Derby race, in which small wooden cars are raced down a slope. This... |
Commodore 64 (1986), ZX Spectrum (1986), MSX (1985) and Amstrad CPC (1985) From Konami's coin-op, Ping Pong recreates the fast-paced sport of table tennis. To win each match you must get to... |
PC-88 (1989), PC-98 (1989), Sharp X68000 (1991) and MSX (1989) The first chapter in the Pinky Ponky series is an adult dating game combining elements of simulation and visual novel.... |
MSX (1989), PC-88 (1989), PC-98 (1989) and Sharp X68000 (1991) The gameplay system of the second game in the Pinky Ponky series is identical to that of its predecessor: the... |
