Esports (also known as competitive gaming), earned their fair share of the game industry over the last decade. Nowadays, esports account for a large portion of gamers, viewers, and organizations. Among games played as esports, first person shooter (FPS) games are arguably among the most popular. This includes well-known titles like Quake III Arena, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive(CSGO), Overwatch, PlayerUnknownÕs Battlegrounds (PUBG). While these games seem to share similar game mechanics, what constitutes a popular and successful FPS game in esports is both (1) evolving rapidly and (2) have not been systematically reviewed prior. I qualitatively and quantitatively explore game mechanics of FPS games in esports and how they have evolved in time. This results in a taxonomy that can be used to identify specific game mechanics for different FPS, as well as explain how these mechanics evolve over time. I conclude by discussing how the model can be used by game designers to inform the design of FPS games and help inform future trends in game design for esports.
Research Category: Computer and Information Sciences
College: College of Arts Media & Design
Major(s): Game Science and Design
Graduation Date: 2021