Clan (video games)

"Clan Wars" redirects here. For a PC game by Team17, see Worms Clan Wars. For the mobile game by Supercell, see Clash of Clans.

In computer and video gaming, a clan, guild or faction is an organized group of players that regularly play together in one or more multiplayer games.[1] These games range from groups of a few friends to 4000-person organizations, with a broad range of structures, goals and members. The lifespan of a clan also varies considerably, from a few weeks to over a decade. Numerous clans exist for nearly every online game available today, notably in first-person shooters, massively multiplayer games, role-playing video games, and strategy games. There are also meta-groups that span a wide variety of games.

In first-person shooters

As the first-person shooter (FPS) genre became increasingly popular, the idea of a competitive clan became widely accepted. Clans became teams, or elite clan members form teams to represent the clan in online battle.[2] FPS clans normally host servers with rules that they like. For instance if a group of gamers like to use pistols only they could join a clan that runs a pistols only server and the clan would enforce the rules.

In role-playing games

Clans also exist in other genres, where they are often referred to by a different name and serve a purpose more suited to the game. Many massively multiplayer online (MMO) and role-playing video games (RPGs) tend to call them "guilds" or invent their own term. Examples of this include Star Wars Galaxies ("player associations"[3]) and EVE Online ("corporations",[4]). EVE Online is also notable for having defined the system in more detail than is common in most MMOs, with "alliances" being a larger grouping. In the superhero-based game City of Heroes, they are called "supergroups", and are similar in structure to comic book hero organizations like the X-Men. Lastly, in Final Fantasy XI, such clans are called "linkshells" and players of the game have the tendency and ability to be in more than one at once.

In simulation games

Many simulation games, such as those in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, have clans that follow similar patterns to other genres. Notable types of simulation clans include virtual airlines (VAs) and Virtual Military Organizations (VMOs). A virtual airline is a dedicated hobby organization that uses flight simulation to model the operations of an airline. VAs generally have a presence on the Internet, similar to a real airline. It has been proposed that there are over 100 VAs of significance currently active, with tens of thousands of participants at any one time.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Helping Parents Get Set - A Family Guide to Games" (pdf). Microsoft. 2006. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  2. ↑ Wagner, Michael (2007). Friedrich von Borries, Steffen P. Walz, Matthias Böttger, ed. Space Time Play: Computer Games, Architecture and Urbanism - the Next Level. Birkhauser Verlag AG. p. 183. ISBN 978-3-7643-8414-2.
  3. ↑ "Star Wars Galaxies - Glossary". Retrieved 2007-11-17. A Player association is a group of players who have formalized their group using the in-game tools.
  4. ↑ "EVE Online Frequently Asked Questions, Corporations". Retrieved 2007-11-17. Corporations are groups of players joining together for a common goal or purpose, much like guilds or clans in other games.
  5. ↑ Mark, Robert (1999). Professional Pilot Career Guide. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 330. ISBN 0-07-134691-0.

Further reading

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