Wraparound (Video Games)
Encyclopedia
Wraparound, in video games, is a gameplay
variation on the single-screen in which space is finite but unbounded; objects leaving one side of the screen immediately reappear on the opposite side, maintaining speed and trajectory. This is referred to as "wraparound", since the top and bottom of the screen wrap around to meet, as do the left and right sides (in mathematics, this is known as a Euclidean 2-torus
). Some games wrap around in some directions but not others, such as games of the Civilization series
that wrap around left to right, or east and west but the top and bottom remain edges representing the North and South Pole (in mathematics, this is known as a cylinder
). In some games such as Asteroids there is no boundary and objects can travel over any part of the screen edge and reappear on the other side. Others such as Pac-Man
, and some games in the Bomberman
series, have stages with a boundary surrounding most of the playing area but have few paths connecting the left side to the right, or the top to the bottom, that characters can travel on.
(1971), featured wraparound space, as did Combat
(1977) and Asteroids (1979). Pipe Mania (1989), a puzzle game, features wraparound pipe sections in higher game levels.
(2005) feature wraparound edges.
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
variation on the single-screen in which space is finite but unbounded; objects leaving one side of the screen immediately reappear on the opposite side, maintaining speed and trajectory. This is referred to as "wraparound", since the top and bottom of the screen wrap around to meet, as do the left and right sides (in mathematics, this is known as a Euclidean 2-torus
Torus
In geometry, a torus is a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three dimensional space about an axis coplanar with the circle...
). Some games wrap around in some directions but not others, such as games of the Civilization series
Civilization (series)
Civilization is a series of turn-based strategy, 4X video games produced by Sid Meier. Basic gameplay functions are similar throughout the series, namely, buiding a civilization on a macro-scale from prehistory up to the near future...
that wrap around left to right, or east and west but the top and bottom remain edges representing the North and South Pole (in mathematics, this is known as a cylinder
Cylinder (geometry)
A cylinder is one of the most basic curvilinear geometric shapes, the surface formed by the points at a fixed distance from a given line segment, the axis of the cylinder. The solid enclosed by this surface and by two planes perpendicular to the axis is also called a cylinder...
). In some games such as Asteroids there is no boundary and objects can travel over any part of the screen edge and reappear on the other side. Others such as Pac-Man
Pac-Man
is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...
, and some games in the Bomberman
Bomberman
Bomberman is a strategic, maze-based computer and video game franchise originally developed by Hudson Soft. The original game was published in 1983 and new games in the series are still being published to this day. Today, the commercially successful Bomberman is featured in over 70 different games...
series, have stages with a boundary surrounding most of the playing area but have few paths connecting the left side to the right, or the top to the bottom, that characters can travel on.
History
The first commercial arcade video game, Computer SpaceComputer Space
Computer Space is a video arcade game released in November 1971 by Nutting Associates. Created by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, who would both later found Atari, Inc., it is generally accepted that it was the world's first commercially sold coin-operated video game — and indeed, the first...
(1971), featured wraparound space, as did Combat
Combat (video game)
Combat is an early video game by Atari for the Atari 2600. It was released as one of the nine launch titles for the system in October 1977, and was included in the box with the system from its introduction until 1982...
(1977) and Asteroids (1979). Pipe Mania (1989), a puzzle game, features wraparound pipe sections in higher game levels.
Non-video games
Some boardgames like Lunar Rails (2003) and Dragons of KirDragons of Kir
Dragons of Kir is a 2005 strategy board game from Future Magic Games and 1i Productions. Dragons of Kir is a 2-player strategy game. The object of the game is to create systems of tiles to force one of four Dragons of Kir to destroy an opponent's war tent, while defending one's own. Tiles represent...
(2005) feature wraparound edges.
External links
- Wraparound world at Giant BombGiant BombGiant Bomb is an American video game website and wiki that includes gaming news, reviews, commentary, and video, created by former GameSpot editors Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis in collaboration with Whiskey Media...
, video games that use wraparound