What Does Player Versus Player Mean?
Player versus player (PvP) refers to a game that is designed for gamers to compete against other gamers, rather than against the game’s artificial intelligence (AI). PvP games generally feature an AI that acts as a second player if the gamer plays solo.
PvP games are the opposite of player versus environment (PvE) games, where the player contends largely with computer-controlled characters or situations.
Techopedia Explains Player Versus Player
PvP elements are also incorporated into PvE games, such as role-playing games (RPG). Hybrid games engage users in several different ways by creating games within games operating under different game play mechanics.
The purest form of a PvP game is a fighting game that pits one player against the other until one is victorious. Other genres that depend on varying levels of PvP elements include:
- Racing games
- Exercise games
- Party games
- Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG)
- Strategy games
- Puzzle games
- Musical games
When played solo, many PvP games become repetitive. Designers depend on the competition in the room or over the online platform to create the game’s atmosphere. Without another human, these games can quickly become pure progression games, in which a player merely checks off levels or opponents and never returns to the game once it is complete.
