What is a sim, what is not...

[theOden]

A simulator is a tool to make a person get used to execute specific sequences for critical situations.

In this forum I'd guess pilots is a good example of such persons but they are far from the only ones needing this tool to "learn reflexes".

Simulator games, such as Falcon4 or IL-2, could more precisely be labled "Study simulators" but are still games as the "tool" isn't really intended to make the user act in a specific way in a specific situation.

Removing "game" from "Simulator game" is probably to make it sound more adult as in the early days of the 80's and 90's computer graphics could never present anything that wouldn't be intepreted as a game for children and of course a good way to separate these products from those that do not require the user to read a considerable user-manual.

Still, they are no simulators.

First Person Shooters such as BF2 and COD will never ever be labled "sim" in any way by me but rather a fast paced game with exaggerated combinations of light and colors for the still growing instant gratification generation and the big ritalin-crowd that needs high-frequent impulses en masse.


Edit: Also please note that simulator and reality not necessary runs hand-in-hand as many loud-voicers in some forums seems to think.