Player versus environment

"PvE" and "PvM" redirect here. For other uses, seePVE (disambiguation)andPVM (disambiguation).

Player versus environment(PvE,also known asplayer versus monster(PvM) and commonly misinterpreted asplayer versus entity) is a term used for both single player andonline games,particularlyMMORPGs,CORPGs,MUDs,other onlinerole-playing video gamesand survival games to refer to fightingcomputer-controlled enemies- in contrast to PvP (player versus player) which is fighting other players in the game.In survival games a large part may be fighting the elements, controlling hunger and thirst, learning to adapt to the environment and exploration.

Usually a PvE mode can be played alone, with human companions or withAIcompanions. The PvE mode may contain a storyline that is narrated as the player progresses through missions. It may also contain missions that may be done in any order.

Examples

Guild Warsnarrates its story by displaying in-gamecut scenesand dialogue withnon-playable characters(NPCs). To enhance replayability, missions can often be completed many times. Characters playing in this mode are often protected against beingkilled by other playersand/or having their possessions stolen. An example of a game where this is not the case isEve Online,where players can be, and often are, ambushed by other human playersplayer versus playerwhile attempting to complete a quest. Some games, such asWorld of Warcraft,offer the player the choice of participating in open-world PvP combat or doing quests without PvP interruption, by offering players the ability to join servers where PvP is enabled by default, or allowing them to activate temporary "flags" which allow them to attack and be attacked by other "flagged" players for a limited time.

See also

• Player versus player
• Cooperative gameplay
• Deathmatch
• Single player video game