Gamers Glossary

Action: This refers to something a player does that causes a change in the game world; includes shooting, moving something, casting a spell, or killing another character.

Action Win: A personal achievement on behalf of the player that occurs when they perform an exemplary action that results in a more than favorable outcome.

Adventure Game: A type of game that is usually driven by mystery in its stories. These can  include point-and-click adventure games, slower-paced platformers, first person perspective games, hidden object games and some roleplaying games.

Advergame: A type of game specifically created to promote a product, such as a film, TV show, or toy.

Arcade Game: A stand-alone game for use in a public space, commonly seen in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Backward Compatible: A gaming system (console, PC, etc.) that is capable of playing games that were made for the previous version of the system.

Beat ‘Em Up Game: A videogame genre in which the player melee fights many enemies through multiple different encounters or levels.

Bonus Stage:  An extra level that is usually hidden and requires the player to complete some sort of achievement before finding it. Also usually contains extra rewards.

Boss: This is a powerful character that a player will face and must defeat at the end of a level.

Branched Dialogue: This refers to a writing technique that allows the player multiple conversation choices within the game

Browser Game: A computer game that is played over the Internet using a web browser.

Bundling: When a vide game console and a game (or more) or sold together; for example, when a game is included in the purchase of an Xbox.

Camera: This is a player’s vantage point in a game; his or her eye into the world.

Campaign: This is a term that describes a bunch of different scenartios that are linked together through one, over-arching quest. Some games only operate on one campaign, but larger role-playing games (World of Warcraft) have multiple ones.

Casual Game: A relaxed, addictive, low-activity game that can be played in small amounts of time (15-20 minutes); this type of game tends to be preferred and enjoyed by a larger number of the population.

Cheat Code: Some games have the option of entering codes that effect game play, such as the ability to have unlimited ammunition or to never receive damage.

<p class="MsoNormal">Cloud Gaming: These are games that are hosted and run on a network of cloud servers so there is no need for installation of software or costly hardware.

<p class="MsoNormal">Console: A hardware device that is connected to a television set in order to play video games.

<p class="MsoNormal">Console Gaming: Any game that is played on a non-portable gaming device or console; these games are typically sold on a disc

<p class="MsoNormal">Controller: A hardware peripheral held in the user's hands to perform all actions and interactions within the game.

<p class="MsoNormal">Cut Scene: An animation technique that continues the game's storyline between playing. The player cannot (usually) interact with this animation.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dialogue Box: A framed window that contains useful game information.

<p class="MsoNormal">Difficulty: This refers to how much of a challenge a game is to play; players can typically choose which level of difficulty they want to play at.

<p class="MsoNormal">Downloadable Content (DLC): A form of added content released to support a game; this can be in the form of mission packs, levels, extra items, avatar customizations or additional modes; sometimes these are narratives that tie in to the overarching storyline of the original game.

<p class="MsoNormal">Easter Eggs: Hidden features in the game such as a new character or secret level; usually used for inside jokes that the player can understand.

<p class="MsoNormal">ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board): An industry organization that has developed a rating system for computer and videogames

<p class="MsoNormal">Episodic Game: A game that releases its content over time, in level or mission packs ('episodes'); these games usually charge per episode, relying on the content to make the purchase worth it; examples of this type of game are The Walking Dead Game and The Wolf Among Us.

<p class="MsoNormal">Experience Point (XP): A unit of measurement used to measure the player’s progress throughout the game; earning these points results in the ability to level-up or become a stronger player.

<p class="MsoNormal">Extensible Action: An action (i.e. something basic like jumping, hitting, etc) whose use extends in new and interesting ways throughout the course of the game.

<p class="MsoNormal">Fighting Game: A genre of game that is defined by one-on-one combat where the player must defeat the opponent through the use of timing and memory.

<p class="MsoNormal">First-Person: This describes a perspective where the entirety of the game is viewed through the eyes of the main character; you can only see what the character can see.

<p class="MsoNormal">First Person Shooter (FPS): A genre in video games that focuses its gameplay on combat via guns and shooting while maintinaing a first person perspective.

<p class="MsoNormal">Free-to-Play Games: This refers to any video game or social or mobile application that has the option of allowing its players/users to play/download without paying.

<p class="MsoNormal">Grinding: The process of engaging in repetitive tasks during video games; usually refers to a situation where the player is forced to kill numerous enemies in order to level up their character.

<p class="MsoNormal">Handheld Game: A term that is attributed to any game that can be played on a portable gaming device, like a Nintendo 3DS or Sony PSVita

<p class="MsoNormal">HP: This refers to the player's hit points or health.

<p class="MsoNormal">Indie Game:  Video games created by individuals or small teams generally without video game publisher financial support; these games often focus on innovation and rely on digital distribution.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kill Ratio: A method used by online shooters to rank their players; it's based on how many kills the players get and how many times they die; the player would be ranked higher for ending a game with 6 kills and 0 deaths than they would for 10 kills and 6 deaths.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mini Game: A mode within a game that contains another (usually short and simplistics) game; games such as Wii Sports are themed collections of mini games.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mobile Gaming: This refers to games that can be played on a mobile device like an iPhone or a tablet. These games can usually be found as applications in an Apple or Android store.

<p class="MsoNormal">MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game): Refers to online games that can be played simultaneously with other gamers around the world.

<p class="MsoNormal">MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game): Similar to an MMOG, but in which the gamer takes the part of a character.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mod: This term is short for "modification"; an add-on to a game, or a total conversion of a game's engine to create a new game. Most mods are fan-made. Active "mod communities" can revive outdated or forgotten games (see the Counter Strike mod of Half Life).

<p class="MsoNormal">Multiplayer Game: A video game in which more than one person can play in the same game environment simultaneously.

<p class="MsoNormal">NPC (Non-Player Character): A game character under the control of the A.I.; other characters in the game that the player can interact with, but cannot play as.

<p class="MsoNormal">Patch: An software patch to an existing application. Sometimes these are bug fixes while other times they add new functionality.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ping: This refers to the time (in milliseconds) it takes for information to travel to the server and back. The lower the ping the better. Slow ping rates can cause lag.

<p class="MsoNormal">Platformer: A genre in which the player tries to negotiate jumping- and timing-based puzzle levels. Ex: Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, Sonic the Hedgehog.

<p class="MsoNormal">Power Up: This is an object that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic.

<p class="MsoNormal">PvP (Player vs Player): This refers to games (or portions of games) which see one or more human players face off against one or more other human players.

<p class="MsoNormal">Role-Playing Game (RPG): A type of adventure game that is based on quests, combat, and accumulation. The term refers to how the player is in the "role" of a certain character throughout the game.

<p class="MsoNormal">Sandbox: A game where the player has the option to ignore the main objectives of the game in order to fully explore the game's environment. These types of games are also referred to as non-linear or open-ended. They also usually allow for free roaming after the game's objective/story has been completed.

<p class="MsoNormal">Shoot ‘Em Up Game (SHMUPS): A videogame genre in which the player blasts through multiple waves of enemies, usually in some sort of ship, as the background scrolls behind them. Subgenres include Cute 'Em Up games and Bullet Hell (aka Bullet Curtain or danmaku) games. Ex: Galaga, 1942, Deathsmiles, Jamestown

<p class="MsoNormal">Simulation Game: Games that try to accurately depict real life situations and experiences.

<p class="MsoNormal">Social Game: A game accessed through a social network such as Facebook; these games include Mafia Wars, Farmville, and Sims Social.

<p class="MsoNormal">Spawn: The moment when play begins for the character (i.e. “respawn”); coming back to life after the player is killed.

<p class="MsoNormal">Triple A: A game is described as being a triple-A (AAA) title if it has a big budget, a large amount of financial backing, and is expected to receive universal praise from fans and critics.

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