Advergame – This is a slang term, sometimes used disparagingly by gamers, to signify a game that was created primarily as a means of advertising a product or service.
Analog Control – This is a type of controller that can tell how hard a button or joystick is being pushed and responds accordingly by relaying that information to the game to speed up, slowdown or intensify the actions of the character being played.
Anime – This is a a word meaning Japanese animation which is generally colorful and very distinct in terms of style. This is a popular type of art for video games.
Bug – This is an error in the programming code for a video game that will cause an undesired effect within the game itself.
CG - This is an acronym for computer graphics that indicated graphics used in a video game or film which have been made in a digital environment rather than hand drawn.
Console – This is the electronic device that is hooked up to a TV set and allows players to play video games.
Easter Eggs – These are features, experiences or prizes that are secreted away within a video game to be discovered at random by players. They are sought after and very popular online where players share with each other what they have found in certain games.
Emulator - This kind of program allows players to play games from console systems ranging from CDROM or DVD games to older cartridge systems.
ESRB – This acronym stands for Entertainment Software Ratings Board and similar to the way films are rated for audiences, this organization of the video game industry takes it upon themselves to rate computer and video games. Usually an attempt to inform parents of what their children might see in the game.
Genre – These are sections that games are categorized in the same way film or movies are categorized. A genre may describe the style of play, the visual or story aspects of a game or what the player is going for when playing. Adventure, racing, simulation and strategy are all genres.
Hack n Slash – In these types of games, players usually run around a world with a sword, axe or other form of bladed weapon and defeat many opponents.
Lives – This term comes from the days of coin operated arcade games where players would have so many lives (chances to continue playing) before they needed to insert another quarter.
MMOG – This stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Game and is a term used to describe games that have a huge number of players playing at once wither together or against each other in the same game world.
RPG – This term means Role Playing Game and is a style of adventure game where players will create their own custom character and then play the role they have chosen through the course of the game.
RTS – This term means Real Time Strategy and refers to a type of strategy game that has the players acting in a manner closer to action games. There are no pauses for turns so the action is fast and furious, relying on tactics and reflexes.
Sandbox - This is not as much a video or computer game as it is a way for players to explore a game’s environment. Usually this is a mode that simply allows players to do whatever they wish as if the game were their sandbox.
Simulation – This is a style of game that attempts to mimic reality in a digital format, giving players a realistic experience.
Spoiler – This is the way that details given out about a game which might spoil the pleasure of discovering certain aspects or viewing the storyline is described.
Third Person – This is a perspective in gaming where the camera will be watching the player’s character from a distance and usually from behind them so they can see the rest of the game world.
