by Brett Weiss
bers, geography, music, or other subjects. Educa-
First-Person Shooter: On modern platforms, the tional games usually emphasize learning over
term “first-person shooter” generally refers to such
action, but frequently incorporate elements of ac-
games as Doom and Halo, in which a character tion, climbing, shooting, or other genres.
walks around toting weapons and shooting mon-
sters, people, or other beings. However, classic con-
8-bit : The Atari 7800, Nintendo NES, and Sega sole first-person shooters usually involve sitting in Master System are all 8-bit consoles. See also: Bit.
the cockpit of a ship, looking through a view
Electronic Games Magazine: The groundbreak-
screen, shooting other ships. Frequently, a cursor
ing publication from the early 1980s that was the
or gun sight is used in helping players aim their
first (and best) magazine devoted exclusively to
shots. Space combat simulators frequently incorpo-
video games. It paved the way for mainstream
rate this type of first-person shooting action, but are video game journalism.
generally more complicated in terms of objectives
English: Putting indirect (or at least subtle) and controls. First-person shooters can also refer
influence on the direction of an onscreen item
to the type of target games that usually require a
(usually a bouncing ball).
light gun, but that don’t offer light gun support.
Eye-Hand Coordination: The degree of ability one First-Person Tank Shooter: A slow, methodical
has to guide the movements of the hands in con-
shooter like Battle Tank, in which players view the junction with the images one sees. During the
action as though sitting inside a tank, looking out
1980s, when video games came under attack for
the main view screen.
wasting players’ time or for being too violent, apol-
Flickering : Graphical images that blink when ogists frequently touted the increased eye-hand co-they’re not supposed to. This frequently occurs
ordination that would purportedly come as a re-
when the hardware (or the programming involved
sult of playing the games.
in the software) is not fully up to the task of mov-
Famicom: Released in 1983, the Famicom is the
ing numerous onscreen images at once, such as in
Japanese version of the Nintendo Entertainment
various arcade ports for the NES.
System.
Flight Combat Simulator: Similar to a space com-Fighting : A non-boxing, non-wrestling, non-
bat simulator, but players pilot a plane or chopper
scrolling fighting game in which players control a
instead of a spaceship. Unlike flight simulators,
character that engages in fights (punches, kicks,
flight combat simulators involve at least some
etc.) with the other character. Fighting games usu-
shooting.
ally offer a side-view perspective.
Flight Simulator: A game that tries to emulate ac-Fire Button: The action button on a controller.
tual plane, rocket, helicopter, or other airborne
GLOSSARY
259
flight as accurately as possible. Usually, the player to Nintendo’s handheld Game Boy. Games in the
must operate a variety of controls depicted on an
Game Gear library relevant to this book include:
instrument panel.
Double Dragon, Fantasy Zone, Klax, and Ninja Forced Scrolling: When the screen scrolls of its Gaiden, among others.
own accord, independent of player movement. The
Game Show: A game like Wheel of Fortune or Fam-player is usually required to proceed at a certain
ily Feud, in which players take part in a virtual ren-pace in order to keep up.
dition of a TV game show. Contestants usually
Formula-1/Indy Racing: Racing against the clock compete for cash or prizes by answering trivia
or another player(s), using a Formula-1 or Indy
questions, solving word puzzles, or other such ac-
racecar. Many racing games of this type try to be at
tivities.
least somewhat realistic.
Game System: A video game machine, complete
Fortune Teller Simulator: A novelty game that
with console, wiring, and controllers. Usually
purports to tell of the player’s past or predict his
refers to the type of system that hooks up to a tel-
or her future.
evision set and accepts plug-in cartridges, discs, or other ROM media.
FPS: Short for first-person shooter or frames per second.
Game.com: Released in 1997, the game.com was
Tiger’s black-and-white handheld system. Games
Frame Rate: The frequency in which video frames in the game.com library relevant to this book in-are displayed on a television set or other monitor.
clude: Monopoly, Sonic Jam, Wheel of Fortune, The more frames per second (fps), the better the
Wheel of Fortune 2, and Williams Arcade Classics.
fluidity of motion.
Gameplay: How well a game plays (or how a game Futuristic Racing: Racing against the clock or an-plays in general) independent of accompanying
other player(s), using a sci-fi type of car or other
graphical or sound considerations.
such land-based vehicle.
Gamer: A person who plays video games.
Gambling: Blackjack, roulette, poker, slots, or any other Vegas-style game that involves the wagering
Gaming: Refers to the medium of (or the playing of virtual money.
of ) video games.
Game Boy: Released in 1989, the Game Boy was
Genesis: Short for Sega Genesis.
Nintendo’s first handheld game system. Games in
Genre: The type of game, such as shooter, plat-the Game Boy library relevant to this book include:
former, or role-playing. Many games incorporate
Dr. Mario, Castlevania Legends, Double Dragon, a number of genres, but most have a dominate style
and Mega Man II, among others.
of gameplay mechanic.
Game Boy Advance: Released in 1999, the Game
Graphics: Computer-generated images depicted
Boy Advance was the 32-bit follow-up to Nin-
on a television screen or other monitor.
tendo’s Game Boy Color. Games in the Game Boy
Great Video Game Crash: Due to a number of fac-Advance library relevant to this book include:
tors, including competition from increasingly
Boulder Dash EX, Castlevania, Columns Crown, and cheap personal computers and a glut of awful,
Ice Climber, among others.
cheaply produced games (many of them by third-
Game Boy Advance SP: Released in 2003, the
party companies), the home video game industry
Game Boy Advance SP was an upgrade of the Game
took a nose dive in late 1983 and all but disappeared Boy Advance, finally providing a lit (backlit or
in 1984. With the release of the Nintendo NES in
front lit, depending on the model) screen. The SP
1985, the hobby once again assumed a dominant
plays the same titles as the Game Boy Advance.
place in popular culture.
Game Boy Color: Released in 1998, the Game Boy Hack-’n’-Slash: An action-oriented game in which Color was Nintendo’s follow-up to the original
the protagonist uses a sword (or similar imple-
Game Boy, adding color, crisp
er images, and longer
ment) to hack and slash his or her way through nu-
battery life to the handheld formula. Games in the
merous enemies, usually in a fantasy or futuristic
Game Boy Color library relevant to this book in-
setting. Elements of hand-to-hand combat and
clude: Dragon Warrior III, Galaga, Ghosts ’n Gob-platforming are frequently involved.
lins, and Rampage World Tour, among others.
Hardcore Gamer: A hardcore gamer is the type of Game Gear: Released in 1991, the Game Gear was player who spends a large percentage of his or her
Sega’s more sophisticated (yet less popular) answer
life playing, purchasing, talking about, or other-
260
GLOSSARY
wise obsessing over video games. Hardcore gamers
and Master System come with control pads (though
are usually competitive, meaning they keep track of
joysticks can be used).
their scores, catalogue the games they have beaten,
Killer App: Short for killer application.
and/or take pride in their prowess.
Killer Application: Refers to a console-specific, Hardware: The game console itself (as opposed to must-have game that is popular enough to help sell
software or peripheral items).
lots of hardware. Super Mario Bros. for the NES is Hyperspace: Transporting a spaceship instantly to a good example of a classic game that moved a lot
another area of the screen or the game by simply
of systems.
pressing a button or entering the ship into a
Konami Code: Introduced in the NES version of
specific area. The ship in question usually disap-
Gradius, the Konami Code gives players extra lives, pears and reappears in the blink of an eye. Similar
power-ups, or other advantages in various Kon-
to warp, but less versatile in nature.
ami games. The code is entered by pressing up, up,
In the Wild: Refers to a video game for sale at a down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A.
thrift store, garage sale, pawn shop, or other place
Launch Title: A video game that is newly released that is not specifically a video game retailer.
in stores the same day as its accompanying sys-
Intellivision: Released in 1979, the Intellivision tem.
was Mattel’s more sophisticated alternative to
Light Gun: The Nintendo Zapper for the NES and Atari’s ubiquitous 2600 system. Games in the In-the Sega Light Phaser for the Master System are
tellivision library relevant to this book include:
prominent examples of light guns, which have their
BurgerTime, Commando, Donkey Kong, and Pop-roots in the arcades of the 1930s and certain Pong eye, among others. See Classic Home Video Games: and Pong-like consoles of the 1970s. For the Atari 1972–1984 for more info.
7800, players can use an Atari XE light gun or a
Isometric Action Role-Playing Game : A role-
Best Lightgun (produced by Best Electronics) for
playing game in which the action scrolls diagonally
such shooters as Alien Brigade and Barnyard and is viewed at an angled/overhead perspective
Blaster.
(also known as a 3⁄4 perspective). Combat is usually
Light Gun Shooter: Any shooting game that al-
turn-based, with the game containing such typical
lows the use of a pistol, rifle, or other gun-based
RPG elements as character building, exploration,
controller. Players point the gun at the screen and
and item collecting.
fire at aliens, ducks, bad guys, or other targets.
Isometric Projection: The arcade version of Za-Lynx: Short for Atari Lynx.
xxon (Sega, 1982) was the first video game to use isometric projection, which gave the graphics a
Maze: Most maze games involve guiding a char-
faux 3D effect via an angled (or 3⁄4) viewing
acter (such as Pac-Man) through a maze or mazes,
perspective. The method has been employed
eating dots (or other small items) while avoiding
with varying degrees of success for certain con-
enemies. Many maze games include special edible
sole games, including Desert Falcon for the Atari items that let the character turn the tables on its
7800.
enemies. Certain maze games, such as Dig Dug and Boulder Dash, let the character dig (or otherwise Jaguar: Short for Atari Jaguar.
create) its own maze-like pathways.
Jigsaw Puzzle: A game in which players maneuver Maze Shooter: Instead of eating dots or digging puzzle pieces to fit them into place in order to make tunnels as in standard maze games, maze shooters
a picture. Unlike action puzzles, jigsaw puzzles re-
have the protagonist firing a gun or other weapon
quire little eye-hand coordination, and competi-
at enemies and/or the other player’s character.
tion is usually not much of a factor.
Joystick : Used for moving objects around the Mega Drive: Released in 1988, the Mega Drive is the screen, a joystick is a handheld device attached to
Japanese version of the Sega Genesis.
a game console, usually by a wire. Most joysticks are Mini-Game: A small bonus game or contest con-mounted on a base and contain at least one “fire”
tained somewhere (oftentimes at the end of the
or “action” button for shooting, jumping, or other
level) within the main game; they are usually good
such maneuvers. Also, most joysticks are digital
for earning extra lives, points, powers, or other
(at least for classic systems), but some, such as the goodies. Alternatively, mini-games are sometimes
Atari 5200 joystick, offer analog control. The Atari
selectable via a menu screen and played independ-
7800 comes equipped with joysticks while the NES
ently of the standard game.
GLOSSARY
261
Miniature/Radio Control Racing: Racing against in the Neo Geo library relevant to this book in-the clock or another player(s), using the types of
clude: Baseball Stars 2.
toy cars, trucks, or other vehicles that run via re-
Neo Geo Pocket Color: Released in 1999, the Neo mote control.
Geo Pocket Color was SNK’s handheld system.
Mission-Based Racing: A game in which the player Games in the Pocket Color library relevant to this
drives a car or other vehicle around city streets or
book include: Baseball Stars Color, Pac-Man, and other pathways, trying to perform specific objec-Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure.
tives beyond simply reaching the finishing line, rac-
NES: Short for Nintendo Entertainment System.
ing against the timer, or competing against other
drivers. Such missions can include finding hidden
Next-Generation System: A game console that is treasure or completing levels.
not only new (or soon to be released), but that is
also cutting edge in design and execution. Gener-
Monitor: A screen, such as a television set, that ally speaking, it should be more powerful and have
displays video images.
better graphics and sounds than previous systems.
Monster Truck Racing: Racing against the clock or another player(s), using monster trucks. Ele-Nintendo DS: Released in 2004, the DS is Nin-
ments of demolition/combat racing are sometimes
tendo’s dual-screen handheld game system. Games
involved.
in the DS library relevant to this book include:
/> Bomberman, Contra 4, Gauntlet, and New Super Motorcycle Racing: Racing against the clock or an-Mario Bros. , among others.
other player(s), using motorcycles.
Nintendo Entertainment System: See the Nin-
Multi-Game Compilation: A cartridge that con-
tendo NES chapter in this book.
tains four or more games of different genres.
Multi-Genre Game: A game that contains four or Nintendo 64: Released in 1996, the Nintendo 64
more complete and separate types of genres.
was Nintendo’s follow-up to the Super Nintendo.
Games in the N64 library relevant to this book in-
Multi-Platform Game: A game, such as Pac-Man, clude: Asteroids Hyper 64, Castlevania, Dr. Mario that is available for numerous (or at least more than 64, and Tetrisphere, among others.
one) game system.
Non-Scrolling Platform: A fixed-screen game in Multi-Tap Adapter: A peripheral that hooks to a which the lead character runs, jumps, and otherwise
game system and lets players attach additional con-
works his or her way around a series of beams,
trollers, allowing for more than just two players to
blocks, floors of a building, or any other type of
play simultaneously on a particular game.
platform. There are often obstacles to jump over,
Musical Instrument/Band Simulator: Whether
elevators to ride, enemies to avoid, and things to
designed for a physical instrument (such as the
climb (but not as much climbing as in actual
keyboard in Miracle Piano Teaching System for the climbing games).
NES) or a standard controller, this type of game
attempts to replicate the experience of performing
Non-Scrolling Shooter: Any fixed-screen shooter music. Usually, players must follow the melody of
that does not fall into the slide-and-shoot, light
the song (or create songs of their own) by pressing
gun, first-person, or other shooter categories.
buttons on the controller. Guitar Hero and Rock N64: Short for Nintendo 64.
Band are modern versions of this type of game.
Nudge: A video pinball term used to describe “push-Mystery Adventure: A game in which players, as a ing” on the table or putting English on the ball.
private investigator or a police officer, explore
Number Puzzle: Most number puzzle games have
crime scenes and gather clues in order to solve
players decoding, arranging, or otherwise strate-
murder mysteries or other crimes.
gically manipulating numbers, but without enough