by Brett Weiss
Naval Combat Simulator: A game, such as Silent actual math involved to qualify as an educational
Service for the NES, that puts the player at the helm title.
of a nautical vehicle (or fleet of vehicles), using re-One-Hit Death: When all it takes is one punch, alistic and oftentimes complicated control tech-bullet, or other such attack to kill a character.
niques to command the ship(s) in question.
While most modern games (and many games listed
Neo Geo: Released in 1990, the Neo Geo was SNK’s in this book) incorporate health bars, shields, and
pricey game system that was fully compatible with
other such avenues for allowing the player’s char-
the Neo Geo Multi Video System (MVS for short),
acter to get hit numerous times, older games often
which was a cartridge-based arcade cabinet. Games
employ one-hit deaths.
262
GLOSSARY
1-Up: An icon or symbol that can be maneuvered and/or other targets. Most video pinball games are
over or otherwise grabbed to grant the player an
designed to emulate real pinball machines, but
extra life.
some add adventure, shooter, or other elements.
Overhead View Action: An action-oriented game
Pixel: Short for picture element, referring to illu-that is viewed from a top-down perspective, as long
minated points (small graphic units) on the screen.
as it doesn’t fall into another category, such as RPG
Pixels combine to form images. The more pixels
or shooter.
per inch, the sharper the display.
Overhead View Free-Roaming Shooter: A scroll-
Pixelated: When the individual pixels of an oning shooter in which the player’s ship (or other ve-
screen image are blatantly noticeable, those graph-
hicle) can point, shoot, and move in all directions,
ics are sometimes referred to as being pixelated.
and the screen scrolls along with it. A game like
Pixelated graphics are essentially a given with many
Asteroids has somewhat similar ship movement, classic games.
but the screen doesn’t scroll, so it belongs in the
Platform: The specific brand, model, or type of non-scrolling shooter category. Also refers to
video game system. Or, a flat surface, oftentimes
games like Heavy Barrel, in which players walk suspended, that a video game character can walk
around in all directions on a scrolling playfield,
across or jump on.
shooting enemies.
Platform Shooter: A game in which the lead char-Pack-In Game: A video game that is included as acter runs, jumps, and otherwise works his or her
an accessory with a game system, a keyboard, or
way around and/or across a series of beams, blocks,
other such item.
floors of a building, or any other type of platform,
Parallax Scrolling: Pioneered by the arcade ver-shooting enemies along the way. There are often
sion of Moon Patrol (Williams, 1982), this type of obstacles to jump over, elevators to ride, and things scrolling occurs when layered, translucent images
to climb, but these elements are usually secondary
scroll on top of each other at various speeds and
to shooting.
directions to give the graphics the illusion of depth.
Playable: Games described as being playable lack Password: In games with a password feature, pro-the type of egregious flaw (such as horrible con-
gressing past certain levels or points in the game
trols or a bug in the program) that would make a
rewards players with passwords, which should be
game utterly beyond recommendation, regardless
written down and can be entered at a later time.
of any other aspect of the game.
Entering the appropriate password will automati-
Player: The human being who is actually playing cally advance the player to a particular level or
the game. Or, a specific type of video game char-
saved point in the game. Passwords can be in the
acter, such as an athlete (a basketball player, for
form of numbers, letters, or icons.
example).
Pause: Freezing a game in progress so that players Playfield: The area on the screen where the gam-may take a break from the action and return later
ing action takes place. Usually refers to the largest exactly where they left off. The Atari 7800 and Sega
portion of the screen, but only when the game is
Master System each have a pause button on the
not in title mode, selection mode, or other non-
console while pressing start on the control pad
action mode.
pauses most NES games.
PlayStation: Released in 1995, the PlayStation was Peripheral: A joystick, voice module, or most any Sony’s first game console. Games in the PlaySta-other item that is compatible with a game system,
tion library relevant to this book include: Arcade but is not actual hardware or software.
Party Pak, Contra: Legacy of War, Mega Man 8, and Philips CD-i: Released in 1991, the CD-i was a Namco Museum Vol. 1, among others.
pricey, multi-media console that could play games,
PlayStation Portable: Released in 2005, the PSP
audio CDs, karaoke Cds, and video CDs (VCDs).
was Sony’s first handheld game system. Games in
Games in the Philips CD-i library relevant to this
the PSP library relevant to this book include:
book include: Battleship, Dragon’s Lair, Zelda’s Ad-Bomberman, Capcom Classics Collection: Reloaded, venture, and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, among Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, and Ulti-other titles.
mate Ghosts ’n Goblins, among others.
Pinball: In pinball video games, players operate at PlayStation 2: Released in 2000, the PS2 was Sony’s least one pair of flippers, hitting a bouncing ball
follow-up to the PlayStation. Games in the PlaySta-
around a table filled with spinners, bumpers,
tion 2 library relevant to this book include: Capcom
GLOSSARY
263
Classics Collection, Neo Contra, Shinobi, and Mid-rate (as opposed to slower, more methodical shoot-
way Arcade Treasures, among others.
ing). Depending on the game, this is done by press-
PlayStation 3: Released in 2006, the PS3 was Sony’s ing the fire button rapidly or by simply holding it
follow-up to the PlayStation 2. Games in the
down.
PlayStation 3 library relevant to this book include:
Raster Graphics: The type of onscreen images that Bionic Commando, Gauntlet II (downloadable via are made up of pixels or collections of pixels. Also
the PlayStation Store), Golden Axe: Beast Rider, and referred to as bitmapped images.
Prince of Persia, among others.
Real-Time Strategy: This type of game has players Pong: Released in 1972, Pong was the first commer-performing such relatively complicated tasks as
cially successful arcade game, leading to numerous
gathering and managing resources, deploying
clones and copycats, including the ubiquitous ball-
troops, developing technology, constructing build-
and-paddle games available for the home (as ded-
ings, and more. Unlike turn-based strategy titles, in icated units or game cartridges). Pong was created which players take turns making their moves, RTS
by Nolan Bushnell, the legendary founder of Atari.
games have players going about their business at
P
ort: A game that has been translated from one the same time.
system or format to another. The term is com-
Role-Playing Game: An RPG is a game in which
monly used to describe a home console version of
players assume the role of a character (or band of
an arcade game.
characters) who undertakes a lengthy quest that is
Power-Up: Icons, symbols, or other objects that more complicated in nature than that found in the
can be maneuvered over or otherwise grabbed to
typical action or adventure game. The character(s)
enhance the character or vehicle the player is con-
in question can usually gain powers (such as magic)
trolling. Power-ups can sometimes be obtained by
and/or weapons (such as special swords) as he or
defeating certain enemies. Examples of power-ups
she completes missions or engages in battles con-
include the power pills in Pac-Man and the fire tained within the overall quest. Battles can be ac-flowers in Super Mario Bros.
tion-oriented or determined in less direct fashion,
such as comparisons of the characters’ attributes.
Prototype: A professionally designed game that exists in some form (such as a label-less cartridge), ROM: Short for read only memory, which is mem-but was never officially released to the public. Pro-
ory data that can be read by the computer. Most
totype games, which are oftentimes incomplete,
video game cartridges contain ROM.
usually command a premium on the collector’s
Rotary Controller: An analog controller that ro-market due to scarcity.
tates clockwise and counterclockwise to move on-
PS1: Short for PlayStation (the “1” designation screen objects in two directions (usually right and
came into being with the release of the PlayStation
left or up and down). The Atari 2600 paddles are
2).
the most famous version of this type of controller.
PSP: Short for PlayStation Portable.
Saturn: Short for Sega Saturn.
PS3: Short for PlayStation 3.
Scrolling: In games that employ scrolling, players maneuver a character, ship, or other object around
PS2: Short for PlayStation 2.
large, contiguous playfields. Some games scroll in
PSX: Short for PlayStation.
all directions while others limit the action to right Publisher: A person or company who plays a key and left, up and down, or in just one direction
role in paying for, manufacturing, distributing,
(usually up or to the right).
marketing, or otherwise making sure a game gets
Sega CD: Released in 1992, the Sega CD was a disc-produced and sold.
based add-on to the Genesis. Games in the Sega
Rally/Off-Road Racing: Racing against the clock CD library relevant to this book include: After
or another player(s) out doors around tracks of
Burner III, Jeopardy! , Sega Classics 4-in-1, and Sonic varying terrain, such as dirt or mud. Sometimes
CD, among others.
tracks aren’t even involved. BMX and monster
Sega Genesis: Released in 1989, the Sega Genesis truck racing usually contain elements of rally/off-was the 16-bit follow-up to the Sega Master Sys-
road, but are specific enough to warrant their own
tem. Games in the Genesis library relevant to this
categories.
book include: Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Rapid Fire : When the character, ship, or other Battletoads, Columns, and Sonic the Hedgehog, shooting implement can shoot at a fast, constant
among others.
264
GLOSSARY
Sega Master System: See the Sega Master System Slowdown: Graphical images that slow down when chapter in this book.
they’re not supposed to. This sometimes occurs
Sega Saturn: Released in 1995, the Saturn was
when the hardware (or the programming involved
Sega’s follow-up to the Sega 32X. Games in the Sat-
in the software) is not fully up to the task of mov-
urn library relevant to this book include: Contra: ing numerous onscreen images at once.
Legacy of War, Saturn Bomberman, Sega Ages, and Smart Bomb: Smart bombs destroy (or at least
Shinobi Legions, among others.
damage) most or all onscreen enemies. This type
Sega 32X: Released in 1994, the 32X was a disap-of weapon was popularized by the arcade classic,
pointing add-on to the Sega Genesis. Games in the
Defender (1981).
32X library relevant to this book include: After
SMS: Short for Sega Master System.
Burner, Space Harrier, Pitfall: The Mayan Adven-SNES: Short for Super Nintendo.
ture, and Zaxxon’s Motherbase 2000.
Software: Cartridges or other forms of media that Sega 32X CD: The Sega 32X CD is an add-on to
are plugged (or otherwise inserted) into game sys-
the Genesis/Sega CD/Sega 32X setup, meaning it
tems (hardware) in order to play the games. Also
requires all three of those systems to run. Only five refers to computer applications.
titles were produced for the peripheral: Corpse
Killer, Fahrenheit, Night Trap, Slam City with Scot-Space Combat Simulator: A first-person shooter tie Pippen, and Supreme Warrior.
set in outer space, but with more elaborate and of-
tentimes more realistic features and objectives.
7800: Short for Atari 7800.
Shields: Many classic games feature one-hit deaths, Split Screen: When the playfield is divided into but some let players use shields, which temporar-two separate, distinct, but oftentimes interrelated
ily make the ship or character invulnerable or able
areas. Usually, one player pays attention to one half to withstand at least one hit.
of the screen while the other player concentrates
on the other half.
Shooter: Any type of game in which shooting plays the dominant role.
Sports: This self-explanatory genre covers a variety of sports simulations, but when the sport rep-
Side-Scrolling Combat: A fighting game in which resented is altered considerably (such as when a
the protagonist moves from left to right (usually),
tennis title is actually a ball-and-paddle game), that punching, kicking, hacking, slashing, or otherwise
is taken into consideration when designating that
battling enemy after enemy after enemy. Some-
game with a genre.
times there are weapons to pick up, obstacles to
avoid, platforms to jump on, and/or fighting moves
Sports Car Racing: Racing against the clock or an-to gain.
other player(s), using standard sports cars instead
of racecars or other vehicles.
Side-Scrolling Platform: An action-heavy game
in which the protagonist moves from left to right
Stealth: In most stealth games, players must
(usually), jumping across gaps and on top of var-
infiltrate or escape enemy quarters without getting
ious platforms. Climbing, swimming, swinging,
caught. Although shooting and weapons usage in
and other maneuvers are sometimes required, and
general play a key role, the emphasis is on the
there are almost always enemies and/or obstacles to
avoidance of enemies and moving past them unde-
avoid or defeat.
tected. Battles that do occur usually demand good
timing, accuracy, and keen observation of the sur-
Side-Scrolling Shooter
: A shooting game like Gra-roundings.
dius or R-Type in which the action scrolls to the right and/or left. Horizontal shooting is usually in-Stock Car Racing: Racing against the clock or an-volved, and sometimes the player’s ship can drop
other player(s), usually around oval tracks, using
bombs on enemies and/or targets.
the types of cars driven by NASCAR racers.
Simultaneous: Multi-player titles in which at least Strategy: A game in which skillful planning, tacti-two of the gamers play at the same time.
cal maneuvering, and/or calculated management
Slide-and-Shoot : A non-scrolling game like
takes precedence over direct control of the action.
Galaga in which the player maneuvers a ship or Strategy Role-Playing Game : Like most RPGs,
other shooting implement left and right in a
strategy role-playing games generally feature some
straight line along the bottom of the screen, firing
or all of such elements as experience points, hit
upward at aliens, ships, or other enemies and/or
points, conversations with characters, and item ac-
obstacles.
quisition. However, an emphasis is placed on stra-
GLOSSARY
265
tegic and tactical aspects of the game, such as those relevant to this book include: Battle Chess, Dragon’s found in a military simulation.
Lair, Family Feud, and Lemmings.
Super Famicom: Released in 1990, the Super Fam-Tile Puzzle: A game like Shanghai, in which play-icom is the Japanese version of the Super Nintendo.
ers match tiles bearing similar patterns in order to
remove them from the screen.
Super Nintendo: Released in 1991, the Super Nintendo (or Super NES) was the 16-bit follow-up to
Trackball: A hard plastic ball that is mounted in a the Nintendo NES. Games in the SNES library rel-stationary base and is rotated to maneuver an ob-
evant to this book include: Contra III: The Alien ject (such as a gun sight or a cursor) around the
Wars, Gradius III, and Super Mario World, among screen. The Sega Sports Pad for the Master System
others.
has a trackball, but the peripheral was a commer-
cial failure and was used for very few games. The
Tactical Shooter: Although most games of this
Atari Trak-Ball is compatible with the Atari 7800
type incorporate first-person and/or third-person
(among other Atari systems).
shooting action, tactical shooters are usually more
Turbo: In certain racing games, players can use realistic in nature than other shooting games. Many