For questions that ask what a gaming-specific term means.
43
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the purpose of MMO “maintenance”?
In massively multiplayer games, the servers are routinely restarted, for example EVE Online performs "maintenance" daily, and World of Warcraft performs it weekly.
What goes on during it, and why ...
10
votes
1answer
2k views
What are the playstyles of the different roles?
Having never played DOTA, LoL, or any other games of this genre, I am faced with the daunting task of picking between 50+ heroes to play. They each seem to have a role, such as Carry, Initiator, ...
16
votes
2answers
537 views
What is Griefing?
I previously asked what is Smurfing and got an explanation that it was a subset of griefing. So now this begs the question....
What is griefing? Is Griefing really the major classification of ...
2
votes
1answer
249 views
What is a Bonjwa?
I heard the term bonjwa used in the context of "Boxer is a Bonjwa". What is a Bonjwa and does it give any privileges to be a Bonjwa?
How can I become a Bonjwa?
7
votes
3answers
512 views
What is “dual-boxing”?
I've seen it refered to in a couple of (closed) questions like this one.
One comment seemed to indicate it's a World of Warcraft term for a second character; is that correct?
What's the meaning of ...
1
vote
1answer
673 views
Does p2p mean “Pay to Play” or “Peer to Peer” [closed]
Both terms are used often in the gaming world and people tend to use "p2p" for abbreviating both. What are the correct abbreviations and usages?
Peer to Peer generally means a multiplayer game that ...
4
votes
3answers
158 views
Is there a term for maps you have to explore to reveal?
I remember an old Sega or Nintendo castle game where the whole board was black and in order to see the overview of the level you had to move your guy around and "discover" it square by square.
Could ...
18
votes
3answers
4k views
What is a hit box?
What exactly is a hit box? Is there any way that knowing about hit boxes could help in a game?
7
votes
1answer
900 views
League of Legends Terminology [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What do those abbreviations mean in LoL?
LoL uses a bunch of terminology. I can't find definitions for (and would like to understand the meaning of):
Bruiser
Jungler
...
2
votes
3answers
195 views
Meaning of “PC” in “PC Engine”?
In Japan, the TurboGrafx-16 was known as the "PC Engine". What did the "PC" stand for? Presumably it was not Personal Computer?
0
votes
3answers
2k views
Why do they call SS in EU server and MIA in NA server
Why do players on the EU server say SS when an enemy is missing and on the NA server MIA?
And is there an important difference between them?
6
votes
1answer
804 views
What does PST mean?
I've seen on the internet, on several sources (here and here are just a couple of examples) that "PST" means "Please Send Tell". But the sentence "please send tell" doesn't make any sense to me.
...
3
votes
1answer
4k views
What does “c/o” or “co” mean on the Diablo 3 trade chat?
I've seen several times that people offer goods for sale on the Diablo 3 trade chat and add the letters "co" or "c/o" what do they mean by it?
From the decisions it seems to be some kind of auction ...
0
votes
1answer
151 views
What does “crafting” imply across games?
When the word "crafting" is used in games, what does it generally mean?
10
votes
3answers
3k views
What is “graveyard zerging” or “death zerging”?
In a blog post by Blizzard they mention some practice called "graveyard zerging", for instance:
Our goal is the next time a player is graveyard zerging a boss, it should occur to them that "this ...
3
votes
1answer
185 views
What is the source of the term Use Map Settings?
I heard the term "UMS" used to refer to a starcraft II custom map, and after looking it up it seems to refer to "Use Map Settings". What is the origin and history of this term?
24
votes
1answer
898 views
What's the meaning of the term “gib”?
Especially while talking about FPS, the term "gib" is quite common. While I get it's related to a sudden and gruesome death, I'd like to know its actual meaning and where it comes from.
9
votes
1answer
11k views
What does scrap banking mean?
I hear it all the time. They're looking for scrap? Crafting scrap? Trading scrap?
11
votes
2answers
446 views
How do I know when it's time to push?
I'm fairly new to League of Legends and I learned of the concept of zoning recently, and it makes a lot of sense, but no source that I visited tells me when I know it is time to push. The most ...
14
votes
1answer
3k views
What is corpse hopping?
I've seen the term "corpse hopping" used regarding some behavior on the higher difficulties of Diablo III. What does that mean, and how is that done?
0
votes
0answers
340 views
What is essential difference between First Person Shooter and Third Person Shooter? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
First person shooter vs. Third person shooter
Obvious difference is placement of the camera - from the eyes or observing from above.
But is camera difference enough to ...
6
votes
3answers
469 views
What is the collective name for the evolution chamber, forge, and engineering bay?
Zerg's evolution chamber, Protoss' forge, and Terran's engineering bay have similar roles. All are pre-requisites for anti-air and detection buildings for the respective races.
What collective term ...
7
votes
3answers
379 views
Where did the 'pwnage' or 'pwn' or (verb) 'to pwn' come from ?
I know it is a malformation of ownage or to dominate your opponent beyond normal or average means of victory, but why is it Pwnage? Why the 'P' there? Was it a combination of two different words?
21
votes
2answers
1k views
What is bunny hopping?
I hear the term bunny hopping thrown around a lot. What is it? Can it actually help me in some games?
7
votes
1answer
271 views
Origin of the term “gimping”
In the Super Smash Bros. series, "gimping" is the practice of stopping an opponent from recovering back to the stage, usually by grabbing the ledge before them or just going out and hitting them. ...
-1
votes
1answer
185 views
Phrases for describing earning experience points and gaining levels in gaming?
What are the common phrases/terminology for describing the act of earning experiences and building up levels during a game (probably more so in a RPG context)?
Somehow I think 'farming' is a related ...
19
votes
1answer
1k views
What genre of video game does Diablo belong to?
I've recently played Diablo 1 and 2 and I'm totally hooked. Now I've been wondering what genre this game belongs to, so it would help me find similar games.
5
votes
1answer
274 views
What is a hidden object game?
I've read mentions of a games called Hidden object games. What is this?
12
votes
2answers
972 views
Why is it offensive to call someone a 3 Minute Mage?
I was reading game terminology It says
3-Minute Mage
Refers to a Mage (often an Arcane and Fire spec) who possesses one or all of the following: Arcane Power, Presence of Mind, and Talisman
...
9
votes
1answer
787 views
What is the infamous “Archon Toilet”?
I heard that expression quite a few times during casts, but what excatly is it and why is it called like this?
-4
votes
2answers
6k views
What is dunking?
I thought dunking was a build that master yi does and yells GET DUNKED, but I keep hearing people talk about dunking, without the nooblord build. What does this mean?
For reference this is the ...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
What does “CC” mean? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What do those abbreviations mean in LoL?
People always say this in my games, "Their team has more CC than us." or "We don't have enough CC." What does it mean in League ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
63
votes
3answers
3k views
Where does the concept of “Mana” as a resource come from?
In today's field of gaming, the humble mana bar has become nearly as widespread as the health bar. Everywhere from MMOs to flash games, to traditional turn-based RPGs, Mana exists as a finite ...
3
votes
2answers
158 views
Are “Let's Play” videos managed or promoted by a collective entity?
Why are so many gaming videos' titles on Youtube prefaced by a "Let's Play"? Is some official company or entity sponsoring each video, that these users are working for? Is each video submitted to a ...
14
votes
4answers
8k views
What does SS stand for when an opponent is missing?
When someone from the opposing team is missing I have noticed people writing "SS bot/mid/top" to indicate to the rest of the team that they don't have visual on one or more of the people in there ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
What does “ship spinning” mean in EVE?
According to an article from CCP, they are bringing ship spinning back because of user requests.
What does this expression "ship spinning" mean?
10
votes
2answers
3k views
What Does “VGA 90” Mean?
I've seen the term VGA 90 in several eBay auctions, usually in ones that are new or factory sealed.
I tried Googling it but found nothing.
What does VGA 90 mean?
4
votes
2answers
1k views
What is weapon spread as it relates to Team Fortress 2?
"Weapon Spread" seems to be a term used ofter in regards to "vanilla" servers in Team Fortress 2. What does this term mean, and how does it relate to server settings and gameplay?
16
votes
5answers
1k views
How can a game be 2.5D?
I've noticed some games be described as 2.5D. How can a game be 2.5D? Dimensions are discrete entities, aren't they?
9
votes
2answers
945 views
What is lag compensation?
Specifically in regard to online games, what is lag compensation? Should it affect the way I play?
12
votes
5answers
592 views
Elements of a basic RTS?
What are the basic elements of a RTS?
I.E.: What are the features without which it is not an RTS?
I have played games like Age of Empires and Warcraft, but I'm still not sure which are the defining ...
23
votes
2answers
1k views
What do those abbreviations mean in Diablo 2?
After Diablo 3 gets delayed further and further I recently started playing Diablo II online again after aaages. Thanks reddit ;p
Since I never was deep into multiplayer in D2 I have now some problems ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What type of strategy game is this? You rearrange positions?
What do you call games where you have to move and re-arrange cars or boxes to move a goal box into a location. There have been games like this since Atari, as far as I know. It's some kind of ...
2
votes
1answer
160 views
What does “vana” mean?
In Spiral Knights, someone just bailed out of my party because he couldn't "make it to vana". I also heard someone in the arcade say "guess we're back to vana running for today".
What's vana?
2
votes
1answer
501 views
What is a tick/tech throw in Street Fighter 4?
I read about tick / tech throws on Street Fighter sites. What is this? Are there differences between the terms I mentioned or do they refer to the same thing?
1
vote
4answers
422 views
What is this genre called?
In the old times, I used to play some games on my Amiga 500 where the player needs to continually shoot and advance. The ammo was unlimited. What is this genre called in gaming terminology? I can give ...
17
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the difference between a “carry” and a “fighter”?
I have been rather confused about this for a while, mainly when someone says they will play their Champion as a carry when the Champion is not classified as one. So, I suppose I am also wondering the ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
What's the difference between a JRPG and a KRPG?
"J" should stand for Japan, while "K" should stand for "Korean"; I've met this term a few times and I'd like to know more about the differences on J/K (Computer) RPG.
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What are games without player interaction, like Progress Quest, called?
I'm looking for games like Progress Quest and Idle RPG that contain very little interaction with the player, but can't figure out a genre to search for. What is the genre called?
I've tried ...
