Questions tagged [terminology]
for questions that ask what a gaming-specific term means. Note that questions that ask to find the right term(s) to describe something are not allowed here.
416
questions
19
votes
2answers
3k views
Where does the term “dropship” come from? [closed]
I'm talking about those things:
They fly about in the sky, and when they land, enemy soldiers come out of them and try to kill you. Almost every video game has them, yet there is no such thing as a "...
9
votes
1answer
245 views
Why is the abbreviation of Nintendo Game Cube GCN? [closed]
Playing Mario Kart Tour, there's something I find weird.
All Gamecube courses are marked as GCN, and I can't figure why Nintendo GameCube was abbreviated to GCN (GameCube Nintendo really doesn't ...
21
votes
1answer
8k views
What is a “G.O.A.T” game?
Earlier this week, I received an email advertising the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on the Nintendo Switch. I usually ignore these emails, but the subject threw me off.
It said:
The hunt ...
36
votes
1answer
7k views
What exactly is a softlock?
I've heard the term "softlock" used a lot, especially in speedrunning contexts, and I have picked up an intuitive vague definition from context. It seems to mean getting the game into a state where ...
0
votes
2answers
169 views
What's the difference between MMORPG and RPG?
MMORPG:
an online role-playing video game in which a very large number of people participate simultaneously.
RPG:
a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting.
...
1
vote
1answer
141 views
What do you call the kind of shooter game in which the background moves on its own?
On old gaming consoles (first gen) there were games made like FPS, but in which the background moves from right to left, and the scene could stop for some time and then go on. Also, the player could ...
-3
votes
1answer
76 views
What do we call the line of a character in a video game when he makes an attack? [closed]
Here's the line is referred to as a sound effect, but it's too vague in my opinion, because it's something that's voiced by a character and not just a sound. Is there a more specific word in the ...
2
votes
1answer
96 views
What do we call the voice prompt we hear after a kill?
What do we call the voice prompt we hear after a kill? For example: "Double kill", "Killionaire". What do we call those? I am pretty sure there's a slang or a word people use in-game that refers to it....
2
votes
1answer
114 views
What are 'units' in Dota 2?
I read sites about Dota 2, and there they often mention 'units'. I'm confused because 'units' here doesn't mean 'distance units', but can mean many things. So, could you explain what the term refers ...
5
votes
1answer
364 views
What is lane priority?
What exactly is lane priority? This has become a common term in professional League of Legends casting, and I've seen it more on streams of high elo players.
1
vote
1answer
173 views
Is there a term for accidentally saving a game when you're about to die? [closed]
I'm sure everyone has at least once had the pleasure of saving their game only to discover upon resuming play that they were just about to die from an attack they hadn't seen. And then you load your ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Killzone 2: Objective Points vs. Mission Points?
In Killzone 2 Skirmishes, there are Objective Points and Mission Points. What is the difference between the two? Or, what is the definition of each?
17
votes
1answer
981 views
What does it mean to “shff fh nair into knee?”
I was reading a Smash Ultimate combo guide and someone told me that the best Captain Falcon combo is:
shff fh nair into knee
What on earth are they trying to say? And is it even a real thing?
Are ...
8
votes
1answer
3k views
Where does the term “thirsting” come from?
After having played Fortnite Battle Royale for a while, I have heard the term "thirsting" come up numerous times. It's typically used when playing in squads, where the act of "thirsting" is killing a ...
4
votes
1answer
191 views
What does map ban mean?
Watching StarCraft:Broodwar leagues like ASL or KSL, I see that in the information panel of each player there are maps that under the category "BAN". What exactly this ban means?
16
votes
1answer
3k views
What is a “DRPG”?
For example, the Metacritic review for Labyrinth of Refrain calls it a “DRPG”. I have found other video games tagged as “DRPG” in blogs, but with no explanation of the term. They all seem to be ...
3
votes
1answer
420 views
ELO in Super Smash Bros. Melee
I see a lot of people talking about ELO in Smash, (bronze, gold, plat, etc.) but I never understood what it meant. Does anyone have any answers on how to get an ELO? Like is there a competitive scene ...
68
votes
2answers
14k views
Why are people who spend a lot of money on video game micro-transactions called “whales”?
Pretty much every game that involves micro-transactions has a large amount of their micro-transaction revenue coming from a very small percentage of their players, the so-called "whales" that spend ...
23
votes
3answers
5k views
What does the term 'Spot Healing' mean in World of Warcraft?
Watching a World of Warcraft stream, the caster mentioned that the healers were "spot healing" the tank.
What does the term 'spot healing' mean?
-5
votes
1answer
358 views
What does t bag mean?
After reading some terminology questions I felt the need to add to the collection the term "t bag" / "t-bag" / "teabag". It is often heard and seen, usually but not limited to multiplayer games.
So, ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What's the difference between “nerf” and “debuff”?
What's the difference between "nerf" and "debuff"?
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is movement in Fortnite called “rotations”?
The word 'rotations' is being thrown around all the time.
Why is it called "rotations"/"rotating"?
-3
votes
1answer
2k views
What is 'IV range' in relation to IVs? Is one more important than the other?
I am attempting to catch strong pokemon in Pokemon Go. I have heard that a pokemon with max IV is strong. I know what IVs are, but what is IV range? Is it necessary?
22
votes
2answers
13k views
What does Packets / Packet Loss mean
I've recently seen something on Fortnite: Battle Royale, and other games. They're called packets, and I have honestly no idea what they are. It'll say something like:
Packets: 12
Packet Loss: 0%;
...
8
votes
3answers
323 views
What is experience soaking?
I read this blog post about playing Abathur yesterday evening and it talks about 'experience soaking'.
Most Abathur players will not utilize their body very well and just sit somewhere safe, but ...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the “ping pong” effect mentioned here?
I was reading this post on the official forums.
It says
If you, like me, like to shape your maps then make sure you have them all in the same area as you want to put your elder in that area in ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
What does tempo mean in League of Legends?
I’ve heard casters use the term several times in professional games, but I’m not sure precisely what it means.
2
votes
1answer
131 views
What are stereo screenshots for?
So I went across one of the few games the Nvidia's Ansel feature supports, and within the many types of capture type it provides, aside from:
"screenshot", "super resolution" and "360º"
there's ...
-1
votes
2answers
1k views
What is difference between “PowerSlide” and “Drift”?
I noticed some games use the term Powerslides and others use Drifting, but is there a difference?
I mean generally, not specifically to single game. Some games call the action Powerslide and some ...
2
votes
2answers
300 views
Origin of the name “gaming console”
Why are they called "consoles"?
AFAIK, In computing, the name "console" for machine interface came from the fact, that initially it was a literal console table with typewriter on it. But gaming ...
6
votes
1answer
3k views
What does “stagger” mean in Overwatch?
I frequently hear Overwatch players and commentators using the verb "stagger". What does this term refer to, and what is its significance?
10
votes
3answers
13k views
How does 'bloom' work?
I was recently playing Fortnite/watchingsome videos, and a lot of people are referring to 'bloom'. I have googled and found some information on it, but I am a little confused on how its implemented. ...
48
votes
3answers
25k views
What is Stream Sniping?
In this YouTube video,
Some streamer says he "doesn't want to stream the game, because he gets stream sniped every day by a Symmetra but they still have a chance to ...
30
votes
2answers
29k views
What's the difference between “mythical” and “legendary” Pokémon?
I always see some Pokémon being called "mythical" or "legendary", but I don't understand what makes a Pokémon mythical and what makes it legendary.
Is there any definition that differentiates a ...
3
votes
1answer
18k views
What is a proximity backflip?
One of the missions to reach level 34 in Alto’s Adventure is to “Land a proximity backflip.”
What is a proximity backflip? How do I land one?
8
votes
1answer
2k views
What is sound occlusion?
I have a very insensitive feeling with sound. So I can't really tell the difference between occlusion effect on or off in this video, but I have a feeling that when occlusion effect is off, the sound ...
2
votes
2answers
15k views
What is DBNO in PUBG?
Theres a stat that I don't get.
It's called DBNO and right now, I have 0.
What is DBNO?
It is also shown on OP.GG's pages https://pubg.op.gg/user/Fredy31?server=na
1
vote
2answers
169 views
Is there a term for a non-ftp electronic deck-building card game (a CCG without the first C)?
I'm looking for an electronic deck-building card game, where you don't have to collect the cards to play.
I'm looking for something similar to Hearthstone or Magic: The Gathering Online, but where ...
6
votes
1answer
586 views
Is there a term for this kind of video game background? [duplicate]
Ok, I have an odd little question.
I'm sure that I've played a number of video games with this kind of stylized 2D background, though I can't think of an good example for the life of me (I tried, ...
0
votes
1answer
302 views
What does DPCT mean?
This term is often used in reference to RPGs, where it is employed in the context of an ability. E.g. "Ability A has higher DPCT than ability B". What does this term mean / signify?
34
votes
2answers
8k views
What does AoS mean?
I was searching some maps for Warcraft III: Frozen Throne and I found a term I hadn't heard before: AoS map.
I've searched for a meaning, however I haven't been able to find a concrete definition, ...
4
votes
4answers
188 views
When is a control point contested vs being captured?
When is a capture point being contested and when is being captured in Team Fortress 2? Whenever the announcer announces that a control point is being threatened by the other team, how is the ...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
What does 'CSR' mean in the context of 'CSR Racing'?
I've been playing this game (CSR2 racing) for a while but I've yet to find out what the CSR in the name comes from.
What does it mean?
-6
votes
1answer
5k views
What is BM in League of Legends? [duplicate]
It's a term that seems to just have crashed in the LoL community. I now seem to see 'This play was so BM' or 'Look at the BM'... It seems to be only with cocky plays that went wrong.
So what is BM?
-4
votes
1answer
449 views
What Genre is Dark Souls III?
Dark Souls III is an online game that follows a single player through a set storyline, but because it is also online I can't decide if it's an MMORPG or something else.
8
votes
1answer
332 views
What is the “Cosplay RPG” genre?
I ran into this expression on the wikipedia page for Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2. I never heard about this genre, and googling it only resulted in RPG Cosplay pictures.
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What do you call a game that has other games within it?
My wife needs to know, for academic reasons, what to call such a game. She's writing about using games to learn things, so here's your chance to help improve the general perception of video games ;)
...
9
votes
1answer
663 views
What differentiates HotS sub-roles?
I'm looking at the current Mega Hero Bundles that Blizzard has for the HotS 2.0 release, and I'm seeing a lot of Roles that I'm not familiar with.
HotS is the only MOBA I play, and even then I don'...
42
votes
4answers
14k views
What is “radial blur”?
I've thought that radial blur is a form of motion blur that is only applied to mobile objects, not camera movements, but I may be misinformed.
Radial blur can sometimes, albeit rarely, be configured ...
38
votes
1answer
4k views
What does the bracketed number mean in longplay titles?
I am referring to this:
NES Longplay [540] Takeshi No Chousenjou
^^^
I've had no luck researching this. From Google, to the World-Of-Longplays website, to Wikipedia's stub of an ...
