What's a "mod"? FPS? AC2?
We realize that not everyone is as up-to-date with the latest gaming lingo as we are, so this page is designed to make some of the new terminology make more sense.
AC, AC2, ACB, etc.
Acronyms referring to the Assassin's Creed series. AC means Assassin's Creed, AC2 means Assassin's Creed II, ACB means Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.
Achievement
A challenge that a player can complete in an Xbox 360 game. Completing the challenge awards the player the "achievement".
For the Playstation 3, achievements are known as "trophies". See "trophy" below for more information.
For the Playstation 3, achievements are known as "trophies". See "trophy" below for more information.
AI
Artificial intelligence. If discussing the technical part of a game, this can refer to how the characters in the game move, react, and respond to events around them. If discussing the story of a game, it usually refers to some sort of intelligent computer system.
Artificial intelligence. If discussing the technical part of a game, this can refer to how the characters in the game move, react, and respond to events around them. If discussing the story of a game, it usually refers to some sort of intelligent computer system.
Ammo
An abbreviation for "ammunition", the bullets, projectiles, or electrical charge used in ranged weapons.
Assist
In gaming, an assist is when a player damages an enemy, but another player kills that same enemy. The player who killed the enemy is awarded the "kill", while the other player(s) who dealt damage are awarded an "assist".
Ban, Banned, Perma-ban
If a player violates the rules of a system, he or she can be kicked off the system. Usually bans are temporary, but if the violation is harsh enough the moderators can enact a "perma-ban", in which the player is permanently banned from the system.
Campaign
The main storyline for a game.
Cheat
A code that the player can put into a game that makes the game easier in some way. Developers usually use these codes to specifically test certain sections of a game, but usually leak the cheats so that players can use them as well.
Clan, Clanner, Clantag
A clan is a group of gamers who join together so that they can find other high-level, high-skill gamers to play with. The individual members of the clan are "clanners". The clantag is some sort of identifying set of numbers or letters that distinguish a member of a particular clan, which are usually inserted before or in the player's name, i.e. members of the "B3ar" clan have names such as "B3ar Chimichanga" or "GrizzlyB3ar".
DLC
Downloadable Content. Extra features, missions, weapons, etc. that are released by the developers. DLC usually costs money but can include some free content as well.
Expansion Pack
A large addition to an existing game. Expansion packs will include much more content than DLC, but most true expansion packs have been phased out in favor of DLC. Usually the original game is required, although some "stand-alone" expansion packs can be played without the original game installed.
Forum
A type of website that allows people to come together and discuss a particular topic in an open fashion.
FPS
First-Person Shooter. A style of game where a player is looking through the eyes of the character he is controlling. The "shooter" aspect usually means that the player is using some sort of firearm.
Gaming Community
A group of people that play a games. A true "community" only exists when these gamers have some sort of space to come together and discuss the game, such as a "forum" (see below).
Gib, Gibbed
When a player is "gibbed", their body explodes into parts. It's usually pretty bloody.
God Mode
Universally, this refers to a cheat that gives players invulnerability. These cheats can sometimes also give unlimited ammunition as well.
GoW
Most commonly refers to the God of War series. May also refer to Gears of War, but that series is usually shortened to "Gears".
Most commonly refers to the God of War series. May also refer to Gears of War, but that series is usually shortened to "Gears".
Indie Game
A game that is developed by a very small team and/or on a very small budget.
A game that is developed by a very small team and/or on a very small budget.
L4D, L4D2
Acronyms referring to the Left 4 Dead series. L4D means Left 4 Dead, L4D2 means Left 4 Dead 2.
Mana
A type of energy used to cast spells. If a player runs out of mana, their character is unable to cast any spells. It's basically what electricity is to a cell phone. Without a charge, a cell phone can't make calls. Without mana, a player can't cast spells.
ME
An abbreviation for the Mass Effect series.
An abbreviation for the Mass Effect series.
MMO
Mass-Multiplayer Online. A game that is designed so that the player is online constantly with other players (usually in the hundreds at least). MMOs (such as World of Warcraft) different from other games with online capabilities (such as Halo 3) in that the MMO would not exist without the online space.
NOTE: This acronym, along with others, can be combined depending on the nature of the game. For example, Mass Effect is a TPS RPG, since it falls under both the third-person shooter category and the role-playing game category. The Old Republic is likely to also be a TPS MMO RPG, since in addition to the third-person shooter and role-playing game elements, it is also a mass-multiplayer online. As you can tell, the acronyms can get fairly complicated.
NOTE: This acronym, along with others, can be combined depending on the nature of the game. For example, Mass Effect is a TPS RPG, since it falls under both the third-person shooter category and the role-playing game category. The Old Republic is likely to also be a TPS MMO RPG, since in addition to the third-person shooter and role-playing game elements, it is also a mass-multiplayer online. As you can tell, the acronyms can get fairly complicated.
Mod
A modification to a video game. Something that someone outside of the game development team has created to change the content of the game in some way. This could be as simple as fixing a few bugs that the development team didn't find or as complex as revamping the entire gameplay experience.
Modder
The person that creates mods for a game.
Modding Tools
The program(s) that a "modder" (see below) uses to create mods. Usually these are created by the game development team for the PC gaming community, but sometimes a particularly skilled member of the gaming community can create modding tools as well.
Noob
A derogatory term for a new person or a person unfamiliar with the game. It can also be used to describe a player who other players deem underaged for the particular game.
Noob Tube
A slang term for a grenade launcher. The name was given because it's a weapon that takes little skill to learn and use compared with other weapons. (See "Noob" above)
A slang term for a grenade launcher. The name was given because it's a weapon that takes little skill to learn and use compared with other weapons. (See "Noob" above)
NPC
"Nonplayer-Characters", meaning the characters that are controlled by the game, as opposed to characters that are controlled by humans.
Parkour
As odd as it may sound, it's essentially extreme running, jumping, and climbing. It's a sport where a person will jump over obstacles while maintaining full speed, or climb up walls, buildings, and other obstacles as quickly as possible. Assassin's Creed and Mirror's Edge are both known for their parkour-based gameplay.
Party, Parties
A group of people who are connected together in an online game. The game will keep these players together (and usually on the same team) from match to match. Usually party members all know each other from something other than the game.
PC
This one's tough, because it could mean two very different things to gamers. The majority of the time, "PC" refers to a "Personal Computer", specifically one that runs the Windows operating system. Whenver our site uses "PC", we mean a Windows Personal Computer.
However, you may also see this on other sites about a specific game. In this case, it's referring to the "Player-Character", meaning the character that the human player controls. If we're referring to the player's character in any way, we'll make it clear by saying "player" or "player's character" instead of "PC".
However, you may also see this on other sites about a specific game. In this case, it's referring to the "Player-Character", meaning the character that the human player controls. If we're referring to the player's character in any way, we'll make it clear by saying "player" or "player's character" instead of "PC".
Port
A game that was originally designed to be played on one platform / console (i.e. the Xbox 360) but was redesigned to function on a different platform / console after the game was officially finished.
A game that was originally designed to be played on one platform / console (i.e. the Xbox 360) but was redesigned to function on a different platform / console after the game was officially finished.
PS3
The acronym for PlayStation 3.
PSN
The PlayStation Network. It's the thing that allows PlayStation 3 owners to play games online, download games and extra content, and talk to friends. It comes free with the PlayStation 3.
Pwn
Originally a typo for the word "own", it means to beat an enemy without much effort.
Rage Quit
The act of quitting a match or game due to extreme anger. Usually applies in multiplayer gaming, but can be used for any type of game.
The act of quitting a match or game due to extreme anger. Usually applies in multiplayer gaming, but can be used for any type of game.
RPG
Role-Playing Game. A style of game that is designed so that the player can upgrade certain skills. The most famous RPG is Dungeons and Dragons. The gameplay experience for a player will often change based on what skills the player chooses to u
RRoD
Nooooo!!!
Red Ring of Death. When the Xbox 360 has a hardware failure, the lights on the front of the Xbox will light up red instead of the normal green. The number of links on the "ring" (since the lights form a circle) is used to indicate what type of problem has occurred.
Shovel-ware
Low-quality, low-budget game that are released quickly to try and make the developers a small profit.
SMG, MG
Sub-Machine Gun. It's a type of automatic weapon that uses smaller sized rounds. MGs are machine guns; larger, heavier automatic weapons (usually with very large magazine sizes).
Stats
Statistics. This could refer to many things, but usually it refers to a player's overall game statistics, meaning the amount of kills, deaths, and assists (see below) a player has accumulated.
In an RPG, it refers to a player's power levels and abilities.
In an RPG, it refers to a player's power levels and abilities.
Trainer
A program that compiles cheats so that the game is easier for the player. Cheats can be anything from invulnerability to unlimited ammunition.
Trophy
A challenge that a player can complete in a Playstation 3 game. Completing the challenge awards the player the "trophy".
For the Xbox 360, trophies are known as "achievements". See "achievement" above for more information.
For the Xbox 360, trophies are known as "achievements". See "achievement" above for more information.
TPS
Third-Person Shooter. A style of game where the player is looking at the character he's controlling from a camera hidden behind the character. As with an FPS, the "shooter" aspect usually means that the player is using some sort of firearm.
Vanilla
Original. When a game is modded, it is referred to as "modded". However, when modders are discussing the game in its original version, they refer to it as the "vanilla".
XBL
Xbox Live. It's the thing that allows Xbox 360 gamers to play games online, download games and extra content, and talk to friends. A silver version comes free with the Xbox 360, which entitles users to updates for games but not much else. A gold version gives a user full access to the online content, but requires an annual subscription.
XBLA
Xbox Live Arcade. It's an online store that allows users to download smaller, cheaper, arcade-style games.