Parlez Vous Gamer? A Gaming Dictionary for Parents

March 24, 2012 — -- If it sometimes seems as if you're speaking a different language than the video game fans in your household, that's because you are. As with any hobby, gaming has its own vernacular, including an Oxford dictionary's worth of esoteric slang and shorthand references for everything from game systems and genres to the types of people who enjoy them.

Thankfully for parents who've never touched a joystick (or, more accurately these days, gamepad or motion controller), learning to speak gamer doesn't require years of study in front of the PS3, Wii or Xbox 360.

But the good news is that, despite the hobby's sprawling growth into new areas like digital, cloud and social games, once you've mastered the basics, grasping more offbeat turns of phrase quickly becomes second-nature. (Or you could do what even the best of us are often forced to do in a pinch: Google the darn term.) Consider the following gaming dictionary a crash course in all things interactive entertainment -- memorize it, and who knows? You may even become proficient enough to talk with your kids about the latest games without making them burst into tears of laughter.

Achievement – Although it began as a specific term for special goals that can be completed on Xbox Live-enabled games in exchange for virtual badges, achievements now can be earned in many different types of games. Players earn special call-outs (e.g. virtual trophies), and in some cases points, for reaching certain goals in a game. In Xbox Live games, Achievement Points count toward a player's Gamerscore.

Avatar – The character a player controls in a game, or the personification of the player in a game's world.

Backward Compatible – When a game system can run games or use accessories created for an older system, the new system is considered to be backward compatible with the old system. Note that backward compatibility can apply to a system's software, hardware, or both. A system may be considered backward compatible even if some older software will not run on the newer system. For example, even though some Xbox titles will not work on the Xbox 360, the 360 is still generally backward compatible with Xbox software.

Beta – A pre-release, nearly feature-complete version of a video game that's more advanced, from a development standpoint, than an alpha version. In many cases, a developer releases a beta version of a game to identify bugs before a game's final release. This can apply to other forms of software as well. Beta tests can be public (open to everyone) or private (open to a select group of invited testers). Anyone taking part in a public or private beta test is a beta tester.

Boss – A notable enemy, usually one possessing much greater power than other foes in the game. A boss is typically found at the end of a game level.

Casual gamer – Someone who plays casual games and/or someone who plays games only occasionally.

Console – Typically refers to a home video game system that hooks up to a television, such as the Nintendo Wii and Wii U, Microsoft's Xbox 360 or Sony's PlayStation 3. Portable systems including the Nintendo DS or 3DS and PlayStation Portable or Vita are also sometimes referred to as consoles as well.

Cooperative – Adjective for a game, mode or quest that allows or requires two or more players to work together towards the same goal.

camper: A player who camps out in an advantageous position on a game map.

FTW: For the win.

gg: Good game.

gibs: A general term for any in-game death. Short for giblets, i.e. what an exploded character generally looks like.

leet/l33t/1337: Short for elite. Used as a term of admiration for an impressive in-game display.lol: Laughing out loud.

newbie/noob/n00b: A relative newcomer to a game; often used derisively to describe an ignorant player. "You don't know where to find heal spells? What a n00b!"

owned/pwned: A particularly savage defeat in a game. You totally got pwned by that rocket launcher.ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing.

Kinect – A camera-based system from Microsoft that uses infrared sensors to track players' body position and movements, allowing them to control on-screen activity through physical motion. The Kinect camera add-on for Xbox 360 includes a built-in microphone, and allows up to two players to use their bodies to control games simultaneously.

Massively Multiplayer – Virtual worlds that exist online around the clock. Massively multiplayer online (MMO) games allow thousands of players to collaborate or compete together.

Machinima – A form of computer animation that uses a real-time virtual environment, such as a game development engine, to create a non-interactive movie. Typically, machinima is distinguished from in-game animations such as cutscenes, even though the same tools are often used in both. Pronounced "muh-SHEEN-eh-mah."

Microtransaction – A small, online purchase facilitated through a specialized digital distribution system, frequently made from inside games themselves, e.g. when a player pays $0.99 to instantly obtain more resources and power-ups, or speed up a building's construction. Many companies earn considerable profits by selling value-priced in-game items, and optional microtransactions are the most common way that free-to-play games make money.

Mods – A "mod," or modification, is an optional add-on typically created by someone other than the game's creators that changes featured settings, characters, weapons, vehicles and/or gameplay options. It is possible for mods to contain mature material, and since they're not rated by the ESRB, parents need to take extra care if allowing their kids access to them.

Motion Control – Refers to any video game or game system that requires users to employ physical movement in order to control the on-screen activity. Popularized by the Nintendo Wii, most console and handheld systems now contain some sort of gyroscope, accelerometer or motion-tracking device to allow for some range of gesture-based gameplay. Microsoft's Kinect camera system requires no controllers at all aside from the players' body. The Nintendo Wii uses gyroscopes and infrared sensors to track the placement of the controller. Sony's PlayStation Move combines a little bit of both of these systems, utilizing a camera and an ultra-precise controller. Even today's handheld systems such as Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita utilize some form of motion controls.

Point of View – How a player views a particular scene in a game and/or the physical perspective from which they do so.

EC (Early Childhood): May be suitable for ages three and older.

E (Everyone): May be suitable for ages six and older.

E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older): May be suitable for ages ten and older.

T (Teen): May be suitable for ages 13 and older.

M (Mature): May be suitable for ages 17 and older.

AO (Adults Only): Should only be played by persons 18 years and older.

RP (Rating Pending): Submitted to the ESRB and awaiting final rating.

Sandbox – A type of gameplay that provides players with a broad variety of tools and allows them to determine their own objectives. Sandbox may also refer to so-called "open-world" games, in which players are free to progress and explore sprawling landscapes at their own pace.

Social Games – Free to play and designed for play on social networks like Facebook, social games can be enjoyed right from your Web browser. Using your social network account, you can play thousands of new releases in all genres, including card games, board games, and strategy games. Most are designed with multiplayer elements (online high-score tables, achievement sharing, collaborative goals, etc.) in mind, and financed by offering players optional microtransactions.

Troll – A message board poster who posts provocative claims and statements designed to generate a hostile or angry response. This behavior is referred to as trolling.

User-Generated Content – Some games allow players to customize nearly every part of the gameplay experience, sometimes creating their own characters, missions and levels. When players do this and share these creations with others, the results are known as user-generated content. User-generated content can be a great way to extend the life of a game, but parents need to be careful because this type of content is not regulated by the ESRB.