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Game » consists of 2 releases. Released November 1985
Sure, these days have almost every game sporting the newfangled 3D, but way back when, everyone had to live with plain old 2D. 2D, or two dimensions, limit the game to scrolling backgrounds, but some games even now make use of this basic concept.
8-bit can be a reference to actual computing power, or it can be a retro look for videogames that want to recall a bygone era.
Abandonware refers to computer software that is no longer sold nor supported, sometimes because of unclear copyright ownership reasons.
Extraterrestrials appear in many video games in a variety of styles. Sometimes they're evil, sometimes they're benevolent, and sometimes they're very similar to humans.
This concept occurs in many RPGs and Sci-Fi games. The Ancient Advanced Civilization Technology is often a giant weapon (Halo Rings, Giant of Babil, etc.) that becomes a major plot focus in the stories of these games.
Artificial life-forms ("robots") specifically designed to mimic the appearance of human beings. Although this is a male-specific term, with female-looking machines actually being "gynoids", the term "android" is generally used universally in video games.
Usually refers to the end of the world.
The End of Days. A concept often used in video games. In most games: the protagonists are working to prevent it, although sometimes the goal is to actually bring about Armageddon yourself.
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, commonly refers to the programmed behaviors of NPCs in a game, whether it's the fact that a soldier takes cover behind a wall in Gears of War, or that townspeople cheer upon your arrival to their village in Fable.
In parapsychology and many forms of spiritual practice an aura is a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object like the halo or aureola of religious art.
Backtracking is the act of navigating through previously explored areas, usually for the purpose of progressing in an objective-based adventure game. Players who are lost may also backtrack to reorient themselves.
Chiptunes are musical compositions that are synthesized by a computer or console sound chip.
Collective consciousness is best defined as a group or race of beings possessing no minds of their own, but act and are controlled in service of a greater overall purpose, much like ants. They make great villains!
The main line of distinction between victory or failure in video games, death is the process of a biological being ceasing to be alive.
A moment in a game where the main character walks slowly or stands/kneels still with their finger in their ear, hearing mission details.
Any weapon that shoots laser and plasma beams or energy bolts rather than conventional bullets.
A situation where the player must quickly escape from a building currently in the process of blowing up. Could either be a cinematic or actually gameplay.
Everything you need isn't always spelled out for you on the map. Sometimes even the map is not there till you go explore it.
A powerful release of energy. This energy is usually expelled in all directions very quickly, typically giving off orange or red flames.
Extinction deals with a Species dying out either due to natural causes or more likely because of outside transgression.
Either through a concealing helmet, keeping the whole game in first person, or using clever camera work, the player character is kept faceless throughout an entire game.
An industry game design convention that's appeared in many games over the years. The fetch quest involves sending the player out to collect a certain number of items, and return them to complete the quest. A staple of the RPG and Adventure game genre.
It's not just for airplanes anymore: Game mascots and MMO players alike have taken to the skies. Players can use flight to quickly navigate large levels, find hidden items, or take opponents down.
Floating Islands are land masses (anywhere from island size to continental size) that float either by the use of magic or some other force.
God Mode is an ability, often entered through a cheat code, that gives the player god-like abilities.
Health is a value that gauges how much damage players can take in a game before they die or pass out. Also known as life in some games. Health is usually represented by a bar or a percentage instead of an exact amount. Found in most non sport games
A hostile artificial intelligence, or "rogue AI", is a synthetic being that has turned on its creators. Among the most famous rogue AIs from video games are SHODAN (System Shock) and GLaDOS (Portal).
Sending or receiving fake email inside a game.
“Indie” or “independently developed” games are video games which are developed by a studio without the support of an external publisher.
A gameplay mechanic allowing players to store their items and freely carry them around.
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