Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time Concepts

Theoretically, all PC games can run at a solid 60 frames per second, and far higher. But on consoles, this framerate is a much rarer commodity.

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.

An AI companion is a computer-controlled ally who follows and aids you through your adventures or who requires your protection. The AI companion's survival is often essential to game and story progression.

Extraterrestrials appear in many, many video games in a massive variety of styles. Sometimes they're evil bloodthirsty invaders, sometimes they're adorably cuddly sidekicks, and sometimes they're very much like us.

Annual Game Installments have a new entry in the the series every year. Some include Madden, Guitar Hero, and NBA Live.

Anthropomorphism is the concept of giving human-like attributes and/or motivation to non-human entities. Examples would be the sword Frostmourne of Warcraft lore, the character Frog from Chrono Trigger and characters from the Star Fox series.

Some games offer alternate modes or specific sections of the storyline that involve arena combat, gladiator style.

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.

Auto-aiming (or Auto-targeting) allows for a character to attack or interact with an object or enemy that's very near to the player or within their field of vision.

The game automatically saves for you when you reach certain points. Implemented in order to reduce frustration for forgetful savers.

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.

A proprietary video codec (.bik extension) developed by RAD Game Tools and used in a very large number of video games.

Body armor in games acts as additional protection. In most cases, when a player takes damage that would completely affect their health, their body armor reduces the damage taken or takes the damage instead.

Video game bosses are usually the main antagonist, and arch nemesis of the main protagonist. In most cases the end of a game is when the main character defeats the final boss.

A boss fight is a culminating challenge that pits the player against one or more enemies representing a greater threat and/or difficulty than those previously faced. These scenarios typically feature unique antagonists.

When a character from an existing media franchise makes a brief appearance in a video game, sometimes without even opening acknowledging their origins.

Collectibles are items such as coins, rings, gems, packages etc. that can be gathered, usually for some kind of reward, or sometimes to simply beat a level. Often (almost too often) the source of earning achievements and trophies on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

A combat-based platformer is a style of platforming with more emphasis placed on destroying enemies than exploration or collecting items like coins, jiggies, etc. Good examples of combat-based platformers are Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter.

A trap designed to kill off victims by crushing them. Commonly found in sacred temples though industrial variations (like car crushers) exist.

Currency has all forms in video games. It is used to buy characters, vehicles, weapons, and more.

A non-interactive sequence within a game most often used for plot advancement.

Dancing is the movement of a body, usually rhythmic and to some kind of music. A lot of times, it happens between two people and may be romantic. Shake your booty!

Deadly Gas is used in many games as an obstacle and usually causes the player's health to degenerate over time.

Sometimes you want a challenge, sometimes you wanna coast.

Game titles that have more than one meaning, sometimes not very nice ones.

A double jump is the ability to jump while already in mid-air to get some extra lift. It totally violates the fundamental laws of physics, but we try not to think about that.

Any type of lifeform whose species is on the brink of extinction. Important characters being "the last of their kind" was once so common in fiction that it has become a mocked cliche.

The 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California on June 2-4.

The Classical Elements are usually considered to be Earth, Water, Air and Fire. In modern science, the Periodic Table has increased the number of elements to 118.

Experience Points are part of a character advancement system commonly found in RPGs. These points are generally gained by defeating an enemy or completing a task.

A powerful release of energy. This energy is usually expelled in all directions very quickly, typically giving off orange or red flames.

A fictional currency is one where the object being exchanged does not exist in the real world, such as Final Fantasy's Gil, or are not used for exchange in the real world, such as Fallout's bottlecaps.

The last boss you face in a game, usually representing the final climax of the game.

Floating Islands are land masses (anywhere from island size to continental size) that float either by the use of magic or some other inexplicable force.

Gadgets are given to someone to help them out in situations, or to just look cool.

Game Over originally appeared in pinball machines, and later, arcade machines. When you lose at a game, it is game over.

The concept of a game referencing another game through mockery, parody or even directly. A game reference to the same franchise does not count.

Gamescom 2009 was a video game convention that took place in Cologne, Germany from August 19 - August 23, 2009.

Greatest hits (Also known by other names) are games that generally have sold very well and warrant a re-release some time later. These games are also generally given a special or dropped price.

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

Games often feature in game music, however some have taken the effort to create their own radio stations, with DJ's, talkback, and a variety of music.

While a data install can be a long and unpleasant process, certain games entertain the player in various ways to make the long-lasting event an entertaining process.

With the internet in full swing, some games reflect its leak into popular culture by making references to the World Wide Web.

Games in which the two main protagonists are of different species.

It's arguably the one move that symbolizes the medium to those outside it. The ability to jump, be it onto building, onto platforms, or onto skulls, is one of the all time most important abilities ever put in a video game.

Kidnapping is often used in videogames as a motivation for the protagonist to venture into unknown worlds and fight seemingly hopeless battles.

Some characters are considered to be the only surviving member, usually of its species, but it could be used for other things like abilities (a planet could have one person left who can perform magic, etc.). Sometimes they quest to find other members.

When the title of the game does not appear immediately at the beginning of the game, but rather after a first mission or prologue.

The Lombax is an animal-like alien, who are nearly all extinct from the known galaxies. Ratchet is the only known surviving member of the species.

This concept is for games in which the main character is male.