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Games which use an acronym or initialism for a title. The acronym is sometimes related to the games theme (ie. F.E.A.R. is a horror game, H.A.W.X. is a flight combat game).
A staple in modern shooters. They hide, crawl, creep, climb and jump, and are usually pretty weak but hard to hit.
Games often use iron sights to define precision shooting with non-scoped weapons.
Ambient Occlusion attempts to realistically depict the way light reflects off surfaces and radiates throughout an area.
An often used plot device where the main character wakes up and has lost all their memories. The game usually centers around getting your memory back or uncovering the events that lead to your confusion.
Usually refers to the end of the world.
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.
Bosses are enemies that fight you at the end of a level or at a significant point in the story.
The ability in a first person shooter to shoot bullets through walls and objects at enemies. This usually results in less damage and accuracy once the bullet passes through the wall/object, and may only work on certain materials or thicknesses.
Some games just weren't meant to be.
A menu or other interface that is presented as a cell phone operating system.
The dreaded Chimera was a terrifying beast that consisted of several animals combined into one. The distinct animal features were that of a lion, a goat and a serpent, though other variations exist.
When you have a code number or a password to type to use a device, you have to type the code
Limited editions of games that include extra "perks" like Making of DVDs and a nice and shiny tin with extra box art
An optical effect formed by beams of light contrasting against areas of shadow in the atmosphere. They are often simulated in video games through volumetric lighting.
A sight placed on the HUD used to aim and provide a point of reference to the player when looking and interacting with the game world. Although they often aim weapons, they have a variety of uses and have appeared in many games in many different forms.
The act of bending at the knees from a standing position. Crouching is an essential part of many shooters and platformers, and can be used by players to stay behind cover or avoid incoming projectiles.
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.
Darkness is used in games to restrict access, increase tension, or just to set a mood. Often the player has access to a light source that can mitigate its effect.
Environments cycle between day and night, often with effects on other aspects of the game.
The main line of distinction between victory or failure in video games, death is the process of a biological being ceasing to be alive.
Destructible cover is an increasingly popular feature in shooters, even those without cover systems. It is used to encourage creative tactics both in single-player and multiplayer.
A destructible environment means the player has the ability to destroy his/her surroundings. This allows players to use the environment to their advantage.
Industry jargon used to describe a troubled development cycle that results in long delays, extended periods without new info, and often radical changes to the game.
Dialogue trees are a feature through which the player selects responses from a list of choices, eliciting reactions from NPCs and determining the path of the conversation and story.
The concept of purchasing media and having it delivered over the internet. No physical representation of this content is given, and although the content resides on the user's hard drive they are typically granted a license to the product, rather than ownership of it.
Digital distribution method for PC games. Direct2Drive is maintained and owned by Gamefly Digital Inc.
A dog is an animal, of which there are estimated to be 400 million of in the world. Said to be man's best friend, they naturally appear in many video games.
Durability refers to the condition of the currently equipped weapons and armor, among other things. Overusing the said item without repair generally results in it breaking or otherwise becoming non-functional. Many games with role-playing elements incorporate this feature.
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