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Achievements are extra challenges added into video games that sometimes carry a point value or unlock bonus material, and are sometimes solely for bragging rights.
Ad-chievements are achievements based on in-game product placements. They can be either advertisements in the actual achievements (like the "Ridiculously Long Lasting" achievement in Shaun White Skateboarding) or achievement earned doing something with in-game product placement (like the "Boob Tube" achievement in Alan Wake.)
Some television shows are ripe for interactive adaptations. Like Grey's Anatomy, or The Young Ones.
There are good agents, like Elite Beat Agents and bad agents, like Agent Smith.
Used by protagonists when opening a door that is locked, or just for looking really cool.
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.
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.
Avatar Awards are items or clothing that are unlocked for Xbox Live avatars by completing certain tasks within the game.
A proprietary video codec (.bik/bk2 extension) developed by RAD Game Tools and used in a very large number of video games.
Winged, usually flying creatures, many of which enjoy perching on branches and defecating on unfortunate victims below.
Bullet time is a gameplay mechanic that allows players to slow down time. Depending on the game itself, the player often slows down along with the world around them, however occasionally the player can simply move at normal speed while the game world continues to slow.
Often used as a catch-all term for any game's main story-driven mode of play, campaign mode usually refers to a linear sequence of levels with a continuous story and a definite conclusion, playable single-player and sometimes co-operatively.
Sometimes, rather than building a character model from scratch, a developer will sometimes use a real person as a template and use his or her physical attributes to create a similar character model to be used in their video game. In some cases that real reason will appear as themselves in games.
A point within the game whereby the game saves its current state whether it be for the purpose of a more convenient respawn point or a gameplay design (such as in racing).
A cliffhanger is a type of ending where the fate of the characters, the world, or everything in the world is left unresolved. In most cases, they are revealed in sequels.
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.
Limited editions of games that include extra "perks" like Making of DVDs and a nice and shiny tin with extra box art
An action that is sensitive to context. Like going up to an object and pushing a button, which would normally perform a different action, to interact with it.
These games let players see the credits without needing to play the game first.
Crows are familiar over much of the world: large, intelligent, all-black birds with hoarse, cawing voices.
A non-interactive sequence within a game most often used for plot advancement.
The ability to pause a story scene. This avoids missing plot points if you are interrupted or take a break, or let's you call someone to show off a game's FMV or real time animation.
A bright flash, usually red and seen on the borders of the screen, that indicates damage or injury.
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.
The main line of distinction between victory or failure in video games, death is the process of a biological being ceasing to be alive.
When an on-screen character gets low on health, their movement is slowed or they walk with a visible limp or slouch.
Some games have included developers commentary. These comments can be in text form, audio that plays in the game or the menus, or video. Sometimes they are just added in the collectors editions.
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.
An achievement that is unlocked for completing a game on a certain difficulty level, sometimes granting the achievements for all lower difficulties, and sometimes not.
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