Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine Issue 36
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Game Mess Mornings 04/22/24
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8-4 Play 4/19/2024: LEAVE IT TO BEAVERS
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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.
The Acme Corporation is a fictional company that is widely found in all forms of media, including video games. Most notably the fictional company is found in Looney Tunes cartoons.
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.
A foreign language natively spoken by extraterrestrial biengs from another planet or galaxy
Anthropomorphism is the concept of an object, concept or character that has human qualities or traits, such as speech, a level of intelligence similar or higher than a human's and self consciousness. "Anthro" means "of human" and related to the concept of humanity.
Games that can be played with a CGA monitor and graphics card. CGA, Color Graphics Adapter was the first generation of color graphics for the IBM PC.
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 cyclops is any race of creature that is born with only one eye.
Sometimes you want a challenge, sometimes you wanna coast.
This concept deals with platforms that phase in and out of existence as time passes. It is used to create tricky platforming situations requiring excellent timing to overcome.
Electricity is commonly used as a damage-introducing element causing inanimate objects to become harmful (electrified water, floors, cables, etc). It can also refer to a power wielded by characters that generates sparks, is conductive to metal surfaces, forks or branches, and is often blue in color.
The player character jumps on the back of an enemy during a battle to take control of them.
Any weapon that shoots laser and plasma beams or energy bolts rather than conventional bullets.
A powerful release of energy. This energy is usually expelled in all directions very quickly, typically giving off orange or red flames.
Although killing or being killed has been one of the most universal mechanics in games through the years, in some games players or their foes merely faint instead.
A fictional language and/or script created exclusively for the world in which a game is set, such as Tolkien's Elvish or the language of the Talan in Outcast.
Game Over originally appeared in pinball machines, and later, arcade machines. When players lose at a game, it is game over.
A characteristic present in game characters with a superior state of mind reflected in how they solve problems and their way of approaching situations.
Some games allow people to swim. Many, however, have water that hurts or kills the player when entered.
Rooms that are either invisible or extremely hidden. Players are rewarded with health, easter eggs, weapons or traps.
In many games there is a ranking system, the players with the highest point value are listed in a "high score" table.
An Iconic concept of video games is the use of an idle animation for the players character, when during gameplay there's no control given. It's an example of emergent game design, and is used as a way to add depth to action characters.
Invisible bridges and walkways force the player to either take a leap of faith or find a way to reveal the path in order to reach their destination.
It's arguably the one move that symbolizes the medium to those outside it. The ability to jump, be it onto a building, a platform, or a skull, is one of the all time most important abilities ever put in a video game.
When the player/enemy leap towards the enemy/player, effectively dealing damage in the same turn.
When a character grabs a ledge, in order to pull themselves up, or shimmy to the side until there's room. Mostly seen in 3rd person adventure games, but also in many platformers.
This concept is for games in which at least one of the main characters is male.
When the President wants to go for a burger, you know that all your cake is a lie.
These are often a departure from the conventional gameplay of a game. There have also been compilations; games including only minigames. The Mario Party series has a lot of minigames, too!
Platforms conveniently moving you towards your destination to allow the crossing of large expanses which would otherwise be impossible to cross.
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