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Running at 60 FPS is standard for arcade & PC games, but hardware restrictions of consoles often force developers to aim for lower framerates in order to preserve visual detail or allow greater scale. 3D console games hitting 60 FPS are thus uncommon, though the trend of re-releasing games on newer hardware has technically resulted in more 3D console games hitting 60 FPS.
A person leading a double life. This character has more than one way in which they present themselves to the world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Baditude is being "edgy" in an obviously forced or fake manner. Games with baditude often feature excessive swearing, gratuitous violence, and content meant to shock or offend.
When the player character (re)visits a certain area or location that was also present in a previous game, or visited later on in the same game, with some alterations.
An option that makes the physical character models in the game have enormous heads, and occasionally equally oversized arms. Usually accessed through a cheat code.
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.
AI Bots are computer-controlled game characters that substitute for characters that are otherwise typically played by a human, and are most commonly found in multiplayer games.
In video games, breaking the fourth wall occurs when a game becomes aware of its nature as a game, or when a character directly acknowledges the player.
When a character from an existing media franchise makes a brief appearance in a video game, sometimes without even openly acknowledging their origins.
Jacking is the act of taking control of a vehicle that is not under the player's rightful or original possession, and may or may not have been taken out of another player's or NPC's possession.
There's nothing cooler than planting a bomb, turning the camera around, and walking away nonchalantly as it blows up behind you. As everyone knows, true heroes don't look at explosions.
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).
The new badass way to look, as seen on 90% of hit video game covers.
A concept used in many racing and action games in which your vehicle or character is airborne and shot at an awesome angle, often in slow-mo.
While modern chemistry defines 118 atomic elements, video games more often deal with classical elements as described in ancient philosophy, mainly fire, water, earth, and air. In many games, each element is stronger against certain elements, but weaker against others.
Climbing is a common tradition in games, particularly platformers. There is often a particular type of surface that can be climbed, and it has a recognizably different look than other surfaces in the game. Climbing ladders or stairs doesn't count.
Video games that include a physical cloth or paper map in their packaging.
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.
The concept of requiring the player to collect large amounts of multiple tokens to progress in the game, learn new abilities, unlock secrets or optional content, etc. It was often implemented in the early platformers of the N64 & Playstation era.
A style of game that has platforming elements, but with more emphasis placed on fighting enemies than precise maneuvering through the level and its obstacles. Notable examples include Ratchet & Clank and early Ninja Gaiden games.
The comic relief is a character, other than the main character, who is meant to add humor and lighten the mood of the game. These characters are usually very dumb or very witty, and are usually very talkative.
Games that numerically track the player's progress towards completion of a specific goal, single level, or the entire game.
A page devoted to cataloguing and explaining appearances and the use of concept art in games.
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.
A crossover occurs when a character from one franchise makes a special appearance in a game from an unrelated franchise. Some games are specifically designed to be crossovers that bring together characters from two or more franchises.
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