Power Bombcast: The Skin Doesn't Quite Fit
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Game Mess Mornings 05/03/24
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A mechanical system designed to capture or cause harm. Either the player can set traps for their enemies or others set them for the player.
Whether it's a section of a game, a mission prelude or just a scary premonition; dreams are a common occurrence within video games.
It's the designer's go-to guy. If they want to steer a player in a given direction they'll lock an in game door and force the player to find a way to either unlock it or find an alternate route.
Whether it's taking pictures of things for points or as part of a journal, photography is playing an ever increasing role in many of today's video games.
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.
Action RPG (Action Role-Playing Game), also known as ARPG, refers to RPGs (role-playing games) that use direct, real-time, reflex-oriented, action combat systems, instead of the more abstract turn-based or menu-based battle systems.
"Dear Diary, this entry is addressed to myself, given that soon I will likely suffer a bump to the head, drink a mysterious substance, be attacked by a psychic, or do one of many other things that can cause me to forget about what it is I'm writing right now."
See? The exploiting, soulless people who run the video game industry DO care about their fans!
A love triangle is when three (or more) people are in some kind of romantic relationship with each other. They can become messy and complicated. It may or may not be competitive.
Harem is a term used to describe Japanese works wherein a single average male character is surrounded by numerous attractive females, most of whom are romantically interested in the main character.
A narrative that takes an unexpected turn. Commonly, plot twists come in the form of revealing that the player character is not actually who they thought.
In video games, dithering is a graphical technique using pixel patterns to simulate additional colors or transparency. While far more common on CRTs, many games still use the technique, especially games which use pixel art.
Games that have been used as the basis for motion pictures.
So you made a fighting game, and the direct sequel is a hack 'n' slash action game? Wait, what?
Grid-based movement limits players, and other entities in a game, to moving through the game world in increments of whole squares on a grid. It has been a common staple of turn-based strategy games since the earliest board games of antiquity. It was also used by early RPGs.
Games that have an open gameplay structure that allow players to interact with the world as they choose.
Moral dilemmas presented to the player that often have a significant effect on the story or other characters.
PSone Classics are titles that were initially released for the original PlayStation, and re-released digitally for later PlayStation hardware.
An Unwinnable State occurs either due to a glitch or by designer choice, when the player's actions make it so that the game can no longer be completed. However, the game continues as though it is still possible to finish and win.
A weapon that has been forged and/or imbued with mystical energy, magic, or some other supernatural force. It is often required to solve a specific puzzle, or vanquish an impossible foe.
Red Book is a set of specifications for audio CDs. For games it refers to early CD-ROM titles with background music recorded and played back as audio tracks, instead of being generated by the hardware. Its called Redbook Audio because the book that lays out all the specifications has a red cover.
Physical props, clues, or trinkets included within game boxes by Infocom in the 1980s. They were often used to convey in-game information, add value, or as early copy protection.
The Virtual Console is a platform service that first appeared on Nintendo's Wii and later on the 3DS and Wii U. Games from past consoles are emulated to run on the new hardware with the added benefits of system-level save states and other features.
Games that feature more than one style of Game Over screen. Alternate Game Over screens are often used when the player loses in specific ways.
Vultures are large scavenging birds. They are not highly regarded by humans.
Some characters get drunk off of alcohol - often this is portrayed with blurred vision, impaired movement, or slurred speech.
Sometimes there are whole worlds lying hidden inside common household items, just waiting to be discovered.
Sometimes, a key just won't cut it. When you really need to get through a locked door or open a sealed chest, you need a certified master of unlocking, complete with a lock-pick.
A digital distribution platform that focuses on providing DRM-free computer games, both old and new.
Audio logs are short voice recordings that a player comes across within a game that helps inform the player of the game's story and characters.
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