Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine Issue 36
Demo Derby
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.
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.
Because you'd never expect a banana to be an undercover cluster grenade.
Bonus levels, rounds, or stages give players a chance to gain extra points, powerups, or lives. Occasionally bonus stages will play completely different than the rest of the game, like as a slot machine or pinball minigame.
Concerts are live performances before audiences, and have been culturally relevant for thousands of years. Their uses in games range from mere plot devices to entire design philosophies.
Cooperative play in games allows humans to play together as a team to accomplish a task. Instead of playing against a human opponent, the team must defeat an AI. Cooperative Play in some games also means 2 human versus 2 human, this occurs in some Billiards games. (Scotch Doubles / Doubles)
Downloadable Content adds new features and content to already-distributed video games via the Internet. Examples include new maps for FPS games, new songs for rhythm games, and new cars for racing games.
Drowning in games occurs when a being (not suited to be in water) runs out of oxygen, time, power, or barely even touches the water surface. Further complicated by the local sea-life that can knock the air out of you, should you get close.
A local multiplayer feature that allows players to move independently of each other by implementing split-screen when they travel too far apart, but merges the views together when close.
The 2002 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California on May 22-24.
Flattening is taking something three dimensional, and somehow making it very thin almost two dimensional. It can be used for comedic effect or a character to use it to fight through tight spaces.
Slow walking is when the player character can not move at full speed and is restricted to a slow walk, usually while talking to someone.
Game Over originally appeared in pinball machines, and later, arcade machines. When players lose at a game, it is game over.
These are games that dump you directly to the title screen after you get Game Over screen.
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.
Imps are either fairy-like or lesser demonic creatures and are commonly encountered enemies in games. In Doom, they shoot fireballs at the player.
The concept of lives in video games evolved to let the player get a second chance after failing once. The most recognizable symbol is the heart.
A box, chest, or similar reward beckons you to come near, but it is actually an enemy in disguise. Sometimes can be difficult to differentiate from a real treasure chest.
Sometimes one playable character just isn't enough.
OnLive was a cloud gaming service offering video game streaming through a user's computer, smartphone, or TV.
Non-linear level design where the player is able to freely traverse the game world and choose where and when to visit certain areas in the game.
A common type of bug where players can leave the intended confines of the game world or map. Exploited in many multiplayer games for easy kills.
A partner is someone in a duo that shares the same status and/or billing. In video games, you often switch from one to the other because they have different strengths and weaknesses.
Third-party developers and publishers occasionally engage in the practice of releasing a title or piece of DLC on only one platform for any number of reasons. Sometimes these are permanent while others are only platform exclusive for a certain window of time.
Who needs 2D when we've got 3D? 3D, or 3 dimensions, is what we're used to seeing in almost every game these days, letting us do all sorts of awesome stuff like run in circles!
Procedural Generation refers to the creation of content algorithmically as the game is running. This content generally coexists with standard, authored content; the two are not mutually exclusive.
Dungeons that are generated randomly.
Games with randomly (or rather, procedurally) generated environments create new levels from predetermined pieces each time the game is played.
Classic form of numbering that gives things a more regal feel.
A Secret area is a place hidden that few will find unless they know where to look.
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