Fragmatica

Backwards Compatibility: The ability of a newer piece of technology to read data from an older item (i.e. an Xbox 360 reading Xbox game discs).

Beta: A pre-release stage of a video game in which the game is playable but may contain errors, glitches, or other technical or aesthetic problems.

Developer: The company/individual that creates video game software. (ex. Bungie Studios)

Emergent gameplay: The development of complex video game scenarios as a result of the combination of simple mechanics. Typically, this refers to the player’s ability to generate new content or manipulate existing content in unintended ways (i.e. Second Life).

First-person Shooter (FPS): A video game genre that centers gameplay around ranged-weapon based combat. The game is played from a first-person perspective, allowing for optimal view of the game world. (ex. Halo 3)

Game mechanics: The rules of the game. This refers to everything from movement, to challenges, to mode of play.

Gameplay: What the player experiences over the course of the game. Typically, this term refers to the players actions and abilities.

Independent Game Developer: A company that develops a video game with the financial support from a video game publisher. (ex. Number None, Inc.)

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game (MMORPG): A video game genre in which gameplay occurs in a persistent world simultaneously populated by hundreds or thousands of individual players who may interact with one another. (ex. World of Warcraft)

Non-player Character (NPC): A character that the user may be able to interact with but cannot play as.

Persistent World (PW): A virtual (game) world that exists even when a player is absent. In a persistent world, the player can have a semi-permanent effect on various elements including but not limited to the economy and physical environment.

Platformer: A video game genre that focuses on movement/jumping-based puzzles. (ex. Super Mario Bros.)

Publisher: The company responsible for the funding, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of a video game. (ex. Electronic Arts)

Real-time Strategy Game (RTS): A video game genre in which the player builds and controls an army, managing resources and units in an attempt to defeat an enemy army. All players may engage in play simultaneously. (ex. Rise of Nations)

Role-playing Game (RPG): A video game genre in which the player manipulates the basic traits of an avatar, such as skills and strength, to complete in-game challenges. RPGs are often statistics-based and typically include an experience/leveling system. (ex. Fallout 3)

Turn-based Strategy Game (TBS): A video game genre in which the player builds and controls an army, managing resources and units in an attempt to defeat an enemy army. Players may only perform actions during a their selected turn. (ex Civilization)