Glossary of video game terms

Here's a glossary of common video game terms:

Action

• Boss: A powerful enemy that must be defeated to progress through a game.
• Combo: A series of attacks or actions performed in rapid succession to deal damage or achieve a specific effect.
• Dash: A quick movement ability that allows a character to move quickly across the screen.
• Jump: A fundamental movement ability that allows a character to jump up or across obstacles.

Art and Audio

• Asset: A visual or audio element used in a game, such as a character model, texture, or sound effect.
• Cutscene: A non-interactive sequence of video and audio that advances the game's story or provides context.
• Graphics: The visual elements of a game, including character models, environments, and special effects.
• Soundtrack: The music and sound effects used in a game.

Gameplay

• Achievement: A reward or milestone that can be unlocked by completing a specific task or set of tasks.
• Boss fight: A battle against a powerful enemy, often with unique abilities and patterns.
• Challenge: A difficult task or puzzle that must be overcome to progress through a game.
• Level: A self-contained section of a game, often with its own objectives and challenges.
• Mission: A specific objective or set of objectives that must be completed to progress through a game.
• Quest: A task or series of tasks that must be completed to advance the game's story or earn rewards.
• RPG elements: Role-playing game elements, such as character customization, leveling up, and skill trees.

Game Mechanics

• AI: Artificial intelligence, used to control non-player characters (NPCs) in a game.
• Animation: The process of creating and playing back motion graphics, such as character movements and special effects.
• Collision detection: The system used to detect when characters or objects collide with each other or the environment.
• Physics engine: A system used to simulate real-world physics, such as gravity, friction, and collision detection.
• Script: A set of instructions used to control the behavior of a game, such as NPC AI or cutscene sequences.

Hardware and Software

• Controller: A device used to interact with a game, such as a gamepad, joystick, or keyboard.
• GPU: Graphics processing unit, responsible for rendering graphics and handling graphics-related tasks.
• CPU: Central processing unit, responsible for handling game logic and processing tasks.
• Memory: The amount of RAM (random access memory) available to a game, which affects its performance and ability to run smoothly.
• Patch: A set of updates or fixes applied to a game to address bugs, balance issues, or other problems.

Internet and Multiplayer

• Cheating: Using unauthorized methods to gain an advantage in a game, such as exploiting bugs or using third-party software.
• Lag: Delay or latency caused by network connectivity issues or server overload.
• Matchmaking: The process of finding and connecting players for online multiplayer matches.
• P2P: Peer-to-peer, a type of online multiplayer where players connect directly to each other rather than through a central server.
• Server: A central computer that hosts and manages online multiplayer games, handling tasks such as matchmaking and game state management.

Miscellaneous

• Beta: A testing version of a game, often released to a limited audience to gather feedback and identify bugs.
• Demo: A playable preview of a game, often released to generate interest and hype.
• Easter egg: A hidden feature or reference in a game, often added by developers as a joke or tribute.
• Glitch: A bug or error that causes a game to behave unexpectedly or malfunction.
• Mod: A modification or customization made to a game by a third-party developer or player.

This is just a starting point, and there are many more terms and concepts in the world of video games.