Game design vocab

Question 1

AAA list games

Answer 1

Games which are advertised frequently and have budgets over $20 million.

Question 2

Convergence

Answer 2

Video games made to resemble board games and vice versa.

Question 3

Alpha

Answer 3

Very first build that is shared with testers.

Question 4

Components

Answer 4

Parts of your game.

Question 5

Depth

Answer 5

Whether the game is easy to play or requires more experience.

Question 6

Design Document

Answer 6

Provides an overview of the game and its learning goals.

Question 7

Copyright

Answer 7

Law that protects creation.

Question 8

Abstract

Answer 8

A game that has no connection or nothing to do with the real world.

Question 9

Analysis Paralysis

Answer 9

When a player is presented with too many choices or decisions.

Question 10

Avatar

Answer 10

Represents the player in the game (or a sprite)

Question 11

Bell Curve

Answer 11

Probability distribution where some events are more likely to occur than others

Question 12

Decision Making

Answer 12

Making choices that will affect the rest of your game play

Question 13

Dynamics

Answer 13

Results like play actions being put into motion.

Question 14

Cinematic

Answer 14

Movie inserted into the video game.

Question 15

Accessibility

Answer 15

Easy to learn and easy to play, yet not always easy to master.

Question 16

Agent

Answer 16

Middleman between the creator and the publisher

Question 17

Downtime

Answer 17

When a player is not actually participating.

Question 18

Character Class

Answer 18

The profession of the character that says what he or she can and cannot do.

Question 19

Casual Game

Answer 19

A game played to relax not to beat or win.

Question 20

Beta

Answer 20

Very close to final design but still being tested.

Question 21

Features List

Answer 21

The key details or selling points of the game.

Question 22

Fluidity

Answer 22

The extent to which the game circumstances change over time.

Question 23

Game Design

Answer 23

Creating the content and the rules of the game.

Question 24

Game Engine

Answer 24

Development software that game designers use to manage art, sound, and code.

Question 25

Game Writing

Answer 25

Writing of the dialogue, text, and story within the worlds.

Question 26

Genre

Answer 26

Sub category of games with well defined methods and appeal to players.

Question 27

Goals

Answer 27

A desired result or plan that you set to achieve.

Question 28

Graphics

Answer 28

The visual aspects of a game, particularly the art.

Question 29

Graphical Interface

Answer 29

Everything on the screen that the user will see.

Question 30

Immersion

Answer 30

Feeling like you are really in the game as though you are really there.

Question 31

Intellectual Property

Answer 31

dentifiable characters or stories that are owned by an individual or company.

Question 32

Iterative

Answer 32

Something that is repeated over and over.

Question 33

Length

Answer 33

The defined starting and ending points.

Question 34

Level Design

Answer 34

Maps and placements of objects and challenges within those maps

Question 35

Luck of the Draw

Answer 35

Does not require decision making, game is based only on luck.

Question 36

Mechanics

Answer 36

How you move, earn points, gain resources, etc. within the game.

Question 37

Patent

Answer 37

A strong form of protection for an intellectual property.

Question 38

Play Balance

Answer 38

A balanced game is one that is fair and each player has an equal chance of winning.

Question 39

Player Interaction

Answer 39

When the action of one player immediately affects at least one other players situation.

Question 40

Play Testers

Answer 40

People who play an unfinished game to find errors, inconsistencies, or other issues.

Question 41

Pitch

Answer 41

Brief description and/or presentation of a game or a game concept designed to secure funding.

Question 42

Probability

Answer 42

The likelihood that something will happen.

Question 43

Prototype

Answer 43

An early/unfinished version of the game.

Question 44

Publishers

Answer 44

Companies that manufacture and distribute games.

Question 45

Random

Answer 45

Occurrences in a game that players have no control over.

Question 46

Replayability

Answer 46

A game that allows it to be played over and over again.

Question 47

Rules

Answer 47

The mechanics enforce these things that you can or cannot do

Question 48

Service Mark

Answer 48

Legal protection for a tagline or catchphrase.

Question 49

Simulation

Answer 49

Intended to represent some part of reality.

Question 50

Space

Answer 50

The look and feel of the game from its design.

Question 51

Strategic

Answer 51

Strategy that involves your long range plan.

Question 52

System

Answer 52

Collection of game mechanics that produce a given outcome.

Question 53

System Design

Answer 53

Creation of rules and patterns in the game.

Question 54

Theme

Answer 54

Story or history that the game is trying to represent.

Question 55

Trademark

Answer 55

Form of intellectual property that applies to titles and names.

Question 56

Transparency

Answer 56

Whether or not a game reveals its secrets.

Question 57

User Interface Design

Answer 57

How the player receives information and how the player interacts with the game.

Question 58

Volatility

Answer 58

The extent to which the game arrangements are not subject to the changes caused by other players.

Question 59

World Design

Answer 59

Creation of the overall backstory, setting, and theme of the game.

Question 60

Zero Sum

Answer 60

Situation where one player can only gain by taking away from another player.