Vocab game design

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

25. Game Writing

Answer 25

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

Question 26

26. Genre

Answer 26

• Subcategory of games with well-defined methods and appeal to players.

Question 27

27. Goals

Answer 27

• A desired result or plan that you set to achieve.

Question 28

28. Graphics -

Answer 28

The visual aspects of a game, particularly the art.

Question 29

29. Graphical Interface

Answer 29

• Everything on the screen that the user will see.

Question 30

30. Immersion

Answer 30

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

Question 31

31. Intellectual Property

Answer 31

• Identifiable characters or stories that are owned by an individual or company.

Question 32

32. Iterative

Answer 32

• Something that is repeated over and over.

Question 33

33. Length -

Answer 33

The defined starting and ending points.

Question 34

34. Level Design -

Answer 34

Maps and placements of objects and challenges within those maps

Question 35

35. Luck of the Draw -

Answer 35

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

Question 36

36. Mechanics -

Answer 36

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

Question 37

37. Patent

Answer 37

• A strong form of protection for an intellectual property.

Question 38

38. Play Balance -

Answer 38

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

Question 39

39. Player Interaction -

Answer 39

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

Question 40

40. Play Testers -

Answer 40

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

Question 41

41. Pitch -

Answer 41

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

Question 42

42. Probability -

Answer 42

The likelihood that something will happen.

Question 43

43. Prototype -

Answer 43

An early/unfinished version of the game.

Question 44

44. Publishers -

Answer 44

Companies that manufacture and distribute games.

Question 45

45. Random -

Answer 45

Occurrences in a game that players have no control over.

Question 46

46. Replayability -

Answer 46

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

Question 47

47. Rules

Answer 47

• The mechanics enforce these things that you can or cannot do.

Question 48

48. Service Mark -

Answer 48

Legal protection for a tagline or catchphrase.

Question 49

49. Simulation -

Answer 49

Intended to represent some part of reality.

Question 50

50. Space -

Answer 50

The look and feel of the game from its design.

Question 51

51. Strategic -

Answer 51

Strategy that involves your long range plan.

Question 52

52. System -

Answer 52

Collection of game mechanics that produce a given outcome.

Question 53

53. System Design -

Answer 53

Creation of rules and patterns in the game.

Question 54

54. Theme -

Answer 54

Story or history that the game is trying to represent.

Question 55

55. Trademark -

Answer 55

Form of intellectual property that applies to titles and names.

Question 56

56. Transparency -

Answer 56

Whether or not a game reveals its secrets.

Question 57

57. User Interface Design -

Answer 57

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

Question 58

58. Volatility -

Answer 58

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

Question 59

59. World Design -

Answer 59

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

Question 60

60. Zero Sum -

Answer 60

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