MULTIPLAYER GAMEPLAY GLOSSARY
AVATAR--The representation of a computer user within a computer game (e.g., as a three-dimensional model in a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, or MMORPG) or as an icon or picture or simply a username as might be used on an Internet forum or other shared internet community.
COLLISION DETECTION/COLLISION RESPONSE--A feature of video games that uses algorithms to check for collisions and calculating collision response. These calculations are necessary to ensure objects move properly, characters do not go through walls, etc.
GAME ENGINE--A software system whose design facilitates creating and developing video games (e.g., Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, or MMORPGs) on a desktop operating system, video game console, or mobile device (e.g., Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux). The renderer (rendering engine) handles 3D or 2D graphics. Other common features of a game engine include scripting, animation, sound, networking, artificial intelligence, memory management, streaming, localization support, threading, a scene graph, and collision detection (e.g., a physics engine) as well as collision response.
GAMEMASTER--A specific role of a player of a Role-Playing Game (RPG) whose special duties may include controlling the fictional setting (in video RPGs) and/or deciding on the results of the actions of players (characters) in the game. While the game engine may take on many of the functions that are controlled by Gamemasters in live RPGs, there are multiplayer video RPGs that allow game participants to assume the Gamemaster role using a visual interface known as a GM toolkit. The Gamemaster maintains the flow of the Role-Playing Game.
MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME (MMOG; MMO)--A type of video game that can be played on the internet via personal computer, mobile phone, or game console, and which simultaneously support thousands of players. Massively Multiplayer Online Games are referred to as MMOGs and typically feature one or more “persistent worlds” which continue to exist and evolve even when a player is not online, and the player’s changes while playing remain even after the player exits the game.
MMOGs are available in various types that represent numerous different video game genres, and some games allow large scale competition and cooperation giving users an experience of meaningful interaction with other users (game players) around the world.
MMOGs may be played on personal computers, mobile phones (e.g., smartphones), and also on modern game consoles that connect to the internet (e.g., Playstation 3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo DSi. The evolving smartphone and mobile device markets are seeing a rapid increase in the availability of MMOGs, and utilize operating sytems such as Google’s Android, Windows Mobile, and Apple’s iPhone.
MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME (MMORPG)--A type of Role-Playing Game (RPG) on a computer, mobile phone, or other electronic device, and involving many players who take on the role of fictional characters and interact with each other inside a virtual game world. The “persistent world,” which continues to exist and evolve when a player is offline, as well as the large number of participants differentiate MMORPG’s from other role-playing games (RPGs).
MMO--See Massively Multiplayer Online Game.
MMOG--See Massively Multiplayer Online Game.
MMORPG--See Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.
MOG--See Multiplayer Online Game.
MUTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME (MOG)--A video game that is played by multiple players at the same time. A MOG can be played on a game server on the internet against other game players around the world. A MOG is different from a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) mainly in the fact that there is no persistent world which endures when players exit the game (e.g., go offline). In an MOG the playing arena only lasts for a single game, or round. Multiple servers around the world may run the game, unlike MMORPGs which run on a dedicated server that maintains the persistent world.
MULTIPLAYER VIDEO GAME--A video game that allows multiple people to play in the same computer game environment and thus compete against other live people rather than only against pre-programmed opponents and challenges.
PERSISTENT WORLD--A computer-based simulated environment, or virtual world, which remains in existence even when a user (e.g., player of the game) is not participating. Changes made by the user in the persistent world remain even after the user exits the game. This concept is popular in the world of Massively Multiplayer Online Video Games.
PLAYER VERSUS ENVIRONMENT (PVE)--A type of conflict in a multiplayer game that involves a live game player fighting against a computer-controlled enemy, in contrast to fighting against an opponent controlled by another live player, which is called Player versus Player (PvP). Both type Both PvE and PvP are common in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). A player may participate in the PvE mode either alone or with other other live players or with other players that are controlled by the computer.
PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER (PVP)--A type of conflict in a multiplayer game that involves interaction between two or more players of the game. A PvP interaction differs from competing against opponents that are controlled by the computer, known as Player versus Environment (PvE). Both PvP and PvE are common in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs).
ROLE-PLAYING GAME(RPG)--A computer game that allows users to take on the roles of characters or control avatars in a fictional setting, either failing or succeeding based upon their actions and the guidelines and rules of the game.
RPG--See Role-Playing Game.
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