by Sony has published an ultimate list of game-related terms that sheds light on some of the most commonly used video game terminology and jargon.
You’ve probably heard some of them over the years, but there are a handful of terms that are often reserved for specific game genres. “Ganking”, which refers to any in-game death caused by a group of attackers, isn’t something I’ve heard very often, and I’ve never come across the term “kite-flying”, the tactic of getting an enemy to a lake. suitable area for combat, either.
You can search the full A to Z list of game terms on the PlayStation website. Brush up on your general knowledge, or simply find answers to those questions you were afraid to ask. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between RPGs, JRPGs, ARPGs and CPRGs? Well, wonder no more.
Conveniently, Sony has provided a detailed explanation of each term and even included phrases associated with it. For example, the definition of “loot” also refers readers to “drops” and “RNG”, which are closely related. Some terms are also supported by specific in-game examples, such as how Destiny 2 has an “end game”, and “hit points” are a mainstay in RPGs like Final Fantasy.
While some gamers may not see the need for such a list, there are plenty of people who might be surprised at some of these terms that many of us take for granted. Again, if you don’t play certain genres like MMOs or first-person shooters online, you may not have come across a term like “aggro” or “camping” before.
Sony’s gaming glossary also includes explanations of technical terms such as ray tracing, frame rates, SSDs and PS5-specific tech like haptic feedback, so there’s plenty to learn if you’re not up to speed on the hardware side of things.
Now you know it
Sony’s gaming glossary is certainly welcome and should help make more gamers, young and old, feel more part of the community. Hopefully Sony will keep updating its list as new trends emerge, and that obviously doesn’t cover each gaming term out there; there is no dive bombing of Gran Turismo 7. This is where an opposing driver will intentionally hit another racer at high speed, knock them off the track and possibly end their race.
But even if you’ve been a gamer for many years, there’s always something new to learn or something you might have missed in the general conversation, so at least there’s now a place where you can brush up on the gaming lexicon.
