Glossary of Games Terminology

A wider list of games-related terminology is available at Wikipedia. The below collects those terms generally related to business, policy and related matters.

A

• AAA (Also "triple-A") - A high-budget game with a large development team, or game studios that make them. AAA games are usually multiplatform, have multimillion-dollar budgets, and expect to sell millions of copies.

• abandonware - The idea of a game being forgotten about or abandoned by its developers for any number of reasons, including copyright issues.

• alpha release - An initial, incomplete version of a game. Alpha versions are usually released early in the development process to test a game's most critical functionality and prototype design concepts.

• artificial intelligence (AI) - Algorithms used to generate responsive, adaptive or intelligent game behavior, primarily in non-player characters.

• asset flipping - The practice of creating a game using 'free' art and audio assets, either from an online marketplace or the default stock of assets included with many game engines. Asset-flips are often of very poor quality designed to catch onto a currently popular theme to turn a quick profit. It mimics the practice of flipping in real estate markets.

• augmented reality (AR) - Supplementing a real-world environment with computer-generated perceptual information, which may add to or mask the physical environment. Augmented reality alters the perception of a physical environment, whereas virtual reality replaces the physical environment with a simulated one.

B

• battle royale game - A video game genre that blends elements of survival games with last-man-standing gameplay. Players search for equipment while eliminating competitors in a shrinking safe zone.

• beta release/ beta testing - An early release of a video game, following its alpha release, where the game developer seeks feedback from players and testers to remove bugs prior to the product's commercial release

• bot - Short for robot. A non-playable character which is controlled by an artificial intelligence (AI). The player may compete against or work with a bot to complete objectives.