Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Memorial Day sales
  • New Games 2026
  • Summer Game Fest 2026 schedule
  • Best gaming gadgets
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games

The Game-shunary

Features
By GamesRadar_ US published 27 May 2008

GR's guide to gaming terminology, insider lingo, and technobabble

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Welcome to the Game-shunary, GamesRadar's truly epic gaming dictionary. The goal of the Game-shunary is not to tell you a bunch of crap you already know (gee, what’s a joystick?). You’re smarter than that. The Game-shunary is a portal into the bloody, juicy heart of gaming culture. The Game-shunary is knowledge. The Game-shunary is power. The Game-shunary ate a dragon for breakfast and washed it down with lighter fluid.

Something you'd like to add? The Game-shunary will be continually updated, and we highly encourage you to tosssuggestions tothegameshunary@gamesradar.com.

Table of Contents
123ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ RSTUVWXY Z

Latest Videos From


123
1 - !
7 out of 10 – The “safe” score awarded to a game when the reviewer doesn’t know what else to give it. The “average” game score. Lacking balls.

A
abandonware - Obsolete software that is distributed for free, and probably sucks/is a text based porn adventure.
Achievement whore – Any person playing a 360 sports game from 2006. Or Avatar.
advergame - A marketing ploy masquerading as a shitty game.Known to preachthe tastiness of burgers, the brandiness of theToyota Yaris, and the fun of war.
advertorial - Editorial articles which regurgitate press releases, marketing speak, and manufactured hype, turning the writer and publication into glorified public relations tools.
AI – Artificial Intelligence, their love is real but they are not.
anisotropic filtering – The opposite of anistemparate filtering.
anti-aliasing – Correcting for aliasing (the jagged, pixelated effect which occurs on high-contrast edges) by adding pixels. Also, talking shit about that show Alias.
arcade perfect (obsolete) – What’s an arcade?

B
barrel roll - Do one! (see image below)

BIOS – A computer system’s Basic Input/Output System. The BIOS configures devices (such as a keyboard) and boots the operating system. Don’t mess with it – you’ll probably break something.
Blezinski, Cliff - Wearer of ironic t-shirts, founder of Epic MegaGames (now simply Epic), the mastermind behind the Unreal and Gears of War series, putter of chainsaws on guns, andthe owner ofthe coolest frosted hair in the industry.
bloom effect - The official effect of next-gen games.
bloatware – Software which consumes a needless amount of hard drive space and RAM, also known as iTunes.
Blu-Ray – The winner of the high definition video format war, and yet another piece of technology your grandmother will never understand.
Boll, Uwe PhD. – Infamous video game movie director, who turns tolerable games into intolerable movies, and has an inexplicable affinity for warehouses and islands.
brown - The official color of next-gen games.
bullet time – The speed time moves at when you concentrate really, really hard. Popularized by the Matrix, and then used in Max Payne, and then Timeshift, and then FEAR, and then Tony Hawk, and then Burnout, and then everything. Also known as the official time of next-gen games.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7

Current page: Page 1

Next Page Page 2
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Nintendo PlayStation Xbox Platforms
GamesRadar_ US
Latest in Games
Bandai Namco Games
Tekken Tekken loses its third lead in 9 months as director Kouhei Ikeda leaves Bandai Namco after 20 years
 
 
The Witcher 3
The Witcher The Witcher 3 lead recalls "hardcore" dev timeline of the RPG's past expansions like Blood and Wine
 
 
Destiny 2 Ash & Iron Major Update Trailer screenshot shows a character holding an axe.
Destiny Destiny 2 community lead whips the MMO's community into a frenzy with a series of cryptic posts
 
 
Three-way split image showing three different pixel characters posing with their weapons.
JRPGs CrossCode joins Chained Echoes and over 16 other JRPG love letters in this upcoming crossover game
 
 
Overwatch 1
FPS Games Uncharted 3 co-director and The Dragon Prince co-creator joins the Overwatch team, reigniting hopes for an animated show
 
 
Dying Light The Beast: A screenshot of Kyle Crane in the upcoming game.
Open World Games Former Dying Light lead says long-term game support "builds the community trust" and is also great for sales
 
 
Latest in Features
A fully-painted Blood Angels Space Marine in Gravis Armor from Warhammer 40K Armageddon, against a plain background
Tabletop Gaming I've been hands on with Warhammer 40K Armageddon, and it's the push I need to finally go all in
 
 
Pragmata character Diana holding her hand up
Action Games Why Pragmata disappeared for 6 years, and how Capcom built a new IP while the industry imploded
 
 
Cosy Nintendo Switch games on a purple background
Nintendo Switch Get comfy, these are the 12 cozy Nintendo Switch games you need to hit ultimate zen this weekend
 
 
James Bond looking serious in glasses in 007 First Light
Action Games After 007 First Light, can we ease up on parries and ledge-climbing?
 
 
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 trailer screen grab showing John Price
FPS Games Modern Warfare 4: Everything we know about the new Call of Duty game
 
 
Zero Parades screenshots
RPGs Zero Parades being an easier RPG than Disco Elysium makes perfect sense
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. A Space Marine Librarian fires magic at an Ork Weirdboy
    1
    I've been hands on with Warhammer 40K Armageddon, and it's the push I need to finally go all in
  2. 2
    CrossCode joins Chained Echoes and over 16 other JRPG love letters in this upcoming crossover game
  3. 3
    Uncharted 3 co-director and The Dragon Prince co-creator joins the Overwatch team, reigniting hopes for an animated show
  4. 4
    Former Dying Light lead says long-term game support "builds the community trust" and is also great for sales
  5. 5
    Dragon Age and BioWare veteran says games could learn a thing or two from how the movie business makes money

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...