Gaming's dirtiest words

We investigate 23 of the industry's most taboo utterances

Words: Ben Richardson, GamesRadar UK

Microsoft
Depending on allegiance, either the saviour of gaming (Xbox fans), the nonsense-headed tyrant of gaming (PC gamers) or an object of uncontrollable fury (Sony fans).

"Microsoft? Didn't they invent the Blue Screen of Death?"

Microtransaction
Method of extracting money from gamers - either through downloadable content, buyable game items or cheats - akin to the habit of schoolyard bullies holding the smaller kids upside down by their feet and shaking them vigorously to release loose change. [Alternatively: Nickle and diming]

"Making me pay to unlock a character already in my game is one microtransaction too far!"

Movie Tie-In
A term invoking two opposing reactions - shudders and pre-emptive kickings from gaming fans and journalists, but madly spinning money signs in the eyes of the grinning money men.

"And we expect the Man Eating Cactus movie tie-in videogame to synergistically launch with the movie, maximising customer provocation at the market coalface"

 

Nintendo
The only remaining global corporation that still manages to lose Europe under a bit of rogue paperwork when drawing up release schedules, only to 'discover' the major consumer market in time to release last year's titles this year.

"I swear Nintendo has forgotten Europe actually exists. Who makes their maps?"

Port
What happens when a publisher realises that three different consoles means three times the revenue. Usually employed in cynical conversation to refer to inevitable upcoming Wii version of best-selling Xbox 360 game complete with rush-developed motion control features.

"So do we port Super Next Generation Shooter to the Wii and target the casual audience, Tristan?"
"Do bears shit in the woods, Tarquin?"

 
Four ways to fight gold spammers
PC Feature
Oct 7, 2008
The Crysis Continues
PC Feature
Oct 7, 2008
The Top 7... Game expos better than E3
360 Feature
Oct 6, 2008
Who fights a Bill of Rights?
PC Feature
Oct 3, 2008
Wii's Deca Sports Ships 1M N4G
Wii News from N4G
Oct 8, 2008
Gamefly Charts: Fable 2 on Top N4G
Wii News from N4G
Oct 8, 2008
5 new PopStar Guitar screens and Box arts N4G
Wii News from N4G
Oct 7, 2008
Sales Leap for Two Worlds Publisher N4G
Wii News from N4G
Oct 7, 2008
Customizable Merchandise for Rock Band 2 Now... N4G
Wii News from N4G
Oct 7, 2008