http://thefragmatica.com/2009/08/02/gaming-without-language-the-vocabulary-of-a-new-media/
"First off, we need to recognize that there is a semi-universal vocabulary related to gaming which allows for a relatively high level of inter-player communication. Furthermore, within the greater gaming language, there a series of dialects spoken by certain subsets. You need only drop a console gamer into a pre-raid WoW meeting to understand this. Gamer culture is, in fact, steeped in acronyms and slang (frag, noob, RPG, etc.).
"And, even beyond that, we have basic terms relating to the rules of a game (class, hit point, skill tree) which can be applied across series and even genres. This cross-game translation is possible because these terms are part of a vocabulary based squarely within acknowledged, written rules. These are words we must have just to play the game. What we, the general gaming public, are lacking is a way to talk about video games on a higher level.
"But where are we limited in our current vocabulary? Anthony’s example of the classic pre-boss fight loadup of weapons, ammo, and mana is a good one. This is a well known gaming trope appearing across platforms and genres, yet we have no universal term for it. Similarly, is there a term we can apply to the acquisition of key weapons/spells/techniques, such as when you receive the Master Sword in the Zelda games or your Big Daddy suit in BioShock? Or, on an even more mechanical level, what do we call the new interactive loading screens like those featured in Assassin’s Creed?
"Even better, let’s consider genre names for a moment. (((Yes, let's!))) What do we call games like A Kingdom for Keflings or Pikmin? They’re not exactly sims, nor are they real time strategy games (because the emphasis isn’t on combat, which is what the term RTS implies). Pikmin has some slight puzzle/platforming elements, but to describe it as a platformer would be highly inacurrate.
"As a community, we simply don’t have the words to effectively describe our hobby. ((("Hobby?" It's bigger than freakin' Hollywood.))) It seems to me that this is a major failing and is, in some ways, preventing an intellectualized look at video gaming. If we’re lacking the vocabulary, how are we supposed to approach video games in an academic way? Is it even possible? We wonder why literature and films are given high praise while video games are vilified. It may be, in part, that language allows other artforms to be studied and dissected, while ours remains amorphous and unapproachable.
"The real question, then, is what do we do about this? ... "
Via @MoJoe
