OK every
culture and craze develops its own very distinctive language. Surfing, Rap
Culture even The Boy Scouts, and Videogaming back in the 80's was no different.
Below are some key terms and words that all true fans will remember with joy.
If you have your own phrases and words to add email us we would love to hear
them and of course add them to the list below.
arcade
n. OK a no brainer
addict
n. you and me
baiter
n. cunning UFO in Defender, fast moving and usually spelling death
credit
n. the currency of arcades, usually 10p, change was usually obtained from
change machines 10 credits to the pound
critter
n. derisible aliens in any game that were particularly annoying
defender thumb
n. a condition of the thumb resulting from overuse of the tiny joystick over
a sustained period on this game
game hog
n. that annoying git who will never give up his place on a game to someone
else, usually piles credits up on the cabinet or pre-inserts them, usually
wearing glasses and sad trainers
game over
n. what no game addict wants to read or hear, but inevitable on every game.
Immortalised in the film Aliens, Game over man! Game over!
level
n. where you are at in a game
pacman elbow
n. tennis elbow caused by protracted use of the joystick
jostle your joystick
n. a nasty display of addiction of the worst kind
wave
n.
relentless attacks of aliens as in Galaxian
pick a pet
n. one of my local arcades cunningly disguised as a pet shop, it did not fool
parents who knew what really went on there
man
n. term used to describe your ship or character on the screen, or how many
men you have left at the bottom of the screen
king
n. Robotron King, King of Pacman, a term for the most accomplished player
on a particular game or the man who rules the roost in a particular arcade
just
one more go
n. an addict who has lost the plot, often uses this term to justify spending
his last credit. Usually resulted in the gamer being penniless and late home
for tea and subsequently in trouble with the parents, very rarely led to the
High Score being achieved either
voulez vous me changé ce-si
sous vouplai
n. badly spelt French for 'Can You Give Me Some Change Please'. The only phrase
I learnt in France while on holiday so that I could get credits to play the
arcade game in the clubhouse
