Not easy to understand all gamers' vocabulary. So we've decided to explain everything from A to Z.
An English term meaning 'delay' or 'latency'. A fairly unpleasant visual effect that results from a slow internet connection during a networked game and shows up as choppy movements of your character.
An English term meaning 'level', referring to either a stage in a game's world or the experience level of a character, an item, a weapon, etc.
An English term meaning 'loot' and covers treasures, bonuses, or materials found in a game, often enabling you to upgrade your character or your gameplay experience.
An English term meaning 'loot box'. Lottery system integrated into the majority of modern video games that allows, by paying real money, to obtain rewards that shape the gameplay experience. Since PEGI's action, games sold in France that include loot boxes must now disclose it.
A game console controller (formerly plugged into the console), equipped with buttons, a directional pad, and a tendency to end up lying around anywhere in a bedroom, a living room, or the whole house.
An English term meaning 'world map'. It is most often used to help you locate yourself geographically in a video game.
For 'Massively Multiplayer Online'. A genre of online role-playing games characterized by a world capable of hosting a very large number of players in real time. It can be subdivided into MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), MMOFPS (Massively Multiplayer Online First-Person Shooter), and more...
Whether it is of type 'Arcade', 'Multiplayer', 'Campaign', 'Simulation', or 'Time Trial', among others, the game mode directly influences how you will play: solo, in a team, etc... It is, in general, the first choice offered in a video game's main menu. It varies by game and era!
For 'modification'. A mod refers to a game that has been deliberately modified (by players themselves, then called 'modders') to add new appearances, new items, new features to an original game or to create a whole new game. Counter-Strike being probably the most well-known mod (for the Half-Life game) today.
A game mode where several players meet online to play at the same time.
Also called 'Newbie' or 'New boy'. An occasionally affectionate label that characterizes a newcomer a little awkward in a multiplayer match. They are, by definition, worse than their teammates, or even downright bad... But that, you can improve on!
An English expression literally meaning 'someone who has no life'. It describes someone who plays video games a little (a lot) too much. It can also characterize a form of cyberdependence, to be watched closely!
For 'Non-Playable Character' in English or 'PNJ' (Personnage Non Joueur) in French. A character that is part of the story or the game's world and that you cannot control.