Game Slang - Consoles

"My new PS2 game rocks! I use the broadband to play multiplayer online with all my friends. We run around scoping out monsters, they've got wicked AI and a crazy number of polygons. You've gotta check it out."

Huh? What's she talking about? It's not Greek - it's game speak. Gamers seem to have developed a lingo all their own - and it start's with the console. Here's a chunk of what you need to know about your favorite console systems. If you are reading this and thinking "What's a console?" Don't worry, there's hop. Check below.

Console

A console is a home game system like a Nintendo, Playstation, Xbox or a Dreamcast, but not a computer or handheld.

32 bit, 64 bit, 128 bit

The bits of a system determines how hot the graphics are. The N64 is 64-bit, the PS2, Dreamcast, Xbox and Gamecube are all 128-bit.

AI

Artificial Intelligence. The better it is the smarter the bad guys are.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is your net speed. When you play online games you want lots of bandwidth. Phone modems have a little, broadband(cable, adsl, T1+) has lots.

Cartridge

N64 games come in cartridges. They hold less than a CD and their music isn't as good, but they don't need memory cards.

Cheats

Secret codes for huge powerups.

CPU

The brainz of a computer/console. The more Megahertz it has, the faster it is. Dreamcast = 200Mhz, PS2 = 300Mhz, Xbox says it's got 733Mhz and the Gamecube says it'll have 433Mhz.