Do you ever get confused about all the terminology your kids are using when they talk about the games they enjoy playing on their consoles? Right now, I’ve learned a lot from my kids about which Pokemon evolves into which, how Pokemon battle one another and all about which Skylanders belong to which element. As they get older, there is so much more to learn as this handy guide from Nintendo shows.
Their dad is also a keen gamer (when he gets the time) while I am pretty rubbish, although I don’t mind joining in with some of the casual games like Disney Magical World on Mr Z’s 2DS or helping the kids out with their Biff, Chip and Kipper phonics games, but when it comes to gaming terminology, I don’t have a clue and really do need this parent’s guide to gaming terminology.
I’m not alone with this as 52% of parents revealed they also find terminology and slang associated with video games confusing, with Terms including MMORP, Twitch and Blue-Shelled were the main causes for confusion
So, to help us out here’s a handy guide enlightening us on the most confusing terms, along with the percentage of parents surveyed who didn’t know this.
- MMORPG – Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game – 53%
- Twitch – Live streaming video platform / community – 50%
- Blue-Shelled – Suddenly being knocked out of first place when you’re about to win (Mario Kart reference) – 50%
- (J)RPG – (Japanese) Role-Playing Game – 43%
- UGC – User-Generated Content – 39%
- Backward Compatible – A newer gaming console that supports games or software designed for older models of hardware – 34%
- Camping – Staying in one spot on a map in a game to gain an advantage- 33%
- NPC – Non-Playable Characters – 32%
- FTW – For The Win – 30%
- FPS – First Person Shooter – 28%
Netmums worked with Nintendo to analyse the data from the research that was conducted through surveying over 1,700 parents across the UK.
On the back of this recent finding, Nintendo has now developed
a gaming terminology guide that parents can view on Netmums.com. The research stated that 57 per cent of UK parents would find a gaming terminology guide useful and think it could be an extremely helpful resource to have to hand. The terminology guide is addressing this need and helping parents become savvier with gaming terms and maybe even impress their children with their gaming knowledge. Don’t forget,
gamers need a comfortable chair!
Siobhan Freegard, Co-Founder Netmums states that ““
Gaming terminology can make parents feel extremely alienated and perhaps a little scared about what their children are doing on line. It’s great to have this reference tool, which is live on www.netmums.com, to break down those barriers and help all the family get involved in the fun.”
I think this is a great idea. I’m glad that my kids do keep me updated on their gaming and it’s important that they continue to do so as they grow older, especially as children become older and able to use online or multiplayer gaming, then I feel like it would be vital for me to know what this involves.
Shelly Pearce, Marketing and PR Director at Nintendo, notes “Nintendo realises that not everyone is tech-savvy, however we are keen to make gaming as inclusive as possible. Along with the help of Netmums, we have looked to address this via the introduction of our gaming terminology guide. This will hopefully ensure that the whole family feels confident gaming together and can focus on having fun!”
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Look out for our 2014 gaming gift guide coming up soon, with a review of Nintendo Wii U and more 2ds / 3ds games
Image: Defocused Artistic Texture Background Shutterstock (modified) / Nintendo Wii U Shutterstock
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
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I used to play World of Warcraft a MMROPG until I started blogging…..hehehe
I feel pretty clever knowing most of those you mentioned! I’m down with the kids! x
This made me laugh! We have 3 boys in the house (1 girl) and our middle son is obsessed with Pokemon right now. I’m familiar with a few of these terms, but not all. Thanks for sharing at the Monday Parenting Pin It Party!
Jen 🙂
Very Informative and helpful. Thanks for sharing
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This was a super amazing post! I’ve always been vexed about the whole commenting game – and I’m poor at leaving comments on other blog posts as well as replying to comments on my own 😛
Your post is definitely helpful, with some relevant tips which can actually help increase your activity in the community 🙂