AAA
This refers to a game of the highest quality. IDG defines AAA titles as those ranking among the top 5 titles based on unit sales of the year.

Alpha
Alpha is a specific stage of the development cycle. At this stage the game should be in a playable state but will contain many bugs. Alpha precedes Beta and Gold.

Beta
Once a game has passed through Alpha it enters Beta-testing. At this stage it is very close to being released but there are expected to be many small bugs remaining. No new material is added during Beta and once it passes it will go Gold.

Bug
The term Bug refers to a mistake in software that can affect a game in a variety of ways from distorted graphics to major crashes.

Cell Shading
Cell Shading is a 3D rendering technique that is used to simulate the 2D style of cartoons.

Cut Scene
These are short movie sequences that intersperse game play. Traditionally the player is a spectator during cut-scenes.

Development Cycle
This is the term given to the time it takes to develop a game from conception to release.

Engine
An engine is an elaborate piece of code that powers a game. Everything that the player sees and does is powered by this core software.

E3
The Electronic Entertainment Expo(E3) is the world's largest annual video game conference where developers and journalists gather to witness the very latest games and technologies. For the last few years this event has been held in Los Angeles.

FPS
First Person Shooter(FPS) is a game played from the first person perspective. The player is embodied in the character that they control i.e.. Half Life.

Format
The term format refers to the type of machine needed to play a game i.e.. Xbox or PS2.

Gold
When a game has successfully passed through Beta-testing and is ready to duplicate, it is considered to have gone gold

Middleware
This is a term given to software companies who sell or license their game engines to other companies.

Mod
Many games allow the players to create their own levels, characters and goals. These are often then released on the internet and are called Mods.

NTSC
This is the standard format of television in America and Japan and stands for National Television Standards Committee.

PAL
This is the most common format of television in the world and is the standard in Europe.

Patch
If bugs are found in games that have already been released, patches are often circulated to fix them.

Platform The term Platform refers to the type of machine needed to play a game i.e.. Xbox or PS2.

RPG
Role Playing Game(RPG) is a type of game that stems from Dungeons and Dragons i.e. Neverwinter Nights.

RTS
Real Time Strategy(RTS) games are strategy games that are played in real time. When commands are sent, actions occur immediately i.e.. Command and Conquer.

SDK
Software Developer Kits(SDK) are tools released to the gaming community by the developers.