ONLINE GAMES

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/learn-the-lingo-common-gaming-terms-you-should-know/ 

By: Brigitta Andriani Lestari, S.Pd. 

Gaming language can seem a world away from formal English. If you've decided to get into video games and want to learn the lingo so you aren't confused by it anymore, let’s get started.

Gaming Acronyms

1. BRB. This means ‘Be Right Back’ – handy for when you need to grab a drink. If you’re away from the game for longer, use AFK (‘Away From Keyboard).

2. DLC. This stands for Downloadable Content – extra features that you can download from within the game, like characters, tools, costumes, levels and other items. Some DLCs are free, while others cost money.

3. CU / CYA. Leaving the game? These mean ‘see you’ / ‘see ya’ (goodbye).

4. GG / GGWP. If someone has played well, say so with GG (Good Game) or GGWP (Good Game, Well Played). But be careful – GG can also be used sarcastically to taunt a losing player (i.e. it means ‘Bad Game’!) or to brag about a victory (GG EZ means ‘Good Game, Easy’).

5. HP. It means health points or hit points, measures the vitality of your character. Usually, when your HP drops to zero, your character dies.

Gamer Slang

1. Lag. A delay between your input and that action happening in the game. This typically refers to online lag caused by excessive ping, where the game server takes too long to respond to your actions.

2. Bots. A bot is an automated, non-human opponent – some games let you play against bots if you’re not online. Sometimes you’ll see human players calling other people bots, but it’s best to avoid this as it’s an insult.

3. Boss A ‘boss’ is a really tough enemy who frequently appears at the end of a level or a game. Defeating them can take a hard-won combination of skills, weapons or powers.

4. Buff / Nerf. Any change that makes in-game characters or weapons more powerful is called a ‘buff’. The opposite is a ‘nerf’. The term ‘nerf’ comes from a brand of toy guns with soft bullets (i.e. ones that are designed to not cause injury!)

5. Noob. This word means ‘newbie’ – someone who’s an inexperienced player.

Why do gaming phrases boost your English learning?

As you can see, the language of gaming is rich, amusing and ingenious, as well as great fun to use. The beauty of using online games to improve your English is that you can interact with thousands of different players worldwide – while enjoying yourself so much that you almost forget you’re learning.

So, whether you’re into role-playing games, no-nonsense first-person shooter games, simulations, strategy games or something completely different, use them to develop your English through gaming phrases.