The Games Game

What's In A Word? Part 1 (May 2008)

In a departure from my usual format, this month I have to rant. Particular words are often used in discussions within our industry -- or by outsiders in reference to our industry -- and the way these words are used really gets my goat!

Gaming

The word "gaming" is used by the gambling industry in reference to itself. "Gaming" sounds so much nicer than"gambling," so they've glommed onto it to take the edge off. Voters in statewide elections are often called upon to decide matters related to"Indian Gaming" - and we're all constantly bombarded with junk emailabout the pleasant-sounding "Online Gaming." So whenever I hear the word "gaming,"my mind immediately jumps to blackjack tables and rows of beeping one-armed bandits. It just grates on my nerves when I hear people referring to our industry as the "gaming business." The general public is already concerned about the impact of video games on children. We don't need them to confuse us with the gambling industry on top of that.

We don't need to use the word "gaming." Next time you hear someone use the word "gaming" in reference to our belovedfield, try replacing it with either "game" or "games." It always works.

Developer

For years, we all used the word "developer" to mean a relatively smaller game company that makes games for publishers. There was a single meaning to the term. But nowadays, although the word is still used in its original sense, it's additionally used for two other things as well.

The word "developer" is often used, especially among recruiters, to mean "programmer." And it's also used, sometimes, to refer to anyone involved in the making of games, regardless of whether he or she is a programmer, designer, artist, orsound engineer.

This word doesn't grate on my nerves like "gaming" does, but I think it just opens the door to making things much more complicated than they need to be. Why did we do that? Now every time the word is used, if the context is ambiguous, we have to clarify what we mean by it.

Personally, I think the word "programmer" is perfectly fine when referring to one who programs games. And if we need an all-encompassing word for people involved in the creation of games, well, does it have to be"developer"?

Game Design

This two-word phrase isn't a problem for those of us who work in games (see? I didn't say "gaming," and it worked just fine!). Rather, the phrase "game design" is primarily misused by people who don't know much about how we make games. As with the term "developer," the phrase "game designer" is often used to mean "anyone involved in the creation of games." To outsiders, a game graphic artist is a "game designer;" a game programmer is a "game designer." They don't really know what a game designer is! But I'll bet they don't think a producer or a Q.A. tester is a "game designer."

I, for one, am working to clarify the terminology. I'd appreciate your support.