8 Basic Terms Every Beginner Gamer Should Know

Uncovering the lexicon around gaming can feel like learning a new language—and sometimes, it is. Beyond finding the ropes of strategy, communities often have their own phrases. There is a lot of overlap, though, so once you know the basics, you're practically good to go.

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Curious about what you should know? Continue reading to get a crash course on the popular terminology.

'GG'

Once you complete a battle, you will notice many players calling, "GG." This acronym is short for "good game." Usually, it implies it was the final round, or they may be taunting you for an easy match (as a beginner). You will be able to differentiate the tone when you interact with the other people in the server. That said, we always prefer to say "GG" with positive intentions.

 

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'EZ'

"EZ" is the more abrasive form of "GG." It is the shortened version of "easy." Players say it when the battle was a simple defeat, taking little to no effort. They may also use it against a beginner who doesn't know the strategy to make it an equal fight.

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'DLC'

"DLC" stands for "downloadable content." Typically, these are paid add-ons that enrich your game. For example, Fortnite often collaborates with different artists, like Ariana Grande or Sabrina Carpenter, and you can purchase a pack to buy their characters, or The Sims will release expansion packs to add more features to the game, like seasons or relationship dynamics.

 

'Noob'

Calling someone a "noob" is fighting words. It's the more aggressive way to call someone a novice. Usually, it has the implication that they are a poor player or easy target during the game. They may have a default avatar or little to no items. Really, these are things that shouldn't be judged, but the gaming community can be ruthless!

 

'Poggers'

"Poggers" is a newer term in the gaming community, but if you have been on Twitch for a couple of years, you are probably very familiar with it. It's a silly way of saying that something is cool or exciting. The term originated from an emote called "PogChamp," which these days has been reworked into a happy Komodo dragon face.

 

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'PvP'

When you, a player, go against other players, it is called a "PvP." As you could probably guess, PvP is the shortened version of "player versus player." To get more specific, people may include the number of players on each team. For example, someone could say "1v1" or "3v3."

 

'Camping'

If you are playing a game and have to acquire an item, the person defending it may hover over it to prevent you from grabbing it. This is called "camping." It's a cheating strategy to win a game by making it virtually impossible to have someone attack you.

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'NPC'

In games, there are player characters (controlled by real-life people behind keyboards or controllers) and then there are NPCs, or non-player characters. These are completely computerized characters with behavior driven by algorithms, often giving out quests, serving as background characters or even aiding real players. In a more derogatory way, some gamers may call other real people "NPC"s for simply going with the flow and not having any real drive or ambition of their own.

 

'Nerf'

Sometimes, the boss level is too hard or a weapon or strategy is way too overpowered. In order to make the game smoother, expert mods (people who alter the code to transform gameplay) or even the game developers themselves may lower the level of  NPCs, change boss behaviors or even choose to weaken a weapon or ability. No matter what, this "nerfing" is employed to create better balance and fairness among players.

 

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