What can I say, my boys are nine and ten now and they are both gaming obsessed. They love their Xbox and also saved up this year for a Wii U. So I have to make it my business to keep up to date on what is going on in their gaming worlds! GAME are aware that parents can get confused about all things gaming, so they have asked Gamer Claus to help out parents this Christmas.
The thing with computer games is it seems like they have a terminology all of their own. Not just the generic ones that apply to most games, but individual games have a language all of their own. When the boys got in to Minecraft I made it my business to learn all about it and even produced my own Minecraft for parents post too.
Have your children wrote their christmas list yet? Well it seems that children are no longer writing letters to Santa on paper according to new research conducted by GAME, which is launching its new Xmas List app this week, 29% using an ipad or phone to produce their Christmas wish list and another 19% just pointing out to their parents the things they want as they appear on adverts on TV!
Gaming terminology guide for parents
So why not take a look at the fab glossary below and make sure that you know what the kids are talking about this Christmas and if you have any questions, then keep an eye open for Gmer Claus this Christmas.
What games are your kids after for Christmas this year?
This list is actually really helpful, thanks! My girl is addicted to Skylanders so I have a feeling a few of those will be on the list (that is in her head, def no writing here…!)
I’m currently holding out against getting any kind of dedicated console, but we do have lots of games on the iPad and a few on the iMac. The biggest hit in this house so far this year has been Lego Batman 3 – Beyond Gotham. It even has a special bonus level with Adam West (1960s TV Batman)!
Haha I need this list for myself my other half is gamer and I suffer with the lingo sometimes. x
Glad to see I knew most of those terms now I have a keen gamer in the house, but there were one or two new points for me.
I am quite impressed that I knew some of those terms x
love this info Jen, we have had a Wii U for about a year now and it was a complete learning curve on the terms when we first started … think i know most of it now but there is always one that scuppers me from time to time
This is really helpful- my son is a big gamer and I must admit to being quite impressed when he used the word ‘glitches’ at home, he learned it gaming so I am quite happy that gaming is expanding his vocabulary as well!
I know a few of those but we’ve yet to enter the world of multiplayer online gaming
We’re not into computer games. My brother always used to enjoy playing his Sinclair games. I remember he got a summer job just to save up up for one of the consoles.
My older son flits in and out of gaming, but fancies an Xbox 1 now. Kaz x
I have a gaming obsessed nine year old too, so I think this will come in very handy!
I have three gaming addicts and even I hadn’t heard of some of these phrases lol
Hahaha some are familiar and some not. This will come in handy.
Living with two games mad boys I am pretty up on all the terminology – can hold my own in a conversation, but secretly dont get a lot of what they are talking about still!
Emma is not really into games, Jen, not at the moment, anyway but I am sure in in few years such list will come in handy!xx
I always wondered what an Easter egg was !
we have a Wii which I got when I finished uni and than handed down to my little brother, he’s just got a bit old for it so gave it back to us and Tom and Wilf have been loving playing Pokamon on it! x
This is great – mine are so into minecraft and I have to say a lot of what they say about it goes over my head and I end up just nodding!!
This is really interesting Jen as we don’t have an XBox or Wii. Poppy has not taken much of interest in them although I’m sure it would be a very different story if we had one. Maybe when she’s a bit bigger in which case this post will invaluable! Can’t believe she’ll be five on Christmas Day, where has the time gone!