Terminology / Glossary

[guddler]

OK - a mini FAQ if you will for all those members that can't get this right as it's something that bugs the hell out of me.

In the UK, (don't know about globally) - remember UKVAC is UK based but obviously open to the entire world!:

Arcade: - A building full of arcade machines.

Arcade Machine: - A game in that arcade.

"Arcade Machine" is universally used to describe a video game machine, fruit machine, coin pusher machine and so on. Arcades in days gone by were obviously the hub of a community so also contained cafe's, food stalls, the all important change booth and many other things. Hell, one of my local ones even had full-on dodgems indoors at one point (while I'm at it, AKA "Bumper Cars", yet bizarrely bumping was not allowed).

I don't know if it's an age thing to call an individual cab an arcade, a geographical thing from another part of the world or whether it's just something that our non-English speaking members perhaps have just picked up incorrectly, but there we are. I'm starting to hear members that have used the right terminology for over 10 years starting to mix it up. Hopefully that's not a trend.

Video - Something you make by recording footage, or watch by sticking a tape in a machine (sh*t, showing my age!) or going to YouTube or similar.

Video Game - Umm, do I really need to explain that?

But yeah, it's not as simple as it sounds, it can be in reference to an entire arcade cab / machine, or it can be in reference to the game the machine plays. I guess either is just as good. And then of course while historically, and technically I'd say it refers to an arcade cab because it dates back to electro-mechanical games where you didn't have a CRT screen, these days it now also refers to console games, PC games, games played on handheld consoles and so on.

Just for clarification, in the arcade scene as we know it, there's an important distinction here. Pacman is a Video Game. Ice Cold Beer (the arcade game variety) is not. It should be obvious why.

Incidentally, does any of this really matter? No! It's largely my opinion and I felt like getting it off my chest and "out there". Anyway, glad I got that off my chest

guddler2014-02-13 16:56:01

 

[ross1man1]

How about the distinction between videos and video games, Martin?

 

[spriggsy]

My mame cab is referred to by my partner as a "fruit machine" or occasionally a "space invaders"

I silently seethe at such blasphemy...............................

 

[DanP]

I silently seethe at such blasphemy...............................

Hehe, I too am that soldier.

For the OP, I think Arcades as a term is more of an American expression. You see it all the time on US forums and chatrooms.

 

[neo-geo-mvs]

Arcade: - A building full of arcade machines.

Arcade Machine: - A game in that arcade.

here, here

 

[RGP]

My dad says sometimes "hows your bandits going?"

 

[guddler]

My dad says sometimes "hows your bandits going?"

Oh, that's just open to soooo much interpretation abuse

As for video / video game.

Sure, I'll edit and add it above. Doesn't irk me quite so much firstly because I don't hear it so often and secondly I think because my brain automatically associates it with a simple abbreviation!

 

[Bods]

Why do so many people say bloody Fruit or Bandit machines

one of the neighbours says, you still got ya Fruit Machines

Bods2014-02-13 18:43:58

 

[backflipper]

How about math instead of maths and also it drives me mad when people say my bad.
I know your gripe is with arcade lingo but I'm throwing this in as well..backflipper2014-02-13 18:55:17

 

[guddler]

I say bloody Fruit Machines because I don't like 'em. But at least I'm referring to fruit machines, not arcade machines

 

[Vamino]

Man, I remember the days when every cab was called a 'Space invader' regardless of what it game was.....

And I sincerely hope the day never comes when every cab is called a 'Mame'.....

 

[frothmeister]

I say bloody Fruit Machines because I don't like 'em. But at least I'm referring to fruit machines, not arcade machines

But you just said fruit machines ARE a type of arcade machines.

 

[guddler]

Indeed I did. You didn't read my very first post, did you

Ah yes. OK, I see the error in my ways...

Not so easy after all is it!

 

[frothmeister]

No it isn't..but I'm with you all the way.

It gets my goat as well when I hear someone talking about a new 'arcade'

 

[guddler]

Yeah, every time I read that I think "ooh, where? wonder if it's anywhere near me?" and get all excited. Then I realise it's nothing more than a jamma cab and go off all dejected like.guddler2014-02-14 00:09:17

 

[backflipper]

Technically video games are not machines as they so not have any moving parts for their core purpose... apart from the coin mechanism.backflipper2014-02-14 08:22:12

 

[d-type]

Man, I remember the days when every cab was called a 'Space invader' regardless of what it game was.....

And I sincerely hope the day never comes when every cab is called a 'Mame'.....

My old man referred to all my games as "Space Invaders". He should have known better, he was top dog at Centipede and Mad Planets in the local pub when I was a kid.

 

[d-type]

Arcade: - A building full of arcade machines.

Arcade Machine: - A game in that arcade.

Hang on, isn't an Arcade Machine "a machine in that arcade" (which you happen to be able to play a game on)?

Also, what about "Vids" and "Pins", where do they fit in? People have been calling them that for years!

Something that was grinding my gears this week. I was in a conf call and one of the young managers kept saying "Blah blah will socialise this" and "will socialise that." WTF? That's worse than txt-speak!

 

[JohnBud]

i still tell folk, i'm going home to play space invaders

it's what they understand. if i were to say i'm just heading home to play dodonpachi saidaoojiboby they would not have a scooby