THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME BASIC GAME DESIGN TERMS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: 

Asset
Every single thing that goes into a game. Assets include every individual piece of artwork (such as characters, backgrounds, props and more), every animation, each sound effect, video, text, music, dialogue, 2D models, 3D models, sprites. In short, each item you see and or hear in a game is an asset.

Bug
A problem in the game that prevents the game from running the way it is supposed to run. The bug could be a problem in the code, a missing asset or any number of issues that negatively impact the software from running correctly.

Code Library
A number of different sets of reusable code. (This is a very simple explanation for the purposes of how it relates to game design. If you study more about programming languages, you will learn more in depth about coding libraries.)   

Game Design
The process of conceiving of and creating a game, including everything from what the storyline will be and what the characters will look like to what the in-game challenges will be and what the rules are.

Easter eggs
An Easter egg is an intentional element hidden within a game. An Easter egg could be a joke, hidden message or image even a completely hidden mini-game or full level. Easter eggs get their name from the fact that players usually have to look – or hunt – for them while playing the game.

Enhancement
An improvement made to a game. An enhancement is different from a bug in that it does fix something that is broken, but improves the game by adding a new element or building upon an existing part of the game.

Execution
The process of building the game from beginning to end.

Feasibility
How realistic it is to actually do what you are proposing in a game. Do you have the resources, skills, time and money to actually make what you are designing.

Game Cloning
In game cloning, a developer tries to copy another developer’s game. Game cloning is different from reskinning because in cloning you are copying someone else’s game. Reskinning is changing your own game. Game cloning is usually looked down upon because you are copying someone else’s game design as opposed to designing your own. Of course, you can still draw inspiration from other games – just try to avoid creating a straight up copycat version. (Not only because it’s unoriginal, but also because it could get you sued.)

Gameplay
This term encompasses how the game is played. This includes things such as: what the rules are, how the characters move and interact with each other, what types of game activities the game features, how you win and game strategy.

Level
The playable part of a game, typically a game is comprised of multiple levels. 

Level Up
A gaming term that refers to when a player has earned enough experience points to acquire a new level in a skill or skills and/or progress to the next level of play. Often accompanied by the ability to wield new weaponry, access new places or begin new assignments.

Non-Playable Character
A character in a game whose actions are not controlled by any person playing the game but by the game’s software. Non-playable characters are also referred to as NPCs. 

Path
The order in which a player goes through the game from start to finish. Some game paths are linear, that is there is one way to go from the beginning to the end. Other open-world type games have non-linear paths where players can more broadly explore the game world.

Player Character
A character whose actions are controlled by a person playing the game. 

Reskin
Taking your game code, but changing it to look different by changing the artwork, sound effects, etc. Optional reading: What is re-skinning games?

Reusable code
Code that can be used over again in different parts of a game or in other games.

Quest
The overall goal of the video game, that typically spans multiple levels and often the entire game. 

Scope
How big your game project is. This means understanding how much work and time it is going to take to make your game a reality/how in-depth your project is. Optional reading:

Managing the Scope of Your Video Game Project

Side Quest
A smaller quest or challenge that is usually optional that you can do while trying to achieve the overall game quest. Often side quests can help you get new powers or tools/weapons/knowledge that will prove helpful in completing a game’s main quest. Side quests are smaller storylines or games within the larger quest.  

Storyline
The story or narrative of a video game. Typically the storyline sets out what the quest of the game is as well as provides information about the characters. Typically, a storyline is set up with some basic information at the beginning of the game, with more detail and development happening or being revealed as you complete levels. 

PLAY THIS GAME TO TEST YOUR TERM KNOWLEDGE

After you’ve played the memory game above, click here or at the menu at the top of the screen to go on to Level 2, Your First Job.