We Need to Invent a New Term for Video Games. Let's Do It Right Here and Now.

As an artistic medium, the video game is still quite young, but I believe it's about time we invent a new, more mature-sounding term for video games.

I think video games have matured enough to have a new name that matches it's content.

Who is with me? If we can decide on a new term, we have the power to take this new word and spread it across the internet so it will finally be adopted. I know it sounds crazy, but it's been done many times before. How else to you think the terms noob, lol and many others came to be? To help us come up with ideas for this new term, I will provide some related terms. We can take these words and mash them together (or create something unique entirely different) to invent a new one.

• Interactive (Interactive Art)
• Art
• Control
• Render
• Graphic
• Digital
• Virtual
• Simulation
• Electronic Art
• Visual
• Motion
• Real-Time

When we have narrowed it down to five new words, I will create a poll. Let us begin the discussion.

"Entertainment art"

Think of how we took the two words "Motion Picture" and invented the new term - "Movie."

I don't see anything wrong with the term video games, in fact it is a fairly accurate description of the medium. It would be far too costly and difficult to change the branding now.bededog

how about "vames"?

or "vidames"?

No, lets just stick with video games.

We could call it interactive art, but that is too vague and general.

How about video games?Dylan_11

[QUOTE="bededog"]I don't see anything wrong with the term video games, in fact it is a fairly accurate description of the medium. It would be far too costly and difficult to change the branding now.Rikusaki

Film is created purely for artistic purposes, movies are created for entertainment and profit.

I don't know of any games worth talking about that were created purely for expression.

The term "video games" suits the medium just fine, and I seriously doubt this post will ever change that.

"N00b" became popular the same way "butthead" became popular. It doesn't mean we need to deliberately revolutionize everything with meaningless synonyms.

I dunno, how about Interactive Media?

I don't know of any games worth talking about that were created purely for expression.IzzieWaru

Flower.

Some wouldn't even call this a video game. So... what do we call it?

Virtual Animated Gaming Interactive Network Art.

Though, this would need an acronym.

[QUOTE="IzzieWaru"]

I don't know of any games worth talking about that were created purely for expression.Rikusaki

Flower.

Some wouldn't even call this a video game. So... what do we call it?

Uh a video game. When I watch a movie, no matter the content, it's still a movie. If I'm reading a magazine, no matter the content it's still a magazine. If I'm playing a programmed game on a console, it's still a game, no matter the content. You aren't redefining anything. You're just mixing up words that essentially STILL mean the same thing as "video game."

[QUOTE="IzzieWaru"]

I don't know of any games worth talking about that were created purely for expression.Rikusaki

Flower.

Some wouldn't even call this a video game. So... what do we call it?

This could be useful in our quest. :)

[QUOTE="Dylan_11"]How about video games?-Fromage-

We could use Latin to make it sound awesome.

how about Vames?

Button mashing

Simulation is a type of game already and saying something like Super Mario or Tetris is a game is idiotic. Not all games are real time and games don't have to use rendering or graphics at all. A contest with rules to determine the winner is a game. There is no way you can get away from calling games games. You could alter the video part however terms such as electronic and digital could include a lot of other games that are not currently considered video games. Video games is the best name we have.markop2003

Well, that's only one specific definition:

game:

amusement or pastime


What video game is not considered "video?" We still play video games on televisions and monitors, don't we?


video:

of or relating to the production of images on video displays

I'm going to stay old school and just call them videogames.

Interactive art or interactive entertainment.

Virtual Animated Gaming Interactive Network Art.

Though, this would need an acronym.

Virtual Animated Gaming Interactive Network Art.

Though, this would need an acronym.

the_foreign_guy

Fun-hole.

Happy-box.

Computerised Interactive Animations and Audio Via Medium of Creative Output Learning Center and Buttons.

Picture=pics

Motion pictures=movies

Video games=vids? viddies?

Really, why would we need a new name? Anything this late in the game would just feel tacked on.

I prefer to go with "murder simulators".

Anyway, as an art form, games haven't matured NEARLY enough as I would have expected, given their 40+ year history.

Post-Video Games

[QUOTE="the_foreign_guy"]

Virtual Animated Gaming Interactive Network Art.

Though, this would need an acronym.

fidosim

Oh really? Hahaha, that was brilliant.

My pick would be Intergalactic Spaz-quest-a-thons.

Film is created purely for artistic purposes, movies are created for entertainment and profit.

IzzieWaru

Nope.

Movies are "moving pictures".

While "films" are shot on film.

They are both "movies", but it's not a "film" unless you use film. Sort of like how it's not "swiss cheese" if it isn't actually cheese.

[QUOTE="IzzieWaru"]

Film is created purely for artistic purposes, movies are created for entertainment and profit.

MrGeezer

Nope.

Movies are "moving pictures".

While "films" are shot on film.

They are both "movies", but it's not a "film" unless you use film. Sort of like how it's not "swiss cheese" if it isn't actually cheese.

"In the US, the terms are interchangeable, but most major, commercial motion pictures aimed at a broad viewing audience (in the hopes of making a profit) are usually referred to as "movies". The term "film" is commonly applied to movies of an artistic or educational nature not expected to have broad, commercial appeal."

I would like that, if there is actually something better to call it that is.

Intertainment.

(Yeah, I know that doesn't actually work well at all for individual items. :P )

Virtual Animated Gaming Interactive Network Art.

Though, this would need an acronym.

the_foreign_guy

"Interactive virtual games" Treflis

[QUOTE="Treflis"]"Interactive virtual games" warownslife

We could use Latin to make it sound awesome.

Rikusaki

Video is Latin for "I see"

Game comes from an old German/English word meaning "joy, fun, or amusement".

Now that i think about this i have realized something. To people who don't play video games "games would probably seem childish to them. I'v met people who think games and TV is just a waste of time.

Virtual Animated Gaming Interactive Network Art.

Though, this would need an acronym.

the_foreign_guy

You my friend are a genius

Film is created purely for artistic purposes, movies are created for entertainment and profit.

IzzieWaru