The Glossary of Internet Frases (the G.I.F)
Welcome to the G.I.F, our glossary of terms for readers who aren't online all the time! If you're reading an article and come across a link styled like this, it'll lead you directly to the corresponding definition on this page, which are listed in alphabetical order below.
And for the record: This one's pronounced with a hard G. It's not a "jossary".
- Channel points: A currency viewers gain for free by watching livestreams on Twitch. Each stream has its own channel points system, usually with currency names and redemption options set by the streamer.
- Chiptune: A musical genre defined primarily by its use of retro game sound chips as instruments, usually hacking into or imitating the sound chips NES or original Game Boy to achieve its trademark sound. Notable artists in chiptune include Anamanaguchi, she, and Sabrepulse.
- Cutscene: A mid-game cinematic where the player can't interact with the game.
- Doxxing: The act of maliciously sharing the real name, address, or other personal information of a private citizen on the internet.
- Emulators: Programs designed to run ROMs as game consoles run discs or cartridges.
- Fandom: Online communities bound around a singular interest, usually being fans of a piece of media.
- Fursona: An anthropomorphic animal designed to represent a member of the Furry fandom.
- Graphics: The visuals of a video game. Used interchangably to mean both hardware power and aesthetics.
- Happy Hardcore: A genre of hard electronic music chracterized by fast four-to-the-floor beats, happy melodies, and loud basslines, as well as saccharine vocals and uplifting piano riffs.
- Let's Play: One of the most popular genres of internet video or live stream, in which a presenter plays through and comments over a video game.
- Parasocial: A relationship in which a viewer of art feels as if they know an artist without ever having met them.
- Point-and-click adventure: A puzzle game in which players control characters with a mouse to interact with an environment. May be first-person or third-person. Notable entries include Sam and Max, Space Quest and Myst.
- Queerbaiting: A character in a piece of media is teased to be LGBTQ in some way, usually via a potential same-gender romance, but never confirmed to be so.
- Ragequit: Leaving an online game before it's over out of pure frustration.
- ROM: A file that contains all the information normally included on a disc or cartridge. May be referred to as a "disc image". Most commonly found on computers as a .ISO file.
- Satellaview: A Super Nintendo peripheral released only in Japan. It used satellites to stream game data directly to consoles, allowing players to play exclusive video games at specific times of day. Gamws were frequently presented alongside a continuing radio drama set in the game's universe.
- Survival Horror: A type of horror game where the player is rarely given ammunition, health and save points, and must manage their limited resources. Notable entries include Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Dead Space.
- Swatting: An internet user illegally and anonymously sending a SWAT Team to another user's house on false pretense.
- This: Yes, just like that. Now scroll back to the top of the page, please.
- Tank Controls: An early method of moving player characters in 3D spaces. The player turns by moving their joystick left or right, and moves forward by pushing forward, like they're controlling a tank.
- Tryhard: Low-skill players who are extremely competitive and get extremely frustrated when they lose. Think Call of Duty.
- VOCALOID: A program that allows users to create music using pitch-shifted voice banks. Each voice bank within the program usually has its own fictional character design, creating a virtual singer. Can be used to refer to the original program, made by Yamaha, its competitors, the songs made by the programs, and the virtual singer voicebanks within the program. Notable VOCALOID songs include World is Mine, Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya! and World's End Dancehall.