Words, letters, abbreviations, companies, games, trademarks – meanings and correct usage.
This
is a style guide for Games Toaster writers and contributors. It is mainly made
up of on language used in computer games related context; it is based on the Guardian’s Style Guide, it is recommended that you visit their guide for more everyday use of language.
Other Style Guides of note are online at economist.com, BBCtraining.com (pdf), and timesonline.co.uk.
Atari
no longer in operation, Atari were a games systems and games creator; do not confuse with Infogrames re-branding using the Atari name (see below)
Atari (Infogrames)
never use Atari on its own, Atari was a different company
'bad' language
all ‘fowl’ or ‘bad’ language, such as slang words for body parts or functions, are banned with the exception of quoting; for example, in cases like a past article about the word ‘Fuck’ been found in a (pirate copy) of a Disney game, the full uncensored word should be published – beyond common ‘bad’ language the editor should be consulted
Britsoft
the British games software industry (usage example - “Developer behind Evolva and The Thing is latest Britsoft casualty” – GI.biz, ), avoid use, if you wish to use it don’t when talking about a company based in Ireland or Northern Ireland – instead name the town/city and/or county where the developer the is based
Cannes Film Festival
‘Cannes’ alone is fine on second mention or in some context, for example when the film industry has been mentioned first - the film festival runs in the large town in the south of France of the same name, typically at the same time as the games industry is at E3 in LA
CHAVs
this slang abbreviation, and its long-form, are banned
Citywest
an area of south-west Dublin - 'Citywest Business Campus', 'Citywest Hotel', etc, not 'CityWest', or 'City West'
Counter-Strike
(not 'Counter Strike') Half-Life mod, do not use CS
currencies
if possible use duel euro and sterling pricing as this is site is for gamers from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland – “the console is currently priced at 100 euro and 85 sterling”, if the sterling price is not known convert from euro – “the console is currently priced at 100 euro (about 85 sterling)”
use lc - euro, sterling, dollars
(dollars = USD, sterling = UKP)
euro - never use 'euros'; there is no such currency
the old Irish currency was 'punts', not Irish pounds
(currency converter - http://www.xe.com/ucc/)
DS
Nintendo DS, never NDS
EC (European Community)
EC, no longer EEC. Do not confuse European Community (EC) with European Union (EU), both are still in existence. (06/09/2005)
Electronic Arts (EA)
games developer and publisher; use Electronic Arts at first reference and 'EA' then after (see http://www.ea.com/)
EA Games, EA Sports (etc)
brand names of Electronic Arts used for different types of games; just use Electronic Arts at first reference and 'EA' then after.
Earls Court
no apostrophe
email
fanboy
a fanatic of a game, console/format, company, or genre - avoid
first person shooter (FPS)
lc, a genre of computer games; use FPS on second mention
Game
first letter hc, UK computer games retailer, on first reference say “computer games retailer Game” or “Game, the computer games retailer, …”
game
lc for any other use then retailer
GameStop
GameStop is a US retailer; they purchased the Irish retailer Gamesworld, re-branded, and expanded
gamer
used to describe any person who plays digital games
gaming
(or computer gaming) do not use when talking about gambling; we would (like to) think that usage regarding computer games now far exceeds the gambling counter part
Garda
Republic of Ireland's police force
Police officer - garda (plural gardai)
Halo
A FPS computer game
hardcore gamer
used to describe a person who is "really into" digital games and plays them a lot
.ie
(ending of an Internet address) the top level domain name for Ireland
IE
(Internet Explorer) Microsoft’s internet browser; use full name and not the abbreviation
internet
(lc) or the net
Los Angeles
'LA' is ok after first mention or in headlines. - Yes, it is a city, and yes, the games industry show E3 takes place the LA Conference Centre, in the city. But not all E3 events do, they do however take place in LA county. If unsure, do not use ‘city’.
media alert
hyped word for a press release; do not use.
Microsoft Games Studio
the brand name for Microsoft’s computer games division; use Microsoft
PSP
PlayStation Portable
PlayStation / PSOne
Sony's first console
PlayStation 2
Sony’s second console – use PS2 on second mention
PlayStation 3
Sony’s third home console – use PS3 on second mention
real time strategy (RTS)
a genre of computer games; use RTS on second mention
press release
a document which normally contains information about a product or service that is given to the press freely
Sony Computer Entertainment
place name included (Ireland, Europe, North America etc) when and article is place focused; SCE (or SCEE) on second mention
Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland
SCE IE or SCE Ireland, never "SCEI"
Smyths Toy Superstores
Irish toy retailer and games stockiest; use Smiths
stealth consoles
Vivendi Universal Interactive (VUI)
games publisher and developer; use Vivendi Universal on first mention and VUI then after (see http://www.vivendi-universal-interactive.co.uk/)
world wide web
outdated - use internet or 'the net'
Xbox 360
'Xb306', or '360', in headlines or after first reference; not X360
Xbox
not “Xbox” or “X-Box” etc, Microsoft’s first games console. See http//www.xbox.com/
Xtra-vision
best known as a video rental retailer, its shops sell and rent games, the company is owned by Blockbuster - but there is no current plan to use the parent brand
Xtra-game
Xtra-vision's game stores
You, you’re
Should not be used in
reviews, reviewers should not use a conversational style
Page last edited: 02/02/2007
Games Toaster has had an online presence under different names since as far back as 97/98, it was originally set up as a ‘hints and cheats’ website, then it expanded into news and reviews, in 2000.
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