Hugh Falk wrote:
>
> Ah, but let's keep in mind that we are not limited to common vernacular. We
> are the "experts" in this field. Just as doctors, mechanics, etc. have
> their own words and terms to discuss their expertise, so should we. These
> words need not be known or understood by the layman or the Oxford
> Dictionary. And just like we made up our own grading scale, we shouldn't be
> afraid to make up terms when it helps clarify things for those that really
> care.
I agree with this completely, but you have to be practical. Even long,
complex, technical terms are abbreviated by people in their field -- since they
all share the same expertise, they all know what they're talking about when
using a trade slang term. For example, a casino pit boss calls favors given to
guests "comps", short for "compensation". All casino familiars, from employees
to tourist regulars, know what a "comp" is, because gambling is their field of
expertise. We have our own volcabulary in our grading scale, and when I say
"shrinked" you know I'm talking about a game that is still shrink-wrapped.
Along those lines, is it so wrong that I abbreviate "Intel-compatible CPU 'IBM
PC model 5150'-based clone" as "PC", since all of us -- in the same field of
expertiece -- know exactly what I'm talking about?
> On a related note, did it bother anyone else in the 80's when people would
> refer to Atari or Nintendo cartridges as "tapes?" Ugh, for similar reasons,
> I don't refer to Intel-based IBM clones only as PCs. Just because it was
> common doesn't make it right.
So what should we call them? Intel-based isn't right because clones existed
with AMD and NEC chips. IBM-based clones is better, but isn't technically
correct once we get to the realm of 386 machines and higher (the first 386 box
was actually Compaq, not IBM).
Yes, every single home computer was technically a personal computer, and we did
indeed refer to them all that way back in the 1980s. But I think it's safe to
say that if I talk about an old PC game, I mean an IBM PC/clone game. Come on,
what else would I be talking about? If I want to talk about ANY OTHER game, I
use its platform, such as: A C64 game, Atari ST game, Amiga game, etc. "PC" is
a platform designation to me, as it was part of the original model 5150's name.
If anyone disagrees with me (here's another gauntlet being thrown), I challenge
anyone to prove otherwise and prove its practicality in the face of what I
wrote above.
PS: I will reply to the other responses here, but I will do so as tersely as
possible because I believe my main point was adequately described above. So
don't feel like I'm ignoring anyone if I don't respond in detail to all of the
replies I see before me :-)
--
http://www.MobyGames.com/
The world's most comprehensive gaming database project.
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