EXAM 1: Mass Communication, The Internet/Digital media/Media Convergence, and Digital Gaming/Media Playground

Cookies

A common method that commercial interests use to track the browsing habits of computer users. Information profiles that are automatically collected and transferred between computer servers whenever users access websites. Purpose is to verify a use has been cleared for access to a particular website. Can be used to create marketing profiles of web users.

Arcades

A ripped off version of the Odyssey games brought video games into modern arcades.- Establishments that gather together multiple coin-operated games.

Convergence

A term that media critics and analysts use when describing all the changes that have occurred and are still occurring in media content and within media companies. Refers to technology and business, describing changes that have big impacts on the course of media companies.

First-Person Shooter

A video game genre centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a first-person perspective. The player experiences the action through the eyes of the protagonist. Ex. Halo.

Avatar

After pac-man, the avatar (a graphic interactive character situated within the world of the game) became the most common figure of player control and position identification.

Telecommunications Act of 1996

An Act to promote competition and reduce regulation in order to secure lower prices and higher quality services for telecommunications consumers and encourage the rapid deployment of new telecommunications technologies.

Portal

An entry point the the internet, such as a search engine. Google. MSN. Bing.

Modern Period

Beginning with the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century and extending until about the mid 20th century. 4 major features/values; efficiency, individualism, rationalism, and progress.

Noobs

Clueless beginners. A type of game player.

Consoles & CDs vs. Cartridges

Consoles - devices people use specifically to play video games. CDs vs. Cartridges. Cartridges - the early physical form of video games that were played on consoles manufactured by companies like Nintendo, Sega and Atari.

Selective Exposure

Consumers shape media messages to fit/support their values and viewpoints. DEFINED: people typically seek messages and produce meanings that correspond to their own cultural beliefs, values, and interests.

Phising

Costly form of Internet identity theft. Scam involving phony e-mail messages that appear to be from official websites, asking customers to update their credit card number, passwords, and other personal information.

Development

Designing, coding, scoring, and testing a game.

Email & IM'ing

E-mail - electronic mail messages sent over the internet; developed by computer engineer Ray Tomlinson in 1971. IM'ing - A web feature that enables users to chat with friends in real-life time via pop-up windows assigned to each conversation.

High Culture

EX. ballet, symphony, art museums, fine art. Identified with "good-taste" and higher education supported by wealthy patrons and corporate donors, exclusivity. Skyscraper model. Determines how we view and discuss culture.

Low Culture

EX. icons such as reality TV, teen pop music, TV wrestling shows, violent video games. Identified with "questionable" tastes, commercial "junk". Skyscraper model. Determines how we view and discuss culture. Depreciation of fine art, exploits high culture, disposability of popular culture, decline of high culture, and dulling of cultural taste buds.

Digital Divide

Echoes economic divide. Refers to the growing contrast between the "information haves" - those who can afford to purchase computers and pay for internet services - and the "information have nots" - those who may not be able to afford a computer or pay for Internet services.

ESRB

Entertainment Software Rating Board. Implemented a self-regulation system enforced by an industry panel. Institutes a labeling system designed to inform players of sexual or violent content in the game.

Penny Arcade

First appearing in train depots, hotel lobbies, bars, and restaurants these leisure machines were the first thoroughly modern indoor playground.

Collective Intelligence

Gamers collaborate with one another to share shortcuts and "cheats" to solving tasks and quests and to create their own mods to the game. Sharing of knowledge and ideas.

Data-mining

Gathering users' location and purchasing habits for means of advertising. Data collecting system functioning as consumer surveillance and data mining. Raises issues of Internet security and privacy.

Mass Media

Helps to circulate a culture's values. DEFINED: the cultural industries - the channels of communication - that produce and distribute songs, novels, TV shows, newspapers, movies, video games, Internet services, and other products to large numbers of people

In-Game Adverisements

In-game ads are more subtle; ads are integrated into the game as billboards, logos, or storefronts. Advertised products are in the game.

Modding

Most advanced form of collective intelligence. Modifying the game software or hardware. Could land someone in a copyright lawsuit. Modding is encouraged yet another way players become invested. Can improve game for others.

Guilds/Clans

Most experienced players join an organized group (guilds/clans).

Open-Source Software

Openly shared program source codes alone with their ideas for upgrading and improving programs.

PUGs

Pick-up Groups. Temporary teams usually assembled by matchmaking programs integrated into the game.

Casual Games

Player makes progress toward a simple reward, increasing the challenge if he or she feels like it; the rules are simple, and there is no long-term commitment. Ex. tetris, candy crush.

Role-Playing Games

Player takes on specific characteristics and skill sets, goes on "adventures", and often amasses treasure; the most popular setting is a fantasy world.

Online Fantasy Sports

Players assemble teams and use actual sports to determine scores in their online games.

Trolls

Players who delight in intentionally spoiling the gaming experience for others.

Ninjas

Players who snatch loot out of turn and then leave the group.

Mass Communication

Print, Electronic, and digital channels help develop Mass communication. DEFINED: the process of designing cultural messages and stories and delivering them to large and diverse audiences through 3 media channels above.

Net Neutrality

Refers to the principle that every website and every user - whether a multinational corporation or you - has the right to the same Internet network speed and access. Formal policy in 2015.

Postmodern Period

Roughly the mid 20th century to today. Identified by a confusing array of examples; music videos, remote controls, nike ads shopping malls, fax machines, email, video games, blogs, etc. Represents an entirely different way of seeing - a new condition of the human spirit. 4 major characteristics; populism, diversity nostalgia, and paradox.

Cross Platform

Second meaning of media convergence. DEFINED: describes a business model that involves consolidating various media holdings such as cable connections, phone services, television transmissions, and Internet access, under one corporate umbrella. GOAL: better manage resources and maximize profits. EX. Apple news, tv, phone service, etc. A business that offers multiple platforms.

MMORPGs

Similar to role-playing games but distinguished by the high number of players interacting together. Ex. WoW, Star Wars old republic. Massively multiplayer online role-playing. Virtual worlds that require users to play through an avatar of their own design.

Critical Process

Steps of description, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, and engagement.

Intellectual Properties

Stories, characters, personalities, and music that require licensing agreements.

Opt-in or Opt-out Policies

Stronger regulations. Opt-in policies PRIVACY require websites to obtain explicit permission from consumer before the site can collect browsing history data. Opt-out policies DATA-MINING allow for the automatic collection of browsing history data unless the consumer requests to opt-out.

Pinball Machine

The bagatelle spawned this machine. The most prominent of mechanical games. 30's and 40's fed the coffers of the gambling underworld. Gained mainstream acceptance after WWII. (added flipper bumer).

E-commerce

The buying and selling of products and services on the Internet. Personal information may be used without their knowledge.

Culture

The symbols of expression that individuals, groups, and societies use to make sense of daily life and to articulate their values; a process that delivers the values of a society through products or other meaning-making forms.

Gameplay

The way in which the rules structure how players interact with the game- rather than by any sort of visual or narrative style. Different types of genres in video gaming.

Spyware

Unethical and intrusive. Information gathering software often secretly bundled with free download software. Can be used to send pop-up ads, enable unauthorized parties to collect private information, or plant a malicious click-fraud program.

Advergames

Video games created for purely promotional purposes. Burger King xbox games example.

Progressive Era

Well-informed rational society. A period of political and social reform that lasted roughly from the 1890s to the 1920s. Championed social movements leading to constitutional amendments for both prohibition and women's suffrage. Muckrakers represented media's significant contribution to this era.