Fight-A-Base : Terminology

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List of Fight-A-Base Terminology
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TypeNameDescription

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(

(during Sidestep)The following must be performed during a sidestep.
(far)Must be performed when your character is at the absolute opposite end of the screen from your opponent.
(from Behind)Must be executed from behind the opponent.
(from Left)Must be executed from opponent's left side.
(from Right)Must be performed from opponent's right side.
(Reversal)Must be timed with incoming enemy attack.
(While Crouching)Must be executed from a fully crouched state.
(while Rising)Must be executed during the transition from crouching to standing.

*

*riot_iori*
"I am very sure you all have dreams. I will now show you the way to dreamland... Goodnight!"

Gender: (...cont'd)

2

2D GameplayGameplay design in which the action takes on a flat plane (only X and Y movement are relevant to gameplay).

3

360˚Spin the joystick one full rotation.
3DPress the 3D button.
3D MovementCharacters can move freely in all 8 directions without facing their opponents direction at all times.
3DOA CD-based home console developed by The 3DO Company. Hardware variations were produced by Panasonic, Sanyo, and Goldstar. Originally retailed for approximately $700 and had very little third-party su (...cont'd)

5

5pb. GamesGame development wing of "The Five Powered & basics," also a record label. Primarily known for visual novels.

7

7th Expansiona Japanese doujin game circle popularly known for their famous murder mystery series of Hirugashi When They Cry and Umineko no Naku Koro ni
7th LevelA now defunct company, most of their games were obscure titles based on semi-popular licenses.

8

8105graphicsDoujin game/art circle primarily composed of Sho Kawakami (ShoK)

A

A buttonPress the "A" button.
Accend Inc.Makers of Violent Vengeance - The Universe Hero.
AcclaimWell known for continuously pumping out ports and licensed games, most of which of dubious quality. Folded in 2004, resurrected as an MMO company two years later.
AccoladeDefunct developer with a mixed bag of classics (Turrican, Test Drive) and crap (Bubsy, Ballz).
AcmesoftTaiwanese developer
ActivisionThe first third-party developer in console game history. Known in the golden ages for Atari 2600 classics such as Pitfall! and River Raid. They rarely do stuff in-house now, and are most known for ser (...cont'd)
ADKAlpha Denshi Corp., Ltd. While they were around before the Neo Geo, their heyday was undoubtedly on that system. Apparently absorbed into SNK at some point around the Neo Geo's demise.
Adventure ModeThe game features an extensive single-player game which uses the "fighting mode" as a means of conflict resolution. Other minigames may abound, and character growth (as in an RPG) may occur.
AgumixA defunct Japanese company that developed adult games for computer systems between the late 1980's to the mid-1990's.
Air AlsoCan also execute while in mid-air.
Air BlockA universal method of defense while jumping or otherwise air borne. Exact rules vary wildly from game to game.
Air DashDashes that can be performed in mid-air.
Air OnlyExecute while in mid-air.
Air RecoveryCharacters possess the ability to recover from a "knockdown" state while in mid-air.
Air ThrowThrows can be performed in the air by all members of the cast.
Air TurnAbility to turn around in mid-air.
AKIDeveloper primarily known for wrestling titles.
Akimine KamijyoCreator of Samurai Deeper Kyo ("Akimine Kamijyo" is her pen-name).
Akira ToriyamaCreator of all things Dragonball.
alexgizhThe Macedonian Master of Mystery

An expert when it comes to things absolutely no one has heard of. Responsible for discovering and disseminating to FAB Staff a number of wildly obscure K (...cont'd)
Alfa SystemResponsible for porting a great deal of things to the Turbo CD, the Godzilla 2D fighters was however their own creation. Currently sort of floating by on their flagship shmup, Shikigami no Shiro.
AliasAn alter-ego or alternate personality utilized as needed.
AllumerRelatively non-prolific Japanese developer.
Almanic Corp.A company
AM2A subsidiary of Sega, properly known as Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department 2. Responsible for a majority of Sega's more popular fighting game titles.
AmigaCommodore's popular self-contained computer, it went through several incarnations, including the CD-based Amiga CD32. Home to ports of many popular fighting games, and the original title Fightin' Spir (...cont'd)
Amstrad CPCAnother one of those wacky computer systems from the 1980's.
AncestorThough related, the exactly nature is either ancient or otherwise indeterminate.
AndDo the preceding and following simultaneously.
Angel StudiosDeveloper of Sailor Moon titles.
anonThe Semi-Covert Contributor

Birthplace: Scotland
Birthdate: June 8, 1989
Fighting Style: ...A Glaswegian needs none... ಠ_ಠ
Favourite Foods/Dr (...cont'd)
Any AttackAny attack button.
Any DirectionAny directional input besides Neutral is acceptable.
Any KickPress any available kick button.
Any PunchPress any available punch button.
Any SlashPress any available Slash button.
ApogeeBig daddy of MS-DOS shareware back in the day.
AquaplusA Japanese company founded in October 1994 that specializes in the publishing and distribution of visual novel games under their brand Leaf which produces adult games. Prior to their visual nov (...cont'd)
Arc System WorksDevelopment House led by Daisuke Ishiwatari, best known for their alternative fighting game series, Guilty Gear.
ArcadeBlanket term for unique or otherwise uncommon JAMMA hardware.
ArchetypeOverall generality, like a stereotype or cliche.
ArgonautDevelopers behind the engine for Nintendo's Star Fox and Super FX chip. Released some other quality games later in life like the delightful I-Ninja, but nailed their coffin shut with the Catwoman movi (...cont'd)
ArikaFounded by Street Fighter II co-creator Akira Nishitani, they developed the Street Fighter EX games with Capcom, and produced some of their own fighters. Other than assisting Crafts & Meister with Sup (...cont'd)
Artificial LifeMobile developer.
ASCII EntertainmentVenerable Japanese developer/publisher. They've created several "make your own game" packages over the years, for RPGs, shooting games, and fighters.
Ask KodanshaAlso known as Kodansha Ltd., The largest Japanese publisher of books, magazines, multimedia products and games which headquarters in the wards of Bunkyo, Tokyo.
At WallMust be performed next to a wall (abstract 2D stage wall or actual wall)
AtariFar removed from their roots as the most popular video game company in the 1970's, Atari is now the name for the former Infogrames/GT Interactive.
Atari STPersonal computer released by Atari in the mid-1980's.
Atlantean Interactive GamesPublisher of Catfight
AtlusCreated the Power Instinct series.
AtomiswaveIll-fated arcade hardware pushed by Sammy as a new inexpensive cartridge-based platform; basically a cheaper variant of the already well-established Naomi board.
AtrativaLittle-known company tangentially related to Yuki Enterprise, responsible for Jingi Storm and some mahjong game.
Atreid ConceptFrench development company
Attack 1Press the attack 1 button.
Attack 2Press the attack 2 button.
Attack 3Press the attack 3 button.
Attack 4Press the attack 4 button.
Attack ButtonPress the "attack" button.
AttireAttributes of a characters default or most common in game uniform.
Attribute SelectPlayers can modify the performance of their characters to a certain degree before the battle.
AugmentationA technique that does little or nothing on its own, but increases the effectiveness of other moves.
Auto ComboA string of attacks which are successively guaranteed if one of them should connect.
Axe To Grind ProductionsCompany of which just one game is known. It employed graphicians and musicians that previously had already been working for other companies.

B

B buttonPress the "B" button.
BackdashA form of mobility consisting of a quick backwards hop.
BackwardPress backward or away from the the opponent.
BandaiMasters of the licensed product.
BanditDeveloper of Fighting Eyes
BanprestoNotorious for low quality, licensed anime games.
BaseSonDeveloper of many adult visual novel games and a subsidiary of NEXTON. Best known for creating the Koihime Musou franchise
Basic MovesOrdinary moves that require minimal effort to execute.
Basic ThrowOne of a character's default throws, requires no poetry or prose to execute.
Battle DamageCharacters display persistent damage in realtime, either as cuts and bruises to their person or the gradual destruction of their clothes.
Battle RoyaleMore than two combatants duke it out simultaneously, free-for-all or on teams.
BBC MicroThe BBC Microcomputer System, developed by Acorn Computers and funded by the British Broadcasting Company. Games were not the computer's focus, but it did boast ports of some popular arcade games.
BecJapanese developer, often uncredited. Normally develops for licensed games published by Bandai and Banpresto.
BKN InternationalNow defunct producer of children's entertainment.
Black Ops EntertainmentFounded in Santa Monica, California by four MIT graduates in 1994, developers of Knockout Kings, Street Hoops, Warpath: Jurassic Park, etc.
BlizzardEmploys psychologists to ensure their fighting games are as addictive as possible.
BlockPress the block button.
Bloodline BattleIf both players taunt simultaneously, a test of reflexes is initiated (buttons must be pressed as instructions flash onscreen). The loser will take damage.
Bloodlust SoftwarePC development team formed in 1992 by two Wichita, Kansas students, known primarily for nonsensically violent games. Also one of the more influential entities in the emulation scene, having created s (...cont'd)
BodytypeDescribes the physical attributes of a character.
Bonus GamesPeriodic breaks in single player mode that are more tests of skill or knowledge than actual competition.
Boost DashA method of forward dashing capable of cancelling normal attacks, for increased combo potential. Relies on a meter.
Boss CharacterA member of the cast who must be defeated in order to win, generally the last to be unlocked if at all.
BroccoliDeveloper of some anime games, including a few based on the Shinseki (AKA "Neon Genesis") Evangelion series.
BuronsonManga author most famous for Fist of the North Star/Hokuto no Ken.
BurstA technique to blow off pressure even while in hit- or blockstun. Can often be used offensively in some capacity.
Burst ProjectileA stationary projectile that functions as an extension of the users body.
Byulbram CreatureNickname of Kim Gwangsam, the South Korean homebrew programmer that made the jump to big retail games in 2000.

C

C buttonPress the "C" button.
C&E, Inc.Taiwanese PC developer, responsible for Super Fighter.
CapcomOne of the top names in fighting games, Capcom started as Japanese Capsule Computers in 1979. They love crossover games and have a close working relationship with the comic company UDON.
CapricornA Japanese "doujin" game developer. Known for the fan-made game "Rockmen R" and the EFZ-clone fighter "The Queen of Battlers".
Capture ProjectileA projectile which renders the opponent ripe for further abuse on contact.
CastingPertains to the makeup of participating characters.
CeilingSome levels have a ceiling which a character will rebound off of when juggled too high.
Chained NormalsBasic attacks can be chained or linked together in often predetermined patterns to create combos and strings.
ChargeHold the following for 1 to 2 seconds.
Charge SpecialsAs opposes to instant use EX moves, characters are able to charge ordinary special moves (usually by holding a button) to make them stronger or more effective.
ChrisAge: 21
Birthdate: 8/4/1988
Birthplace: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (now residing in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada)
Height: 5' 10"
Weight:(...cont'd)
ClampManga studio responsible for X and a lot of other girly stuff where everyone has mad angular chins.
ClashAttacks will "clash" and cancel out, usually when only the attack portions of their hitboxes overlap.
ClassificationUsed to divide and organize character tags and game themes.
clickBOOMA branch of PXL Computers. They developed games for the Amiga in the late 90's, and after that they began developing games for PC and Macintosh.
Cobra TeamJapanese company that developed a few games for the SNES, all of them based on anime/manga series.
ComgameHungarian developers, released Long Life.
Command MovesSimilar to a basic move but requires some degree of special input.
Command ThrowThrows and grabs with their own unique input command and range.
Commodore 64The venerable C64 home computer, released in 1982.
CompanionA formal romantic involvement. Husband/Wife by law, or boy/girlfriend otherwise.
CompanyAny organizational body credited on this site.
Contemporary
Counter MoveThe character will typically take a defensive stance; if hit in this state, they will initiate a counter attack.
CPS2Upgrade to the original CPS chipset, and Capcom's most prominent Arcade hardware.
CPS-3Capcom's final piece of arcade hardware, a 2D powerhouse but rather cost-ineffective due to its complexity. This same complexity has made it something of a holy grail of arcade emulation to this day, (...cont'd)
CPU OnlyA non-boss character who appears at one point or another in a single player mode. Is only selectable via cheat devices, or other arcane methodologies.
Crafts & MeisterJapanese company co-founded by Noritaka "Poo" Funamizu, producer and director of many Capcom fighting games.
Crave EntertainmentAmerican company that normally publishes licensed and budge games.
Create A CharacterPlayers can create their custom variants of existing characters or original characters to use.
Creative Edge StudiosKings of lousy digitized fighting games on home computers.
Critical HitMoves randomly "critical," resulting in broken guard or extra damage.
Culture BrainTry this!! "Moonsault!"
Custom CombosGenerally at the cost of super meter, players can string attacks together rapidly and repeatedly to create their own unique super attacks.
CyberConnect2Responsible for all of the games in the Naruto Ultimate Ninja series and sub-series (Heroes, Storm), and also the .hack RPG games.
CyberfanatixBiggest King Of Fighters and other fighting games dedicated community website; established in November of 2000.
Cyberplanet InteractiveSmall development company in Bangkok usually known for crap games based on licenses nobody cares about. Somehow managed to nab the Ultraman license and made a heap of games with it.
CynusRather unknown Japanese company which developed a 3D fighting game near of the end of Saturn's life.

D

D buttonPress the "D" button.
D.C.S.Little known Japanese company that developed a few games for the X68000 during the 90's and for Windows later on.
D3 PublisherPublisher of the infamous and venerable Simple series games.
DalettoSubsidiary of Capcom that is responsible for online content PC games.
Daou Infosys Corp.Korean developer.
Daraku Tenshi Unofficial WebsiteA comprehensive resource for this hidden gem of a game. Our source for character storylines as well as information on the game's unfinished characters. (...cont'd)
DashQuick method of forward movement over a predetermined distance.
Data EastFamous for loads of arcade beat-'em-ups and pinball machines in the '80's and '90's. Their properties went to cell phone developer G-Mode when they went belly-up in 2003.
Datam PolystarJapanese developer responsible for all kinds of sub par stuff.
DCOriginally standing for Detective Comics, DC is known as one of the the "big two" publishers of mainstream comic books.
Dedicated ConsoleA gaming console that is dedicated to one or more built-in games, and has no option for playing additional games via external devices.
DefeatedCharacters fought to a clear and definitive victory.
DelayAn indefinate pause.
Desperation MovesSuper moves that are dependent on life, rather than some sort of extraneous meter or condition.
DevelopmentPertains to development or other elements on the other side of the pixels.
Digital Legends EntertainmentSpanish company based in Barcelona which is specialized in designing games for the mobile/handheld devices.
DimpsDevelopers of the DBZ: Budokai and Rumble Fish series.
Discovery SoftwareAlso known simply as Discovery (ディスカバリー), a company of eroge goods and software that was established during the early part of the 1990's. As of 1998, t (...cont'd)
DismembermentLoss of limbs or other body parts occurs during gameplay, altering a character's abilities.
Dive AttackAn air attack which directs the user to the opponents location regardless of previous trajectory.
Diversions EntertainmentDefunct game developer responsible for the One Must Fall games.
DK-SoftwareA now defunct doujin game developing group who were responsible for the MariBato! games, based on the ongoing and praised Maria-sama (...cont'd)
DodgeThe ability to dodge into the "background" to avoid attacks. Vulnerable to throws.
Double Helix GamesDevelopers of the Xbox One Killer Instinct game.
Double JumpThe vast majority or all of the game's cast is capable of jumping a second time in mid-air.
DownPress down.
Down AttackAn attack that strikes deliberatly or only at a prone opponent.
Down BackwardPress down and away from the opponent simultaneously.
Down ForwardPress down and towards the opponent simultaneously.
Dragon Punch MotionPress forward then down, then down forward.
DreamcastConsole version of Naomi hardware, employs proprietary GD-ROM format. Primarily used for mid-generation 3D titles.
DreamFactoryOnce the lapdogs of Squaresoft, DreamFactory has branched off to produce steadily poorer and more awkward 3D fighters on their own.
DreamworksA production studio originally started by Steven Spielberg, it is one of the most prolific movie studios in the US. Sold to Viacom in 2005.
Dress UpThe player can purchase and equip various costume items, auras, color swaps, etc.
DustPress the "dust" button.
Dynamic MusicThe state of a battle is reflected in the game's soundtrack, typically by an increase in the music's tempo as character's life approaches empty.

E

EightingFormerly a prolific developer of shoot 'em ups, now mainly develops fighting games.
Eiichiro OdaArtist and creator of One Piece.
Electro BrainResponsible for bringing a few Toei Animation properties to the NES and Gameboy, then making their own weak titles. Faded into obscurity in the late 90s.
Electronic ArtsVast company that operates over two dozen studios and publishes and/or develops hundreds of popular games. More known for their "EA Sports" label than their other titles, and still publishes Mega Driv (...cont'd)
Elettronica Video-Games S.R.L.Developers of Mighty Warriors, the arcade game.
Encounter
Endless ArenaBattle stages have no walls (invisible or otherwise) or ring-out areas; the stage scrolls endlessly in any direction.
EnterbrainPublisher of the world-renowned Famitsu magazine. Also publisher and developer of a few software titles.
EolithSouth Korean company. Developed The King of Fighters 2001 and 2002.
Epic GamesHome of all things Unreal, earned their meteoric rise to fame through DOS shareware publishing.
EX MovesCertain special moves can be performed with more hits, more damage, different effects, etc (usually by expending part of a meter).
ExamuFormerly Yuki Enterprise, who had some hand in Samurai Shodowns 5-6. They've since rebranded and found success with their original Arcana Heart series.
ExMortisFAB's Laconic Lieutenant

Birthdate: 1981
Fighting Style: Parody and cynicism
Most Important: His cat, named for the famous horror star
Favorite Food: (...cont'd)
Expanding StagesArenas may begin small but open up during the match (as walls are broken down, for instance).

F

Fake DizzyPlayers can fake a dizzy or stunned state to try and decieve the opponent.
Family Production Inc.Creators of NB Heartbreakers Advanced
Family SoftJapanese software house that later took over for Fill-in Cafe when the company reached financial turmoil during the turn of the mid 90's. Most of the remaining Asuka 120% series (excluding Limited, wh (...cont'd)
Fatal MovesA type of move that ends a match, usually violently. Often just a cinematic conclusion in place of a more traditional win pose.
FenixThe self-dubbed Tru Fenix. Smarter than Einstein, stronger that Hercules, and lights a fire with a snap of his fingers.
Fighting StyleRefers to the design of a characters moveslist and ingame activities.
Fill-in CafeJapanese software house active from the late 80s to roughly 1998. First worked on Japan-only PC systems then did a lot of CD-based console work; nothing they created ever saw release outside Japan. Cr (...cont'd)
Fireball ProjectileA mobile projectile that travels away from its user until striking a target.
FK DigitalHong Kong doujin developer (authored Super Cosplay War Ultra, most notably) turned pro.
FlightCharacters are universally capable of free movement in the air.
FlyingFistJoined FAB in 2010
Fly-SystemA doujin circle
FM-TOWNSA Japanese personal computer.
ForestDeveloper of the "Ningyou Tsukai" pair of erotic fighting games for PC, the first of which was brought to the USA as "Metal & Lace" by Megatech.
ForwardPress forward or towards the opponent.
FoughtCharacters are known to have fought, but the outcome is unclear or otherwise undecided.
French-BreadA Japanese "doujin" software developer. Formerly known as Watanabe Seisakujo, adopted the name French-Bread in 2003.
Frontier AjaAn independent doujin game production. Took over the Big Bang Beat production right after NRF turned down development support.
FuukiAfter a couple nonremarkable arcade puzzle-type games, produced (the rather good) Asura Blade and its sequel Asura Buster. Have apparently shifted their focus away from arcade development since.

G

Gadget SoftJapanese developer of virtually no note. Made the Maid Guy game and a few other things.
GainaxAnime production company known for really bizarre plots and symbolism.
Game GearSega's full-color portable system.
Game Park HoldingsDeveloper of the GP line of Korean handheld game systems. Each system was very popular with homebrewers but they also played host to quite a few commercial releases.
Game.comAnother Tiger handheld system. You can go online in black and white!
GameboyReleased as a big gray brick with monochrome graphics in 1989, Gameboy later appeared as different incarnations such as the Gameboy Pocket and Gameboy Color. It is most widely known for Tetris, and wa (...cont'd)
Gameboy AdvanceSuccessor to the original Gameboy portable and backwards compatible with its entire library of games.
GamecubeNintendo's answer to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. True to its name, it is a cube and it does play games. Failed to make a spark with mainstream gamers and fell far behind its competition. Despite its h (...cont'd)
GameGadgetUK-developed handheld system. Games are downloadable via an iTunes-like service. Mostly plays licensed Genesis ROMs but also supports original content.
GameloftA French video game developer and publisher headquartered in Paris. It was founded by the Guillemot brothers, who also founded and own, Ubisoft. Gameloft primarily focuses on mobile games, although th (...cont'd)
Gameplay
Games ExpressResponsible for a number of erotic mahjong titles for the Turbografx-16; created Strip Fighter 2 for the same.
GameTekPublishers of Brutal: Paws of Fury and also video game adaptations of game shows such as Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
GanbarionDevelopers of most One Piece games and the Jump Stars DS fighting games.
Gekkan Dragon AgeMonthly manga release featuring some well-known stories.
GenesisSega's most succesful console and immortal 16-bit rival to the Super NES. Genesis does what Nintendon't.
GenkiA Japanese developer of computer and video games, founded in October 1990 by Hiroshi Hamagaki and Tomo Kimura, who left Sega to form the company. Genki is best-known for their racing game titles and a (...cont'd)
GigaWorked on some Variable Geo games.
Good Deal GamesSmall publishing outfit who mainly deal in releasing new games for otherwise defunct console platforms.
GP2XAnother Game Park handheld release
GP2X CaanooGame Park's final handheld device before shifting focus to software only.
GP32Game Park's first handheld system release.
GrabPress the "grab" button.
Grounded ProjectileA fireball projectile that travels lower to or on the ground.
Guard CancelAbility to cancel your block with a special attack.
Guard CrushBlocking too many attacks in succession will result in your guard breaking momentarily (and probably leave you unable to guard at all for a few moments). Typically, but not always, visible in meter f (...cont'd)

H

HairstyleDescribes a characters hair or other attributes of the head.
Hajime KanzakaJapanese novel and manga writer, best known for the Slayer series.
Half-circle BackPerform a half-circle back with the joystick.
Half-circle ForwardPerform a half-circle forward with the joystick.
Hand Made SoftwareMade games for DOS and mid-'90's Atari consoles, but nothing of great importance.
Hard AttackThe hardest attack in any three-attack game that doesn't distinguish Punch/Kick/Slash etc.
Hard SlashPress the "hard slash" button.
HasbroKnown Toy Company, behind famous series' such as G.I Joe and Transformers (in which the latter has actually appeared in fighting games occasionally).
HazardsDangerous obstacles or effects not caused by players pose danger to everyone's life meters.
HelpHas some meaning or purpose around the site. Use to help clear up some of the sites more complicated features.
Hidden CharacterA hidden member of the cast generally only selectable via code or meeting some arcane condition.
High AttackPress the high attack button. For games that assign attack buttons by hit level.
High KickPress the high kick button.
High PunchPress the high punch button.
High VoltageFrom a checkered past in the 1990's and early 2000's, High Voltage shaped up to be one of the more popular developers for Nintendo's Wii, including their First-Person Shooter "The Conduit" and their m (...cont'd)
Hirohiko ArakiArtist and creator of all things Jojo.
Hiroyuki EtoA mangaka from Taketa, Oita, Japan. Known for creating Magical Circle Guru Guru.
HoldHold the following input until we tell you to Release it.
Hot-BPerhaps best known for their fishing games, HOT-B was tempted nonetheless by fighting fever.
HudsonCreators of the PC Engine/TurboGrafix16 and many well-known properties from the 1980's (Bomberman, Bonk, Adventure Island). Also developed rather obscure entries in some very popular series (Super Mar (...cont'd)
Human EntertainmentJapanese corporation, best known for the Fire Pro Wrestling series before it folded in 1999. Former place of employment of noteworthy developer Goichi Suda.
Hurricane AttackAn advancing spinning attack often used to avoid projectiles.
Hyper Neo Geo 643D variant on the MVS / Neo Geo hardware, met with lackluster success.
HyperScanOne part PlayStation, one part Intellivision, one part e-Reader, all parts suck. Notable for having an X-Men versus fighter as a pack-in, but otherwise, it's pretty forgettable.

I

I <3 SFXTGender: Male
Birthdate: October 7, 1993
Birthplace: Chino, CA
Fighting Style: ???
Hobbies: Gaming, writing, typing, drawing
Occupation: Sign twirler
Favorite Fighters: Marvel Super H (...cont'd)
IGSInternational Games System, Taiwanese arcade developer and manufacturer of the Polygame Master (PGM) hardware.
ImagineerA company!
Impact ThrowAn attack that becomes a throw after making contact.
IncalFrench company that made a few games for the Amiga and Atari ST in the early 90's. These got published either by Infogrames or Ubi Soft.
Incredible Technologies, Inc.Solely responsible for the infamous and frequently lampooned Street Fighter: The Movie fighting game.
IndiaGamesProminent India-based mobile games company with several US offices. Also has a Steam-esque PC game downloading service titled GOD (Games On Demand).
Instant KillA technique to end the match instantly regardless of your opponent's remaining life. May require opponent to be dizzy, or at least extremely foolish.
IntecIntec did the majority of their development on the PC-Engine and PC-Engine CD-ROM.
interchannelJapanese channel, not known for having released anything of merit.
InterplayProlific game company from the '80's and '90's. Still around today, although not as big as it was in its heyday. Interplay had a brief claymation fetish toward the middle of its career.
I-PlayCell phone game company, released a bunch of licensed games and rip-offs.
iQue PlayerDesigned by scientist Wei Yen and manufactured by Nintendo, the iQue Player (aka Nintendo iQue) was only released in China. It only plays first-party Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 games, but it does (...cont'd)
IremFamous for R-Type and other notoriously difficult shooters, also released a few notoriously bad fighting games.
ISM SelectPlayers have access to different modes which substantially alter their gameplay options, and may in some cases alter movelists slightly.
Item MovesElements of characters customization can supplement character movelists.
Items/WeaponsVarious items exist for the players to use, either littering the arena at the start of the match or appearing periodically throughout. These items can range from bonus points to food (life restoratio (...cont'd)

J

JaguarAtari's 64-bit resurgence to the console world, it promised to be better than its 16 and 32-bit competition simply because it had more "bits". Viewed as a curiosity due to its complicated gamepad, toi (...cont'd)
Jakks PacificCreates licensed action figures and "Plug it in & Play TV Games" dedicated consoles.
JalecoShort for Japanese Leisure Corporation, this company was founded in 1973. Published lots of obscure games in the 1980's and 1990's.
JorudanJapanese developer responsible for the Ultraman fighter Taiketsu! Ultra Hero as well as One-on-One Government, the basketball game which is actually pretty close to a fighting game.
Juggling (heavy)Fighters can score extra blows pretty much any time their opponents are airborne.
Juggling (light)Fighters can score extra blows on each other while falling through the air, but usually only after specific moves or in certain situations.
JumpPress the Jump button.
Just Add MonstersA video game developer founded in 2000 in Cambridge, England. Kung Fu Chaos was the first game the company created. It would later become Ninja Theory, known for developing Heavenly Sword and Enslaved (...cont'd)

K

KanekoFormer Taito developer that branched out on its own, made a bunch of junk, and died off quietly.
Kawaii Art ZoneLegendary image repository, home to countless rare arts from a wide variety of developers. http://www.kawaiidream.net/
KeyJapanese visual novel developer, founded by former members of Tactics. Their intellectual property is frequently mined for doujin games.
KickPress the "kick" button (for games with only one kick button).
Kick 1The weakest kick available. "Short" in Capcom terms.
Kick 2A medium ("Forward") strength kick. Typically only available in six-button games.
Kick 3The strongest kick available. "Roundhouse" in Capcom terms.
KilledCharacter has ended another characters life, directly or indirectly.
Knockout AttackA single strike attack with a long warm up, that is unblockable and/or immensely powerful.
KoeiWill Koei's massive amount of strategy game experience result in a more "strategic" fighter??
KonamiCompany with many popular series such as Metal Gear and Castlevania. Often crosses over into fighting games, with mixed results.
Krome StudiosAustralian developer, most notable for the Ty the Tasmanian Tiger series and Blade Kitten.
Kronos Digital EntertainmentDevelopment house responsible for a few extremely poor 3D fighters, their experience culminated in girl-on-girl action-adventure series Fear Effect.
KSSKSS Media Entertainment Company

L

Launch AttackAn attack that sets the opponent up for juggle and/or air combo options.
LCDSimplistic LCD, mostly 1-player games. The most well-known manufacturer in the U.S. is Tiger, but dozens of manufacturers are responsible for these games worldwide.
Leap AttackA grounded attack which goes into the air, then back down directly at the opponents location.
Left Kick"Left Kick" button, often notated as "3."
Left Punch"Left Punch" button, often notated as "1."
Level UpCharacters gain strength in different attributes or moves during single play. Saved characters can be used in versus mode.
Licensed ContentAny content whose origins lie outside the realm of gaming, typically in movies, tv shows, or comic books. If you're not interested in seeing licensed content, it can be separated or hidden altogether (...cont'd)
Life RecoveryPlayers can recover some life meter either through regeneration or a universal command.
Light AttackThe weakest attack in any three-attack game that doesn't distinguish Punch/Kick/Slash etc.
Light Shock SoftwareItalian (?) development team, worked on games for the Amiga PC and later MS-DOS.
LightWeight Founded in Tokyo in 1995, LightWeight is credited for developing the Bushido Blade and Kengo series.
LinuxFreely distributed computer operating system released in 1991. Some games were released sporadically over its lifespan, but it only really became a viable platform for gaming circa 2011.
LivesRather than a traditional round-based system, winning a match is done by depleting the opponents stock of "lives."
Lost BoysDutch game company which later became Guerrilla Games, since purchased by Sony and best known for the Killzone franchise.
Low AttackPress the low attack button. For games that assign attack buttons by hit level.
Low Kick
Low PunchPress the low punch button.
LucasArtsThe electronic entertainment wing of George Lucas's massive empire.
LucasfilmThe foundation of George Lucas' empire. Made a whole bunch of films we used to love!

M

MacintoshApple Macintosh, for self-important audio producers and artists
MAHQMecha Anime HQ, indispensable source of mecha art and vital statistics.
http://mahq.net/
Manual ChargingThe super meter can be charged manually by the player, although this action typically leaves your character open to attack.
MarvelKnown eons ago as Timely Comics, it is one of the "big two" mainstream comic book publishers.
Masaki TsuzukiWriter and author of Triangle Heart series and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha.
Masashi KishimotoCreator of the manga "Naruto"
Masashi TanakaMangaka best known for a Gon, known for detailed line art and lack of dialogue
MashRapidly press the following.
Mash EventA mid-battle situation where both players are forced to rapidly mash button(s) against each other.
Master SystemSega's 8-bit system designed to compete with the NES.
MattelKnown primarily for their children's toys, Mattel dabbles in video game consoles on occasion.
Mattrified GamesOne-man show consisting of Matthew DeLucas, an indie dev that sometimes collaborates with others for larger projects.
Medium AttackThe medium attack in any three-attack game that doesn't distinguish Punch/Kick/Slash etc.
Meta InformationMeta information is used to assist in the search features on the site. Once assigned, meta terms can be used to search for games and characters with by less complex means.
Metered SpecialsThe effectiveness of special moves is tied to a meter--moves become less powerful as the meter is drained.
MicroforumRelatively unknown DOS developer, moved into the mobile market in the 2000's.
MicromaniaMinor developer responsible for a handful of releases on Commodore computers.
MicronetSmall-time Genesis and Sega CD developer.
MicrosoftAn American corporation known for developing, licensing, and supporting a wide range of products related to computers. Microsoft entered the game console market with the Xbox in 2001.
Mid AttackPress the mid attack button. For games that assign attack buttons by hit level.
MidwayDeveloper with its roots in arcade games. Once it created the ultra popular Mortal Kombat series, it began riding on its coattails - perhaps a little too much.
MilestoneSmalltime Japanese developer that continued to support NAOMI hardware and the Dreamcast itself long after those formats were largely considered "dead". Known most for their shoot-'em-ups, Milestone ve (...cont'd)
MindscapeA company!
Mirage MediaDeveloper of the Rise of the Robots series.
Mirage StudiosIndependent comic book company, known best for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, until the property was sold to Viacom in 2009.
Mirinae SoftwareMakers of "The Hero".
MobileBlanket term for mobile ("cell") phones. Whether the mobile phone market is the wave of gaming's future or just a load of barely playable crap has yet to be determined.
Monthly Dragon AgeManga publication.
Move
Move ChargeCharge up special moves for a more dramatic effect.
MS-DOSAn operating system for IBM PCs. MS-DOS games may or may not have problems running under Windows.
MSXStandardized PC platform, home to Konami's greatest virgin efforts.
Multiple PlanesA mechanism for artificial Z-movement in 2D games, the action takes place on multiple "planes" which players can travel between at will.

N

NA P.S. TeamDeveloped Shadow Fighter for the Amiga and remain active to this day in the console market.
NamcoMost well-known for arcade games like Pac-Man and Dig Dug. Developed two very popular fighting game series - Soulcalibur and Tekken. Currently within a merger with Bandai, as Namco Bandai games.
Naoko TakeuchiMangaka of Sailor Moon. Married to YuYu Hakusho/Hunter X Hunter mangaka, Yoshihiro Togashi.
NaomiArcade version of Dreamcast hardware, employs proprietary GD-ROM format.
Nasty BrothersMakers of Fight 'N' Jokes
NationalityIdentifies a character's nationality.
NatsumeProlific and generally high-quality developer, although nowadays they're mostly coasting by on Harvest Moon.
Naughty DogKnown today for Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter, once cut their teeth on Way of the Warrior for 3DO.
Naxat SoftJapanese developer.
NCSNCS Masaya, Japanese developer and proud owner of the Ranma 1/2 license for a while.
NearMust be outside of throw range but roughly within/around normal attack range to execute the following.
Neko EntertainmentFrench company.
Neo GeoRefers to both the arcade MVS and home AES versions of the hardware; SNK's ubiquitous arcade workhorse. Max 330 Mega, Pro-Gear Spec.
Neo Geo CDMost, but not all titles on the Neo Geo were ported to this more affordable but slightly less than perfect home system.
Neo Geo PocketSNK's brief expedition in handheld gaming, released in b/w and color variations.
NetherRealm StudiosSubsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment, made up of the former employees of Midway's Chicago office that remained at the time of WB's purchasing of the rights of Midway's properties.
NeutralAllow joystick to return to the neutral position.
Neverhood Inc.A short-lived video game developer named after their first game, the critically-acclaimed adventure game, The Neverhood. Boombots, was their third and last title before they went out of business.
NewKidCoDeveloper of a bunch of lame childrens' games based on properties that are older than Jesus.
N-GageNokia's side-talkin', taco phone of a blunder.
Nico GalisOne-person seal under which just one game was finished, although some progress had been reached with other projects.
Nintendo
Nintendo 3DSThe successor to the DS, it has two screens and 3D graphics.
Nintendo 64Released in 1996 with 64-bits and a cartridge format, it failed to make a huge impact, but being a Nintendo system, was able to ride on the waves of fanboys.
Nintendo DSIn many ways, the successor to the Gameboy Advance, despite what Nintendo says. Like the Game & Watch games of yore, it has two screens. It also has touch screen capabilities and a built-in microphone (...cont'd)
Nintendo DSiWareDownloadable games for Nintendo's DSi platform.
Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe long reign of Nintendo's console king was winding down just as Street Fighter 2 hit the big time. As such, very few fighters found their home there, if you don't count Hong Kong bootlegs.
NitroplusEroge visual novel company, known for their collaboration with @term=typemoon_comp@ to create the light novel series, Fate/zero. @term=5pb_comp@ has also collaborated in publishing some games to home (...cont'd)
No BlockingThis most basic staple of fighting game defense is not available.
No Mirror MatchesMultiple players cannot select the same character during a given match.
Noise FactorySubsidiary of SNK Playmore, they assisted on a few SNK properties, but also gave a shot at Rage of the Dragons and a couple of Power Instinct titles.
Notation
NRFGame Studio NRF, a doujin developer.

O

Ocean SoftwareFamous for often buying the rights to make video games from different movie and television franchises, they were ultimately acquired by Infogrames in 1998 and renamed to Infogrames UK.
Office KoukanJapanese developer active in the late 80's and early 90's. Most of their games were published by Shouei System and Victor Entertainment.
One True Game StudiosKeits
Opponent DownOpponent must be in knocked down state to execute the following.
OpusDeveloper mainly of UFC titles, recently branched out into somewhat more conventional fighting games.
OrPerform the preceding, or the following.
OSP EntertainmentFrench-Canadian PC development company. Released their entire catalog on one disc or digital download in 2009.
Otto WaalkesGerman comedian, best known simply as "Otto". Created a cartoon series called the "Ottiphants", in which Karate Phants is a spin-off of.
Outback/D.A.S.T.Some kind of collaboration (??) between companies which haven't since surfaced in the fighting world.

P

Panda EntertainmentBased in Taiwan, produced five DOS games in the early 1990s. Sango Fighter was their only title to be released in the USA. Besides Sango 1, 2, and Tough Guy, they released two beat 'em ups and a Sup (...cont'd)
PandadanpaDoujin group responsible for the visual novel Magical Girl Kirara and Sarara.
Paradox DevelopmentThe brains behind the ill-fated Thrill Kill and later the non-Capcom X-Men fighters.
Paragon SoftwareKnown best for some old Marvel comics computer based games. Now makes some stuff on cell phones.
Parent
PC-98The NEC PC-9801, Japanese line of personal computer.
PDW:HotapenA doujin circle persisting of Kotani, Umezono, and Shinza, all who are former SNK employees.
Personal
PersonalityReferring to a characters personality (poses, dialogue, etc).
PGMPolygame Master, a Neo Geo MVS-like arcade cartridge unit developed by IGS.
Phantom CardDeveloper of Catfight
Pipeworks SoftwareDevelopers mostly of licensed games, including many starring Godzilla.
PlatformVideo game hardware systems on which fighting games have been developed.
PlayabilityThe method in which a character is (or is not) selected in a game.
Playable CharacterA regular member of the cast selectable from the start.
Player DownWhile player is in a knockdown state.
PlaymatesPublisher of the PC version of Battle Arena Toshinden, they couldn't keep their hands out of it and added Earthworm Jim as a hidden character. Their game publishing wing has since closed, but they are (...cont'd)
PlaystationAfter their contract with Nintendo was rendered null and void, the Playstation was changed from a Super Nintendo add-on into a fully-fledged CD-based platform. Very popular for 2D and 3D fighters, eve (...cont'd)
Playstation 2The obvious successor to the Playstation, the PS2 brought more of what made its predecessor popular. Home to hundreds of well-loved franchises, and more fighting games than you can handle.
Playstation 3Unlike its predecessors, gamers on the whole have failed to warm up to the PS3. Likely factors include being ludicrously expensive, the removal of proper backwards compatibility in later models, and l (...cont'd)
Playstation NetworkAvailable in downloadable form on the Playstation 3.
Playstation PortableMore commonly known as PSP, it's circa a PlayStation 2 in terms of power. Runs on mini-discs called UMDs, which were also a failed movie format. An upgrade called PSP Go!, which removes the UMD slot a (...cont'd)
PlayStation VitaSony's second handheld console.
PlaystyleRefers to how the character or game is actually played / controlled.
PlotlineIdentifies a character's background or plot details.
Pointfive ProjectsMakers of the Battle High games.
PokejedservoDATA UNKNOWN
PokeshoAnimation/cleanup artist for the Pokémon anime series; developed her own doujin Pokémon fighter on the side.
Polygon MagicA Japanese company that started small-time in 1996 and became more prolific as time went on.
PolygramApparently a subdivision of the recording label, "Polygram Magic of Japan" made only a few Playstation titles before disappearing into even further obscurity.
power-upPress the button which allows your character to charge his or her ki/chi/inner strength/super meter/etc.
Precision DefenseInvolving precise timing and risk, defense becomes more effective.
ProjectileRefers to projectile moves or other character expulsions.
Projectile DeflectionWith skillful timing, projectile attacks can be deflected back to their senders by blocking.
Projectile DestructionAttacks or other methods to nullify projectiles.
PsikyoFounded by former Video System employees, Psikyo (like their parent company) developed mainly mahjong and shoot 'em up arcade titles, but made a few forays into the fighting arena.
PunchPress the "punch" button (for games with only one punch button).
Punch 1The weakest punch available, "Jab" strength in Capcom terminology.
Punch 2A medium ("Strong") strength punch, typically only available in six-button games.
Punch 3The strongest punch available. "Fierce" in Capcom terms.
Pursuit AttackA special command to attack a downed opponent when they would be otherwise untouchable.
Push BlockWhile actively blocking attacks, the player may enter a command to cause the opponent to be pushed back some distance.

Q

Quarter Circle BackA thumb slide or quick movement from down to backward.
Quarter Circle Back to DownA thumb slide or quick movement from backward to down.
Quarter Circle ForwardA thumb slide or quick movement from down to forward.
Quarter Circle Forward to DownA thumb slide or quick movement from forward to down.
Quick PressThe following must be performed immediately after the preceding.

R

RacdymDeveloper responsible for the godlike Trap Gunner (and some fighting games). Later changed their name to "Racjin" apparently so the Japanese could pronounce it more easily.
Rage GaugeA meter that fills when characters take damage. Attacks will receive bonus damage proportional to the amount of "rage" built up. At full strength, super moves may be available. A full bar will retu (...cont'd)
Rapid AttackAn attack which strikes indefinately if mashed
RareU.K. developer that started out with multiplatform releases, but really came into their own when they became a second party developer for Nintendo. Currently a second party developer for Microsoft, al (...cont'd)
RecognitionThe true heroes of Fight-A-Base. Maybe not the blood or brains, but at least the kidneys or tibia.
Reddish RegionDoujin developer
Rei no MonoDoujin developer?
ReleaseRelease a held button or direction.
Renaissance PicturesCreator of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.
RenegadeEuropean developer of computer games, best known for the Sensible Soccer series.
RenovationNorth American subsidiary of Telenet Japan, it was acquired by Sega in 1993.
Reverge LabsAmerican independent developer formed from the ashes of Pandemic Studios.
Reverse Dragon PunchPerform a "reverse dragon punch" motion with the joystick -- back, down, down-back.
Right Kick"Right Kick" button, often notated as "4."
Right Punch"Right Punch" button, often notated as "2."
Right StuffJapanese software company
Ring OutPossible to win by knocking your opponent out of the ring, as an alternative to depleting their health bar.
Ring Out ReturnCharacters are able to grasp a ring edge and pull themselves back in from certain doom.
Rival (Hatred)Spitting black emnity
RollAn ability which typically consists of rolling forward or back a short distance while avoiding any attacks. Vulnerable to throws.
Roman CancelBy expending a resource, players can cancel the recovery of a move.
RumicSoftDeveloper of the Ranma 1/2 Battle Renaissance.
Rumiko TakahashiCreator of Ranma 1/2 and later (sadly) Inuyasha.
[gameplay]RunA fast form of forward movement where the player has full control over distance travelled. More often than not, games with Run use backdash as the backwards form of fast movement.
[notation]RunPress the "run" button.
Rush AttackAn attack that quickly travels across the area in a straight line.
R-ZoneTiger Electronics' first foray into handheld gaming systems.

S

Saban EntertainmentFounded by Egyptian businessman Haim Saban, they are known for importing anime and transforming the Japanese tokusatsu series Super Sentai into the Power Rangers for Western consumption.
SaffireThe brains behind game ports and original titles, founded by Sculptured Software co-founder, Hal Rushton.
Same StrengthFollowing buttons must be of the same strength, ie Jab+Short, Strong+Forward, Fierce+Roundhouse.
SammyParent company of Arc System Works.
SantaclausDeveloper behind Astra Superstars, splinter group from Sunsoft. Now seemingly focused on iPhone crap, but judging by their website, they still seem mighty proud of Astra.
SaturnSega's 2D powerhouse. Thanks to a cartridge slot for RAM expansion is home to many "arcade perfect" fighting ports.
SaurusMostly known for porting old SNK games onto newer consoles. Also released Ragnagard.
ScarabThe developers of Survival Arts (albeit uncredited), Battle Monsters and Killing Zone. Has also made a select few other games, such as Atomic Robo-Kid and Dyna Gear.
SegaFormer console maker, now develops and publishes games for multiple platforms. Most well known in fighting game circles for Eternal Champions, Virtua Fighter, Fighting Vipers, and a Sonic the Hedgehog (...cont'd)
Sega 32XA mushroom-shaped add-on for the Genesis. Slid into the Genesis' cartridge slot, it runs on 32-bit cartridges. While a few decent games were released for the system, developers and consumers were lean (...cont'd)
Sega CDA CD-ROM attachment for Sega Genesis, it was touted as revolutionary, but its library was crammed full of lousy FMV games. Few titles actually used the hardware to its fullest, and thus, it got mostly (...cont'd)
SelectSoftPublishing company responsible for budget titles.
Semicom A Korean game company who released SD-Fighters.
SettingRefers to the locale or era of a game.
Shaba GamesActivision branch that makes mostly "extreme" sports titles, also attempted a Shrek fighting game (SuperSlam).
Shigeru MizukiManga author of merit, but better known as the #1 authority on Japanese ghosts, monsters, and demons.
Shonen AceManga publication.
Shonen JumpNo disrespect to the original authors, but man there are a lot of different writers involved in Jump Superstars.
Shonen MagazineA manga collective that started on March 17, 1959 - the same day as their rivals, Shonen Sunday.
Shonen SundayA manga collective that started on March 17, 1959 - the same day as their rivals, Shonen Magazine.
Short JumpCharacters are able to execute a shorter than usual jump, usually by quickly tapping an upwards direction.
Shotaro IshinomoriInfluential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu. His more popular works include Cyborg 009, Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and Kikaider.
SiblingCharacters are brother or sister to one another.
SiecoKorean developer, mostly produced terrible ripoffs of popular games and bad ports. Some legit releases came out under their banner, however.
SierraFounded in 1979 as On-Line Systems, by Ken and Roberta Williams, Sierra is best known early on for their graphic adventure series. Through a series of acquisitions, expanded to other genres as well. S (...cont'd)
Sigmatek Entertainment
SilmarilsFrench game developer most active on home computers in the late 80s and early 90s.
SimsFrequent collaborator with Sega, their specialty is fishing games.
SlashPress the "slash" button (for games with only one slash button).
Slash 1First-level strength slash attack.
Slash 2Second-level strength slash attack.
Slash 3Third (hardest) level slash attack.
SnapDragon GamesGerman developer mostly acquainted with PC games. Boldly venturing to downloadable content for consoles.
SNKCurrently known as SNK Playmore. One of the most well-known names in fighting games, SNK is famous for repeatedly going out of business, only to be miraculously resurrected a short time later. Oh, and (...cont'd)
Sof Try Game Production
SoftstarMakers of Violent Fighter.
SolanPublisher of Fighting Eyes
Solus GamesIndie developer, responsible for the "Funky" game series (Funky Punch/XL, FunkyHOOPS, Funky Moves).
SonyReleased their ultra-popular PlayStation console after Nintendo publicly shamed them by backing out of a contract. Published and developed titles range from "OMG AWESOME!!!" to "meh".
SouthPeak GamesSouthPeak Games (aka SouthPeak Interactive) is a videogame publisher founded in 1996.
Special ButtonPress the "special" button.
Special MovesA more effective type of move that requires a special combination of button and/or directional inputs to execute.
Speed SelectPlayers can drastically speed up or slowdown the pace of battle.
SpikeDeveloper of the Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi (aka "Sparking") series of games. Also the venerable Firepro Wrestling series but that's neither here nor there.
Square-EnixFormerly Squaresoft, merged with its ex-rival Enix (hence "Squenix"). Square was at one time partnered with Electronic Arts as Square-EA.
Squaresoft is best known as an RPG developer, but for what (...cont'd)
Stage FatalitiesThe ability to send your foe to a gruesome fate at (or as) the conclusion to a battle.
Stage TransitionsPlayers can travel (often forcibly) from one region of the arena to another with different dimensions or conditions.
StancePress the "stance change" button.
Stance ChangeAll characters are able to shift stances, allowing for altered normals.
StartPress the start button.
Steal a MoveAfter defeating an opponent, you can learn one of their special moves, Megaman style.
Stealth StateA character becomes invisible or otherwise cloaked for a period of time or until struck by an opponent.
StrataShort-lived arcade developer.
Street Fighter GalleriesHome to many sprite rips and rare arts from the Street Fighter (and Darkstalkers) series'. Run by Slateman. http://www.sfgalleries.net
Stress ScreamPlayer is invulnerable but immobile for a moment while 'rage' is vented upon filling a super meter.
Striker CharacterCharacter that participates only as an assist, cannot be regularly selected / operated.
StrikersPossible to call in other characters as support attackers.
String MoveA series of basic moves initiated by sequential button presses.
Studio 3Originally known as System 3, this UK developer has been responsible for the development of every game in the International Karate series.
Studio GiganteDevelopment studio pioneered by Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias. They made Tao Feng and a wrestling game, then died.
Studio ZanSmall-time Japanese developer.
Stun AttackA single blow which leaves the opponent disabled momentarily
Stun GaugeA character's progression towards a "dizzy" state is visible on-screen.
Stun TargetsCharacters have unique locations (commonly indicated by a signature clothing item or accessory) that must be struck to cause stun. A weakened target will begin to flash when it's about to break.
Style SelectCharacters have two or more "modes" which consist of substantially different movelists.
Subtle StyleJapanese doujin developer.
SuccessBest known in the olden days for the Cotton series of shumps, now seeing a major resurgence shovelling out software for the DS.
SuccessorIrreversible advancement / evolution / transformation of a character. Generally brought upon by aging, death, magic, merging, etc.
Sudden DeathA match is not instantly decided when time is up; rather some other variable occurs to hurry the players up.
SunAApparently Korean company who specialize in kind-of-but-not-really bootlegs using stolen and reworked sprites but original gameplay. Their one fighting effort, Best of Best, is at least non-plagiarize (...cont'd)
SunsoftLong-time developer, turned their sights to fighting games to create a humorous and increasingly unorthodox "trilogy."
Super A'CanA 16-bit console released by Funtech Entertainment in Taiwan, in 1995. Noteworthy only for its terrible port of Sango Fighter that was reportedly coded by a single member of Panda Entertainment with a (...cont'd)
Super Arts SelectBefore the match, players select an "active" super from a list of several.
Super CancelAbility to cancel super attacks into other super attacks without the use of a "custom combo" type mode.
Super CrouchCharacters can crouch extremely low to the ground to avoid fireballs.
Super DefenseA form of defense that nullifies all tick damage at the cost of super meter.
Super Desperation MovesA technique involving both super meter and life meter requirements.
Super JumpCharacters can make a more dramatic leap than normal, commonly by pressing the joystick in a downwards direction just before executing the jump.
Super MeterDetails vary widely from game to game, but in general a meter filled by various actions that can be expended for enhanced special moves.
Super ModeInstead of super "move", players can use their meter to activate a super "mode" of play that alters character moves, parameters, or other conditions.
Super MovesA move that bears an additional cost or other requirements to execute.
Super NES16 bit successor to the Nintendo Entertainment System. Now you're playing with power, Super Power.
SuperBot EntertainmentUpstart developer tapped by Sony to develop PlayStation All-Stars.

T

TagPress the "tag" button.
Tag BattleBattles take place between teams of two or more characters, players may "tag out" and change the active character.
Tag/Team MoveMoves only applicable in certain tag or other team based situations.
TaitoJapanese developer of video game software and arcade hardware. The word Taito (pronounced "TIE-toe") is chinese character contraction of "Jew of far east". Taito also imports and distributes American (...cont'd)
TakaraJapanese toy vending juggernaut and former console porter of Neo Geo fighting games.
TakaseDoujin game developer responsible for the development of Arm Joe.
TakiOnly responsible for two titles, both on the Playstation and both Japan-exclusive (Battle Master, a fighter, and Acid, some kind of puzzle-shooter).
TamsoftDeveloper of the Toshinden series of games, often had their limelight stolen entirely by publisher Takara.
Tarsier StudiosA Swedish game developing company, Tarsier Studios was responsible for the remake of the original Rag Doll Kung Fu, known as Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic.
TatsunokoAnime studio started in 1962 that has many well-known series under its belt, including Mach Go! Go! Go! (Speed Racer), Time Bokan, Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman, and Chou Jiku Yosai Macross.
Tatung EinsteinTaiwanese/British computer system that flopped in both venues. Still semi-popular for indie games.
Taunt (benefit)Taunting is beneficial to you in some way, either by causing an increase in your own ability (attack parameters/power meter, etc) or reducing your opponent's.
Taunt (detriment)Taunting results in a handicap to yourself, either a reduction of your own ability (reduced parameters/meter, discarded weapon, etc) or an increase in the opponents' ability. Lower yourself to their l (...cont'd)
Taunt (no effect)Tease or entice your opponent (no real effect on gameplay).
TDK MediactiveMakes a bunch of licensed crap that nobody plays.
TeacherHas imparted some or all of their fighting prowess upon another.
Team BattleBattles take place in elimination format between teams of two or more characters. Between rounds, some or all of the winner's life may be refilled.
Team17Long standing developer with Amiga / PC roots. Known these days for the Worms series of combat strategy games.
Tech RollAn escape roll that can be performed by a knocked-down character as soon as he hits the ground.
Technical Group Laboratory
TechniqueAn archetypal move or technique found in character moveslists.
TechnosBest known for rocking the beat 'em up genre, Technos regardless made a few unsuccessful attempts at the fighting game.
TechnoSoftJapanese company that was very active during the 90's. It's mostly known for the Thunder Force shoot 'em up series.
TecmoLegendary arcade developers from the 80's, responsible for the "Dead or Alive" games. Now merged with Koei.
TencentFounded in 1998, Tencent is China's largest holder of internet and mobile services. Tencent has both licensed foreign games (most notably from South Korea) and games produced domestically.
TerminologyA term used in the Fight-A-Base.
TGLDeveloper of some Variable Geo versions.
The Real OlogramItalian company which just released one game at the end of Amiga's commercial life.
The SAliases: The Ninjinister, Ninji, Ninjizzler, The Reverend
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 6/11/1985
Birthplace: Lakewood, WA, U.S.A.
Height: 5' 9"
Weight:< (...cont'd)
ThemeA thread of design or inspiration that a game subscribes to.
ThenDo the preceding and following seperately.
Thomson TO7French microcomputer used in almost every school in that country back in the '80's. Apparently also plays games, including a couple of old versus fighters.
Three KicksPress all three kick buttons
Three PunchesPress all three punch buttons.
ThrowPress the Throw button.
Throw EscapeCharacters posess the ability to escape from a throw, taking no damage.
Throw MovesThrowing, slamming, and other grapple type moves used at close range. Can often be escaped or outright reversed.
Throw ReversalsAllows players to reverse being thrown and perform one of their own.
Throw SoftenPlayers posess the ability to recover from being thrown and reduce damage taken.
TiertexMakes mobile phone games and accessories these days, but in days past, were mostly responsible for rubbish ports, with the occasional terrible original release.
TiranoKorean developer responsible for SD-Fighters
Titan SportsProperty holders of the World Wrestling Entertainment brand, formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation.
Titus Titus was a long-running French software publisher and developer founded in 1985 and closed its doors in 2005. Fighting games published by Titus include Evil Zone and Barbarian.
TKO SoftwareMostly known for their work on PC and mobile phone games.
Todd McFarlaneProminent member of the comic book industry and creator of all things Spawn.
Toei AnimationPublisher of games based on their own licenses, sub-developer "Shouei" did most of the actual work.
TohoOne of Japan's most globally recognized film studios, Toho is best known for Kurosawa films, various anime projects, the horror film Ringu, and the king of monsters himself, Godzilla. Toho also produc (...cont'd)
Tom CreateTom Create Co., Ltd. a Japanese video game developer specializing on licensed anime games.
Tomoaki SugenoA single programmer, illustrator, and former ex-Capcom employee responsible for developing the game Vanguard Princess.
TomyKnown as Takara-Tomy in Japan; makes the Naruto: Clash of Ninja series while rival Bandai-Namco makes the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series.
Toshiba EMIMusic production company, somehow got involved with developing Battle Master.
TradewestAmerican publisher of all things Technos, took matters into their own hands with Double Dragon V.
TreasureJapanese development house founded by ex-Konami employees in 1992. Everything they touch is required to become the darling of all "truly old-school hardcore."
TribecaShort-lived developer.
TribeToyIndependent developer consisting of three people - two gals and a guy. Their first venture was December 2010's "Chu's Dynasty".
Tsuburaya ProductionsProduction company responsible for Ultraman.
Turbo CDCD-ROM hardware expansion for NEC's Turbografx 16 (USA)/PC Engine (Japan).
TurboGrafx-16NEC's not-quite-16-bit home console.
Turner PropertiesParent company of a lot of stuff, including Cartoon Network. Owned by media mogul Ted Turner.
Twelve InteractiveItalian development collective.
Twilight FrontierAKA Tasogare Frontier or Tasofro for short, a Japanese "doujin" software developer.
Two AttacksPress any two attack buttons simultaneously.
Two KicksPress any two or both kick buttons.
Two PunchesPress both/any 2 punch buttons simultaneously.
Type-MoonVisual novel company, creator of Fate/Stay Night and Tsukihime, which have inspired several doujin and commercial fighting games.

U

UbisoftBest known for games like Rayman, Assassin's Creed, and the more recent Prince of Persia games.
UkemiCan negate or reduce knockdows with moves timed to your landing.
Unblockable AttackGenerally requires an excessive amount of startup / recovery in exchange for being completely unblockable.
UnicoArcade developer adept at producing bizarre knockoffs of more popular games. Korean?
Unlockable CharacterA regular member of the cast who is not initially selectable.
Unlockable MovesAdditional moves can be added to the default character moves lists by way of additional game modes or other unlocking schemes.
UpPress up
Up BackwardPress up and away from opponent simultaneously.
Up CloseExecute within touching distance of the opponent.
Up ForwardPress up and toward the opponent simultaneously.

V

Vermillion EntertainmentShort-lived company whose only released game was a wannabe-Soul Calibur for PC.
ViccomSoftware developer responsible for Fight Fever.
Virgin InteractiveProminent UK developer, now mostly just publishes Capcom releases for that territory.
Visco GamesCurrently focused on slot machines, Visco released a couple of games on Nintendo systems and a handful on Neo Geo.
VisualRelating to the visual presentation or style of a game.
Visual ConceptsA game developer known primarily for their 2K sports games, but dabbled other genres (including fighting games) in the 90s.
VivendiFormerly known as Vivendi Universal. Started out in France as a water company in the 1800's.
Vivid ImageEuropean development house originally known for Amiga titles, created original GBA fighter Dual Blades.
VridgeJapanese developer.

W

Waggle StickMove the joystick rapidly in as many directions as possible.
Wake Up OptionsAbility to remain grounded after a knockdown and rise or "wake" up with universal attack or escape moves.
Wall AttackCharacter utilizes the "walls" of the arena to deliver an attack.
WallsCharacters fight in environments where the surrounding walls can be used to assist in pummeling their foes.
Warner Bros.Major film studio, subsidiary of Time Warner.
Wave ProjectileA projectile that continues its path even after making contact.
WayForward TechnologiesDeveloper best known for their 2D games, often with well-animated, colorful sprites and pleasing gameplay.
Weapon RequiredThis move requires you to be in possession of your weapon.
Weapon TagsIdentifies any weapons or accessories utilized in game.
Webfoot TechnologiesSmall time shareware company from the '90's. Broke it big when they were tapped to develop some DragonBall Z games for the Game Boy Advance, then disappeared in 2005 after releasing some non-DBZ relat (...cont'd)
When HitPerform the following while being hit by an attack.
While BlockingInput must be performed when blocking an attack.
While RunningThe move must be performed while running.
WiiReleased in late 2006, Nintendo's Wii combines previous generation graphics with extreme controller waving action.
Wii UNintendo's high-definition follow-up to the Wii. Incorporates a tablet-like controller.
Wii U ShopDownloadable games for Nintendo's Wii U. Includes Virtual Console releases.
WiiWare/Virtual ConsoleAvailable in downloadable form on the Nintendo Wii.
WindowsThe Microsoft Windows operating system, from 95 to XP and beyond.
Witch CraftA developer created by ex-Media Vision staff lead, Akifumi Kaneko of Wild Arms fame.
WolfteamFormer Telenet Japan subsidiary, now defunct.
WonderswanBandai's surprisingly long-lived (albeit Japan-only) portable system and its color counterpart, Wonderswan Color.

X

Xīn YìAKA New Art. Taiwanese developer
X68000The Sharp X68000 (often abbreviated X68 or X68k), a Japanese home computer first released in 1987.
XavierBefreeAliases: Wiige, Ace, Lt. Lion
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 01/24/1990
Birthplace: Tacoma, WA, U.S.A.
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 320 lbs.
Hair Color: (...cont'd)
XboxA large, lumpy brick of a console, it weighs more than Earthquake and Ganryu combined. Virtually ignored until someone started hyping the two-year-old-at-the-time Halo. Home to some SNK titles exclusi (...cont'd)
Xbox 360Significantly less chunky and more popular than its predecessor, the 360 excels in areas such as superior online play setup and its sheer avalanche of first person shooter games... but still has a lou (...cont'd)
Xbox Live ArcadeAvailable in downloadable form on the Xbox or Xbox 360.
Xbox OneDespite the name Xbox One is Microsoft's third console.

Y

Yeounwoo SoftKorean MS-DOS developer?!
Yoshihiro TogashiOriginal creator of long-running manga/anime series Yuu Yuu Hakusho.
YudetamagoPen name of the Japanese mangaka duo consisting of story writer Takashi Shimada and artist Yoshinori Nakai, creators of Kinnikuman.
Yugo IshikawaMangaka and author of Fighting Beauty Wulong
Yuke'sPrimarily a developer of wrestling titles, but responsible for the 3D fighter "Evil Zone."
Yuki EnterpriseJapanese developer whose experience prior to making Samurai Shodowns 5 and 5 Special was limited entirely to console versions of board games. Began developing Arcana Heart on their own before dissolvi (...cont'd)
YutakaJapanese company in the 1990's, released mostly anime-based titles.

Z

ZeeboA console released in Brazil by TecToy, who are best known for their continued officially licensed support of Sega's Master System and Genesis/Mega Drive.
Zeppelin GamesZeppelin Games is a British company that focused in producing games for the 8 bit computers, but also made some titles for 16 bit computers and even consoles.
ZoomJapanese developer with few titles, but touching all genres. Created Zero Divide 1 and 2.
ZX SpectrumAn 8-bit home computer released by Sinclair Research, Ltd., primarily in the UK.
ZyXA Japanese erotic bishoujo video game maker. Localized in North America on J-List under the G-Collections label, and features art by Masahiro Yamane and Keiji Muto.