This glossary of terms should help familiarize you with words, phrases, and abbreviations I use on this site. It is not extensive but should cover any terms that might be unfamiliar or confusing.

These are the game system acronyms that this site uses to refer to the various game systems (hand-held and console) that are involved in some way with Mega Man.

3DS

Nintendo 3DS. It’s like a 3-D DS. Literally, due to the screens, though the 3-D gives me eyestrain, so I always turn it off. At that point it’s just a DS with better 3-D hardware. Note that I’m pretty sure the 2DS is the same as the 3DS except for the screens.

DC

Dreamcast. Sega’s DOA system number 27. I’m just kidding.

GB

Game Boy. Currently the highest-selling video game system ever. Comes in lots of variations, but nearly all games are compatible with all versions of Game Boys. Note that on this site, I often use the term “Game Boy” to refer generically to any of the various Game Boy systems (GB, GBC, GBA, etc.). However, in actual system lists on the Game Hints pages, a “GB” listing means the game is a simple black & white Game Boy game. Anything else will be specifically marked as such.

GBA

Game Boy Advance. Basically an enhanced portable SNES. One of the only systems in existence that is backwards-compatible. (It even plays Game Boy Color games...in color!)

GBC

Game Boy Color. A slightly enhanced version of the original Game Boy. Plays black & white games as well. Not as powerful as the Game Boy Advance. (Note that Game Boy Color games are different than Super Game Boy (SGB) games. SGB games play in color only on a Super Game Boy device. GBC games, on the other hand, play in color on either a GBC or on a GBA. Also, GBC games generally have more colors available to them; SGB games tend to be somewhat monochrome even in color.)

GCN

Nintendo GameCube. Or “GameCube Nintendo,” judging from the acronym...

GEN

Sega Genesis. Competed with the SNES for a while.

GG

Sega Game Gear. A color portable that eats batteries for breakfast and then wants a main course.

iOS

I use this shortcut in some places to denote mobile games that run on various Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, iPod, and so on.

N64

Nintendo 64. Back when everyone was naming things by number.

NDS

Nintendo DS. Basically a Game Boy Advance with two screens, one on each side of the flip-fold case. It can do 3-D though, whereas a GBA can’t, so in that sense I suppose it’s more like a portable N64.

NES

Nintendo Entertainment System. This is the home video game console on which Mega Man debuted.

NGPC

Neo-Geo Pocket Color. A quality hand-held similar to the Game Boy Color. Created by SNK, who yanked their systems from all non-Japanese markets only a short time after the NGPC’s release.

NS

Nintendo Switch. I don’t actually know what the official abbreviation for this one is.

PC

Personal computer. Curiously, most people use “PC” to mean a machine running some flavor of Windows, even though the phrase “personal computer” is a lot more broad than that. On the other hand that is mostly applicable on this site since typically Mega Man PC games are released for Windows platforms. (In recent years, a “PC” platform marking typically means Steam.)

PS2

Sony PlayStation 2. The name says it all. (It’s even backwards-compatible with the PSX.)

PS3

Sony PlayStation 3. It’s a PlayStation. With a three.

PS4

Sony PlayStation 4. Hey, at least their numbering system makes more sense than the XBox’s.

PSN

PlayStation Network (or sometimes “PlayStation Now”). This is my shortcut when a game is available across multiple systems on Sony’s online network.

PSP

Sony’s PlayStation Portable. One of the most expensive hand-held game systems known to man. Also devours its battery charge like a starving rhino, and has difficulties waking up from sleep mode. It has a nice screen, though.

PSV

Sony PlayStation Vita. Their new portable system.

PSX

Sony PlayStation (the first one). The “X” is arbitrary. (These days I believe they refer to it as the “PSOne” but I’m sticking with its original designation for legacy reasons.)

SAT

Sega Saturn. Comparable to the PSX, but generally better at 2-D.

SGB

Super Game Boy. The Super Game Boy was a device which allowed one to play Game Boy games on his Super Nintendo. Games which were created with the Super Game Boy in mind contained extra enhancements such as color palettes and border graphics. However they work just fine in regular Game Boy systems as well. (Note that Super Game Boy games are different than Game Boy Color (GBC) games. GBC games play in color only on a “Game Boy Color” game system or on a GBA; they do not play in color in a Super Game Boy.)

SNES

Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Basically the NES’s big brother.

Wii

Nintendo Wii. Most famous for its Wiimote.

WiiU

Nintendo Wii U (we you?). Most of the Mega Man games released on this are ports downloadable via its eShop.

WS

WonderSwan. A hand-held system only available in Japan. It’s kind of a step up from a Tiger Toy.

WSC

Wonderswan Color. It’s sort of like a Game Boy Color.

X360

Microsoft’s Xbox 360. The second one. Irony of ironies, under the hood it’s actually a Macintosh.

XBOX

Microsoft’s Xbox. The first one.

XONE

Microsoft’s Xbox One. The third one. Yes, 1 = 3.

Other acronyms and terms that I use on this site.

android

A robot built to look like a human being. Note that this term otherwise says nothing about that robot; it doesn’t specify that the robot can feel emotions, has a personality, or anything. The robot might have these things, but it might not; being called an “android” has nothing to do with it. It merely means the robot has a humanoid body.

anime

Typically the term used for Japanese animation, this word is also sometimes applied to the drawing style these cartoons normally use.

crossover

A plot which involves existing characters that are normally not seen together. For instance, a story in which Mega Man and Mario interact would be a crossover.

DOA

Dead On Arrival. When applied to a console it means the system basically failed to sell well. Several video games systems have been this in the past, primarily due to either inflated prices or lack of developer support. Interestingly enough, as a friend once pointed out to me, Mega Man has not appeared on most of the DOA systems...

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions. This term is used to indicate a listing of common questions about a subject along with their answers. A FAQ is usually posted for the convenience of all parties, so that people can find answers to questions without having to take the time to ask. (Note: some people also use the term “FAQ” to mean game hints pages. For instance, if you see the phrase “Mega Man 7 FAQ” somewhere, this is probably a strategy guide for the game Mega Man 7, not a FAQ.)

FMV

The letters stand for Full Motion Video. The term is used to describe movie files played during games. For example, Mega Man X4 has FMV. Mega Man Legends does not (technically) since it does not use movie files but instead uses real-time rendering for its story scenes.

manga

These are comic books in Japan, though “comic” is a poor word for it; most manga are more along the lines of graphic novels.

“Mega shows”

My term for the Mega Man cartoon shows—the ones that are based on the original series Mega Man. Note that this is just my term; it isn’t official or anything. I just use this phrase because it is faster than saying (or typing) “the Mega Man cartoon shows” all the time.

retired

Died. For some strange reason, the X series refuses the use the word “dead” but instead goes around saying things like “Mavericks are retiring Reploids!” Maybe they are trying to point out that Reploids can’t “die” in the human sense of the word (supposedly), but wouldn’t “destroyed” be a little more accurate of a description?

Rockman

The Mega Man games were first released in Japan under the name “Rockman.” On this site, when I am referring to the Japanese form of Mega Man (such as the Japanese version of a game) I will often use “Rockman” instead of “Mega Man.”

sprite

In the world of computer games, this is the term used for a single and generally movable graphic on the screen. For the most part, the term “sprite” is used for the graphics that represent players and enemies in a game. For example, this is a sprite of Mega Man. (He’s actually made up of several sprites pieced together, but you get the idea.)

Note that all icons also have tooltips which explain their function.

	Up. On the control pad or, in a few cases, the control stick.
	Down. On the control pad or, in a few cases, the control stick.
	Left. On the control pad or, in a few cases, the control stick.
	Right. On the control pad or, in a few cases, the control stick.
	When you see something like this, it simply means to press multiple directions (the ones shown) at the same time.
	A button.
	B button.
	X button. Some Nintendo systems have this, and PlayStation systems use their own variant.
	Y button.
	The Z trigger, usually underneath the controller or on the shoulder. Some Nintendo systems.
	Circle button on PlayStation systems.
	Square button on PlayStation systems.
	Triangle button on PlayStation systems.
	This is the L shoulder button found on some systems.
	This is the R shoulder button found on some systems.
	This is the L1 shoulder button found on PlayStation systems (the one on top).
	This is the R1 shoulder button found on PlayStation systems (the one on top).
	This is the L2 shoulder button found on PlayStation systems (the one on the bottom).
	This is the R2 shoulder button found on PlayStation systems (the one on the bottom).
	The Start button. Usually this is near the center of the controller.
	The Select button. Usually this is near the center of the controller.
	Punch (any)
	Kick (any)
	Hard Punch
	Hard Kick
	Medium Punch
	Medium Kick
	All three punches pressed together
	All three kicks pressed together
	Down / Down-Forward / Forward (Fireball motion)
	Down / Down-Back / Back (reverse Fireball motion)
	Forward / Down / Down-Forward (Dragon Punch motion)

There probably isn’t a single person reading this who needs an explanation of smilies, but I do use my own artwork, so I figured for the sake of completion I’d just go ahead and document which smilies I use for what purpose.

	Standard smilie. It means I’m being silly. Don’t take me too seriously.
	Winking. Hint hint.
	Definitely don’t take me seriously.
	Super happy smile.
	Rough translation of this one is: “Ugh.”
	Otherwise known as “laughing really hard.”