Platformers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A type of video game where players navigate levels by jumping between platforms and avoiding obstacles
  2. Games that often feature character movement, exploration, and collecting items while completing levels set in a scrolling environment
  3. A genre known for its focus on agility and timing as players traverse 2D or 3D space filled with challenges and enemies

Etymology: The term "platformers" emerged in the late 20th century alongside the rise of video gaming culture, specifically referring to a genre of games centered on characters navigating platforms suspended in space. These games require players to jump, climb, and avoid obstacles across various levels, often emphasizing timing and precision. The name is a straightforward derivation from "platform," with the addition of the pluralizing suffix "-ers" to denote participants or entities associated with platforms. "Platform" itself comes from the Old French "plate-forme," literally meaning "flat form," combining "plate" (flat) and "forme" (form or shape). This phrase was used in the 16th century to describe a flat, raised surface such as a stage or terrace. From these physical structures, the term was carried into video game terminology in the 1980s to describe the flat surfaces on which characters move and interact. The suffix "-er" is common in English to indicate someone or something performing an action or associated with a particular thing. In the case of "platformers," it identifies either the games themselves or their players, depending on context. Over time, the term has come to signify not just the physical aspect of the platforms but the entire style and mechanics of the gameplay that revolve around navigating these surfaces. Its usage crystallized as platform games became a dominant genre, with titles like "Super Mario Bros." popularizing the format. The plural form emphasizes the variety and number of such games or players engaged in this genre. Thus, the word encapsulates a specific slice of gaming history, neatly packaging both the environment and the activity into a single, succinct label.

Synonyms: game developers, platform games