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Games - Terms
API
Application programming interface
An API is a series of functions that programs can use to make the operating system do
their dirty work. Using Windows APIs, for example, a program can open windows, files, and
message boxes--as well as perform more complicated tasks--by passing a single instruction.
Windows has several classes of APIs that deal with telephony, messaging, and other issues.
AVI
Audio-video interleave
Bandwidth
In a general sense, bandwidth describes information-carrying capacity. It's used to
describe the capacity of telephone or network wiring, as well as the amount of data that
can travel across system buses, radio frequency signals, and monitors.
CODEC
Compression/decompression algorithm
Multimedia files are often very large. Unless you reduce their size, sound and video files
clog up hard disks and suck up your computer's bandwidth. The techniques used to reduce
file sizes are called codecs. Codecs convert the analog sound or video information at the
file creation end and decode the digital data at the playback end. (If you download a file
that you can't play, it's probably because your playback software doesn't support the
codec.)
Direct Play
Microsoft's networking venture into the gaming world. DirectPlay will offer multiple
client- and server-side software tools for game developers, Internet service providers,
and proprietary gaming services. DirectPlay has three major software components:
DirectPlay, Server, and Service Provider.
Latency
Latency determines the speed of the connection. It is also refers to the time it takes for
a data packet to move across a network connection.
MUD
Multiplayer user domain. Text based strategy gameplay.
Multicasting
When you send out data (like television or radio programming) to anyone who cares to tune
in, it's broadcasting. When you send out data (such as your voice on a Web phone) to a few
receivers you've identified and selected, it's called multicasting.
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