i've always referred to different "maps" as "maps".
i think starting back with the rainbow six vegas days, i started hearing people call them "boards". where the hell did that come from??

my dumb thought of the day.

My guess would be that from board games the "gaming board" was the playing field and some could transfer that meaning from board games to video games with maps/levels being just that, the playing field.

Kid I knew from Jersey always called em that.

But they're maps to me. Looks like they're maps in the biz to, hence "Map pack" DLC.

Levels

Stages

Areas

Hookers

gigahertz

I call them "levels" or "stages," but I've got a friend from upstate NY who calls them "boards."

Waves

Waves
Waves back "Hi Joe"

I've always been a "boards" person. Even had someone on here comment on my reference one time, thinking it was a geographical coincidence. Not the case

You must've been pretty board to make this thread! :D:D AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

hahaha...


ha...


Sorry. I'll just go now.

You must've been pretty board to make this thread! :D:D AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

hahaha...


ha...


Sorry. I'll just go now.



http://96lt4.com/smileys/rofl.gif

i think i remember folks calling them boards back in the old arcade days. i remember people asking how many boards i made it through on kangaroo (one of my favorite games as a kid). also i remember people saying "can you make it through every board on donkey kong". yes i'm old.

i'm in arkansas now (god help me) but i was raised in ohio so it may be a regional thing. my days in the arcades were in ohio.

no really from my doom/quake days I call them maps

3D first person = map
2d side = level
2d top down = stage

3D first person = map
2d side = level
2d top down = stage:D

But seriously, you might be on to something, and I'm a sucker for word origins. :cool:

Here's my quick guesswork:

-I'd guess that "boards" is the oldest of the existing terms and applied originally to games with single-screen levels (like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc). Maybe for their visual resemblance to table-top board games.

-"Waves" applies specifically to top-down shooters (like Galaga) and is pretty much obsolete.

-"Stages" traditionally referred to sections of levels. For example you might say "level 1" but "stage 1-2." Games didn't always have levels or stages, so these terms probably developed later than "boards."

-The term "maps" comes specifically from multiplayer FPS games, so its the most recent. Obviously refers to different level layouts and environments.

Now, we're left with three interchangeable words. Boards, levels, stages. I don't think anyone would call SMB's stage 1-4 a "map," so I wouldn't call it a synonym in the same way.

^^^ You missed the new one:

$$$-DLC-$$$

:(

Then we get into the whole narrative-centric and open-world terminology. Missions, episodes, quests, chapters, etc.

maybe this girl can help us
http://www.youtube.com/user/hotforwords?feature=chclk

so I wouldn't call it a synonym in the same way.

Never hear Map 4-2?

:D

I use board for everything. Maybe this is something that started with Nintendo back in the day? Might be geographic too...I live in Pittsburgh, we have our own language here.

Interesting...the guy who commented on my "board" usage was from Pittsburgh too and thought I might be as well. I'm not...but it's interesting to see.

I use board for all games. I even have my kids (6 & 8) saying board. Everytime I walk in and the playing "LEGO something" I always ask them what board they on? Or they tell me they can't the board with "so-and-so".

Oh, I guess I go with boards. It probably dates back to the board game reference when most games had a stationary background similiar to a board game (ie. pac-man, mario bros., donkey kong, popeye, etc.)

I use board for everything. Might be geographic too...I live in Pittsburgh, we have our own language here.

Y'uns certainly do..... :)

I live in Pittsburgh, we have our own language here.
That explains alot about you then. Shitsburgh