Ask
As Ask [ fræɡ ] (also: Kill , score ) is called in computer games killing a virtual game character . Frag is a substitute for death , as death in computer games is usually not final and players can get back into the game in a timely manner ( spawn ). Usually this term is only used in first-person shooters , especially in the multiplayer mode " Deathmatch ". In this mode, the number of questions won usually determines the position of a player in the leaderboard.
Concept history
The origin of the term lies in the times of the Vietnam War. Fragging described the killing or wounding of own incompetent superiors using a splitter hand grenade (Engl. Fragmentation grenade in short question-grenade or question ) that was thrown at night or during an attack in a tent or a trench. The action was then officially pushed to enemy fire. This extreme measure represented the ultima ratio in order to protect one's own unit from a commander who endangered his subordinates through incompetence or arrogance.
The term later appeared in underground comics such as Lobo and finally found its way into video games as a slang term . This adaptation was probably driven forward by one of the first first-person shooters, id Software's Doom : Here the players, members of a unit of the Marines , could fight each other in an alternative game mode. The killed members of the actually own unit were counted as "Frags". Especially in newer games Ask the word is increasingly "Score" ( Engl. Score substituted) to the games to defuse so slightly. For example, in Unreal Tournament 2003 you could still read “Frags” in the final score, in the successor Unreal Tournament 2004 this was replaced by “Score”.
concept
Frags are counted like points. While you gain points by asking other players, you can lose frags in some games. This happens, for example, when a player kills himself intentionally or accidentally. There may also be deductions for killing members of your own team in team games.
On the other hand, in most game concepts you don't lose any questions if you are killed by another player. This leads to the game theory consequence that you should take part in the fighting if you are not completely inferior to the opponent, because the possible benefit (a question) outweighs the possible damage (lost time and weapons through respawn and a question for the opponent, which may not be first placed).
Special cases
In addition to death by weapons, there are a few other cases:
- Selfkill (rarely: Self-Frag ). Happens when you lower your hit points to zero with one of your own virtual weapons , e.g. B. by throwing a grenade or shooting with a rocket launcher directly in front of you on the ground.
- Falls (either from a great height, falling into space or into dangerous substances) are usually counted as selfkills. However, points can also be credited to the opponent if he shot the player from a platform and was therefore responsible for the fall (e.g. Unreal , Ricochet ).
- Drowning is simulated by continuously deducting hit points from the player after a while under water. If these drop to zero, this is usually counted as a suicide.
- Telefrags are special frags. Usually only one character can be at a certain place at a time, the physical limits of the characters are determined by so-called hit boxes . If these overlap intentionally or unintentionally, one or both characters are killed. Deliberate telefrags play a role especially in Quake and Unreal . The same can also happen when a player “ spawns / respawns” if another player happens to be in the same position. This happens very often, especially on small maps with many players, if the spawn point or a teleporter is not left quickly enough. In all cases, however, the player who first stayed at a corresponding position is virtually killed.
Individual evidence
- ↑ www.doubletongued.org "to kill a character or avatar in an online video game"
- ↑ www.iath.virginia.edu "the assassination of an officer by his own troops, usually be a grenade"