Game over

Game over ( German The game is over or just playing ) is in many computer games at game end the message to the players.

History

The short sentence is. Known primarily for arcade games and their implementations on home computers, especially in the 1980s Already the first arcade game with microprocessor, Gun Fight ( 1975), had the game -over screen. Also, there was this in games with vector graphics. The exact origin is probably no longer be ascertained. In 1950 there was a patent of a pinball machine, which indicated the end of the game by a lamp. Maybe it was also previously used in mechanical and electromechanical arcade games as such with backlit displays or simple panels with this or similar text.

At the beginning of its use featured game over the end of the game, regardless of whether the player won or not. Many of today's computer games provide, however, upon successful completion of extensive game video sequences and end credits, during Game over informs the player's failure.

Do not ever had the demise of the character or the player's failure immediately lead to a game over. Expedients were extra life found during the game, or, especially in pinball machines, high scores or difficult game combinations earned credits.

On arcade and pinball game over was often shown when no one played, mostly middle and flashing, but not constantly. In general, short game sections or parts of the last match were displayed, some with noise to attract customers ( attract mode).

In connection with this part, there is also a continue function, may be re- enabled after playing a game over with the announced end of the game after coin. For PC and console games, however, the free or automated save the save game ( savegame ) allows the game after a game over.

Phrase

The term has gained with the increasing popularity of computer games and their relevance outside of the gaming community. He is colloquially used to refer to an abrupt end, similar to that which may befall the player character in a computer game.

• ... Game over man! Game over! - Bill Paxton as Pvt. Hudson in Aliens - The Return

• Game Over! - Jigsaw, and ( later) his helpers in the Saw series to the most recent victim.

• The title of the German edition of the novel by Philip Kerr is Gridiron Game over. It describes how the intelligent control of a building turns against the people, after it was contaminated with a computer game program.