Nuke (gaming)
Encyclopedia
In many online video games (especially MMORPG
s and real-time strategy
games, for instance, StarCraft
), the term nuke can describe a spell
or skill that is capable of dealing a large amount of damage to its target, which is frequently a unit
. Also in the context of video games, “nuking” may also describe the act of using a nuclear weapon
in the game. The term is notably dissimilar in different genres.
In an MMORPG, the term may differ in meaning between communities. For example, to some individuals, to “nuke” is to deal the most possible damage to the most enemies possible (almost exclusively by means of an area of effect
skill), whereas other individuals use the term to refer to dealing the highest possible damage to a single target in the shortest amount of time, also known as a spike
. Some individuals believe that the player or players nuking must do so by means of ranged combat (that is, out of melee
range); others make no such distinction. It can also mean to critical hit often or just to deal high standard damage.
In a real-time
or turn-based strategy game, the term "nuke" has two distinct uses. It can refer to killing a large portion of an opponent’s forces with a powerful weapon or superweapon
; for example it can describe a nuclear missile, as seen in more recently, Modern Warfare 2 (called a tactical nuke), along with StarCraft
and Command & Conquer
. Alternatively, it can describe the tactic of attacking an opponent’s specific (often high-priority) units with high-damage spells in order to kill them or force (or strongly encourage) the opposing player to remove them from battle. Such usage is commonly in Warcraft III, in which "Heroes" are frequently the targets and attackers due to their relative high priority and common faculty for high-damaging spells.
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
s and real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
games, for instance, StarCraft
StarCraft
StarCraft is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The first game of the StarCraft series was released for Microsoft Windows on 31 March 1998. With more than 11 million copies sold worldwide as of February 2009, it is one of the best-selling...
), the term nuke can describe a spell
Magic (gaming)
Some role-playing games or game systems can include a set of rules that are used to portray magic in the paranormal sense. These rules simulate the effects that magic would have within the game context, according to how the game designer intended the magic to be portrayed...
or skill that is capable of dealing a large amount of damage to its target, which is frequently a unit
Unit
-Mathematics:* Unit , an element that is invertible with respect to ring multiplication* 1 , the unit number* Unit vector, a of the class of objects being studied-Science and technology:...
. Also in the context of video games, “nuking” may also describe the act of using a nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
in the game. The term is notably dissimilar in different genres.
In an MMORPG, the term may differ in meaning between communities. For example, to some individuals, to “nuke” is to deal the most possible damage to the most enemies possible (almost exclusively by means of an area of effect
Area of effect
thumb|Screenshot from FreedroidRPG showing Area of Effect.Area of effect is a term used in many role-playing and strategy games to describe attacks or spells that affect multiple targets within a specified area....
skill), whereas other individuals use the term to refer to dealing the highest possible damage to a single target in the shortest amount of time, also known as a spike
Spike (computer gaming)
In online video games , the term spike is generally used to describe a tactic in which a player or group of players deals a large amount of damage to a target simultaneously. This term is derived from "damage spike", which is an abrupt, sharp increase in damage.The goal is to overwhelm the...
. Some individuals believe that the player or players nuking must do so by means of ranged combat (that is, out of melee
Mêlée
Melee , generally refers to disorganized close combat involving a group of fighters. A melee ensues when groups become locked together in combat with no regard to group tactics or fighting as an organized unit; each participant fights as an individual....
range); others make no such distinction. It can also mean to critical hit often or just to deal high standard damage.
In a real-time
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
or turn-based strategy game, the term "nuke" has two distinct uses. It can refer to killing a large portion of an opponent’s forces with a powerful weapon or superweapon
Superweapon
A superweapon is an extremely powerful weapon by the standards of its time and its scale. Examples include the Tsar Bomba , various superguns and other various weapons employed to give a decisive advantage over opposing countries or forces. The given advantage is usually based on intimidation and...
; for example it can describe a nuclear missile, as seen in more recently, Modern Warfare 2 (called a tactical nuke), along with StarCraft
StarCraft
StarCraft is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The first game of the StarCraft series was released for Microsoft Windows on 31 March 1998. With more than 11 million copies sold worldwide as of February 2009, it is one of the best-selling...
and Command & Conquer
Command & Conquer
Command & Conquer, abbreviated to C&C and also known as Tiberian Dawn, is a 1995 real-time strategy computer game developed by Westwood Studios for MS-DOS and published by Virgin Interactive. It was the first of twelve games to date to be released under the Command & Conquer label, including a...
. Alternatively, it can describe the tactic of attacking an opponent’s specific (often high-priority) units with high-damage spells in order to kill them or force (or strongly encourage) the opposing player to remove them from battle. Such usage is commonly in Warcraft III, in which "Heroes" are frequently the targets and attackers due to their relative high priority and common faculty for high-damaging spells.