The media's ability to coin phrases, a power once considered a superpower, is being revisited. Inspired by a recent post, we look back at a failed attempt to rename the genre commonly known as MOBAs, a term that is both overly broad and overly specific.
In 2014, former PC Gamer editor Chris Thursten made a notable effort to rebrand this genre with his column, "Why I am deadly serious about the phrase 'wizard-'em-up.'" This was not the only alternative proposed; the term "lane-pushing game" was also considered for a time.
These efforts highlight the media's role in defining and shaping how we discuss and understand game genres. The challenge of finding accurate and evocative terms remains a constant, with many in the industry continuing to seek better descriptors for evolving game types.