It's hard to think of any term that has had such an impact on the videogame industry as 'triple-A game'. Yet for all its power, it's one we take for granted. Today, 'triple-A' is simply part of the furniture, remaining an everyday term despite the massive shifts in how videogames are made, distributed, played and understood over the decades since this buzzword first emerged.
But when was that, exactly, and where did it come from? Our investigation into the label's origin, in search of a patient zero, swiftly becomes an investigation of its origins, plural. This term has been adopted by multiple generations of developers, working in different regions and disciplines, its exact meaning dependent on that context. So, is there a solid definition of 'triple-A' to be found today? And, after a long time at the top, might it finally be time to retire the term for good?
