Comments[edit]

I have to question the content of this article. It seems rather biased and based on assumptions. Is it a historical fact that 'power-up' can also refer to things which add points to one's score? I've never heard it used in this way. To me, a power-up is something that makes the player stronger or better - hence the name 'power-up'. I believe this to be the common definition of the term.

The article would be a lot clearer if this were true. However, I know it's possible that 'power-up' may have a specific historical origin, so I haven't gone at the article with a sledgehammer yet.

My speciality is shoot 'em ups, so I may of course have my own bias here, but this is a genre of game in which power-ups play a big part.

Spottedowl 20:24, 8 Jan 2005 (UTC)

That's what I think as well. A power-up should be a "bonus" that gives the player something like a new ability (for a certain duration, usually), but that doesn't include score points. Just like you said, that's the way I see it. However, there isn't a rule that says what a power-up is or isn't; this will be always speculation. Nothing can be done about that.--Kaonashi 22:58, 8 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Well, you see, I was wondering if there is a rule, because I can't see otherwise why anyone would think that a points bonus counts as a power-up. If there is no formal definition I'll change it to what everyone recognises as a power-up. Spottedowl 01:21, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)
From the research that I've done on the topic, a power-up should be defined like so. "Power-ups are usually objects which when picked up and used give the player an advantage in the game." I don't think that getting points gives a player an advantage in a game, so maybe it should be editted to say that items that increase one's score are under debate on whether or not they're true 'power-ups'. - Datyedyeguy 21:13, 19 April 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Health Packs[edit]

Something interesting that you may want to mention in the Health and Life reserve section:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=14552
-Hahnchen 03:38, 22 April 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Power Up?[edit]

I think the description is too narrow, as in certain video games you can essentially power up without an object (a good example would be Dragon Ball Z: Budokai). --EMC 06:21, 22 April 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

That would be the player gaining power, or getting stronger. This article refers to power-up as an object, not an action. --larsinio (poke)(prod) 16:41, 22 April 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Item?[edit]

Would "Item" be a better destination for this article? I'm not saying they're exactly the same thing, but "power up" seems kind of linguistically fuzzy. I've played video games all my life, and have never used the term extensively and never in a way that's especially specific. Everyone knows what an "item" is, and I always want to wikilink to it when I'm adding to articles about games. I can't help but find A Fire Flower is a power-up from the Super Mario Bros. series of video games awkward. If not "Item", the perhaps "Item (Video Game)"? -- Lee Bailey(talk) 20:41, 7 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

IMO Item is more of an rpg and general term, and does not fit within the context of this article. --larsinio (poke)(prod) 20:52, 7 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Fair enough. I wouldn't mind getting a lot of opinions of this, actually, since there's not an easy way to gauge how terms are used conversationally among gamers in different regions. The description so far in the introduction is confusing to me. "Power-ups are objects that benefit or add extra abilities to the game character... often collected directly through touch" sounds like an item to me, but later there's reference to "items that confer power ups". Are power-ups objects or are they not? -- Lee Bailey(talk) 21:10, 7 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Item to me is like a pronoun used for any object in a game that could or could not benefit the player.A power-up is a specific type of item that has certain characteristics and is featured in certain types of games, like platforms, shooters, run and guns, and more. --larsinio (poke)(prod) 22:14, 7 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]
That makes more sense. I haven't used the word like that very much though... I always thought of a power-up as more of the non-physical 'boost' that you get from an object/item. I have always used "item" to describe the things you're talking about -- one-ups, health items, anything that you "use" either immediately the moment you walk over it, or save and use later. I'm pretty sure this is how I've heard it used it game manuals, too. If a power-up is just a special type of item, should it even have its own article? -- Lee Bailey(talk) 22:38, 7 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

On a related note, does anyone here think it would be bad idea for me to go ahead and start the Item (Video Game) article? If we're in agreement that a Power-Up is a distinct kind of item, then there should probably be an article for Item... right? -- Lee Bailey(talk) 01:30, 8 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

make it Item (computer and video games) but yea its all good. --larsinio (poke)(prod) 13:56, 8 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Okay, a stub now exits at Item for video games. But we still need to clarify what defines the difference between items and power-ups. The text in the article presently says:

They can be differentiated from items in other games, such as RPG, by the fact that they: take effect immediately, feature designs that don't necessarily fit into the game world (often used letters or symbols emblazened on a design), and are found in certain genres of games.

...that's not an exact match for the examples given below it. If there's going to be an article on this, we need to be able to precisely define the term. As it stands, the first sentence (In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that benefit or add extra abilities to the game character) could easily be used to define "items" as well. -- Lee Bailey(talk) 23:55, 9 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I would define an item as "a useable object by the player in computer and video games that must be chosen to use. I will add the corresponding opposite logic to power-up. --larsinio (poke)(prod) 01:28, 10 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Okay, looking back over some old game manuals, the Mario Bros. franchise seems to consistantly call its mushrooms, fire flowers, etc. "items" and not "power-ups". Sonic uses "item" the same way, and so do many others mentioned in this article. I realize game manuals are often not the final authority on games, but on the other hand, the usage of gamers is pretty inconsistant across different regions, and from player to player. Is there some way we can prove this is a distinct concept? -- Lee Bailey(talk) 13:18, 11 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I did some googling, and it seems that power-up is more of a colloquialism for items, but it used in a specific context: as an instant effect, that expands the abilities. It is the most common term used for shoot 'em ups as well. Item shoudl be genralized to include all things picked up in computer and video games. But I do think we should proceed with a merge to item (computer and video games). Item's also have a specific RPG context, being referred to what is not weapons/armor (i.e. everythign else besides thos etwo). --larsinio (poke)(prod) 18:41, 11 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I agree, merging does seem like the best way to treat this. As it turns out, "Item" was in fact hosting only a dictionary definition of the world "item" before now, so Item appears to be a perfectly fine destination for the new article -- no "(computer and video games)" necessary, at least until some other legitamite article shows up with a claim on the word. Anyway, I'll be happy to work on this soon, but in the meantime, if you feel inspired to merge the articles before I get to it, I say go for it. I may be missing in action for a little while as a DS Lite has just found it's way into my happy home. :) -- Lee Baileyblack">(talk) 00:21, 12 June 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Collectable objects that give points, heal, serve as clothing, can be used as money are items, but they're not power-ups. In many games the distinction is not obvious (I'd say for instance there are no power-ups in most RPGs, although there definitely are items that increase your power). Still, in certain genres, notably shmups, the term is well-understood and is not equivalent to item. Power-ups are a specific kind of items, important enough to require a specific article. In many shmups, gameplay revolves around power-ups, while other items (bombs, score bonuses) are not nearly as important. However, power-ups can be included in items with other effects; see for instance Raiden where power-ups are also used for changing weapons. Palpalpalpal 17:20, 1 November 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Chaos Emeralds?[edit]

Wouldn't the Chaos Emeralds from the Sonic series be counted as a power up item of sorts? GrandMasterGalvatron 15:05, 24 October 2006 (UTC)Reply[reply]

The current definition of "power-up" doesn't allow for the Chaos Emeralds ( "power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character." ) Seeing as how the Emeralds need to all be collected before having any benefit (in the majority of Sonic games, at least), I'd say no. Maybe an article called collectible item or some such thing needs to be started... Paul Haymon 10:07, 15 March 2007 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Fair use rationale for Image:Ddp power-up.jpg[edit]

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Fair use rationale for Image:Yashichi.gif[edit]

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BetacommandBot 12:09, 6 July 2007 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Ammunition[edit]

Does ammunation count as a powerup? What about items which recover magic points and their technological equivalent (fuel, energy etc.)? -- Gordon Ecker 03:47, 28 October 2007 (UTC)Reply[reply]

If no one objects, I plan on adding them. -- Gordon Ecker (talk) 23:13, 9 April 2008 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I forgot about this. Anyway, since no one has objected, I've added an "ammunition and power reserves" section. -- Gordon Ecker (talk) 03:15, 14 April 2009 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Fair use rationale for Image:Contra powerup.gif[edit]

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BetacommandBot (talk) 05:29, 2 January 2008 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Fair use rationale for Image:Sonic fakepowerup.png[edit]

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Fair use rationale for Image:Dk hammer.gif[edit]

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Fair use rationale for Image:Mariostar.gif[edit]

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History[edit]

This article could use more information on the history of power-ups. For example it currently mentions that Gradius was the first game with a selection bar, but doesn't include any information on the origins of other power-up types such as 1-ups, companion fighters, power-up crates or trick power-ups. -- Gordon Ecker (talk) 09:26, 16 June 2010 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Poison Mushroom[edit]

Under "Trick Powerups," the article states that the poison mushroom from Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels "has a slim chance of also acting as a regular Super mushroom." I'm pretty sure this is false. This line's citations refer to a couple of articles about The Lost Levels that merely mention the poison mushroom without saying anything about there being the possibility of it acting like a super mushroom, and none of the FAQs I checked on GameFAQs mentioned anything about this, either. —Modus Ponens (talk) 16:13, 23 July 2011 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I'm guessing it's probably one of those old, pre-GameFAQs video game urban legends. -- Gordon Ecker, WikiSloth (talk) 07:28, 16 February 2014 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:Pac-Man Cutscene.svg Nominated for Deletion[edit]

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Fair use image[edit]

The Pac-Man cutscene is included as an illustration of the history of power-ups. The WP:NFCC #1 requires that an equivalent free alternative should serve the same encyclopedic purpose; thus a historic free power-up should be found to be included in the History section replacing this one. The image is illustrating how the artist used a comic effect to describe a concept that was not previously known, the power-up, thus it enhances the readers' understanding of the history.

If this image was used in an article called History of the power-up nobody would have any doubt that it is a valid inclusion under fair use. Diego (talk) 06:48, 14 February 2012 (UTC)Reply[reply]

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Should we split off the perk section into a separate article on special abilities?[edit]

IMO we should consider splitting off the perks section into a separate special ability article covering perks, feats, special abilities and similar concepts within the context of gaming. -- Gordon Ecker, WikiSloth (talk) 06:48, 12 March 2014 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Spelling[edit]

There are three different spellings of Power-up represented in this article – with space, hyphen and written as one word. Preferably there should be a canonical spelling, but even if there isn't, it should be consistent.

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