Why are they called CG?

[Tachyglossus]

So I am a newb. Not just to this forum, but to this whole subculture. It took me a while to that people were specifically referring to special scenes when they mentioned a CG.

As far as I am concerned, CG stands for Character Generation Computer Graphic. Yet, the sprites and the backgrounds and the interface, in fact all visuals are computer graphics. So why use this term eclusively for full illustrations? Is there another meaning to CG that I am unaware of? Why aren't they called illustrations or splash pages or even cut scenes (sure they aren't animated, but, meh!)

I'm just curious.

[Aleema]

The Japanese love giving abbreviated letters to things so that they can say/visualize them easily. (Just look at the bottom of this page.) It doesn't even matter what the letters originally stood for, since it's not their alphabet. Since this medium is rooted in Japan, I imagine the term came directly from them. So, really, it's now lost its literal meaning and has become a word on its own. Probably. Not a "CG" word origin expert.

[Auro-Cyanide]

I always found that confusing too. CG also stands for a digital colouring style. Really it is a bit silly since everything you see on a computer screen is a CG. I second Aleema's theory, though it doesn't really excuse english speakers from adopting a term that was originally adopted and slightly misapplied from their own language. Surely we have your own words for these things.

[Tachyglossus]

Hmmm I guess that would make sense as to why we use a redundant and vague term like CG to refer to a specific kind if picture in VN's.

That article was fascinating, thanks for sharing.

[OtomeWeekend]

i think it would mean "Computer Graphics"?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics

This is the nearest meaning i could think of and wiki seems to be supporting that theory too

[Alera]

i think it would mean "Computer Graphics"?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics

This is the nearest meaning i could think of and wiki seems to be supporting that theory too

Well yes, but wasn't the question exactly why they are called like that when in fact- everything is CG?

I have no clue about an explanation, but at least people usually know what someone means by saying CG, so this is like a term on it's own.

[OtomeWeekend]

oh, i haven't read until there *was spacing out during the time i was replying*

Well, all i can say is.. i kinda agree with aleema.

[Alera]

oh, i haven't read until there *was spacing out during the time i was replying*

XD Pfff- this has happened to me too. ^^lll

But anyway~

[PervertPrince]

I've also wondered what it means and by the responses of other people, it looks like I might never know -.-

[SusanTheCat]

It might come from text based games that would throw in a "Computer Graphic" for a special scene.

Susan

[Tachyglossus]

Ooooh Susan also has a good theory!

[SusanTheCat]

That's because I'm old enough to remember text based games.

Susan

[KomiTsuku]

I would have to agree with Susan. It has stuck around because of how embedded it has become. Simple, easy-to-use terminology. I've tried referring to them as cut scene graphics in the past, but more people know and understand this term.

[Tachyglossus]

Hey, I remember old text games too. Although I played mainly Zork and Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy... but anyway!

[LVUER]

Oh, now I miss those Police Quest, King Quest, and the rest of Sierra's Quest'y games...