The Meaning of RNG: What It Is and How To Use It

Have you heard of RNG? Whether you use this acronym all the time or have never heard of it before today, you might want to know exactly what it means, how to use it correctly, and where it came from. Read on to learn more about this useful abbreviation!

What Does the Acronym RNG Stand For?

The acronym RNG stands for random number generator. A random number generator has a variety of different uses. 

In computer programming, an RNG is often used to instigate random events. Computational algorithms are created to mimic the physical phenomenon of randomness and entropy that exist in the universe. The best RNGs have no distinguishable patterns. 

Game developers often try to create good RNG in their hardware for gaming RNGs so that the game does not become predictable.

RNGs and Video Games

In turn, an RNG is often used in video games that need an element of unpredictability. You can encounter RNGs in numerous different video games, including: 

• DOTA
• Smash Bros
• Diablo
• Double-Life
• Destiny
• Pokemon Rocket League
• Mortal Kombat
• Guitar Hero
• Dance Dance Revolution
• Minecraft World
• Borderlands
• World of Warcraft
• Mario’s King Boo
• Grunty’s Furnace Fun
• Formula 1
• Banjo-Kazooie, Binding of Issac
• Super Mario Sunshine

RNG can also be found in any genre of games, from online games to card games. These include competitive multiplayer games, casual party games, modern puzzle games, RPGs, rhythm games, gambling, and roulette games. These genres all use an element of randomness and unpredictability to create variety in the game. 

Some forms of RNG are imperceptible, while others are easy to spot. Many modern games have item boxes that players stumble upon. An RNG might decide whether that device contains a coin, rare item, or another reward in loot drops, like a slot machine. These are all created using random values. 

eSports and RNGs

The eSports community and competitive gamers often favor games based less on randomness and more on skill. Competitive games that require skill allow gamers to show off their talents on Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram without being handed bad luck by random roadblocks. These roadblocks can lead to significant slowdowns and ground blocks if a player is trying to speedrun a game.

Players often avoid games where luck is involved, especially if they are a speedrunner. These restrictions can make the game’s adventure more frustrating. People may even resort to RNG manipulation to create a fair game. Gamers often prefer a regular battle to RNG-dependent selection.

Think about it: What if you had a gaming RNG that produced a variety of fruits? If you got pineapple icons, you could proceed with the game. If you got a pepper, you had to start over. If this is random, even the best weapon could not get you past the random element, which can be frustrating.

Games that produce different outputs every time you play them can even become a game of mathematical operations. If the video game RNG is bad, the gamer may easily figure out the pattern used in the game’s supposedly unique worlds. Then, they can reach the end of the game in less time because they have figured out the algebraic structure of the RNG.

True RNG vs. Pseudo-RNG

In a true RNG, a hardware RNG is used to create random numbers. This happens through physical electronic noise signals. This is often used in high-security situations in which encryption is vital. 

For a pseudo-RNG, unique values are created through a seed value. This mathematical construct will grab one number from a random set of numbers using an algorithm. However, if the same seed value is used every time, this may mean that the algorithm is easy to crack.

What Else Can RNG Stand For?

RNG has a few other possible meanings outside of the mathematics and gaming communities. If you are unsure whether a person means random number generator or a different definition, don’t be afraid to ask. It is always better to clarify than to be mistaken. 

Check out this list of possible meanings of RNG from The Free Dictionary to help you understand what people mean when they say RNG: 

• Random Number God
• Radioactive Noble Gas
• Range
• Renewable Natural Gas
• Random NetHack God
• Relative Neighborhood Graph
• Roundnose Grenadier (FAO species name code)
• Army National Guard (usually seen as ARNG)
• Renormalization Group (theory used with k-epsilon turbulence models)
• Ranger (Everquest)
• Rangeace
• Relax NG (filename extension, schema language for XML)
• Real Next-Generation (Comcast)
• Radio Network Gateway
• Reconfigurable Network Group
• Raising the Next Generation Program (Massachusetts)
• Really Nice Guy

What Are Synonyms of the Word Random?

When looking for synonyms for RNG, it can be easier to find words that mean “random.” Because RNG is such a specific concept, these tangentially-related terms may help you get your point across without being repetitive.  

Power Thesaurus lists numerous synonyms of random, such as:

• accidental
• adventitious
• aimless
• arbitrary
• capricious
• careless
• casual
• chance
• changeable
• chaotic
• confused
• contingent
• desultory
• disordered
• disorderly
• disorganized
• unpredictable
• unsettled
• unsystematic
• variable
• varying
• volatile

What Are Antonyms of the Word Random?

Also from Power Thesaurus, this list can help you learn opposites of the word random:

• adequate
• aimed to
• alike
• all over
• apple pie order
• apple-pie order
• business-like
• businesslike
• carefully selected
• checkerboard
• even-stevens
• evenly matched
• exact
• hand picked
• hand-selected
• identical
• in order
• inevitable
• ordered
• organized
• pandemic
• queued
• selective
• specific
• supportive
• systematic
• thoroughly thought through
• well-thought-through

Conclusion

The acronym RNG stands for random number generator. This type of algorithm is used to create random numbers, typically in computing and video games.

Sources:

1. RNG – What does RNG stand for? | The Free Dictionary 
2. 442 Adjective Synonyms for Random | Power Thesaurus 
3. Random antonyms – 241 Opposites of Random | Power Thesaurus