Llama (computer culture)
Llama is a term derived from the word lamer. It was used as a common derogatory term online during the 1990s, used among online team gamers since Quake to refer to a "jerk" or as a "fun term used to mock another online gamer".
The llama was also frequently referenced in Maxis/Electronic Arts's popular line of "Sim" games, such as Sim City and The Sims.
Llamas in software
WinAmp
The llama is frequently referenced in the music program Winamp. The llama is the mascot of Nullsoft, manufacturer of Winamp, and their media player for AOL was code-named Llama. Winamp's apothegms include "Winamp - It really whips the llama's [...]" (from a Wesley Willis song) and "Winamp - llama tested, mother approved".
"Sim" games
The llama is also frequently referenced in Maxis/Electronic Arts's line of "Sim" games. Maxis chose the llama as a mascot following a company-wide vote , co-founder Will Wright's business card has The Title "Llama Consultant" , and the Sim Earth strategy guide had a llama hiding behind a lunar lander as a joke on Wright. SimCity's second lowest speed is "llama speed", SimLife organisms occasionally say "I'm a llama", in SimCity 2000 the population of zoos are measured in various types of llamas, and the SimCity 4 cheat code "Dollyllama" would turn advisors into llamas. Also, the llama consistently appears in The Sims 2, usually in random events (example: a detective must uncover the "Maltese llama", or a hospital worker must treat a llama). In The Sims 2: University, the university's mascot is a llama, who will occasionally visit various areas around campus. The phrase "The llama is a quadruped", (from the Llama sketch in episode 9 of Monty Python's Flying Circus) is also a SimCity 3000 cheat code. Also SimCity 3000 provides tips under the heading, 'The Llama Suggests', instead of the traditional 'Tip of the Day', and the llama continues to re-appear as a running gag in the nonsense news topics in the news ticker.
Other examples
The term LLaMa distinguishes players who use a "pure" style of play in the football management simulation game Football Manager, and its predecessor Championship Manager. LLaMas, named after the acronym LLM (Lower League Managers), play the game without using tips, cheats, editors or anything other than their own mettle.
Llamas also appear in the MMORPG "Ultima Online" where there are pack llamas, ridable llamas, ethereal llamas and wild llamas. Some players transform themselves into a llama form as part of the gameplay.
A llama is the main protagonist of the llamatron video game. Jeff Minter's fascination for the animal led to The Release of Atari ST titles such as Attack of the Mutant Camels, llamatron and llamazap for the Software house llamasoft.
The [...] Dancing Llama, an online advice giving "sage", frolics AbOUT and gives humorous advice to netsurfers. A popular Internet Flash cartoon known as [http://www.burtonearny.com/animations/llamasong.html|The Llama Song] plays a humorous nonsense song about llamas.
The llama also graces the cover of O'Reilly's "Learning Perl" and this book is "affectionately known as the llama book".
In the popular game Counter-Strike, many servers utilizes administration modifications to the server. These mods (specifically AMX Mod and Admin Mod) have a specific command (usually amx_llama or admin_llama) that will "llama" a player. According to the documentation, this command mutes the player and "whenever they type something, it will immediately be translated into 'Llama language', with words like 'Oorgle!' or 'Bleaaatt!'"