In video games, "nerf" is a term used to describe when a character, weapon, or ability has been weakened to make sure that the gameplay is fair and balanced. The term comes from the popular Nerf toy brand, suggesting that a previously powerful game element has been made softer and less harmful. The term "nerf" was coined in the early days of the internet, largely thanks to the early massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) Ultima Online. Players started complaining that they were hitting each other with Nerf swords, and the term was quickly adopted as a shorthand for making an item, character, or ability weaker in any game. The opposite of "nerf" is "buff," which is used to describe when the makers increase the power of something.