Name : Akshay. M. Phadke Date : 14.08.13

Unit 20

Computer Game Platforms & Technologies

Outcomes 1,2,3 & 4 – Video Game Platforms, Hardware, Software & ‘Connect And Configure Platforms And Devices To Enable Game-play’

What Is A Gaming Platform?

“Specific combination of electronic components or computer hardware which in conjunction with software, allows a video game to operate”

It means:

‘PC Game - involves interaction of player with a Personal Computer connected to a Video Monitor’

‘Consoles – Specialized Electronic Devices connected to Television Sets’

Let’s See Further----

Categories Of Game Platforms

• PC Gaming – Windows, MAC, Linux Or Any Other Systems

• Consoles – Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Sony’s PS3,…

• Arcades – PAC-MAN, Pong, Galaxy Game,…

• Hand-Held Devices – Nintendo’s 3Ds,…

• Mobile Gaming – Android, iOS,…

• Online/Web – Facebook,…

• And Others…

Consider The Following Platforms:

• PC

• Console

PC Platform

‘High Processing Power’ as compared to other Gaming Systems

Better Hardware & Scope for ‘Upgradation’

Apart from Gaming, it’s more than a ‘Multitasking Machine’

Supports Wide Range Of Peripheral Devices – ‘Touch-screens’, ‘Motion-Controllers’, …

Games On PC benefit from:Higher Screen Resolutions – 1920*1080 or aboveHigher Frame-RateIncreased Draw Distance

EX : Games like ‘Crysis’ & ‘Battlefield 3’ literally fumed out the consoles due to their ‘Heavy & Immense Graphics’,such Graphics Generation becomes only possible on a PC..

Crysis 2 Battlefield 3

Consoles

They are ‘Dedicated Video Game Machines’ – ‘An Interactive Computer’ – producing a Video Signal – that can be used with a display device – Television, Monitor etc..

Simply ‘Plug n Play’ Devices

Consists of Wired/Wireless ‘Gamepad/Controller’

End-User does not require any Hardware Knowledge

Uses Specialized Hardware Architechure

Latest Consoles offer services like – ‘Internet, Optical Media, Screen Capture & Much More..’

EX : • Microsoft Xbox 720 offers players to capture their ‘Game-play Footage’ which players can upload and share with friends..

• Players can also watch videos of different ‘Video File Formats’

History Of Video Game Consoles

Following sections show the different Generations of Video Game Consoles:

1st Generation (1972 – 1977)2nd Generation (1976 – 1983)3rd Generation (1983 – 1990)4th Generation (1987 - 1995) 5th Generation (1993 – 2004)6th Generation (1998 – 2005)7th Generation (2005 – 2011)8th Generation (2013..)

8th Generation Consoles

Technological Advancements took place rapidly especially after 4th Generation

Today’s devices are highly integrated with other Media and Increased Connectivity

EX : ‘Wii U’ is the first of the 8th Generation Consoles currently available in the market.

OUYA, a Kickstarter-funded Android-based game console, which was released on June 25, 2013

Others include – Microsoft’s Xbox ONE, Sony’s PlayStation 4, Nvidia Shield…

OUYA

Nvidia Shield

Examples Of Games On Different Platforms

‘Call Of Duty’ & ‘Crysis 2’ On

PC

‘FIFA 13’ & ‘Gears Of War’ On – ‘Xbox’ & ‘PS3’ Respectively

‘Sonic-The Hedgehog’ & ‘Angry Birds’ On

‘Nintendo 3DS’ & ‘Android Smart-Phone’ Respectively

Now, let’s see – ‘Tales Of Mushroom Land’

• Game Info

• Game Platform

A Brief About Our 2D Game

Name – ‘Tales Of Mushroom Land’

Genre – Casual Platformer

Team Size – 2 Persons : ‘1 Programmer & 1 Artist’

Development Software – Game Maker : 8.1 Pro

Level Structure – 2 Levels With Main-Menu, Pause Menu, Storyboard Section Of 5 Screens, Controls Screens, Credits Screen, Custom Options Screen

Scope For Expansion : YES

Deadline – 45 Days

Best Suitable Platform For The Game

Based On Above Game Facts & Game Structure:

We had considered Two Platforms:• PC• Consoles

However, best suitable platform for game : PC (Windows)

In-Game Screenshots:

Why – PC Platform

PC Games are comparatively cheaper

• More than 72% of the total Game-Players are PC Players above the age group of 18 years

• 62% of Players play Online PC Games or Downloadable Games

• Most of PC Players spend their time on ‘Casual & Social Games’

Ex : Facebook & ‘Casual Free To Play’ Games

Women account for a larger share of more than 45% of the total gaming population

There is always scope for up-gradation

Moreover,..

• ‘Our game is not graphically packed demanding many requirements’• It was fitting entirely within our – ‘Timelines’ and ‘Scope’.• No Extra Manpower was needed

Why No To - Console

Consoles like Microsoft Xbox 360 are Very Expensive (approx. 25,000 INR)

They are Non Up-gradable

Ex :At The Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, Feb 2013 ----

60% of Players REFUSED to buy or were AGAINST Consoles, Because….

• New Consoles Play Only Brand New Games• There Is No Support For Old Games

Moreover,…

• Game for a Console requires Special/Extra Type Of Coding• We would have to make use of development software like ‘XNA’ by Microsoft which is very VAST as compared to Game-Maker 8.1.• An extra Programmer would have been required• Developing a very short game for Consoles – spending so much resources – Increased Time - Doesn’t sound a very nice deal (At least to me), …..

Extra Added Feature In The Game

A Candy for Gamepad Lovers:

• Extended Gamepad/Controller Support For The Game

• Game works with any USB ‘Plug & Play’ Gamepad/Controller

Ex : Microsoft Xbox 360 USB Controller For PC, Logitech Gamepad F710, Enter E-GPV Gamepad, And Others…

Logitech F710 Gamepad For

PC

Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller For PC

Let’s have a look at:

• Hardware & Software Requirements : Tales Of Mushroom Land

Hardware Requirements For Our Game

Minimum Hardware Requirements:  Processor : 500 MHzVideo Card : 256 MB OpenGL Compatible 3D Accelerated Graphics Card RAM : 256MB

800x600 Screen Resolution16 Bit Color DisplayKeyboard + Mouse Recommended Hardware Requirements:  Processor : 1 GHzVideo Card : 512 MB OpenGL Compatible 3D Accelerated Graphics Card

OR HIGHER.

RAM : 512MB

Sound Card1024x768 Screen Resolution24 Bit True Color DisplayKeyboard + MouseGamepad/Controller

Software Requirements For Our Game

Minimum Software Requirements:  Operating System : Win XP (SP2)

DirectX Version : 6.0

Microsoft Redistributable C++ Version : 2005

Microsoft .NET Version : 3.0

Recommended Software Requirements:  Operating System : Win Vista (SP2) OR HIGHER

DirectX Version : 9.0C

Microsoft Redistributable C++ Version : 2007 OR HIGHER

Microsoft .NET Version : 3.5 OR HIGHER

Updated Video & Audio Drivers From Manufacturer’s Website

Now,

• Some Interesting Performance Tests

Test Taken On A Desktop – More Than 7 Years Old :

Processor : Intel Pentium 1.8 GHz Dual Core Audio : Realtek Audio

RAM : 512 MB DDR 553 MHz

Graphics Card : NO

Dedicated Graphics On Motherboard : ATI Raedon 200 Series – 256 MB

OS : Win XP (SP3)

DirectX : 6.14

1st Start-Up Time : 5 Minutes

Avg. Start-Up Time : 3-4 Minutes

FPS : 25 – 28 Frames

Game Playability State : Game made its way till Main-Menu.

STATUS : Game Crashes After Hitting Play Button!!!

GIVES------------------------------------------------

Test 1

Test Taken On A Desktop – Precisely 5 Years Old :

Processor : Intel Pentium 2.2 GHz ‘Core 2 Duo’ Audio : Realtek Audio

RAM : 1 GB DDR 800 MHz

Graphics Card : NO!

Dedicated Graphics On Motherboard : NO!

OS : Win XP (SP3)

DirectX : 9.0C

1st Start-Up Time : 10 Seconds

And Then……………….

GIVES------------------------------------------------

Test 2

Game Playability State : Game Crashed : Game Failed To Start!

STATUS : ‘d3d.CreateDevice() Error’. System Was Missing Graphics Card Or Dedicated Graphics On Motherboard.

Test 3

Test Taken On A Lenovo Laptop – Just 3 Years Old :

Processor : Intel Pentium 2.0 GHz Dual Core Audio : Realtek Audio

RAM : 3 GB DDR2 667 MHz

Graphics Card : NO!

Dedicated Graphics On MOtherboard : Intel Mobile Express Chipset 4 Series – 1 GB

OS : Win Vista (SP2)

DirectX : 7.0

GIVES------------------------------------------------

1st Start-Up Time : 17 Seconds

Avg. Start-Up Time : 10-11 Seconds

FPS : 50+ Frames

Game Playability State : No Game-play Performance Issues, Video, Audio Or Any Other Errors.

STATUS : Game Runs Perfectly Fine!!

Test 4

Test Taken On A Desktop – Just 3 Years Old:

Processor : AMD Phenom II X4 3.4 GHz Audio : VIA HD Audio

RAM : 10 GB DDR3 1333 MHz

Graphics Card : ASUS Nvidia 630 GT GeForce 2 GB DDR3

Dedicated Graphics On Motherboard : Raedon 4070 Chipset 128 MB

OS : Win 7 Ultimate 64-Bit

DirectX : 11

GIVES------------------------------------------------

1st Start-Up Time : 2-3 Seconds

Avg. Start-Up Time : Just A Flip Second!!

FPS : 70+ Frames

Game Playability State : No Game-play Performance Issues, Video, Audio Or Any Other Errors.

STATUS : Runs Like A Charm!!

Its Time For,

• Playable Demonstration Of The Game

• Common Occurring Errors

THANK-YOU