CS4099 Major Software ProjectCS4099 Major Software Project2006 – 20072006 – 2007

Tom ClarkTom Clark

http://uk.geocities.com/tdc1@btinternet.com/Hunger/Hunger.html

The projectThe project "Gaming has blasted its way into the mainstream to become "Gaming has blasted its way into the mainstream to become

a multi-million dollar business, rivalling the film and record a multi-million dollar business, rivalling the film and record

industries."industries." - - news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2583697.stmnews.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2583697.stm

Show how games design & implementation related to CS.Show how games design & implementation related to CS.

Created example gameCreated example game Software Engineering eg. UML in design. Not wonderful.Software Engineering eg. UML in design. Not wonderful.

Good for communication.Good for communication. Problems: sequences, “naturality”, sizeProblems: sequences, “naturality”, size

ConstraintsConstraints Time!Time!

Many CS related aspects omittedMany CS related aspects omitted Networking: multiplayer, or even massively Networking: multiplayer, or even massively

multiplayer etcmultiplayer etc Graphics: pixel shaders, dynamic lighting etc.Graphics: pixel shaders, dynamic lighting etc. Some computational aspects: fluid dynamics, Some computational aspects: fluid dynamics,

motionmotion

Testing: Testing: not multiplatformnot multiplatform

I have never actually written and programmed my own I have never actually written and programmed my own game before.game before.

Challenging but enjoyable.Challenging but enjoyable. Using “Game Maker” by Mark Overmars & YoYo Using “Game Maker” by Mark Overmars & YoYo

gamesgames

Solving itSolving it Context SurveyContext Survey

Limited to small games.Limited to small games. Reviewed: Books, websitesReviewed: Books, websites

Game Requirements + ConceptGame Requirements + Concept Had to be feasible. Drop some to do others.Had to be feasible. Drop some to do others.

Saving example.Saving example.

Design + Risk Analysis + 2 types of testingDesign + Risk Analysis + 2 types of testing

Implemented by expanding prototype.Implemented by expanding prototype. Companies use but start over for final version.Companies use but start over for final version.

Documents Documents User ManualUser Manual Maintenance DocumentMaintenance Document

Context surveyContext survey

What I liked and What I liked and didn't.didn't.

Limited to Limited to non-commercial.non-commercial.

- Pyramid Panic by Mark Overmars

What is Hunger?What is Hunger? Survival game. Survival game.

Found to be relatively unused Found to be relatively unused genre.genre.

Not Survival Horror.Not Survival Horror. Becoming popular?Becoming popular?

STALKERSTALKER Over 4 years in Over 4 years in

developmentdevelopment

http://www.stalker-game.com/

Key featuresKey features

Keep it simple / accessible!Keep it simple / accessible!

Education of basic survival concepts. Education of basic survival concepts. Stat-managementStat-management Item-managementItem-management

Let player play how they want. Let player play how they want. Keep focus on goal but do not force play-styleKeep focus on goal but do not force play-style Can kill, but why?Can kill, but why?

Most importantly: FUN!!! Most importantly: FUN!!!

DesignDesign Screen layoutsScreen layouts Saving and Loading systemSaving and Loading system State-based AIState-based AI

Level DesignLevel Design Graphics, Sound effects etc.Graphics, Sound effects etc.

PANIC!PANIC! Potentially catastrophic problem.Potentially catastrophic problem.

Version of Game Maker change.Version of Game Maker change.

Would be OK but needed to register GM.Would be OK but needed to register GM.

Unexpected.Unexpected.

Happened around January.Happened around January.

Would it be backwards compatible? Would it be Would it be backwards compatible? Would it be delayed?delayed?

www.yoyogames.com

Game TestingGame Testing

Small scale approx. to Beta testing.Small scale approx. to Beta testing.

Questionnaires given, created by me.Questionnaires given, created by me. Q: Did you understand what shown on screen?Q: Did you understand what shown on screen?

Feedback very helpful! Thanks. Feedback very helpful! Thanks. Mostly future improvements. Minimum Mostly future improvements. Minimum

Requirements.Requirements.

Not designed to replace software Not designed to replace software behaviour testing.behaviour testing.

Future Directions for GameFuture Directions for Game

Pop-up boxes for item names & effects.Pop-up boxes for item names & effects.

Increasing length. Increasing length. Episodic-content (used but under debate)Episodic-content (used but under debate) Just more levels. I like shortness.Just more levels. I like shortness.

Extending saving & loading system.Extending saving & loading system.

Lots of possibilities.Lots of possibilities.

QuestionsQuestions

http://www.gamedesign.net/content/warcraft3/questionmark.png