y1 gd engine terminology (task 1)
DESCRIPTION
UNIT 70TRANSCRIPT
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
1
Produce a glossary of terms specific to the methods and principles of Video Game Design and Video Game Terms. Using a provided template, you must research and gather definitions specific to provided glossary terms. Any definitions must be referenced with the URL link of the website you have obtained the definition. You must also, where possible, provide specific details of how researched definitions relate to your own production practice. Name: RESEARCHED DEFINITION (provide
short internet researched definition
and URL link)
DESCRIBE THE RELEVANCE OF THE RESEARCHED TERM
TO YOUR OWN PRODUCTION PRACTICE?
IMAGE SUPPORT (Provide an image and/or video link of said term being used in a game)
VIDEO GAMES / VIDEO GAME TESTING
Demo A game demo is a freely
distributed piece of an upcoming or recently
released video game. Demos are typically released by the
game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the
game before deciding
whether to buy the full version.
Link- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_
demo
A demo is part of a
game which you are able to play, and try
the game out before you buy it.
This is picture showing you the NHL 15 Demo is able to download.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
2
Beta A beta test refers to the
distribution of pre-release
game software to a select group of people so that they
can test the game in their own homes. The beta version
of a game is as close to
perfect as the company can make it, but any bugs,
glitches or other issues discovered in beta testing will
usually be addressed before the game's official release
Link- http://www.techopedia.com/definition/27136/beta-test-gaming
A beta is where they
launch the game to a
select few people while it is in alpha
stage and they try the game out early
to see how it plays
and what need to be improved.
This is a picture showing that if you pre-order Destiny you get access to the Beta.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
3
Alpha Alpha software can be
unstable and could cause
crashes or data loss. External availability of alpha software
is uncommon in proprietary software. However, open
source software, in
particular, often have publicly available alpha
versions, often distributed as the raw source code of the
software. The alpha phase usually ends with a feature
freeze, indicating that no
more features will be added to the software. At this time,
the software is said to be feature complete.
Link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/Software_release_life_cycle
Alpha is one of the
last phases of
building the game which is what they
use to test in when it is in beta.
This is picture showing you Titanfall been in closed Alpha Stages.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
4
Pre-Alpha Pre-alpha refers to all
activities performed during
the software project before testing. These
activities can include requirements
analysis, software
design, software development, and unit
testing. In typical open source development, there
are several types of pre-alpha versions. Milestone versions
include specific sets of
functions and are released as soon as the functionality is
complete.
Link-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/Software_release_life_cycle
Pre-Alpha means a
game is still being
written and coded but it is closer to
being finished.
This is a picture of Lichdom Battlemage In the
Pre-Alpha Stage of the game.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
5
Gold A game has "Gone Gold" when
the final mastercopy has been
produced at the developer and sent off for replication,
packaging and shipment. The game is not yet released,
but it will typicallybe around
2-3 weeks (sometimes less) before it begins appearing
on store shelves and online pre-orders arriving at
doorsteps. The term itself comes from the old practice
of recordable CDs being
manufactured with gold film. Hence the gold colored CD
actually being the source, with no reference to copies
sold as in the recording industry
Link-
http://www.urbandictionar
y.com/define.php?term=Go
ne%20Gold
Gone Gold is when a
game has been
finally completed and is ready to be
shipped out to the public.
This is a picture of FIFA 15 gone gold.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
6
Debug In computers, debugging is
the process of locating and
fixing or bypassing bugs
(errors) in computer program
code or the engineering of a
hardware device.
Link-
http://searchsoftwarequality
.techtarget.com/definition/d
ebugging
Debug is finding the
errors and fixing
them or bypassing them which you do in
computer programing.
This is a picture of someone Debugging a game.
Automation The use of methods for
controlling industrial
processes automatically, esp by electronically controlled
systems, often reducing manpower.
Link- http://www.thefreedictionar
y.com/automation
Automation is an
operation system
which is the use of methods for
controlling industrial processes
automatically which
often reduces manpower.
This is a picture of Automation Taking place.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
7
White-Box
Testing Also known as glass
box, structural, clear
box and open box testing. A software testing technique
whereby explicit knowledge of the internal workings of
the item being tested are
used to select the test data. Unlike black box testing,
white box testing uses specific knowledge of
programming code to examine outputs. The test is accurate
only if the tester knows what
the program is supposed to do. He or she can then see if
the program diverges from its intended goal. White box
testing does not account for errors caused by omission,
and all visible code must also
be readable
Link- http://www.webopedia.com/
TERM/W/White_Box_Testing.html
White-Box Testing is
a way to test a
software, this software will test the
internal structures and to see the
functionality.
This is a picture explain how White-Box Testing
is done.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
8
Bug An error in a structured
system. It is usually applied
to electrical and computer systems.
The electrical grid has developed a glitch
Link- http://www.urbandictionary.
com/define.php?term=Glitch
Bug is an error which
is in a game that
causes the lots of different problems
from crashing or not to function properly.
This is a picture Showing you a bug in Titanfall where players are not able to find a game.
GAME ENGINES GAME ENGINES
Vertex Shader A programmable function in
display adapters that offers a graphics application
programmer flexibility in
rendering an image. The vertex shader is used to
transform the attributes of vertices (points of a triangle)
such as color, texture,
position and direction from the original color space to the
display space. It allows the original objects to be
distorted or reshaped in any manner.
Link-
Vertex Shader is
important because it makes an image or
even an object look a
lot smoother and a lot more realistic.
This is a picture showing a Vertex Shader been used on this image.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
9
http://www.pcmag.com/enc
yclopedia/term/53754/vertex
-shader
Pixel Shader The name used to describe the method in which
a GPU applies textures and renders pixels to the display.
Pixel Shaders are used to give a more realistic look to
objects, such as reflections.
Link-
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/Pixel_Shader.html
Pixel Shader is almost the same as
vertex shade but instead the pixel
shader shades the individual pixel
unlike the vertex
shader.
This is a picture showing a Pixel Shader been used on this game.
Post
Processing Manipulation and conditioning
of signals and image data after they emerge from the
scan converter and before they are displayed.
Postprocessing is used to
change the assignment of image brightness versus echo
signal amplitude in memory.
Link- http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.
com/Post-processing
Post Processing
makes a game texture and shaders
look more realistic. It will also make the
game run faster and
the FPS will run quicker
This is a picture showing Post Processing been
used in this game.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
10
Rendering To convert any coded content
to the required format for
display or printing. Although the term is typically used to
refer to images, it may refer to any data. For example, an
HTML page, which contains
text and graphics, is said to be "rendered" when it is
displayed.
Link- http://www.pcmag.com/enc
yclopedia/term/50431/rende
r
Rendering means
generating a 2D
image in to a 3D model, it also means
how far you can see in a game and how
good the textures
look at a distance.
This is a picture showing a video been rendered
is Sony Vegas.
Normal Map
In 3D computer
graphics, normal mapping, or
"Dot3 bump mapping", is a technique used for faking the
lighting of bumps and dents – an implementation of bump
mapping. It is used to add details without using
more polygons. A common use
of this technique is to greatly enhance the appearance and
details of a low polygon modelby generating a normal
map from a high polygon
model or height map.
Normal Map is an
implemented of
different types of surface in the map
and is also used for faking the lighting of
the surfaces in the game.
This is a picture showing normal mapping been
used to make this character.
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BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
11
Link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
Entity Entity-component-
system (ECS) is a software architecture pattern that
implements concepts from Composition over
inheritance using a database-
like structure. Common ECS approaches are highly
compatible with Data-driven programming techniques, and
the two approaches are often combined.
Link- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/Entity_component_system
Entity is a
component system and also software
which implements concepts from
composition.
UV Map UV mapping is the 3D modeling process of making a
2D image representation of a 3D model's surface. UV
mapping This process projects a texture map onto a
3D object.
Link-
UV Mapping is a 3D modelling processing
which is created from a 2D image.
Human Head UV Mapping Tutorial in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbolXMyWvE
s
This is a video showing you how UV Map is used.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/UV_mapping
Procedural Texture
An algorithmic way of describing a texture. Unlike a
bitmapped texture, in which the texture is represented as
a bitmap, a procedural texture describes the texture
mathematically. Although not
widely used, this method is resolution independent and
can create more precise textures, especially if there is
great and varying depth to the objects being textured.
Procedural textures may be
2D or 3D.
Link- http://www.pcmag.com/enc
yclopedia/term/49743/procedural-texture
Procedural texture is a computer
generated image which is used to
create a realistic image of the
environment in
games.
Using Procedural Textures http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4xWwm9Ue
AE
Physics Computer animation
physics or game
physics involves the introduction of the laws
of physics into a simulation or game engine,
Physics is a the
relationship between
the world or level and the characters in
the game and how thing move threw out
Top Ten Physics Games
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g5UvHzZiVY
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
13
particularly in 3D computer
graphics, for the purpose of
making the effects appear more real to the observer.
Typically, simulation physics is only a close approximation
to real physics, and
computation is performed using discrete values.
Link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_physics
the game.
Collision Collision an instance of two or
more records being assigned the same identifier or location
in memory. an instance of simultaneous transmission by more than
one node of a network.
Link- https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-
instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=define+Collision
Collision is two
moving objects crashing in to each
other and doing
damage to one another.
Java 3D Game Development 16: Collision
Detection http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGh-
Vh_NYO0
Lighting Video games and computer-
generated movies and special
Lighting is an effect
which makes
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
14
effects benefit from this as it
creates more realistic scenes
than with the more simplistic lighting models used
Link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/High-dynamic-range_rendering
different parts of the
game suit that level
so if you are playing a horror game
lighting will be dark. Also lighting is use to
make levels stand
out and set the mood of the stage or level.
AA – Anti-
Aliasing Antialiasing is a way of smoothing edges. Computer
monitors display pixels, but real objects have curves and lines. In order to display these
on a computer monitor, the edge is often jagged.
Antialiasing helps reduce the problem by slightly blurring edges to the point where
jagged lines don't show easily or at all.
Link- http://compreviews.about.com/
od/PC-Gaming/a/What-is-antialiasing-in-PC-games.htm
Anti- Aliasing is a programme which,
smoothens the edges
of objects and images in game. This
will make them look more realistic.
What is Anti Aliasing (AA) as Fast as Possible http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqi0114mwt
Y
LoD – Level of Detail Level of Detail, or LOD, is a
technique applied in real-time
Level Of Detail means how much
LOD goes in to
Blender | Game Engine | Tutorial - LOD (Level Of Detail)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9mA1gK8s
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
15
graphics pipelines to increase
the efficiency at which a
scene can be rendered.
Typically used in gaming, an
LOD algorithm decreases the
visual complexity of objects
that are distant from the point-
of-view camera, leaving a
greater percentage of the
GPU available to render
foreground objects and
characters.
LOD is applied by decreasing
geometric and textural
resolution of faraway objects,
and also reducing the
complexity of that object's
material network. The effect is
applied dynamically in
graduated steps, so that an
object's detail will increase as
textures and models,
the higher the LOD
is, the better the textures look
however, it can sometimes make the
game run slow or the
fps could drop. Also the lower the detail
the worst the game look but it might run
a little bit better than normal.
Q
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BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
16
the user approaches.
Link-
http://3d.about.com/od/Glossary-L/g/Level-Of-Detail.htm
Animation Animation is the process of
creating motion and shape
change illusion by means of the rapid display of a sequence of static images that
minimally differ from each other. The illusion—as in
motion pictures in general—is thought to rely on the phi phenomenon. Animators are
artists who specialize in the creation of animation.
Animations can be recorded on either
analogue media, such as a flip book, motion picture film, video tape, or on digital
media, including formats such as animated GIF, Flash
animationor digital video. To display it, a digital camera, computer, or projector are
used.
Animation is a technique of
photographing drawings of
characters moving
step by step.
Game Maker Studio: Animation Tutorial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V5CIAmAtR
U
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
17
Animation creation methods include the traditional
animation creation method and those involving stop motion animation of two and
three-dimensional objects, such as paper cutouts,
puppets and clay figures. Images are displayed in a rapid succession, usually 24,
25, 30, or 60 frames per second.
Link- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ani
mation
Sprite A computer graphic which
may be moved on-screen and otherwise manipulated as a
single entity. Link-
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sprite
Sprite is a single
entity which moves
on the screen.
Game Maker Studio Tutorial: Basic Sprite Creation &
Movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATM8HNZ5UCc
Scene
The scene graph is a structure
that arranges the logical and
often (but not necessarily)
Scene is a cut scene
in a game which looks realistic and
the developers use
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BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
18
spatial representation of a
graphical scene. The
definition of a scene graph is
fuzzy because programmers
who implement scene graphs
in applications — and, in
particular, the games industry
— take the basic principles
and adapt these to suit
particular applications. This
means there is no consensus
as to what a scene graph
should be.
A scene graph is a collection
of nodes in
a graph or tree structure. A
tree node (in the overall tree
structure of the scene graph)
may have many children but
often only a single parent, with
the effect of a parent applied
to all its child nodes; an
operation performed on a
group automatically
propagates its effect to all of
motion capture suits
and equipment to
create these scenes. Real people move in
the motion capture suit and it is
recorded and then it
is used in the game.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
19
its members. In many
programs, associating a
geometrical transformation
matrix (see
also transformation and matrix
) at each group level and
concatenating such matrices
together is an efficient and
natural way to process such
operations. A common
feature, for instance, is the
ability to group related
shapes/objects into a
compound object that can
then be moved, transformed,
selected, etc. as easily as a
single object.
It also happens that in some
scene graphs, a node can
have a relation to any node
including itself, or at least an
extension that refers to
another node (for
instance Pixar's PhotoRealisti
c Render Man because of its
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
20
usage of Reyes
rendering algorithm, or Adobe
Systems's Acrobat 3D for
advanced interactive
manipulation).
Link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sc
ene_graph
Library A library is a collection
of non-volatile resources used
by programs on a computer, often to develop software.
Link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_(computing)
Library is collection
of all the games you
have bought and downloaded, gaming
libraries can hold massive amounts of
games.
UI UI also known as user
interface. The junction between a user and
a computer program.
Link-http://www.webopedia.com/
TERM/U/user_interface.html
UI which stands for
user interface is a computer program
and the user can use
this, you find these on gaming consoles
like the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3
and Wii U.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
21
Frames Frame rate, also known
as frame frequency and frames per
second (FPS), is
the frequency (rate) at which an imaging device produces
unique consecutive images called frames. The term
applies equally well to film and videocameras, computer graphics, and motion
capture systems. Frame rate is most often expressed in
frames per second (FPS) and is also expressed in progressive scan monitors
as hertz (Hz).
Link- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_rate
Frames or FPS means
how smooth your
game is running and how many frames it
is using, the more frames the better
your game will run
and the lower the frames the worst the
game runs, if the frame rate is really
low the game is almost un- playable
and will produce lag.
What does FPS mean and how many FPS do I
need?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLRj27ZMTIk
Concept Game design is
the design of games. It is the
art of elaborating rules and mechanics to facilitate interaction between players
for playful, educational or simulation purposes. Game
design can be applied to different media, such asboard
Concept is normally art work that is
drawn by hand to
design what charters may look like and
what the backgrounds may
look like.
Video Game Concept Art - WD Games http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB8UBR2p_J
E
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
22
games, card games, casino
games, role-playing games, video games, war
games or to itself, an example of metadesign. It is scientifically underpinned
in game theory.
Link- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_design
Event A boss fight in a game
http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=Ox4dT9L_xyU
Event is normally where you will take
on a boss in a boss
battle these can be found in different
stages of the game depending on what
type of game it is.
Pathfinding Pathfinding is a term used
mostly by computer applications to plot the best route from point A to point B. It
is a more realistic variant on solving mazes.
Used in a wide variety of games, it refers to AI finding a path around an obstacle, such
as a wall, door, or bookcase. In recent games, pathfinding
Path Finding is a way
for gamer to progresses through
the levels, the gamer
needs to find a certain path to
progress, however there is becoming
multiple ways for gamers to find a
path.
Game Maker Tutorial - Path Finding Advanced AI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_AurmdOnw4
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23
has become more important
as players demand greater intelligence from their own
units (in the case of real-time strategy games) or their opponents (as in the case
of first-person shooters).
Link- http://pathfinding.askdefinebeta.com/