Download - Engine technology worksheet
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:
Nathan Math
er
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 TESTI
Demo A demonstration of a product or technique. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=the+defenition+of+demo&oq=the+
defenition+of+demo&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.4800j0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8#q=the+definition+of+demo&spell=
1
This image is relevant as a demo is a taster of what the game has to offer. This is relevant as the image shows a simplified version 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
2
NG 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. http://www.techopedia.com/definition/27136/beta-test-gaming
This image represents “Beta” as i t shows a partial
section of the game which is not in development.
Alpha A very early version of a software product that may not contain all of
the features that are planned for the final version. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/alpha_version.html
This image is a representation of an “alpha”. It has very basic display and basic setup.
Pre-Alpha A development status given to a program or application that is usually not feature complete, and is not
usually released to the public. http://www.abbreviations.com/pre-alpha%20version
The image relates to “pre-alpha” as it is a clear demonstration of a game which is in pre-alpha
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
3
Gold It means that the development cycle
is complete. As well as the Bug Fixing cycle (doesn't mean that bugs can't be discovered later). And the Master
Disc (gold) is off to the factory for replication and distribution http://www.gamespot.com/forums/playstation-discussion-
1000002/what-does-it-mean-when-a-game-goes-gold-26614050/
This image is a good representation of “gold”
due to the fact that is shows the gold edition of the game
Debug Identify and remove errors from
(computer hardware or software) http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/debug
This image demonstrates “debug” by showing code which i s the basis for how things work in
games and what must be edited in order to fix bugs .
Automation The automatic operation or control of equipment, a process, or a system.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/automation
This video allows a clear understanding of what
Automation is about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbSlW8jZFe8
White-Box Testing
White-box testing is a methodology used to ensure and validate the internal framework, mechanisms,
objects and components of a software application http://www.techopedia.com/defini tion/3891/white-box-testing
This video gives a clear description on what White-Box Testing i s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bJcvBLJViQ#!
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
4
Bug A software bug is an error,
flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwar
e_bug
This example of a bug in a game which had not
been fixed.
GAME ENGINES GAME ENGINES
Vertex Shader
A programmable function in display adapters that offers graphics application programmer flexibility in
rendering an image. http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/53754/vertex-shader
This image demonstrates the process In which a character is created via vertex shading.
Pixel Shader 1. (computer graphics) A shader that operates on
the level of individual pixels, used to generate complex visual effects.
http://www.yourdictionary.com/pixel-shader
In this image you can see that using a pixel
shader has increased the overall in-game image quality.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
5
Post
Processing Processing after other processes
have been completed. https://www.wordnik.com/words/post-processing
This is an image of post processing. As you can
see the image is at a higher quality.
Rendering The processing of an outline image
using colour and shading to make it
appear solid and three-dimensional. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-
instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=the+definition+of+rendering
Rendering is the process which determines the
dis tance that an individual can see in game. Games such as minecraft have the option to change the render distance as i t is a method of
reducing lag.
Normal Map a technique used for faking the
lighting of bumps and dents – an implementation of bump mapping.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
This image shows how normal mapping has changed the l ighting to give greater amounts of deta il to the game character.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
6
Entity Something that has separate and
distinct existence and objective or conceptual reality. http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/entity
In video game terms an Entity i s commonly an
NPC (not playable character). Games such as Slender
UV Map UV mapping is the 3D modeling
process of making a 2D image representation of a 3D model. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-
instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=the+definition+of+uv+map
Tis image shows the way in which UV mapping works . It shows that the “Net” of the character
can be edited which will change the 3d model which is the overall outcome.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
7
Procedural
Texture An algorithmic way of describing a
texture. http://www.yourdictionary.com/procedural-texture
This image shows that a procedural texture has
been used to change the texture of this block.
Physics Physics is the science of energy and
matter and how they relate to each
other. http://www.yourdictionary.com/physics
This image shows how physics are used to increase the in game performance form the game Far Cry 3.
Collision In virtual reality environments,
collision detection is a program interface that determines how close a user is to a real physical objects and will stop their movement before
colliding with the object. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/collision_detection.html
This image demonstrates “Collision” using real
phys ics from Grand Theft Auto IV.
Lighting The function of lighting is to give form
to the objects in the scene. This video explains the basics of l ighting in video
game terms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCSRSxET0FA
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
8
AA – Anti-
Aliasing Smoothing the jagged appearance of
diagonal l ines in a bitmapped image. http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/37810/ant
i-aliasing
This video explains clearly what AA or Anti-
Al iasing is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqi0114mwtY
LoD – Level of Detail
Level of detail is a general design term for video game landscapes in which closer objects are rendered with more polygons than objects
that are farther away. http://www.techopedia.com/definition/11791/level-of-detail-lod
This video gives fair detail on the LoD or Level of Deta il.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu_K2YHb_j8
Animation The technique of photographing successive drawings or positions of
puppets or models to create an il lusion of movement when the fi lm is shown as a sequence. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/
definition/english/animation
This image shows animating software and some partial demonstration of what must be done to animate a 3D game character.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
9
Sprite A computer graphic which may be
moved on-screen and otherwise manipulated as a single entity. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/
definition/english/sprite
This image shows a large number of different
game sprites from the retro game Donkey Kong.
Scene a unit of action or a segment of a sto
ry in a play, motion picture, or
television show. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scene
This image is a demonstration of a scene from the game Red Dead Redemption.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
10
Library A collection of fi lms, recorded music,
etc., organized systematically and kept for research or borrowing. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/
definition/english/library
This image shows the asset library of a game
which is a log of different i tems in a game.
UI the means in which a person controls a software application or hardware de
vice. http://www.techterms.com/definition/user_interface
This is a menu from a video game i t is a clear example of “UI” as it shows how a user can
interact with the game.
Frames In video and animation, frames are individual pictures in a sequence of images.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/frame
This video game explains the basics of “Frames” and frame rate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEtiNxlTJ8I
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
11
Concept An abstract idea.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/concept
This is an image of concept art. This relates as it
i s a abstract idea for a game.
Event An action or occurrence detected by
a program. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/E/event.html
This image shoes an event from the game
Spartacus Legends.
Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games IG2 Task 1
12
Pathfinding a person who makes or finds a way,
esp. through unexplored areas or fields of knowledge. http://dictionary.reverso.net/english
-definition/pathfindingv
This image is an example of pathfinding both
l i terally and metaphorically.