Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 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: Kieran Dixon

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 to try out or exhibit the use of (a product, process, or the likehttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/demo

To be given an interactive demonstration of said video game; which is, to put rather simply, a demonstration of what the game could amount to and one or two of the many features of said video game.

http://games.on.net/2013/10/hands-on-with-dying-light-more-than-just-dead-island-with-parkour/

Dying Light Demo: Live at E3 By IGN. This is important because it is la live demonstration of a video game (Demo).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfrNm0e7980

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Beta It's the version of a game that's usually only available to a small amount of people... These people test the game and give the company feedback on bugs and stuff before they launch the final copy of the gamehttps://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081019143302AAIBseY

Beta is the version of a game of which it Is in its’ secondary stage, to which means that it will become available soon to the public for playing, as well as the state of development which means it will be ‘purged’ of glitches and made ready for the final stage of development.

Titanfall Beta demo in its early stages of development.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q81Sf5dwoOc

Alpha The alpha is a pre-beta phase of testing and construction. The alpha essentially the earliest version of the completed project that's available to be played, and is where the biggest tests for glitches, errors, etc. are donehttp://johngreasygamer.hubpages.com/question/228316/what-is-the-alpha-stage-in-video-games-and-their-testing

The earliest version of the video game development stage, and is riddled with glitches, bugs or issues of which must be sorted and identified in the beta version.

http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/09/destiny-alpha-cometh-to-ps4-this-thursday/

Destiny Alpha Gameplay In PS4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCamuS-jH-A

Pre-Alpha Pre-alpha refers to all activities performed during the software project before testing. These activities can include requirements

The stage before the game is made alpha, which means that it is in the basic stage of being made, and has not been made for gameplay yet.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

analysis, software design, software development, and unit testing.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle#Pre-alpha

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 distributionhttp://www.gamespot.com/forums/playstation-discussion-1000002/what-does-it-mean-when-a-game-goes-gold-26614050/

The final stage for video game development and is the marketed disk of which we buy.

This video link is the Gold version- the basically complete, public version- for the video game Soul Calibur V (5). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PovMz7_oYFs

this is another video link for the game DMC (Devil May cry) which is a newer, later released game that has the similar proportions of game designing and graphics, as well as it is the Gold version- finished version- as well.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CShGiaWbw94

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Debug Debugging refers to the process or processes used by video game developers to remove glitches from a game. Often, special tools and hidden features are used to debug the game.http://glitches.wikia.com/wiki/Debugging

A process in which engineers or programmers can either remove bugs or ‘system glitches’ form their game with the use of in-game hidden features.

http://help.eclipse.org/luna/index.jsp?topic=%2Forg.eclipse.jdt.doc.user%2FgettingStarted%2Fqs-13.htmThis is the debugging source code for a programme that is sued to de-bug a computer- in this it I s a PC.

Automation Automated Software Testing is the application and implementation of software technology throughout the entire software testing lifecycle (STL), with the goal of improving STL efficiency and effectivenesshttp://idtus.com/what-is-automated-software-testing/

The basic necessity for improving efficiency and/or effectiveness to the software of a game.

http://www.perforce.com/company/newsletter/2013/04/beyond-scrum-continuous-integration-build-and-test-automationThis image shows the automated software testing and what programmes can be run to perform it.

White-Box Testing

White-box testing is a verification technique software engineers can use to examine if their code works as expected.

Engineers or programmers can use this way of testing to see if their code works as expected.

This image shows the coding for white box testing, and shows how it

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

http://agile.csc.ncsu.edu/SEMaterials/WhiteBox.pdf

(Open Box or Clear Box/Glass Box Testing)

can be incorporated into the video game software.

Bug A software bug is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug

A ‘bug’ is an issue with the software you use that can hinder the video game in any way, and is often used with the term ‘glitch’.

http://www.softwaretestingstuff.com/2008/05/classification-of-defects-bugs.htmlThis states what a bug is, and how to find them, and in some cases, how to get rid of them.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

GAME ENGINES

GAME ENGINES

Vertex Shader A Vertex Shader is also GPU component and is also programmed using a specific assembly-like language, like pixel shaders, but are oriented to the scene geometry and can do things like adding cartoony silhouette edges to objects, etc.http://stackoverflow.com/questions/832545/what-are-vertex-and-pixel-shaders

Adds shading and can create silhouettes to an object/place/person.

http://www.toymaker.info/Games/html/vertex_shaders.htmlThis is an example of a vertex shader, and what it does.

Pixel ShaderA Pixel Shader is a GPU (Graphic

Processing Unit) component that

can be programmed to operate on a

per pixel basis and take care of stuff

like lighting and bump mapping.http://stackoverflow.com/questions/832545/what-are-vertex-and-pixel-shaders

Creates smoother looking pixels and makes each pixel be able to hold more lighting effect and colour to create a texture of desired effect.

http://www.overclock.net/t/12577/pixel-shader-v2-vs-v3This is a textbook image of a ‘before and after’ situation. The before image is the part of the game where no pixel shading has been added, and the after image is the part of the game where pixel shading has been done, which, as shown by example, makes the image or game look better.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Post ProcessingRendering Rendering is the process of

generating an image from a 2D or 3D model (or models in what collectively could be called a scene file), by means of computer programs.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(computer_graphics)

Rendering means that you can create a 2D or 3D model with the use of programming.

http://www.pixmule.com/back-to-the-article-lamborghini-murcielago-lp-coupe-images/12/

This image shows some CGI rendering and is useful to this because CGI rendering is a form of rendering.

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 model by generating a normal map from a high polygon model or height map.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping

This is used to allow the developer the ability to add more detail to a design without using too much or more of the digital polygons and allow the developer the ability to enhance the detail.

https://developer.oculusvr.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5560

this image shows the different between using a high amount of polygons, a low amount of polygons, and a low amount of polygons with normal mapping, and how each one has a different amount of quality to the image, and how normal mapping makes it look better and of higher quality than both of the others.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

EntityUV Map UV mapping is the 3D modelling

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.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_mapping

UV Mapping is a process in which you can take a 2D object or representation of said object, and make it 2D. This allows you to create a ‘texture map’ or a way of either enhancing the effects of a map, or the gameplay itself. This can vary to the environment of a game as well, or can greatly reduce the time needed for said game to load up or save, due to either less particle sin the gaming or the map’s low memory- this is, of course, assuming that this will be used for video games on the PC, of which take considerable time to load.

This is a UV model of a video game character, which is being modelled in 3D.http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/tutorials/zbrush/red-hulk/red_hulk4.html

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.http://www.yourdictionary.com/procedural-texture

A mathematic use of algorithms to which mathematically deduce and explain the different textures of a map.

http://www.cprogramming.com/discussionarticles/texture_generation.html

This is a perfect example of procedural texturing.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Physics Computer animation physics or game physics involves the introduction of the laws of physics into a simulation or game engine, particularly in 3D computer graphics, for the purpose of making the effects appear more real to the observer.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_physics

Creates a ‘physic simulation’ of sorts, to which allows and introduces the laws of theoretical and literal real-time physics into a video game, thus giving it real life physics.

An image of the video game portal 2, which is widely known for its physics.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/arts/video-games/portal-2-a-video-brain-game-review.html?_r=0

Collision Collision detection is also a virtual interface that determines user and object distance for collision prevention. Collision detection is a key 3-D component associated with robotics, video games and physical simulationhttp://www.techopedia.com/definition/4778/collision-detection

It is a virtual interface of which allows the user to input a code which determines the distance between the object of choice or person of choice and the user themselves.

http://www.ultimagame.es/tekken-6/imagenes-238488.htm

This image shows the game, Tekken 6, which relies heavily upon the collision detection system to flow fluidly. Other such games, as the Soul Calibre series and the Street Fighter games, all rely on the same system to keep their game physics, along with their fighting and character development, flowing smoothly and easily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyANV8-ca7sThis is a video link to said games that were mentioned above, and shows the combat which uses collision detection.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Lighting Without lighting there is no environment but just a group of 3 dimensional objects. Lighting has the capacity to bring life to a group of objects and take them to the next level of quality. Its purpose goes further than just giving the players the ability to see where they are going.http://www.moddb.com/tutorials/lighting-in-game-environments-the-hows-and-whys

Lighting is a general term of which the animator or developer adds in-game lighting to create shadows, areas of light and sources of said light.,

http://www.moddb.com/tutorials/lighting-in-game-environments-the-hows-and-whysThis image shows the difference between good lighting effects in games and the bad lighting effects.

AA – Anti-Aliasing

In 3D video games, anti-aliasing is a very intense process, requiring a lot of computer power. It basically is rendering the whole image multiple times, and then blurring the images together, to smooth out the edges.https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100710073433AA0dSCA

It is rendering the whole image of a scene of a video game more than once, and then blurring it slightly to add effect and enhance the video performance.

This image shows the anti-aliasing effect versus a normal, aliased effect.http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/11/02/the-ails-of-typographic-anti-aliasing/

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

A term often used with video game landscapes in which the polygons that make up an object are more visible than the object itself the further away the player is form said object.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Animation Video games and Flash are examples of animation engines. An animation engine is the code in the animation application that drives the animation.http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/animation/animation_engine_design.html

An engine of which allows the user to set code which drives the animation.

This image shows the software and the process of video game character animation.http://www.tokkunacademy.com/index.php?view=download&id=vgam_anim_tech

Sprite In computer graphics, a sprite (also known by other names) is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_(computer_graphics)

A 2D image or object inserted into a 3D background.

Examples of 2D sprites for the video game Super Mariohttp://www.spritestitch.com/tag/lego/

A Scene graph contains all of the Scene graphs show a different http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgul3PGYjPE

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Scene

geometry of a particular scene. They are useful for representing translations, rotations and scales (along with other affine transformations) of objects relative to each other.For instance, consider a tank (the type with tracks and a gun). Your scene may have multiple tanks, but each one be oriented and positioned differently, with each having its turret rotated to different azimuth and with a different gun elevationhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/5319282/game-engines-what-are-scene-graphs

variation of the same object, of which can be placed differently to the other ones around it.

This is a link to a video of cut scenes for a game called Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWcrrhZB1XMin the video, it contains the entire collection of every cut scene contained within the game, showing that each and every cut scene is useful to tis for an example, but the length of the video (% hours) may be a bit excessive.

LibraryUI The junction between a user and a

computer program. An interface is a set of commands or menus through which a user communicates with a program. A command-driven interface is one in which you enter commands. A menu-driven interface is one in which you select command choices from various menus displayed on the screen.http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/U/user_interface.html

A way of delivering a command set of code to the game.

http://gamestudies.org/1202/articles/ui_mod_in_wowThis image shows a game, called World Of Warcraft, and the UI (User Interface) within the game. The UI in this game is interactive within the game-play of the game itself.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Frames A film frame or video frame is one of the many still images which compose the complete moving picture.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_frame

A measurement of the speed of which the video game’s graphics are being handled by the game engine or processor.

http://www.edgonline.com/2014/08/04/big-updates-headed-youtube/#.VBhQsPldXToThis image shows the distinct difference that frames (FPS {Frames Per Second}) can do.

Concept Concept art is a form of illustration used to convey an idea for use in (but not limited to) films, video games, animation, or comic books before it is put into the final product. Concept art is also referred to as visual development and/or concept design.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_art

Concept art is an artist’s design of an early character’s of environment’s development.

http://crispme.com/mass-effect-3-fan-art-by-patryk-olejniczak/

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

This is a fan’s concept art regarding the game mass effect 3, and is here for purposes of showing what concept art is, and that it doesn’t necessary have to be from the developers themselves.

EventPathfinding Pathfinding in the context of video

games concerns the way in which a moving entity finds a path around an obstacle; the most frequent context is real-time strategy games (in which the player directs units around a play area containing obstacles), but forms of this are found in most modern video games.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinding#In_video_games

A way in which the object or character of choice moves around and can find ways around obstacles independently, without the use of player control.

http://robinwragg.tumblr.com/post/39953539741/pathfinding-this-is-my-first-working-pathfindingThis image is an example of some path finding software that can allow the in-game AI (Artificial Intelligence) to navigate their ways around. It can also, to a degree, be used to navigate the main character or Player controlled Character (PCC).

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