Glossary

RAMRAM stands for Random-Access Memory. It is a form of memory on computers. RAM is called ‘random access’ because all the memory cells on a RAM card can be accessed directly, that is if the computer knows where the particular memory cell is. RAM drives are used to store memory temporarily because the entire memory of the RAM drive will be wiped when it loses power. This makes RAM dives perfect for games because information like e.g. ‘when the dropped gun is’ and ‘where the enemies dead body is and it’s position’ don’t need to be stored permanently.

Source – http://www.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm

CPUThe CPU is the most basic part of a working computer. All other parts of a computer (memory disk, processor, graphics card, etc.) serve the CPU. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. A CPU does up several billion arithmetic and ‘logical’ decisions a second. The arithmetic sums that the CPU does are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, trigonometry, etc. all of these are done at ultra-high speeds.

Source – http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-computer-cpu-54856.html

Graphics Processor/GPUThe GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a critical part of the computer hardware and is specialised in creating and displaying the graphics for a computer. The GPU is critical to the overall processing speed of the computer because of how demanding the task of producing an image is: GPU’s will improve the speed of a computer. GPU’s are important for video games because one of the main reasons why some people buy a game is based a lot on the visual element of the game and a CPU cannot display top-notch graphics.

Processing/ProcessorsProcessing is when the computer carries out any action from an instruction. Processing speed is altered by the amount of actions it must carry out at once, the more actions and less processors there is, then the slower the processing speed. Typically, a processor can only preform one large task (such as playing a game or preforming a whole computer security scan) at a time, but if the computer has a dual core processor then it can operate both of the software’s at the same time. If the computer has a quad core processor, then it can operate four large scale tasks at the same time.

Source - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fqc8k4uzLU

Audio OutputAudio is one of the many forms of out put a computer/console gives. The audio output is the sound commands that are sent from the computer to the speakers.

Storage MediaStorage Media is the storage devices that memory is stored on. A storage device can be internal or external of the computer. An example of internal memory is a RAM card and the hard-drive. An example of external memory is a disk and a USB.

Power SupplyThe power supply is where the power is coming from. Power normally comes from the National Grid.

Software KernelThe Kernel is the operating system that the computer uses. When a Kernel is installed onto a computer it is always put into a specially made memory card (which prevents other software accidently overwriting it) that is pre-protected from viruses and hackers.

Source – http://www.linfo.org/kernel.html

HCIHuman-Computer Interaction is how the people interact with a computer. This is dome by using input technology. On a computer the HCI is usually a keyboard and mouse, while on a console it is usually a controller.

LANLocal Area Network a type in online, where people can only connect to each other’s game through the same internet connection. This is usually people playing against their own family with different computers/consoles.

GPRSGeneral Packet Radio Service is a packet oriented mobile data service on. GPRS was originally ‘standardized’ by European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). GPRS works with 2G and 3G networks.

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Packet_Radio_Service

WAPWireless Application Protocol is a Technical Standard for applications that have wireless internet connections. All mobile devices that use Wireless Internet connection use WAP so they can all access the same websites, even a different phone from a different brand.

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Application_Protocol

CacheCache is similar to RAM, it is a type of temporary memory storage. The difference between Cache and RAM is that a cache contains vitally important memory that needs to be accessed ultra-quickly. A type of vital memory is a sum and the answer to it.

MCP (Media Communications Processor)Media Communications Processor is a type of CPU created by NVidia. The MCP is a specialist in producing extremely high quality sounds, without needing a sound-card and to be able to carry out all the other jobs a CPU is expected to do; at the same rate.

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NForce

APIApplied Programming Interface is a software that allows different software’s and hardware’s to interact with each other without problems, even if they are made by different companies and have very little in common. An example of an API is hardware is the GPU and the CPU working together, an example of a software API is copy and pasting text from the internet to a text writing software like Microsoft Word. API’s work because all the forms of programming (common coding is C## and Java Script) to understand each other and how each other work.

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_programming_interface

Interpreted Programming Languages for GamesInterpreted Programming Languages for games is when the coding executes instructions instantly (the code isn’t turned into binary code before the instruction is carried out).

Programming Languages that use Interpreted Programming are: Java. This is a programming language that that is branded as ‘write once, run anywhere’. This

means that the script have been developed to work on all platforms, without having to be re-coded to work on another platform. As of the beginning of 2014 Java had become the most common form of programming, with over 9 million developers making games and applications using Java. It is also believed that over 9 Billion electronic devices worldwide can understand Java.

J2ME. This is another programming language made by Java. It is a specialist language made for bile phones, set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players, digital media devices, M2M modules and printers.

C#, or C Sharp. This was originally made by Microsoft for all its .NET applications and it was built on the syntax and semantics of C++. C♯ is one of the programming languages designed for the Common Language Infrastructure; this is because it is one of the most simple programming languages.

Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpreted_language / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(programming_language) / http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/whatis_j2me.xml / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sharp_(programming_language)

Compiled Programming Languages for GamesCompiled Programming Languages is the opposite of Interpreted Programming Languages, it is when the coding is translated into binary code and the binary code is what the computer accepts instructions from.

The only programming language that uses Compiled Programming is: C++. This is one of the most popular programming languages around today. It is believed to be a medium-difficulty language. C++ has also inspired several other programming languages (most notably C# and Java).

Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiled_language / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C++

Object-Oriented ProgrammingProgramming languages that use Object-Oriented Programming are:

C++. This is one of the most popular programming languages around today. It is believed to be a medium-difficulty language. C++ has also inspired several other programming languages (most notably C# and Java).

C#, or C Sharp. This was originally made by Microsoft for all its .NET applications and it was built on the syntax and semantics of C++. C♯ is one of the programming languages designed for the Common Language Infrastructure; this is because it is one of the most simple programming languages

J2ME. This is another programming language made by Java. It is a specialist language made for bile phones, set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players, digital media devices, M2M modules and printers.

J2SE. Now no longer being used; the Java 2 Platform Standard Edition, at its peak of use, it was the ‘most widely used multi-platform application environment ever built’. When it was originally designed it was designed for: Ease of Development, Scalability and Performance, Monitoring and Manageability and Desktop Client

Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C++ / http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/whatis_j2me.xml / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sharp_(programming_language) /http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/articles/javase/j2se15-141062.html

Scripting Languages for GamesScripting Languages are:

UnrealScript. This was developed for making high level games with simple scripts. The UnrealScript can only be operated in the Unreal Engine, because it was made specifically for the engine. The design for the UnrealScript was inspired by C++ and Java

QuakeC. This was made solely for the Quake game. There were a few games that used the QuakeC code after the Quake game was made but now it is never used.

Maya Script. The Maya Script is a specialist script developed for Autodesk’s 3D animation designer – Maya. Maya Script is not used to make video games.

Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnrealScript / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuakeC / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Embedded_Language

Binary CodeBinary code is the code that most computers run off of. It is a series of 0’s and 1’s that are put together to make a digital code. These numbers are being sent a cross the computer at breath taking speeds. The string of 0’s and 1’s (which can go up to 7 0’s and 1’s in a row) represent a letter or a punctuation mark, which the CPU understands and translates, to be sent to another unit such as RAM or the output device. The code of 0’s and 1’s is sent across the wire by electricity, no electricity means there is a 0 and some electricity is a 1. An example of binary code is:

01010100 01101000 01100001 01101110 01101011 0111001 0100000 01100110 01101111 01110010 010000 etc.

Source - http://www.binarytranslator.com/what-is-binary.php

Controller InterfaceController Interface is how a person sends orders to the computer to do something. A common type of controller is the keyboard, when I type in an ‘a’ an order is sent to put in an ‘a’ and the word document. Another example on controller interface and the keyboard is the ‘w’ ‘a’ ‘s’ ‘d’ keys. ‘w’ moves the character forward, ‘a’ moves the character left, ‘s’ moves the character backwards and ‘d’ moves the character right. Different examples of controllers are: the mouse, a joystick and an Xbox controller.

InputThe input is the data that goes into a computer. Forms of input are: keyboard, mouse, USB, joystick, microphone, controller, motion sensor, camera and mimic car pressure pads/steering wheels.

Video Output

The video output is the visual commands that are sent by the computer to a display screen. The visual commands can be sent through two different cables, conventional cables and HDMI cables which allow HD images to be displayed by the computer screen.

CapacitorA capacitor is like a battery, it stores energy. But unlike a battery it doesn’t charge up any new electrons and then store them, a capacitor only stores energy. In computers a capacitor is used with binary code. If the capacitor is full it is a 1 and if it is empty it is a 0.

Source - http://www.howstuffworks.com/capacitor.htm

TransistorA transistor fills up/discharges up a capacitor if it needs to be full/empty. This is important to binary code because a full transistor creates a 1 and an empty transistor creates a 0.

Address BusThis is the wires that connect the CPU to the main memory; the wires are also used to help the CPU find where the required memory is. The amount of wires in the address bus defines the total memory space the computer has. The average computer would have about 36 address buses, which is about 64 GB of memory.

Source - http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/address_bus.html

Optical DiskAn optical disk is a memory storage disk that uses lasers to read it. There are three forms of optical disks in use today: DVD, CD, and Blu-Ray. The laser reads them because there are millions upon millions of minute bums and dips on the disk, portraying binary code.

Source - http://www.techterms.com/definition/opticaldrive

Magnetic tapeThis is an old form of memory storage. They were used before computers were invented to record audio and visual content.

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_tape