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: Anthony Bowes

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.

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

A demo is relevant to the production process as a demo is a short selection of a game that gives the general public a feel for the game. This can be used for advertisement purposes to promote the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeAThis is a game demo for watch dogs before it was released. It provided a small mission for the player to get a feel for the game.

http:// cdn3.wccftech.com/wp- content/uploads/

2013/12/watch-dogs-gameplay-demo.jpg

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

Beta A beta version of a game it is an unfinished version released to either the public a select few or whoever signs up to beta test it for bugs or glitches. They normally are available for a few months before releasing the game fully.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Beta

Betas are small tests that are normally in the form of a early access multiplayer demo from the rough stages of a game to see how the public react and what they can improve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATEpzfDUj1UThis is the multiplayer beta for Titenfall, you could only play one map and one game mode.

http://

www.entertainmentfuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/titanfall-beta.jpg

Alpha A very early version of a game that may not contain all of the features that are planned for the final version. Typically, software goes through two stages of testing before it is considered finished. Alpha is the first stage and is a rough copy of the finished game.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/alpha_version.html

An alpha is a pre released version of the full game and is normally a very rough copy witch a lot of bugs and glitches however allows the public to find these bugs and report them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC0Rs_ARfMM

This is the Alpha for an Indi game known as Tug, it is not a finished game yet but is available for people to test.

http://

www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/11/tug-update-epl-1110.jpg

A copy of the game to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJrZkNVwNTs

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

Pre-AlphaA development status given to a program or application that is usually not feature complete, and is not usually released to the public. Developers are usually still deciding on what features the program should have at this status

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pre-alpha_version

be tested by the game company to see what they can improve and is not played by the general public. This way they can improve and fix any glitch they find before alpha stage.

This a pre alpha release that was used to advertise the game and was tested by only a few people.

http://www.twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/next-car-game-race.jpg

Gold A game has "Gone Gold" when the final master copy has been produced at the developer and sent off for replication, packaging and shipment. The game is not yet released, but it will typically be around 2-3 weeks (sometimes less) before it begins appearing on store shelves and online pre-orders arriving at doorsteps.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gone%20Gold

Going gold is the final finished copy of the game and is ready to be released around the world for everyone to buy off the shelves or online.

http://images.lazygamer.net/2013/09/gtaearly.jpg

This is a gold game that was released to the public to buy and is a finished version of a game.

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

Debug Debugging is a methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs, or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware, thus making it behave as expected. Debugging tends to be harder when various subsystems are tightly coupled, as changes in one may cause bugs to emerge in another.

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

Debugging is a process of finding and eliminating any glitches in a game and making sure they do not reoccur. By debugging the whole game this makes it glitch free and makes a more professional standard game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9GAyLDxspQthis is a tutorial on how to debug a programme and to sort out any glitches

https://netbeans.org/images_www/articles/72/java/debug-multithread/debugging-editor-suspendedannot2.png

Automation The definition of automation is the use of machines and technology to make processes run on their own without manpower.

http://www.yourdictionary.com/automation

This is when our game engine has a pre-set entity that works on its own or a rendered world where we don’t have to manually render it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsoEeFTVL5g

This is a video on how to automate your video game so you don’t have to manualy do the process.

http://

4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SjODQiqlOk/Uecski7Pt1I/AAAAAAAAAaw/o-wCIb4ieOI/s1600/2013-07-05.jpg

White-Box Testing

A software testing technique whereby explicit knowledge of the internal workings of the item being tested are

This is a programme to make sure that all codes are correct and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsK3mU5tdmYThis is a video on what is white box testing and explains the basics as well as some more advanced techniques.

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

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.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/White_Box_Testing.html

that no code is broken. This allows all aspects of the game to work the way you want them to without errors.

http://www.indiabix.com/_files/images/software-testing/29-1.png

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 when something goes wrong in the game engine such as a entity not moving when it should or the character doesn’t shoot right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3g2840zXKYthis a video listing 10 funny bugs that people have found when playing a game

http://www.infosnacks.com/image/video-game-glitches-326.jpg

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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 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.

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/53754/vertex-shader

This allows the game to have a more dynamic graphical edge and allows entities like shadows to render to the 3D world in real time. This allows game engines to have more advanced lighting .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHVfiuaIQ4Ythis is a video of a vertex shader that makes the game better looking.

http://www.3dvelocity.com/reviews/6800ultra/technology/displacement.jpg

Pixel Shader The pixel shader is another programmable function that allows flexibility in shading an individual pixel. Whereas vertex shaders can be used to completely transform the shape of an object, pixel shaders are used to change the appearance of the pixels.

www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/53754/vertex- shader

This allows all the entities and world to have a greater graphic capacity and is much clearer as a game with this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5SyxfiCNTU

This video is a final project that shows a variety of pixel shading on different entites with in a demo game.

http://

assets.overclock.net.s3.amazonaws.com/4/4e/4e776cf7_vbattach2843.jpeg

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

Post Processing

Sonar data processing after real time data generation and storage. Modern sonar systems allow the user to concentrate on the task at hand of gathering data by recording "raw" data which can be manipulated or "processed" later.

http://www.instituteformarineacoustics.org/SonarPrimer/data/gloss_6c.htm

This is where the game collects data so it is able to render such as entities and world terrain in real time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5PhrBr_gvMThis is a quick tutorial on how to use post processing and tips on the game engine Unity.

http://www.worldoftanksguide.com/images/post-processing.jpg

RenderingRendering 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. Also, the results of such a model can be called a rendering.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(computer_graphics)

This is where the game renders all the world so that the player can look around and move with the world moving around with in real time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H_QfoaeNysThis video shows examples of game objects rendering into a 3D environment and becoming fully viewable from all angles.

http://i50.tinypic.com/5e7kev.jpg

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

Normal Map Normal Maps and Bump Maps both serve the same purpose: they simulate the impression of a detailed 3D surface, by modifying the shading as if the surface had lots of small angles, rather than being completely flat. Because it's just modifying the shading of each pixel, this will not cast any shadows and will not obstruct other objects. If the camera angle is too flat to the surface, you will notice that the surface is not really shaped.

http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.4/Manual/Textures/Influence/Material/Bump_and_Normal

This allows the map to become more realistic and allows the world to modify the shading to look much more detailed and smoother. They shade in the individual pixels to modify the map.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2uFD2R1IN0This is a tutorial on making a normal map texture and applying it.

http://www.bencloward.com/images/tutorial_normals07.gif

Entity An entity is something that exists in itself, actually or hypothetically. It need not be of material existence. In particular, An entity is something that exists in itself, actually or hypothetically. It need not be of material existence. In particular, abstractions and legal fictions are usually regarded as entities. In general, there is also no presumption that an entity is animate.

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

An entity is an object within the game that exists on its own and stays in the game. An example of this is a house or car, it does not change or move and is normally a solid object.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPZQgiTfj9sThis is a video based how to make an entity in a game engine and how to make it work on its own.

http://media.indiedb.com/images/articles/1/154/153237/auto/entity-hierarchy.png

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

UV Map UV mapping is the 3D modeling process of making a 2D image representation of a 3D model's surface.

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

This is where you make a 2D image into a 3D object or image through a number of process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Zkt3uAeO0This video is another blender video creating a UV map of a character from 2D to 3D

http://

goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au/~gl/teaching/Interactive3D/2012/images/uv-unwrap.jpg

Procedural Texture

A procedural texture is a computer-generated image created using an algorithm intended to create a realistic representation of natural elements such as wood, marble, granite, metal, stone, and others.

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

This is the skin that goes on to objects and entities that go into the map. Also on to the skin or a terrain which gives it a better aesthetic look

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpkpJ9CsrkkThis video explains procedural textures and how to apply them on to entity’s and objects.

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

http://www.3dtotal.com/admin/new_cropper/tutorial_content_images/713_tid_tut02_18.jpg

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. Typically, simulation physics is only a close approximation to real physics, and computation is performed using discrete values.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_physics#

Physics allow the game to become more realistic and simulate real time physics such as gravity or weight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS9seZ_G6pUThis is a demonstration video about destruction physics in a game engine known as blender.

http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/game-physics.jpg

Collision Collision detection is used to detect the Collision is a type of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc3yAla0tL8

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

contact of objects within your game. There are a multitude of ways that this can be done. The technique that is used depends on the circumstance. Often the overriding consideration is the maintenance of frame rate within your game.

http://relativity.net.au/gaming/java/SimpleCollisionDetection.html

physic that does not allow two objects to pass through other trough impact but bounce off each other or come to a stop.

A basic tutorial on how corner collisions work within a game.

http://johnpdoran.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/collision.png

Lighting High-dynamic-range rendering (HDRR or HDR rendering), also known as high-dynamic-range lighting, is the rendering of computer graphics scenes by using lighting calculations done in a larger dynamic range. This allows preservation of details that may be lost due to limiting contrast ratios.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-range_rendering

Lighting is what allows the player to see where they are going and has to be placed in the position and brightness to suit the mood of the level or game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b7jbqwlW4cThis is a video showing dynamic lighting in a game.

http://vbimagehost.gamexeon.com/forum/imagehosting/200000/65/6514612647f86c3f.jpg

AA – Anti-Aliasing

anti aliasing (AA) is the process of smoothing edges so they dont appear

This allows models to be more realistic and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDo5TKr6pycA simple video explain the different types of anti-aliasing.

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

jagged. The number associated with it (2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, 32x) is the number of samples taken to smooth it.

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_does_anti_aliasing_mean

take a more natural shape even though they are made out or polygons they use allot of them to make a model or object smoother.

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_super/6/61865/2562813-720p-vs-1080p1.jpg

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 is where objects close to the player have a greater amount of pixels or polygons then objects further away and so the detail is much greater and is a much more graphically advance object

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_UHYpN25dkThis is a short video reviewing and using a new level of detail software.

http://abload.de/img/lodwxj85.png

Animation The manipulation of electronic images by means of a computer in order to

This manipulates large groups of images

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaYcpqD_LVw

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

create moving images.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/animation

together to create a moving image.

a video showing off a small animation reel of the character fighting off some npc enemies.

http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/img/products/dvds/SEA01/stills/04.jpg

Sprite In computer graphics, is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_(computer_graphics)

A sprite is a 2D image that becomes a character or entity and is placed into the world to act on its own with the aid of a script and makes the game more realistic and fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb6IHxOsaacThis is a tutorial video on how to create sprites for a simple game.

http://i.imgur.com/LT2w0.png

Scene A cutscene or event scene (sometimes in-game cinematic or in-game movie) is

A cut scene is like a small animation which

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXY1MzMM06c

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

a sequence in a video game over which the player has no or only limited control, breaking up the gameplay and used to advance the plot, strengthen the main character's development, introduce characters, and provide background information, atmosphere, dialogue, and clues. Cutscenes often feature "on the fly" rendering, using the gameplay graphics to create scripted events

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

carries on the story line and makes the game more enticing to play. These cut scenes contain dialog, sound and actions between the characters. They normally occur between main characters when they reach a certain point in the game.

This is a cut scene for the intro to the game dark souls 2.

http://www.cheatcc.com/imagesfeatures/cutscenesvsstorytellingthroughgameplay_00.jpg

Library In computer science, a library is a collection of non-volatile resources used by programs on a computer, often to develop software.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_(computing)

This is a collection of resources in the game engine that can be used to put into the game such as entities or pre made models.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMqG0Gziz_AThis is a collection of video games the uploader has in his library

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/316/9/7/my_steam_game_library_so_far_by_leifanghelenafan-d6u28y7.jpg

UI The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where

This is a interface that allows the controls to be human friendly and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC4QNTmYGR8This is an in game UI that is easy to move around and access.

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

interactions between humans and machines occur.

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

match the controls and allows you to interact with the world. Also the game menu has to be simple and easy to move around.

http://i.imgur.com/WC3dd.png

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

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

This is the speed a game renders in real world time, the faster the FPS the quicker the game renders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXHK1ntbe54This a video comparing consoles and pc with each other’s frames rates.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9DFbNn3YpWM/maxresdefault.jpg

Concept art in which emphasis is placed on the means and processes of producing art objects rather than on the objects

The concept for a game or part of a game is an idea that is on a

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3g6OANZyxM

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

themselves and in which the various tools and techniques, as photographs, photocopies, video records, and the construction of environments and earthworks, are used to convey the message to the spectator.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/concept-art

different piece of media before it is imported into the game such as art, photos or rough styled entities

A video on how to draw concept art for a character in a game.

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110530004214/witcher/images/6/68/Tw2_conceptart_arachas.jpg

Event something that happens or is regarded as happening; an occurrence, especially one of some importance.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/event

An even that is triggered before a point in a game such as a code that opens a door to the next level when approached or the code for a puzzle to be completed to unlock something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YR1AP4dD84A video showing off a video game event of a tower falling over.

http://bf4central.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/battlefield-4-multiplayer-screen.jpg

Pathfinding Pathfinding or pathing is the plotting, A path finder is a type https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkCLqPpopvE

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

by a computer application, of the shortest route between two points.

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

of code that certain entities follow such as entities or friendly NPCs. They follow the path created until they counter a enemy or friendly NPC.

a video tutorial on a pathfinder software with in Unity.

http://game-engine.visual3d.net/system/files/image/Cinematic%20Editor/7.jpg

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