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.