1. 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:
Liam
Oven
RESEARCHED DEFINITION (provide short internet researched
definition and URL link)
DESCRIBE
THE
RELEVANCE
OF THE
RESEARCHE
D TERM TO
YOUR OWN
PRODUCTIO
N PRACTICE?
IMAGE SUPPORT (Provide an image and/or video link of
said term being used in a game)
VIDEO
GAMES
/ VIDEO
GAME
TESTIN
G
Demo Demo is short for demonstration, URL:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/demo
The game demo is the free distributed piece of the upcoming or recently
released video game., URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_demo
Demo is
bas ically a
short preview
of the game
which you get
to play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_CSJM0oaQI
Beta The be ta is the third s tage of most s oftware’s not only vi deo games, URL:
https ://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081019143302AAIBse
Y
A Computer Beta is a quality control technique in which hardware or
software is subject to trial, URL:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/beta+test
The beta is
bas ically you
can play the
game but i t
i s n’t fully
compl ete yet
and i t will
have bugs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCGq3_3iKv4
Alpha A very early version of the software product that may not contain all of the
features that are being planned for the final version. Typically, software, URL:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/alpha_version.html
The alpha is
bas ically a
beta but only
available for
tes ters,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VWnQHS-ffs
2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
developers
and investors.
Pre-Alpha Pre Alpha is a mega early version of the game before anything i s finalized,
URL: http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/440511.page
Pre a l pha re fers to a ll the a ctivity that happens during the software’s
development before the testing, URL:
http://eloisecorke.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/definition-pre-alpha-alpha-and-
beta/
The pre-alpha
i s for testing
the game
before the
beta or alpha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oL7_Bc88OM
Gold Gone Gold means the creation of the game has been completed, URL:
https ://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060920181003AANDTle
Gone gold is
when the
game is
completed
and i s being
released to
the public.
Thi s game has just been completed
Debug Debug means removing errors, bugs or abnormalities, URL:
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/16373/debugging
Locating a fixing bugs, URL:
http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/definition/debugging
Debug means
removing
bugs and
gl i tches from
the game.
Debugging a game
3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
Automatio
n
Meaning is making anything work automatically or automating something,
URL: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automation
Automation i s
when you
make
something
move or
compl ete
ta sks on its
once without
human
interaction. Thi s is a automation car
White-Box
Testing
Meaning This is used to find internal functionalities of software like
condi tional loops, statement coverage. It is mainly done by the Developers,
URL:
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_black_box_testing_and_white_box_te
s ting
White box
tes ting i s
where
developers fix
problems with
the game
i solating the
game from
anyone.
example of white
box tes ting
Bug Al so known as a glitch a bug is just something that is wrong in a game, URL:
https ://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080622111127AAsXob5
A bug i s
something
tha t i sn’t
meant to be in
the game or
affects the
game in a bad
way.
He re ’s a n e xample of a bug/glitch
4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
GAME
ENGINE
S
GAME
ENGINE
S
Vertex
Shader
Offers 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. It allows the original objects to be
distorted or reshaped in any manner, URL:
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/53754/vertex-shader
Vertex shader
i s where you
trans form an
image to
become more
vertical and
makes to
image more
original.
Thi s was created with the vertex shader
Pixel
Shader
The pixel shader is another programmable function that allows flexibility
in shading an individual pixel, URL:
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Pixel+shader
The pixel
shader adds
more depth to
an image
making it
more vi sual
appealing
with more
colour
variation.
Example of the pixel shader
Post
Processing
Is used in the video/film business for quality-improvement image
processing (specifically digital image processing) methods used in video
playback devices, (such as stand-alone DVD-Video players), and video
players software and transcoding software. It is also commonly used in
real-time 3D rendering (such as in video games) to add additional effects,
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_post-processing
Pos t
processing
gives to image
more l ight and
brightens the
image which
gives the
effect of more
deta il.
Example of post processing
5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
5
Rendering Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model by means
of computer software. Rendering is used in architecture, simulators, video
games, movies and television visual effects and design visualization, URL:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=17940930&siteID=1231
12
Rendering is
where you
create your
video or
image.
Example of rendering
Normal
Map
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, URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
Normal map is
where you
add more
deta il or make
your image
smoother.
example of normal map
Entity entity is a dynamic object such as a non-player character or item, URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entity
An enti ty i s
any object
within the
game.
Example of entity engine
6. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
6
UV Map UV mapping is the 3D modelling process of making a 2D image
representation of a 3D model's surface, URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_mapping
UV Map
al lows you to
see more of
an image
giving it more
deta il and
al lowing you
to edi t more.
Example of UV-Map
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, URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_texture
Al lows to
creator to add
more realism
to an image.
Example of Procedural Texture
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, URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_physics
Introduce
laws of
phys ics to the
game.
Example of Game engine physics
7. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
7
Collision Collision detection algorithmically calculates impact time by identifying
two or more object intersection points. 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 simulation, URL:
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/4778/collision-detection
Detect when
something
col l ides with
something
el se.
Example of Collision
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. Video
games and computer-generated movies and special effects benefit from
this as it creates more realistic scenes than with the more simplistic
lighting models used, URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-range_
rendering
Lighting i s
used to
represent a
l ight effect of
a object like
the sun of a
l ight bulb
Example of lighting
AA – Anti-
Aliasing
Anti-Aliasing can detect these edges and smooth them out using a quick
scan of them, URL:
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100420031929AAO
N6YB
Anti -Aliasing
smooth’s
edges out.
Example of Anti-Aliasing
8. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
8
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, URL:
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/11791/level-of-detail-lod
LoD i s where
you edi t
landscape.
Example of Level of Detail
Animation A simulation of movement created by displaying a series of pictures,
or frames, URL: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/animation.html
Animation is
when you
make an
image move.
Example of Animation
Sprite A sprite is a bitmap graphic that is designed to be part of a larger scene. It
can either be a static image or an animated graphic, URL:
http://www.techterms.com/definition/sprite
A spri te is a
image which
can be used in
a game.
Example of a Sprite
9. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
9
Scene A part of a story, movie or play, URL: http://www.merriam-webster.
com/dictionary/scene
A s cene is a
picture.
Example of a scene
Library A collection of software routines that programmers incorporate into their
applications. The library routines are linked into the program when it is
compiled. See class library, URL: http://www.yourdictionary.com/library
A l ibrary i s a
place to store
l inks and files.
Example of a library
UI Means in which a person controls a software application or hardware
device. A good user interface provides a "user-friendly" experience,
allowing the user to interact with the software or hardware in a natural
and intuitive way, URL:
http://www.techterms.com/definition/user_interface
The UI i s
something
control led by
the computer.
Example of UI
10. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
10
Frames In video and animation, a single image in a sequence of images. See
under FPS, URL: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/frame.html
Frames is how
many times
the s creen
swaps frames
per second
(FPS).
Example of frames
Concept Where concepts are entities that exist in the brain, URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept
A concept is a
way of doing
something.
example of a concept
Event is an action or occurrence detected by the program that may be handled
by the program, URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_(computing)
A event i s a
planned
action.
Example of a in game event
11. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
11
Path
finding
The plotting, by a computer application, of the shortest route between
two points. It is a more practical variant on solving mazes, URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinding
A path finder
i s l ike a sat
nav for a
game which
shows you the
fasted way of
getting to
your
des tination.
Example of Path finder
