1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Name: Researched Definition (include URL link) Explanation in your
own words
Imagery Why is this
important to
hardware
technologies
for game
platforms?
Human
Computer
Interface
“HCI (human-computer interaction) is the study of how people
interact with computers.”
http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/definition/HCI-
human-computer-interaction
Humancomputer interface is how
the user actuallyinteracts with the
computer itself. If the computer
software/hardware is toodifficult for
the user to understandthenit
wouldn't be takenwellbythe
customers andthe community.
http://reedz.findtalk.biz/t107
-human-computer-
interactionhci-in-the-year-
2020
This is important to game
platforms because certain
games mayhave a lot of
informationthat the user
has to process andreact
to. So the computer
needs to be easyto
interact with.
Central
Processing
Unit (CPU)
“The CPU is the primary component of a computer that
processes instructions.”
http://techterms.com/definition/cpu
The CPU is more or less the brainof a
computer as it tellsevery
program what to do andwhen do
this. Dependingon what you are
using the CPU for it mayhave to have
better technologyinside the CPU.
http://www.globalspec.com/le
arnmore/semiconductors/micr
oprocessors_microcontrollers/
cpu_chips
A CPU is important to a
gaming platform because
you everyprocess to go
as quickas possible so
that there is no “input
lag” whenplaying a game
that requires a lot of
buttons to be pressedin a
small amount oftime.
Graphic
Processors
“A programmable logic chip that renders images, animations
and video for the computer's screen.”
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/43886/gpu
A Graphic Processor Unit otherwise
known as a GPU. This piece of
hardware is designedto have the
purpose of brisklychanging/modify
the memorysothat images that are
displayedon the screen canrun
smoothlywhilst still looking
impressive. https://my2.ucs.ac.uk/it-
A GPU is incredibly
important ina gaming
platform as you want the
graphics ofthe game to
be a highqualityas there
maybe things/other
players that are toofar
awayfor you to render in
if your GPU isn’t vey
2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
services/technology-
abbreviations-and-
acronyms/gpu
good.
Memory
(RAM)
"Computer memory is any physical device capable of storing
information temporarily or permanently."
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/m/memory.htm
The memoryunit ina computer is
straight forward, this is the
component that stores everypiece of
informationonthe computer and
everything that you downloadonto
the computer.
http://computer.howstuffwo
rks.com/computer-
memory.htm
Memoryis important as
games usuallytake up a
lot of space on their own
but then you have things
like DLCand updates
which will alsotake upa
large chunkof memory.
Display "A display is a computer output surface and projecting
mechanism that shows text and often graphic images to the
computer user".
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/display
A displayscreen is used to output the
informationthat the device is giving
to the user ina clear and
understanding visualway, when
packedthe displayotherwise known
as the screen/monitor has to be
connectedto the device giving
the information out incode form
which is then sent via cable to the
displaywhich decodes
the informationandturns it into
words or images.
http://gaming.benq.com/ga
ming-monitor/rl2755hm
A clear displayscreenis
important as the visuals
maybe the entire point
of a game (such as a
puzzle game)where you
have to findhidden
objects. With a poor
displayscreenyou may
not be able to make
certainthings out
because the screenis
very pixelated.
Sound "Vibrationstransmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or
gas, with frequenciesin the approximate range of 20 to 20,000
hertz, capable of being detected by human organsof hearing."
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sound
When relatingsoundto gamesthere
are manydifferent variations. The
first one is mono-sound whichis
when everysound is dividedequally
betweenthe two channels (left and
right) sothat eachear hears the exact
same sound as the other. The next is
stereo-sound which is when soundis
split betweenthe channels
depending onwhere the sound is
actuallycomingfrom. The final one
wouldbe surround soundwhichis
when you wouldhave speakers
places all aroundthe room, it is
http://www.medicaldialogues.
in/indian-american-
researcher-uses-sound-waves-
to-control-brain-cells/
Sound is alsoimportant
because it immerses you
fullyinside the game
world. It can alsobe used
to gain anadvantage on
another player as with a
good headset you would
be able to hear their
footsteps iftheyare close
by.
3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
similar to stereo-soundexcept it is a
full 360 degrees of sound.
Game Storage
Medium
"A storage medium is any technology (including devices and
materials) used to place, keep, and retrieve data."
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/storage-medium
There canbe manydifferent types of
storage that people coulduse all with
their advantages and disadvantages
depending onthe technologyused,
what you are storing onthis memory
unit andthe memorycapabilityof the
device. One form of storage is a flash
drive whichis otherwise known as a
USB. The main type of storage usedin
consoles andPC's is a hard drive. The
newest form of storage that is usedis
the Cloud.
http://www.gamespot.com/a
rticles/replacing-xbox-one-
hard-drive-makes-system-
run-faster-modder-
shows/1100-6416501/
Game storage mediumis
near enoughthe same as
memoryexcept with this
you can use a portable
storage medium to
transfer game data from
one place to another
easily.
Interface
Devices
"An interface device (IDF) is a hardware component or system
of componentsthat allowsa human being to interact with a
computer".
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/interface-device-IDF
When talking about computer
hardware there are 3 main interface
devices that are used byeveryone,
the first is the displayscreenas this
actuallyallows the user to visuallysee
what theyare doing onthe computer
and responsesthat their actions
have. The second device wouldbe
the keyboard as everykeycausesthe
computer to respond ina certain way
depending onwhichkeythe user has
pressed, this means that the user is
interacting withthe computer and
tellingit what to do via this device.
The final device wouldbe the mouse
as this lets the user to command
which programmes are open, which
webpage tabtheywant to be on, etc,
the mouse is basicallythe navigation
systemto the user.
http://webshop.atlantikelektr
onik.de/Webpage/CSR_Huma
n%20Interface%20Device%20
Profile.html
Interface devices are
crucial because these are
the mainthings you use
when gaming, the
keyboard is for player
movement, abilities, etc
and the mouse is for
things such as aiming.
Without these you
wouldn’t be able to
anything inthe gaming
world on PC.
4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Connectivity "A generic term for connecting devicesto each otherin order to
transfer data back and forth. It often refers to network
connections,which embraces bridges, routers, switchesand
gatewaysas well as backbone networks."
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/40241/connectivity
In gaming connectivity is usually
about how well your device can
connect to the internet via your
router, the better the connection
then the quicker games/apps will
download and games will run
more smoothly.
http://www.netpremacy.com
/global-managed-
networks/international-
network-coverage/
Connectivityis alsoreally
important as you don’t
want the game that you
are in to lag causing you
to die or lose progress
that you have made. To
ensure a goodconnection
people usuallyset a “ping
range” so that theycan
get into a local or fairly
local server so that they
can have a goodor
decent connection.
Power Supply "A system that converts AC current from the wall outlet into the
DC currents required by electronic circuits.A computerpower
supply converts AC into multiple DC voltages."
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/49573/power-
supply
There isn't muchto sayabout the
power supplyas it is straight forward.
Electronic devicesneed anelectric
current to work andthe power supply
exchanges the electric currents from
the source and imports it intothe
device. http://www.pcworld.com/art
icle/2025425/how-to-pick-
the-best-pc-power-
supply.html
A power supplyis the
absolute most important
because without a power
source mostlynone of
the above would work
without anelectrical
current.
