This document contains a glossary of terms related to video game design produced by a student at Salford City College. It includes over 30 terms commonly used in video game development with short definitions sourced from online references. For each term, the student provided a short description of how the term relates to their own work and an image or video demonstrating the term in a game when possible.

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:
Anthony
Newman
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
Thi s picture is
showing a demo
http://en.wikinoticia.com/Technology/internet/46035-onlive-tes
t-games-in-spain-in-the-cloud
Beta it is basically a highly upgraded alpha version, and has more features
and is more complete, but still has many bugs
https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081019143302A
AIBseY
Beta is the third
vers ion of the game
but there are s till
many things which
need ironing out
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/07/30/destiny-beta
-played-by-4-6-million-gamers/

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
Alpha Alpha software is at the first stage of development:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/alpha
Alpha is the
secondversion of
the game , this is
where the
developers test s tuff
out
http://danielprimed.com/2008/11/xiii-vs-prince-of-persia-next-gen-
cel-shaded-comparison/
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. Developers are usually s till deciding on what features
the program should have at this status. This s tatus comes
before the alpha version, and is the first status given to a
program.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pre-alpha_version
pre Alpha is the fi rst
vers ion of the game
, thi s i s where the
developers test s tuff
out
https ://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/96336/da
y-z-exclusive-pre-alpha-preview-indie-game-horror-exclusive
Gold A golden master, or GM, i s the final version of a software
program that is sent to manufacturing and is used to make
reta il copies of the software
http://www.techterms.com/definition/goldenmaster
Thi s is the final
product and is ready
to go on sale
http://atthebuzzershow.com/2012/09/16/first-impressions-black-
mesa/
Debug identify and remove errors from (computer hardware or
software)
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/debug
http://debugunused.wikia.com/wiki/Debug_Modes_and_Unuse
d_Stuff

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
Automation the technique of making an apparatus, a process, or a system
operate automatically
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automation
http://ex-sheffield.
org/soloparaingenierosnet/2014/06/27/maquinas-inteligentes-
para-fabricas-del-futuro/
White-Box
Testing
White-box testing (also known as clear box testing, glass box
tes ting, transparent box testing, and s tructural testing) is a
method of testing software that tests internal structures or
workings of an application
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-box_testing
http://muzakstudyzone.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/white-and-black-
box-testing-techniques.html
Bug A software bug is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer
program or system that causes i t to produce an incorrect or
unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways.
http://technology.amis.nl/2010/10/28/do-not-register-bugs-fix-them/#
prettyPhoto

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 The Vertex Shader is the programmable Shader stage in the
rendering pipeline that handles the processing of individual
vertices.
http://www.opengl.org/wiki/Vertex_Shader
http://web.media.mit.edu/~gordonw/OpenGL/images/teapot_v
ertexShader.jpg
Pixel Shader Pixel Shaders create ambiance with materials and surfaces that
mimic reality
http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/feature_pixelshader.html
http://assets.overclock.net.s3.amazonaws.com/4/43/43cb30de_
vbattach2842.jpeg
Post Processing Pos t processing allows different effects to be performed on the
s cene after i t has been rendered, but before outputting it to the
viewport
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/PostProcessEffectsHome.htm
l
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/PostProcessEffectsHome.html

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 2D or
3D model (or models in what collectively could be called a scene
fi l e), by means of computer programs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(computer_graphics)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(computer_graphics)#m
ediaviewer/File:Render_Types.png
Normal Map In 3D computer graphics, normal mapping, or "Dot3 bump
mapping", i s a technique used for faking the lighting of bumps
and dents
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
Entity Enti ty-component-system (ECS) is a software architecture
pattern that implements concepts from Composition over
inheritance using a database-like s tructure
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entity_component_system
http://www.thegameengineer.com/blog/2011/08/25/the-game-enti
ty-part-iv-game-systems/

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 modeling process of making a 2D image
representation of a 3D model's surface
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_mapping
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_mapping
Procedural
Texture
A procedural texture is a computer-generated image created
us ing an algorithm intended to create a realistic representation
of natural elements such as wood, marble, granite, metal,
s tone, and others.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_texture
http://www.cprogramming.com/discussionarticles/texture_gene
ration.html
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
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_physics
http://www.geek.com/games/cryengine-3-gets-awesome-soft-body-
physics-simulator-1492565/
Collision Algorithms to detect collision in 2D games
https ://developer.mozilla.org/en-
US/docs/Games/Techniques/2D_collision_detection
Lighting Lighting has the capacity to bring life to a group of objects and
take them to the next level of quality.
http://www.moddb.com/tutorials/lighting-in-game-envi
ronments-the-hows-and-whys
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-cryengine-3-video-

7. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
7
shows-off-natural-lighting-in-video-games/
AA – Anti-
Aliasing
In computer graphics, antialiasing is a software technique for
diminishing jaggies - s tairstep-like l ines that should be smooth.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/antialiasing.html
http://images.eurogamer.net/articles//a/8/6/7/8/5/1/Saboteur_
Al iasing_000.jpg.jpg
LoD – Level of
Detail
al lows you to reduce the number of triangles rendered for an
object as its distance from camera increases
http://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/LevelOfDetail.htm
http://www.opensg.org/projects/opensg/attachment/wiki/Tutor
ial/OpenSG1/NodeCores/lod.png
Animation Animation is the process of creating motion and shape
change[Note 1] i llusion by means of the rapid display of a
sequence of s tatic images that minimally differ from each other
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animation
http://s ilverkgallery.com.au/Animation/Animation.htm
Sprite In computer graphics, a sprite (also known by other names; see
Synonyms below) is a two-dimensional image or animation that
i s integrated into a larger scene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_(computer_graphics)

8. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
http://moderateschaltung.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/sprites2
56-s creenshot.png
8
Scene Ca n’t fi nd
Library relating to or employed in the transmission or
reception of a televised image
http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/
video%20library
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_engine#mediaviewer/File:Li
nux_kernel_and_OpenGL_video_games.svg
UI The space where interactions between humans and machines
occur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_interface
http://www.techspot.com/news/38674-steam-ui-update-officially-
rolling-out-next-week.html
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.

9. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-check-fps-frames-
9
per-seconds-and-take-screenshots-while-playing-video-games-
on-your-pc/
Concept A general idea derived or inferred from specific
instances or occurrences.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/concept
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-awesome-pieces-of-concept-art-
from-movies-and-video-games.php/very-early-alex-concept-art
Event
http://orcz.com/images/e/e7/Nextcargamerace.jpg

10. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
10
Pathfinding Pathfinding or pathing is the plotting, by a
computer application, of the shortest route
between two points
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinding
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinding#mediaviewer/File:Path
finding_2D_Illustration.svg