The document is a glossary of terms related to video game design produced by a student at Salford City College. It contains definitions for 27 terms, including alpha, beta, demo, debug, collision, animation, and frames per second. For each term, the student provides a short definition from an online source along with an explanation of how the term relates to their own video game production work and an image or video demonstrating the term. The glossary covers key concepts in game development, testing, engines, graphics, and physics.

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:
Cristian
Galliano
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
TESTIN
G
Demo A demonstration of a product or technique.
https ://www.google.co.uk/search?q=demo+definit
ion&oq=Demo+def&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.4600j
0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8
A demo for a video game i s a
demonstration of what the videogame will
be l ike. There are usually demos for games
which will soon come out and demos are
usually free.
Thi s image shows a demo version of a game.
Beta The beta version of a game is as close to perfect as
the company can make i t, but any bugs, glitches or
other i ssues discovered in beta testing will usually
be addressed before the game's official release.
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/27136/bet
a-test-gaming
The beta version of a video game is the
final s tage before production. Usually a
beta test of the game will be released so
that the community can test for bugs
which the developers can then patch
before release.
Thi s image shows the beta version of a game.
Alpha means an early version of a program or
application, that is most l ikely unstable, but i s
useful to show what the product will do
https ://www.google.co.uk/search?q=demo+definit
ion&oq=Demo+def&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.4600j
0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-
8#q=alpha+version+definition&spell=1
An alpha version of a video game is the
vers ion before the beta version; i t is
usually unstable and has a lot of bugs
however the game i s unfinished at this
s tage. Some games get released to the
community in alpha state so that the
developers can get feedback on their work.
Thi s shows gameplay of the alpha version of The Forest.

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
2
Pre-Alpha A development status given to a program or
application that is usually not feature complete,
and i s not usually released to the public.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pre-alpha_version
A pre alpha version of a video game i s
where the developers have put together
the concept of the game and began to put
the work into the game. Pre alpha versions
of the ga me usually a ren’t re leased to the
community as they are highly unstable and
conta in a lot of bugs as the game is
nowhere near finished.
Thi s image shows gameplay of the pre-alpha version of
Next Car Game.
Gold In software and application development, a gold
vers ion i s the final stage of software development
and follows the alpha and beta testing cycles
of software development.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/gold_versio
n.html
A gold version of a game is the final version
of the game and is when most games are
released. He gold version of a game comes
after the beta version and there should be
less bug in it as the beta version is a release
for finding bugs before actual release.
Thi s shows the final release cover of GTA V.
Debug Identify and remove errors from (computer
hardware or software):
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/eng
l i sh/debug
Debugging is where you remove
errors /bugs from a game or software.
Thi s shows a debugging interface on a computer.

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 Automated software testing is a process in which
software tools execute pre-scripted tests on a
software application before i t is released into
production.
http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/defin
i tion/automated-software-testing
Automated testing i s where the testing i s
done by a computer, i t follows pre-scripted
tes ts on a software application before i ts
release.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbE5hR-VauI
Thi s shows automated testing in a program.
White-Box
Testing
method of testing software that tests internal
s tructures or workings of an application
https ://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chro
me-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=whit+box+testing+definition
Where a person tests a software looking to
fix any problems with the internal
s tructures or workings of the application.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bJcvBLJViQ
Thi s video explains what white box testing is and how i t
works .
Bug A software bug is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in
a computer program
https ://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chro
me-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=bug+software+definition
A bug i s an error or fault in a video game/
s oftware which shouldn’t occur.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Tllv30k6c
Thi s video shows a bug in the game battlefield 3.
GAME
ENGINE
S
GAME
ENGINE
S
Vertex
Shader
A programmable function in display adapters that
offers a graphics application programmer flexibility
in rendering an image.
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/5375
4/vertex-shader
Vertex shaders allow graphical
programming flexibility in rendering an
image.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZNJ_KytrE4
Thi s shows the use of vertex shaders in a program.
Pixel Shader The pixel shader i s another programmable
function that allows flexibility in shading an
individual pixel.
https ://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chro
me-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=pixel+shading+definition
Pixel shaders ar used to change the
appearance of pixels in a software or
videogame.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFG9Gp3tbMo
thi s video shows the use of pixel shaders in a program.
Post
Processing
processing after other processes have been
completed https://www.wordnik.com/words/post-processing
Pos t processing happens when all the
other processes have been completed.
Thi s image shows the smoothing effect of post processing.

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
Rendering Rendering is the process of generating an image
from a 2D or 3D model
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(compute
r_graphics)
Rendering is when you create an image
from a 3d or 2d model.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HSkc9TLF5U
thi s video explains what rendering i s and what i t does in a
software program or video game.
Normal Map In 3D computer graphics, normal mapping is a
technique used for faking the lighting of bumps
and dents
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
In computer games normal mapping is a
technique used for creating the i llusion of
l ighting bumps and dents.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzIx41eiD4
Thi s video explains what normal mapping is.
Entity entity i s a dynamic object such as a non-player
character or item.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entity
An enti ty in a video game is usually a NPC
(non playable character) or an item in the
game.
Thi s shows an entity in a computer game.
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=chro
me-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=the+definition+of+uv+map
Thi s turns a 2 dimensional representation
of an image into a 3 dimensional model.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIvTUDgaXik
thi s video explains what UV mapping is and how it i s used
in a software.
Procedural
Texture
Procedural textures are textures that
are defined mathematically. https://www.google.c
o.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-ins
tant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=procedural+textures+definition
Procedural textures are textures that a
made using mathematical equations within
a computer.
Thi s image shows procedural texturing on an entity skin.

5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
5
Physics game physics involves the introduction of the laws
of phys ics into a simulation or game engine,
particularly in 3D computer graphics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_physics
Phys ics in games is a representation of real
l i fe physics within the game.
Thi s shows the physics in a video game as the car is moving
at speed.
Collision A vi rtual 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 s imulation.
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/4778/colli
s ion-detection
Col l ision in video games means that your
playable character cannot walk through
objects, so it adds collision between these.
Thi s shows collision in video games as the two characters
have collided.
Lighting The arrangement or effects of light.
http://www.moddb.com/tutorials/lighting-in-game-
environments-the-hows-and-whys
In video games lighting portrays the effect
of real l ife lighting within the game. It adds
a more realistic aspect to the game and
makes the game look a lot better.
The l ighting effects in a game.

6. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
6
AA – Anti-
Aliasing
Smoothing the jagged appearance of diagonal lines
in a bitmapped
image. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourcei
d=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=anti+aliasing+definition
In games anti-aliasing s mooth’s the jagged
edges of diagonal lines and makes the
game look smoother.
Thi s image shows the effects of anti-aliasing in Farcry 3. As
we can see the edging looks smoother.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqi0114mwtY
thi s video explains what anti-aliasing is and what i s does in
a program.
LoD – Level
of Detail
In computer graphics, accounting for level of detail
involves decreasing the complexity of a 3D object
representation
https ://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chro
me-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=level+of+detai+definition
Level of detail techniques increase the
efficiency of rendering.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9mA1gK8sQ
Thi s video shows us how level of detail can be changed and
how i t i s used in blender.
Animation Computer animation, or CGI animation, is the
process used for generating animated images by
us ing computer graphics. The more general
term computer-generated imagery encompasses
both s tatic scenes and dynamic images while
computer animation only refers to moving images.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_animation
The manipulation of electronic images by
means of a computer in order to create
moving images.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4xJaXLE_98
Thi s video shows us an animation of characters running
with swords.
Sprite Sprites are 2D bitmaps that are drawn directly to a
render target without using the pipeline for
trans formations, lighting or effects. Sprites are
commonly used to display information such as
health bars, number of lives, or text such as scores.
Some games, especially older games, are
composed entirely of sprites.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us
/library/bb203919.aspx
A computer graphic which may be moved
on-s creen and otherwise manipulated as a
s ingle entity.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuItMeDf3Q
Thi s video explains what a sprite is.

7. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
7
Scene A sequence in a video game over which the player
has no or only l imited control, breaking up the
gameplay and used to advance the plot,
s trengthen the main character's development.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutscene
A landscape or a video scene is a video in a
game.
Thi s image shows a cut scene in the game Red Dead
Redemption.
Library A software library i s a suite of data and
programming code that is used to develop
software programs and applications.
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/3828/soft
ware-library
A col lection of programs or software. Al l
the assets in a video game are stored in a
l ibrary. Like textures.
Thi s shows as a game library in Steam.

8. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
8
UI Ui i s user interface, it i s a set of commands or
menus in which a user can communicate with the
program.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/U/user_interfa
ce.html
In games the user interface is a menu or a
set of commands that the player can
access to communicate with the program.
Thi s shows ain game user interface in Thief.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCBBQm2QAFY
thi s video shows us how a UI
i s designed.
Frames Frames per second (FPS) is a unit that measures
di splay device performance. It consists of the
number of complete s cans of the display s creen
that occur each second.
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/7297/fram
es-per-second-fps
Frames per second is the amount of images
a software produces per second, i f the
frames per second matches your s creen
refresh rate then the process should be
smooth.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22TCiQ6_yTs
Thi s video explains FPS in a video game.
Concept A general idea derived or inferred from specific
ins tances or occurrences.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/concept
And idea, plan or intention.
Thi s shows concept art from Tomb Raider.

9. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
9
Event A thing that happens or takes place, especially one
of importance.
https ://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chro
me-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=what+is+an+event
An action or occurrence in a program.
Thi s shows a s cene in the game Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Pathfinding Pathfinding or pathing is the plotting, by a
computer application, of the shortest route
between two points. It is a more practical variant
on solving mazes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinding
The plotting by a computer application
which works out the shortest route
between two different points.
Shows the shortest route from one point to another.