GAME DESIGN Glossary of Game Terms

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: Clint
Paris
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 Demo is short for Demonstration. It's a brief section of the game,
generally a full level in which you can test the games before making the
decision on purchasing them
https ://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090423022627A
A9nGkS
A Demo is just a short version
of a game in which people can
take a look at what the full
vers ion of the game is actually
l ike.

IG2 Task 1
2
Beta An unfinished version released to either the public a select few or
whoever signs up to beta test it for bugs or glitches.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Beta
A beta is a version of the game
that i s still being developed by
adding new features, removing
bugs etc. A beta is usually free
to play and offer many features
of the full game, and can also
give you a head s tart in the full
vers ion of the game.
Alpha An alpha test is performed by the programmers themselves to ensure
they got everything right in their eyes
https ://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110119184650A
Afwy7x
The Alpha version of the game
i s released after the Pre-Alpha,
in which the Alpha version is
s ti ll quite buggy and lacks many
features.
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.
ht tp://www.abbreviations.com/pre-alpha%20version
Pre-Alpha is the first phase of a
game where the game is usually
very buggy and has minimal
features in the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwmFU_L2k3M
Gold A game has "Gone Gold" when the final master copy has been produced
a t the developer and sent off for replication, packaging and shipment.
ht tp://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gone%20Gold
Gold is the full version of the
game which is released to the
public as it is a completed
product and does not need
anymore testing, unless bugs
are found which need to be
patched.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk6cs6Elkbo

IG2 Task 1
3
Debug identify and remove errors from computer hardware or software
ht tps://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=NqgJVM26L-y
q8wfS7IBQ#q=definition+to+debug
Debugging is removing bugs
from a computer which may
damage the performance of the
computer or possess a threat to
documents stored in your hard
drive.
Automati
on
The use or introduction of automatic equipment in a manufacturing or
other process or facility.
ht tps://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=NqgJVM26L-y
q8wfS7IBQ#q=definition+to+automation
Automation i s where products
are manufactured by machines
and only require human
as sistance if they are damaged
or broken/
White-Box
Testing
A software testing technique whereby explicit knowledge of the internal
workings of the item being tested are used to select the test data.
Also known as glass box, structural, clear box and open box testing. A
software testing technique whereby explicit knowledge of the internal
workings of the item being tested are used to select the test data. Unlike
black box testing, white box testing uses specific knowledge of
programming code to examine outputs.
ht tp://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/White_Box_Testing.html
White Box testing is testing
whi le the program is aware and
i s knowledgeable.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bJcvBLJViQ

IG2 Task 1
4
Bug A bug is a logical error in the programming of a computer program.
ht tps://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110426153038AAZ
t sRh
A bug i s a computer error that
can cause errors in games and
can usually prevent progress
from being made or games
from being played
properly/completed,
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3g2840zXKY
GAME
ENGINE
S
GAME
ENGINE
S
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
A vertex shader allows flexibility
in the rendering of images and
therefore making them render
with better quality.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEl JA_gieYQ
Pixel
Shader
1. The pixel shader is another programmable function that allows
flexibility in shading an individual pixel. Whereas vertex shaders can be
u sed to completely transform the shape of an object, pixel shaders are
u sed to change the appearance of the pixels.
https ://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=NqgJVM26L-yq8wfS7IBQ#
q=definition+of+pixel+shader
Pixel Shaders can be used to
change the appearance of
pixels and making the game
look graphically better.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFG9Gp3tbMo

IG2 Task 1
5
Post
Processing
You render your game the normal way, except for one thing.
Instead of rendering to the screen (after which you can't do
anything with it), you render it and save it as a texture.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/263189-33-what-post-processing
Pos t Processing is where you
save a game as a texture when
you render it instead of i t being
rendered and displayed on
s creen.
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 file), by means of
computer programs. Also, the results of such a model can be called a
r endering.
ht tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(computer_graphics)
Rendering is where a 2D or 3D
image is created on a computer
programme.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dOIju7--Jg
Normal
Map
In 3D computer graphics, normal mapping, or "Dot3 bump mapping", is
a technique used for faking the lighting of bumps and dents – an
implementation of bump mapping. It is used to add details w ithout using
more polygons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_mapping
Normal Map i s basically a
normal map which fakes images
di splayed such as llighting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-6Yu-nTbUU
Entity Ent ity Systems (ES) are a software technique using Composition rather

IG2 Task 1
6
than Inheritance to build high-performance code-architectures, using a
st ructure similar to relational-databases and/or functional-programming.
http://entity-systems.wikidot.com/
UV Map UV mapping is the 3D modelling process of making a 2D image
r epresentation of a 3D model's surface.
ht tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_mapping
UV map i s where a 2D image is
made to represent a 3D models
surface.
Procedura
l 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.
ht tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_texture
Procedural texture i s used to
make natural elements which
can be used in game as it
appears realistic.
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
Phys ics are used to make the
game more realistic, for
example if a bomb blows up
underneath a car, the car will
fly upwards instead of just
s tanding still.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jS3OHBfffY

IG2 Task 1
7
Collision Collision detection typically refers to the computational problem of
detecting the intersection of two or more objects.
ht tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collision_detection
A col lision i s where an
object/character collides with a
wal l/barrier and cannot bypass
that object. Collisions can also
be bullet collisions where when
a bul let hits a person, he will
die.
Lighting Lights in games used for effect Lighting i s used so you can see
what i s going on and also to add
more effect into a certain scene
in a game.
AA – Anti-
Aliasing
Antialiasing is a software technique for diminishing jaggies - stairstep-like
lines that should be smooth. Jaggies occur because the output
dev ice, the monitor or printer, doesn't have a high enough resolution to
r epresent a smooth line.
ht tp://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/antialiasing.html
Anti -Aliasing is where jaggies,
s ta irstep l ines are diminished
and then made smooth to
improve graphics in a game.

IG2 Task 1
8
LoD –
Level of
Detail
Lev el of detail is a general design term for video game landscapes in
which closer objects are rendered with more polygons than objects that
a r e farther away.
ht tp://www.techopedia.com/definition/11791/level-of-detail-lod
The level of detail shows how
much detail an object has. For
example, if a shotgun i s just a
plain and basic gun or whether
the entire shotgun has been
levelled, including a barrel,
handle etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yGgeb2lCiU
Animation Animation is the process of displaying still images in a rapid sequence
to create the illusion of movement. These images can be hand drawn,
computer generated, or pictures of 3D objects.
ht tp://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-animation.htm
Animation is where images are
di splayed on screen rapidly to
create movements. These are
used in many popular films such
as monsters inc and games such
as Team Fortress.
Sprite In computer graphics, a sprite (also known by other names;
see Synonyms below) is a two-dimensional image or animation that is
integrated into a larger scene. Initially including just graphical objects
handled separately from the memory bitmap of a video display, this
now includes various manners of graphical ov erlays.
ht tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_(computer_graphics)
A spri te is a 2D character that is
usually created in side
shooter/scroller games such as
Meta l Slug.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRp7F_pCUn4

IG2 Task 1
9
Scene A sequence of continuous action in a play, film, opera, or book.
ht tps://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=nrcSVPWSOPHH8gf4jYK4B
A#q=what+is+a+scene&spell=1
A s cene is a dramatic image
created in a game to show
effect or to continue telling the
s tory.
Library A l ibrary i s where all documents
and information is kept.
UI The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine
interaction, is the space where interactions between humans and
machines occur. The goal of this interaction is effective operation and
control of the machine on the user's end, and feedback from the
machine, which aids the operator in making operational decisions.
ht tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_interface
The us er interface i s what the
user can see in his screen. The
user interface usually contains a
health bar, amount of ammo
left and a radar.
Frames Fr ame 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. The term applies
equ ally well to film and video cameras, computer graphics, and motion
capture systems. Frame rate is most often expressed in frames per
second (FPS) and is also expressed in progressive scan monitors
as hertz (Hz).
ht tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_rate
Frames are the speed at which
an image i s usually loaded. The
lower the frames per second,
the wors e the image will render
making it harder to play games.

IG2 Task 1
10
Concept An abstract idea
ht tp://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/concept
A concept is a piece of drawing
that can be used for future
games from that title or s imply
to show examples of drawing.
Event
Pathfindin
g
Pathfinding or pathing is the plotting, by a computer application, of the
shortest route betw een two points.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinding
Path finding is where a program
finds the quickest way to get
from A to B.

GAME DESIGN Glossary of Game Terms

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GAME DESIGN Glossary of Game Terms