The Purposes and Functions of components of Game Engines

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: 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_dem
o
As mentioned in the
researched definition a
demo game is the way to if
you have produced a game
and if you want to sell it.
The concept is that the
developer distributes a part
of the game for free for the
consumers so they can play
the game and see if they
like it before they buy it. Tis
would be a great way to let
people know about the
game when I make my own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKodb
5WtbSw

IG2 Task 1
2
Beta A beta test refers to the distribution of
pre-release game software to a select
group of people so that they can test
the game in their own homes. The beta
version of a game is as close to perfect
as the company can make it, but any
bugs, glitches or other issues
discovered in beta testing will usually
be addressed before the game's official
release.
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/2
7136/beta-test-gaming
A beta would be an ideal
thing to do when I make my
own game. I could distribute
a free beta version of the
game for the people who
are interested in playing
and testing the game. This
could help me to find out if
there are any bugs or
glitches in the game, so I
can fix them before the final
release of the game.
Alpha A very early version of a software
product that may not contain all of the
features that are planned for the final
version
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/al
pha_version.html
Releasing an alpha version
of the game can help me
get ideas on how to make
the game better from the
consumers. Since this is an
early stage of the game,
most of the games content
could be changed.
Pre-Alpha
Pre-Alpha is a standard term to denote
a number of interim milestones
between prototyping and alpha, each
Just like the alpha,
releasing a pre alpha is a
good idea to see if there
needs to be any changes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTaIk7
akOUw

IG2 Task 1
3
of which includes new functionality
and/or game content.
http://www.whatgamesare.com/pre-alpha.
html
done for the game.
Because this is the earliest
stage of the game anything
can be changed.
Gold A game has "Gone Gold" when the
final master copy has been produced
at the developer and sent off for
replication, packaging and shipment.
The game is not yet released, but it will
typically be around 2-3 weeks
(sometimes less) before it begins
appearing on store shelves and online
pre-orders arriving at doorsteps.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.
php?term=Gone%20Gold
This would be good news
for a game developer, to
see your game being
shipped ready to be sold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yel042
Nb5e8
Debug Debugging is the routine process of
locating and removing computer
program bugs, errors or abnormalities,
which is methodically handled by
software programmers via debugging
tools. Debugging checks, detects and
corrects errors or bugs to allow proper
program operation according to set
specifications.
6373/debugging
Debugging is a must if you
find bugs and glitches in
your game during the time
of the alpha or the beta.
This would help me produce
a 99% bug/glitch free game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCqQ
rREbQo4

IG2 Task 1
4
Automation Implementing test automation for
mobile application development
process is the best way to gain agile,
effective use of resources and time for
testing. Automation auto testing a
game through a software
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_testi
ng#Test_automation
Automation is a would be a
good thing to consider when
I make my game, so that I
won’t have to consider
hiring game testers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5U3
HwpD1Ec
White-Box
Testing
White-box testing is a methodology
used to ensure and validate the
internal framework, mechanisms,
objects and components of a software
application. White-box testing verifies
code according to design specifications
and uncovers application
vulnerabilities.
891/white-box-testing
White box testing could be
a good thing to do to find
out vulnerabilities in my
game that allows people to
cheat and use glitches to
their advantage (Game
resource glitches)
Bug A software bug is an error,
flaw, failure, or fault in a computer
program or system that causes it to
produce an incorrect or unexpected
result, or to behave in unintended
ways.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_b
ug
Bugs could make any game
bad even an AAA title. So
as a developer my aim is to
have less bugs in my game
as possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3g28
40zXKY

IG2 Task 1
5
GAME
ENGINES
GAME
ENGINES
Vertex
Shader
A programmable function in display
adapters that 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
colour, texture, position and direction
from the original colour space to the
display space. It allows the original
objects to be distorted or reshaped in
any manner.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.c
om/Pixel+shader
Using a vertex shader will
help me to transform each
vertex's 3D position in
virtual space to the 2D
coordinate as it shows on
my screen. Using this can
help me to change
properties like position,
colour and texture
coordinates. As a
developer, using this will
help me produce some
quality work..
Pixel Shader A pixel shader is a programmable
function that allows flexibility in shading
an individual pixel. Whereas vertex
shaders can be used to completely
transform the shape of an object, pixel
shaders are used to change the
appearance of the pixels.
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/te
rm/53754/vertex-shader
Pixel shader will help me
produce more much more
detailed objects for a game
since it allows me to shade
individual pixels.

IG2 Task 1
6
Post
Processing
Post-processing (or postproc for
short) 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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_post-processing
Post processing will help
me to get quality improved
real time rendering for my
game.
Rendering The term rendering refers to the
calculations performed by a 3D
software package’s render engine to
translate the scene from a
mathematical approximation to a
finalized 2D image.
http://3d.about.com/od/3d-101-The-
Basics/a/Rendering-Finalizing-The-3d-
Image.htm
I will need rendering to test
my game a produce my
final game. Each 3d object
in a game has to be
rendered so this will be a lot
in the production of my
game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cZIaU
EmnLI

IG2 Task 1
7
Normal Map These are images that store
a direction, the direction of normal
directly in the RGB values of an image.
They are much more accurate, as
rather than only simulating the pixel
being away from the face along a line,
they can simulate that pixel being
moved at any direction, in an arbitrary
way.
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.
4/Manual/Textures/Influence/Material/B
ump_and_Normal
Normal mapping could be
used in my game for giving
the models some more
detail to make it a detailed
game overall.
Entity In computer games and game engines,
entity is a dynamic object such as
a non-player character or item.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entity
I will be using entities in my
game because very object
and character in a game is
an entity, so a game is
made by entities, without
entities there wouldn’t be a
game.
UV Map UV mapping is the 3D
modelling process of making a 2D
image representation of a 3D model's
surface.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_mappin
g
I will be using UV mapping
in my game to make NPC’s
and character.

IG2 Task 1
8
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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_
texture
I would use procedural
textures if I was going for a
realistic looking game.
Procedural textures looks
good in game like the last of
us because the developers
are going for realistic look
for the game.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com
mons/thumb/e/e7/Procedural_Texture.jpg
/225px-Procedural_Texture.jpg
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.
Typically, simulation physics is only a
close approximation to real physics,
and computation is performed using
discrete values.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_phys
ics
Physics is arguably the
most important part of the
game. I will obviously be
using physics in a game
because all the movement
in the game is controlled by
physics. For and example if
you jump in a game the
time it takes for you hit the
ground again is determined
by physics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS9se
Z_G6pU
Collision Collision detection typically refers to
the computational problem of detecting
the intersection of two or more objects.
While the topic is most often
associated with its use in video
games and other physical simulations,
it also has applications in robotics.
Collision is similar to
physics and I will be using it
to determine where the
player can go and where
the player cannot. And
where the player can stand
on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND7dj
0UOrQU

IG2 Task 1
9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collision_de
tection
Lighting It creates atmosphere. It makes places
look scary/cozy or warm/cold. It
augments the three dimensional feel of
objects and it creates composition and
balance to lead the player's eyes
around.
http://www.moddb.com/tutorials/lighting
-in-game-environments-the-hows-and-whys
As lighting is a major part of
a game I will have to have
good lighting for the game
to look as I intended. I will
be using lighting o the
change the feeling of the
game. Either to makes I
dark and gloomy r make it
bright and delightful.
http://cdn.wolfire.com/blog/lighting.jpg
AA – Anti-
Aliasing
Anti-Aliasing is a method of fooling the
eye that a jagged edge is really
smooth. Anti-Aliasing is often referred
in games and on graphics cards. In
games especially the chance to
smooth edges of the images goes a
long way to creating a realistic 3D
image on the screen.
http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/inde
x.php?pageid=antialiasing
Anti-aliasing would be a
good thing to use if you are
going for a smooth and
realistic look for our game
since its smoothens out
rough edges to give you
game a smooth look.
http://forums.ni.com/t5/image/serverpage/
image-id/
23874i923C9AF031B29657?v=mpbl-1

IG2 Task 1
10
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.
1791/level-of-detail-lod
Higher level of detail the
better the game looks. So if
are making a game the
higher the detail is the
better game you will make.
Sure its time consuming for
more detail in a game but in
return you get a higher
detailed game which looks
better than a lower detailed
game.
http://glasnost.itcarlow.ie/~powerk/3DGra
phics2/Theory/levelofdetail.jpg
Animation A simulation of movement created by
displaying a series of pictures,
or frames.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/an
imation.html
Animations are used in
almost every game ever
made. Your character
walking, a wheel rotating,
movement, these are all in
game animations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBFLY8
twlPg

IG2 Task 1
11
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.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/sp
rite
Spirits mostly appeared in
retro type games that came
for consoles like Sega
genesis and Nintendo 64.
So if I ever make 2d side
scrolling game or a retro
type game, I will us e a
sprite.
http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/
GamesRadar/us/Features/2008/05/Worst
%20Celebrity%20Likenesses/Finished/05
1408_worstcelebrity_obs1--
article_image.jpg
Scene A cutscene or event
scene (sometimes in-game
cinematic or in-game movie) is a
sequence in a video game over which
the player has no or only limited
control, breaking up the gameplay and
used to advance the plot, strengthen
the main character's development,
introduce characters, and provide
background information, atmosphere,
dialogue, and clues.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutscene
Cut scenes are used in
games with a story line or a
side story. Using a cut
scene may help for the
developer to the give more
information on what is
happening in the story to
the player. This may
gradually help players to
understand the story
without them having read
screens full of text for them
understand the story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tEF_e
XL9Xc

IG2 Task 1
12
Library A game library is the source of files for
a game engine. It’s a collection of
assets and script files
A library is in every engine,
using an easier and faster
way on making games so
that you can take all you
resources from the library
without having to go find
them yourself.
http://www.blendernation.com/wp-content/
uploads/2011/12/choix-
572x400.jpg
UI Visual part of computer application
or system through which
a user interacts with a computer or
software. It determines how commands
are given to the computer or
the program and how information is
displayed on the screen.
http://www.businessdictionary.com/defi
nition/user-interface.html
UI is the user interface that
the users of the software or
the game interact with. So
having a good user friendly
UI for a game is plus side in
a game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCPW
d7roTNw
Frames Frames are individual pictures in a
sequence of images. For example, a
Flash movie you see on the Web may
play 12 frames per second, creating
the appearance of motion. Most video
is shot at 24 or 30 frames per second,
or FPS. FPS is often measured in 3D
games as a way of checking how fast
the graphics processor of a computer
is.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/fra
More frames in a game
helps the player to
experience a fluid
gameplay. So as a game
developer the you want to
game as much FPS (frames
per second) in your game
as possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSzCL
f8tjP4

IG2 Task 1
13
me
Concept A concept is an idea for a game that
includes what features the game is
going to have, what genre game it is ,
what platform its on, what does the
game look like and how the mechanics
work in the game.
http://www-rohan.
sdsu.edu/~stewart/cs583/game-design/
Game_Concept.htm
Every game developer
made a concept of a game
before they start started
developing it. Without a
concept of the game you
wouldn’t know what to
expect for the outcome of
the game or even what it
looks like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmMX
XC_TdU0
Event An event is a discreet moment in the
game loop where things are made to
happen based on what you
programmed for them.
http://docs.yoyogames.com/source/dad
iospice/000_using%20gamemaker/eve
nts/index.html
Nearly every game has
events, they make any
gameplay more interesting
because it’s triggered by the
player. Game developers
also use this to help the
player find out where to go
next in a game. For an
example, an opening door
could mean that the player
is supposed to go to
wherever that door leads to
progress with the campaign.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li-nTwFdBec
Pathfinding Path finding allows us to determine if
and how we can reach one node from
another. Additionally we can consider
not only if two nodes are connected but
also assign some form of cost to
traveling between them. We can then
search for not only the shortest path
but also the cheapest, fastest, or
safest.
Path finding if mainly is
used by most games,
mainly on NPCs to program
them to take a specific path
when moving. We could
also use it on enemies to
determine which path they
should take to attack the
player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19h1g
22hby8

IG2 Task 1
14
http://wiki.gamegardens.com/Path_Fin
ding_Tutorial

The Purposes and Functions of components of Game Engines

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