01. a brief overview

Video Game Development: A Brief Overview A. Babadi 1 of 34

In The Name Of God

Video Game Development

Amin Babadi

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Isfahan University of Technology

Spring 2015

A Brief Overview


Outline

Some guidelines

A road map to the course

Evolution of the game industry

Market information

What is ESRB?

Who is playing?

Video game development

What’s next?


Some Guidelines…

Textbooks: o Novak, J. (2011). Game Development Essentials: an Introduction (3rd

Edition). Cengage Learning.

o Lengyel, E. (2011). Mathematics for 3D Game Programming and Computer Graphics (3rd Edition). Cengage Learning PTR.

o Sanchez-Crespo, D. (2003). Core Techniques and Algorithms in Game Programming. New Riders Publishing.

All announcements will be made via IVUT course page, titled “Video Game Development”.

Feel free to contact me via [email protected].


A Road Map to the Course

Historical elements, platforms & player modes, goals & genres o Chapters 1-3 of Novak’s textbook

The rendering pipeline, vectors o Chapters 1-2 of Lengyel’s textbook

Architecture, data structures, design patterns, user input, AI o Chapters 2-8 of Sanchez-Crespo’s textbook

We will also try to cover all of course materials using weekly practical sessions. o Mostly on Unity game engine

Extra topics o TBA


Grading Policy

Grading structure (21 + 2 pts.): o Homeworks: 2 pts.

o Presentation: 1.5 + 0.5 pts.

o Final project: 4 + 1.5 pts.

o Midterm exam: 4.5 pts.

o Final exam: 9 pts.

Attending class is not mandatory; although it may become a plus point.

TA class will be held on demand too.


Grading Policy

Homeworks: o You will be asked to do several practical homeworks every 2 weeks

during the semester.

Final project: o Students should develop a small game project based on a subject that

will be announced soon. Game development requires a great amount of teamwork skill; so it is recommended that students get into groups. Each group may have up to 2 members.

Presentation: o Students should also make some short presentations about several

extra topics that will be announced soon. Again, each group may have up to 2 members.

Midterm and final exams: o Lecture notes are satisfactory for passing all the exams.


So It Begins…


Introduction

Game industry revenues have surpassed film box office and music concert revenues in the U.S., making the games the fastest growing segment of the entertainment market.

In 2012 there were more than 100,000 employees all over the world in the game industry.

Hundreds of colleges and universities have started to work on game development programs in the last few years.


When Did It Start?

It started in 1940s (Cathode ray tube amusement device)

Limited access of hardware

Games ran on mainframe computers at U.S.A universities.

It went on until 1970s.


Early Arcade Games

Foundation of Atari Inc.

Pong: first official product of Atari


1st Generation Game Consoles

1972-1977

The first game console, called Magnavox Odyssey

Game(s) hardwired into the console.

2 million consoles sold in the U.S. market


2nd Generation Game Consoles

1977-1983

Game burned into ROM chips.

ROM chips were mounted inside plastic cartridge casings.

Those casings could be plugged into slots on the console.

Several games consoles developed.

Creation of Activision


3rd Generation Game Consoles

1983-1995

Appearing of home computers

Development of the first 8 bit systems

Genre innovation


4th Generation Game Consoles

1988-1999

Development of the first 16 bit systems

CD-ROM drives were first seen in this generation.

Basic 3D graphics entered the mainstream.



1993-2006

32 bit and 64 bits consoles released.

Several successful consoles (Sega, PlayStation, etc.)



1998-2013

The Xbox, Microsoft’s entry into the game console industry.

Many publishers turned to online gaming.

Mobile games got available too.

GTA III popularized open world games.



2005-Present

This generation opened early for handheld consoles (PSP, etc.)

Microsoft stepped forward first in November 2005 with the Xbox 360, and Sony followed in 2006 with the PlayStation 3.

Rise of casual PC games.



2011-Present

Nintendo 3DS, with 3 cameras, a motion sensor, etc.

PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One


And they are all video games now!

A Quick Overview


Cheer Up!


Sales Information

6.9 7 7.3 6.9 7.3

9.5

11.7

16.2 16.9 16.4

14.8

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

U.S. Video Game Dollar Sales Growth ($ Billions)


Sales Information

$1.93

$4.04

$14.80

Total Consumer Spend on Game Industry 2012 ($ Billions)

Accessories

Hardware

Content


Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

In 1993, U.S. created ESRB to provide parents and consumers with detailed information on game content so they can make appropriate purchasing decisions.


Who Is Playing?

Percentage of Americans who are gamers

Average age of gamers

Percentage of female gamers

Percentage of gamers who play multiplayer games

Average number of years gamers have been playing

58 30

45

13

62


Who Is Playing?

Percentage of Americans who are gamers = 58

Average age of gamers




58 30

45

13

62


Who Is Playing?


Average age of gamers = 30




58 30

45

13

62


Who Is Playing?



Percentage of female gamers = 45



58 30

45

13

62


Who Is Playing?




Percentage of gamers who play multiplayer games = 62


58 30

45

13

62


Who Is Playing?




Percentage of gamers who play multiplayer games = 62

Average number of years gamers have been playing = 13

58 30

45

13

62


Agile Methodology

One method employed for game development is agile development.


Video Game Development

Development of a commercial game usually includes the following stages: 1. Pre-production

2. Production

3. Milestones

4. Post-production


Your Coworkers

Members of a game development team include: o Programmers,

o Artists,

o Animators,

o Designers,

o Audio engineers,

o Composers,

o Testers,

o Project managers,

o Etc.


What’s Next?

Where do you think the industry will be 10 years from now?

Do you sense another industry segment beginning to bubble under the surface?

Stay tuned!


References

Novak’s textbook,

Wikipedia,

Entertainment software association website, and

Some other sources on the Internet.