Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 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 TESTING

Demo A demonstration of a product or technique. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=demo+definition&oq=Demo+def&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.4600j0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8

A demo for a video game is a demonstration of what the videogame will be like. There are usually demos for games which will soon come out and demos are usually free.

This 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 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/27136/beta-test-gaming

The beta version of a video game is the final stage 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.

This image shows the beta version of a game.Alpha means an early version of a program or

application, that is most likely unstable, but is useful to show what the product will do https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=demo+definition&oq=Demo+def&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.4600j0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8#q=alpha+version+definition&spell=1

An alpha version of a video game is the version before the beta version; it is usually unstable and has a lot of bugs however the game is unfinished at this stage. Some games get released to the community in alpha state so that the developers can get feedback on their work.

This shows gameplay of the alpha version of The Forest.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

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. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pre-alpha_version

A pre alpha version of a video game is 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 game usually aren’t released to the community as they are highly unstable and contain a lot of bugs as the game is nowhere near finished.

This image shows gameplay of the pre-alpha version of Next Car Game.

Gold In software and application development, a gold version is the final stage of software development and follows the alpha and beta testing cycles of software development. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/gold_version.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.

This shows the final release cover of GTA V.Debug Identify and remove errors from (computer

hardware or software): http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/debug

Debugging is where you remove errors/bugs from a game or software.

This shows a debugging interface on a computer.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Automation Automated software testing is a process in which software tools execute pre-scripted tests on a software application before it is released into production. http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/definition/automated-software-testing

Automated testing is where the testing is done by a computer, it follows pre-scripted tests on a software application before its release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbE5hR-VauI This shows automated testing in a program.

White-Box Testing

method of testing software that tests internal structures or workings of an application https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-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 structures or workings of the application.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bJcvBLJViQ This video explains what white box testing is and how it works.

Bug A software bug is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=bug+software+definition

A bug is an error or fault in a video game/ software which shouldn’t occur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Tllv30k6c This video shows a bug in the game battlefield 3.

GAME ENGINES

GAME ENGINES

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/53754/vertex-shader

Vertex shaders allow graphical programming flexibility in rendering an image.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZNJ_KytrE4 This shows the use of vertex shaders in a program.

Pixel Shader The pixel shader is another programmable function that allows flexibility in shading an individual pixel. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=pixel+shading+definition

Pixel shaders are used to change the appearance of pixels in a software or videogame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFG9Gp3tbMo this 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

Post processing happens when all the other processes have been completed.

This image shows the smoothing effect of post processing.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Rendering Rendering is the process of generating an image from a 2D or 3D model http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendering_(computer_graphics)

Rendering is when you create an image from a 3d or 2d model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HSkc9TLF5U this video explains what rendering is and what it 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 illusion of lighting bumps and dents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzIx41eiD4 This video explains what normal mapping is.

Entity entity is a dynamic object such as a non-player character or item. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entity

An entity in a video game is usually a NPC (non playable character) or an item in the game.

This shows an entity in a computer game.UV Map UV mapping is the 3D modelling process of making

a 2D image representation of a 3D model. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=the+definition+of+uv+map

This turns a 2 dimensional representation of an image into a 3 dimensional model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIvTUDgaXik this video explains what UV mapping is and how it is used in a software.

Procedural Texture

Procedural textures are textures that are defined mathematically. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=procedural+textures+definition

Procedural textures are textures that a made using mathematical equations within a computer.

This image shows procedural texturing on an entity skin.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Physics game physics involves the introduction of the laws of physics into a simulation or game engine, particularly in 3D computer graphics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_physics

Physics in games is a representation of real life physics within the game.

This shows the physics in a video game as the car is moving at speed.

Collision  A virtual 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 simulation. http://www.techopedia.com/definition/4778/collision-detection

Collision in video games means that your playable character cannot walk through objects, so it adds collision between these.

This 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 life lighting within the game. It adds a more realistic aspect to the game and makes the game look a lot better.

The lighting effects in a game.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

AA – Anti-Aliasing

Smoothing the jagged appearance of diagonal lines in a bitmapped image. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=anti+aliasing+definition

In games anti-aliasing smooth’s the jagged edges of diagonal lines and makes the game look smoother.

This 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 this video explains what anti-aliasing is and what is 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=chrome-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 This video shows us how level of detail can be changed and how it is used in blender.

Animation Computer animation, or CGI animation, is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer-generated imagery encompasses both static 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 This 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 transformations, 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-screen and otherwise manipulated as a single entity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuItMeDf3Q This video explains what a sprite is.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Scene 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. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutscene

A landscape or a video scene is a video in a game.

This image shows a cut scene in the game Red Dead Redemption.

Library A software library is a suite of data and programming code that is used to develop software programs and applications. http://www.techopedia.com/definition/3828/software-library

A collection of programs or software. All the assets in a video game are stored in a library. Like textures.

This shows as a game library in Steam.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

UI Ui is user interface, it is a set of commands or menus in which a user can communicate with the program. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/U/user_interface.html

In games the user interface is a menu or a set of commands that the player can access to communicate with the program.

This shows ain game user interface in Thief.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCBBQm2QAFY this video shows us how a UI is designed.

Frames Frames per second (FPS) is a unit that measures display device performance. It consists of the number of complete scans of the display screen that occur each second. http://www.techopedia.com/definition/7297/frames-per-second-fps

Frames per second is the amount of images a software produces per second, if the frames per second matches your screen refresh rate then the process should be smooth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22TCiQ6_yTs This video explains FPS in a video game.

Concept A general idea derived or inferred from specific instances or occurrences. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/concept

And idea, plan or intention.

This shows concept art from Tomb Raider.

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Salford City CollegeEccles Sixth Form CentreBTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGNUnit 73: Sound For Computer GamesIG2 Task 1

Event A thing that happens or takes place, especially one of importance. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what+is+an+event

An action or occurrence in a program.

This shows a scene 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.

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