Computer Computer GamesGames

An in-depth look at the process by An in-depth look at the process by which Computer Games are which Computer Games are Designed and Programmed.Designed and Programmed.

Computer Computer GamesGames

Brought to you by Zack Henkel,Brought to you by Zack Henkel,

Justin Taylor, and Matthew PinneyJustin Taylor, and Matthew Pinney

Most games have a plot or story which helps to Most games have a plot or story which helps to push the action along and keep the gamer push the action along and keep the gamer interested.interested.

The group responsible for this, the team of story The group responsible for this, the team of story writers, consists of people who are very creative writers, consists of people who are very creative and can easily come up with good ideas which will and can easily come up with good ideas which will be liked by the audience.be liked by the audience.

The group will use their skills to brainstorm ideas The group will use their skills to brainstorm ideas and then choose the ones that are best for creating and then choose the ones that are best for creating the plot, setting, and characters.the plot, setting, and characters.

The plot is considered to be the events that The plot is considered to be the events that take place in the story which are normally take place in the story which are normally arranged in a specific order .arranged in a specific order . ConflictConflict ExpositionExposition Rising ActionRising Action ClimaxClimax ResolutionResolution

The setting is another important piece of the story The setting is another important piece of the story which helps the audience to visualize the events which helps the audience to visualize the events that take place in the plot.that take place in the plot.

When dealing with video games the setting is When dealing with video games the setting is expressed using visual and interactive expressed using visual and interactive environments.environments.

The story writers must design the setting in such a The story writers must design the setting in such a way that it is just as appealing visually as it is way that it is just as appealing visually as it is interactively.interactively.

The story writer must have knowledge of what the The story writer must have knowledge of what the level designer is capable of and what is possible to level designer is capable of and what is possible to create.create.

The story writers are also The story writers are also responsible for creating the responsible for creating the characters in the game.characters in the game.

They must create They must create characters which are suited characters which are suited for their purpose. for their purpose.

If an ugly, scary monster is If an ugly, scary monster is needed for the protagonist needed for the protagonist to battle, then the team to battle, then the team must design a character must design a character which will be ugly and scary which will be ugly and scary to the gamer.to the gamer.

History

Creating Characters Artist Rendering on Paper Scanning to Digital Exoskeleton Skin, Texture, etc.

Building Environments Artist Rendering on Paper Blueprint like drawing & planing Structure designed on computer Texture, details, etc.

Motion & Rendering Polygons & Textures 3D/Game Engines Technologies & Progress

Future

Interaction between users and computers occurs Interaction between users and computers occurs at the user interfaceat the user interface

A long term goal of HCI is to design systems A long term goal of HCI is to design systems that minimize the barrier between the human's that minimize the barrier between the human's cognitive model of what they want to accomplish cognitive model of what they want to accomplish and the computer's understanding of the user's and the computer's understanding of the user's task task

ThisThis work often revolves around designing work often revolves around designing graphical user interfaces and web interfaces.graphical user interfaces and web interfaces.

Early Computer games were based in 2 Early Computer games were based in 2 dimensions, with limited control.dimensions, with limited control.

Asteroids, for example, gave the user only 5 Asteroids, for example, gave the user only 5 options for controlling the space ship.options for controlling the space ship.

The gameplay consisted of shooting the The gameplay consisted of shooting the asteroids into pieces until they were all gone.asteroids into pieces until they were all gone.

The player of the game had little control of their The player of the game had little control of their ship and no control of what would happen next ship and no control of what would happen next in the game…in the game…

Currently, The Computer Game Producers Currently, The Computer Game Producers are working on:are working on: New Game ConsolesNew Game Consoles More Intricate JoysticksMore Intricate Joysticks New styles of game playNew styles of game play More detailed plots with more choicesMore detailed plots with more choices

Today’s Computer Games use complicated Today’s Computer Games use complicated interfaces that allow the player to have more interfaces that allow the player to have more freedom in game playfreedom in game play

Modern Controllers use a large number of Modern Controllers use a large number of buttons to allow the user many more buttons to allow the user many more combinations of inputting commands.combinations of inputting commands.

It seems that with technology advancing the way It seems that with technology advancing the way it is, the next step would be complete virtual it is, the next step would be complete virtual reality.reality.

Physics plays an important role in the likeability Physics plays an important role in the likeability of a video game.of a video game.

For most gamers, video games offer a way to For most gamers, video games offer a way to escape reality but still experience lifelike escape reality but still experience lifelike situations.situations.

For this reason gamers prefer a game with a For this reason gamers prefer a game with a high amount of realism.high amount of realism.

To accomplish this, developers add physics.To accomplish this, developers add physics.

Gravity is a very important part of physics in video Gravity is a very important part of physics in video games.games.

Without gravity in videogames, the player would simply Without gravity in videogames, the player would simply fall off the map.fall off the map.

This is similar to real life in the fact that without gravity This is similar to real life in the fact that without gravity here on earth, we humans would fall out into space.here on earth, we humans would fall out into space.

The big difference in real life and video games is that in The big difference in real life and video games is that in video games gravity can be changed.video games gravity can be changed.

An Example of this the game Mario Bros. Your character An Example of this the game Mario Bros. Your character has the ability to jump five times his height because has the ability to jump five times his height because there is less gravity in Marioworld than in our world.there is less gravity in Marioworld than in our world.

Lighting has become Lighting has become increasingly advanced in increasingly advanced in today’s 3D games.today’s 3D games.

Developers can now make Developers can now make ultra realistic lighting effects ultra realistic lighting effects which enhance the gamer’s which enhance the gamer’s experience.experience.

Lighting effect used in the Lighting effect used in the game Doom 3 is the pinnacle game Doom 3 is the pinnacle of today’s technology.of today’s technology.

The developers use lights The developers use lights and shadows to emerge the and shadows to emerge the player in a horrific world.player in a horrific world.

Sound is one of our most important senses Sound is one of our most important senses which we use almost every second of the day.which we use almost every second of the day.

For this reason, sound plays a major role in the For this reason, sound plays a major role in the physics of our video games.physics of our video games.

Who doesn’t like to hear the blast of their Who doesn’t like to hear the blast of their favorite weapon when fired at an opponent in favorite weapon when fired at an opponent in virtual reality?virtual reality?

Being able to hear sounds from the environment Being able to hear sounds from the environment makes the video game experience more realistic makes the video game experience more realistic and enjoyable.and enjoyable.

HistoryHistory In 1952, A.S. Douglas created the first graphical In 1952, A.S. Douglas created the first graphical

computer game - a version of Tic-Tac-Toe. computer game - a version of Tic-Tac-Toe. In 1958 "Tennis for Two," was created by William In 1958 "Tennis for Two," was created by William

Higinbotham and was played on a Brookhaven Higinbotham and was played on a Brookhaven National Laboratory oscilloscopeNational Laboratory oscilloscope

In 1962, Steve Russell invented SpaceWar!, the first In 1962, Steve Russell invented SpaceWar!, the first game intended for computer use game intended for computer use

In 1967, Ralph Baer wrote the first video game played In 1967, Ralph Baer wrote the first video game played on a television set, a game called Chase on a television set, a game called Chase

HistoryHistory In 1971, Nolan Bushnell together with Ted Dabney, In 1971, Nolan Bushnell together with Ted Dabney,

created the first arcade game. It was called Computer created the first arcade game. It was called Computer Space Space

The arcade game Pong was created by Nolan The arcade game Pong was created by Nolan Bushnell (with help from Al Alcorn) a year later in Bushnell (with help from Al Alcorn) a year later in 1972 1972

Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney started Atari Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney started Atari Computers that same year. In 1975, Atari re-released Computers that same year. In 1975, Atari re-released Pong as a home video game. Pong as a home video game.

In 1972, the first commercial video game console that In 1972, the first commercial video game console that could be played in the home, the Odyssey was could be played in the home, the Odyssey was released by Magnavox and designed by Ralph Baer. released by Magnavox and designed by Ralph Baer.

Promotion and MarketingPromotion and Marketing According to the Entertainment Software Association, According to the Entertainment Software Association,

a blockbuster game like a blockbuster game like Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityGrand Theft Auto: Vice City can cost between $3 million – $5 million to develop, can cost between $3 million – $5 million to develop, with an addition $10 million for promotion and with an addition $10 million for promotion and marketing. marketing.

Michael Cai of Parks Associates predicts that that in Michael Cai of Parks Associates predicts that that in 2009 in-game ad revenue on PCs will crack $400 2009 in-game ad revenue on PCs will crack $400 million--more than 10 times the revenue in 2005. million--more than 10 times the revenue in 2005.

Costs of ProductionCosts of Production Early on, development costs were minimal, and video Early on, development costs were minimal, and video

games could be quite profitable. Games developed by games could be quite profitable. Games developed by a single programmer, or by a small team of a single programmer, or by a small team of programmers and artists, could sell hundreds of programmers and artists, could sell hundreds of thousands of copies each. Many of these games only thousands of copies each. Many of these games only took a few months to create, so developers could took a few months to create, so developers could release several titles each year release several titles each year

Now budgets can easily reach millions of dollars, Now budgets can easily reach millions of dollars, even if middleware and pre-built game engines are even if middleware and pre-built game engines are used. Most professional games require one to three used. Most professional games require one to three years to develop years to develop

The cost of producing games varies The cost of producing games varies between 500k euros( around $650k) to between 500k euros( around $650k) to 5/10 Mk euros ($6.5mil/$13 mil)depending 5/10 Mk euros ($6.5mil/$13 mil)depending on the type of game and the platform on the type of game and the platform (console, portable console, PC) (console, portable console, PC)

Their Purpose Drive the Game Respond to Input Save and Retrieve Data Development Programs

Comparing Languages Object Oriented vs. Non Object Oriented Common Languages (C, Java, C++) Custom Languages (Variations of C)

Differences From Regular Software Programming Stuck in a while loop - the game loop Require some “AI”

Future Multithreaded Programming

The video game industry is a flourishing The video game industry is a flourishing market with heavy competition.market with heavy competition.

The industry offers a variety of jobs, but The industry offers a variety of jobs, but limited opportunity for only the most limited opportunity for only the most creative and capable employees.creative and capable employees.

People interested in this field should look People interested in this field should look forward to a large salary and extremely forward to a large salary and extremely long hours.long hours.

There are a variety of jobs available in the video There are a variety of jobs available in the video game industry:game industry: Concept artistConcept artist Level DesignerLevel Designer ModelerModeler Texture ArtistTexture Artist AnimatorAnimator ProgrammerProgrammer Project ManagerProject Manager

The job requirements for most occupations in The job requirements for most occupations in the videogame industry include mainly being the videogame industry include mainly being very creative.very creative.

Video games require a person to be very Video games require a person to be very dedicated to their work. This often includes dedicated to their work. This often includes working extremely long hours to get the job working extremely long hours to get the job done, especially during crunch time.done, especially during crunch time.

Most employees in the videogame market Most employees in the videogame market should expect to make very good money and should expect to make very good money and may be eligible for profit sharing through the may be eligible for profit sharing through the company which they are employedcompany which they are employed

Bugs Bugs A A software bugsoftware bug is an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or is an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or

fault in a computer program that prevents it from fault in a computer program that prevents it from behaving as intended behaving as intended

Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in either a program's source code or its people in either a program's source code or its design, and a few are caused by compilers producing design, and a few are caused by compilers producing incorrect codeincorrect code

When a game is completed, it must be tested to When a game is completed, it must be tested to make sure there are no bugs before it is released.make sure there are no bugs before it is released.

Enter the TestersEnter the Testers The job of the testers is to play the game The job of the testers is to play the game

repeatedly to find all the mistakes, or "bugs."repeatedly to find all the mistakes, or "bugs." Problems are prioritized in many ways, from Problems are prioritized in many ways, from

"fatal" bugs which must be resolved "fatal" bugs which must be resolved immediately, to minor issues which may or immediately, to minor issues which may or may not affect the game's release.may not affect the game's release.

When a problem is discovered, a detailed When a problem is discovered, a detailed report is sent back to the developers and the report is sent back to the developers and the error is corrected.error is corrected.

Fixing the BugsFixing the Bugs The first version sent to testers is called the "alpha" The first version sent to testers is called the "alpha"

version, and it is tested to detect any major flaws in the version, and it is tested to detect any major flaws in the game while they are still relatively easy to fix.game while they are still relatively easy to fix.

Once all of the major flaws are addressed, a "beta" Once all of the major flaws are addressed, a "beta" version is released, often to a larger group of testers version is released, often to a larger group of testers that sometimes includes the public.that sometimes includes the public.

The beta version is exhaustively tested, fixed and re-The beta version is exhaustively tested, fixed and re-released until the developers are satisfied that the released until the developers are satisfied that the game is ready for primetime.game is ready for primetime.

Paid to Play GamesPaid to Play Games Despite the job's difficulty, game testing doesn’t pay Despite the job's difficulty, game testing doesn’t pay

a great deal and is usually paid hourly (around $9 - a great deal and is usually paid hourly (around $9 - $12 an hour). $12 an hour).

Testing management is usually more lucrative, but Testing management is usually more lucrative, but this type of job usually requires years of experience this type of job usually requires years of experience and some type of college degreeand some type of college degree

Most game testing jobs are taken as "foot in the Most game testing jobs are taken as "foot in the door" positions, used as a stepping stone for more door" positions, used as a stepping stone for more lucrative lines of work in game developmentlucrative lines of work in game development