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Computer Games

Computer Games. Professor Frank J. Rinaldo CC office 401. Computer Games. Class Schedule Lecture (30 – 60 minutes) Practical Experience (60 – 30 minutes) Class Plan Develop games using GameMaker As individuals As a member of a team. Why Study Computer Games?. Leading Edge Technology

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Computer Games

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  1. Computer Games Professor Frank J. Rinaldo CC office 401

  2. Computer Games • Class Schedule • Lecture (30 – 60 minutes) • Practical Experience (60 – 30 minutes) • Class Plan • Develop games using GameMaker • As individuals • As a member of a team

  3. Why Study Computer Games? • Leading Edge Technology • Types of Games • Computer Game Industry • Computer Game Platforms

  4. Leading Edge Technology • Major driving force in market today • Millions of computer based games sold every year • High volume has driven down costs of hardware & software

  5. Leading Edge Technology Examples • Graphics • Has driven down the cost of high performance graphics cards • Networking • Has driven networking to higher & higher bandwidths & response times • Media • Created high demand for CDroms & DVD’s

  6. Leading Edge Technology Examples • Storage • Created high demand for disk storage (GB’s) • Processing Power • Processing power for new games increases every year • Parallel / Distributed computations • Games servers require high-performance HW • 3-D Sound • Has created demand for 3-D sound

  7. Types of Games • Strategy – Chess, Civilization, Command & Conquer • Simulation – Flight Simulators, SimCity, The Sims • Action – Doom, Unreal 2, Half-Life • Role Playing – Asheron’s Call EverQuest, Diablo • Problem Solving – Myst • Other / Combination – Age of Empires, Civilization 2, Warcraft, Starcraft

  8. Type of Games Game Play • Stand-Alone (single player or player vs computer) • Chess • Myst • DragonBall Z • Networked (2 – 20 players connected via network) • Civilization 2 • Age of Empires • Server-Based (MMOG) (100’s- 1000’s players) • EverQuest • Asheron’s Call

  9. Types of Games New Applications • Learning / Education • Train process & procedures – UA • Medical recovery / handicapped • Foreign Languages • Sightseeing • Scientific • Modeling • Simulation

  10. Computer Game Industry • Market NOW larger then Hollywood (movies) • Cross-Marketing • Games to Books: “Shattered Light” • Books to Games: “The Fleet” (‘Star General’) • Games to Movies / TV: • Laura Croft “Tomb Raider” • “Super Mario Brothers Movie” • Movies / TV to Games: • James Bond • Harry Potter • Dragon Ball Z

  11. Game Platforms • PC’s • IBM compatible • Apple • Handheld • Game Boy / Game Boy Advanced • Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP 2) • Game Machines • Sony PlayStation 2 • Sega Dreamcast • Microsoft Xbox • Cell Phones / PDAs

  12. Game Design Theme / Story Telling • Based on other licensed products • Based on history, economics, etc. • Based on simulations • Based on common knowledge • Requires HIGH LEVEL of: • Creativity! • Energy • Consistency

  13. Game Design Staffing / Job Functions • Game Designers • Programmers • Artists • Sound • Animators • Producer

  14. Game Software Game Engine • Basic Game Loop • Animation considerations • Divide computation (user vs. sever) • Multiple servers • Performance issues • Physics sub-engine

  15. Game Software Graphics & Animation • Artistic skills • Ability to draw • Ability to animate • Technical skills • Graphic size • Animation size • Frame rate • Available memory • Multiple layers • Graphic formats

  16. Game Software Artificial Intelligence • What is AI? • Simulating some aspect of intelligence on the computer • Why is it needed? • Makes games MUCH more interesting & fun to play • How is it used? • AI is used to make moves against human players

  17. Game Software Networking • Time delays • Modems • Switches • Distance from server • Bandwidth • How much data to send? • What format / representation? • What protocol? • What level of security?

  18. Game Software Testing & Validation • Testing • Game play (Is it playable?) • Game balance (Is it fair?) • Game bugs • Load testing (number of players) • Validation • Validate bug fixes • Validate documentation

  19. Class Plan • Homework: • Reading • Making Games • In class: • Listening to lecture • Making Games

  20. Class Grading • Your class grade will be based on: • Your class participation • The games you develop

  21. Game Development • You will be developing games in: • GameMaker • Some games you will develop as an individual • Some games you will develop as a member of a team

  22. Course Information • http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/is/~rinaldo/ComputerGames/ComputerGames.htm • Professor Frank J Rinaldo • Creation Core room 401 • Office hours: M-F 1:00 – 5:00 (except when in class, lunch, or meetings)

  23. 4th Year Students • Advanced Game topics • Professor Frank J Rinaldo • Professor Ruck Thawonmas

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