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Game Genres: First Quick Look

Game Genres: First Quick Look. H. Mu ñ oz -Avila. Disclaimer : I use these notes as a guide rather than a comprehensive coverage of the topic. They are neither a substitute for attending the lectures nor for reading the assigned material. Most Popular Games Genres. Adventure games :

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Game Genres: First Quick Look

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  1. Game Genres: First Quick Look H. Muñoz-Avila Disclaimer: I use these notes as a guide rather than a comprehensive coverage of the topic. They are neither a substitute for attending the lectures nor for reading the assigned material

  2. Most Popular Games Genres • Adventure games: • Solving puzzles • Storyline arc is very important • Finding clues • E.g., through conversations with NPCs • Classic: The Longest Journey (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XrkGztFr-0) • Role Playing Games (RPG) • Player assumes fictional roles through Avatars • Avatar acquires skills by performing tasks/actions • “Levels” indicate the progress of the avatar • Classic: Diablo 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl9C8RTu3Oc

  3. Most Popular Games Genres (II) • Strategy games: • resource gathering, managing economy, technology research • Real-Time Strategy (RTS) • Rapid decision making (classic: Command & Conquer) • Turn-based Games (TBS) • Take turns (classic: Civilization II) • Sport Games • Simulation of actual sport games (classic: FIFA series) • Games of chance • Outcome highly influenced by a stochastic environment • First-person shooter • Controlling avatar in first-person camera view (classic: Duke Nukem)

  4. Most Popular Games Genres (III) • And many sub-genres • Combine and/or enhance main genres • Massive Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG) • RPGs with multiple other players in pervasive worlds • Stealth FPS • FPS emphasizing stealth over shooting • RTS/RPG • Combine both aspects (Warcraft III) • RTS/FPS • Combine both aspects (classic: Battlezone) It is recommended for this course that you know at least one video game very well.

  5. “Programming” Games Without Programming(sort of) H. Muñoz-Avila Jarret Raim Jonathan Martin

  6. Thief 2: How to program NPC behavior? gameplay

  7. Finite State Machines and Games • State: an activity performed by an avatar • Event: something that happens in the game world that makes the state change Enemy on sight Attack Patrol

  8. E S Chase ~S D S Let us build an FSM for a Thief NPC • States • Attack • Chase • Spawn • Wander • Events • E: see an enemy • S: hear a sound • D: die Attack ~E D E Wander E ~E Spawn D

  9. If player walks here then Spawn Mephisto Put 3 orcs here Starting place of player But it gets even easier (event-on-map)

  10. If player cross here Then declare war Even at a Larger Scale

  11. Ok Let Us Construct One Finite State Machine • Lets program High Priestess Mar'li • Step 1: list states and events • Step 2: Construct the Finite State Machine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7DT0fMNu3k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGWBIMIDWhQ

  12. Homework (next class) • Pick an existing game • Select one or more NPCs in the game • Create a Finite State Machine modeling the behavior of the NPCs • List states (at least 5) • List events (at least 5) • Draw a Finite State Machine • Pick and existing game (can be same as before) • Provide an example of an event-on-map

  13. Computer Programs -Program: sequence of instructions that the computer can understand read(x) read(y) z  x + y print(z) - For controlling an NPC, we can create an FSM and let someone else (or a program!) translate it into a computer-understandable instructions

  14. Motivation: Scripting Programming Languages • The “Community Expansion Package” is a game created by players, many non-programmers • It is build using a software tool called Aurora which is included in the game Neverwinter Nights • In fact using Aurora, gamers create thousands of their own games “mods” • Most variants of the original game • Others significant departures

  15. Scripts - Script: specialized program that uses instructions that are based on game world patrol() if see-player then attack(monster) if hurt then heal A Finite State Machine

  16. Two Engines • Adventure Game Studio source:http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/ Introduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ml_DR76Cl4 • RPG Maker source: http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/ Introduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Y_W7kD8LU

  17. Many Engines • Many games have facilities that allow you to create “mods” of the game • Example: Aurora (NeverwinterNigths) http://nwn.wikia.com/wiki/Toolset • Ranges from total conversion to art mod

  18. Aurora Neverwinter Toolset By: Nicholas Haines

  19. Final Remarks • Give some serious thought to doing the optional assignment of creating a game • Try one of the engines • Last time some 80% of the class created one • Its fun and • Some 90% of them got exempt from the Final Exam • The remaining 10% got extra credit

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