1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
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:
Connor
Martin
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 sample playable demonstration of
a game that is intended to entice the
player to purchase the full version.”
http://www.factmonster.com/scienc
e/computers/video-game-glossary.
html#c
When I make my game I will
have a preset of demos to
help me make a start to my
game and with the presets I
wi l l expand on them and
change the sounds and
sprites to fit my game.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-wdRroa4ms
Thi s video is a demo for Shadow of Mordor, a game that is going to be released in
the near future.
Beta “A beta test refers to the distribution
of pre-release game software to a
select group of people so that they
can tes t the game in their own
homes.”
http://www.techopedia.com/definiti
on/27136/beta-test-gaming
Before I release my game I
wi l l release an alpha build so
people can play the game and
give me feedback on any
gl i tches they find.
Thi s is a picture showing the Beta release of Destiny; i t shows people that they can
2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
pre-order the Beta to see if they like the game and if there are problems with it,
they can report them to the developers.
2
Alpha “The alpha phase of the release life
cycle i s the fi rst phase to
begin software testing.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwar
e_release_life_cycle#Pre-alpha
When I think my game is near
compl etion I will play an
alpha version of it and I will
look out for any bugs that
make the game crash and try
to fix them.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PtrFnrk-dY
Thi s video is the alpha build of Overgrowth a game that has been in development
for over 5 years .
Pre-Alpha “Pre-alpha refers to all activities
performed during the software
project before testing.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwar
e_release_life_cycle#Pre-alpha
Before I release the full game
I wi l l test a pre-alpha and test
the game engine and the
world to make sure they are
what I want them to be and
that they will be good for
people to play with and also
that they look good.
Thi s picture shows the Pre-Alpha release of Next Car Game and i t shows people that
i t i s out on early access and that they can try i t.
Gold “A game has "Gone Gold" when the
final master copy has been produced
at the developer and sent off for
repl ication, packaging and
shipment.”
http://www.urbandictionary.com/de
fine.php?term=Gone%20Gold
When my game is complete
and i t is what I wanted it to
be and I am happy with i t, I
wi l l release it and make it
available for reviews.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY7PKMgztyw
Thi s video is showing a man explain that GTA V has gone gold.
3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
3
Debug “De bugging is a methodical process
of finding and reducing the number
of bugs , or defects, in a computer
program or a piece of electronic
hardware, thus making i t behave as
expected.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debugg
ing
When I am testing my game I
wi l l put a debug menu in it
and use i t to find bugs or
gl i tches and try to fix them.
Thi s is the debug menu for Spiderman 3; i t shows us what can be changed with the
game and how you can fix it.
Automation “The technique of making an
apparatus, a process, or a system
operates automatically.”
http://www.merriam-webs
ter.com/dictionary/automation
Whi le making my game I will
add s cripts that make
something happen and i t is
automated for example a
character in the game
pres sing a button and a door
wi l l open.
Thi s picture shows Clash of Clans, a game that requires you to every now and then
pre s s a few buttons and the game will play i t’s s elf ove r time.
White-Box
Testing
“Whi te box testing i s a method of
tes ting software that tests internal
When I am creating my game
I wi l l use the white-box
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsK3mU5tdmY
4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
4
s tructures or workings of an
application, as opposed to i ts
functionality.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-box_
tes ting
tes ting method to test the
game engine and make sure
that i t runs perfectly.
Thi s video goes into great detail about what white box testing is.
Bug “A bug i s a short-lived fault in a
sys tem.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glitch
When I test my game I will
check for bugs and try to fix
them before I release the full
game.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k6vZqPNcDo
Thi s video shows a wide range of bugs/glitches over a wide range of games.
om
Vertex Shader “A programmable function in display
adapters that offers a graphics
application programmer flexibility in
rendering an image.”
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictiona
ry.com/Vertex+shading
When making my 3D game I
might use a vertex shader to
help create objects and
envi ronments in my game.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G37-Yav2ZM
Thi s video goes into great depth on how to create a vertex shader and what it i s.
5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
5
Pixel Shader “Useful for someone who plays high-resolution
games or watches high-definition
movies on a computer,
pixel shading executes various
functions affecting how pixels on a
computer screen will display.”
http://www.ehow.com/info_876430
8_pixel-shading.html
When making my 2D game I
might use a Pixel shader to
create objects, characters
and envi ronments in my
game.
6. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
Thi s picture shows the different type of shaders you can use for your game and
what they will do.
6
Post Processing “Pos t processing allows different
effects to be performed on the scene
after i t has been rendered, but
before outputting i t to the
viewport.”
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/Po
s tProcessEffectsHome.html
Before I finish my game I will
add post processing to i t to
make the game more vi sually
appealing.
Thi s picture shows the game World of Tanks before and after post processing, after
applying different affects the game looks a lot better and will be smoother when it
i s played.
Rendering “Rendering is the process of
generating an image from
a 2D or 3D model (or models in what
col lectively could be called
a scene fi l e), by means of computer
programs.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renderi
ng_(computer_graphics)
Whi le creating my game I will
add rendering to my game to
make the game look better
and make it more playable
without any glitches.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H_QfoaeNys
Thi s video shows the rendering effect that can be used in games to reflect objects
perfectly and to see further distances and make the game look a lot better.
Normal Map “In 3D computer graphics, normal
mapping, or "Dot3 bump mapping",
i s a technique used for faking the
l ighting of bumps and dents – an
implementation of bump mapping.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal
_mapping
When I am creating my game
I wi l l use normal mapping to
make my models look better
by us ing reference images for
them.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wopbib6iNlw
Thi s video shows how to create a normal map and what i t looks like in game.
Entity “A unique ID that tags each game-object
as a separate item.”
http://entity-systems.wikidot.com/
Whi le making my game I will
tag everything with its own ID
so that it is a separate ID to
everything else.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fQ-bRllhXc
Thi s video shows you what an Entity i s and how to create one for a game.
7. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
7
UV Map “UV mapping is the 3D
modelling process of making a 2D
image representation of a 3D
model's surface.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_ma
pping
Whi le creating my game I will
use UV mapping to create the
models easier and make sure
they look exactly how I want
them.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIvTUDgaXik
Thi s video shows what UV mapping i s and how to create i t to be used for a game.
Procedural
Texture
“Procedural textures are textures
that are defined mathematically.
They are generally relatively s imple
to use, because they don't need to
be mapped in a special way - which
doesn't mean that procedural
textures can't become very
complex.”
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/D
oc:2.4/Manual/Textures/Types/Proc
edural
When I create my game I
would use procedural
textures to create the terrain
quicker and easier.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8CmR_5KXFo
Thi s video shows how to create a procedural texture and what i t looks like in the
game and on the objects.
Physics “Computer animation
phys ics or game physics involves the
introduction of the laws
of phys ics into a simulation or game
engine, particularly in 3D computer
graphics, for the purpose of making
the effects appear more real to the
obs erver.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_
phys ics
Whi le creating my game I will
add physics to most objects
so that when they are used
they move and also the
character moves like arm and
leg movement.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS9seZ_G6pU
Thi s video shows different types of physics in video games and what they look like
in the game.
8. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
8
Collision “Phys i cs, the meeting of particles or
of bodies in which each exerts aforce
upon the other, causing the exchang
e of energy or momentum.”
http://dictionary.reference.com/bro
wse/collision
I wi l l use collison detection in
my game foe most objects,
thi s will make the game play
better, for example if I hit
another player I will bounce
of them.
Thi s picture shows the collision boxes for all the objects in this game, the boxes
represent the space the object takes up and where the collision detection is.
Lighting “High-dynamic-range
rendering (HDRR or HDR rendering),
al so known as high-dynamic-range
l ighting, is the rendering of computer
graphics scenes by using lighting
calculations done in a larger dynamic
range. This allows preservation of
deta ils that may be lost due to
l imiting contrast ratios. Video
games and computer-generated
movies and special effects benefit
from thi s as i t creates more realistic
s cenes than with the more simplistic
l ighting models used.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-
range_rendering
I wi l l use a lot of lighting in
my game to make i t look
better and more enjoyable to
play, also i t will add
atmosphere to my game.
Thi s picture shows how lighting is used in games and it shows how good games can
look with the correct lighting effects.
9. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
9
AA – Anti-
Aliasing
“Antialiasing i s a way of smoothing
edges. Computer monitors display
pixels, but real objects have curves
and l ines. In order to display these
on a computer monitor, the edge i s
often jagged. Antialiasing helps
reduce the problem by s lightly
blurring edges to the point where
jagged lines don't show easily or at
al l.”
http://compreviews.about.com/od/P
C-Gaming/a/What-is-antialiasing-in-
PC-games.htm
Whi le creating my game I
might add anti-aliasing to
make the game look better
but I need to make sure the
engine can cope with it.
Thi s picture shows what different types of AA look l ike and how they look across
mul tiple platforms.
LoD – Level of
Detail
“Level of detail is a general design
term for video game landscapes in
which closer objects are rendered
with more polygons than objects that
are farther away.”
http://www.techopedia.com/definiti
on/11791/level-of-detail-lod
I wi l l use LoD in my game so
further away objects are less
rendered and closer objects
wi l l look better because of
the LoD.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSsHoPi-aMc
Thi s video shows different levels of detail and what each one will look like in game
and how i t will affect the game.
Animation “A s imulation of movement created
by di splaying a series of pictures,
or frames.”
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/
A/animation.html
Whi le creating my game I will
add animation to my own
character and the other
characters as well as other
objects to make the game
look better.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_2UhXJHz7Q
Thi s video shows different variations of animations and how they look before the
game and how different the animations will be across multiple games.
10. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
10
Sprite “In computer graphics, a sprite i s
a two-dimensional
image or animation that
i s integrated into a larger scene.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_(
computer_graphics)
Whi le creating my game I will
create a wide variety of
sprites and try to fi t them all
into the game plus make
them look good for the game.
Thi s picture shows different kinds of sprites and what they will look like in the
game.
Scene “A cut s cene or event s cene is 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,
s trengthen the main character's
development, introduce characters,
and provide background information,
atmosphere, dialogue, and clues. “
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutscen
e
Whi le creating my game I will
make cut scenes for in
between levels or to be part
of the level where they wi ll
carry the game on without
you playing.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEq0oV21tHI
Thi s vi deo s hows a cut scene in the game Gears of War 3 a nd the cut s cene is Dom’s
de a th a nd the cut s cene isn’t something you play, i t i s a video playing out what is
happening.
11. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
11
Library “The Lightweight Java Game Library
(LWJGL) i s a solution aimed directly
at professional and amateur Java
programmers alike to enable
commercial quality games to be
wri tten in Java. LWJGL provides
developers access to high
performance crossplatform libraries
such as OpenGL (Open Graphics
Library), OpenCL (Open Computing
Language) and OpenAL (Open Audio
Library) allowing for state of the art
3D games and 3D sound. Additionally
LWJGL provides access to controllers
such as Gamepads, Steering wheel
and Joysticks. Al l in a simple and
s traight forward API.”
http://www.lwjgl.org/
Whi le creating my game I will
use a l ibrary of other games
to use for my designs and
help me create my game.
Thi s picture give an example of a game l ibrary and what it holds.
UI “The us er interface, in the industrial
des ign field of human–machine
interaction, i s the space where
interactions between humans and
machines occur.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_in
terface
I wi l l create a UI for my game
so you can keep track of
certa in things like a map or
ammo, important things that
wi l l help you play the game.
Thi s picture shows the UI in a game and it shows what the UI i s and what you can do
with i t.
Frames “Frame rate, also known as frame When creating my game i t http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNKON2e-h4w
12. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
IG2 Task 1
12
frequency and frames per
second (FPS), is the frequency (rate)
at which an imaging device produces
unique consecutive images
cal led frames.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame_
rate
wi l l run of Frames per second
and I will constantly check it
to make sure the game runs
smoothly and is enjoyable to
play.
Thi s video explains what frames are and how they affect the game.
Concept “Concept art is a form
of i l lustration used to convey an idea
for use in (but not limited
to) fi lms, video games, animation,
or comic books before i t is put into
the final product.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concep
t_art
When making my characters
and envi ronments etc. I will
make them available for
concept art so other people
can design my characters in
thei r own way.
Thi s picture shows some concept art for Metro last l ight and it shows what visual
representations are made from the game.
Event “A thing that happens or takes place,
especially one of importance.”
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/
definition/english/event
When creating my game I will
have an event where a lot of
enemies appear at one time
al so other events similar to
thi s .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoEot1f1MA
Thi s video shows the game Outlast and i t is full of event, jump s cares mainly and
they are pre-scripted, you ca n’t do anything to change it.
Pathfinding “Pathfinding or pathing is the
plotting, by a computer application,
of the shortest route between two
points.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfin
ding
Whi le creating my game I will
use Pathfinding to make my
enemies seem more realistic,
they wi ll explore around the
map.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_AurmdOnw4
Thi s video shows how to create the path finding programme and what i t does in
game.