5 Game Development slides

: requirements elicitation
Video Game Development
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by ian kabeary, franky cheung, stephen dixon,
jamie bertram, marco farrier
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the process of requirements
elicitation for game
development is unlike that of
any other type of software.
topics
(some) requirements developers have to deal with
how they deal with them
how requirements have changed over the years
must be fun have surround
sound can’t be boring
have good graphics be fun 4
years from now have plot
twists add character
development have long, detailed levels
http://www.wallpaperspictures.net/image/lost-in-a-dense-fog-wallpaper-for-1920x1440-545-4.jpg
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must be fun have
these are vague, yet very
important to the end users of
the system, and cannot be
discarded by developers. [1]
so what can be done?
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surround sound
can’t
be
boring have good
graphics be fun 4
years from now
have plot twists add
character development
have long, detailed levels
developers can attempt to create new gameplay experiences
http://cdn.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/portal_mirror-2.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SzkHfVP1Lig/TyMgyWmbBHI/AAAAAAAAD3M/ItQVnEJjw_E/s1600/PokemonRed_Nintendo_GameBoy_005a.jpg
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some statistics
• Pokémon Red, Blue, Green
sold 20.08 million, worldwide
• Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen
sold 11.18 million, worldwide
• Other derivatives, (like Gold, Silver, Ruby,
Sapphire, Crystal, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl)
sold a total of approximately 48.6 million,
worldwide.
or, refine existing (successful) concepts into a new game.
http://cdn3.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/portal-2-review.jpg
http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Pokemon
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VrKGuN_pMOY/TjPql78UI9I/AAAAAAAAATg/rcI3edZvYr8/s1600/iStock_money+tree.jpg
http://www.easybizchina.com/picture/product/200911/04-54a30540-67b0-49f3-8af3-38f0f95b2e78.jpg
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over the years, consumer expectations have
changed.
what made mario popular?
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http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Nintendo_NES/Snap/big/Super_Mario_Bros._-_1985_-_Nintendo.jpg
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classic games seemed to be difficult to master
while newer games focus more on realism.
http://www.gamesdbase.com/game/nintendo-nes/donkey-kong.aspx
http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Features/2010/10/Top%207%20secret%20rooms/MarioBros--article_image.jpg
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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QXybMfeXlHw/TRyEWQdkW2I/AAAAAAAABNk/W5w6LQNmSpY/s1600/New%2BSuper%2BMario%2BBros.%2B2.png
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http://cdn2.gamefront.com/wp-content/uploads/gallery/crysis/931665_20070706_screen001.jpg
similarities to software design
: game design
• requirements analysis
• documents/planning
• risk analysis
referenced in this section
Ernest Adams, Fundamentals of Game Design, 2nd ed., Karyn Johnson et al., Eds. Berkeley, CA, United
States of America: New Riders, 2009. [Online]. http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/book/
programming/game-programming/9780321685377/copyright/copyrightp1g
Bob Bates, Game Design, 2nd ed., Mark Garvey, Mitzi Koontz, and Sean Medlock, Eds. Boston, MA,
United States of America: Thomson Course Technology PTR, 2004. [Online]. http://www.scribd.com/
doc/53700545/Game-Design-Second-Edition
Francois Dominic Laramee. (1999, Nov) gamedev.net. [Online]. http://www.gamedev.net/page/
resources/_/creative/game-design/the-game-design-process-r273
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http://www.usmansheikh.com/Images/canvas.jpg
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stages of design
pitch doc(ument)
• proposal
• document
• pitch document
• short, (1-5 pages)
• concept stage
• concept doc
• high level of game design
• preproduction
• acceptance needed to start project
• game document
• prototype
• elaboration stage / development
• alpha
• beta
• tuning stage / maintenance
http://www.marketinghomeproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/elevator-pitch2.jpg
http://warisan-megajuta.com/images/Blueprint.jpg
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concept stage
pre-production
• concept document
• detailed pitch document
• similar to requirements document
• acts as a proof of concept
• contains:
• contains:
• genre
• gameplay
• game document
• features
• art / graphics bible
• setting
• story
• game prototype
• etc.
• etc..
http://10dollarwp.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/3dmodelling.jpg
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development / elaboration
tuning stage
• development
• upgrades
• testing
• patches
• bug fixes
• new features
http://patyrykin.ru/wp-uploads/2011/08/update.png
http://www.competence.co.in/images/software-testing.jpg
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is this a good bug report?
: testing
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testing phases
• pre-production
• alpha
pre-production
• beta
• might not be called “testers”
• gold
• what happens here, sets the tone for the rest of the project
• post-release
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• what if I don’t do this?
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planning tasks
test kickoff
• scope
• why?
• GDD (game design document)
• better process definition
• TDD (technical design document)
• better problem solving
• lead tester
• schedule reduction
• appoints vice
• two phases
• phase acceptance
• game design reviews
• tester prep
• bug database
• kickoff meeting
http://pmtips.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/kickoff.jpg
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benefits of kickoff
• prepares the tester
• familiarizes the tester
• resolves conflicts in test instructions
alpha testing
• provides a forum for test improvement
• design is fine tuned
• you get more assets
• it’s exciting
• lots of bugs
• establish base lines
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6oApBCwNjcU/TyACwKYIZWI/AAAAAAAAEZo/z6BMpSDiIuo/
s1600/happy+computer.jpg
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alpha phase entry criteria
• all major game features exist
• first party controllers
• a tester can navigate the game
• art
• code passes 50% of TRC
• multiplayer
beta testing
• interface is complete
• audio
• after alpha testing
• time to perfect it
• QA has documentation
• game is compatible with most configs
• level scripting
http://www.gamepur.com/files/images/2011/bf3-open-beta-stats.jpg
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beta entry criteria
• all features implemented
• passes TRC
• navigation
design lock
• GUI
• compatibility
• do we implement a feature?
• logic and AI
• cut a level?
• controllers
• art
• audio
• online
• localization
http://www.psdgraphics.com/file/padlock-security-icon.jpg
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gold testing
• code lock
• game appears to be a commercial release
letting a bug go
• last versions are gold master candidates
http://www.yellowdartstudios.com/Winter%20Mourning.jpg
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gold testing entry criteria
• severity 1 Bugs are fixed
• > 90% of severity 2
• > 85% of severity 3
: the creative
interaction design process
• workarounds have been communicated to technical support
• performance is good
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interfaces have to accomplish two goals:
feedback has two purposes in game design
1. feedback (receiving information from the game)
1. indicate current progress
2. control (providing information to the game)
2. suggest ways of progressing further
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control
• players must have some method of overcoming challenges in the game
in terms of progress, players
like to know
• control mechanisms often work in tandem with feedback
• this allows players to confirm that actions they initiated were in fact executed
• strategies: which should they use?
• duration: how long will it take?
• success: am I winning?
example: health bar
http://www.yellowdartstudios.com/Winter%20Mourning.jpg
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interfaces have several secondary goals as well
considerations in game interfaces
• immersion: does the player “forget” it’s a game?
• functionality: does the interface achieve its goals?
• atmosphere: does it “fit in” with the mood?
• usability: does the interface force users to take unnecessary steps?
• aesthetics: does the interface detract from in game art? is it attractive?
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use of frameworks
: commonly used frameworks
how do you make a game?
rarely built from the ground upward.
game engines are
often reused
new ones built off of existing technology
http://www.matrix-explained.com/photopost/data/509/2906architects_room_1280x960.jpg
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hierarchy of a game engine
the main areas
collisions and physics
online multiplayer
audio
rendering
animation
AI
collisions and physics
nVidia PhysX, havok, bullet (open source)
http://images.psxextreme.com/wallpapers/ps3/collision_1155.jpg
http://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/uncharted-2-image-001.jpg
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online multiplayer
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abyssal engine, bigworld technology, multiverse network,
RedDwarf server (open source)
audio ) ) )
BASS, fmod, miles audio
http://evepics.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/kkarmageddonatposbattle.png
http://mmohuts.com/wp-content/gallery/maplestory-bigbang/maplestory_higher-resolution.pnghyperlink
http://www.k2audio.com/images/sitemap_background.jpg
http://www.deshow.net/d/file/cartoon/2009-04/audio-jungle-cg-illustrator-497-12.jpg
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rendering...
animation
ogre3D, granny 3D, crystal space, based on DirectX, CUDA, OpenCL
havok, ogre3D, UbiArt (Ubisoft proprietary), unreal, CryEngine
http://phoebeola.webs.com/halo-cutout-render.png
http://lcc.gatech.edu/~cpearce3/lcc4725/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/lightning-final-fantasy-13-ffxiii-high-def-render.jpg
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http://xn--80aqafcrtq.cc/img/1/6/4/164907.jpg
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examples of game engines (that are better than Game Maker)
artificial intelligence
AI Implant, DI-guy, Direct AI, kynapse, AI Live
http://www.dan-dare.org/FreeFun/Games/CartoonsMoviesTV/WALL-E7/images/fullscale/eve_2.png
http://www.zastavki.com/pictures/1600x1200/2010/Photoshop_Artificial_Intelligence_021071_.jpg
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http://www.mono-project.com/files/6/68/Editorshot.jpg
Unity 3d
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http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/img/products/dvds/WBR02/stills/01.jpg
http://www.indiegamemag.com/media/unity3d1.jpg
Unreal Engine (Unreal Development Kit)
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http://www.freebestwallpapers.info/bulkupload//20082010//Games/Unreal-Tournament-3-face2face.jpg
http://blog.operationreality.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CryENGINE-3-Free-SDK05.jpg
CryEngine
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Blender Game Engine
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thankyou. (questions?)
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http://solarlune.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/printhi.png
http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/04/crysis2modkit.jpg
http://www.wiinintendo.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/wallpaper_super_mario_galaxy_2_01_1680x1050.jpg
http://www.yofrankie.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/screen_nut.png