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Aims
To provide learners with an understanding of computer games development as an underpinning technological concept in the fields of computer gaming and systems development
Unit abstract
It is often easy to forget that behind the polished high-definition graphics and increasingly cinematic content of modern computer games is a highly skilled team of designers and programmers. With more sophisticated environments and new ways of interacting with computers, computer game developers now have the choice to extend into many software development realms. Linking to any of the programming units, this unit enables learners to use any suitable platform to explore design requirements and methods of user interaction as well as the coding demands required for the differing types of gaming environments. Whilst it is essential to offer learners an overview of the differing gaming environments, unit delivery for the development of a game should focus on one specific environment and the required user and technological interactions. This unit is not suited to learners who do not have experience in programming and should ideally be delivered when the learner has completed procedural programming, object-oriented programming or event-driven programming.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a learner will:
1 Understand computer games development
2 Be able to design computer games
3 Be able to develop computer games
4 Be able to test and document computer games.
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This forum’s main function is to enable you to communicate your game concepts, ask for advice from staff and students, offer solutions and help to issues which may arise throughout your final project. You may require testers for levels or help with art, sound or any other aspect of the development cycle. By working together you will accomplish more of your creative vision.
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Films and Documentaries
Some really interesting and useful behind the scenes insights into the people behind the games you play. -
These films will give you an insight into a number of important principles of games creation which will aid a number of learning outcomes. Indie Game the Movie demonstrates constant turmoil faced by independent game developers. Pixel Poetry examines video games as art and discusses the visual language of video games. Free 2 Play examines eSports and the players behind one of the largest names in gaming, League. Video Games the Movie discusses the history of video games and highlights the technology throughout. Atari: Game Over highlights the rise and fall of one of the most (in)famous companies in video games history. Gameplay: The Story of the videogame revolution gives an in-depth look at the history of videogames.
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The development process of Broken Age was recorded by 2 Player Productions as part of the Kickstarter project. In 2011, Paul Owens of 2 Player Productions wrote an e-mail to Greg Rice and Tim Schafer of Double Fine Productions with a proposition of making a documentary series charting the development of a game from beginning to end. A part of the Kickstarter money was set aside for the documentary. The documentary was originally only available to backers, but as of March 2015, the company has started providing the episodes free of charge to YouTube.
Broken Age – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2015. Broken Age – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Age#Documentary. [Accessed 01 September 2015].
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The brainchild of Tim Schafer, Amnesia Fortnights have been running at Double Fine Studios for a number of years. This P2P production captures the essence of the whole game design process from pitch, through design and production until a prototyped game has been produced… all in 2 weeks. Some of Double Fine’s recently released games have even been created through this process. For a fuller look inside Double Fine watch the Double Fine Documentaries above.
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P2P Production return to Double Fine to record another series of Amnesia Fortnight.
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Background bios of some of the legendary people and games from the industry – These videos are of excellent use throughout the course, if you are truly interested in taking your knowledge further I recommend you watch as many of these episodes as you can. ***Recommend videos from playlist*** Episode 2: Nolan Bushnell (Founder of Atari) Episode 6: Shigero Miyamoto (Creator of Mario, Donkey Kong and Zelda) Episode 9: Will Wright (Creator of the Sims and Co-Founder of Bullfrog) Episode 12: Sid Meier (Creator of Civilization) Episode 22: Yu Suzuki (Creator of Shenmue, Outrun, Virtua Fighter) Episode 65: Tim Schafer (Creator of DOTT, Broken Age, Monkey Island (With Ron Gilbert)
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Charlie Brooker’s Gameswipe is a special one-off British, video game culture show by Charlie Brooker, aired in September 2009 during the BBC’s Technology season. Charlie Brooker sets his caustic sights on video games. Expect acerbic comment as he looks at the various genres, how they have changed since their early conception and how the media represents games and gamers. Features interviews with Dara O Briain, sitcom scribe Graham Linehan and Rab and Ryan from Consolevania.
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An excellent resource. RECOMMENDED for meeting Project and Planning criteria. Features:
- Simple way to track your project
- Add comments (meaning you do not have to keep a separate log)
- Easily create Gnatt charts to monitor your project
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Subnautica Early Access Trailer
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Subnautica game development using Trello
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Use this with Trello to create a simple Gnatt-chart
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Channel 4. November 2013. Charlie Brooker takes you on a journey through time to show the 25 most influential video games on everyday life.
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Our Mission – To explore the rich cultural genre of games; to give scholars a peer-reviewed forum for their ideas and theories; to provide an academic channel for the ongoing discussions on games and gaming. Game Studies is a non-profit, open-access, cross disciplinary journal dedicated to games research, web-published several times a year at www.gamestudies.org.
Our primary focus is aesthetic, cultural and communicative aspects of computer games, but any previously unpublished article focused on games and gaming is welcome. Proposed articles should be jargon-free, and should attempt to shed new light on games, rather than simply use games as metaphor or illustration of some other theory or phenomenon.
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Published on 31 Mar 2014Video game studios bring together a number of different creative types, from artists and programmers to the business-minded. Navigating the different personalities you’ll meet is as much of a challenge as the technical work that goes into software development, and these Full Sail University grads and industry professionals will share their day-to-day experiences, as well as the challenges of transitioning to different studios and different roles.
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