Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Task 1 - Operating System (OS):
Software that supports a computers basic functions, these include managing peripherals and plan tasks. They perform basic tasks including acknowledging keyboard and mouse input, sending outputted information to the monitor, taking note of files on the disk and controlling peripherals like printers.
Platform dependency and independency:
Platform Dependency
|
Platform Independency
|
Software needs a certain type of hardware and/or operating system to
work.
|
Software that can run on most hardware and/or operating system to
work.
|
Nothing is perfectly plat form independent as everything still need
some sort of hardware.
|
Functions:
Microphone - Sends an input of sound which can be recognised and written as text or used as a voice command etc. It can also be recorded and fed back later on.
Motion Control/Detect - Allows the user to interact with the system through body movement. Its usually through real world gestures. A good example is the Nintendo Wii and Playstation Move, they both require a device a handheld controller for motion control, they do however work very differently. The Playstation Camera and Kinect work by using a camera to sense movement.
VR support - Use of Computer Technology to create a simulated environment, you are immersed into a different world and can interact with it.
Controller - Used to input information (usually to control object or characters in a game. They can be classed as keyboards, mouses, gamepads and joysticks etc.
Touchscreen/pad - An area that allows the user to interact with a device by touching areas on a screen.
Remote play - Allows the PS3 and PS4 to transmit audio and visuals to a PSP or PSV.
Latest operating systems:
PC
|
Apple Mac
|
IPhone/IPad
|
Samsung Galaxy S7
|
PS4
|
Xbox One
|
|
What is the operating System
|
Windows 10
|
macOS 10.12 Sierra
|
iOS 10.2.1 Beta 2
|
Android 7.0 (Nougat)
|
Orbis OS
|
Hyper-V and Windows 10 based on Xbox OS
|
What can each operating system do?
|
Browse the internet, open applications
|
Browse the internet, open applications
|
Browse the internet, open applications, text message and answer a
call
|
Browse the internet, open applications, text message and answer a
call
|
Browse the internet, open applications
|
Browse the internet, open applications
|
Does the operating system have any special functions for games?
|
Plug in controller (steam, PS and Xbox)
|
Motion control, microphone
|
Motion control, microphone
|
VR support, vibrating controller, touchpad, motion detect, Playstation camera and remote
play
|
Voice commands, Kinect 2, streaming
|
|
How do we play games on the operating system?
|
Through keyboard and mouse or plug in controller
|
Through keyboard and mouse or plug in controller
|
Touchscreen
|
Touchscreen
|
Controller
|
Controller
|
Can and how do we download more games on the operating system?
|
Through providers like Steam and Origin etc. and disk
|
Through providers like Steam, App Store and Origin etc. and disk
|
Through the App Store
|
Through the Play Store and downloaded from the internet
|
Playstation Store and disk
|
Xbox Store and disk
|
Task 2
What is a device driver?
A program that controls a particular device attached to the computer, they are for displays, printers and CD-ROM readers etc. When you buy an OS many device drivers are built in however, if later on you decide to buy a new device that the OS did not see coming then you would have to install a new driver. They convert general input/output instructions of the OS to a message that the device can actually understand.
Application software:
Interpreted Languages -
Does not need to be compiled first so its not needed to be turned into machine code runs and it runs on the fly. Runs more slowly than compiled as it has to actively perform the step of changing the code into the device can handle on the fly. You can change the program when you open it and its ready to go.
Examples:
Java - Was designed to look and feel like C++ but is much simpler to use. It can be used to create complete applications that can run on a single computer or be assigned among servers and clients in a network. It is a popular choice for applications on Android smartphones. Games created in Java: Roboforge by Liquid Edge Games, Runescape by Jagex and Tom Clancy's Politika by Red Storm Entertainment.
Python - It has a design philosophy which emphasizes the readability of code and a syntax which allows any programmers to show concepts in much less code than what is possible in C++ or Java. Games created in Python: EVE Online by CCP Games, Frets on Fire by Unreal Voodoo and the original Galcon by Imitation Pickles.
C# - A programming language from Microsoft that aims to merge the computing power of C++ with the ease of programming in Visual Basic. It's features are similar to those in Java. Games created in C#: ?
Compiled Languages -
It must be compiled before it is run so it is worked out on the fly. However it runs faster than Interpreted code. While it is being compiled it is checked for errors, these are then reported and can be fixed before re-compiling. The compiling converts the code into machine code/binary. A C program that was compiled on a Windows computer cannot then be run on a Linux computer. You would have to compile the program using a C compiler on a Linux computer.
C - It is ideal for developing filmware or portable applications. It was first intended for writing system software and was developed for the Unix Operating System in the early 1970's at Bell Labs by Dennie Ritchie. Games created in C: ?
C++ - Developed by Bjarne Stroustrup, it is an OOP (Object Orientated Programming) language and in an expanded C language. It is therefore possible to code C++ in a C style. It is an effective example of a hybrid language as it can be coded in either. Games created in C++: Doom III by id Software, Counter Strike by Valve L.L.C. and World of Warcraft by Blizzard Entertainment.
Game Engines -
A Game Engine is a type software that creates source code and makes elements that begin another process, letting real-time maintenance of software requirements. Its made for the creation and development of video games, this includes consoles, smartphones and PCs.
GameMaker - It has a built in language called GML (Game Maker Language). Games created in Game Maker: ORBIT by 4Bit Games, Hyper Light Drifter by Heart Machine and Defenders of Ekron by Vitro Games.
Unreal - It uses the programming language of C++. Games created in Game Maker: Gears of War 4 by The Coalition, Tekken 7 by Bandai Namco Studios and We Happy Few by Compulsion Games.
Unity - It is programmed in C# and the development is done with your choice of C#, Boo or a dialect of JavaScript. Games created in Unity: Kerbal Space Program by Squad, Firewatch by Campo Santo and SUPERHOT by Superhot Team.
Graphical API:
DirectX -
It is designed by Microsoft (only available on Microsoft products e.g Windows and Xbox) to allow straight access to hardware and it contains a range of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for multimedia and video applications along with video games. It allows access to the advanced features of high-performance hardware like 3-D graphics acceleration chips and sound cards. This also includes 2-D graphics acceleration, support for input devices and control of sound mixing and input.
Open GL -
Open Graphics Library is a cross-language, cross-platform API and is used to render 2D and 3D vector graphics. It interacts with the GPU to get hardware-accelerated rendering. Very similar to DirectX but allowed on Microsoft platforms like Playstation, Apple Mac and Linux. There are modified versions on Android and IOS machines.
Does not need to be compiled first so its not needed to be turned into machine code runs and it runs on the fly. Runs more slowly than compiled as it has to actively perform the step of changing the code into the device can handle on the fly. You can change the program when you open it and its ready to go.
Examples:
Java - Was designed to look and feel like C++ but is much simpler to use. It can be used to create complete applications that can run on a single computer or be assigned among servers and clients in a network. It is a popular choice for applications on Android smartphones. Games created in Java: Roboforge by Liquid Edge Games, Runescape by Jagex and Tom Clancy's Politika by Red Storm Entertainment.
Python - It has a design philosophy which emphasizes the readability of code and a syntax which allows any programmers to show concepts in much less code than what is possible in C++ or Java. Games created in Python: EVE Online by CCP Games, Frets on Fire by Unreal Voodoo and the original Galcon by Imitation Pickles.
C# - A programming language from Microsoft that aims to merge the computing power of C++ with the ease of programming in Visual Basic. It's features are similar to those in Java. Games created in C#: ?
Compiled Languages -
It must be compiled before it is run so it is worked out on the fly. However it runs faster than Interpreted code. While it is being compiled it is checked for errors, these are then reported and can be fixed before re-compiling. The compiling converts the code into machine code/binary. A C program that was compiled on a Windows computer cannot then be run on a Linux computer. You would have to compile the program using a C compiler on a Linux computer.
C - It is ideal for developing filmware or portable applications. It was first intended for writing system software and was developed for the Unix Operating System in the early 1970's at Bell Labs by Dennie Ritchie. Games created in C: ?
C++ - Developed by Bjarne Stroustrup, it is an OOP (Object Orientated Programming) language and in an expanded C language. It is therefore possible to code C++ in a C style. It is an effective example of a hybrid language as it can be coded in either. Games created in C++: Doom III by id Software, Counter Strike by Valve L.L.C. and World of Warcraft by Blizzard Entertainment.
Game Engines -
A Game Engine is a type software that creates source code and makes elements that begin another process, letting real-time maintenance of software requirements. Its made for the creation and development of video games, this includes consoles, smartphones and PCs.
GameMaker - It has a built in language called GML (Game Maker Language). Games created in Game Maker: ORBIT by 4Bit Games, Hyper Light Drifter by Heart Machine and Defenders of Ekron by Vitro Games.
Unreal - It uses the programming language of C++. Games created in Game Maker: Gears of War 4 by The Coalition, Tekken 7 by Bandai Namco Studios and We Happy Few by Compulsion Games.
Unity - It is programmed in C# and the development is done with your choice of C#, Boo or a dialect of JavaScript. Games created in Unity: Kerbal Space Program by Squad, Firewatch by Campo Santo and SUPERHOT by Superhot Team.
Graphical API:
DirectX -
It is designed by Microsoft (only available on Microsoft products e.g Windows and Xbox) to allow straight access to hardware and it contains a range of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for multimedia and video applications along with video games. It allows access to the advanced features of high-performance hardware like 3-D graphics acceleration chips and sound cards. This also includes 2-D graphics acceleration, support for input devices and control of sound mixing and input.
Open GL -
Open Graphics Library is a cross-language, cross-platform API and is used to render 2D and 3D vector graphics. It interacts with the GPU to get hardware-accelerated rendering. Very similar to DirectX but allowed on Microsoft platforms like Playstation, Apple Mac and Linux. There are modified versions on Android and IOS machines.
References:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/O/operating_system.html
http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/definition/device-driver
http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/definition/Java
https://coderanch.com/t/200961/java/List-Game-developed-Java
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_(programming_language)
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/26184/c-programming-language
https://jabroo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/c-plus-plus-applications-list.html
http://searchwindevelopment.techtarget.com/definition/C
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24068/c-programming-language-c
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/O/operating_system.html
http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/definition/device-driver
http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/definition/Java
https://coderanch.com/t/200961/java/List-Game-developed-Java
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_(programming_language)
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/26184/c-programming-language
https://jabroo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/c-plus-plus-applications-list.html
http://searchwindevelopment.techtarget.com/definition/C
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24068/c-programming-language-c
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24155/engine
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Game_Maker_Programming
http://www.yoyogames.com/showcase
https://forums.unrealengine.com/showthread.php?2574-Why-C-for-Unreal-4
https://www.unrealengine.com/blog/the-best-unreal-engine-games-of-e3-2016-selected-by-gamesbeat
http://www.marxentlabs.com/what-is-virtual-reality-definition-and-examples/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_controller
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Game_Maker_Programming
http://www.yoyogames.com/showcase
https://forums.unrealengine.com/showthread.php?2574-Why-C-for-Unreal-4
https://www.unrealengine.com/blog/the-best-unreal-engine-games-of-e3-2016-selected-by-gamesbeat
http://www.marxentlabs.com/what-is-virtual-reality-definition-and-examples/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_controller
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