5 Game Development slides - University of Calgarykremer.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/courses/seng403/W2012/papers/5 Game... · • testing ... test kickoff • why? • better process definition

Video Game Development by ian kabeary, franky cheung, stephen dixon, jamie bertram, marco farrier

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: requirements elicitation

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topics (some) requirements developers have to deal withhow they deal with themhow requirements have changed over the years

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must be fun have surround sound can’t be boringhave good graphics be fun 4 years from now have plot t w i s t s a d d c h a r a c t e r development have long, detailed levels

the process of requirements e l i c i t a t i o n f o r g a m e development is unlike that of any other type of software.

http://www.wallpaperspictures.net/image/lost-in-a-dense-fog-wallpaper-for-1920x1440-545-4.jpg4

these are vague, yet very important to the end users of the system, and cannot be discarded by developers. [1]

must be fun haves u r r o u n d s o u n dc a n ’ t b eboring have goodgraphics be fun 4years from nowhave plot twists addcharacter developmenthave long, detailed levels

so what can be done?

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developers can attempt to create new gameplay experienceshttp://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.jpg6

or, refine existing (successful) concepts into a new game.http://cdn3.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/portal-2-review.jpg

http://www.easybizchina.com/picture/product/200911/04-54a30540-67b0-49f3-8af3-38f0f95b2e78.jpg7

• 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.

some statistics

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VrKGuN_pMOY/TjPql78UI9I/AAAAAAAAATg/rcI3edZvYr8/s1600/iStock_money+tree.jpghttp://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Pokemon

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what made mario popular?http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Nintendo_NES/Snap/big/Super_Mario_Bros._-_1985_-_Nintendo.jpg

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over the years, consumer expectations have changed.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QXybMfeXlHw/TRyEWQdkW2I/AAAAAAAABNk/W5w6LQNmSpY/s1600/New%2BSuper%2BMario%2BBros.%2B2.png10

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

classic games seemed to be difficult to master

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while newer games focus more on realism.http://cdn2.gamefront.com/wp-content/uploads/gallery/crysis/931665_20070706_screen001.jpg12

: game design

referenced in this sectionErnest 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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similarities to software design

• requirements analysis

• documents/planning

• risk analysis

http://www.usmansheikh.com/Images/canvas.jpg

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stages of design

• proposal• pitch document

• concept stage• concept doc

• preproduction• game document

• prototype

• elaboration stage / development• alpha

• beta

• tuning stage / maintenancehttp://warisan-megajuta.com/images/Blueprint.jpg

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pitch doc(ument)

• document

• short, (1-5 pages)

• high level of game design

• acceptance needed to start project

http://www.marketinghomeproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/elevator-pitch2.jpg

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concept stage

• concept document• detailed pitch document

• similar to requirements document

• contains:

• genre

• gameplay

• features

• setting

• story

• etc.

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pre-production

• acts as a proof of concept

• contains:

• game document

• art / graphics bible

• game prototype

• etc..

http://10dollarwp.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/3dmodelling.jpg

development / elaboration

• development

• testing

http://www.competence.co.in/images/software-testing.jpg

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tuning stage

• upgrades

• patches

• bug fixes

• new features

http://patyrykin.ru/wp-uploads/2011/08/update.png

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: testing

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is this a good bug report?

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testing phases

• pre-production

• alpha

• beta

• gold

• post-release

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pre-production

• might not be called “testers”

• what happens here, sets the tone for the rest of the project

• what if I don’t do this?

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planning tasks

• scope

• GDD (game design document)

• TDD (technical design document)

• lead tester

• appoints vice

• phase acceptance

• game design reviews

• bug database

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test kickoff

• why?

• better process definition

• better problem solving

• schedule reduction

• two phases

• tester prep

• 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

• provides a forum for test improvement

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6oApBCwNjcU/TyACwKYIZWI/AAAAAAAAEZo/z6BMpSDiIuo/s1600/happy+computer.jpg

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alpha testing

• design is fine tuned

• you get more assets

• it’s exciting

• lots of bugs

• establish base lines

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alpha phase entry criteria

• all major game features exist

• a tester can navigate the game

• code passes 50% of TRC

• interface is complete

• QA has documentation

• game is compatible with most configs

• level scripting

• first party controllers

• art

• multiplayer

• audio

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beta testing

• after alpha testing

• time to perfect it

http://www.gamepur.com/files/images/2011/bf3-open-beta-stats.jpg

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• all features implemented

• passes TRC

• navigation

• GUI

• compatibility

• logic and AI

• controllers

• art

• audio

• online

• localization

beta entry criteria

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design lock

• do we implement a feature?

• cut a level?

http://www.psdgraphics.com/file/padlock-security-icon.jpg

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letting a bug go

http://www.yellowdartstudios.com/Winter%20Mourning.jpg

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gold testing

• code lock

• game appears to be a commercial release

• last versions are gold master candidates

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gold testing entry criteria

• severity 1 Bugs are fixed

• > 90% of severity 2

• > 85% of severity 3

• workarounds have been communicated to technical support

• performance is good

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: the creative interaction design process

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interfaces have to accomplish two goals:

1. feedback (receiving information from the game)

2. control (providing information to the game)

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feedback has two purposes in game design

1. indicate current progress

2. suggest ways of progressing further

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• strategies: which should they use?

• duration: how long will it take?

• success: am I winning?

example: health bar

in terms of progress, players like to know

http://www.yellowdartstudios.com/Winter%20Mourning.jpg

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control

• players must have some method of overcoming challenges in the game

• control mechanisms often work in tandem with feedback

• this allows players to confirm that actions they initiated were in fact executed

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interfaces have several secondary goals as well

• immersion: does the player “forget” it’s a game?

• atmosphere: does it “fit in” with the mood?

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considerations in game interfaces

• functionality: does the interface achieve its goals?

• 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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: commonly used frameworks

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use of 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

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nVidia PhysX, havok, bullet (open source)

collisions and physicshttp://playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/uncharted-2-image-001.jpg

http://images.psxextreme.com/wallpapers/ps3/collision_1155.jpg

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abyssal engine, bigworld technology, multiverse network, RedDwarf server (open source)

online multiplayerhttp://evepics.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/kkarmageddonatposbattle.png

http://mmohuts.com/wp-content/gallery/maplestory-bigbang/maplestory_higher-resolution.pnghyperlink47

BASS, fmod, miles audio

audio ) ) ) http://www.k2audio.com/images/sitemap_background.jpg

http://www.deshow.net/d/file/cartoon/2009-04/audio-jungle-cg-illustrator-497-12.jpg48

ogre3D, granny 3D, crystal space, based on DirectX, CUDA, OpenCL

rendering...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.jpg49

havok, ogre3D, UbiArt (Ubisoft proprietary), unreal, CryEngine

animationhttp://xn--80aqafcrtq.cc/img/1/6/4/164907.jpg50

AI Implant, DI-guy, Direct AI, kynapse, AI Live

artificial intelligencehttp://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_.jpg51

examples of game engines (that are better than Game Maker)

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Unity 3dhttp://www.indiegamemag.com/media/unity3d1.jpg

http://www.mono-project.com/files/6/68/Editorshot.jpg

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Unreal Engine (Unreal Development Kit)http://www.freebestwallpapers.info/bulkupload//20082010//Games/Unreal-Tournament-3-face2face.jpg

http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/img/products/dvds/WBR02/stills/01.jpg

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CryEnginehttp://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/04/crysis2modkit.jpg

http://blog.operationreality.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CryENGINE-3-Free-SDK05.jpg

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Blender Game Enginehttp://www.yofrankie.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/screen_nut.png

http://solarlune.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/printhi.png

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thankyou. (questions?)http://www.wiinintendo.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/wallpaper_super_mario_galaxy_2_01_1680x1050.jpg

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