Electronic Games

Video games/computer games/etc

Novak, J. 2012. Game Development
Essentials: An introduction. 3rd edn. NY:
Delamr, Cengange Learning.
 History
• Significant milestones in the history of
electronic game development
• Pioneer developers & their contribution to the
industry
• Evolution of game industry from coin-
operated electromechanical & mainframe
computer games in 1960’s to the current
console, personal computer, online and
mobile industries
From the Beginning of Time
Until Today
Atari ships the Pong stand-alone coin-operated video game
in 1972. About 10,000 units are sold, making this the first
commercially-successful video game.
 Arcade invasion of the early 80’s…
US arcades rake in $5 billion in 1981.
Americans spend more than 75,000 hours playing
video games.
Tetris launches in 1985 and quickly became the
iconic casual puzzle game. Best selling casual
game across all platforms with over
70 million copies sold.
 Super Mario Bros. launches in 1987.
By 1990, Nintendo ships 60 million game
cartridges in the US and owns 90%
marketshare of the $13 billion worldwide
video game Industry.
Super Mario Bros. will become the top-
selling franchise of all time with 200 million
units sold.
The Sims launches in 1990 and successfully attracts casual
gamers and females (estimated 60% female). Sells more
than 16 million copies in its first year and becomes the
best-selling PC franchise in history with 90+ million units
sold worldwide.
 1995 launch creates subculture of Pokémon fans
immersed the brand and characters in the game, as
well as trading cards, toys, books, movies and other
media. Becomes 2nd best selling franchise of all time
with 164 million units sold.
 Microsoft Solitaire on Windows XP
is the #1 opened application on Windows XP
with an install base of over 400 million.
 Taking advantage of the rise of the internet,
online developers begin appearing around 2000.
In 2000, the global market for online games is
estimated at $15 billion.
PopCap launches Bejeweled in 2001; 350 million downloads
and $100 million of consumer spending.
76% of PopCap gamers are women.
 2003: The Beginning of Madden Mania…
Madden NFL 2004 launches and becomes top-selling game in
the US. Franchise goes on to become a top-10 selling
franchise with 60 million units sold. Total sales of video game
hardware, software and accessories in the US during 2003 $10
billion.
The launch of Grand Theft Auto:
San Andreas in 2004 spurs
controversy about the game’s
promotion and glorification of
violence, prostitution and crime.
As of March 2005, the game had
sold over 12 million copies for
PlayStation alone. As of
September 2007, GTA: San
Andreas had sold 20 million
copies worldwide
and was the best-selling game in
the US.
Brain Age launched in 2006. Since launch, Brain Age and sequel
Brain Age 2 have sold more than 20 million units, underscoring
the broad audience for casual games and spurring a “brain
training” genre phenomenon with brain games launching on all
platforms.
 Snake gets into the hands of consumers on Nokia
phones beginning in the late 90’s.
Despite the game’s lackluster graphics and simple
game play, Snake becomes a hit with consumers and
begins to show the mobile phone’s potential as a
gaming device.
 Jamdat Bowling launches in 2003 from Jamdat and
becomes the first successful title of the nascent mobile
games industry. Bejeweled follows suit and went on to sell
50 million units on mobile.
 Mobile phones and networks quickly evolve to handle
graphically-rich games. Worldwide handset penetration
expected to be 4 billion by 2010. Mobile games market is
estimated to be $9.6 billion by 2011.
Launched at the end of 2007, Wii’s popularity was hugely
underestimated by “core” industry. Wii sold more units in
the US than the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 combined in
the first half of 2007. Wii targets a much broader
demographic than previous consoles and focuses on
simple gameplay that is fun.
Arcade, console, computer, handheld,online

PLATFORMS & PLAYER MODES

 Platforms & player modes framework

• Platforms & associated specific elements

• Choice of hardware affect the way game is
developed & played
• Modes based on the number of players affect
the way games are created
ARCADE
• Stand alone game systems found in public
avenues.
• Control –joystick, buttons or combinations
or pedals & steering wheels, foot pads
• Coin operated, get players to spend $$ , so
fast-paced, time-limited games, therefore
not much attention to story or character
development
• Technical issue – limited memories; actions
main element
• Give birth to action genre –focus mainly on
speed & certain type of skill (eye-hand
coordination, aim, navigation –shooting &
racing games
• Other elements-story & character
emphasized more on other platforms
 Main entities associated with arcade
game development
Hardware manufacturer –own rights & control
what content
– Planning, development, & testing process
– If developer different than manufacturer, developer
has to answer to manufacturer who gives final
approval if game will be developed or not
Game (content) developer –dev games for
manufacturer but often same company as
manufacturer
Venue operator –licenses/purchase game fr
manufacture, get revenue from player
Consoles
 Consoles
• Played at home, hooked to tv
• Support 4 controllers
• 3 competing proprietary systems- Microsoft X-box 360,
Sony’s PlayStation 3 (PS 3) & Nintendo’s Wii
• Hw manufacturer own controlling power; advantage- the
game will certainly work, special purpose device designed for
optimum game-playing experience
• Branching out –can play DVDs, MP3s, streaming movies & tv
content. PS3 –Blue- ray drive; X-box –HD-DVD drive or
external drive
• All hv internet connectivity –browsers, online multiplayer
networks, online shops for games, music, TV shows, movies
• Wii- wireless controllers –used as hand held pointing device &
detects movements in 3D
• Multipurpose convergence, support all features associated
with computers & provide content viewed thru tv sets
 Computers
• The computer platforms add complexity to
dev process due to non-standard set-up & a
variety of systems
– Developers not answerable to manufacturer but
– At the planning stage need to dev tech spec –
minimum (necessary to load & play games) &
recommended (allow enhanced game-playing
experience
 Online
• Played on computer platforms or console system connected to
internet, but technology differ from games on other platforms
• Issues:
– Have internet connection, data/game info may be stored on
server,
– Internet is 24/7 –pose unique development & maintenance
problems (monthly subscription model, now micropayments,
virtual items sale, in-game economies & premium services)
– Large online games involve thousands of simultaneous
players, game information stored on several servers (MMOs)
– Connection speed –bandwidth & latency.
– Therefore need live 24-hr customer service for subscription-
based MMOs. Customer service (Game Masters) skill –solving
online specific problems (connectivity issues, player
misbehavior), give technical support, create new content,
participate in game-related discussions with players
Handheld
• Game Boy series
• PSPs
Mobile
• Nokia, smartphones,
tablets (IOS,Androids)
• On the rise, threat to
handheld
Putri Gunung Ledang – nokia smart
phone
 Tabletop
• Traditional analog
game platform –board,
card, dice, tile, block
• Study these games to
understand underlying
challenges & strategies
• Prototypes for future
electronic games
 Time interval
• 3 basic – turn-based, real-time • Time-Limited – compromise
and time-limited between turn-based & real
• Turn-based –each player take time. Limit time for each turn
turn, need reflective thoughts or limit time for play game
to win, unlimited time • Deciding time interval is first
• Real-time –no time interval step in considering how your
between turns –no turns at all. game will be played
To win, need quick physical
reflexes. Difficult to play
online due to tech issues –
player’s connection, server
load, regional internet traffic
bottlenecks. Extremely
popular online
 Player mode
• Single player, Two-player, local multiplayer,
LAN-based multiplayer, online multiplayer to
massively multi player
• Choice of player mode as well as content
impact how game is played
• What platforms work better for which mode?
 Goals & genres
• Non-entertainment goals
• Characteristics associated with popular game
genres
• Which goal & genres work well together
• Particular game content associated with
genre
• Genre hybrids & new types of genre change
how games are categorized
 Goals
• Why create games? To entertain? Educate? support? Market? Build
a social community? Or exercise?
• Entertainment
• Social
• Educational – serious games
• Recruitment & training
• Health & fitness
• Consciousness & change (non-profit)
• Aesthetics & creativity (marketing products –advergames)
 Genre
• Categorized based on combination of subject matter, setting,
screen presentation/format, player perspective & game-
playing strategies
• Action
– Platformers (action sub-genre), Shooters, racing, fighting
• Adventure
• Action-adventure (hybrid genre)
• Casino
• puzzle,
• Role=playing games
• Simulations
– Vehicle simulations, sports & participatory simulations,
process simulations (construction & management (ot
construction & management sims (CMS), god, toy games
– Eg. Sim City, Rollercoaster Tycoon
 Continue…
• Strategy –chess
– Turn-based strategy (TBS), real-time strategy
• Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs)

• Once determine your goal, identify a subset

of genre that best address your goal
Player elements: who plays & why?
• Motivations to play game
• Geographics, demographics, psychographics
• How has the player market change over time?
• Difference between USA & other markets
(south korea, Japan, China, Germany)
• Different generations of players in the USA
 Production & management
• Phases & associated components in game
development cycle
• effective ways to lead & manage
development teams
• Different types of documentation in game
development
 Development phases
• Development phases
– Concept
– Pre-production
– Prototype
– Production
– Alpha
– Beta
– Gold
– Post-production