Bits and Bytes Beginners Guide to making Video Games

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Bits and BytesBeginners Guide to making Video
Games

• College Camp 2008
• Travis Womack (IBM) Instructor
• twomack_at_gmail.com

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What is this class?

• This two week class is a look at what makes up a
  game, how they are made, and how we can get into
  making video games.
• This class is a starting point to get you all
  started in the world of video games and the
  technologies that make up those games.

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Who am I?

• I grew up here in Ashland, Ky.
• Graduated from UK in 1998 with Computer Science
  Degree
• Working for IBM since as a software engineer
• Make games in my spare time.

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Who are you?

• Take a name tag
• Write down your name
• Below that write down your favorite game.

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Class Rules

• If you have a question feel free to raise your
  hand and I will try to answer.
• If you need to go to the bathroom, just go. You
  do not need to ask me for permission.
• Be nice to your fellow classmates. We are all in
  this together.

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What is a video game?

• A video game is a game that involves interaction
  with a user interface to generate visual feedback
  on a video device.
• Video games can be on arcade machine, computers,
  consoles, handhelds, and cell phones.
• This session we are going to look at the history
  of video games and the current types of games.

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The First Video Game

• When computers were first around they were huge
  devices (The size of many rooms)
• They were mostly in colleges.
• Students would request time to work on the one
  computer.
• Eventually some of the students got bored with
  basic programs and decided to make a game for
  the computer, called Spacewars.
• For more information about SpaceWars check out
  here http//www3.sympatico.ca/maury/games/space/s
  pacewar.html

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PC Gaming

• As the PC became smaller, more affordable, and
  powerful. Games became a lot more popular and
  interesting.
• Lets look at a few examples thru the years

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Text Based Games

• Yes hard to believe but a lot of the first
  personal computers did not have graphics hardware
  they could only do text.
• This did not stop from people making games.

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Basic 16 color games

• Eventually the PC got graphics hardware.
• It was not that impressive at first

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From 16 to 256 colors

• Monitors and graphics hardware got better.

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Todays Computer Games

• With the advent of separate graphics cards and
  their evolution todays computer game are the
  cutting edge area of video games.

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The Console Wars

• In the Mid 80's there were two major players in
  the Home console market.
• Nintendo and Sega

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Nintendo Entertainment System

• Introduced in 1985 to America. This home video
  game system signaled the beginning of the home
  video game trend.
• Seemingly basic by todays standards, Nintendo
  concentrated on having fun.

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Evolution of Nintendo

• After the NES came the Super Nintendo, then the
  N64, after that the Gamecube, and finally the Wii.

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Here comes Sega

• In 1986 Sega introduced the Master system, their
  8 bit game system

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Evolution of Sega

• Sega came out with the first 16 bit system in
  1989, the Sega Genisis. While it was technology
  more superior to the NES and had some great
  games. It was hard for Sega to overcome the
  saturation of the NES.

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Evolution of Sega Continued

• Sega released the Sega Saturn, which was superior
  technology-wise, did not sell well.
• Their final hardware release was the Sega
  Dreamcast and finally due to lackluster sales
  have become a software only home video game
  company.

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Here comes Sony

• Released in 1994, the Playstation was a great
  first entry by newcomer Sony to the video game
  market.
• Using a CD drive instead of cartridge, it could
  support a lot more information than the
  competitors.

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Playstation 2

• The Playstation 2 was the big hit for Sony.
  Released in 2000. It was one of the best selling
  consoles in history.

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Playstation 3

• The newest Sony console is an amazing machine.
  With a hard drive, WiFi, Blue Ray Player, and
  Cell technology the future for Sony looks good.

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Big boy Microsoft joins the party

• Released in 2001, the Xbox surprised everyone
  with its capabilities and ease of development.

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Xbox 360

• The second iteration of the Microsoft console is
  impressive as well. Xbox live is the most used
  and user friendly online service of all the
  consoles.

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Types of Games

• There are many types of games out there.
• We are going to try to cover a few of the more
  common types.

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Platform games

• This type of game usually has a character jumping
  from one place to another thru multiple levels.
• Like most of these types this type can be 2D or
  3D.

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Real Time Strategy

• Thus genre usually composed of handling multiple
  units in a strategic war game.
• You usually see these types of games on PCs but
  they are making movement towards consoles.

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Sports Games

• This type is pretty easy to explain, pretty much
  sports simulation games.

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RPG

• My favorite type, role playing games, usually
  consist of one or more characters in an adventure
  that gain skills and attributes in the game.

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Action

• Another pretty easy to summarize. Games that
  involve mainly action

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Space shooter

• These games usually involve a player controlled
  ship surviving many enemies coming at it.

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Adventure

• Adventure games usually center around solving
  puzzles or a mystery.
• They can involve action or RPG elements.

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Puzzle Games

• These games consist primarily of puzzles.

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Home work 1

• Now that we have looked at the history of games
  and the types of games, lets look at our favorite
  games.
• For homework tonight write one paragraph talking
  about your favorite game and why you like it.
• Keep these short, because tomorrow you will
  present them to the class.
• Have fun!!!!!