Introduction to Game Programming and Design

1
Introduction to Game Programming and Design

• Soon Tee Teoh
• CS 134

2
Some numbers

• From Secrets of the Game Business by Francois
  Dominic Laramee
• Game software sales are 20 billion per year
• Games are hit-driven. A few games are hugely
  successful, while many games barely break even or
  lose money. (5 of game titles make 95 of the
  revenue)
• Business dominated by big players. Electronic
  Arts make 20 of the revenue.
• Piracy is rampant. Virtually all game software in
  China and Korea is pirated. Korean game
  developers now make online games only.
• Typical production cost for one game 10 million
  (CNN report, Sep 24, 2005)

3
Game Genres

• From 3D Game Programming All-in-One by Kenneth
  Finney
• Action Half Life 2, Rainbow Six
• Adventure Kings Quest
• Role-Playing Games (RPG) Dungeons and Dragons
• Puzzle/Maze Pac-Man, Tetris
• Simulator Falcon 4, Grand Prix Legends
• Sports
• Strategy

4
The Most Important Thing

• FUN!
• What is fun?
• Survival, danger Criminal, police, soldier
• Sports
• Gathering (Pac-Man)
• Story and social
• Essentials of a good game
• Player always aware of short-term and long-term
  goals
• Meaningful and interesting
• Clear and compelling goals
• Fun to play games Because youre in an imaginary
  world.
• Fun to make games Because youre creating an
  imaginary world!

5
Fun and Meaningful Outcomes

• If whatever you do leads to the same conclusion,
  that is not fun. (e.g. whether you decide to hit
  upper or lower, you kill the monster anyway)
• Some games have apparent choices, but eventually
  lead to same conclusion. Players catch on to this
  and lose fun.
• How to limit choices Some choices lead to game
  over
• Limited budget We want user to explore
  everything and use everything we have.
• Usual strategy, have some convergence along the
  way.

6
Difficulty Level
Difficulty
Too difficult/too frustrating
Ideal difficulty
Too easy/too boring
Time player has spent playing
7
Difficulty Level
Difficulty
Too difficult/too frustrating
Ideal difficulty
Too easy/too boring
Time player has spent playing
Need to have some jumps in difficulty to add to
excitement!
8
Some Good Books

• AI Game Engine Programming by Brian Schwab
• AI for Game Developers by David M Bourg and Gleen
  Seemann
• Physics for Game Developers by David M Bourg
• 3D Game Programming All-in-One by Kenneth Finney
• Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours by
  Michael Morrison

9
How to Make a Game

• Basic Idea
• Storyline
• Graphics
• Sound
• Controls