COSC.324.001 Usability in Game Design

1
COSC.324 Usability in Game Design
Lesson 6 A brief Introduction to C
2
Overview

• Cross Platform Development
• Early on CPD referred to Microsoft Compatible
  PCs vs non-compatibles e.g. Apple, Compaq,
  etc.
• Now entirely new devices are considered e.g.
  mobile phones, PDAs, consoles.
• Cross Platform Development provides the
  opportunity to write one program and have it run
  on multiple systems.

3
The Cross Platform Problem

• Machine Language Each computing device is
  supported by its own
• Basic integrated circuit boards
• Assembler codes
• Operating system Each computing device runs its
  own operating system that
• Integrates the software application to the
  machine language
• Integrates device drivers that communicate from
  OS to devices
• For each computing device and implementation this
  is different.

4
Some Solutions

• Java
• Sun Microsystems invention
• Incorporated a scheme to partially compile
  (translate into machine level code) application
  into Java Beans
• Creation of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
• Unique JVM required for each different device
• Microsofts version of Java created extensions to
  Suns Java that were in conflict with Suns
  language.
• Litigation put an end to that
• C
• Microsofts answer to Java

5
Similarities Differences in C

• Managed Code
• Still partially compiled
• At build time,
• target device is indicated
• object code is further constructed
• OS particulars are linked into the final
  executable product.
• C derivative
• At most times C is syntactically identical to
  C.
• Take care to note the differences.

6
Visual C Express IDE

• A free component for working with XNA Game Studio
  Express is Visual C Express.
• Subset of Visual Studio 2005
• Released free to encourage developer, student,
  and hobbyist tinkering, thereby building an
  affinity group for XNA
• Download at www.microsoft.com/xna
• Nice tutorial
• http//www.softsteel.co.uk/tutorials/cSharp/conten
  ts.html