Unit 20 Assignment Brief 2


 Assignment Brief
Qualification 
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production – Games Design
Unit number and title
Unit 20 Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Assessor name
Iain Goodyear
Date issued
Monday 16th November, 2015
Hand in deadline
Thursday 13th January, 2015

Assignment title
IG/JE Research Platform Game
Purpose of this assignment is to:

·         LO3: Understand software technologies for game platforms
·         LO4: Be able to connect and configure platforms and devices to enable gameplay.
Scenario

Following on from your work as a researcher for Electronic Arts, you are now required to create a 2D platform game to showcase your research findings in an innovative way.

You will be required to design levels and produce assets. Prior to this, you are required to produce a technical demonstration that clearly showcases gameplay mechanics.

Task 1 – Software Technologies for Game Platforms

You must select two computer games and discuss the following in relation to your chosen games;

·         Platform Dependency
·         Operating Systems used
·         Drivers Needed
·         Application Software used (Programming)
·         Graphical API
·         Sound API
·         TV

Your discussion of your chosen games must be presented in the form of two word processed reports which should also include researched imagery and a video example for each game.

The title of this work should be titled Software Technologies for Game Platforms

Task 1 – Platform Game Showcasing Research

In addition, you must use Construct 2 to produce a platform game that will showcase your knowledge and research gathered for your previous Unit 20 assignment. You will need to submit a single file executable version of your completed research platform game. You will also need to produce a desktop screen-captured video of your game being played.

The title of this work should be titled Platform Game Showcasing Research

                                                                                           This provides evidence for P3, M3, D3
Task 2 – The Connection and Configuration of Game Platform

Produce a short video that demonstrates your ability to connect and configure a game platform and devices to enable gameplay.

This video should show the following;

·         Connection and configuration of display.
·         Connecting controller to platform.
·         The installing and configuration of a game of your choice.

The title of this work should be titled The Connection and Configuration of Game Platform

This provides evidence for P4, M4, D4
Evidence checklist
Task 1 – Two word processed reports with Video Examples.
[ ]
Task 1 – One Construct 2 research platform game in single file executable format.
[ ]
Task 1 - One desktop screen-captured video that showcases research platform game play.
[ ]
Task 2 – One Embedded video demonstrating connection and configuration of a game platform and installation of a computer game.

[ ]
Sources of information






Task 1 Software Technologies for Game Platforms


·         Platform Dependency

·         Operating Systems used

·         Drivers Needed

·         Application Software used (Programming)

·         Graphical API

·         Sound API

·         TV


Your discussion of your chosen games must be presented in the form of two word processed reports which should also include researched imagery and a video example for each game.
---

The Sims Medieval




Platform Dependency

Sims Medieval is only available on computers and some phones. A single CD copy can be run on Windows XP versions onwards (eg. Windows Vista or Windows 7) as well as MAC OS X 10.5.8 or higher. The only phones supporting the game are Windows Phone ans iOS. That means the game is only exclusive for some Microsoft and Apple products, whereas Sims 3 is available on more platforms.

Operating System(s)

The minimum system requirements on Windows computers are:
  • "2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
  • A 256 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 (NVIDIA GeForce series/ ATI Radeon series)
  • Windows XP: 1GB RAM, Windows Vista and Windows 7: 1.5GB RAM
  • 5.3GB of hard drive space with at least 1GB of additional space for custom content and saved games"
The latest version of DirectX 9.0 is also required but it starts to install/update automatically during the instalation of this and other The Sims games.

The minimum system requirements on MAC OS computers are:
  • "Intel Core Duo Processor
  • ATI X1600 or NVIDIA 7300 GT with 256 MB of Video RAM, or Intel Intergrated GMA X3100 (NVIDIA GeForce series/ ATI Radeon series)
  • 2GB RAM
  • 5.3 GB of hard drive space with at least 1GB of additional space for custom content and saved games" quoted from my CD box

Drivers

As said above, the graphic (video) cards required for Microsoft Windows are those of NVIDIA GeForce series. These include NVIDIA GeForce FXs, from 6200 to 9800 and "G100, GT 120, GT 130, GTS 150, GTS 250, GTX 260, GTX 280, GTX 285, GTX 295". http://beyondsims.com/27848/the-sims-medieval-official-system-requirements/ and my CD box.

Another graphics cards that support the game are ATI Radeon series; from 9500 to 4870 and from X300 to X1950. Also "Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) and GMA 3-series, GMA 4-series". http://beyondsims.com/27848/the-sims-medieval-official-system-requirements/ and my CD box.

MAC OS have lesser variety of supported graphic (video) cards, from the same series.

Application Software (Programming)

The Sims Medieval was made on The Sims 3 Engine, which makes people -who haven't played it- mistake it for yet another DLC pack. Sims Medieval is hoever a separate game, but on the same engine, just like Sims Castaway was made on The Sims 2 engine.

EA used an unique programming language made by Microsoft - C# language (pronounced C-Sharp). I found this information searching for Sims 3 on this website: http://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Tutorial:MTSSims_3_Object_Modding. 

There is a definition for C# language: C# (pronounced "C-sharp") is an object-oriented programming language from Microsoft that aims to combine the computing power of C++ with the programming ease of Visual Basic. C# is based on C++ and contains features similar to those of Java. http://searchwindevelopment.techtarget.com/definition/C

Graphical API

AS said above, any of the listed graphic (video) cards are required to run the game.

Sound API

Apparently the sound card needed is DirectX 9.0c. http://store.steampowered.com/app/102820/ Any of the more up to date sound cards are recommended.
Display

Just any good PC monitor will be enough to enjoy the game.

Civilisation III 



 
Platform Dependency

Civilisation 3 is only available on computers MAC OS and Microsoft Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP onwards. Unlike this one, other titles are available on a variety of platforms, such as Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS etc.

Operating System(s)

The minimum system requirements for mentioned Windows computers are:
  • "CD-ROM Drive: 4X Speed
  • Memory: 32 MB RAM
  • Hard Disc Space: 500 MB Free
  • Processor: 300 MHz Pentium II or higher
  • Video: Video card compatible with DirectX 8.0a and capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution and 16 bit colour depth
  • Sound: Sound card compatible with DirectX 8.0a
  • Mouse: Yes
  • Requires DirectX 8.0a (included)" quoted from my CD box

Since the game is quite old (released in 2001), some of these requirements sound funny to a modern day gamer, for example the mentioned requirement for a mouse.

Drivers

As said above, the minimum required graphic card is DirectX 8.0a, so any recommended should be the more up to date versions.

Application Software (Programming)

Civilisation 3 was made on a custom engine and programming language created by Soren Johnson.

Graphical API

As said above and below, any graphics (video) card compatiple with DirectX 8.0a and at least 16 bit depth is required, but the latest ones are better.

Sound API

Any sound card compatible with DirectX 8.0a or above is good, the higher and more up to date, the better.

Display

Any PC monitor is good enough with remembering for it to be the resolution no smaller than 1024 x 768 pixels and 16 bit colour depth.

Task 1 Platform Game Showcasing Research

Video:


Task 2 The Connection and Configuration of Game Platform

VIDEO: