GD - Game Development [OVERVIEW]

MSCompSci2_OverviewBannerTopGame Development

Introduction

The global video game industry is a billion-dollar business and has been for many years. In 2022, the revenue from the worldwide gaming market was estimated at almost 347 billion U.S. dollars, with the mobile gaming market generating an estimated 248 billion U.S. dollars of the total (Statistica). With the gaming market evolving, comes new opportunities for game developers to create more engaging experiences.

Learning Questions

  • Students will be able to differentiate between various game types.
  • Students will develop an understanding of how to design a visual model of a game using the Game Design Document (GDD).
  • Students will create a functional game based on elements using a game development platform.

Module Key Terms

Collaboration | Working together with others to achieve a common goal. It involves sharing ideas, responsibilities, and tasks.

Components | All of the pieces necessary to play the game (i.e. characters).

Educational Games | Games with the intended purpose of gaining knowledge, skill, and or abilities in order to show growth and mastery.

Game Mechanics | How the player controls the game and consists of rules regarding the movement of character, and general rules of the game.

Game Objectives | End goal or something a player needs to accomplish.

Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) | Online games in which thousands of people play the game on the same server at the same time (LAN); it is common for players to interact with each other in the gaming environment. In this type of gaming environment, it is common to have many progressive areas/levels for exploration.

Puzzle Games | Games of logic that test a person’s ingenuity in problem solving challenges.

Real-Time Strategy (RTS) | Time-based video game that centers around using resources to build units and defeat an opponent. Often compared to turn-based strategy games, where each player has time to carefully consider the next move without having to worry about the actions of his opponent. Players must continually adjust their strategy as the game progresses. 

Role-Playing Games (RPG) | Electronic game genre in which players advance through a story quest, and often many side quests, for which their character or party of characters gain experience that improves various attributes and abilities.

Rules | Statements and directions that must be followed within a given game in order for it to be played correctly.

Simulation Games | Games designed to mimic real-world activities.

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