Glossary Terms for Gaming

The following terms were copied from http://www.gamesinvestor.com/Research/Glossary/glossary.html 

 

 

AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Artificial Intelligence is technology that seeks to emulate the random and complex nature of human thought and behaviour rather than following a set course of stimuli and responses.

 

Beta / Beta Testing:

The term beta refers to a stage near the end of a programme's development. Beta testing is the process of checking a programme at this stage for errors.

 

Bug:

A software or hardware error. A popular story is that the term was coined in the early days of computing when insects used to clog up large machines causing lengthy stoppages

 

Console:

A dedicated video games machine such as the Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlaysSation

 

Developer:

A company whose primary business activity is writing (developing) computer games. Developing games requires a diverse range of artistic and technical expertise including game design, music composition, graphical art/design, AI and programming (coding) ability.  Some publishers have in house development teams, some use third party developers - most publishers use a mix of the two.

 

DirectX:

The API (application program interface) created by Microsoft for its Windows products and its Xbox console. DirectX allows developers to more easily program games for Windows and Xbox by using common hardware and software protocols. 

 

Edutainment:

Refers to leisure programs that educate as well entertain. e.g.: talking books, interactive encyclopedias and geographical games.

 

Handheld:

A type of video games machine that is small enough to be powered by batteries and is therefore portable. An example is the Nintendo DS.

 

 Interactive games:

A generic term used for video games and computer games.

 

MMOG:

Massively multiplayer online game, a game that is designed to support 256 or more concurrent online gamers and is run as an ongoing games service (for which a subscription or other payment mechanism is employed).

 

MMORPG:

A massively multiplayer online role-playing game

 

Multiplayer game:

A game that is played by a number of people either against each other or in co-operation with each other. This is as distinct from a single-player game in which the user plays against the computer/console/mobile device etc… 

 

Operating Systems:

The software upon which all other programs run, containing programming routines that are needed to run the computer and otherwise would have to be included in each new program used. PC OSs are dominated by Microsoft first whilst console OSs tend to be proprietary

 

Platform:

Also known as hardware and format, this is the type of computer/console that a program or game can be played or used upon. For example the  PC is one type of platform and the Sony PlayStation 2 is another. Most platforms need specifically written programs, thus one game might need to be re-written as many as five times to be played on five platforms.

 

Porting:

Converting software to run on another platform. 

 

Rendering :

The process of creating graphical objects and scenery via computer generation.

 

Texture:

Textures are 2D skins that are wrapped around a 3D frame too allow, for example, a polygon head to have facial expressions portrayed upon it.

Historical Background of Gaming 

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Relevance to education

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Glossary of Terms

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Start-up Costs

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Key-players, gurus, experts

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Sample Lesson Plans

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Tutorial

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Sources 

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