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GAD101
Game Art & Design terms
117
Games
Undergraduate 1
10/27/2011

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Term
Artificial Intelligence
Definition
a system that tries to imitate biological life by assigning agents base behaviors and desires, which cause them to perform specific actions by their "nature".
Term
Assets
Definition
the content of the game; customarily used to refer to art, sound effects, music, and possibly the levels.
Term
Burn Rate
Definition
The amount of money, typically a developer, spends in a month to keep itself in business.
Term
Choke-Point
Definition
a point in a game past which a player can progress only by passing through a particular area, completing a particular puzzle, or defeating a particular monster.
Term
Code
Definition
used in reference to games, is the line of test that programmers enter in to the computer and which the computer compiles into the functional game.
Term
Critical Path
Definition
The path that the player is expected and encouraged to follow when moving through a game or particular level.
Term
Cut-Scene
Definition
a non-interactive portion of the game typically used to communicate to the player information about the game's story line.
Term
DM
Definition
dungeon master
Term
Emergence
Definition
in terms of game, it is when unanticipated behaviors and results emerge out of the various game systems interacting with each other and with the players input.
Term
Emoticons
Definition
slang expression referring to the sideways smiley faces and other characters made out of the ASCII character set.
Term
Engine
Definition
the core code that handles the most basic functionality of the game, but not including the code that governs specific gameplay functionality.
Term
AI
Definition
Artificial Intelligence
Term
Fuzzy Logic
Definition
The type of artificial intelligence that introduces some degree of randomness into the decision making process.
Term
Game
Definition
a diversion of the nature of contest, played according to rules, and decided by superior skill, strength, and good fortune.
Term
Game design
Definition
establishes the shape and form of the gameplay in a game.
Term
Game flow
Definition
the chain of events that make up the playing of the given game.
Term
Game mechanic
Definition
a specific way in which a part of the gameplay is implemented.
Term
Game minute
Definition
a narrative description of how gameplay will proceed in a given situation in a game.
Term
Gameplay
Definition
is the component that distinguishes games from all other artistic mediums, how players are able to interact with the game-world and how that game-world will react to their actions.
Term
Game-world
Definition
the space in which a game takes place.
Term
Go Live
Definition
the term used for when a massively multi-player game is launched and players start playing it.
Term
Going Gold
Definition
the time when a team completes a game and is thereby able to create the gold master, which is sent to the duplicators.
Term
GUI
Definition
graphic user interface.
Term
Graphic User Interface
Definition
is any communication method the player has of interacting with the computer that is primarily graphical in nature.
Term
Griefing
Definition
in MMO's, when players go out of their way to ruin the play experience of other gamers.
Term
Heads Up Display (HUD)
Definition
a type of GUI that is overlaid on top of the players game-world view.
Term
High Concept
Definition
most primitive form of a game idea, describes a game in the simplest form.
Term
Immersive
Definition
a game that tries to suck players in the world, making it as believable and consistent as possible while giving the players as many choices as possible.
Term
Input/Output (I/O)
Definition
refers to the systems a computer uses to allow players to input information in combination with how it communicates information back out to the user.
Term
Interactive
Definition
is when two systems, be they human and human, human and computer, or computer and computer, are mutually active in a given process.
Term
Local area network (LAN)
Definition
a small number of computers in a specific area networked to each other, but not necessarily to the internet.
Term
LAN party
Definition
a bunch of friends gets together, bring their computers to one location, and play multi-player games over them.
Term
Linear
Definition
a movement, when the only way to get from point A to point B is via the line segment that connects them.
Term
Milestones
Definition
is an agreement of how much work on a project will be done at a specific date.
Term
Mods/Modifications
Definition
Add on's or changes to an existing game.
Term
Newbie
Definition
slang for someone who is new to something.
Term
Non-linear
Definition
in gaming, players are not locked into achieving different goals in a specific order or in achieving all of the goals they are presented with.
Term
Non-player character (NPC)
Definition
any player in a computer game that is not controlled by the player.
Term
On rails
Definition
when a player is forced to move through the game in a very specific, carefully controlled way, as if locked onto a path through the game.
Term
Pathfinding
Definition
portion of AI code that allows an agent to figure out how to get from one location to another in the game-world.
Term
Player Character (PC)
Definition
the character the player controls in the game, such as Mario.
Term
Persistent
Definition
is one that continues running and maintaining the state of the game-world regardless of whether a particular player is actively playing it or not.
Term
Place holder
Definition
refers to sound or art used in a game while it is in development which the development team plans to replace before the game is released to the public.
Term
Platform
Definition
often used to describe the different systems a game can be developed for.
Term
Player Killer
Definition
in MMP's, players who go out of their way to ruthlessly kill other players, particularly problematic in games that are supposed to be more collaborative in nature.
Term
Player's story
Definition
the story the players create through their actions in playing the game.
Term
Playtesting
Definition
the process of testing the gameplay of the game to see how well it plays.
Term
Port/Porting
Definition
the process of converting a game from one platform to another, such as Playstation to Xbox.
Term
Power-up
Definition
a generic term that refers to any item in the game-world players may acquire to improve their abilities, either briefly or long-term.
Term
Quality Assurance (QA)
Definition
the process of testing a game to make sure it is bug free and plays reasonably well.
Term
Release candidate
Definition
a build of the game that the development team believes may be the one that can be shipped.
Term
Scripted
Definition
in terms of a game, scripted typically refers to AI behaviors that are planned in advance to allow the AI agents to look clever in specific situations.
Term
Skin
Definition
in gaming, refers to the texture set being used on a 3D player character in a game.
Term
Split screen
Definition
a technique where multiple players are allowed to play and/or compete on a single computer or console.
Term
Suspension of disbelief
Definition
a mental state that the players achieve when they are fully immersed in the game-world and briefly forget that they are playing a game at all.
Term
Three-quarters view
Definition
typically refers to games that have an isometric viewpoint, oriented at a 45 degree angle from the plane on the ground.
Term
Virtual reality (VR)
Definition
refers to advanced world simulation systems at a minimum involving the user wearing a set of goggles with a small monitor or display device in each eyepiece.
Term
Game designer
Definition
the person on a project who is responsible for establishing the form of the gameplay through the game design.
Term
Producer
Definition
responsible for the game getting done on time and on budget.
Term
Art Director
Definition
Ensures a quality and consistency of style throughout the entirety of the game.
Term
Special Effects Artist
Definition
Develops all effects such as water, explosions, splats, breaking, and motion after effects. Artist can also implement sound.
Term
Programmer
Definition
can work on the game engine; develop the Artificial Intelligence features which are getting more and more complex in today's games.
Term
Level Designer
Definition
main job is to create the game world based on the design document and the graphics provided by the 3D artist.
Term
Character Designer/Artist
Definition
Must have great artistic skills, be able to give the game the artistic feel and graphical expression that fits the design of the game.
Term
Audio Artist
Definition
This job can be very different from project to project. sometimes there is one person responsible for the sound effects and another person for the music, and yet another person for writing the music.
Term
3D Artist
Definition
Responsible for making the 3D objects and characters that fill the game world.
Term
2D Artist
Definition
Often does pixel art, sprites, icons, textures for texture mapping and other types of 2D graphics.
Term
Storyboard/Concept Artist
Definition
Develops the rough look of the game. These concepts are not fully completed digital paintings but well thought out sketches that convey clear ideas and style.
Term
GUI Artist (Graphical User Interface)
Definition
Creates all information of the game, all information of the character, all maps, all information of the controls.
Term
Lighting Artist
Definition
Responsible for all lighting within the game.
Term
Texture Artist
Definition
Creates the skins of 3D character models and/or environment assets
Term
Writer
Definition
Creates hundreds of pages of text that needs to be written, an important factor of a game.
Term
Game Tester
Definition
Plays unfinished versions of games with tons of bugs in them.
Term
Public Relations (PR)
Definition
A wing of marketing department whose primary job is to hype a company's upcoming games in the press by readying press releases, screenshots, and other information.
Term
Capture the Flag
Definition
a game involving two teams, both of which have a flag.
Term
Role Playing Game (RPG)
Definition
a type of game established by paper and pen games.
Term
First Person Shooter (FPS)
Definition
the player's perspective of the world is from the first person and his objective is to shoot everything in sight. This perspective is meant to give the player the feeling of "being there", and allows the player to focus on aiming.
Term
Massive Multiplayer
Definition
a multi-player game involving a very large number of people playing it at once, at least 100 or more.
Term
Flight Simulator
Definition
type of game that attempts to model the flight of a real world aircraft.
Term
MMO
Definition
Massive Multiplayer Online Game
Term
MMORPG
Definition
Massive multi-player online role-playing game.
Term
MMP
Definition
Massive multi-player game.
Term
Multi-player
Definition
a game that involves more than one player.
Term
Real-time
Definition
a game where anything that is compiled or rendered for players while they wait, such as graphics or pathfinding.
Term
Real time strategy
Definition
RTS
Term
Simulation (Sim)
Definition
typical goal of the game's designer is to model a real-life system accurately and realistically, instead of simply making the game as fun as possible.
Term
Turn Based
Definition
any game where the computer waits for the player to act before proceeding with its own actions.
Term
Action game
Definition
requires players to use quick reflexes, accuracy, and timing to overcome obstacles.
Term
Beat 'em up/Hack and Slash
Definition
games that have an emphasis on one-on-many close quarters combat, beating large numbers of computer-controlled enemies.
Term
Platformers
Definition
subgenre of action game. These games involve traveling between platforms by jumping, swinging, or bouncing.
Term
A Shooter Game
Definition
focuses primarily on combat involving projectile weapons, such as guns and missiles.
Term
Tactical Shooters
Definition
variations on the first- and third-person shooter genre, which focuses on realism and emphasizes tactical play such as planning and teamwork.
Term
Third-person shooter (3ps or TPS)
Definition
emphasizes shooting and combat from a camera perspective in which the player character is seen at a distance. This perspective gives the player a wider view of their surroundings.
Term
Action-Adventure Game
Definition
combines elements of their two component genres, typically featuring long-term obstacles that must be overcome using a tool or item as leverage (which is collected earlier), as well as many smaller obstacles almost constantly in the way, that require elements of action games to overcome.
Term
Survival Horror games
Definition
focus on fear and attempt to scare the player via traditional horror fiction elements such as atmospherics, death, the undead, blood and gore.
Term
Adventure
Definition
manner of gameplay without reflex challenges or action. They noramlly require the player to solve various puzzles by interacting with people or the environment, most often in a non-confrontational way.
Term
Strategy game
Definition
focus on gameplay requiring careful and skillful thinking and planning in order to achieve victory.
Term
Wargames
Definition
subgenre of strategy games that emphasize strategic or tactical warfare on a map.
Term
Vehicle simulation
Definition
genre of video games which attempt to provide the player with a realistic interpretation of operating various kinds of vehicles.
Term
Racing Games
Definition
typically place the player in the driver's seat of a high-performance vehicle and require the player to race against other drivers or time.
Term
Music Games
Definition
most commonly challenge the player to follow sequences of movement or develop specific rhythms.
Term
Party Games
Definition
games developed specifically for multiplayer games between many players. Often have a variety of different types of mini-games that range between collecting more of a certain item than other players or having the fastest time at something.
Term
Puzzle Games
Definition
require the player to solve logic puzzles or navigate complex locations such as mazes.
Term
Sports Games
Definition
emulate the playing of traditional physical sports
Term
Trivia Games
Definition
growing in popularity, especially on mobile phones where people may only have a few minutes to play the game.
Term
Casual games
Definition
have very simple rules or play technologies and a very low degree of strategy. They also require no long-term time commitment or special skills to play.
Term
Educational games
Definition
as the name implies, attempt to teach the user using the game as a vehicle.
Term
Exergame
Definition
a video game that provides exercise.
Term
Blizzard Entertainment
Definition
Created Warcraft, Released in 1994, Starcraft released in 1998, Diablo released 1996. Located in Irvine, CA, Austin, TX, Mexico City, Belize, France, Seoul, Korea, Cork, Ireland, Taipei, Taiwan, Singapore.
Term
Bioware
Definition
MassEffect, DragonAge, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
Located: Edmond, AB,CA. Montreal, QC,CA. Galway, Ireland. Fairfax, VA. Austin, TX.
Term
Square Enix
Definition
Located in Shinjuku, Japan. Has a new studio in El Segundo, CA.
Games: Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest.
Uses Maya and Cryengine 3
Term
Valve
Definition
Located in Bellevue, Wa.
Created: Half Life, Team Fortress 2, Left for Dead.
Employs the game designer of Portal.
Term
Bungie
Definition
Bellevue, WA.
Created Halo Series.
Created by two guys, Jason and Alex, in their basement.
Term
Bethesda
Definition
Rockville, MD.
Created Elder Scrolls series and Fallout 3.
Term
NC Soft
Definition
Located in Taiwan, China, Japan, UK, Korea, and US.
Games: City of Heroes, Aion, Guild Wars
Term
Undead Labs
Definition
Seattle, WA
Uses CryEngine3.
In the works on a Zombie Console MMO.
Term
Frictional Games
Definition
Located in Sweden. Founded in 2006.
Uses HPL Engine on Penumbra (2007) and Amnesia (2010).
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