[After Midterm] Lecture I: Interactive Computer Graphics

Game Design

Multidisciplinary field combining computer science, creative writing, and graphic design.

Game Design

Planning phase of game creation (serves as a blueprint).

Game Design

Requires creativity and technical skills such as logic, game theory, and knowledge of human psychology.

Game Development Softwares

• GameMaker Studio

• Unity

• Unreal Engine

• Construct 3

• Godot

• Defold

• RPG Maker M Z

GameMaker Studio

Beginner friendly with drag-drop interface.

Unity

Powerful industry-standard for creating 2D and 3D games for numerous platforms.

Unreal Engine

A professional, complete suite of tools for high-end, real-time 3D creation.

Construct 3

Code-free, entirely GUI-driven development.

Godot

Free engine with strong, well-designed support for both 2D and 3D games.

Defold

Free software supporting export to a wide range of platforms.

RPG Maker MZ

Specialized, code-free tool for creating role-playing games.

Level Design

The discipline of creating game levels, missions, or environments using level editor software.

Level Design

A technical and artistic process that can involve conceptual sketches and models.

Level Design Steps

Laying out the map

Setting environmental conditions

Defining game rules

Placing interactive elements

Detailing

Scripting events / NPC paths

Laying out the map

Cities, rooms, tunnels

Setting environmental conditions

Time, weather.

Defining game rules

Scoring, resources.

Placing interactive elements

Buttons, teleporters, resources.

Adding entities

Enemies, items, save points.

Detailing

Textures, sound, lighting, and music.

Scripting events / NPC paths

Creating NPC paths and behaviors.

The 3C’s (Character, Camera, Controls)

Defines the player's core interactive experience and initial impression of the game.

Character

The player's avatar. Design (including silhouette) communicates personality and information (e.g., health). Customization allows for player expression.

Camera

The player's "eyes" into the game world. Crucial in 3D games, with different perspectives (e.g., first-person, third-person, isometric) serving different purposes.

Controls

The interface between the player and the game. Should be accessible and intuitive, unless unconventional controls are a deliberate design choice.

Game Types and Difficulties

Simulators

Games vs. Contests

Puzzles

Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA)

Simulators

Interactive systems that simulate something.

Games vs. Contests

All games are contests, but not all contests are games. Games require meaningful decisions.

Puzzles

Problems with a single, correct solution.

Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA)

A method to automatically modify a game's challenge in real-time based on the player's skill to avoid boredom or frustration.

Creating Game Assets

Graphics Tools

Font Resources

Music & SFX Tools

Graphics Tools

Blender

Maya

Gimp

Aseprite / Pyxel Edit / GraphicsGale

Open GameGimp Art

Blender

3D suite

Maya

3D animation/modeling

Gimp

image editing

Aseprite / Pyxel Edit / GraphicsGale

pixel art & animation

Open GameGimp Art

free asset library

Font Resources

Dafont, Google Fonts.

Music & SFX Tools

Audiokinetic Wwise

Freesound

BeepBox

Bosca Ceoil

Sunvox

Audiokinetic Wwise

professional audio engine

Freesound

CC-licensed sound database

BeepBox

online chiptune tool

Bosca Ceoil

beginner-friendly music creator

Sunvox

modular music tracker

Types of 3D Animation

3D Video and Film (Passive)

Interactive 3D

Virtual Reality 3D (VR)

3D Video and Film (Passive)

Moving images in a 3D space with no user interaction.

Interactive 3D

Users can interact with and move through the 3D world via mouse/keyboard.

Virtual Reality 3D (VR)

The most immersive type, requiring a headset to interact with a digital realm in a physical space.

3D Animation Techniques

Inverse Kinematics

Fluid Simulation

3D Skeletal Animation

Inverse Kinematics

Mimics natural joint movement (e.g., for arms/legs), simplifying animation.

Fluid Simulation

Creates realistic animations for water, lava, etc.

3D Skeletal Animation

Animates a character using a rig/skeleton underneath a skin/mesh.

Playtesting

A quality control method where users play unfinished versions to find flaws and bugs. It helps refine gameplay, balance, and fun elements.

Gross Playtesting

Initial test by the core team for basic gameplay problems.

In-House Playtesting

More comprehensive testing by internal staff/contractors.

Blind Testing

Beta testing by new users to provide fresh, unbiased feedback.

Final Playtesting

Last test before launch, focusing on aesthetic feedback.

Finalizing your game

Involves making final pitching decisions and marking games as complete (“finalizing”). Finalized games can be reviewed and, if necessary, re-opened for corrections.