Game Art Glossary

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Waterfall Methodology

Waterfall Methodology in project management is a systems development life cycle model for software engineering. Thought of as a classic approach to the systems development life cycle, the waterfall model describes a development method that is linear and sequential.  To break it down:

Gather and document requirements

Design

Code and unit test

Perform system testing

Fix any issues

Deliver the finished product

[gameartglossary]

Game Jams

A group of developers get together and plan, create and implement a game Characteristics of game jams are:

        Time Constraints               Themes             Specific tech

There are many versions of game jams and many sites that host them. The point is to sit and do it. Using the skills you are developing is the best way to improve. It’s like learning a language by total immersion. Expect failure, but with failure comes learning, and with learning comes more success. 

http://ludumdare.com/compo/  http://www.indiegamejams.com/ https://itch.io/jams

[gameartglossary]

Scope

One of the biggest reasons for failure in the game design industry. When a project is started, plans and schedules are established scope is established. Feature creep is the enemy of scope. Keep expectations realistic. When researching - compare apples to apples. If you are a small team with limited resources avoid comparing your game to behemoths in the industry.

Designers technically control scope. Once the boundaries are established the designers should plan for maximizing the skills of the team. This may not work for every team but leveraging the team’s strength helps achieve scope. Establishing the scope, firm control over feature creep,use of deadlines and milestones and those evil schedule keeps everyone’s eyes on the prize - shipping successfully.

[gameartglossary]

World Building

World Building: The process of taking all 3D assets and putting them together to make a level or world.

Source:  Michael Almon - michaelalmongameart

Image: Assets built in 3DS Max. Greek Level built in UDK.

[gameartglossary]

Reference

Reference: Pictures (normally real life photos) used to help with making 3D models as accurate as possible. i.e. if you were modeling an elephant, it would be wise to have elephant references.

Source:  Michael Almon - michaelalmongameart

Image: A hand modeled in z-brush

[gameartglossary]

Game Prototype

Prototype: The original test product of a game. Usually used to test the game play mechanics among other things.

Source:  Michael Almon - michaelalmongameart

Image: Escape Prototype (Third Level)

[gameartglossary]

Box Collider

The Box Collider is a basic cube-shaped collision primitive. It is used for space that you wouldn't want a player to pass through. They are also used to trigger animation of parts of scripts. Box Colliders can also be used to keep a player from falling through the ground. 

[gameartglossary]

Game Cloning

A game or system (console) that is significantly similar to other games or systems. The argument is that there are only so many ways to make a first person shooter or endless runner. 

There are several high profile cases such as that between EA and Zynga regarding their Sims games. The challenge is if EA wins the injunction against Zynga, they too will have to be more careful about cloning. 

[gameartglossary]

Poly Count

Polygon Count: The “polycount” of your model is the total number of tris "3sided polys" and Quads "4 sided polys" it takes to render your model in 3d space or in game. The higher your polycount, the more time it takes for the system to render it.

below is a game ready model with a low polycount in the low hundreds

Image By Lerma

[gameartglossary]

Fair Use

There are 4 components that are evaluated in terms of a Fair Use Defense of copyrighted material. 

1. The purpose and character of the use. Courts balance are more likely to look favorably on “transformative” use. So whether commercial or non-profit oriented, the courts look for a new purpose or different character that doesn’t detract from the original work.

2.  Nature of the copyright work.  Using a more creative work versus a technical or factual work (like a news report) is less likely to be viewed as fair. 

3. Amount of work used. If you copy an entire character from a work for your own, sampling enough of a song to be recognizable and so on less likely to be fair. Expert witnesses are often used. 

4. The effect of the use on the market or value of the original.  Are you displacing sales from the original? Does it cause harm?

This post is informative only, not intended to be legal advice. Get a lawyer and do your own research. If in doubt throw it out or get a license for the material. 

http://copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html

[gameartglossary]

Layers (Photoshop)

Layers are different levels that you can edit objects or image files. In Photoshop, you can have multiple layers that you can edit individually or merge together. Layers are often used to separate objects that you want to edit without affecting other objects/images that are in your file. It is also possible to rename each individual layer and add effects that can add special circumstances to that layer, such as a drop shadow or making it a multiply layer (the objects in that layer will become darker).

[gameartglossary]

Change Request Form

Change Request Form: A tool used for team members to request an addition to a project. However, they have to show valid reasons it would benefit the project and how they envision the impact on the project management triangle. There are free templates available online. There are many free versions of this type of document available online

http://www.projectmanagementdocs.com/project-documents/change-request.html#axzz3qczjr4SV

[gameartglossary]

Feature Creep

Feature Creep: Great ideas keep coming and each new idea seems like a “must have” in the game creating and enormous behemoth that couldn’t possibly be created within the scope, schedule and budget (cost) of the project.

[gameartglossary]

Copyright Law

From the Copyright.gov website we see the definition in the law as this:

“Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.”

We are all familiar with the symbols © to indicate copyrighted material and ® to indicate registered trademark. Being aware that sampling materials even in limited amounts may be frowned upon by those that own the material. This is addressed by defense. Keyword in that sentence is defense. Even what one may consider “innocent” use could land you in court.

http://www.copyright.gov/

[gameartglossary]

Subtool Palette

Subtools are separate polygon assets that you are working with within a single ztool. With the subtool palette you are able to view your tool with all of its parts as a whole or as individual pieces. The palette roll-out shows up to 8 subtools at once and you are not able to work on multiple subtools at a single time.

[gameartglossary]

Project Management Triangle

 Two versions

Left:  Design something quickly and to a high standard, but then it will not be cheap. Design something quickly and cheaply, but it will not be of high quality. Design something with high quality and cheaply, but it will NOT be fast. This version conveys that not all three are possible.

Right: Project Management has to balance schedules with the cost and scope of the project. These three components have a direct effect on the quality of the outcome. 

[gameartglossary]

Wireframe

A wire-frame model is a visual presentation of a three-dimensional (3D) or physical object used in 3D computer graphics. It is created by specifying each edge of the physical object where two mathematically continuous smooth surfaces meet, or by connecting an object's constituent vertices using straight lines or curves. The object is projected onto a display screen by drawing lines at the location of each edge. The term wire frame comes from designers using metal wire to represent the three-dimensional shape of solid objects. 3D wire frame allows to construct and manipulate solids and solid surfaces. The 3D solid modeling technique efficiently draws higher quality representations of solids than the conventional line drawing.