1. Unit 20 Software
Part 2

2. Application software:
Game Engines: Gamemaker, Unity and Unreal
Hybrid languages: Java, Python, C#
Compiled languages: C, C++
Interpreted languages: PHP, JavaScript
Examples of software/languages we can use to make games

3. Game Engines No need to create your own
Faster development – quickly create prototypes
Easy to integrate monetization elements
Often has a visual scripting interface – no code required
Support, community and asset stores available
Usually has licensing fees attached to it even if the engine is provided for free
Can be limiting to developer that require complete control and flexibility – Using a raw coding language such as C++ would be a better option here.

4. What are…. Compiled vs Interpreted languages
A compiled language is when a person writes the code the compiler separates the file and the end result is an executable file. Basically, owner keeps the source code.
Interpreted languages are different because the code is not compiled first hand. Instead, a copy is given to another machine and that machine interprets it. An example is JavaScript (which is used everywhere online).
Code
Compile Code
Run Compiled Code
Code
Run code

6. Compiled code is turned to Machine code/Binary

7. Drivers Drivers otherwise known as Device Driver or Hardware driver.
Files that enable hardware devices to communicate with the computer's operating system.
Needed so computer can send and receive data correctly to hardware devices such as Graphics Cards or a Mouse and Keyboard.
Needed for the operating system to even recognise the hardware.
Types include:
soundcard driver
graphics card driver
network interface controller (NIC)

8. Graphical API: DirectX
Designed by Microsoft to allow direct access to hardware.
It contains a range of Application Programming Interfaces (API) for multimedia, video applications along with games.
Provides access to the advanced features of high-performance hardware, such as 3-D graphics acceleration chips and sound cards.
Including two-dimensional (2-D) graphics acceleration; support for input devices such as joysticks, keyboards, and mice; and control of sound mixing and sound output.
Only available on Microsoft products(Windows, Xbox)

9. Graphical API: Open GL
Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) is a cross-language, cross- platform application programming interface (API) .
Used for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.
Interacts with a graphics processing unit (GPU), to achieve hardware-accelerated rendering.
Works very similarly to DirectX but available on non-Microsoft platforms. Example platforms include:
Playstation's
Apple Mac’s
Linux Machines
Modified versions also on Android and IOS machines

10. Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Include reference’s as always. This PP available at jamestedder.net
Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Task 2:
Create a subheading within task 1 called Application software. Introduce game creation software such as game engines and what a programming language is.
Under that create a section called Interpreted Languages and another called Compiled Languages. Discuss & describe what they are and list examples. Briefly discuss one example, then research and list games created in that language.
Next discuss Hybrid Languages. Discuss & describe what it is and list a examples. Briefly discuss one example, then research and list games created in that language.
Then describe what GameMaker, Unreal and Unity are(Hint: Game Engines). What programming languages do they use? List examples of games for each. What’s the advantages and disadvantages of using one.
Describe & discuss what a Device Driver is. Include examples(Graphics, Sound, Peripherals) of how and when they are used.
Finally explain what DirectX and OpenGL are and what they are used for.
Further reading:

11. Assignment 3
Title: Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
To include all previous tasks:
Operating Systems
Platform Independence and Dependence
Drivers
Application Software
Graphical API
Due: 24th May 2018