1. Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Platform dependency: dependent; independent
Operating systems: for PC/Macintosh, eg Windows, Linux, Mac OS; for hand held, eg Windows CE, Palm
OS; for mobile, eg Symbian OS (Nokia N-Gage), BREW, Mophun
Drivers: soundcard driver; graphics card driver; network interface controller (NIC)
Application software: interpreted languages for games (Java, J2ME, C#); compiled languages for games
(C++); object-oriented (C++, C#, Java, J2SE, J2ME); scripting, eg Lingo, UnrealScript, QuakeC, Maya
Embedded Language, ActionScript, JavaScript
Graphical API: OpenGL; OpenGL ES; DirectX
Sound API: OpenAL; Java Sound API
Television: conditional access; iTV; ETV
Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology

2. What is an operating system?
An operating system is the most important software that runs on a computer. It manages the computer's memory and processes, as well as all of its software and hardware. It also allows you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer's language. 
Without an operating system, a computer is useless.
Examples include:
Windows
Linux
Mac OS
Android
IOS

3. Group Task – Gaming features
Split into 4 groups and list the general and specialist gaming features these operating systems have:
Xbox One
PS4
Windows 10
IOS and Android

4. So what is platform dependency and independence?
Platform independence is where the software can run on any hardware platform and any software platform.
Platform dependent is where the software needs a certain type of hardware and/or operating system to work.
Can PlayStation games work on an Xbox?
Can PlayStation VR games run without the headset?
Do iPhone/Ipad/IOS games run on a Samsung Galaxy?
Do IOS games run on all apple hardware?
Can PS4 games run on PS2?

5. So what is platform dependency and independence? Cont.
So what’s an example of Platform Independency?
JAVA Programs
Images
Video
Audio
Platform independence is anything that doesn’t require a specific piece of hardware or software to run.
With software this means that you can run the code of a program with little or no modification on multiple platforms.
Keep in mind that nothing is "perfectly" platform independent.
An argument could be made that multiplatform games when only small modifications take place between versions are to a degree platform independent.

6. Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Task 1:
Introduce what an Operating Systems(OS) is.
List the latest Operating Systems(OS) for PC, Apple Mac, Iphone/Ipad, Samsung Galaxy S9, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Include a screenshot.
At a basic level what is each OS able to do? E.g Browse the internet, open applications, text message, answer a call etc.
Does the OS have any special functions for games? How do we play games on the OS? Can we download more games to the OS? How? Explain.
Discuss the difference between Platform Dependency and Independence. Include examples of each. Consider how games take advantage of specific hardware. Include advantages and disadvantages of each.
Include reference’s as always. This PP available at jamestedder.net