Unit 20 - Game Platforms and technologies

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Task 2 - The Connection and Configuration of Game Platforms

In this task, I shall provide a short video, that shows and demonstrates my ability to connect and accurately configure a game platform and associated devices, in order to enable game-play. This video shall provide commentary and the video will be complemented with a write up explaining my choices as to why I chose my methods within the video and I shall explore the options I chose in more detail. My video shall have 3 distinct features.

I shall show the Connection and configuration of a display.
I shall show how to connect the chosen controller to the platform.
I shall finally explain the installation and configuration of a game.

Connection and Configuration of a display:

Connection Video:

In order to connect a display to the source, such as a PC or a Console, a cable is needed to transfer the visual images and audio. There are 3 main types of cable for this job, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) Cable, VGA (Video Graphics Array) Cable and DVI (Digital Visual Interface) cable. For the purpose of this task, I used a HDMI cable. This is because while the VGA and DVI cable convey the visual images from the source to the display, they transfer audio separately. Due to this, I chose HDMI so that I could transfer both audio and video signals to the display with one cable.

HDMI

VGA

DVI

This allows for less cable management and an easier connection between source and display. In order to connect the display, all there is to do, is to plug both end of the cable into the HDMI ports on both the computer and the monitor. This allows for the video and audio signal to be transferred from PC to Display. The exact same method is applicable not just for modern PC's such as the one in the video but devices such as game consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. However, old consoles such as the PlayStation 1 and the original Xbox didn't use HDMI cables, so a different approach was required. Older consoles didn't use HDMI, DVI or VGA cables, they used composite AVI(Audio Video Interweave) cables instead. The colored RCA connectors are plugged into the display such as a Television set and the SCART plug is connected to the appropriate port on the console. Upon doing this, the video and audio signals can be conveyed from system to display.

Composite Cables were required to connect older consoles such as the PlayStation to displays.

PC's are not the only devices that use cables such as HDMI, VGA and DVI. Other devices include Consoles such as the Xbox One and the PS4, DVD players and Digital Cameras. The most used currently is the HDMI cable due to most if not all modern devices capable of outputting content at 720p or above. Older cables such as DVI and VGA are dying out as a result. The other reason HDMI is more widely used is that it also supply the audio signal as well, dispensing of the need to have a separate audio cable.

Aside from monitors, such as the one in the video above, there are other types of display such as Television sets and portable displays. An advantage of a portable display opposed to a monitor is that the portable display can be taken and used in far more places than a larger and heavier monitor could. However, a disadvantage is that a portable display depends on a battery to run, opposed to mains electricity, which means it need to be constantly recharged to work, while a monitor doesn't have that problem.

Configuration Video:

Upon connecting a display to a device such as a PC or console, the display has settings that can be configured and altered. Examples of settings that can be changed on a monitor include, brightness, over-scan, gamma, aspect ration, contrast and colour. These allow the user to alter the image onscreen in a way that suits the user.

The user can alter the brightness should the screen become too bright or dark. This can be accessed by a button located on the actual monitor in most cases. However, there are sometimes exceptions and brightness can be changed via an option menu on the PC itself. Aspect Ratio can also be altered. This is when the user can change the width and height of the image onscreen via selecting the aspect ratio ratio option when configuring a display. This is especially useful when images onscreen are either squashed or go off the screen when over scan is off. Over Scan is when the image is too large and the display is not set to configure that image to fit the screen. This feature is available on all modern monitors and TV's.

Since Over Scan is so prevalent on modern display, tests such as these are made to see if displays have over scan.

Some monitors have the option to change colour. Not only can the sharpness of the colour be altered, but there are sometimes pre-determined colour mode that can be selected. The monitor as shown in the video had the options as warm, standard, cool and custom. The advanced option were technicolor, HP enhance+, gaming, multimedia and custom. As shown, the display has option's to allow the monitor to be suited to view gameplay.

The advantage in having a modern display is that there are multiple options in order to alter the display to suit the users preferences and they are generally thin and light, allowing for great portability, however, an older display such as a CRT monitor has a faster refresh rate allowing for actions to be displayed onscreen faster than a more modern monitor with a slower refresh rate. This would be specially useful for competitive gamers who play in tournaments and leagues. The faster response times would allow for greater precision and could mean the difference between a win or a loss. Despite this advantage, the actual CRT sets while capable of resolutions such as 1080p, are rarely made to support that high a resolution, not allowing for great visual quality and the actual CRT monitors and TV's are large and bulky, giving a poor aesthetic look and lack of portability.

Connecting a controller to the game platform:

Controller Connection:

Upon the connection and configuration of the display, the chosen HCI is then to be connected to the device. For the purpose of this task, I connected a wired 360 controller to the PC. In regards to the actual connection process, I just plugged the USB at the end of the controllers wire into a USB port on the front of the PC.

I chose a 360 controller for this task for multiple reasons, the first reason , is the game I installed and configured, Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag, is an Third Person Action Adventure game. Due to this, I felt a controller would be more suitable to use to control a game of that nature. Other games that would take advantage of a controller are Fighting and Racing games. The other reason behind the use of a controller in that situation was due to the universal appeal of using a controller to game. While the vast majority of people have used a keyboard for day to day activities such as typing up word documents and using it to use search engines, more people have used the controller for gaming. As such, anyone new to gaming would benefit by using a controller as their HCI.

Despite the advantage of a game-pad for people new to gaming and player who like genre's such as Fighting, Racing and Third Person Games, the Mouse and Keyboard has its advantages as well. If someone was to play genres such as First Person Shooters and Strategy games, the mouse and keyboard is the better option. First Person Shooters can take advantage of the superior precision and sensitivity of a mouse and a keyboard gives an RTS game enough buttons in order to appropriately map game function's and control's to a key while with a controller, would have to map multiple features to one button. Another advantage to mouse and keyboard over a controller is that if someone is accustomed to gaming, learning to use mouse and keyboard isn't too much of a learning curve, and once learnt, the extra precision of a mouse and the large amount of buttons on a Keyboard, allows for a greater level of control when playing a game.

Installing and Configuring a game:

Installation Video:

Upon the connection of a controller to the platform, games can be accessed and played. I showed the Installation of Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag via Steam. Through game services such as Steam, all necessary files needed for the games are automatically installed and put into a single or multiple related folders and work immediately after the download is complete. Also, downloads from services such as Steam allow the user to allocate where the files shall be stored before download. IN order to keep the primary C drive fast and clean, games should be downloaded to the D drive or any other alternative forms of storage. Games can be installed through two primary methods. Disc or Digital. The most prominent form of installation in the past was disc. Inn order to install a game via disc, all that is needed is for the disc to be put into the platforms disc tray. Upon the platform being started is to follow the set up steps given by the disc itself. The main advantage of having a game in disc format is that it can be easily sold on. However, due to the physical nature of the disc, it can be lost and/or broken.

The other main way of installing game is digital. There are 3 main digital stores for the PC platform. These are Steam, Uplay and Origin. All three primarily sell game's and other media products such as films and music. Their console equivalents are PlayStation Network and Xbox Store. The most well known and popular of the three is Steam. It has the ability to be installed on a PC and one of its main features is that it keeps any game purchased from the store in one definitive library for practical use. Due to this, it is better than Uplay and Origin due to the fact all games purchased from Steam in one large library, while with Origin and Uplay, the game cannot be accessed at one definitive place. Also, Steam has large sales, with some deals being arguably the best on the market. Uplay and Origin lack these vital features to make them the best online stores and services. It also is known for its large sales, especially in the summer. One large advantage to digital over disc is that the prices for digital within the sales, especially on steam are far cheaper than on disc. Another advantage is that due to its digital nature, it does not take up any physical room and a digital game cannot be broken or lost. However, once a game key has been activated, it cannot be sold, which prevents second hand digital PC games.

Configuration Video:

Once a game has been installed, it can then be loaded up and be configured. On console, configuration options are severely limited and graphical and resolution setting are generally fixed due to the fixed nature of a console's hardware. However, these settings can be configured on PC in order to give the best possible performance for the player.

When it comes to graphical settings in PC games, there are several that can be altered to provide the best performance. Resolution of the game can be changed, with the most common options being resolutions from 720p up to 1080p. However older game's have resolutions as low as 480p and modern game's have resolutions as high as 1440p or even 2160p, the coveted 4K resolution. However, since resolution can affect performance, if the display is set to a resolution that the display does not show such as a 1080p monitor playing a game set to 1440p, it is best to turn the resolution down to enable better performance.

Graphical features such as texture and environmental quality can be altered as well. These features enable the games textures and environmental graphics to be altered to suit the systems hardware.The general options for settings such as these are Low, Medium, High and Ultra. This is so that the game can be altered to improve performance should the systems hardware be outdated or lower than the recommended spec.

Other graphical features can be changed such as shadows and reflections. These can be altered to cater to the hardware used. Other features exist such as anti aliasing, god rays and volumetric fog. Anti-Aliasing is when jagged textures can be smoothed out in order to improve the graphical fidelity of a game. God Rays are lighting effects that mimic crepuscular rays. These are in-game rays of light that radiate from the direction of the in-game sun. These are generally graphical effects designed for high end hardware and are enabled to increase the realism of a games graphics.

Finally, PC games allow the activation of V Sync (Vertical Synchronization). This is when the games frame rate is set to synchronize with the monitors refresh rate. This is in order to prevent screen tearing. This can decrease performance, so this should only be set if the PC's hardware is high end.

Visual References:
https://www.avforums.com/article/do-expensive-hdmi-cables-make-a-difference.10801
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface
https://techexplainer.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/ports-and-slots-in-laptops/
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/t/19468380
https://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/hd-101-overscan-and-why-all-tvs-do-it/
https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/gaming/xbox-360-controller-for-windows/52a-00004
https://cdkeyprices.com/steam-vs-origin-vs-uplay-which-is-better-and-why
http://www.geforce.co.uk/whats-new/guides/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-graphics-and-performance-guide
http://www.gamingzap.com/ps3-ps2-ps1-component-audio-video-cable.html

Written References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overscan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crepuscular_rays
https://hardforum.com/threads/how-vsync-works-and-why-people-loathe-it.928593/

Task 1 - Software Technologies for Game Platforms

In this Task, I aim to choose two different games, and examine the differences between them in regards to System Requirements, and what both games require to be compatible with different software. Upon completing this, I shall create a 2D game, and provide a single executable file to show that the game can be transferred from one piece of software to another. I shall also provide a desktop captured game-play video of this game, in order to show that the game is playable and can be compatible with multiple versions of software.

My games for this Task are

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Battlefield 1

I have chosen these games due to their contrast in graphical fidelity and their large difference in release dates. This will show a large contrast in regards to both games system requirements, required OS's, API's etc. This will show how software has advanced, and what modern games require to achieve full compatibility with modern and older Operating Systems and API's.

I shall also define the software terms used in this unit in order to back up and bolster my knowledge.

I shall provide

Definition's.
Specific Examples.
Pro's/Con's of the software and if applicable, the example.
The current developments in that software's field.

Platform Dependency:
Platform Dependency is the term for when an application is limited to run under one operating system and can only be run by a single operating environment or a single series of computers. A primary example of platform dependency would be Platform exclusives such as The Uncharted Series for Sony's PlayStation consoles. These games would be designed in a way that makes them impossible to play on Xbox or PC architecture. The games will also be made in a way that makes use of the software exclusive to the PlayStation Consoles and they would be designed to make use of the PlayStation software in order to achieve greater game performance such as higher resolutions and greater FPS depending on the hardware of the systems working in conjunction with the software. Another example would be Sony's competitor Microsoft's Xbox Exclusive games such as Halo and Forza. Just like the PlayStation exclusives, they will utilize the Xbox One's software in order to maximize and refine game performance.

One pro of platform dependency is that the software used to run the dependent applications can be crafted and utilized in a way that maximizes performance for the dependent application allowing for greater quality of gameplay within a game title and a faster work rate should the application be applicable for use in a work environment. However, a prominent con of platform dependency is that the application can not be used on another Operating System or Platform architecture. An example of this would be if a game was dependent on an Operating System such as Windows 10, it cannot be ported directly to another OS such as Macintosh, due to entirely different software. This can prove troublesome, should the application be work related.

Recent developments of Platform Dependency is that more games and software recently are being made with software that now allows for the ability to be moved between different OS's and architecture. An example of this is that the Halo series has been platform exclusive since Halo 3. However, Halo 5 had its forge mode ported to PC, in order to bring it to a larger audience. While Halo 5 PC forge wasn't quite ported to an entirely different OS, it was still moved to a different platform, breaking down a barrier present since 2006 with Halo 2 Vista. It also shows that companies are beginning to shun platform dependency and are now aiming to bring their games and software to more OS's, and as a result, more platforms. Basically the future of platform dependency is for it to die out and platform independancy to become a main focus of the industry.

Skyrim isn't bound by platform dependency and runs on multiple platforms. As of writing, Skyrim is available on Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and is rumored to be available on the Nintendo Switch in the future. Due to this, Skyrim is not platform dependent due to its availability on multiple platforms. Just like Skyrim, Battlefield 1 is not platform dependent. It is available on Windows, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Due to this, it is not dependent on a single platform, and as such, is not platform dependent.

Operating Systems:

An Operating System is a software program that runs and coordinates the computers basic actions such as registering keyboard input, providing the output from the computer to the display and maintaining control of peripheral devices such as Printers etc. More complex systems require much more of the Operating System and will require it to run programs and software without letting them conflict and would also prevent the confliction of multiple users.

There are 5 distinct OS classifications:

Real-Time - The OS responds to input instantaneously
Multi-User - This version of OS allows multiple users to run programs at the same time
Multi-Threading - This OS allows different parts of a singular program to run simultaneously
Multi-Tasking - This OS allows multiple programs to run at the same time.
Multi-Processing - This OS allows a program to be ran on more than one CPU

There are three distinct OS's used by the majority of Computer Users.

Microsoft Windows
Macintosh
Linux

Of the three primary OS's, Windows is the most used and most prolific. It is well known for its more recent version, from Windows XP up to Windows 10. There are many distinct pro's that Windows has over Macintosh and Linux. It is more accessible than Linux, due to the latters emphasis on letting the user code it. Due to the pre-coded nature of the Windows OS, it allows for greater accessibility. An advantage Windows has over Linux is that it is more complex the Macintosh. This allows for greater user options than Mac without the greater complexity of Linux. However, Windows has downsides. Due to it complexity over Mac, it removes any chance of people who are new to PC's using it, and would turn them into using Mac as a beginner Operating System. As such, many people use Mac over windows due to its complexity.

The second primary OS is Apple's Macintosh. This operating System is mostly known for its use on Apple's I Mac's and its Mobile Phone version called IOS. Macintosh is the most simplistic of the main OS's and due to this, it is used by many companies due to its simplistic, versatile nature, allowing for faster, more efficient work. A primary pro of Mac is its simplicity. At times, a program can be installed via OS and can work immediately opposed to Windows and Linux which would need more tinkering with the program files. Due to this, it is popular with professions such as Graphic Design due to it simplistic nature allowing for more efficiency when it comes to producing work and the OS is also known for it great compatibility with the professions most used software such as Adobe Photoshop and Fireworks. A disadvantage of Macintosh would be its lack of game support. Due to the industry's focus on Windows, Mac is often overlooked, and as such many game's lack support for Mac OS. Also, Mac is normally used on machines with hardly any options for upgrade-ability, making modern games unsuited for that hardware.

The final primary OS is the Linux Operating System. This OS is well known for its emphasis on letting the user code even the most basic features, and as such, is popular with computer enthusiasts. Linux is also well known for being the OS behind Android. Due to its coding emphasis, it makes it the most complicated of the primary OS's. One pro of the Linux OS is that due to its complex nature, computer savvy individuals can program it to fit any system. This allows it to be used with far more devices and in more situations than Windows and Macintosh. However, its main pro is also its main problem. Despite its versatile nature, anyone without extensive knowledge of coding cannot use Linux for everyday use. Due to this, OS's such as Windows and Macintosh are used for everyday use and are more prevalent in modern desktops.

In regards to Modern OS's, development is still going strong. All three main OS's are constantly being updated allowing for more features to be used for the OS, greater usability and more advanced compatibility with software programs. Microsoft Windows and Macintosh's OS's have had two large updates in recent years, Windows 10 for Microsoft and El Capitan for Macintosh. Due to these frequent updates, interest in these OS's are kept alive, and as such, are kept on PC's worldwide. By constantly evolving, the main OS's are extending their usefulness, and can be used for more software than ever before. In the future OS's may not be bound to certain hardware, and the existence of dependent OS's may become a thing of the past. It is inevitable that the next version of windows may be called Windows 11, however, the features of OS' are constantly changing, so the exact function and features of the next iteration may not be clear. The same applies for variants of the Macintosh and Linux operating systems.

Skyrim is only available for Windows OS's. It is available for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1 and Windows 10. Skyrim also supports both 32 bit and 64 bit windows Operating Systems. Battlefield 1, just like Skyrim, is only available for Windows OS's. However, Battlefield 1 is compatible only with the last few versions, Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. Also, it can only work with 64 bit versions of these OS's.

Drivers:

A driver is a software program designed to control a specific device. No matter what electronic device it may be, it is required to have a driver program, in order to accurately control and use it. Some examples of devices that require driver software are Keyboards, Printers and Disk Drives. Many devices such as the aforementioned Keyboard already come with such software pre installed, however, some devices require their compatible drivers to be installed upon connection with a computer.

A keyboards compatible drivers will come pre installed allowing for instantaneous use upon purchase.

When a device that requires a driver and runs via DOS, the driver files usually utilize the .SYS extension. However, when it comes to windows compatible drivers, the extension is usually .DRV in nature. Essentially, a driver is a translator between a device and the programs it utilizes. The drivers have their own specialized commands that are unique to the driver. Despite this, most programs use generic commands to access devices. Due to this, the driver receives the generic commands from the programs and then converts them to the specialized commands required to control the device.

An example of drivers would be drivers utilized to run graphics cards. Nvidia are the GPU company most known for their vast variety of highly optimized drivers. For graphics cards to work with more modern games, they require new drivers at certain periods in the game industry's technological evolution. For example, when Crysis 3 was released, new drivers were made in order to configure graphics cards to deal with the advanced level of graphics Crysis 3 offered.

One prominent pro of drivers are that even outdated devices such as old graphics cards can be compatible with newer software, due to constantly advancing drivers that allow for greater compatibility with modern software. Due to this, devices become obsolete long after their inception opposed from when their standard drivers become incompatible with a new software version. A con is that despite the fact older devices stay relevant and usable long after purchase, this mean there is less drive to make something entirely different that can vastly improve on the older devices. Due to older devices being compatible, the need for newer devices is reduced leading to less innovation.

In regards to driver development, new drivers for devices are constantly in development, allowing for devices to live on far longer than they would normally become obsolete. The same goes for any device that uses drivers. New drivers are constantly being released to expand the lifetime of the devices used. This allows for greater usage of computer compatible devices. In the future, drivers may be more versatile, for example, currently drivers are specific for certain hardware such as Nvidia and AMD have different drivers. However, in the future, drivers may be designed to adapt to different hardware and still have the same functionality.

The drivers for Skyrim are required to be compatible with Direct X 9.0c. The Graphics Hardware for Skyrim are also required to be DirectX 9.0C compatible. The Drivers for Battlefield 1 have to be DirectX 11.0 compatible, as does the video hardware. I have been unable to find the specific drivers required for both Skyrim and Battlefield 1 however, the latest AMD and Nvidia drivers such as Version 375.70 for Nvidia and Crimson Edition 16.9.2 for AMD should suffice in running Skyrim.

Application Software:

Application software is a program or collection programs designed in order to be utilized by the end user. There are two distinct classes of Application Software

Systems Software
Applications Software

Systems Software's are utility programs that manage low level computer resources. Examples of System Softwares are the OS, Debugger, Utilities, Compilers etc. Applications software are programs designed to be used by the end user. Examples include Graphics, Word Proccessing, Games and Databases. Generally, the Applications Softwares sit ontop of the Systems Software due to Application Software being unable to run without System Software such as the OS and System Utilities.

The main pro of Application Software is that they allow for the System Hardware to be used by the user. Without software such as System Utilities, and Operating Systems, PC's themselves could not be run, let alone used. Due to this, there is no distinct cons for the use of Application Software. There always is a valid Application Software for different computer hardware. Their very existence allow for PC's to be used and without them conventional PC's could not be properly used. As far as Application Software's are developing, they are constantly being updated due to their crucial role in running computer hardware. Due to their very existence being crucial to computing, they are being updated often, in order to run on any hardware new or old. Due to this, Application Software in the future will adapt to suit whatever changes future software takes.

Both Skyrim and Battlefield 1 utilize many application software in order to run their game. Notable examples of what software both game's use are the OS, Graphics, Debugger, Utilities etc. They need the OS to run the hardware the game's are being played on, they need the graphics in order to render and display their image onscreen, a debugger to root out and find any bugs in the game files and they need utilities to manage the basic software, in order to make the games run.

Graphical API's:

Graphical API's are sets of routines and protocols for building software applications designed for creating and managing multimedia effects and graphical images within applications such as games and active web pages. There are many graphics API's the most notable being DirectX and OpenGL. Both specialise in both 3D and 2D graphics, and OpenGL creates graphics by utilizing the vector technique.

DirectX is the most well known graphics API. It was created in september 1994 in order to replace WinG as windows primary API. DirectX has 5 different components

DirectDraw
Direct3D
DirectSound
DirectPlay
DirectInput

Direct3D is the graphics aspect of DirectX. It directly competes with OpenGL and has pro's and con's to its use. One pro to using Direct3D is that due to the fact it was made specially for windows system, it is the best performing graphics API for that platform. However, it has one large disadvantage to it. Since it was created for usage exclusivly on windows platforms, it cannot be used for others such as Macintosh and Linux. Due to this, Direct3D is one of the least portable graphics API's.

The second most well known graphics API is OpenGL. This is an API that specializes in rendering 2D and 3D graphics using Vector. One distinct pro of using OpenGL is that it is constantly evolving. New Version's are released often by a company called the Khronos Group and as such, the features of OpenGL are expanding as well. However, despite the constantly evolving nature of OpenGL, it has one prominent con. Unlike most graphics API's, which are implemented into software, OpenGL is implemented almost entirely into hardware. Due to this, usage of OpenGL and it performance depends on the quality of a systems hardware opposed to its software.

In regards to developments in the Graphics API field, new API's are being made constantly and the existing API's are being expanded upon exponentially. One such new API is Vulkan. This API has yet to release as of the time of writing, and was announced in 2015. Similar to OpenGL, it focuses on 3D graphics and while capable of 2D, it specializes in 3D. In the future, Graphics API's may be compatible with all graphics software, opposed to just certain ones. Also, currently different graphics API's have different functions. In the future, maybe all GRaphics API's will be able to accommodate all roles opposed to a certain ones specializing in rendering etc.

Skyrim utilizes DirectX 9.0c in order to build the software applications required to create Skyrims visual effects such as textures and lighting. Battlefield 1 uses a more updated version of Direct X, DirectX 11.0. Just like Skyrim, Battlefield 1 uses this in order to build the software applications needed to create the games visual effects.

Sound API's:

Sound API's are a set of routines and protocols, required to build software applications that design and manage sound within applications such as games and active web pages. Just like Graphical API's there are plenty of Sound API's such as DirectSound and OpenAL. Both render, mix and record sound, however, DirectSound is specialized in recording/mixing, while OpenAL specializes in rendering sound.

DirectSound was originally a deprecated software component, however after large developments, it is now classed as a mature API. Its main purpose is to play the audio for games, however, it can also be used for playing audio within audio applications. One distinct Pro of using DirectSound is that it can be used for high quality audio within games due to that being its purpose, and as such it being designed to provide the optimal audio experience during gameplay. However, a con of using DirectSound is that it cannot render sound as efficiently as API's such as OpenAL and due to its nature of being Windows reliant, it is not portable to other OS's.

Another prominent sound API is OpenAL. OpenAL is a sound API that specializes in the rendering of sound via multi-channel 3D positional audio. It also serves as a environmental 3D audio library which its purpose is to replace proprietary audio systems such as A3D and EAX. A distinct advantage to using OpenAL is that it can be used for environmental 3D audio, which is done to a standard unmatched by rivals including DirectSound. A con is that OpenAL is tailored exclusively to human users, while other sound API's can be used to create audio for artificial intelligence's and robotic simulations.

Developments in the Sound API field are constant and consistently develop the API's to have more features which allow for greater roles and higher quality of the software built via the API's. Extension Mechanisms can be added to sound API's in order to add extra functionality in the future. Via these extensions, existing API's can have more features added in order to increase functionality. In the future, sound API's may be compatible with multiple sound software and there may be the development of one universal driver without the need for different variants.

Since both Skyrim and Battlefield use a version of DirectX for their graphical API, it can be presumed that they both utilize DirectSound as their sound API. Due to this, the audio within both games will use DirectSound in order to build the software applications necessary to create/render the sound in both games such as the soundtrack, ambient noise and sound effects.

Television:

Television is a medium of telecommunication that transmits moving images via monochrome or color. They are always transmitted in either 2D or 3D and sometimes are transmitted with sound. Television is a modern form of mass medium alongside music, and video games.

Television Images are displayed via a Television Set. The original TV sets were bulky and displayed their image via CRT. More modern TV's come in three forms.

Plasma
LCD
OLED

The earliest forms of TV were displayed via a Nipkow Disc. The images were displayed through using a spinning disk to create and reproduce images. However, due to the technology being early development, the resolution and screen size's were low, and as a result more advanced TV sets were produced. The next step was producing and displaying image via CRT.

One main example of television is the aforementioned CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). The method consist's of using a vacuum tube containing either a single or multiple electron guns and a fluorescent screen in order to display images. A pro to this method is that the CRT produces sharper images at non native resolutions. A con however is that CRT requires a large box monitor in order to display the images. Due to this, the CRT television sets lack greatly when it comes to mobility.

Another example of television is LCD. LCD (Liquid Crystal Displays) are television sets that use liquid crystal to display images. They are much thinner and lighter than television sets that use CRT to display images and can go into sizes much larger than CRT. One pro to LCD is that at native resolution, the image produced via LCD is sharper than on CRT and the size and weight of the LCD opposed to CRT allows LCD sets to have far greater portability. A con to LCD use is that LCD sets have bad viewing angles that can affect contrast, brightness and gamma.

In regards to television developments, many new types of television are being created in order to fix any shortfall with CRT and LCD. example s include the creation of OLED television sets that correct the disadvantages of both CRT and LCD. Despite this, OLED has yet to take off, and LCD has a far greater sale rate and amount. In the future, more ways to display image's may be created. Also television sets will produce clearer images and resolutions will continue to improve with 8K and even 12K Television Display's being available and eventually becoming the norm.

Both Skyrim and Battlefield require television in order to display their images on a screen such as a television set or monitor. However, both games are compatible with any form of television, allowing for both games to display their images via pretty much any television set providing they have a port for a compatible video cable such as HDMI, DVI etc.

Skyrim Video Example:

Battlefield Video Example:

Skyrim Video Reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVdAhdwB6ik

Battlefield Video Reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-9vNYiDYRM

Visual References:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Windows_logo_-_2012.svg

http://4vector.com/free-vector/macintosh-logo-90898

http://www.famouslogos.us/linux-logo/

http://instore.game.co.uk/event/uncharted-4-midnight/

https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-5-guardians
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/k/keyboard.htm
https://twitter.com/nvidia
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/application.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX
https://www.opengl.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulkan_(API)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenAL
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectSound
http://www.classactionsreporter.com/settlements/crt-antitrust-class-action-settlement
http://www.gadgetreview.com/reviews/television-reviews

Written References:

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/requirements/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/11231

Monday, 3 October 2016

Task 2 - Hardware Technologies for Game Platforms

Hardware Technologies for Game Platforms

The Games Industry utilizes many hardware technologies for its game platforms. The inclusion of these technologies has made the industry itself possible and without them, our way of life would be very different and video games simply wouldn't exist. In this task I aim to comprehensively cover these technologies and gain a greater understanding of how the hardware technologies for games platforms are utilized.

Human Computer Interfaces:

Human Computer Interfaces, otherwise known as HCI's, are the method of which a human interacts and communicates with a computer system. They are input devices that utilize supporting software in order to provide compatibility with its respective computer system. They come in many forms and have increased in technological complexity as time has gone by. Relatively simple HCI's such as the mouse and keyboard are being slowly replaced by complex HCI's such as Virtual Reality devices like the Oculus Rift.

"What I was proud of was that I used very few parts to build a computer that could actually speak word's on a screen and type words on a keyboard and run a programming language that could play games. And I did this all myself". Steve Wozniak

HCI's began being used in the 1970's, when computer systems became of wider use to the public in forms such as the Personal Computer. This created an emphasis on increasing the usability of computers in order to make them more accessible to the public. The keyboard was one of the first HCI's to be used widely and was based off typewriters in order to create a familiarity of how to use keyboards if the user has had no prior interaction. Another HCI used to increase usability was the mouse. Primitive versions of the mouse were used as early as 1941 in the form of the Trackball, a HCI designed to help operate a fire control radar. It began to be widely used in a form similar to the present in 1968 for radar flight control desks in a German company called Telefunken.

The Telefunken Mouse

By 1982, computers had began widely using Mouses to facilitate Human-Computer interactions. It is now one of the most used HCI's on the planet alongside the Keyboard. Together they are highly effective and show no sign of being phased out in the near future. Currently more advanced HCI's are being created and developed. One such example is the creation and developing use of Virtual Reality Devices.

HCI's such as the HTC Vive are used to boost immersion in VR games

These Devices are used to interact with world's created via Virtual Reality. Since Virtual Reality is used for the purpose of immersion, HCI's such as Game Pads and Mouse's and Keyboard's are ineffective for that purpose, so new HCI's had to be developed. This led to the development of VR headsets. Physically resembling goggles, VR headsets display the VR generated worlds to the user and utilizes sensors to allows view of the world to be altered realistically depending on the head or even body movement of the user. For example, if the user looks right, the in-game world turns left to simulate the turning of the head within the virtual world. This gives the user the feeling they are actually within the generated landscape.

Having more traditional HCI's such as Keyboards have advantages such as low cost, and the user will have a level of familiarity with these HCI's due to their inclusion as the most used HCI's in modern day society. The advantages of HCI's such as VR devices is that they offer an incredible level of immersion within games, due to their focus on using actual movement to interact with the game world. While this may bolster a games experience, HCI's like VR devices are very expensive and as such are very impractical. This may change in the future, but in the short term more traditional HCI's have more advantages.

As shown, HCI's have developed from allowing passive interaction with computer systems into interactive and realistic ways of interaction. While HCI's such as VR devices are a long way from being a common staple of everyday use, they are developing at a rate that renders them from becoming useless.

Graphics Processors:

Graphics Processors, otherwise known as GPU's, are computer chips that is utilized to render images. This is achieved via rapid mathematical calculations carried out by the GPU. Initially this task was allocated to the CPU but as time went on graphics became more advanced and the CPU's performance was hampered by the strain caused of the graphical processing.

The GTX 1080, currently the worlds most powerful Graphics Processor Unit

To combat this problem, GPU's were created to offload the work of graphical processing to chips specifically designed for it. This would result in greater CPU performance. GPU's were first used in 1999 when Nvidia created and began selling the GeForce 256. Ever since, Nvidia has not only been a large player within the GPU market but are also regarded as creating the best GPU's on the market.

The GeForce 256 was the first GPU on the market.

While Nvidia were the first company to sell GPU's and are still regarded as the best today, they have competition. The main rivals to Nvidia are AMD and ASUS. AMD is the more prominent of the two and not only make GPU's, but CPU's and APU's as well. There is common consensus among the games industry that AMD deliver the second best GPU's after Nvidia.

The Radeon HD 6990 is just one of AMD's many GPU's

Another main rival to Nvidia and AMD is ASUS. They are not just GPU manufacturers, and are most known for their laptops. As such, they are not regarded as highly as Nvidia and AMD when it comes to GPU's but are still counted among one of the top companies in the industry for GPU's despite their emphasis and concentration towards laptops.

GPU's have changed the way the industry is today. The extra power GPU's provide have allowed graphics to evolve to the standard of which is seen currently. Merely having CPU's would have left graphics evolving at a much slower rate which may have turned the games industry from a big player in entertainment to a mere novelty due to very little improvements year by year.

The creation of GPU's allows the industry to improve graphically each year and keeps it interesting enough for people to keep being a part of it. While the main part of gaming is the game-play, having constantly evolving graphics is a crucial part of keeping interest in the games industry from outside parties. Since graphics are the visual representation of games, it is of paramount importance to improve them to evolve the industry.

Central Processing Units:

Central Processing Units, otherwise known as CPU's, are logic circuitry that responds and ultimately process any commands that drive and function a computer system. Originally CPU's featured only one processor core, but as computers advanced and required more complex instructions to operate, multi-core CPU's were made to enhance and speed up performance. These processor cores are individually called Micro Processors. Each Micro Processor runs at a certain speed. These speed are measured in either MHz or GHz. This is called the clock speed which determines how fast each core can complete tasks.

Various companies are known to create and sell CPU's. Arguably the most prominent and the best at developing CPU's are Intel. They are best known for their I3, I5, and I7 lines of processors. I3's are strictly dual cores while I5 and I7's are quad cores. Sometimes I7's can feature virtual cores. This is known as 'Hyper Threading'.

Another prominent company who produce and sell CPU's are AMD. They are Intel's main rival in the CPU market and also create a variant of CPU called Accelerated Processing Units. These are CPU's that combine their elements with GPU elements into one single architecture. While AMD are not the only company to do this, they are the only one to call them APU's. While APU's require less power than a CPU and Discrete GPU, they are generally weaker and as such are inappropriate for more taxing programs or applications. Due to their dual functionality, the graphical element of the APU, causes the Processing elements to be slowed down, noticeably reducing performance. This is another advantage a discrete GPU and CPU has in regards to performance over APU's.

CPU's have changed the industry significantly and without them, the industry simply wouldn't exist. CPU's make the technology's that make and play game's a reality. By having more powerful CPU's being created over the course of time, more complex actions can be carried out by computer systems, and as such, games performance and mechanics have advanced significantly since the days of Pong. Common aspects of game design that we take for granted today such as large open worlds and smooth mechanics would not be a reality if CPU's had not been expanded upon, due to the low processing power of early CPU's.

Random Access Memory:

Random Access Memory, otherwise known as RAM, is a location within a computer system where the systems data is kept for the purpose of the computers processor being able to quickly access it. If information is stored in RAM, it can be more quickly accessed than Hard Disk Drives and Solid State Drives. However, once the system is turned off, the RAM loses the data stored there. Upon reactivation of the computer, all necessary files are once again loaded into the RAM to be accessed.

RAM comes in two main types, Dynamic Random Access Memory and Static Random Access Memory. Dynamic RAM requires constant power for it to be used and and is the standard and most commonly used type of RAM. Its need to have constant power to store data puts it at a high disadvantage to Static RAM. Static RAM doesn't require constant power to store data, but as a result, it is far more costly than Dynamic RAM. Due to this SRAM is normally used in small quantities within a Processors Cache Memory. However if it was to be highly used in computer systems, the process of accessing information would be a much faster experience.

Displays:

A display is computer output surface that utilizes projection mechanisms in order to display text and graphical images to the user of the computer. There are two prominent forms of display, Cathode Ray Tubes and Liquid Crystal Displays. A display is generally considered to be either the screen or projected surface that displays the information from the computer from which it is attached.

Sometimes, the display is separate from the computer in the form of a separate unit called a monitor. However, in other cases, the display is integrated into the computer unit itself along with other components such as CPU’s and GPU’s.

CRT Displays create their images via utilizing a specialized vacuum tube to strike an electron beam onto a phosphorescent surface. CRT Displays are given their images via analogue cables which is then decoded by the display controller. CRT displays make up the majority of computer displays, due to their simplicity and low cost to produce.

LCD's are a more modern form of Display. It is a method of display which utilizes liquid crystals in order to project the image produced by the computer system. The liquid nature of this type of display allows it to be easily manipulable and the light can be interacted with in various ways. Just like the CRT display type, once signals have been transferred to the display, the controller within the display decodes this signal and turns it into the information displayed onscreen to the user.

Their is common debate on the qualities of either display type and which is the best for games. The CRT is much bulkier and aesthetically inferior to the LCD. In regards to portability, the LCD is better. However, where it loses ground in terms of portability, the CRT makes up for the lack of dead pixels. This gives it a much more consistent image than LCD's that may feature dead pixels marring the visual experience of some games. The CRT also has superior response time to LCD which makes it the better option for competitive gaming. The faster response time could mean the difference between a match win or defeat. Another advantage of CRT over LCD is the price. Due to their old age, CRT displays retail for much less than the more modern and advanced LCD's. LCD's however have sharper images which can provide greater immersion, especially when playing story driven games.

Game Storage Medium:

"Some people record onto tape and then they pay for the tape and download those onto a hard drive. Initially in a Pro Tools program. Other people go straight into digital and use no tape at all" David Grohl

Game Storage Mediums are a form of technology where data can be stored and retrieved at a later date. Within the games industry, there are multiple types of storage upon which game data can be stored. The most prominent form of storage within gaming is HDD (Hard Disk Drives) storage. The storage process entails using rapidly rotating disks to have data being wrote onto them via an actuator arm.

Another prominent, albeit expensive, form of storage within gaming is the use and application of Solid State Drives (SSD's). This form of storage utilizes an integrated circuit assembly in order to assemble memory. This allows the storage of data to be more persistent than that of HDD Storage. Due to their greater emphasis on persistent storage, SSD Drive's are faster than HDD's and as such are better suited to storing data such as the Operating Systems of computer devices.

A third form of storage within gaming is the use of memory cards. While no longer widely used within the industry, they were a large part of storage for past consoles. Consoles such as the PlayStation 1 and 2 were well known for their need for memory card storage and even PlayStation 2 game boxes had a slot inside for memory cards. While the most portable physical storage form in the industry, it had a much reduced storage size to its HDD and SSD brethren. That and its exposure to outside elements surrounding the console giving it less protection, phased the memory card outside of modern console gaming.

There is much debate about the best form of game storage medium. HDD's are the best all rounder with a cheap price, larger amount of storage than its competitors and its compatibility with not just modern computers but older computers systems as well. This works in its advantage when an older system needs more or new storage.

SSD's are more reliable however due to persistent nature. Data stored within SSD's are far more easily and more quickly accessed than that of HDD's. As such, SSD's are the best options to store important files and Operating Systems. This would help computer systems by letting the computer load up faster when booted due to the OS being stored on SSD's.

Memory Cards have the most portability of the other storage mediums and has evolved the most. The once chunky memory cards are now small and sleek and can be taken anywhere. However they have the least amount of storage and as a result are only suitable for carrying temporary or small size files. This puts it at a serious disadvantage to the other forms of storage.

Overall the best form of storage for game would be the HDD. It has decent all round compatibility, portability, storage size and decent reading a writing speeds providing it is a modern HDD. As such, this make sit the best storage medium for gaming.

Connectivity:

Connectivity is the term that refers to the process of connecting devices, in order to transfer data between computer systems. Connectivity is generally the term, used to refer to network connections which utilize technologies such Routers in order to transfer data. Connectivity within technical terms can also be referred to actions such as the use of Bluetooth to transfer pictures from a camera to a desktop PC or the physical transference of the internet via Ethernet cable.

The main form of internet connectivity is the Wireless Router. Wireless Routers is a device that resides within a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and allocates the network point in which a packet would be forwarded too. Wireless allows for greater mobility than LAN devices allowing for devices to access wireless wherever it may be available.

To access wireless connections from routers, computer systems require an wireless adapter. The most common form of wireless adapter is the wireless card. This adapter is plugged into a PC via PCI slots and once within the PC, it acts as a communication between a wireless hub and the PC itself. Wireless cards are the most commonly used wireless adapters and as such have increased technologically since their inception. They can now support higher internet speeds and as a result PC's can have better connection when using a wireless card.

Another version of wireless adapter is the wireless USB.Instead of being an adapter for a WiFi connection, these are a form of USB technology that utilizes radio frequency in order to provide the interface between a computer system and peripherals such as monitors, headsets, cameras etc.

While the above examples were wireless, not all connectivity is like that. Ethernet Cables are one of the original forms of connecting to the internet and remain one of the most stable forms of connecting. They are limited however due to their reliance on Local Area Networks (LAN).

Connectivity is one of the most important aspects of gaming. Basic connectivity such as cables allow game to be played, due to their significance of letting computers connect with their outputs. However, that is more of general importance. As far as gaming is concerned, internet connectivity is the most important aspect of connectivity to the industry. WiFi has changed the industry as we know it, by allowing gaming over the internet, which has boosted the social aspect of the industry. Gamer's from all over the world could connect and play together. This is especially prevalent in PC gaming with the E-Sports becoming a thing due to online multiplayer. Many E-Sports players began their gaming careers on online PC gaming before moving to LAN another form of connectivity for tournaments.
Also processes such as DLC and Micro Transactions are made possible due to online connectivity. The game industry simply wouldn't be the same without it.

Sound:

Sound Technologies are devices that gives a computer system the ability to input, process, then deliver sound. They are typically Sound Cards internally inserted into PCI slots. Sound Cards, other wise known as Audio Cards, are devices that once attached to a PCI slot, allow computers to input sound, which is then processed and delivered to the user of the computer system the card is within.

A Sound Card has 4 main functions:

Synthesizer
MIDI Interface
Analog to Digital Conversion
Digital to Analog Conversion

The sound synthesis a Sound Card is responsible for is made through three main factors:

Frequency Modulation
Wavetable Modeling
Physical Modeling

The most used sound card thus far is the Sound Blaster from Creative Labs. This specific Sound Card has been used so much in computing devices that it has been used as a generic term for Sound Cards.

In the past Sound Cards were designed to connect to the ISA slot. However since being connected to the PCI slot offered advantages such as decreased demand on the CPU which improved performance for computer systems. This tipped manufacturers into developing sound cards with PCI slot compatibility.

Overall Sound and Sound Technologies have had a significant impact on the games industry. Having games feature audio has had prominent impact on the industry. Audio within games can provide the games atmosphere and bolster it more than graphics and lighting effects ever could. Game soundtracks are a prominent part of the industry and having sound technologies make this a reality.

The ability to give games sound that can be processed and delivered by the game systems allow games extra creative freedom and are one of the main reasons games are considered one of the highest forms of art. Without sound technologies, the industry would simply not be the same.

Interface Device:

An interface device is either a hardware component or a system of components that allows interaction with a computer system, telephone systems or an electronic information system. This is a term commonplace within the mobile communications industry as a way of referring to the multiple iterations of mobile technology.

Since interface devices are output based, there are many forms. The six main forms of Interface device are

PC's
Handhelds
Palm Based Devices
Smart Phones
Smart Pagers
Standard Telephones

As shown, interface devices take many forms. They vary from large computer systems such as Desktop PC's to small devices such as Smart Pagers. An interface device has many characteristics called collectively a User Interface. Early UI's were called Command Line Interfaces (CLI) however more modern Interface Devices have graphical interface devices called GUI's. These are found on devices such as Laptops and Desktop PC's. Interface Devices usually have forms of output such as displays or in some cases audio signals. They also feature input features such as touch screens or buttons.

Smart Phones are one of the most prominent IDF's in the 21st century

IDF's are crucial to the very core of the video games industry. They are used to create games, play games and watch games. Without them not only would the game industry not exist but society would be drastically different. Other forms of media such as the film industry and music industry would still exist but in a much less technologically advanced form. IDF's have shaped and become modern technology itself. PC's are a vital part of society. They are used in multiple lines of work and they are responsible for some of the greatest accomplishments in the history of human civilization such as the moon landing. Smart Phone's are used as one of the worlds most used ways of communication. Without them, communication would be very much based around standard telephones, another form of IDF. Without IDF's, modern society would not be as advanced and would take longer for technology to evolve and refine itself.

Power Supply:

A Power Supply, otherwise known as a PSU, is a component that supply's power to a computer system in order for it to run. Power is normally conducted through wires from a wall outlet into the PSU which uses the retrieved power to power and run the PC. In order to convert the electricity into usable energy, the AC electricity from the outlet is transferred into a DC current. Once converted to DC, it can be used by the PC to power it.

A PSU is easily located within a computer system. Wherever an input for a power cable can be found, the PSU itself will be there. Usually PSU's are stored within a computer system. However there are exceptions. Some electronic devices have external PSU's such as external Hard Drives and monitors. There are also PSU's connected directly to the plug called AC Adapters. The purpose of the design is to allow the main device to be smaller and more refined.