Introduction to CO42032 Computer Games Software Engineering

1
Introduction to CO42032 Computer Games Software
Engineering

• This is a new module with a number of interesting
  aspects to it firstly it has the word games in
  its title.
• However, anyone expecting to end the module by
  writing a new bestselling game for the PS2 is
  likely to be disappointed. 3D graphics is way too
  advanced a concept to deliver in a single module
  whilst development tools for games consoles are
  not available to unlicensed developers.
• Whilst 3D graphics will not play a huge part in
  the module, C programming will this might
  well be new to you.
• Finally, whilst we wont be developing for
  consoles, we wont be developing for PCs either -
  we will be creating game applications for
  networked PDAs.

2
What? - no 3D graphics?! Computer Games Software
Engineering

• Programming any 3D graphics application is hard.
  Most games that use 3D graphics will be
  programmed in C using a low level graphics API
  such as Direct X or Open GL and/or a game engine
  or further game API.
• Getting to grips with all these software
  technologies is beyond the scope of a single
  module especially as you have had no prior
  graphics or C modules.
• It is possible to create 3D content easily enough
  using content creation tools such as 3DStudioMax
  but it is the runtime manipulation of such
  content that is the tricky aspect.
• Well cover some 3D aspects from time to time in
  the lectures but the practical work will be 2D.

3
Why use PDAs? Computer Games Software Engineering

• It would have been wonderful to run a module
  that teaches game development on consoles such
  as the PlayStation, GameCube (pictured) or Xbox.
• However only licensed developers (established
  game companies) have access to the required
  SDKs, compilers and documentation for these
  devices.
• On the other hand, developing for PCs is either
  too complex (using 3D graphics) or too dull (2D
  graphics).
• To this end we have decided to concentrate on
  mobile collaborative games development on PDAs
  for the practical part of the module .

4
Hold on what's a PDA? Computer Games Software
Engineering

• A PDA is a Personal Digital Assistant. These are
  handheld devices that until recently were used
  primarily as digital replacements for paper
  organisers/diaries etc.
• Early PDAs include the Apple Newton.
• More recently they have become much more
  flexible and the boundaries between PDAs and
  phones, games-consoles, portable multimedia
  players, and laptops are blurring.
• There is currently ongoing commercial battle
  between two main PDA OSs Microsofts Pocket PC
  (such as the pictured HP/Compaq iPaq) and Palm
  Inc.s PalmOS.

John Sculley, former CEO of Apple, is accredited
with coining the term PDA
5
Games on hand held devices? Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Current technology means that graphics and
  complex AI based gameplay are kept to a
  restricted level on mobile platforms.
• Despite these current restrictions, mobile
  gaming is predicted to rapidly become an
  important, financially lucrative, technology
  domain.
• Until recently the only widespread hand-held
  console was the Gameboy/Gameboy Advance by
  Nintendo.
• The hardware system of the Gameboy are actually
  quite old and Nintendo have recently resorted to
  producing cosmetic upgrades such as the pictured
  GA SP.
• Its surprising that Nintendo have had such a
  monopoly in this market for so long but this has
  recently changed.

6
Games on hand held devices? Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Nokia have already released their N-Gage system,
  which is a hybrid mobile phone/game-console. Many
  well known traditional console games have already
  been ported to the N-Gage.
• Meanwhile Sony, are also due to release a new
  handheld baby PlayStationTM, the PSP
  (PlayStation Portable) to compete directly
  against the N-Gage and Nintendo devices. The PSP
  is likely to have a very high specification (and
  price).

7
Games on hand held devices? Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Alongside mobile game console developments, usage
  of games on existing general-purpose mobile
  platforms, such as mobile phones and PDAs, is
  widespread and rising.
• Creating game content for mobile game console
  devices is, surprise-surprise, limited to
  licensed developers. For example it will only be
  possible to develop for the N-Gage using licensed
  software such as Fathammers X-Forge.
• In contrast, the development of applications for
  phones and PDAs is thrown open to all parties
  Microsoft supply free tools for Pocket PC PDAs
  and SmartPhone mobile phones.
• Free, or commercially available, C and, to some
  extent, Java development tools are also available
  for developing under rival OSs such as PalmOS
  and Symbian.

8
Games on hand held devices? Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Because of the relative ease of availability of
  basic development tools for PDAs and mobile
  phones, a number of interesting open source style
  middleware applications have emerged that enable
  developers of specialised content to create
  applications in shorter time frames.
• For instance, the two Pocket PC APIs GapiDraw
  and OpenTrek enable developers to create
  interactive graphics and networked collaborative
  games content respectively.
• Both of these APIs have been developed at the
  Future Applications Lab of the Viktoria Institute
  in Sweden and have been used to teach MSc
  students aspects of mobile collaborative games
  development.

9
Why C? I barely know Java!Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Most games development in industry is still done
  using C. Certainly almost all 3D games are
  written in C.
• Microsoft supply for free their C development
  kit (Embedded Visual Tools) for Pocket PC PDAs.
  You can also get free gcc compilers for both
  Pocket PCs and PalmOS devices.
• Java as a games technology has until very
  recently been rarely used outside of web based
  games but is currently a hot topic for mobile
  phone based applications.
• However, getting hold of free adequate JVMs for
  phones and, especially, PDAs is currently very
  difficult.

Most commercial development for PalmOS using
C is likely to be done using commercial tools
such as MetroWorks CodeWarrior
10
Why should I learn C?Computer Games Software
Engineering

• For a start you need it to pass this module.
• Then there is a very strong case for having both
  Java and C/C on your CV. It has been shown in
  various studies that there are enormous benefits
  to be gained in terms of general employability in
  exposing undergraduate students to a number of
  different programming languages (and especially
  C and Java).
• Furthermore, a games module that uses Java as the
  development language would not be looked upon
  favourably by any potential employers from that
  sector.

See de Raadt, M., Watson, R. Toleman, M.
(2003) Language Tug-Of-War Industry Demand and
Academic Choice. Proceedings of the Fifth
Australasian Computing Education Conference
(ACE2003), Adelaide, Australia, 20137-142,
available online at http//crpit.com/confpapers/CR
PITV20deRaadt.pdf
11
Why should I learn C?Computer Games Software
Engineering
The paper by de Raadt et al is worth a read. One
paragraph states
A programmer with skills in more programming
languages is qualified for more positions. Indeed
the four most demanded languages do not overlap
greatly in the positions for which they are
required. While a person with skills in C is
qualified for 30 of positions, Java qualifies
for 30 of positions, Visual Basic qualifies for
21 of positions and C for 17, knowing C,
Java, Visual Basic and C qualifies a programmer
for over 70 of all advertised positions.
12
How much C do I needComputer Games Software
Engineering

• to pass this module.
• Im assuming, to begin with, that you know very
  little, if any, C. But I am assuming that you
  know Java pretty well by this stage since you are
  all doing the final year of a technical Honours
  degree in computing.
• Well do some lectures on C theory. Then in the
  labs I expect you to pick things up by practice.
  Youll be supplied with template Microsoft
  Visual C applications that would be very
  difficult to create from scratch but are actually
  pretty easy to edit and recompile to do the
  things you want them to.
• Youll need a lot of common sense and some basic
  grasp of syntax, algorithms and control
  structures.

13
Is this module any use to me? Computer Games
Software Engineering

• You should look at this module in two ways.
• Firstly, it is a chance to expand you technical
  skills base. You will use industry standard cross
  compilers (MS Embedded Visual Tools) to develop
  for a well known and commercially important
  embedded system (WindowsCE).
• The skills developed will be transferable to
  other similar architectures including mobile
  phones.
• You will, of course, expand your job prospects by
  exposing yourself to C (Microsoft Visual C to
  boot).
• You will also learn about programming for
  wireless systems another up and coming
  commercial area.
• Secondly you should view the module as a chance
  to create some fun applications.

14
What will we do? Computer Games Software
Engineering
Lecture Content (C, game design,
collaborative games)
Your Previously Acquired Skills (programming,
group work)
Your Own Learningand Imagination! (extra
reading, brainstorming)
Coursework Assessment (50)
Exam Assessment (50)

• Well look at general game programming issues as
  well as mobile game programming in particular.
• Based on what you learn in the lectures and the
  early practical sessions you will design, and do
  your best to implement, a game for the
  coursework. Youll then be further assessed on
  your understanding in an exam.

15
Lectures, handouts reading Computer Games
Software Engineering

• All lectures will take place in F27 on Wed from
  10-12.00.
• Each week you will receive printed handouts of my
  slides. These will also be available as PDFs from
  the module homepage on the SoC Server (not
  WebCT).
• All tutorial (practical) materials will be made
  available online in C6 and also on the SoC
  webpage.
• Each week, in either lecture or tutorial, I will
  guide you towards further reading material
  usually this will be in the form of online
  articles or web pages.
• There are no compulsory purchases of books but
  there is some extra reading material listed on
  the homepage.

See http//www.soc.napier.ac.uk/module/op/onemod
ule/moduleid/CO42032/
16
Overview of development env. Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Well be developing games for Microsoft Pocket
  PC 2003 PDAs. We have approximately 20 Dell Axim
  X5 PDAs each with a wireless network card.
• Well be using Microsoft eMbedded Visual Tools
  4.0 C and Microsofts Pocket PC 2003 SDK to
  develop applications that will run on the PDAs.
• Well use the third party graphics/game API
  GapiDraw.
• Well use the PCs in C6 to run the development
  environment. The PDAs connect to the PCs via a
  USB cradle and a piece of MS software called
  ActiveSync.

Microsoft have indicated that they are dropping
the phrase Pocket PC 2003 in favour of Windows
Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PC.
17
Overview of development env. Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Microsoft are continually changing licensing and
  availability of their products. eMbedded Visual
  Tools used to include Visual Basic but is now
  just Visual C.
• It seems likely in future that you will have to
  buy Visual Studio .NET to develop for mobile
  devices.
• Currently, however, All of the software that we
  are using for this module is available free of
  charge for download from either Microsoft or
  gapidraw.com or Opentrek.com. I can also lend
  you a CD.
• You wont have access to the PDAs outside of lab
  time but eMbedded Visual Tools comes with an
  emulator (pictured).

18
Whats the format of the labs? Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Well be using the lab in C6 at Merchiston. This
  room has 18 workstations in it.
• The machines are deliberately low specification
  and, critically, are not connected to the
  University network.
• Four slots have been timetabled. Please attend
  your own slot, and when you turn up find a seat.
  The PDAs and the USB cradles will be issued at
  the start, and collected in at the end, of each
  session.
• The PDAs are not particularly bombproof be very
  careful with them especially when re-seating them
  in the cradle and when touching the screen at any
  time.
• Any abuse/misuse of the devices will not be
  tolerated.

19
Module timetable Computer Games Software
Engineering
20
Format of the Assessments Computer Games
Software Engineering

• There are two assessments a piece of coursework
  to be issued in Week 3 and submitted in Week 10
  and an exam at the end of the semester.
• The coursework will consist of the design, build,
  evaluation and documentation of a small prototype
  game. Extra marks will be available for making
  your games multi-user (i.e. networked) or any
  other advanced aspects.
• This is an individual assignment though I
  encourage you to work in pairs in the practicals.
  There are two good reasons for working in pairs
  (i) you might be creating collaborative software
  so it makes sense to use a partner to test your
  applications, and (ii) you need the practice of
  working with each other (believe me).

21
Getting started in the labs Computer Games
Software Engineering

• We only have 9 weeks of timetabled labs. Because
  of the class size we only have 1 hour in the lab
  per week.
• Because of this you must turn up to the labs and
  turn up promptly. When you turn up I will assign
  you a PDA and USB cradle. Youll need to plug
  these in to the PC yourself.
• First plug the USB connector into the PC (either
  USB port will do).
• Then seat the PDA in the cradle.
• Power up the cradle, and the PC will recognise
  the device and start up ActiveSync always
  select a Guest Partnership if prompted.

22
Getting started in the labs Computer Games
Software Engineering

• Once ActiveSync has started just leave it
  running on the desktop youll occasionally use
  it to transfer or delete files to/from the PDA .
  Clicking on the Explore icon allows you to
  browse the PDA file structure.
• Click on the icon.
• This shows the root (\) directory this is
  where allyour programs will resideas well as
  any supporting files (images, dlls).

23
Getting started in the labs Computer Games
Software Engineering

• In the first lab session you should have a play
  with the basic operation of the PDA via its
  Pocket PC 2003 OS.
• In fact, youll not use PPC much other than for
  launching your compiled programs (though this
  can also be done via the eVC interface on the
  PC).
• Take the PDA off its cradle and work out how to
  browse the files in the root directory (via
  Start, Programs, File Explorer).
• When you plonk the PDA back in its cradle
  ActiveSync most likely will restart and ask you
  once again to set up a Guest Partnership.

24
Dell Axim X5 detailsComputer Games Software
Engineering
Our Axims are standard devices but have been
configured with TrueMobile CF wireless LAN cards.
Each one has been configured with a device name
(of form axim_XX) and has a copy of the freeware
Pocket Console software as well as the GapiDraw
DLL in the root directory.
Do not install any software other than your own
developed applications on the PDAs.
25
The Intel XScale ProcessorComputer Games
Software Engineering

• The Dell Axim X5 was launched at the end of 2002.
• It has 64MBytes of RAM, and 48MBytes of ROM, a
  3.5inch 240x320, 16bit (65,356 colors) TFT
  screen, and a 400MHz Intel XScale processor.
• XScale is the name of Intel's latest technology
  for its handheld processors. XScale is the
  latest in a long line of ARM chips first
  developed by Acorn (late 1980s) but bought by
  Intel a few years ago.
• ARM stands for "Advanced RISC Machine", whilst
  RISC stands for "Reduced Instruction Set
  Computer".
• XScale chips are specifically designed for
  embedded, wireless and handheld devices and
  features what Intel call Personal Internet Client
  Architecture (Intel PCA).

26
Developing for PPC 2003Computer Games Software
Engineering

• Microsoft used to supply free versions of both
  Visual Basic and C for developing for Pocket PC
  2002 wrapped up as a product called eMbedded
  Visual Tools 3.0.
• For Pocket PC 2003 only C is available for free
  (named eMbedded Visual C 4.0). This seems to be
  because MS want us to buy full blown copies of
  Windows Visual Studio .NET which allow developers
  to create applications in C, C and VB for
  devices running all manner of Windows OSs
  (including XP, Pocket PC and SmartPhone).
• Pocket PC is in fact an example of a special
  purpose OS based on the generic Windows CE
  software platform. SmartPhone is another example
  of this. Pocket PC 2003 is based on Windows CE
  .NET (Windows CE 4.2).

27
Developing using eVC4.0Computer Games Software
Engineering

• To the developer, the IDE for eVC looks pretty
  much like Visual C. You must create projects
  (and, by default, workspaces) in order to create
  applications.
• To create a new application for this module you
  must run eVC, then create a new, empty, WCE
  Pocket PC 2003 application from the new project
  wizard. This creates all the configuration files
  necessary for the project.
• You then add your C source file(s), link to any
  resources (images etc.), point the
  compiler/linker to any extra APIs (header files,
  library files etc) that you might be using and
  then make your application.
• eVC can create either Debug or Release
  executables, and and also use different
  configurations or target platforms.

28
Developing using EVC4.0Computer Games Software
Engineering
In the first tutorial I expect you to compile and
run your first Pocket PC 2003 application. This
will be the usual Hello World job. If you compile
for the PDA device then eVC automatically
downloads the executable to the PDA via the USB
cradle. You can even run it from the eVC Build
menu.
29
Extra Reading for this week Computer Games
Software Engineering
Well be using the GapiDraw API (and perhaps
later the OpenTrek API) developed by the Future
Applications Lab at the Viktoria Institute in
Sweden. You should take a look at the website for
this software at www.gapidraw.com note that the
latest version is newer than the one well
use. Additionally, you should read some of the
publications regarding this software. For
instance-

• Johan Sanneblad and Lars Erik Holmquist
  Designing Collaborative Games on Handheld
  Computers SIGGRAPH 2003 Sketches and
  Applications. http//www.viktoria.se/fal/publicati
  ons/2003/siggraph2003-collgames.pdf
• Johan Sanneblad and Lars Erik Holmquist
  OpenTrek A Platform for Developing Interactive
  Networked Games on Mobile Devices, Proceedings of
  Mobile HCI 2003, Fifth International Symposium on
  Human Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices
  and Services, Springer. http//www.viktoria.se/fal
  /publications/2003/mobilehci2003-opentrek.pdf