This document discusses the components and elements of computer games. It outlines key game components such as objectives, gameplay theme, player characters, non-player characters, sound, feedback, rewards, physics, and visuals. It then discusses the components of a simple game including players, play area, scoring, controls, and non-player characters. An example of the simple game Bejeweled is provided. Finally, it outlines the components of a complex game and discusses game rules, consistency, and how a game engine coordinates the various game components.

1. Unit 14 Deconstructing Computer
Games
Game Elements

2. Game Components
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Objectives
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Gameplay Theme
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How the non player characters react e.g. enemy soldiers in Call Of Duty
Physics
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Collecting treasure in Zelda
AI
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Reaction to interactions, e.g. glass breaking when shot, vibrations in controllers when shot
Rewards
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Action sounds, background sounds, speech, sound for rewards/achievements
Feedback
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Halo, Bioshock – revealed as you play the game
Sound
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Enemy soldiers in Call of Duty
Story
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Mario in Mario Sunshine
Non Player Characters
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FPS, adventure, platform, roleplay, action
Player Characters
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The main goals of the game, the tasks you have to achieve
Weather, Character Movement, Explosions
Visuals
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Quality of Graphics, realism of characters and environments

3. Components of a Simple Game
• A simple game consists of several key
elements:
– Players
– Play area
– Scoring
– Controls
– Non player characters
• Bejewelled demo

4. Example: Bejewelled
• Bejewelled
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Playing area
Jewels
Score display
Controller
• Rules
– Define possible actions of player
– Players move the controller up/down/left/right and press a button
to position jewels
– Determine how you score points e.g. line up jewels in groups of
at least three
– Rules apply to all players
– Must be made clear and understandable for all players
– Rules are set and remain constant throughout the game

5. Components of a complex game
• A more complex game consists of:
– Objectives
– Story
– Sounds
– Feedback
– Rewards/achievements
– Game play theme
• Kameo

6. Game Rules
• The game is governed by sets of rules
– Player rules
• What your character can do
– Non player rules (AI)
• How non player characters react to you and their
environment
– Design rules (weather, environment, objects)
• How do the objects react within the environment
– Consistency
• Rules will be consistent throughout game play

7. Game Engine
• How are game components created and
coordinated in games
– Through the use of a game engine which usually
consists of:
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AI Engine
Physics Engine
Graphics Engine
Control
Networking Tools
– Game engines can be 2D, 3D or genre specific
– A game or game engine can be coded from scratch