Game Development

The development of video games is no longer a task to be undertaken by a single person. In the past, it was possible for an individual to create an entire video game by his or herself. It's still possible for a person to make a game by themselves, but the process in modern game development is so complex, the likeliness anyone would attempt this is low. Due to the technological limitations in graphics and memory, there wasn't much content, which was what allowed individuals to develop a game by themselves. (Moore) Now, however, the content is generally so extensive that if a person were to attempt to build a game by themselves, it could take years longer than if they worked with a team.

Online Gaming's Effect on Culture

 The online interaction factor


Online gaming isn't new, but it has become more prevalent over the past decade. As online gaming grows, there are some implications that should be noted. The rise in online gaming popularity leads to socialization in alternative means, but also allows for people to escape from reality.

'Clan'- or 'guild'-based play has become an accepted (and expected) aspect of multiplayer gaming. Many clans and guilds also have active fan-bases.Clans also allow players to assist each other in simulated combat and quests in game advancement, as well as providing an online family for friendly socializing.

"Home" is where the start is.

Over the years, there have been many button configurations for video game systems.
There was the classic up, down, left, right, 'A' and 'B' that later developed an 'L' and an 'R'.
There was also an 'X', 'Y', 'C' (in four directions and as a stick), and the additional 'L2', 'L3', 'R2' and 'R3'. Some consoles even have buttons without letter associations, simply of a certain color, black or white. In almost every case there are certain buttons we're accustomed to seeing "Start" and "Select".

What these buttons do, however, is generally not what they are called. Not often are "Start" buttons used to actually start a game, nor "Select" used to choose something –although there are still exceptions. A new button has been introduced recently, though. In a way befitting an internet browser, Nintendo has added a "home" button to their latest console's controller and to their next planned hand-held system.

What's the deal with backlighting?

One often unappreciated aspect of technology that benefits users greatly has been the innovation that comes with the usage of back-lit screens.

Playstation Portables feature back-lit screens (image by cthulhu32)

Before the invention of the back-lit screens for handheld or portable devices, people could only play games with ease while travelling if the lighting around them was optimal. Although it was still possible to play games on the go, the difficulty of seeing what was on the screen increased as it got dark, meaning people had to resort to the usage of lights external from the system to make up for the otherwise poor lighting condition.

Processing power: preparing products possessing pervasive prerequisites

How the need for faster processing power has changed, and how it's measured

There has been a recent trend (some three or so years, now) to advance the technological intricacies of computation. Specifically, I am referring to the increase in the processing power of devices. In this 'generation' of game console systems (a term that refers to everything in a game console's production period), there has been a major focus on increasing the raw processing of data. When systems (from computers to game consoles) are capable of processing more data simultaneously, those who make products for these systems are free to make more process-intensive programs.

The Effect of 3d on Modern Culture

Although we live in a three dimensional world, the obsession culture has with entertainment rendered in 3D is astounding. In the past, the idea of there being a third dimension was uninteresting to most people. They simply accepted it as part of what existed, and went on. This, of course, assumed they were even aware of this fundamental fact.

Some things changed, however, when the idea of taking media, such as comics, pictures, film, et al, and bringing them 'to life' in a 3D way. Before we go into what changed this idea, we should have a firm understanding about what makes something appear to be '3D', or to 'pop out' as it may be.