ICT Lesson 2 Gaming

designer-centric games

A game build focused on the design process; often a commercial failure

designer-driven games

A game build showcasing the artistic and programming skills of the game designer

Flow chart

A graphical diagrams that show the steps or decision process contained in an algorithm. It includes different symbols to represent the purpose or process of a particular step.

Programmer

A person who writes instructions as a series of statements using the code and syntax of a programming language.

Runtime error

A piece of code cannot be loaded or contains an error that causes the program to stop and it happens while the program is running.

Computer

A programmable machine that can receive, process, store, and display information.

Sequential

A programming structure that directs the computer to follow a list of instructions in order, one by one, from top to bottom.

Selection

A programming structure that directs the computer to make a choice between alternative conditions. This includes the if/else statement.

Repetition

A programming structure that directs the computer to repeat a set of instructions, called a loop, until some condition is met. This includes the while, do/while and for statements. Also referred to as iteration structure or looping structure.

Algorithm

A set of step-by-step instructions that must be executed in order to solve a problem or perform a task.

Logic error

An error that causes the program to produce unexpected results. It can be difficult to identify because the program will run, but does not behave as expected.

Syntax error

An error that is found by the compiler of the computer because it does not understand or recognize the code as typed. It will not allow the program to run.

player-centric design

Game built focused on what the player wants to experience in the game

provider economy

How the game manufacturer obtains money for its games and services

market-drive design

Making a game based on research of what the target market is looking to buy

game addict

People who cannot stop playing games

casual gamer

Player that plays infrequently when he or she has free time

avatar

Player's online persona represented in a game

core gamer

Players that play frequently and actively devote time to playing games

community

Social structure in which people share and exchange ideas

Logic statements

Specific code in which the flow of the program is controlled by a combination of IF, THEN/ELSE

Pseudocode

The details of an algorithm's steps written in plain text using short phrases. It is used to review the project outline before writing in programming code.

Syntax

The rules of the structure, symbols, and words that make up a programming language.

Computer Science

The study of the design and function of computers, including both hardware and software.

Debug

To locate and correct errors in a computer program through testing.