User:CSStudent24/sandbox

Video Games: a Georgia Tech Project (Spring 2023—ENGL 1102-B3)

Introduction

This Wikipedia page is created by the group Unity. This group's key contributors consist of Mason Graham, Myles Graham, Daniel Bataillon, and Fred Paul Bagatskis. You might have heard of popular games such as Destiny, Spiderman, and Assassin's Creed. You also may have heard of characters like Mario Jumpman and Sonic the Hedgehog. This wiki page will examine video game development, and the effect video games have on people. The video game industry is a growing global industry and a big one at that. Because of this, there is a lot of information people might not know regarding the industry. Our wiki site sets out to fix this issue and to correct any misconceptions people have about video games. Our page will also discuss: different terms used in the field, specifically, terms that might be thrown around commonly and one might have heard of it, but not know what it means,  current scholarly articles about the topic, significant platforms and programs that relate to the matter, such as machines used to play video games on and software used to create video games,  and multiple ways that society and culture may interact with the subject. The site might grow in the future in several different ways. The video game community is constantly evolving as new consoles and ways to play come out. In the future virtual reality and augmented reality might become more common due to better systems and games available. This site could implement those developments to stay up to date on the most popular forms of gaming. Right now, gaming is still a leisure activity, but in the future, it might become something more than that with what Meta is trying to do. There might be a world marketplace and hangout zone through AR or VR soon. This would revolutionize gaming and the industry as it would no longer be about playing games but would rather be about a new way to live, work, and consume. There are also a couple of holes in this site that could be expanded upon. This site talks about the modern version of gaming and talks nothing of its past. Gaming has been around for decades, first appearing in the form of old arcade games and simple visual computer programs. Over time, gaming has evolved in many different ways; platforms have moved towards providing a more immersive experience to try to make games more realistic. Modern gaming would not be what it is today without the roots of its earlier models, and this is something that could have been explored in the site. However, this site also acknowledges that the roots of modern gaming trace back to earlier models such as arcade games and visual computer programs. As the site evolves, there is room for improvement to include a more comprehensive exploration of gaming's rich history, recognizing the foundations on which the modern gaming industry stands. In conclusion, the Unity group's wiki site strives to be a valuable and trusted resource for gamers, developers, and enthusiasts alike, providing comprehensive and up-to-date information on video games. With a commitment to accuracy and a passion for gaming, this site aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the video game industry, what it stands for, and its impact on society and culture, and all gamers alike. In conclusion, the Wikipedia page created by Unity, with key contributors Mason Graham, Myles Graham, Daniel Bataillon, and Fred Paul Bagatskis, aims to provide valuable information about video game development and its impact on society. The page discusses common industry terms, current scholarly articles, significant platforms and programs, and the interaction between society and video games. It also acknowledges the evolution of gaming from its early roots in arcade games and visual computer programs to the immersive experiences of modern gaming. Again, it is of paramount importance to note that there is room for expansion to include a more comprehensive exploration of gaming's rich history and the foundations on which the industry stands. As the video game industry continues to grow and evolve, the Wikipedia page can keep up with the up and coming, latest developments, such as virtual reality and augmented reality (VR and AR) which may become more known and used in the future.

Additionally, the page could be expanded to include a more in-depth analysis of the history of gaming, recognizing the contributions of earlier models and platforms that have paved the way for modern gaming. By providing a holistic perspective on the industry's past, present, and future, the Wikipedia page can become a comprehensive resource for those seeking knowledge about video game development and its societal effects. In conclusion, the Unity Wikipedia page serves as a valuable source of information for understanding the intricacies of the video game industry, and with ongoing updates and expansion, it can continue to educate and inform readers about this growing global phenomenon.

Peer Reviewed Articles

Action Video Games Make Dyslexic Children Read Better - A study was done to see if action video games provided more of an improvement in dyslexic children's reading ability than non-action video games. As seen in this video: Game Facts: Video Games Help Dyslexic Children Read Better, it is seen that video games in general improve dyslexic children's abilities. In the experiment, they had children play either action video games or non-action video games for an extended period of time. They then measured the children's ability to read and found that reading speeds in the AVG group increased without a cost on accuracy whereas the NAVG group did not increase. Aside from just reading capabilities, the AVG group's spatial and temporal attention also improved after playing video games for the time period. The study was conducted as a way to find a fun remedy to dyslexia in children in an effort to improve their processing speeds and reading capabilities.

Role of Video Games in Improving Health-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Review - Video games have been proven through several studies to have various health benefits. For example, video games were cited to improve psychological and physical therapy outcomes, health education, and pain distraction. People from all kinds of backgrounds enjoy video games and receive these health benefits. In fact, the study supported the idea that users aged 30-50 years old can benefit the most from these outcomes. As widespread and popular as video games are, If they can actually provide these health benefits to users, then they could become one of the most widely used remedies. The gaming industry is still very new and constantly developing which could mean that in the future these health benefits can be more profound and evident. The study does call for further investigation in the topic, specifically with improved studies and careful attention to quality.

The Effects of Video Game Violence on Children: A Review of the Literature - This peer-reviewed article presents a comprehensive review of the research on the effects of video game violence on children. The authors actively discuss and analyze studies that have investigated the connections between video game violence and aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence, and other negative outcomes. They conclude that there is a clear and consistent relationship between exposure to violent video games and increased aggressive behavior in children. They argue that this relationship is like this because violent video games teach and reinforce aggressive behaviors, and that parents and educators should be aware of these potentially harmful effects and take steps to limit children's exposure to violent video games.

A video of a developer developing a video game in Unity.

Game Development: A Review of the Development Process of a Modern Video Game - Another peer-reviewed article related to video game development is "Game Development: A Review of the Development Process of a Modern Video Game" by Robert Brown and Richard E. Blum. Published in the Journal of Information Systems Education in 2016, the article provides an interesting oversight of the game development stages and the various roles involved in creating a successful video game. The authors also discuss the challenges and benefits that come with modern game development, including the use of new technologies and the importance of balancing creative vision with equally developing technical constraints. So, overall, the article offers valuable insights into the complex and developing world of video game development and what its future may look like.

Video Games in Education - This article (“Video Games in Education”) sought to find if video games could provide a framework to increase the potency education has on young minds. The article states that the author does believe it could be true. The article goes on to list different genres of video games and the potential use implementing ideas from these games could have in an educational setting. Such as simulations and strategy games, the author says that these games can manipulate otherwise unalterable variables. For example, with simulations of natural systems such as SimEarth, learners can observe the effects of changing the globe's oxygen levels or raising the global temperature. It can also enable students to view phenomena from new perspectives. For example, In the simulation Hidden Agenda, learners can assume the position of a president in a Central American country, learning about economics, history, politics, sociology, and culture in the process. The article then goes on to address concerns about making “screen children”. The author responds that there is no research that proves that video games of itself have adverse effects on children.

Reevaluating the Impact of Video Games - In this article, (Reevaluating the Impact of Video Games), the author surveys middle-class seventh and eight grade students. The author asks these students where they play video games and what type of video games they play. The survey result state that approximately two-thirds of girls played video games at least one to two hours per week at home, and 20% played in arcades. The survey also finds that around 90% of boys played video games at there homes and about 50%played  in arcades. About half of the preferred games of the students were from one of two categories of violent games, while only 2% of preferred games were educational. The author then goes on to state that parent education about the influence of the media should include recommendations to monitor their child’s game playing, game playing time, and influence their game selection. Also that the effect video games may have on children must be studied more.

The role of visual working memory capacity in attention capture among video game players - A study was done to determine whether action video game players would be hard to distract with salient or obvious distractors, and if so, if it was due to greater visual working memory capacity. This came about from the contrast of previous studies done before this. Some studies stated that action video game players were less likely to get their attention captured by distractors than non-players. Other studies showed that people with greater visual working memory capacity were less likely to get distracted than people with lower visual working memory capacity. In the main study, participants answered a questionnaire about their past gaming experiences and completed a color change detection task in order to determine their visual working memory capacity. Then, they completed an attention capture task where they had to determine the orientation of a bar while trying not to be distracted by a color distractor that appeared in half of the trials. Results show that action video game players are not less likely to get distracted than non-players. They also show that individuals with greater visual working memory capacity are less likely to get distracted than ones with lower visual working memory capacity.

Music for a Boss Fight: Creating for the Context of Video Game Worlds - Making students create music increases their engagement, and draws on their background knowledge. Even more so, if the teacher tells the students to make music for a video game world, the teacher can build on the students’ previous knowledge and connect it to music. A study was done with 4th graders to create video game music. The reason why the teacher chose video game music was because Critical Race Theory proposes that students learn best when their cultural knowledge is valued. This means that teaching with knowledge from the students’ culture or experiences will help them learn more. The students in the class created music for 3 different video game situations: a boss fight, being in a cave or underground, and exploring. First, the class determined which type of sounds go with each situation. They determined that aggressive music should go with a boss fight situation and slower, softer sounds should go with the cave situation. Next, the students worked to create music ideas for the different contexts. For example, some students used rhythm cards to determine the rhythm of the drums during the boss fight. By separating different types of learners in this activity, the teacher taught the kids music without being in a chaotic environment and used the knowledge that the kids have direct experiences with.

Pertinent Platforms

PS4 Console with its revamped controller

PlayStation - The PlayStation console line is a line created by Sony with five different versions going from the original PS1 to the most recent PS5. The first console came out in 1994 and was a huge success for the company, spurring them on to become a global leader in the market. PlayStation consoles were one of the first consoles to give users 3D visuals where 2D was the standard. The PS1 also used CD's to insert games, laying down the foundation for a pattern still used today in the PS5. With the release of the PS4, a new controller was rolled out and introduced dual sticks, a touchpad, and a speaker. Sony released a '"pro" version of the PS4 instead of releasing a new console entirely to help beef up the PS4 to other competition in the market. This pro version brought in 4k gaming for the first time in the line of consoles. Finally, the most recent console is the PS5 which is a huge upgrade due to its SSD with significantly faster reading and writing speeds. The PS5 also introduced a revamp of the PS4 controller with a built-in microphone. The PlayStation line is a favorite to many users and continues to be pertinent to the gaming industry.

Discord - Discord is a platform that is used to communicate, hang out, and share information. It was initially developed with the purpose of communicating with friends around the world while gaming. Its founders had a mutual love for video games and wanted a place that could be used to foster the connections and friendships formed playing them. Discord is an easy-to-use platform that has the ability for group chats, group calls, and even video calls. For the gaming community this is extremely helpful as people from across the world that happened to be playing together could easily have a way to contact each other. For games that have organized communities, usually called clans, discord is a great platform to share information on and coordinate times to play together. Today, discord is used by more than just the gaming community and is useful to many different people. It has grown exponentially from its early days and now there are about 150 million monthly active users that benefit from the platform.

Zotac Firestorm - Zotac Firestorm is a popular overclocking software that is designed for use with Zotac graphics cards. It provides users with a powerful and intuitive interface to tweak and optimize the performance of their graphics cards, allowing them to push their hardware to its limits and achieve higher clock speeds, increased memory speeds, and improved overall performance, all of which can improve a users performance playing games or using other work-related software programs. With Zotac Firestorm, users can adjust all of their graphics parameters such as core clock, memory clock, fan speed, and voltage to actively fine-tune their graphics card settings to their preferred values. The software also provides monitoring of GPU temperatures, clock speeds, and fan speeds, allowing users to keep a close eye on their hardware's performance and temperature levels to avoid overheating or instability issues that may ultimately lead to weaker performance. Overall, Zotac Firestorm is a powerful overclocking software that lets users unlock the full potential of their graphics cards, optimize their gaming experience, and push their hardware to achieve higher performance levels. However, it's important to note that overclocking can potentially void warranties and may increase the risk of hardware damage, so users should exercise caution and follow proper guidelines and precautions when using any overclocking software.

The logo of Linux in 2015

Linux - Linux is a popular open-source operating system that offers a free and customizable alternative to proprietary operating systems like Windows or macOS. It is built on the Linux kernel, developed by Linus Torvalds, and offers a wide range of distributions that cater to different needs and preferences of users and gamers alike. Linux provides a stable, secure, and flexible platform that is used in various applications, including desktop computers, servers, embedded systems, and more. It has a deep community of developers and users who contrirbute to its ongoing development and support, making it a versatile and widely-used operating system in the world of technology. Conversely, it also acts as a prime operating system for game creators alike to code, run, debug, and test their newly created products before releasing them for sale or public use.

The logo of Unreal Engine.

Unreal Engine - Unreal Engine is a free creation tool used for developers to create 3-dimensional video games. Currently, the unreal engine is on its 5th version which is called Unreal Engine 5. Unreal Engine 5 was launched in April 2022 and the first iteration of Unreal Engine was launched in 1998.  As you might be able to tell from the name, there have been Unreal Engines: 4, 3, 2, and 1 in the past. With each iteration of the engine becoming more powerful than the last. Unreal Engine supporters game creation for just about any modern platform you can think of, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch are just a few examples. Some examples of games created with Unreal Engine 5 are Fortnite, The Matrix Awakens, Tomb Raider, and BioShock 4. Unreal Engine's mission is to “enable game developers and creators across industries to realize next-generation real-time 3D content and experiences with greater freedom, fidelity, and flexibility than ever before”.

A Nintendo Swtich console with a detached Joy-Con dock.

Nintendo Switch - The Nintendo Switch is a gaming console created by the company Nintendo. The Nintendo Switch (commonly referred to as “The Switch”) was released in 2017 as the predecessor to Nintendo’s Wii U. The Switch has 3 different ways to engage with it. It has a TV mode where it can be connected to a tv, Tabletop mode, where you place it down and use the attached screen to play your games, and handheld where you can hold the console and play it in your hands. The Switch comes with “Joy-Ccons” which are the detachable controllers for the console. The fact that the controllers are detachable is what allows the Switch to have the handheld mode as well as the 2 other detached modes. The Switch can also connect to the wifi allowing for the console to access streaming services and for players to access multiplayer games. The switch is also very portable because of its small frame and lightweight.

Xbox - Xbox is a video game console system created by Microsoft. The initial Xbox was released in 2001 and competed with Sony’s Playstation 2 and Nintendo’s GameCube.  In 2002, Xbox released Xbox Live, which was an online gaming network that allowed Xbox players to interact and play with each other. This is one of Xbox’s greatest successes, garnering 2 million players to subscribe to the service. Even though it had some superior technological features compared to its competitors and offered many popular games, it was reported that Microsoft lost $4 billion from the Xbox enterprise by 2005. In 2005, Xbox released a new, better console, the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 still competed against Sony and Nintendo and made several drastic changes to keep up in the competition. One of these changes was cutting the price of the Xbox 360 Elite by 25%. This was effective and made the Xbox 360 the most-used game console in America by 2010. In November 2013, Microsoft released the Xbox One, a new console that addressed many of the flaws of the Xbox 360.

The Wii console and Wii remote

Wii - The Wii is an electronic game console made by Nintendo in 2006. Its predecessor is the GameCube. Nintendo decided to not compete with Sony and Microsoft for processing power and graphics. Instead, they released a low-cost console that focused on multiplayer party games. By doing this, they established the largest user base out of all consoles. One thing that made the Wii differ from other consoles was its controller. The Wii controller is a wireless remote that can connect to a joystick, a small steering wheel, and other input devices. They are sensors in the controller and console that allow players to move their character by doing movements in real life instead of just pressing a button. The Wii specialized in group play that is easy enough for inexperienced players to learn but fun enough for experienced players to enjoy. Taking advantage of their motion-based gameplay, the Wii released the Wii Fit in 2007, which is a game that made its players exercise in real life. In 2012, Nintendo released a new console, the Wii U, but it did not become as successful as the initial Wii.

Social/Cultural Ways to Engage

2015 Esports Championship Finals

Esports - Also known as electronic sports, esports are competitions between teams or individuals in a particular game. There are several different popular games, such as Minecraft, Super Smash Bros, and Rocket League, that gamers enjoy competing in. Socially, esports are a way to bring people together for a fun competition, much like regular sports do. Esports can help build a sense of community among players as they compete as a team. It can also help develop social and emotional skills through interactions with teammates. Teams work together to overcome problems and setbacks which helps build perseverance. Esports in schools are increasingly popular and helpful to children. Since a majority of children are already online, esports helps them to come out of their shell and join communities. Kids learn to love esports as they get to do something enjoyable while also having the chance to play with other team members that they would otherwise not get to meet.

Apex Legends is an example of a game with several ethnically different characters.

Ethnically different in-game characters - Culturally, games are very diverse in the ethnic backgrounds of their characters which brings a number of benefits to the gaming industry. Creating characters of various backgrounds helps bring members of that community together to enjoy the game while also spreading that culture to others. This sharing of culture helps facilitate a better understanding between individuals who are different and fosters a connection between them. Game developers try to make their characters three-dimensional so that players can connect with them and feel attached. Games that have a wide variety of ethnicities in their character base encourage the celebration of culture and the importance of being proud of yourself. An example of a game that provides different ethnic characters is Apex Legends. There are several different characters that users can pick to play as, each of them having a backstory and personality. Each character is also different ethnically and culturally, so the game provides representation of many different cultures.

The logo of twitch.

Twitch - Creators on Twitch, a popular live streaming platform, engage socially with their audience in various ways to foster a sense of community and connection. When streaming on Twitch, creators can often interact with their viewers in real-time through a chat feature, allowing them to respond to comments, questions, and messages from their audience. This two-way communication enables creators to connect and engage with their viewers, build relationships, and create a sense of commurnity around their content. In addition to chat interactions, Twitch creators may also engage with their audience through other means, such as using webcams to show their faces, using voice chat to talk with viewers, or adding interactive elements like polls or Q&A sessions during their streams. Creators may also utilize social media platforms, such as Twitter or Discord, to connect with their audience outside of Twitch and share updates, announcements, and behind-the-scenes insights as a means of further active engagement. These social interactions on Twitch create a unique and interactive experience for creators and viewers alike, fostering a strong sense of community, and building meaningful connections between creators and their audience.

People playing just dance at a gaming convention in 2015.

Gaming Conventions - Gaming conventions are events where people who enjoy video games can come together to celebrate their passion for gaming. These conventrions typically offer various activities such as game demos, tournaments, cosplay contests, panel discussions, and meetups with fellow gamers. Attendees can immerse themselves in the gaming culture, try out new games, meet game developers, interact with other like-minded individuals, and participate in exciting gaming-related activities. Gaming conventions provide a fun and social environment for gamers to connect, share their experiences, and enjoy a sense of community with fellow gaming enthusiasts and all others alike.

Party Games - Party Games are a concept essential to the makings of a great hangout. Games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey and musical chairs have brought laughter and smiles to many parties. Now there are party video games to liven up any gathering. Party games in video games are games that usually support 4 to 16 players at a time (depending on the game). The party games will have different mini-games, that players can either compete in or work together to complete. Usually, these games are played through LAN although someone can be played completely online. The commonly believed first-party video game was “Olympic Decathlon” which was released in 1980. Today, there are many different party games you can boot up such as Kirby’s Dream Buffet, Mario Party Superstars, and The Jackbox Party Pack Series. If you’re looking to have a party game night, the Nintendo Switch is a great platform for party games.

DLC - DLC stands for Downloadable Content. Downloadable content is content for a game that can be bought and downloaded after a game is bought. Usually, downloadable content is released after a game comes out but sometimes games will add downloadable content to be bought before the game comes out. They will bundle this DLC and the game together for an extra price and call it a Pre Order bonus, or some type of deluxe edition. Downloadable content can come in many forms. For some games, it could be an extra level, in others, it could be a special character. It could also be in-game currency or it could be cosmetics for anything in the game. Recently a lot of DLC has been offered in a “season pass”. Season passes will include all the DLC out for the game currently as well as any future DLC that will be released for the game.

The Little Big Planet station at the Sony Fair in 2008

Educational Games - Education Games are games that are designed to teach certain skills and subjects. These games are mostly made for children and are useful to play both inside and outside of the classroom. Educational games often get confused with game-based learning. The difference between them is that game-based learning is the act of learning information or skills through any game while educational games are developed with the intent of teaching information or skills. Because game-based learning can happen in educational games, educational game is “an umbrella term for both the act of learning and the method of education.” Some examples of educational games are Little Big Planet and Minecraft: Education Edition. A benefit of children playing educational games is developing soft skills. Educational games are a great way for kids to develop skills like critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and collaboration. Educational games also promote adaptive learning and allow kids to develop skills at their own pace. For example, when players easily beat levels in a game, the difficulty of the levels gets more difficult.

In-Game Events - In-game events, also known as limited-time events or live events, are temporary, special events that occur inside a video game. They are an integral part of online games. They used to be rare, interesting occurrences in only the best games but now it is expected out of most games by their customers. In-game events are a major way that video game developers get their players to keep playing their games. Holiday in-game events are common throughout most video games. An example of this is Overwatch releasing Halloween-themed arcade game modes or Fortnite adding a cabin with presents to the lobby in December for Christmas. In-game events can be classified into 2 types: recurring and non-recurring. Recurring events are still temporary, but they come back after a certain period of time. They can be viewed as a core part of the game since they are not only a one-time anomaly. Most holiday events can be called recurring events since you can expect them to occur every year. The second type of in-game events, non-recurring events, are oftentimes more unique. These types of events are more recognized. They are temporary events that garner excitement for a limited time, and after the event, they never occur again.

Glossary

UI (User Interface) - an interface designed to be easy to understand with the intention of being interacted with directly by users. There are several different kinds of UI. A GUI is a graphical user interface which is used for interactions on digital control panels, such as a computer desktop. A VUI is a voice-controlled UI which pertains to programs like Siri or Alexa that are controlled with a user’s voice. One final type of UI is a Gesture-Based Interface that is controlled using motion. This type of interface is most commonly used in virtual reality games. The most important components of a UI is its usability, likability, and if it is enjoyable. Users want tasks done with the least amount of effort possible. UI’s need to be straightforward but also inviting to users to encourage them to continue to use the interface. A key component of UI’s are their ability to streamline tasks and help users navigate otherwise difficult tasks with ease.

Full-Stack Developer - programmer devoted to building entire applications that includes both visual elements and software. Usually these developers are experienced in several different coding languages, such as JavaScript, Python, C++, and HTML, applications, and UI design. These programmers are usually the people who oversee the creation of the project from the very beginning to the end. A typical job for a full-stack developer would include things like fine-tuning previously made projects, optimization of different platforms, API design, and testing usability and functionality of the project. They work alone but tend to consult other engineers, developers, and project managers. Full-Stack developers are required to keep their skillset sharp and constantly broaden what they can do to stay relevant with new breakthroughs and developments in programming. These people must have keen attention to detail to spot small errors, quick problem solving and creativity to work around issues in projects, and communication skills to lead a project team to the completion of their work.

Easter Egg - One term commonly used in video game culture is easter egg, which refers to a hidden message or inside joke intentionally placed within a game by its developers. Easter eggs come in many shapes and forms, such as secret levels, hidden characters, or NSFW references to other games. They are often found through exploration, and can add an extra layer of enjoyment for dedicated players. "Video Game Easter Eggs," published by Lifewire, provides a more detailed definition and contrast of easter eggs in video games and offers examples of some of the most famous easter eggs in gaming history, such as the ones in popular game series such as GTA or Saints Row. The article also explores the history of easter eggs in video games and how they have evolved over time and how they may change in the future because of new technologies.

Modding - One term frequently used in video game discussions is "mod", which stands for modification. In the context of gaming, a mod refers to a user-created addition to a game's content or gameplay, often with the goal of enhancing or expanding the player's experience. Mods can range from small tweaks and cosmetic changes to major changes that completely transform the game and the way it is played. The website Nexus Mods offers a comprehensive database of mods for various video games, along with tools and resources for mod creators and other similar enthusiasts alike. The site also includes forums and community features for mod users to share their experiences and collaborate with others. "Modding", published by PC Gamer, offers a more detailed overview of modding and its impact on the gaming industry. The article explores the history of it and its evolution over time, as well as the challenges and controversies that have arisen around the practice due to its unethical nature at its base.

A hard drive containing 73 gigabytes

Gigabyte - A gigabyte is a unit of data storage equal to one billion bytes. This one billion bytes meaning is the decimal definition of a gigabyte. The giga prefix means 10⁹, according to the International System of Units. The gigabyte also has another definition of 1,073,741,824 as this is the number reflected in binary. To stop any confusion, we call the binary number a gibibyte.  In today’s age, the gigabyte will be outclassed by the terabyte very soon, equal to one trillion bytes, especially for hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). However, the gigabyte is still the most common data storage size. The first-gigabyte hard drive was created in 1980 by IBM and was named the “IBM 3380 HDA” and it cost over $100,000.By 2003, hard drives were holding 150-250 gigabytes in much smaller devices. Today you can buy a gigabyte hard drive for less than a dollar.

Ray Tracing - Ray tracing is a technique for rendering that can simulate realistic lighting for a scene and its objects. It does this by rendering physically on-point reflections, refractions, shadows, and indirect lighting. Ray tracing generates its computer graphics pictures by tracing the path of light will take from the view of the camera, which determines your view into the scene, through the 2D viewing plane, which is also called a pixel plane, out into the 3D scene, and back to the light sources. As it traverses through the scene, the light may reflect from one object to another, (which can cause reflections), be blocked by objects (which can cause shadows), or pass through transparent or semi-transparent objects (which can cause refractions). All of the processes listed above will produce the final image you are shown on your screen. This ray tracing process is chosen because of its efficiency compared to other processes.

This is a template of the concept of vertical slicing

Vertical Slicing - Vertical slicing is the concept of demonstrating a portion of a game to potential investors and stakeholders in order to procure funding for the development of the game. Although this concept is not only used in the video game industry, it is still a significant part of video game development. This portion of the game that developers use as a proof of concept is usually broken down into many layers and each layer is thoroughly reviewed to determine if the game is worth funding. A basic example of this is a software project containing 3 layers: a Data access layer, a Business logic layer, and a User interface layer. Vertical slicing can be summarized as “the sum of the work that has to be done in every layer that is involved in getting a specific feature working.” Vertical slicing is beneficial because it allows investors to get a better full concept of the project due to the in-depth analysis of each layer of the proof of concept.

Porting - In gaming, porting is the process of modifying or converting a game to make it compatible with a platform that is different than its original. An example of this is a PC or computer game getting changed so that it is able to be played on PlayStation. Porting is a beneficial process. A major benefit of it is a stream of profits for a game, even after its initial excitement is gone. For example, GTA V was initially released only on console, but it gained profits after porting to be accessible on computer, even though it was 2 years later and the initial publicity was gone. Although the porting process is very beneficial, it is also very laborious. The first step of the porting process is planning and analyzing. This is because most games aren’t ported by their original developers, so the porters must gather data about the game and analyze it. The second step is coding. This is a long process because porters must directly change parts of the source code to make the game compatible with a different platform. Although this is a long process, it can be shortened if the game was developed in a game engine like Unreal Engine or Unity. The third step in the process is testing. After porting, there are often a lot of bugs in the game so testing and finding these bugs is a necessary step in order to make the game run more smoothly.