Another year of computer games programming!

So it's our second year in studying computer games programming at Derby University and it looks like we all have a busy year ahead of us. I'm pretty excited about what were going to be studying this year as well as a little scared. I’ve been told we'll be looking at using some DirectX, OpenGL, C, C++, Java and MIPS assembly code this year, should be fun! The modules we have this year are as follows..

• Introduction to 3D Graphics Programming
• Interactive 3D Graphics Programming
• Console Development
• Game Development Techniques
• Applied Game Development
• Mobile Devices

Introduction to 3D Graphics Programming

The first week in the Introduction to 3D Graphics Programming module we had a look at some Windows API programming. We had a look at the general structure Windows programs go through whilst they are running, which is basically just a while loop with several must have functions that are called. Once we got familiarized with its structure, we began researching some GDI+ which is just a set of functions and libraries that allow us to enable simple graphics in our Windows programs. With this research we were expected to program a simple paint program as homework for the week. I didn't spend as much time as I’d of liked to on this program, however I think it’s probably still up there with the likes of Photoshop CS4. ;)

Game Development Techniques

Recently in GDT we have just been going over time management for our game projects, as well as tweaking our game design documents (which we should have done over the summer) for the Famous Five game we will be working on through the entire module. We will be using the Unreal game engine (UnrealEd) to develop this game, and basing it around Enid Blyton’s Famous Five Intellectual Property is compulsory. ¬_¬

The Famous Five game i'll be developing will be based on the book/episode "Five Go Off To Camp" which is all about 'spook trains', it's really good.

We haven't actually started developing anything in the UnrealEd yet for our game projects, however we have all been given a group project task this week.We are all expected to work as a team to produce a level of our group choice, which was the inside of the Red Dwarf starship. In our group we were divided into smaller teams of five, each with its own team leader. My group was assigned the task of creating the entertainment area of the Red Dwarf starship. It has now been my task this week to create the CopaCabana Cocktail Bar which forms part of the entertainment area of the level. I have provided a screenshot of what iv done so far in the below, and yes i know it's hardly a masterpeice.

Console Development

The introduction to Console Development last week was pretty interesting and fun. We were all put into teams of four and then randomly given games consoles to open up and investigate. The consoles handed out ranged from the Atari's Jaguar all the way to the likes of Sony's Playstation 2 and Microsoft's XBOX. The team I was apart of got given the Nintendo Entertainment System to open up and investigate, yes I was a little gutted not getting the XBOX or Playstation 2, but still enthused about opening up a Nintendo console!

Turns out opening up a Nintendo Entertainment System really isn't as easy as it seemed, took our team at least 15 minutes to remove about 8 screws? Was embarrassing. Once we all had our consoles opened up, we were all expected to get the details of the hardware and research a little behind the workings of the consoles. We also took pictures of the hardware parts, as it was necessary for the presentations we had to put together and present.