Casual Game Engines Whats Up With That David

Casual Game Engines What’s Up With That? David Fox VP Technology, i. Win dfox@iwin. com

Why Lil’ Ol’ Me? � i. Win As Web Developer • Java Applets • Flash � i. Win As Downloadable Developer • Homegrown Framework: SDL/Direct. X • Flash • PC/Mac • Multiplayer � i. Win As Publisher • Popcap • Blitz. Basic • Torque 3 D • Orbital

A Buncha Technologies �Flash �Shockwave �Silverlite �Java �C# �C++ �Basic �Delphi

A Fistful of Frameworks �Blitz. Basic �Vir. Tools �Torque �Dark. BASIC �Playground SDK �Pop. Cap Framework �SDL �Direct. X

In 20 Minutes! �Yeah, Right.

WHAT METAPHOR?

Cars?

Direct. X/SDL

Pop. Cap

Playground SDK

Java

Unreal Engine

Celebrities?

Flash

Torque

C#

Python

Found It!

Literary Theories! �Formalism == C# �Post-Structuralism == C++ �Marxism/Feminism == Flash �New Historicism == Blitz. BASIC �Deconstructionism == Direct. X �Psychoanalysis == Java

HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS

Flash CS 3 �$700 �Vector-Based �Movie clips and timelines (Visual OOP) �MP 3 support, embedded markers, etc. �Action. Script (like Java. Script) �Flash 8 improved math/rendering speed �Window, Mac, Linux, Mobile Phones, PDAs, all Browsers �Artist-Friendly �“Real” Programmers Rare/Expensive

Flash Gotchas �Great Prototype Tool �Horrible GUI for Coding (use Eclipse) �Painful Debugging �Must write C++ wrapper for EXE • • • Fullscreen Support Right click handling Logs Support for other graphic/audio formats Writing to disk

Flash Tricks �Embed flash in C++ using f-in-box

Flash

Director/Shockwave �$1, 200 �Lingo or Java. Script/ ECMAScript �Good for Downloadable (Windows/Mac) �OK for Web Games – Poor Penetration �Good 2 D sprite manipulation �Strong audio support (streaming, panning, embedded markers, etc. ) �Real time 3 D (Shockwave 3 D) �Havok physics engine �Flash support �Can expand with C++ XTras

Silverlight �Web-focused �Runs atop Visual Studio 2008 �AJAX, VB, C#, Python, Ruby �Cross-browser/platform (but Windows focused) �Poor penetration �Unproven

Java �Highly portable (Any browser, PC, Mac, Linux, Mobile) �< 90% browser penetration �Version headaches �Desktop use requires large JDK download. �Poor 2 D library �Java 3 D API �Can be work w/ C++ using JNI

C# C++-like Language w/Java Features Microsoft’s Visual Studio Huge. NET Runtime Download (19 MB) Vista/XP Focus

XNA Game Studio 2. 0 Express is Free For students, hobbyists, indies. Based on Visual C# Express 2005 Windows (XP SP 2 only) and Xbox 360

BASIC/Delphi/Other… �BASIC �Delphi �Phython and Phy. Game �PHP �… �Assembly Language

C++ �Many seasoned programmers out there �Need to be a “serious” coder �Fast, flexible, robust �Best IDE: Visual Studio 2008 �Many cheap/free frameworks �Won’t work in browser (except Active. X)

Majority of Hits Are C++

But Not All… (Director!)

Frameworks Vary *Based on 50 of the best selling games in Real Arcade from 2004 -2006

ENTER THE MATRIX

The Basics �Deal with Mouse/Keyboard Input �Draw Animated Sprites �Write Text With Fonts �Play Music and Sound FX �Resource Loading

“Hard” Features Matrix �Price (Upfront + License) �Runtime Performance �Min Sys Reqs �Size �Dev Support and Documentation �Vista Support �Unicode Support �Cross Platform (Mac, XBLA, Mobile) �Localization Tools �Other Tools

“Medium” Features Matrix � 3 D Acceleration �Vector Support �Flash Support � 3 D Model Support �Scalable Fonts �Multiplayer �Scripting Languages �Particle Systems �Encryption or Obfuscation of Assets

“Soft” Features Matrix � � � Learning Curve Known Bugs Custom Coding Required Different Game Genre Support Performance of Your Game Proven?

THE FRAMEWORKS

Blitz. Max �$80 �Basic/C Hybrid (Arrays, Pointers, OOP) �Windows/Mac/Linux �Modular Design �Own IDE/Debugger �Open. GL Support �Lots of Source Code �Also Blitz 3 D �Good for Beginners

Torque Game Builder 1. 7 �$100 �Hardware Accel Scene. Graph Driven �Parallax Scrolling / Layers / Camera �Advanced Physics/Collision System �Tools Up the Wazoo • Tile Editor • Link. Point Editor / Collision Polygon Editor • Particle Editor • GUI Editor • Level Editor �Windows, Linux, or Mac OSX �Multiplayer with Torque. Net Lite �Script in Torque. Script (TGE)

Playground SDK �Free! �Diner. Dash 2 (& Other Play. First Games) �Easy-to-use, Developer Friendly API �Hardware Acceleration / 3 D / Flash �Particle System �Lua Script Support �Cross-Platform (Mac, Web) �Powerful Localization �Compact Runtime �Documentation / Community Support

Sexy Framework � Free (Just credit Popcap) � Used In: Bejewelled, Zuma, etc. � Direct. X 5. 0 � Windows Only (98 to Vista) � FMOD and BASS sound engines. � Hardware Acceleration Option � Easy Image Manipulation � “Widget” Metaphor � Memory Leak / Smart Pointers � Performance Profiling Routines � Sample Apps

Home Grown SDL �Free cross-platform multi-media development API �Graphics / Video Control �Input / Events �Audio / CD-ROM audio �Threads �Timers �Win 32/Linux/Be. OS/~Mac. OS

Home Grown Direct. X �Versions • • 5. 0 to 10. 0 Features Vs. Penetration Win 98/Me = DX 7. 0 XP = DX 8. 0 My Advice? Stick to 7. 0 or 8. 0 �Well-Tested �Code Your Way

THE BOTTOM LINE

Framework Doesn’t Matter! (Almost)

Know Your Purpose �Prototyping? �Web Only? �Mobile Only? �Full Cross-Platform Play?

Know Your Game �This ain’t rocket science. • Polygons? Frames Per Second? Resolutions? • Polymorphic 3 D surround sound? • Gesture based vibrating controller? �Publishers �Players �For (usually) don’t care won’t know (unless they can’t play) 2 D puzzle game, easy switching cost

Good Framework If… �Programmers ain’t bitching. �Artists don’t have to code. �Designers can find fun fast. �Biz team can maximize profits.

My Recommendation � 2 D Downloadable Game? Don’t roll your own! �Bugs are inevitable: • Proven || Strong_Support || Open_Source �Easy to get started. �No special knowledge. �Easy to expand write tools.

Take a Picture Now! Casual Games SIG/Whitepaper/Technology http: //www. igda. org/wiki/Casual_Games_SIG/Whitepaper/Technology Development Platforms for Casual Games By Phil Steinmeyer http: //www. gamasutra. com/features/20050324/steinmeyer_pfv. htm What About Flash? Can We Really Make Games With It? By Scott Bilas http: //www. drizzle. com/~scottb/gdc/flash-paper. htm Casual Games Technology Survey By James Smith http: //www. igda. org/casual/quarterly/2_1/index. php? id=8 Technology Face-Off Panel from Last Year’s Summit http: //www. casualgamessummit. com/presentations. html

G’luck! �Want the Matrix or Links? • See Handout! • e-mail me at dfox@iwin. com • www. casualgamessummit. com • Casual Games Whitepaper