sdip_PUAH

Programming Windows Phone 7 Free ebook

2011-01-28T09:36:00.001+08:00

A free ebook on how to develop games on Phone 7:

Microsoft Press ebook: Programming Windows Phone 7 (Microsoft_Press_ebook_Programming_Windows_Phone_7_PDF.pdf)

How to Develop Java ME Games with Netbeans IDE 6.9.x

2011-01-28T09:31:00.002+08:00

I have created a few tutorials on how to develop Java ME Games using Netbeans IDE 6.9.x.

Its content includes the followings:

(1) Revisions on Java SE:

o MGD01_Lab 01: My First App for Java Application

o MGD01_Lab 02: Data Types and Conversions

o MGD01_Lab 03: Conditions and Loops

(2) Introduction to Java ME:

o MGD01_Lab 04: My First MIDlet for Java ME Application

o MGD01_Lab 05: Packaging and Deployment

(3) Part 1 to 5 Java ME Game Tutorial Series

The game will be completed after going through the following series of lab sheets:

Part 1: MIDlet

Part 2: UI

Part 3: GameAPI

Part 4: Storage

Part 5: MMAPI

Extra: Modify the above game from Pong to Breakout style

(4) Other Java ME tutorials

o MGD04_Lab 01: High level UI

o MGD04_Lab 02: Low level UI

o MGD05_Lab 01: Game API

o MGD08_Lab 01: Optimization

(5) Using Netbeans Visual Mobile Designer and Game Builder to Build Tiled-Based Game Tutorial Series

Series 1:

o MGD09_Lab 01: Using Visual Mobile Designer to create the main form and result form

o MGD09_Lab02: Using game builder to create the sprites, tiled layers and game scene

o MGD09_Lab03: Add the game logic and complete the tiled game

Series 2:

o MGD10_Lab 01: Using Visual Mobile Designer to create the splash screens and main menu

o MGD10_Lab02: Using game builder to create the sprites, tiled layers and game scene

o MGD10_Lab03: Add the game logic and complete the tiled game

Compare C# with Objective C and Java

2011-01-28T09:27:00.001+08:00

A good article that makes the comparison on these three popular object oriented programming languages is available from Microsoft App Hub (formally known as Creators Club for XNA):

Introduction to C# from Objective-C and Java

I have created a blog on learning C# for beginners: Software & Programming Fundamentals

- Programming Basic
- Getting Started - Console Program and Problem Solving
- Windows Forms
- Variables
- Conditional Logic
- Calculator App Dev process
- Loops - for, while, do
- Arrays
- Strings
- Review 1 with answers
- Review 2 with answers
- Revision Exercises on "Loops"
- Events
- Graphics
- Simple Lots Drawing Program (Extra)
- Simple Hangman Program (Extra)
- Flickering in .NET Graphics
- Additional Exercise #1
- Additional Exercise #2
- Full Revision from variables to arrays

[ Classes and OOP ]
- Introduction on Class
- Exercise: Human
- More detail on class
- Properties of class
- OOP
- Performance considerations
- Testing
- Data Driven Unit Testing

Developing Java ME Games using Netbeans IDE 6.9.x

2011-01-26T09:36:00.001+08:00

I have created a new blog on how to develop Java ME games using Netbeans 6.9.x:

http://mpgddmgd.blogspot.com/

XNA tutorials for beginners

2010-05-27T21:52:00.001+08:00

A good site with a series of simple tutorials for XNA:

Game Design Wiki and Document Template

2010-05-27T10:46:00.001+08:00

http://gamedesign.wikicomplete.info/game-design-document

A game design document (or game design doc) serves a dual purpose:

It gives you a chance to solidify your ideas on paper.

It should give a game development team a center where everyone is "on the same page."

http://gamedesign.wikicomplete.info/game-design-document-template

Introduction

In One Sentence

Abstract

Target Audience

Platform

Unique Selling Points

Game Mechanics

Controls

Scoring

Win and Lose Conditions

Level Design

Story

Characters

Visual Style

Game screens

Assets

Audio Style

Narrative and Dialog

Assets

Visual Game Development Language – Microsoft Kudo

2010-05-12T14:18:00.001+08:00

Kodu is a new visual programming language from Microsoft Research. The programming environment runs on the Xbox, allowing rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input.

Check it out => Kodu Videos on YouTube:

http://community.research.microsoft.com/blogs/kodu/archive/2009/08/14/kodu-videos-on-youtube.aspx

Microsoft at CES 2009: Kodu Demo

Softimage Mod Tool and XNA Game Studio integration

2010-03-23T15:16:00.001+08:00

Tools required:

1. Adobe Softimage Mod Tool: Available from XNA Creators Club premium member for free. version 7.5 is still available in the internet, try searching for it.

2. Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3.1.

3. Adobe Crosswalk version 4.1.

Learning videos:

1. Noesis Interactive Free learning videos:

http://www.noesisinteractive.com/xnabot/

2. MSDN:

http://blogs.msdn.com/dawate/archive/2008/02/05/building-a-3d-game-in-xna-from-scratch-free-video-tutorial-series-now-available.aspx

Happy learning.

13 Basic Principals of Gameplay Design

2009-10-10T06:05:00.001+08:00

I came across the above article at Gamasutra. The writer Matt Allmer tried to come up with something like the "12 Principles of Animation" by Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnston (part of the Nine Old Men: The legendary Disney animation crew).

Direction - leading and directing the player's experience:

Focal point
Anticipation
Announce Change

Bahaviour – player’s choice & rewards from choice made:

Believable events and bahaviour
Overlapping events and bahaviour
Physics
Sound

Progression and Pacing

Environment and Spacing

Method in designing challenges – linear or component based

Foundation – the most important gameplay considerations

Player
Communication
Appeal

Deployment of Flash Lite Applications

2009-09-16T16:38:00.001+08:00

With the end in mind, what do we deploy after we complete testing our Flash Lite applications?

If it is a simple application with just one swf file, then copying the file to a Symbian S40/S60 handphone in its default location, the application may just work out of the box. But if the application has more files and does not want to reside in the default location, then we need to deploy the files as NFL for S40 and SIS for S60 (plus signing).

Nokia Flash Packaging Tool

Nokia forum has a online tool just for this purpose:

http://www.forum.nokia.com/Technology_Topics/Web_Technologies/Flash_Lite/flashpackager.html

Start by clicking on the “SIS” or “NFL” tab. After that, fill up the information in the sub tabs.

Create SIS Step by Step

The following guide from Nokia library provides a step by step tutorial on how to generate a SIS package using the tool.

http://library.forum.nokia.com/index.jsp?topic=/Flash_Lite_Developers_Library/GUID-E08FE0A9-B2BA-420E-AECC-84D887D415F9.html

Create NFL Step by Step

The following guide from Nokia library provides a step by step tutorial on how to generate a NFL package using the tool:

http://library.forum.nokia.com/index.jsp?topic=/Flash_Lite_Developers_Library/GUID-E08FE0A9-B2BA-420E-AECC-84D887D415F9.html

Games for Calculators

2009-09-10T14:35:00.001+08:00

Games for Texas Instrument calculator:

http://tiwizard.com/downloads/

Games for Casio Calculator:

http://cabbresson.tripod.com/Casio/CasioIndex.htm#Games

http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/index.php?pg=casiog

Play games to keep our idling mind active. Play on…

Developing Application for Mobile Devices

2009-09-10T10:05:00.001+08:00

Symbian Developer Network published the following two useful papers:

1. Multi-Language Programming – Part I overview

http://developer.symbian.com/main/downloads/papers/Multi_Language_Programming_Part1_Overview.pdf

This paper covers the pro and con of C++, Java ME, Flash Lite, Python, Web runtime (widgets) and .NET compact framework.

It also lists the pro & con, supporting tools and packaging for development with 2 languages – Java & Flash, C++ & Flash, C++ & Widgets and Java & C++.

2. Multi-Language Programming – Part 2 extending Flash Lite with Java ME or Symbian C++

http://developer.symbian.com/main/downloads/papers/MLP_Paper+2_v1.0.pdf

This paper illustrated two examples of combining two programming languages for mobile application development:

1) FlashLite for UI and interface with Java ME (using Jarpa); and

2) FlashLite for UI and interface with C++ (using KuneriLite).

Jarpa facilitates the launching of application and the communication between two runtimes to enable access to additional functionality.

Kunerilite is a Rapid Application Development toolkit to allow flash Lite in accessing native Symbian APIs such as accelerometer, camera, bluetooth, GPS, file system and etc.

These two papers are worth reading to have an overview of the strengths and limitations of each of the programming languages and then based on the specification of our project, to make decision on which one or two languages to use.

FlashLite Tutorial for Beginner – Setup Development Environment

2009-09-10T06:10:00.002+08:00

We shall be using kunerilite with Flash CS3.

KuneriLite is an innovative Rapid Application Development toolkit to extend Adobe Flash Lite capabilities and create thrilling S60 applications faster, easier and cheaper. It enables Flash Lite developers to go beyond Flash Lite development without any knowledge of Symbian programming.

Wiki and introduction: http://wiki.kunerilite.net/index.php?title=KuneriLite_Introduction

Preparation and setup

For those with flash CS, use the following guide to setup your development environment.

http://wiki.kunerilite.net/index.php?title=KuneriLite_Wizard_Beginner%27s_Guide

For those without Flash CS, use the following guide to setup FlashDevelop as well.

http://www.flashdevelop.org/

In our next blog, we shall create a GPS application to track our location using Flash and Kunerilite.

Creating a simple 2D Game using XNA – video

2009-08-31T09:07:00.001+08:00

Just found the following video – similar to the topic I presented last Friday.

Meeting #13 - Coding4Fun: Designing a Video Game using XNA Game Studio 3.0 from Muneeb on Vimeo.

A simple cloud game

2009-08-30T07:28:00.001+08:00

This simple cloud game illustrates the concept of simple interface, engaging and fun factors.

http://intihuatani.usc.edu/cloud/video.htm

A simple video on HLSL shader effect in Rendermonkey

2009-08-27T09:40:00.001+08:00

The following video shows a HLSL effect that has 3 passes – pass 0, 1 and 2. For each pass, the program is made up of the vertex shader and the pixel shader.

In pass 0, we created the skybox to box up the teapot.

In pass 1, we use formula to calculate the reflection on the teapot.

In the final pass 2, we use formula to manipulate the final color effects. The first color effect is the Grayscale look and feel. The second one is to create reversed color effect. The last one is the Sepia tone effect.

HLSL effect

Learning HLSL and hardware shaders programming

2009-07-25T16:52:00.003+08:00

Tool to be used for this learning journey: rendermonkey (from AMD/ATI)

Download rendermonkey from:
http://developer.amd.com/gpu/rendermonkey/Pages/default.aspx

HLSL vs Cg

Cg or C for Graphics is developed by Nvidia with Microsoft for programming vertex and pixel shaders. Subsequently, Microsoft branched off to start HLSL.

However a good reference to start learning programming HLSL is the free cg tutorial ebook:
http://developer.nvidia.com/object/cg_tutorial_home.html

Read through at least the first 3 chapters:
Starting with Chapter 1 from:
http://http.developer.nvidia.com/CgTutorial/cg_tutorial_chapter01.html

Next access the old tutorials from ATI web site:
http://ati.amd.com/developer/rendermonkey/publications.html
Starting with the following two beginners guides from GDC 2003:

* Beginner Shader Programming with RenderMonkey
* Direct3D HLSL Programming using RenderMonkey IDE

These tutorials should give you a HEAD START in HLSL programming.

XNA 3.1 beginner tutorials

2009-07-25T16:41:00.003+08:00

Download the latest XNA game studio and check up the included full 2D and 3D game tutorials.

http://creators.xna.com/en-US/

Otherwise, refer to MSDN web based reference:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb200104.aspx

Getting started > Your First Game: Microsoft XNA Game Studio in 2D

And

Getting started > Going Beyond: XNA Game Studio in 3D

These should give you a good start on XNA game studio for 2D and 3D games development.

Learning NeoAxis to create a simple RTS Game

2009-07-25T16:31:00.000+08:00

The purpose of this blog is list down my learning journey of NeoAxis (version 0.57) from zero to completing my game project during the period from 1 Oct to 31 Dec 2008.

Make a new type of GameCharacter

Refer to Wellu's 3D Game Creating Madness - MilkShape to NeoAxis. Instead of generating the mesh from MilkShape 3D with the Ogre exporter, I used the Ninja mesh that comes with Ogre SDK.

Create a new folder "ninja" into Game\Bin\Data\Types\Units.

Locate the following files from Ogre SDK media folder and copy them into the newly created folder:

- ninja.mesh

- ninja.skeleton

- nskingr.jpg

Follow the instruction from the above tutorial, starting from "Open up NeoAxis Resource Editor. Create a new folder and add a new Entity type called Soldier.type. Select GameCharacter as the base class of your new type." In our case, the folder has already been created earlier.

At the end, the result of our effort is as follows:

Create the Static Geometry

In window explorer, look into the following folder: Game\Bin\Data\Maps\RTSDemo\StaticGeometry

Using mesh viewer, we are able to observe that Data.mesh is the background terrain used in RTSDemo. Instead of creating our terrain using external editor or the inbuilt terrain editor, we shall use the existing terrain already created in the RTSDemo.

In Map Editor, create a new empty map "gang01".

In window explorer, copy the StaticGeometry folder from RTSDemo into gang01 folder. Rename the two files accordingly as gang01back.mesh and gang01back.highMaterial.

Open gang01back.highMaterial using any text editor and change the first line from "highLevelMaterial RTSDemo" to "highLevelMaterial gang01back". Save and exit.

In Resource Editor, open the Maps > gang01 > StaticGeometry> gang01back.mesh and in the property window, change the MaterialName to point to the gang01back.highMaterial.

Save and exit.

In the Map Editor, in the Entity Types window choose General > StaticMesh. A new window "Entity Creation" will appear:

Select Maps\gang01\StaticGeometry\gang01back.mesh.

In the Layers window, add a new staticGeometry layer:

In the property window, adjust the mesh properties:

- Layer: staticGeometry

- Position: 0 0 0

- AllowDecals: All

- SplitGeometryPieceSize: 30 30 30

Save and exit.

Duplicate RTSDemo into gang01

In Map Editor, open RTSDemo and save the map into gang01 folder, replacing the map we created above.

Exit.

Open the Maps\gang01\Map.map using text editor and modify the following line to use the staticgeometry created above.

From

meshName = Maps\RTSDemo\StaticGeometry\Data.mesh

meshName = Maps\gang01\StaticGeometry\gang01back.mesh

Logic Editor

Just to leave a note here that for RTSDemo, the logic editor is not used and all the classes used in the game are created in C#.

Open the Logic Editor from the Map Editor:

Explore RTSDemo Entities

Open the Maps\gang01\Map.map using text editor and go through the files. There are altogether 16 different type of Entities used:

Stone
StaticMesh
SpawnPoint
RTSRobot
RTSMine
RTSHeadquaters
RTSGridPathFindSystem
RTSGeyser
RTSFactory
RTSFactionManager
RTSConstructor
PipeDirect4
PipeCorner
Palm
LogicSystemManager
Light

MMOG (Massively Multi-player Online Game) Issues

2008-08-15T08:55:00.001+08:00

Characteristics of MMOGs

1. Non Technical Aspect

Game play mode: You start where you left the pervious time. Other players continue their quests in your absence.

Game social factor: 24/7 there are someone online to play the multi-player game together with you.

Game Story: story need to have a start, a middle and an end. In MMOG environment, very seldom can one player's action cause permanent result to the MMOG setting so as to give same opportunity for other players to explore. Some games continue via expansion packs.

Ending of MMOGs: The huge gap between veteran players and new ones will create a large barrier that isolate the game and the community, leading to elitism and slowly kill the game in the long run.

2. Technical Aspect

Connection:

Security to keep the system secured and the sensitive data private. But encrypting every packet is not practical. Need to determine what data to encrypt and what not to.
Must make sure the arriving data at the server is really from the player and not another one which hack the data.
Connection need to stable and with enough bandwidth to support the thousands of client simultaneously playing.
Responsiveness of data packets to and from the client.

Operating platform:

Need to consider the maximum of the players the system should be able to support. Scaling after launching may be difficult as some part of the system may not be able to scale easily.
Distribution of loads over several servers to handle load balancing. But then the system design need to consider which portion of the system should be load balanced (how to synchronize) and which should not.
Security of the server to prevent hacking and losing sensitive data in the server.

Technology:

Improve performance - need to decide how much caching of data should reside at the client (player) end.
Enable expansion - need to have in place mechanism at the client end to have dynamic update.
Security at the client end - to prevent hacking by players themselves to gain wrong advantage over other players.

Design Considerations

Rob Pardo (Blizzard) shared at 2006 Austin Game Conference:

1. Easy to learn, difficult to master. Design in the depth first before accessibility later - really cool things, unique combat classes, hardcore experience in dungeons.

2. PvP (for player created content)?

3. Raids?

4. Responsive UI - streamline UI such that only present stuff that is important.

5. Low system Requirements to capture a larger pool of potential gamers

6. Solo-able until level 60 - to play like a single-player just like other casual games.

7. Seamless Newbies Experience

8. Get players right in the action

9. Easy to find quests

10. Killing with a purpose - giving a reason to kill is more accessible.

11. Clear concise objectives - to cater to the casual players who need more hand holding.

12. Give players a “Limited (max 20) Menu of Options”

13. Rest system to give casual players breaks.

14. Bite-sized content - short enough for lunch time break sessions.

15. Concentrated coolness - few unique classes that do very cool stuff.

16. World size vs teleportation - give players the convenience to be teleport to remote area with no flight path.

17. The Blizzard polish - to have a culture of polishing the game right from the start and not leave till the end. Polish starts in the design process.

18. Make it fun and have fun with the game.

19. Beta test to stress test the technology and gameplay.

In summary, after going through the non technical, technical and other design consideration for making and running a MMOG, it is clearer that making a MMOG is not easy.

Story vs Gameplay

2008-08-11T09:28:00.001+08:00

While preparing this blog, I read Tracy Fullerton's Game Design Workshop. Games are experiences designed for players and players must voluntarily accept the rules and constraints of the game in order to play. The aspect of uncertainty of outcome is an important motivator for the players. The purpose of gameplay is to engage the players, providing something that draws them in and allows them to connect emotionally with the experience.

Some games engage players emotionally by using the power of story within the games. Games consisted of formal game elements that define the rules and constraints.

Dramatic element (eg story) give context to gameplay, integrating the other game elements into a meaningful experience. Characters are agents through whose actions a drama is told. Characters are defined within the story by what they say, what they do, what they look like and what others say about them.

In many games, story is limited to back-story. Some games allow the players to change the story that affects the eventual outcome. While story telling is difficult in games, world building (beginning with maps and histories) give players a sense of depth and story, over a long period of times.

In casual games, some players want to play immediately without the back-story; As a result, many casual games have the "Story/Arcade Mode" option to cater to these players and if Arcade mode is selected, the story elements are removed from the play enabling a smooth play without the interruption of storyline.

As a summary, story is a dramatic element with the purpose to engage the players as part of the game play.

History of Video Games

2008-08-11T09:13:00.001+08:00

To write this blog, I did research by reading Chris Crawford on Game Design with its chapter 2 covering some classic games, from boardgames (Monopoly) to card games to video games to PC games. Then, I scanned through Steve Rabin's Introduction to Game Development with its chapter 1 covering a brief history of video games. From the web, I read the wiki about history of video games and a featured article at Gamasutra - "A History of Gaming Platforms: Atari 8-Bit Computers".

Games are an integral part of human cultures. The first video game was created by William Higinbotham in 1958, using an oscilloscope and analog computer - Tennis for Two, used to entertain visitors of Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York.

Later on in 1961, a group of students at MIT, including Steve Russel, programmed a Spacewar game on a DEC computer.

In 1971, the Galaxy Game (based on Spacewar) was the first coin-operated video game installed at Standford University. Then, the first mass-produced arcade version of Spacewar video game by Nutting Associates was unsuccessfully launched.

In 1972, Atari was founded and the first widespread success arcade video game PONG was released.

In 1978, Taito released the popular Invaders. Atari released Asteroids.

Then in 1980, Namco developed Pac-Man.

The second generation of video games were Video Entertainment System that allowed cartridge to be plugged into the system to provide new game title.

In the early 1980s, many games started to appear on personal computers such as Commodore, Apple II and Atari. Roberta Williams' Mystery House published for Apple II was a hit and she went on to form Sierra On-line.

Most people heard of Commodore or Apple II but not Atari. Atari released a series of 8-bit PC such as the Atari 800 in 1979, but never did gain as much popularity as its competitors.

In 1984, the modern adventure game was produced by Sierra: King's Quest.

Subsequently in 1987, Lucasarts created the point-and-Click Maniac Mansion.

From 1987, the VGA on IBM's PS/2 personal computers allowed 256 colour graphics games to be developed. In 1989 came the introduction of Creative Labs' Sound Blaster sound cards. These helped Games to be more colourful and with better sound, to give a better experience to gamers.

Meanwhile, the dialup bulletin board systems that were popular in 1980s, sometimes were used for online game playing. Some games of fantasy role playing variety known as MUDs (Multi-user dungeons) were popular. These games evolved to modern MMORPGs.

In another branch of video game, Nintendo started producing its handheld game with the Game & Watch line in 1980. This evolved to Game Boy in 1989, with the popular Tetris game. In 2004, Sony came out with the PSP (PlayStation Portable).

For home entertainment system, in 1994-1995, Sony came out with the Playstation which used 32-bit technology and opened the game areana with 3D games. After much delay, Nintendo released the Nintendo 64 (=> 64-bit console) in 1996 with the Super Mario 64. Microsoft entered the game console areana in 2001 with the Xbox. Finally in 2005, Nintendo fighted back with its release of Wii ("Nintendo Revolution").

The above paragraphs roughly summarize the history of video games.

Munchkins and Expansion Set

2008-08-09T20:31:00.001+08:00

Normal playing cards were introduced in the 12th century China. Role playing cards are different from normal card games in that they stress social interaction and collaboration whereas normal card games emphasize competition. Role playing games are a form of interactive and collaborative story-telling.

Dungeons and Dragons, the first commercial role playing game, was produced in 1974 by TSR. The rise of computer role playing games led to the decline of physical role playing games.

During the sdip course, we played munchkins and enjoyed very much. The rules were what we all agreed to abide by and the interactions between players created the most fun.

After the game sessions, I designed my own expansion set for the munchkins. During the creation, I did research into the list of cards already available from sjgames website and also reviewed the patterns in the existing set, I also googled for related class and race types from the internet.

My completed expansion set is shown here:

During the playing and creation process, I learnt a lot on role playing and more importantly, about FUN in games.

FUN? Favorite Games?

2008-08-09T20:30:00.001+08:00

As a Game Designer, we need to be clear about what contribute to FUN for players and not get too carried away to create the best 3D models or the most complex puzzles.

In my another blog on Story vs Gameplay, we discuss about the story that engaged the players emotionally to the gameplay. The challenge of the game needs to be aligned to the skill level of the player to keep the player in the "FLOW" state.

There are 4 types of FUN - Hard Fun, Easy Fun, Serious Fun and People Fun:

Hard Fun: provide players with adversity so great that the players are almost ready to quit and then they succeed.
Easy Fun: provide players with space for exploration, fooling around and interactivity.
Serious Fun: provide players with a purpose to accomplish real work such as to learn something, to keep fit and etc.
People Fun: provide players with the opportunity to cooperate, compete and communicate with other players.

What are my favorite games?

Due to my busy schedule, I currently prefer simple and short game to give me the breakaway from my work stress.

One of my favorite game is ColorJunction which is a variation from the good old Tetris. Player use point-and-click to remove blocks with more than one square unit. After each move, blocks that dropped down, will combine with adjacent same-colour blocks. The game ends once there is no more block with more than 1 square unit. The objective is to leave as few block behind when the game ends.

Another of my favorite game is Bejeweled, again another variation from Tetris. Player selects two different colour Jewel to swop place. The swoop will only be effected if after swooping place, one of the Jewel has an adjacent Jewel of the same colour. After swooping is completed, Adjacent Jewels of the same colour to the swooped Jewels - they will be removed. The game ends when there is not possible to swoop any more Jewels. The objective is to remove as many Jewels as possible before the game ends.

By studying these two games, I realised that by modifying gameplay a little from existing game, a new game is born. Is it possible for us to think of another variationto the good old Tetris ....

Firz day @ sdip game devt

2008-07-03T19:45:00.003+08:00

Not too sure what to expect since this is the first day ...

superhero that i like: batman ? not much super power, but able to use other skills such as analytical and technological skill, to overcome the bad guys..