IAT 210 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Computer And Video Games, Computer Hardware, Memory Management
21 Jun 2018
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IAT 210 - Textbook - Chapter 7
Defining Digital Games
● Definition of game defined in previous chapters made no distinction b/w digital & non-
digital games
● Computer & video games are important part of game landscape, as they bring number of
unique qualities & concerns to practice of game design
The Computer is Not a Computer
● Digital & electronic games take multitude of forms & appear on many diff computer
platforms
○ Include
■ Games for personal computers/TV-attached game consoles
■ Handheld game devices
■ Games for PDAs/ell phones
■ Games for arcades/amusement parks
● Digital games - systems
● Physical medium of computer is one element making up system of game, but does not
represent entire game
● Computer hardware & software are merely materials of which game is composed
● 4 elements of system
○ Objects
○ Attributes
○ Relationships
○ Environment
● In considering Tetris w/i context of culture, would need to include elements such as
○ Game fan magazines
○ Marketing
○ Manufacturing
○ Economics
○ Hybrid cultural identity of game
○ Demographics of players
○ Etc
● Rules embedded in hardware & software but are also something separate from the code
● Game designer doesn’t create technology
○ Creates experience
What Can it Do?
● Game designer needs to understand how to harness technology into designed system
resulting in meaningful play
○ Emphasis not unique to digital games - materials constituting game are always
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Definition of game defined in previous chapters made no distinction b/w digital & non- digital games. Computer & video games are important part of game landscape, as they bring number of unique qualities & concerns to practice of game design. Digital & electronic games take multitude of forms & appear on many diff computer platforms. Physical medium of computer is one element making up system of game, but does not represent entire game. Computer hardware & software are merely materials of which game is composed. In considering tetris w/i context of culture, would need to include elements such as. Rules embedded in hardware & software but are also something separate from the code. Game designer needs to understand how to harness technology into designed system resulting in meaningful play. Emphasis not unique to digital games - materials constituting game are always crucial in designing experience. One of most compelling qualities of digital technology - can offer immediate, interactive feedback.
