Game World Report
A game world is the computer generated simulation of a
universe, in which the game is set. A game world could be based on a place that
exists in real life or it could be a complete work of fiction. For example, a
racing game such as F1 2014 is set in Formula 1 racing tracks. In this game,
users can use different racing tracks within the game which resemble real life
racing tracks. However, some games such as Grand Theft Auto V only have 1 game
world in which to play the game in. GTA 5 is set in a modern city and its
surrounding countryside. Games like this usually have a wider game world where
the player can have more freedom. Different games will use completely different
game worlds. This is because it is important that you use the right game world
for the game you are making. Imagine playing Formula 1 inside a football
stadium. That wouldn’t make sense at all since the stadium is far too small for
racing. This is why it is really important that the game world is on point
since it basically makes the game itself. Having the right game world is
beneficial because it sets the right feeling and mood into the player and they
become consumed by the game almost because they are so addicted to it. During
the past decade or so, game world graphics have been immensely improving in
quality. Part of the reason why is the evolution of technology (consoles and
PCs), which can now support higher and better quality graphics. As you can see
from the pictures below, there is a massive difference in graphics quality
between Formula One 2002 and Formula One 2014. This is how games have evolved
during these 12 years and we can clearly see that games being released now have
a more realistic feel to them, which make the game become more fun.
Terrain
Terrain refers to the surface and physical features of the
game world and the ground that makes up the game world. There are many types of
terrain that are used in different games such as grass, sand and concrete.
Terrain doesn’t necessarily affect the game play since it is just the surface
in which the game is played on but it is important to have the right terrain
for that specific game world. Many video games have more than one type of
terrain. This is because terrain can change depending on where you are in the
game world. For example, in GTA 5 where the game world is massive the terrain is
constantly changing. In the country side, it is composed of sand and some
rocks, whereas in the city it is mostly concrete roads. Some games like Fifa
only have one type of terrain. This is because the purpose of this game is to
play football, which is played on grass in a football stadium so there is no
reason at all to change the terrain of the game. From this we can tell that
action and adventure games will mostly have more than just one type of terrain to
make the game more interesting, whereas sports games such as football and
basketball will usually have just one type of terrain. Architecture
Architecture refers to all the structures, buildings and
statues that are in the game world. Different games will use different
architecture to fit their game world. For example, in Halo the architecture is
more futuristic and advanced since the game is set in the future, whereas in
Assassins Creed the buildings are mostly made of wood and rock. However,
architecture can also vary in open world games such as GTA. This is because the
big buildings and structures are focused on the city and not so much structures
are on the country side. Video games are commonly built and created with architecture
since it allows the game to look more realistic. This is important for the game
designer because having good architecture boost the games quality which leads
to the game being really popular. Reason for this is that gamers constantly look
for games that look almost real and with high quality graphics because they
become more immersed in them. Architecture has improved massively during the
last decade. As you can see from the pictures below, the buildings look more
realistic with better shading, better colours and better outlines.
Objects
Objects in video games are the small and little things that
increase the realistic feel of the game. These are objects that are either used
by the character, used by NPCs or objects that are just there to help the game
become more lifelike. Examples of objects in video games are chairs, weapons,
TVs and even cars. Objects are generally used in video games to enhance the experience
of the player as it gives it a realistic feel. They are also used to give more
life to the game to provide a better experience for the player. It is important
that video games are of high quality because it all makes the game look more
realistic. Good looking objects could also boost the games popularity. For
example, if a gun looks amazing in Call of Duty, many more gamers would like to
try that gun out for themselves. In Call of Duty, people can also choose how
their gun looks like and they could design it to put their own style to the
gun. Objects such as plastic bags flying around a battlefield are really
important because it shows that real feel that the game has. Furthermore,
objects have improved greatly over the years. An example of this could be in
action games, where if you kill an enemy you can go and pick up the enemies
weapons and grenades to resupply. This is more enjoyable as you can try things
out in the game even if you cannot specifically choose that gun before starting
the mission.
