computer science

🤝

video game development

Andrew Murray

Tyler Bonnell

Who are we?

Andrew Murray

• Graduated from here somehow*
• Ran a Game Development Club while here
• Full-time Software Engineer (not in games)
• Made a bunch of games that�are mildly popular (andrfw.com)

���*copied Miya’s homework a lot

Tyler Bonnell

• Got into programming when I was 12 by making bad Flash games
• Not as good as Andrew at finishing games but I have some projects online (ty.pizza)
• swamp.camp — pre-alpha town building game
• brigsby.js.org — open source game engine
• Also graduated from UW CSE, also a full-time software engineer (also not in games)
• Miya’s fiance 🤵‍♂️👰

Overview:

1. How Code Becomes a Game
2. A Variety of Computer Science in Games
3. Why None of that Matters
4. Q&A

Overview:

• How Code Becomes a Game
• A Variety of Computer Science in Games
• Why None of that Matters
• Q&A

Code in CSE 142:

“Hey Java, I’d like you to run my code”

Java runs�your code

Your code finishes running and the program stops

Some Side effect occurs (eg, you print�a song)

Now Imagine an (overly-simplified) Web Browser

Now Imagine an (overly-simplified) Web Browser

Closes the app

Goes to a new page

Displays page

Code in a simple application:

Click on chrome.exe

Some code is run, waits for user action

Types in a URL

Hits the close button

Code A runs

Code B runs, shows the website

Your code finishes running and the program stops

Now Imagine a Video game

Now Imagine a Video game

Is affected by gravity over time

Is directly affected by player input

Is indirectly affected by player input

(collision between itself and the player)

Code in a game:

Your code finishes running and the program stops

Boot up�“Super Mario Bros.”

???

Code in a game:

Boot up�“Super Mario Bros.”

Your code finishes running and the program stops

Game engines!

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Game engine demo

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Are there other ways of organizing that?

​

• Sure!
• (this is the part where the homework ties in)

Overview:

• How Code Becomes a Game
• A Variety of Computer Science in Games
• Why None of that Matters
• Q&A

Games involve many areas of CS

• Algorithms — Pathfinding, matchmaking
• Graphics — Rendering
• Computer vision — Augmented reality
• Artificial intelligence — NPC behavior
• Networks — Large scale/low-latency online games
• Systems programming — Optimizing hardware-intensive games
• Data science/machine learning — Anti-cheat, understanding player engagement
• Human-computer interaction — Accessibility, controller design
• User experience design — Menus, tutorials
• Data engineering — Managing data for persistent online games, analytics
• Security — Preventing hackers in games
• Related reading: Dark Souls 3 exploit could let hackers take control of your entire computer

Overview:

• How Code Becomes a Game
• A Variety of Computer Science in Games
• Why None of that Matters
• Q&A

Fast inverse square root function (Quake III Arena, 1999)

ASCII graphics (Dwarf Fortress, 2006)

Train hats (Fallout 3, 2008)

Game feel (Celeste, 2018)

Game feel (Celeste, 2018)

Overview:

• How Code Becomes a Game
• A Variety of Computer Science in Games
• Why None of that Matters
• Q&A