CS 426 Spring 2010 Final Review

Last updated: April 19, 2010

• Interface Design
  • WiiMote
    • Explain some of the game-play advantages and disadvantages of using WiiMote in your game (this has nothing to do with "how hard it is to implement".. more about how it changes the user's experience in the game)
    • Explain the difference between replacing the Bluetooth stack (BlueSoleil) versus interacting with the Bluetooth stack (WiiYourself)
  • User Interaction
    • How does the concept of immersion in games lead to fully destructible?
    • What are context sensitive controls? How do they make games better?
    • Give examples of how different input controllers/mechanisms can lead to more immersive games (XBox360, Wii, Nintendo DS, Project Natal)
  • Interface design on multiple platforms
  • • What makes a user interface good? Alternatively what makes it bad?
    • How are interfaces different in FPS versus Action versus RPGs/MMOs. Why?
• Music and Sound
  • What is real-time music generation. How does it differ from streaming?
  • What are the pros/cons of real-time music versus streaming
  • Are the number of sound channels important for streaming? Why or why not?
• Game Coding
  • Physics
    • Why do some people call physics engines "integration engines"?
    • In 2D linear kinematics: How do you go from Acceleration -> Velocity -> Position
    • Intuitively: What is torque? What is moment of inertia? (no formulas needed)
    • When bodies collide we used an impulse force instead of integrating forces over time. Why? What is the direction of the force? Is the force equal on both bodies?
  • AI
    • What are behavioral trees? Difference between priority/sequential/stochastic?
    • What are FSM? What are advantages/disadvantages of using them as AI for NPCs
    • What are HSSM? What are advantages/disadvantages of using them as AI for NPCs
  • Path Planning
    • Explain the concept behind Dijkstra's algorithm, Greedy search and A*. You don't need to know how to code each, but understand the fundamental differences between them.
  • Networking Challenges in MMOs
    • What are the different types of network server architectures used in MMOs?
    • Explain each and compare/contrast it with the others.
    • Why do we need to use dead reckoning? What does it do? What are negative artifacts it causes for users?
  • Design Patterns
    • Explain how the command pattern could be used in a game. Why is this good?
    • What is the Singleton pattern? What game objects would be singletons?
• Developing your own games using Game Engines
  • What are some things a game engine provides?
  • What does a game engine provide that a graphics engine would not?
  • What are some pros/cons of using game engines?
  • Why should you develop a game by yourself?
  • What is the difference between a game and a book?
  • In a game what are some ways the story background is taught to the user?
  • What is the difference between a linear and semi-linear game?
  • Why have multiple endings in a game?
• Graphics
  • Blender
    • What is the point of using pre-rendered graphics in your game?
    • What is skeletal animation? Why use it?
    • Given skeletal animation, what is a IPO curve?
  • Pixel Shaders
    • What is the difference between vertex and pixel shaders?
    • Explain how 1D textures are used with height maps to texture environment scenes
    • Why are there different types of 2D textures applied to a single model?
    • Why use parallax/relief mapping? (What is the advantage?)