Page 62 - CAPE ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN SYLLABUS

APPENDIX I

 GLOSSARY OF ANIMATION AND GAME DESIGN TERMS

Alpha This is a stage in game development where the game code and
mechanics are developed, though it may still need to be balanced.

Animation The process of producing images which appear to come to life on
screen in films, commercials, computer games, and other media. This
includes working with drawings, specialist software, models, or
puppets, capturing separate images of each stage of a movement.
When the images are viewed at speed the character appears to move.

Animator A person who possesses the artistic and professional skills required to
produce images which appear to come to life on screen in films,
commercials, computer games, and other media.

Arcade game Also known as coin-op. It is a coin-operated entertainment machine,
usually installed in public businesses, such as restaurants, bars, and
particularly amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games,
pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and
merchandisers. The term is also used to refer to an action video game
that was designed to play similarly to an arcade game with frantic,
addictive gameplay. The focus of arcade action games is on the user's
reflexes, and the games usually feature very little puzzle-solving,
complex thinking, or strategy skills.

Armature 1. The skeleton frame that makes the base for a puppet to be used in
animated movement for stop motion animation.

Augmented Reality (AR) A live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment
whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-
generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.
Augmentation is conventionally in real-time and in semantic context
with environmental elements, such as sports scores on TV during a
match. With the help of advanced AR technology (such as, adding
computer vision and object recognition) the information about the
surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally
manipulable. Artificial information about the environment and its
objects can be overlaid on the real world. Augmented reality allows
gamers to experience digital game play in a real world environment.
Over time there have been improvements of technology, resulting in
better movement detection.

Avatar An icon or figure representing a player in a game.

Background The plane in a composition perceived furthest from the viewer.

Balance Refers to the placement of objects to create the perception of equal
distribution. In gaming, it refers to the concept and the practice of

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