1. Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Platform dependency: dependent; independent
Operating systems: for PC/Macintosh, eg Windows, Linux, Mac OS; for hand held, eg Windows CE, Palm
OS; for mobile, eg Symbian OS (Nokia N-Gage), BREW, Mophun
Drivers: soundcard driver; graphics card driver; network interface controller (NIC)
Application software: interpreted languages for games (Java, J2ME, C#); compiled languages for games
(C++); object-oriented (C++, C#, Java, J2SE, J2ME); scripting, eg Lingo, UnrealScript, QuakeC, Maya
Embedded Language, ActionScript, JavaScript
Graphical API: OpenGL; OpenGL ES; DirectX
Sound API: OpenAL; Java Sound API
Television: conditional access; iTV; ETV
Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology

2. What is an operating system?
An operating system is the most important software that runs on a computer. It manages the computer's memory and processes, as well as all of its software and hardware. It also allows you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer's language. 
Without an operating system, a computer is useless.
Examples include:
Windows
Linux
Mac OS
Android
IOS

3. Group Task – Gaming features
Split into 4 groups and list the specialist gaming features these operating systems have:
Xbox One
PS4
Windows 10
IOS and Android

4. So what is platform dependency and independence?
Platform independence is where the software can run on any hardware platform and any software platform.
Platform dependent is where the software needs a certain type of hardware and/or operating system to work.
Can PlayStation games work on an Xbox?
Can PlayStation VR games run without the headset?
Do iPhone/Ipad/IOS games run on a Samsung Galaxy?
Do IOS games run on all apple hardware?

5. So what is platform dependency and independence? Cont.
So what’s an example of Platform Independency?
JAVA Programs
Images
Video
Audio
Platform independence is anything that doesn’t require a specific piece of hardware or software to run.
With software this means that you can run the code of a program with little or no modification on multiple platforms.
Keep in mind that nothing is "perfectly" platform independent.

6. Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Task 1:
Introduce what an Operating Systems(OS) is.
List the latest Operating Systems(OS) for PC, Apple Mac, Iphone/Ipad, Samsung Galaxy S7, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Include a screenshot.
At a basic level what is each OS able to do? E.g Browse the internet, open applications, text message, answer a call etc.
Does the OS have any special functions for games? How do we play games on the OS? Can we download more games to the OS? How?
Discuss the difference between Platform Dependency and Independence. Include examples of each.
Include reference’s as always. This PP available at jamestedder.net

7. Drivers Drivers otherwise known as Device Driver or Hardware driver.
Files that enable hardware devices to communicate with the computer's operating system.
Needed so computer can send and receive data correctly to hardware devices such as Graphics Cards or a Mouse and Keyboard.
Needed for the operating system to even recognise the hardware.
Types include:
soundcard driver
graphics card driver
network interface controller (NIC)

8. Application software:
Find examples of games made in:
Interpreted languages: Java, Python, C#
Compiled languages: C, C++
What language does: Gamemaker, Unity and Unreal engine use?

9. interpreted languages for games (Java, Python, C#);
Read and processed by another program(Interpreter).
Runs on the fly.
Does not need to be compiled first.
Not turned into Machine code.
Language must be installed on any machine that needs to run the script.
Will run more slowly than compiled code because it has to actively perform the step of turning the code into something the machine can handle on the fly.
With interpreted code you open the program, change it and it is ready to go.

10. Example of Python code
CODE: print ("hello world") TO RUN: python helloworld.py This would display the words “Hello World”. Simply runs without compiling.

11. compiled languages for games (C, C++);
Compiled code runs faster than interpreted code. It is not worked out on the fly. 
Compiling converts the code to machine code/binary
It is checked for errors whilst it is being compiled. Errors are then reported and can be fixed before re-compiling.
A C program compiled on a windows computer cannot be copied to a Linux computer and run.
You would have to compile the program again using a C compiler on a Linux computer.

12. Example of C Code This would display the words “Hello World”.
Will not work without compiling first. Compiling turns the C code into machine code.
CODE: #include <stdio.h> int main() {         printf("Hello World"); }
COMPILE: gcc helloworld.c -o hello RUN: ./hello

13. Machine code/Binary

14. Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Include reference’s as always. This PP available at jamestedder.net
Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
Task 2:
Add a section to Task 1 describing & discussing what a Device Driver is. Include examples(Graphics, Sound, Peripherals) of how and when they are used.
Create a subheading called Application software. Introduce what a programming language is.
Under that create a section called Interpreted Languages. Discuss & describe what it is and list examples(Java, Python, C#). Briefly discuss each example, then research and list games created in each.
Then under Compiled Languages. Discuss & describe what it is and list examples(C, C++). Briefly discuss each example, then research and list games created in each.
Briefly describe what GameMaker, Unreal and Unity are(Hint: Game Engines). What programming languages do they use? List examples of games for each
Further reading:

15. Graphical API: DirectX
Designed by Microsoft to allow direct access to hardware.
It contains a range of Application Programming Interfaces (API) for multimedia, video applications along with games.
Provides access to the advanced features of high-performance hardware, such as 3-D graphics acceleration chips and sound cards.
Including two-dimensional (2-D) graphics acceleration; support for input devices such as joysticks, keyboards, and mice; and control of sound mixing and sound output.
Only available on Microsoft products(Windows, Xbox)

16. Graphical API: Open GL
Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) is a cross-language, cross- platform application programming interface (API) .
Used for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.
Interacts with a graphics processing unit (GPU), to achieve hardware-accelerated rendering.
Works very similarly to DirectX but available on non-Microsoft platforms. Example platforms include:
Playstation's
Apple Mac’s
Linux Machines
Modified versions also on Android and IOS machines

17. Assignment 3
Title: Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Software Technology
To include all previous tasks:
Operating Systems
Platform Independence and Dependence
Drivers
Application Software
Graphical API
Group A Due: Group A: Friday 27th Jan 2017

18. Assignment 4
Title: Unit 20 – Computer Game Platforms & Technology – Connect and configure Gaming platforms
This is a practical exercise you can do at home.
Create a video or step by step guide including photographs of yourself configuring two or more gaming devices.
Show how to connect the device to power, display, internet and any peripherals(e.g controllers, keyboards). Setting up/updating drivers could also be included if using PC.
Show and explain how you create a user account for the device if needed.
Show and explain how you install/download and configure games on the device.
Group A Due: Friday 10th February 2017