Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
standards
Manufacturers such as Sony and Microsoft encrypt their final games so that
they can only be played on their specific game systems, and you must get the
manufacturer's approval before you can begin developing for a particular game
system, such as PS3 or Wii. The submission process can be very long and
involved, with no guarantee that the manufacturer will approve the game con-
cept or development.
Each game system requires special development kits that are unique to these
game systems and can only be provided by the specific manufacturer.
When a game is made to be played on a specific playback system, such as a Wii
or a PlayStation, the manufacturer needs to make sure that all the program-
ming built into the game will match what the controllers need to do once the
game is installed on that system. For example, games developed for the Xbox
gaming system need to always have the B button programmed to allow a player
to back out of menus.
The game manufacturer ships a copy of the game to the manufacturers of
each playback system for which they have built their game. Those manufactur-
ers test the product extensively before submitting their approval.
Licenses
Games may require the use of software or hardware that is owned by a separate
party but can be licensed for a fee. A good example of this is a game engine.
Certain software packages, such as Photoshop and Maya, require a license for
use in the production of games that are created for sale.
Instead, some designers use open-source software, such as Blender, which
is free 3D software, or Gimp, which is a free 2D package similar to Photoshop.
Although getting the software free seems like a great idea to avoid paying for
the software or a licensing fee, if the software doesn't perform properly, there is
little or no support to help you troubleshoot problems.
Projects that do license software to be used during the creation of the game
can solicit help from these companies when it comes time to market the proj-
ect. For example, Adobe is the manufacturer of Photoshop and regularly uses
examples of actual applications of its software from finished games. Submitting
work you created with your licensed software to the software company can help
provide solid promotion and endorsements for the game if it uses your examples
in the promotion of the company's products.
developers who
don't license this
software in the
proper way prior
to shipping a final
product could face
strict legal action.
