Graphic files and settings

Graphics is the most important aspect of a game, photo or even a cartoon it's everywhere you look in terms of media, but computers use file types to save every image to the computers' hard disk.

The two files which are more common are Bitmap (or raster) and Vector.

What is Bitmap?
Bitmap is a file type which uses the computer to code each individual pixel to its' original colour so doesn't have loss of colour quality. Unfortunately these files can't be expanded as the pixels will also expand which means that the image will pixelate and will look rubbish.

What is a pixel?

Pixels or dots builds the images that you see on a computer monitor or TV, this is why you can see stuff on the PCs or on your TV screen.

What is Vector?

Vector is another file type, but works completely different to Bitmap. Vector uses Mathematical co-ordinates and this gets rid of the problem of pixelation as the co-ordinates don't cause the image to pixelate, these files are usually found in word under clip art.

What is resolution?
Resolution is changeable, but the setting when you first buy a computer is at it's optimum setting (when it's at the best setting), this is true for laptops, but PCs you have to configure it yourself. On modern day laptops there are 5 different resolutions these are 800 X 600, 1024 X 768, 1280 X 720, 1280 X 768 and 1366 X 768. For the more powerful games you'll be aiming for the top resolution because the graphics will withstand the power, but for business only 1024 X 768 would be best. The resolution of a image can be changed for print quality in PPI, the highest quality is 300 PPI, moniter quality is 72 PPI.

Game Interfaces

Many PC games use very complicated, but really unique interfaces. These have many functions and the buttons function as sub-menus.

Interfaces fit the specific genres like the Final Fantasy series, WOW and Runescape. The interfaces can show a combat screen, menus and use items to complete quests. The interfaces are designed and planned by artists, so the quality of the interfaces are quite good.

Concept art

Within the games development team there are concept artists. Concept artists create the characters in form of sketching simple and detailed pictures to help developers create characters and environments. They also provide blueprints for all the other artists and to inspire them to develop the concept further. They may have the developers to put it in different environments to see if the concept of size and to see if it is suitable. Here are a few examples of concept art from great titles like Halo 3 for Xbox 360 and Bioshock 2 for the same console and also PS3.

Types of Games

Photorealism or photorealistic: games are games which are visually realistic. The powerful graphics engine makes graphics which have a life like feel, they look like real life. The games that use this are usually Xbox 360 games and PS3 games which gives a HD picture. Some examples of Photorealism games are: Gran Turismo 5 and Call of Duty on Xbox 360.

Cel-Shading games are more arty and cartoon like in which they are presented usually they are on consoles like the Wii and the XBOX. Examples of this are: XIII for the Xbox and Super Paper Mario for the Wii.

Abstraction is giving the games an unrealistic feel and therefore feel different when you play them, usually these games come out on the handheld consoles and some home consoles. Examples of thiese are: Patapon and Lemmings for PSP.

Exaggeration is like Photorealism, but the people's facial features are exaggerated and the game play is more adventure type and quest like games like the Final Fantasy 13 for Xbox 360. They're also featured in beat 'em ups like BlazBlue for the Xbox 360 and handheld consoles Scribblenauts on the Nintendo DS where your character has a square head with eyes very far apart.

2-D or 3-D games - What Are They and Examples

2-D games is short for 2-Dimensional usually these kind of games are more retro and older however some do make it to the Seventh Generation consoles, (Xbox 360, PS3). 2-D games are defined as 2-D games as it has no depth meaning that you can't look around the objects. As shown in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Megadrive and Super Mario Bros for the NES. The 2-D games are still around for Flash games on the PC, examples include: Sonic the Hedgehog (Unofficial) and Flash Pacman.

However, there are 3-D games; 3-D stands for 3-Dimensional. 3-D games are more realistic and gives the game a more life like atmosphere, the N64 given the start to 3-D games; this is true to today with the Seventh Generation Consoles, there are great games for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii. An example of this is COD 4 for the Xbox 360.

 This game has 3-D graphics using the 3 dimensions, (height, width and depth). The consoles are really powerful and can withstand the graphics engine. Also beat 'em ups use this as well, some examples of these are Soul Calibur 4 and Tekken 6, both games share between Xbox 360 and PS3.

These games use 3-D modelling to make the environment realistic and life like and the floor also breaks.

Super Smash Bros Brawl Box Art

I like the artwork to this game because I think the blue background matches the beat em up genre. Also the characters on the artwork suggest that there are a wide range of characters. The box art relates to the game by having Mario having his hands clenched and is ready for a fight. This helps the game to sell because the range of characters and the fact it has Wi Fi connection gets gamers to buy the game. The target market of this title is 7 years and over because it has cartoon violence. I reckon that it hits the target market by having customisable characters and a huge range as well. If I could change anything about the artwork I would take Pikachu and Ash out and put R.O.B the robot and Sonic the Hedgehog because there will be an ongoing rivalry between SEGA and Nintendo.