Game Design Theory
A video game is basically a structured, repeated form of play, sometimes undertaken simply for fun or entertainment, and at other times used as an educational instrument. Games are quite different from work, which usually is carried out only for personal gain, and from literature, which is more usually an expression of cultural or aesthetic elements. The two types of activities may overlap slightly, but each has its own characteristics, its own goals, objectives, styles, forms, etc. So it is not surprising that we find two types of game-playing-in education, although they do occur to overlap somewhat.
One of the most significant areas in game theory is the idea of equilibrium. According to this theory, the game we observe has certain types of internal and external stableities, known as equilibrium. Internal equilibria are those where there is little change from any one equilibrium state, whilst external equilibria are those where some amount of change is experienced. The equilibrium states may be different for different games. For instance, in a game such as chess, one player may have an advantage due to having a better position on the board, whereas another player may have the same advantage because of a difference in their deployment of pieces.
A major part of game theory is looking into the issue of how and why the game is played. How a game is won is one of the most important outcomes, since in the long run, the most popular games tend to be the ones where the most interesting turns are made. If there is no right or wrong answers to these questions, then game theory is useless. However, this is not a deterministic type of science, rather it is a probabilistic type of science, which tries to model the world as best it can, taking into account all the variables. This is what makes the subject interesting and valuable to people.
Game theory is also used within video games, particularly with regards to multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs). A multiplayer online game is one in which many different individuals all participate within a virtual environment. These individuals can all interact with each other and with the game itself at the same time, building an experience that is entirely unique to each individual player. Since the game is based on real life, the physics involved are very accurate, making the online game all the more realistic and successful. One can argue that this type of game development is similar to a massively multiplayer online social networking game, in which the players are able to develop and shape their own virtual society.
Video game design is often used in conjunction with game development. Video game design refers to the process used by a game developer in creating the game, often using computer-aided design (CAD) software. Many top level video game developers work as video game designers, working as a team to achieve specific goals, like creating a virtual world that is technologically accurate, or creating the illusion of reality through digital means.
Computer graphic programming is often used by video game development companies to create worlds and environments. The use of computers is often used extensively within video game development, due to the ability to create extremely complex and detailed graphics. Computer graphic programming is often used in mobile gaming, due to the ability to use motion sensors to determine the location of an object within a game. This technology can also be used for non-traditional video game consoles, due to their ability to provide interactive capabilities. Computer programming languages are becoming increasingly common within mobile gaming, as well.