Brno University of Technology Vysoké Učení Technické V Brně

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Brno University of Technology Vysoké Učení Technické V Brně BRNO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY VYSOKÉ UČENÍ TECHNICKÉ V BRNĚ FACULTY OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMMUNICATION FAKULTA ELEKTROTECHNIKY A KOMUNIKAČNÍCH TECHNOLOGIÍ DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ÚSTAV JAZYKŮ GAME DEVELOPMENT PROCESS VÝVOJ VIDEOHER BACHELOR'S THESIS BAKALÁŘSKÁ PRÁCE AUTHOR Kryštof Froehling AUTOR PRÁCE SUPERVISOR Mgr. Magdalena Šedrlová VEDOUCÍ PRÁCE BRNO 2018 Bakalářská práce bakalářský studijní obor Angličtina v elektrotechnice a informatice Ústav jazyků Student: Kryštof Froehling ID: 174294 Ročník: 3 Akademický rok: 2017/18 NÁZEV TÉMATU: Vývoj videoher POKYNY PRO VYPRACOVÁNÍ: Cílem práce je podat stručný přehled různých rolí vývojářů videoher a rozvést jaký vliv má každá z nich na finální produkt, případně specifické části vývojového procesu. Dále se student zaměří na samotný vývojový proces, jeho fáze, milníky a úskalí. DOPORUČENÁ LITERATURA: Schell, Jesse. The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses. 2nd ed., CRC Press, 2014. Rogers, Scott. Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design. 2nd ed., Wiley, 2014. Gregory, Jason. Game Engine Architecture. 2nd ed., CRC Press, 2014. Termín zadání: 9.2.2018 Termín odevzdání: 1.6.2018 Vedoucí práce: Mgr. Magdalena Šedrlová Konzultant: doc. PhDr. Milena Krhutová, Ph.D. předseda oborové rady UPOZORNĚNÍ: Autor bakalářské práce nesmí při vytváření bakalářské práce porušit autorská práva třetích osob, zejména nesmí zasahovat nedovoleným způsobem do cizích autorských práv osobnostních a musí si být plně vědom následků porušení ustanovení § 11 a následujících autorského zákona č. 121/2000 Sb., včetně možných trestněprávních důsledků vyplývajících z ustanovení části druhé, hlavy VI. díl 4 Trestního zákoníku č.40/2009 Sb. Fakulta elektrotechniky a komunikačních technologií, Vysoké učení technické v Brně / Technická 3058/10 / 616 00 / Brno Abstract The Bachelor thesis focuses on the game development process and everything that is needed to create a successful video game. The first part of the thesis distinguishes all the various roles in a development team and provides context to them. The second part analyzes the timeline and goals for different stages of video game production, while also assessing the positives and negatives of working with a Publisher. Certification and rating processes are also considered. The third and final part offers a look behind the scenes of game development, through an interview with a game developer. Keywords video game, production, development team, development process, developer, publisher, interview, bug Abstrakt Bakalářská práce se zabývá vývojem videoher a vším potřebným k vytvoření úspěšné videohry. První část práce rozlišuje všechny různé role vývojářského týmu a jejich souvislosti. Druhá část analyzuje časovou osu a cíle různých fází vývoje videohry a zároveň hodnotí pozitiva a negativa práce s vydavatelem. Brány v úvahu jsou také certifikační a hodnotící procesy. Třetí a poslední část nabízí pohled do zákulisí vývoje videoher prostřednictvím rozhovoru s herním vývojářem. Klíčová slova video hra, produkce, vývojový tým, vývojový proces, vývojář, vydavatel, rozhovor, chyba FROEHLING, K. Vývoj videoher. Brno: Vysoké učení technické v Brně, Fakulta elektrotechniky a komunikačních technologií, 2018. 48 s. Vedoucí semestrální práce Mgr. Magdalena Šedrlová. Prohlášení Prohlašuji, že svoji bakalářskou práci na téma Vývoj videoher jsem vypracoval samostatně pod vedením vedoucího semestrální práce a s použitím odborné literatury a dalších informačních zdrojů, které jsou všechny citovány v práci a uvedeny v seznamu literatury na konci práce. Jako autor uvedené semestrální práce dále prohlašuji, že v souvislosti s vytvořením této bakalářské práce jsem neporušil autorská práva třetích osob, zejména jsem nezasáhl nedovoleným způsobem do cizích autorských práv osobnostních a/nebo majetkových a jsem si plně vědom následků porušení ustanovení § 11 a následujících zákona č. 121/2000 Sb., o právu autorském, o právech souvisejících s právem autorským a o změně některých zákonů (autorský zákon), ve znění pozdějších předpisů, včetně možných trestněprávních důsledků vyplývajících z ustanovení části druhé, hlavy VI. díl 4 Trestního zákoníku č. 40/2009 Sb. V Brně dne .............................. .................................... Kryštof Froehling Acknowledgement I am grateful to my supervisor Mgr. Magdalena Šedrlová for her unfailing support and assistance throughout the writing of this thesis. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 7 2 VIDEO GAME DESIGNERS ................................................................ 8 3 ENGINEERS AND PROGRAMMERS ................................................ 9 4 TESTERS AND THE DEBUGGING PROCESS .............................. 11 5 WRITERS, STORIES, AND NARRATIVES .................................... 13 6 ARTISTS ................................................................................................ 15 7 COMPOSERS, SOUND DESIGNERS, AND SOUNDTRACKS ..... 18 8 PRODUCERS ........................................................................................ 20 9 OTHER STAFF ..................................................................................... 22 10 THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ..................................................... 23 11 THE STRUCTURE OF THE GAME INDUSTRY ........................... 25 12 PHASES OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ............................. 29 12.1 THE CONCEPTUAL PHASE ................................................................ 29 12.2 THE DESIGN PHASE ............................................................................ 29 12.2.1 CREATING A PROOF OF CONCEPT ................................................. 30 12.2.2 VERTICAL SLICE ................................................................................. 31 12.3 PRODUCTION AND TESTING PHASE .............................................. 32 13 MILESTONES ...................................................................................... 34 13.1 ALPHA ................................................................................................... 34 13.2 BETA ...................................................................................................... 34 13.3 GOLD MASTER .................................................................................... 35 14 CERTIFICATION AND RATING ..................................................... 36 14.1 CERTIFICATION ................................................................................... 36 14.1.1 STEAM ................................................................................................... 37 14.1.2 PLAYSTATION 4 .................................................................................. 37 14.1.3 XBOX ONE ............................................................................................ 37 14.2 ESRB RATING PROCESS .................................................................... 38 15 INTERVIEW ......................................................................................... 39 16 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................... 44 17 LIST OF REFERENCES ..................................................................... 45 18 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................ 48 6 1 INTRODUCTION Video games are one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S., exceeding even the might of Hollywood. (Games: Improving the Economy) As the revenue of successful software companies grows, even more well-paid jobs have become available. Video games are no longer viewed as pointless escapism but have managed to permanently imprint themselves into the mainstream media. All around the world, children grow up playing their favorite video games and many of them dream of being able to create and play video games for a living. Some of them even achieve this dream. Of course, it is a job, the same as any other, and the final version of the game is a result of thousands of hours of work by up to hundreds of people. It is a large industry with a demand for many different jobs. Programmers, artists, writers, actors as well as many others are able to make a living this way. People with widely different specialized degrees are welcome to join in. But as with any young industry, not all rules are set in place and overtimes are a common occurrence. The game's release is often accompanied by many people being let go, resulting in a constant cycle of hiring and firing. This thesis should help the reader with understanding the main development roles, by taking a deeper look at each individual stage of video game development. Additionally, it takes a look at the inner workings of the largest of publishers, though independent developers will not be omitted. Finally, the reader will be able to peek behind the scenes of video game development through an interview with an industry expert. 7 2 VIDEO GAME DESIGNERS It is essential to define what a video game designer’s job really is. Stating that they “design video games” would be a blatant oversimplification, which tells us nothing of the job and will only cause further confusion. Rogers wrote in his book, Level Up! – The Guide to Great Video Game Design, that they “create the ideas and rules that form a game” and I would agree that this is a more accurate definition. (Rogers 14) While the designers are building the game world and thus games, they make crucial decisions, which shape the product. But
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