The Bit Wars and PCs_LAS - PLATO Learning Inc.



The Bit Wars and Personal Computers (PCs)

The Lesson Activity will help you meet these educational goals:

• Content Knowledge—You will discuss key influences and events during the early console wars.

• Inquiry and Experimentation—You will conduct online research in which you will make observations and communicate your results in written form.

• 21st Century Skills—You will employ online tools for research and analysis.

Directions

You will evaluate these activities yourself. Please save this document before beginning the lesson and keep the document open for reference during the lesson. Type your answers directly in this document for all activities.

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Self-Checked Activities

Read the instructions for the following activity and type in your response. At the end of the lesson, click the link to open the Student Answer Sheet. Use the answer or sample response to evaluate your own work.

An Analysis of 16-bit Video Games

Research 16-bit video games from the past in terms of visual style and gameplay. Research and reimagine a current video game character such as the master chief from Halo as a 16-bit game character from the past. Visit the Worchester Polytechnic Institute and the Rochester Institute of Technology web pages to research sprite-making techniques.

You may use Sprite Maker to design your new version of your game character or a graphics program such as GIMP. Visit these GIMP resources to learn how to manipulate images and draw basic shapes.

You may need to do research on the Web for examples of characters.

Sample answer:

Individual answers may vary. Use this framework for your answer:

First, perform Web research to analyze characters in modern games as well as 16-bit arcade games from the 1970s. Make a note of what they look like. Specifically, observe their costumes, facial features, and movement.

How do 16-bit characters differ from their modern counterparts? This should be readily apparent after you have conducted your research. The most obvious difference is the increased visual detail in modern characters. Specifically, modern characters have varied costumes, distinctive facial features, and subtle but noticeable differences in movement. By contrast, arcade characters are defined by a fewer number of polygons, so they aren’t as detailed. You should notice how arcade characters have oddly shaped bodies. In addition, their costumes are drawn with a narrower color palette, so there isn’t much variation in color. They have limited facial features. Complex movements that make the character feel more lifelike are also absent.

With these differences in mind, how would you transform a modern character into a 16-bit character fit for the arcades? Ensure that your character is still recognizable despite the reduced detail. To do this, you should retain some distinctive feature associated with the character. If your character’s costume uses a predominantly green color scheme, such as the Green Lantern for instance, retain the same color scheme for the 16-bit character version. If your character has an insignia, retain that insignia when you create a 16-bit version of that character. An example of an insignia could be Batman’s symbol or Superman’s stylized “S.”

You would also have fewer choices with respect to actions the character can perform. You should retain those actions that are unique to the character. For example, the Prince of Persia has the power to reverse time, so this ability should be retained by his 16-bit avatar, as well.

Lastly, try and capture the atmosphere of the world inhabited by the character. If a game is set in a city, what would the city look like on an arcade machine? Answering such questions will help you faithfully recreate an arcade version of a modern game.

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Game Development

Lesson Activities

Student Answer Sheet

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