Download or read book Building SimCity written by Chaim Gingold and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2024-06-04 with total page 488 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A deep dive into the trailblazing simulation game SimCity, situating it in the history of games, simulation, and computing. Building SimCity explores the history of computer simulation by chronicling one of the most influential simulation games ever made: SimCity. As author Chaim Gingold explains, Will Wright, the visionary designer behind the urban planning game, created SimCity in part to learn about cities, appropriating ideas from traditions in which computers are used as tools for modeling and thinking about the world as a complex system. As such, SimCity is a microcosm of the histories and cultures of computer simulation that engages with questions, themes, and representational techniques that reach back to the earliest computer simulations. Gingold uses SimCity to explore a web of interrelated topics in the history of technology, software, and simulation, taking us far and wide—from the dawn of programmable computers to miniature cities made of construction paper and role-play. An unprecedented history of Maxis, the company founded to bring SimCity to market, the book reveals Maxis’s complex relations with venture capitalists, Nintendo, and the Santa Fe Institute, which shaped the evolution of Will Wright’s career; Maxis’s failure to back The Sims to completion; and the company’s sale to Electronic Arts. A lavishly visual book, Building SimCity boasts a treasure trove of visual matter to help bring its wide-ranging subjects to life, including painstakingly crafted diagrams that explain SimCity’s operation, the Kodachrome photographs taken by Charles Eames of schoolchildren making model cities, and Nintendo’s manga-style “Dr. Wright” character design, just to name a few.

Download or read book Building SimCity written by Chaim Gingold and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2024-06-04 with total page 488 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A deep dive into the trailblazing simulation game SimCity, situating it in the history of games, simulation, and computing. Building SimCity explores the history of computer simulation by chronicling one of the most influential simulation games ever made: SimCity. As author Chaim Gingold explains, Will Wright, the visionary designer behind the urban planning game, created SimCity in part to learn about cities, appropriating ideas from traditions in which computers are used as tools for modeling and thinking about the world as a complex system. As such, SimCity is a microcosm of the histories and cultures of computer simulation that engages with questions, themes, and representational techniques that reach back to the earliest computer simulations. Gingold uses SimCity to explore a web of interrelated topics in the history of technology, software, and simulation, taking us far and wide—from the dawn of programmable computers to miniature cities made of construction paper and role-play. An unprecedented history of Maxis, the company founded to bring SimCity to market, the book reveals Maxis’s complex relations with venture capitalists, Nintendo, and the Santa Fe Institute, which shaped the evolution of Will Wright’s career; Maxis’s failure to back The Sims to completion; and the company’s sale to Electronic Arts. A lavishly visual book, Building SimCity boasts a treasure trove of visual matter to help bring its wide-ranging subjects to life, including painstakingly crafted diagrams that explain SimCity’s operation, the Kodachrome photographs taken by Charles Eames of schoolchildren making model cities, and Nintendo’s manga-style “Dr. Wright” character design, just to name a few.

Download or read book Soft City written by David Sim and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2019-08-20 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Imagine waking up to the gentle noises of the city, and moving through your day with complete confidence that you will get where you need to go quickly and efficiently. Soft City is about ease and comfort, where density has a human dimension, adapting to our ever-changing needs, nurturing relationships, and accommodating the pleasures of everyday life. How do we move from the current reality in most cites—separated uses and lengthy commutes in single-occupancy vehicles that drain human, environmental, and community resources—to support a soft city approach? In Soft City David Sim, partner and creative director at Gehl, shows how this is possible, presenting ideas and graphic examples from around the globe. He draws from his vast design experience to make a case for a dense and diverse built environment at a human scale, which he presents through a series of observations of older and newer places, and a range of simple built phenomena, some traditional and some totally new inventions. Sim shows that increasing density is not enough. The soft city must consider the organization and layout of the built environment for more fluid movement and comfort, a diversity of building types, and thoughtful design to ensure a sustainable urban environment and society. Soft City begins with the big ideas of happiness and quality of life, and then shows how they are tied to the way we live. The heart of the book is highly visual and shows the building blocks for neighborhoods: building types and their organization and orientation; how we can get along as we get around a city; and living with the weather. As every citizen deals with the reality of a changing climate, Soft City explores how the built environment can adapt and respond. Soft City offers inspiration, ideas, and guidance for anyone interested in city building. Sim shows how to make any city more efficient, more livable, and better connected to the environment.

Download or read book Geoparticipatory Spatial Tools written by Jiri Panek and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-07-20 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book explores the key factors affecting the successful implementation of public participation spatial systems in participatory planning as part of the urban governance system. It brings insight from nation-wide research in the Czech Republic and the implications to other countries in the region and beyond. The main aim of the proposed book is to analyse the state-of-the-art of using geoparticipatory tools for citizens’ participation in community decision-making process and to suggest the effective implementation of the geoparticipatory tools available in urban governance. This book explores the situation in the Czech Republic as a representative of for Eastern Bloc country, three decades after the political transition, on its way to public participation in local and urban governance. The active involvement of the citizens into the local and urban decision making process via geoparticipatory spatial tools is becoming a popular research field among human geographers, behavioural geographers, GIS scientists, environmental psychologists, policy scientists and many others scientific areas.

Download or read book Game Mechanics written by Ernest Adams and published by New Riders. This book was released on 2012 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Game mechanics--the rules and systems that govern the functional behavior of a game--lie at the heart of all game design. The mechanics implement the living world of the game; they generate active challenges for players to solve in the game world and they determine the effects of the players' actions on that world. Here to teach game designers and students the essentials of game mechanics are two leading authorities in game design. Readers will learn how to craft mechanics that generate challenging, enjoyable, and well-balanced gameplay. They'll learn how to visualise and simulate game mechanics in order to design better games and learn at what stages to prototype, test, and implement mechanics in games.

Download or read book Fundamentals of Shooter Game Design written by Ernest Adams and published by New Riders. This book was released on 2014-12-17 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You understand the basic concepts of game design: gameplay, user interfaces, core mechanics, character design, and storytelling. Now you want to know how to apply them to the shooter games genre. This focused guides gives you exactly what you need. It walks you through the process of designing for the shooter game genre and shows you how to use the right techniques to create fun and challenging experiences for your players.

Download or read book Maximum PC written by and published by . This book was released on 2000-09 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maximum PC is the magazine that every computer fanatic, PC gamer or content creator must read. Each and every issue is packed with punishing product reviews, insightful and innovative how-to stories and the illuminating technical articles that enthusiasts crave.

Download or read book AI for Games Third Edition written by Ian Millington and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2019-03-18 with total page 1050 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: AI is an integral part of every video game. This book helps professionals keep up with the constantly evolving technological advances in the fast growing game industry and equips students with up-to-date information they need to jumpstart their careers. This revised and updated Third Edition includes new techniques, algorithms, data structures and representations needed to create powerful AI in games. Key Features A comprehensive professional tutorial and reference to implement true AI in games Includes new exercises so readers can test their comprehension and understanding of the concepts and practices presented Revised and updated to cover new techniques and advances in AI Walks the reader through the entire game AI development process

Download or read book Cyborg Babies written by Robbie Davis-Floyd and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-08-21 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From fetuses scanned ultrasonically to computer hackers in daycare, contemporary children are increasingly rendered cyborg by their immersion in technoculture. As we are faced with reproductive choices connected directly with technologies, we often have trouble gaining perspective on our own cultural co-dependency with these very same technologies. Our notions of fetal health, maternal risk and child IQ are inseparable from them. Cyborg Babies tracks the process of reproducing children in symbiosis with pervasive technology and offers a range of perspectives, from resistance to ethnographic analysis to science fiction. Cultural anthropologists and social critics offer cutting-edge ethnographies, critiques, and personal narratives of cyborg conceptions (sperm banks, IVF, surrogacy) and prenatal (mis)diagnosis (DES, ultrasound, amniocentesis); the technological de- and reconstruction of birth in the hospital (electronic fetal monitors, epidurals); and the effects of computer simulation games and cyborg toys and stories on children's emergent consciousness. Contributors include Janet Isaacs Ashford, Elizabeth Cartwright, David Chamberlain, Jennifer Croissant, Charis M. Cussins, Robbie Davis-Floyd, Joseph Dumit, Eugenia Georges, Anne Hill, Mizuko Ito, Emily Martin, Steven Daniel Mentor, Janneli F. Miller, Lisa Mitchell, Lisa Jean Moore, Rayna Rapp, Matthew A. Schmidt, Syvia Sensiper, Elizabeth Roberts and Sherry Turkle. Examining the increasing cyborgification of the American child, from conception through birth and beyond, Cyborg Babies considers its implications for human cultural and psychological evolution.

Download or read book ECGBL 2019 13th European Conference on Game Based Learning written by Lars Elbæk and published by Academic Conferences and publishing limited. This book was released on 2019-10-03 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Level Up The Guide to Great Video Game Design written by Henry Harvin and published by Henry Harvin. This book was released on 2023-10-04 with total page 751 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design" is the ultimate handbook for gamers of all levels. Whether you're a casual player or a seasoned pro, this book has something for everyone. With detailed guides on popular games, tips and tricks to improve your skills, and insights into the gaming industry, you'll be able to take your gaming to the next level. Learn how to master your favorite games with step-by-step instructions and expert advice. Discover new games and genres to explore, and get insider knowledge on the latest gaming trends. From PC to console to mobile gaming, this book covers it all. But "Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design" isn't just about playing games – it's also about building a community around your passion. Find out how to connect with other gamers, join online communities, and even start your own gaming channel or stream. Packed with valuable information and entertaining anecdotes, "Guide to Gaming" is a must-read for anyone who loves gaming.

Download or read book Engineering Play written by Mizuko Ito and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2012-02-10 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How the influential industry that produced such popular games as Oregon Trail and KidPix emerged from experimental efforts to use computers as tools in child-centered learning. Today, computers are part of kids' everyday lives, used both for play and for learning. We envy children's natural affinity for computers, the ease with which they click in and out of digital worlds. Thirty years ago, however, the computer belonged almost exclusively to business, the military, and academia. In Engineering Play, Mizuko Ito describes the transformation of the computer from a tool associated with adults and work to one linked to children, learning, and play. Ito gives an account of a pivotal period in the 1980s and 1990s, which saw the rise of a new category of consumer software designed specifically for elementary school-aged children. “Edutainment” software sought to blend various educational philosophies with interactive gaming and entertainment, and included such titles as Number Munchers, Oregon Trail, KidPix, and Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?. The children's software boom (and the bust that followed), says Ito, can be seen as a microcosm of the negotiations surrounding new technology, children, and education. The story she tells is both a testimonial to the transformative power of innovation and a cautionary tale about its limitations.

Download or read book Become a Unity Shaders Guru written by Mina Pêcheux and published by Packt Publishing Ltd. This book was released on 2023-07-14 with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover the new URP render pipeline, the Shader Graph tool, and a range of advanced shading techniques in this part-color guide to bring out the beauty of your 2D/3D game projects Key Features Discover the new shader tools such as URP and Shader Graph to work in HLSL code or with visual node-based editing Learn advanced tricks to optimize your rendering pipeline Explore various concepts to create a variety of 2D and 3D game shaders Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook Book DescriptionDo you really know all the ins-and-outs of Unity shaders? It’s time to step up your Unity game and dive into the new URP render pipeline, the Shader Graph tool, and advanced shading techniques to bring out the beauty of your 2D/3D game projects! Become a Unity Shaders Guru is here to help you transition from the built-in render pipeline to the SRP pipelines and learn the latest shading tools. With it, you’ll dive deeper into Unity shaders by understanding the essential concepts through practical examples. First, you’ll discover how to create a simple shading model in the Unity built-in render pipeline, and then in the Unity URP render pipeline and Shader Graph while learning about the practical applications of both. You’ll explore common game shader techniques, ranging from interior mapping to adding neon outlines on a sprite or simulating the wobble of a fish. You’ll also learn about alternative rendering techniques, like Ray Marching. By the end of this book, you’ll have learned to create a wide variety of 2D and 3D shaders with Unity’s URP pipeline (both in HLSL code and with the Shader Graph tool), and be well-versed with some optimization tricks to make your games friendly for low-tier devices as well.What you will learn Understand the main differences between the legacy render pipeline and the SRP Create shaders in Unity with HLSL code and the Shader Graph 10 tool Implement common game shaders for VFX, animation, procedural generation, and more Experiment with offloading work from the CPU to the GPU Identify different optimization tools and their uses Discover useful URP shaders and re-adapt them in your projects Who this book is for This book is for technical artists who have worked with Unity and want to get a deeper understanding of Unity’s render pipelines and its visual node-based editing tool. Seasoned game developers who are looking for reference shaders using the recent URP render pipeline will also find this book useful. A basic level of programming experience in HLSL, Unity, its layout, and its basic usage is a must.

Download or read book History of Digital Games written by Andrew Williams and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2017-03-16 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The growth of videogame design programs in higher education and explosion of amateur game development has created a need for a deeper understanding of game history that addresses not only "when," but "how" and "why." Andrew Williams takes the first step in creating a comprehensive survey on the history of digital games as commercial products and artistic forms in a textbook appropriate for university instruction. History of Digital Games adopts a unique approach and scope that traces the interrelated concepts of game design, art and design of input devices from the beginnings of coin-operated amusement in the late 1800s to the independent games of unconventional creators in the present. Rooted in the concept of videogames as designed objects, Williams investigates the sources that inspired specific game developers as well as establishing the historical, cultural, economic and technological contexts that helped shape larger design trends. Key Features Full-color images and game screenshots Focuses primarily on three interrelated digital game elements: visual design, gameplay design and the design of input devices This book is able to discuss design trends common to arcade games, home console games and computer games while also respecting the distinctions of each game context Includes discussion of game hardware as it relates to how it affects game design Links to online resources featuring games discussed in the text, video tutorial and other interactive resources will be included.

Download or read book Faster Than Light The Atari ST and the 16 Bit Revolution written by Jamie Lendino and published by Steel Gear Press. This book was released on 2019-06-17 with total page 325 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Power Without the Price.” Every Atari fan remembers that slogan from the 1980s as the rallying cry for 16-bit computing in the form of the Atari ST. This groundbreaking computer brought previously unimagined power to the home user for the first time—and transformed an industry or two along the way. Author Jamie Lendino offers a fresh, vital look at the history of the Atari ST, guiding you from its inauspicious genesis at the center of a company known for its gaming consoles to its category-defining triumphs in music, desktop publishing, and video gaming. And he doesn’t stop there: He then leaps to the present to pull back the veil on the thriving software and mod communities that aren’t just keeping it alive today, but taking it to places its creators never could have imagined. Whether you’re a longtime devotee who wants to relive the magic of the machine that unleashed the wonders of Dungeon Master, Time Bandit, and Starglider, an intrepid DIYer on the hunt for new ideas and resources to take your homebrew system to the next level, or a newcomer hungry to learn the ins and outs of one of the most important computers ever created, this book will get you there just as the ST did its long-ago digital pioneers: Faster Than Light.

Download or read book Games Learning and Society written by Constance Steinkuehler and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-06-11 with total page 489 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Leaders in the field provide an introduction to video games and learning, including essays on game design and game culture.

Download or read book Sim City 3000 Unlimited written by Greg Kramer and published by Prima Games. This book was released on 2000 with total page 548 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The possibilities are unlimited. SimCity has been the flagship and cornerstone of simulation gaming since its introduction in 1989. Now, SimCity 3000 Unlimited is the hot new follow-up to 1999's successful SimCity 3000. The new game features all the great gameplay of the original plus several new features, including two new building sets, thirteen challenging scenarios, and a scenario creator. Now with SimCity 3000 Unlimited: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, you'll get: - Coverage of both SimCity 3000 Unlimited and SimCity 3000 for PC and Mac - Exclusive advice from the Electronic Arts testers - Secrets for novices and seasoned mayors alike - Detailed instructions for earning all rewards - Tips on dealing with natural disasters - Strategies for new scenarios - A graphic directory of North American, Asian, and European building sets - Comprehensive appendices including all buildings and landmarks