MM3P22N Multimedia Project’s specification document
Student Donatas Cereska 05043115


Abstract

When building an online game it is very important to have it supported by a server side tools like databases. Server side databases enable online games to be much more extensive and interactive by taking over a part of applications interactivity on itself, therefore making it easier adjustable and expandable. For example one of many ways databases serve for online games is by collecting its progress data or internal variables and storing it for later retrieval, or manipulating them and bypassing it back to the application that will react accordingly.


Objective

The objective of this project is to analyze the relations in between an online games and server side databases and to point out the advantages of it by building an interactive game as an example which will come together related with the database that will consist of a series of quiz type of questions related to the theme to be answered during the game play. By doing so the game will be more extensive, as it will have a capability to get questions added to the game anytime without having the game’s source code amended. Furthermore as most of online games come with a high score boards, this project will analyze the way databases are used to store players’ results.


Game theme

As an example for the problem analysis a vehicle’s crash test simulation game theme will be chosen. The game stage will have a 2 dimensional visual view, with a part of the highway road visible from the side view. There will be an obstacle at the end of the road (right) and the car on the left side. The point of the game will be to get the better driver’s (controlled by player) accuracy coefficient by trying to stop a car before collision happened, which will mean the higher place on the high score board. In addition it will act as simpler version of vehicle’s test simulator and will serve as an informational tool, and will allow users to control the vehicle and visually experience the way vehicle behaves according to the situation during the vehicle’s safety crash test. Furthermore it will provide relevant road safety statistics and information according to the game play which would help user to understand the consequences in a real life.


Game play

Once the game is started a sequence of randomly selected, database stored quiz type of questions will appear. Depending on weather those questions will be answered right or wrong, the vehicles starting speed will be either decreased or increased. Starting speed will determine the length of the vehicle’s stopping distance, when the player hits the brakes using keyboard. Once the sequence of questions is over and the starting speed is set, player will have a chance to meter his accuracy by trying to stop suddenly appeared vehicle before the collision with the obstacle happened.


Tools

In order to build this informational interactive online game several tools will be used. The main game engine will be coded using Adobe Flash (Actionscript), graphics will be rendered using Alias Maya, picture editing – Adobe Photoshop. There will be a few game related database tables created using PHP database technology, which will store game questions and score.


Scope

By the end of this semester, these final product parts will be handed in:

• Specification (Due Week 6)

• Meeting reports

• Poster

• Website

• Final project documentation