Anderson, Eike F.

McLoughlin, L.

English

Bournemouth University Research Online

I See Sheep: A Practical Application of Game Rendering Techniquesfor Computer Science EducationLeigh McLoughlinlmcloughlin@bournemouth.ac.ukEike Falk Andersoneanderson@bournemouth.ac.ukThe National Centre forComputer AnimationIntroducing the Crossbow EngineScene graph makes use of the visitor design pattern.Lua scripting interface for engine initialisation and managementof user inputAbstract machine for control of virtual sheepRendering engine uses OpenGLAPI and NVIDIACg shadersThe Crossbow Engine is a compact game engine designed specifically for “TheMeadow”, yet it is flexible in design and offers a number of features common to morecomplex engines.The main game engine is itself subdivided into a number of modules and supportingstructures. The Crossbow Engine provides a GUI system, with basic windowmanagement and input/output methods.A virtualmachine provides the actual control of the sheep, through its execution of C-Sheepcompiled bytecode. Rendering is achieved with a rendering engine, which uses theprogrammable graphics hardware pipeline through NVIDIACg Shaders.Scene management is achieved through ascene graph data structure, which makes use of the visitor design pattern.ObjectivesProvide a tool for teaching programming to studentsMust introduce the C programming languageMust be visually appealingEducators in the area of computer science constantly face the challenge ofencouraging the next generation of students to engage in the subject of computerprogramming. Application numbers for degree courses are down, and potentialcandidates often view the subject as unglamorous. In this poster we introduce theCrossbow Engine which resides at the heart of "The Meadow", an educational gamedesigned to teach students the fundamentals of computer programming in a noveland exciting way. "The Meadow" presents a visually rich virtual environment wherethe user writes programs to control the behaviour of a virtual sheep. By using modern3D computer graphics techniques more commonly found in computer games, ourgoal is to help students to realise that computer programming can be an enjoyable andrewarding experience. “The Meadow” is a work in progress, and deployment isplanned for later this year, when it will be used as a teaching aid in an undergraduatedegree program.Project OverviewAim to teach students to program in CIntroducing “C-Sheep”:Mini-languageSubset of CControls behaviour of virtual sheepUsing The “Crossbow Engine”:Provides environment for sheepUses modern game techniquesGraphical FeaturesHigh dynamic range lighting with automatic exposure controlSky simulation system with user-adjustable dynamic weatherand haze levelsSurface effects include: normal mapping, parallax mapping,fog/haze, water puddles in gaps between stonesPost-processing effects: vignette, saturation, HDR-bloom,depth of field, motion blurFor high-end graphics hardware: floating point frame buffer, andvolumetric sun-beamsC-SheepRain in “The Meadow” ThunderstormUser interface Cloud ShadingShafts of lightWelcome to “The Meadow” A sunny dayHDR bloom on lamp post

I See Sheep: A Practical Application of Game Rendering Techniques for Computer Science Education

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Bournemouth University Research Online