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Glossary Glossary
self-enlightenment: Learning and
understanding problems and fl aws within
yourself. (2)
self-leveling: Provides additional help for
less-skilled players that can be ignored or
turned off by more-skilled players. (7)
self-reference puzzle: See recursive puzzle. (7)
semiotics: Science dealing with the meaning
and relationship of symbols and features. (2)
sensor-based mocap: Placing markers on an
actor’s body to track body movement. (11)
sequence: Predetermined order or steps a
computer program will follow. (12)
setting: Time and place of the action in a
story. (3)
shadow: Villain or enemy of the hero;
motivates the hero to do good. (2)
shell menus: Menus used for starting the
game or for actions outside of gameplay, such
as making screen and sound settings. (4)
shell screen: Nonmenu item displayed
outside of gameplay, such as the title frame,
credits, and cut scenes. (4)
shock mount: Suspends the microphone on
rubber or springs so any vibration from the main
mount will not interfere with the recording. (8)
shock wave: Pulse of energy moving through
a medium as the result of a shock, explosion,
earthquake, and so on. (7)
sidekick: Companion character who is
subordinate to the player character. (2)
silhouetting: Creating a shadow image that
shows only the outline of an object. (11)
similar sound: Sound that imitates the sound
from something else. (8)
simulation: Attempts to replicate a real-world
situation. (13)
situational enlightenment: Learning and
understanding the cause of a problem that
affects others. (2)
situational puzzle: Player must fi nd the
solution to a riddle by looking at the puzzle
from a different and often obscure angle; also
called lateral-thinking puzzle. (7)
slow in: Motion begins gradually. (11)
slow out: Motion ends gradually. (11)
smoothing: Takes a sharp edge between
faces and applies a radius to create a rounded
transition. (10)
soft skills: Personal qualities and behaviors,
such as punctuality, teamwork, and attitude. (1)
software key code: Code used to unlock
game software; allows only one installation.
(10)
sole proprietorship: When a single person
opens a business. (1)
solid drawing: Technical skill with which
an animation is composed to represent the
fullness of characters and objects occupying
space. (11)
sound context: Description of what and
where an action is occurring. (8)
sound effects: Active sounds or audio
game assets used as content or artistic
enhancements within gameplay and usually
played in response to action in the game; also
called sound FX. (5, 8)
sound engineer: Team member responsible
for sound production. (8)
sound engineering: Art and science of
creating, editing, mixing, and synchronizing
sounds. (8)
sound FX: See sound effects. (5,8)
sound library: Collection of completed sound
samples that are available for use. (8)
sound meter: Measures the level, or volume,
of sound in decibels. (8)
sound rendering: Process of using sound to
communicate feelings, effects, and acoustic
reality in a virtual world. (8)