122 Video Game Design Foundations
S c i e n c eandworks.
3. Language
Form into groups of two or three. Research, debate, and form a group
opinion on each of the Think About It activities in this
chapter. Arts
Prepare a
PowerPoint presentation of ten slides (fi ve to seven minutes) to present
to the class explaining the group’s opinions for each Think About It
activity. Include text, pictures, video, animations, and slide transitions as
appropriate to help explain your positions.
4. To fully articulate an animation, the fi gure must have moving parts
joints. Research how the knee joint in the human body is constructed
and functions. Write a one-page paper to describe how the joint
Include a discussion on the range of motion.
5. Mathematics
To wrap a texture around an object, the image has to be cut or stretched.
Use a round object like a tennis ball to represent a UV sphere.
A. Wrap a rectangular piece of paper around the ball. The bottom
edge of the paper should follow the equator (middle of the ball).
B. Bend one point on the top of the paper so it just touches the north
pole of the ball. Mark that point and then cut off the top of the
paper all the way around at that point.
C. Measure the length of the equator.
D. Measure the height of the paper from the north pole to the equator.
E. Use this formula to determine the area of the rectangle formed by
the paper:
base × height = area of rectangle
F. Every 1″, cut from the top of the paper to the bottom. Leave about
1/8″ uncut so the paper stays in one piece.
G. Lay down each segment over the top of the ball. Draw a line to
show the overlap between segments.
H. Cut out along the overlap lines to get the paper to lay fl at without
overlapping.
I. When you have the ball covered, unwrap the paper and examine the how
triangles were formed when you cut out the curves. Measure the triangular
sections. Use this formula to determine the area of each triangle.
1/2 base × height = area of triangle
Note: The sections are not true triangles because the edges are curved,
not straight, but this formula will provide an approximation of the area.
J. Add the total area of the removed triangles. Determine what
percentage of the paper was removed in the wrapping.
Fold paper to touch
pole and mark
Trim top
Fold slices and
mark edges