Technical Questions for the Bioshock Team

[Soulsphere]

If possible, I'd like you gals and guys to answer a few different questions for me.

1. What did you work on for Bioshock and which of your skills or techniques made your job easier?

2. What was the most challenging task that you undertook and fulfilled in Bioshock?

3. Which one of your skills improved the most during the creation of Bioshock?

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I do have one last question (for anyone really) which is off-topic and relating to C/C++ programming. Normally I'd try and look it up somewhere, but I have no idea what to call it. Here's what I want to do:

I would like to know how to create a loop that does something at all times but allows the user to input data from the keyboard at anytime. As an example: The computer is outputing a number to the primary display from 1 to 1,000,000. I'd like the user to be able to inturrupt this count by pressing the space bar at any time.

I'd like to know how this is done in both C and C++ if anyone can help me out. Learning to do this in Java wouldn't hurt either. Also, a link or two to an answer is good too. Thank you in advance.

[Pinky_Powers]

I was brought in for consulting and was the stormy wind pushing for Andrew Ryan to be dressed in a full, pink, bunny suit. Instead they simply gave a few of the Splicers ill-formed rabbit masks.

I was also pushing for the Big Daddies to have red&white candy-striper stockings stretched tight over their hulking legs.

Not only were my ideas unilaterally rejected, but I was dragged outside and beaten. Then consecutively, by order of birth-date, the whole irrational Irrational team spit on my neck in some vicious ritual of demonic description.

They paid me my standard commission though.

[Laser Eyes]

No doubt your questions will be answered on the making of DVD which will come with the BioShock Limited Edition ... but only if you live in the USA, Canada or Europe.

[borgdrone89]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO*gasp*OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

dam they'd better be nice people and let the aussies see that dvd.

4. Would a university education in computer systems engineering get you into professional game making, or would the employer shun you for not doing plain computer science?

[Hatesink]

I saw somewhere that outside interests are important. Apparently they don't really employ people just because they have computer science degrees (unless (I guess) they're 'leading the field' so-to-speak (where it might be an exception)). It's good to develop and work on an outside interest or a hobby, especially if you have one that might be relevant to or complement the process, like, for instance writing, or maybe music (if your interested in the 'sound' aspect). Basically, when it comes to the 'game development industry' (as far as I can ascertain) developing yourself as a person is, for all intents and purposes, as important as having a computer science qualification.

[Soulsphere]

4. Would a university education in computer systems engineering get you into professional game making, or would the employer shun you for not doing plain computer science?

Programming is little more than a hobby for me. I've taken some programming courses, but nothing I've read or learned even hints at how to do it. According to your profile you apparently know how to program, so if you could provide me with any insights...

[Hatesink]

I read somewhere (The New Hacker's Dictionary) that in some areas it's known as "deep magic" and it's probably not something you can learn from a book. That's going by the dictionary entry.

[Soulsphere]

I read somewhere (The New Hacker's Dictionary) that in some areas it's known as "deep magic" and it's probably not something you can learn from a book. That's going by the dictionary entry.

I'll look into it in more detail later. Thanks for the assistance, Hatesink.

[Hatesink]

I'll look into it in more detail later. Thanks for the assistance, Hatesink.

No worries (hope it helps)

[borgdrone89]

Programming is little more than a hobby for me. I've taken some programming courses, but nothing I've read or learned even hints at how to do it. According to your profile you apparently know how to program, so if you could provide me with any insights...

knowing how to program only half helps when getting a job as a programmer. there are certain things that you only learn from uni. self-taught people generally ONLY know how to program, but do not take the care to learn things such as theories, methods of understanding, and things intricately related to programming that arent actually programming.
eg: primitive and non-primitive types

[borgdrone89]

I saw somewhere that outside interests are important. Apparently they don't really employ people just because they have computer science degrees (unless (I guess) they're 'leading the field' so-to-speak (where it might be an exception)). It's good to develop and work on an outside interest or a hobby, especially if you have one that might be relevant to or complement the process, like, for instance writing, or maybe music (if your interested in the 'sound' aspect). Basically, when it comes to the 'game development industry' (as far as I can ascertain) developing yourself as a person is, for all intents and purposes, as important as having a computer science qualification.

yes i would think so. eg, my degree will mean that i can program generall, but i can also design ICs, silicon chips, and program specifically for them. i suppose these would count as outside interests/qualifications, but i like to sketch and i have a good ear (gosh, so many of the people on idol (even in the top 12 these days) have pitch problems).

[Hatesink]

yes i would think so. eg, my degree will mean that i can program generall, but i can also design ICs, silicon chips, and program specifically for them. i suppose these would count as outside interests/qualifications, but i like to sketch and i have a good ear (gosh, so many of the people on idol (even in the top 12 these days) have pitch problems).

That sounds cool. It's always good to develop creativity as a skill. Over here all of the universities are starting to teach creativity as well as critical thinking. The course I was on was one of the first to do it. In many ways it was like a pilot program. I had to discontinue because I just got too ill to carry on, but I got the basics (all the foundations etc.) and the book lists, and I learned a lot.

Apart from that one, the only courses that taught creativity at the time were very highly restricted as to who could attend (i.e. required qualifications, portfolios etc.). As far as I remember there were only two at the time— one performing arts course that focused on teaching creation of 'texts' (rather than simply performance or imitation) (I use the term 'text' in its widest sense), and another called creative visualisation, which focused on the creation of video games (which I wanted to do but couldn't because I didn't have the qualifications (despite coming third in the school in the only programming exam I ever took, in middle school (third because my handwriting was messy))).

The only other creative option (I wanted to learn creativity) was an (at the time) new writing course, that actually taught the craft of writing as an art or creative process (being a writer was always something I'd thought about doing, so I chose that one (with the intension of progressing to a masters in advertising copy-writing, and then a psychology degree further on (but my depression put paid to all of that)) I mostly studied poetry, in class and in my spare time.).

That sounds like a cool degree you're doing (it sounds awesome)— is game development something you're interested in?

I've been assessed and told I could be a game developer, but I'm not sure if they were telling me the truth or just trying to sell me another expensive computer course. Given the politics of industry I'd imagine the latter.

[borgdrone89]

you misunderstand. my course doesn't encourage creativity in the sense of art. that's outside stuff i do for fun.

[Hatesink]

you misunderstand. my course doesn't encourage creativity in the sense of art. that's outside stuff i do for fun.

No, that's what I mean— good to develop creativity through your outside interests (if that's not happening for you as part of the course).

I said the degree sounded cool, basically because it does (nothing to do with creativity).

But creativity is great— if you wanted to be a game designer, understanding the creative process would probably really help your chances.

[borgdrone89]

ok. well com sci is getting a little tricky now since we've started on string functions.. but i'll read up on it. still can't believe when one of the instructors was helping me he said to use a stringtokeniser class (which didn't work anyway), which was redundant/obsolete code according to the java api. the new way to do it (which the api to graciously showed me) worked the first time!!!

[vrap]

I do have one last question (for anyone really) which is off-topic and relating to C/C++ programming. Normally I'd try and look it up somewhere, but I have no idea what to call it. Here's what I want to do:

I would like to know how to create a loop that does something at all times but allows the user to input data from the keyboard at anytime. As an example: The computer is outputing a number to the primary display from 1 to 1,000,000. I'd like the user to be able to inturrupt this count by pressing the space bar at any time.

I'd like to know how this is done in both C and C++ if anyone can help me out. Learning to do this in Java wouldn't hurt either. Also, a link or two to an answer is good too. Thank you in advance.

Multithreading is your answer.

[Soulsphere]

Multithreading is your answer.

I was hoping that there would be an easier method than multithreading, but thank you. I'll just have to look into it more deeply.

[Soulsphere]

knowing how to program only half helps when getting a job as a programmer. there are certain things that you only learn from uni. self-taught people generally ONLY know how to program, but do not take the care to learn things such as theories, methods of understanding, and things intricately related to programming that arent actually programming.
eg: primitive and non-primitive types

Actually, I'm sure that self-teaching can give one the same knowledge. However, it's a lot easier to learn if you take programming courses than if you learn on your own. Java could have been a real pain to learn on my own, since it's a little difficult to learn exactly how to use classes and which instances, constructors, and methods to use in each.

On the other hand, you can learn about concepts such as polymorphism, cohesion, and coupling by looking through a programming book on your own. However, having an instructor may help you understand them better. I think it all depends on how much of a programming background you have.

Edit: Hmm, I'm going to have to crack open some intermediate and advanced C programming books.

2nd Edit: Java is the way to go if you want to learn about object oriented programming, since you must use classes.

3rd Edit: I used to want to be a computer programmer, but I never did get around to it. I used to know a little Basic, then I took a Pascal programming course. But I didn't get into it until college/university, where I took C and Java a couple times each. I did quite badly the first time I took Java.

[lotkrotan]

I have very, very limited knowledge on programming, but I'm hoping to get into the field of audio engineering/digital audio editing. I am enrolled in the New England School of Communication's Audio Engineering program, which is one of the best on the east coast, and I'm hoping that will be enough experience to perhaps get a small job working on some kind of video game/movie making/editing/synching sounds. If programming skills would be needed, I may look into taking a community college course just to gain some skill. I know some of the basic principals, and I do quite well in maths, but I've just never explored that area.

[Soulsphere]

I have very, very limited knowledge on programming, but I'm hoping to get into the field of audio engineering/digital audio editing. I am enrolled in the New England School of Communication's Audio Engineering program, which is one of the best on the east coast, and I'm hoping that will be enough experience to perhaps get a small job working on some kind of video game/movie making/editing/synching sounds. If programming skills would be needed, I may look into taking a community college course just to gain some skill. I know some of the basic principals, and I do quite well in maths, but I've just never explored that area.

I'd recommend doing some research on your chosen field of interest, that way you'll know what skills you need. I know there's a video game design school in Canada, specifically Ottawa in Ontario, but that wouldn't help you. Just do a little research on the internet and/or talk to your instructors about what skills you'll need.

[lotkrotan]

I know I'll have the skills I need to become an audio engineer, I just don't know what it takes to become one in the videogame field. Seeing as most people in my field go on to record music, it's not a huge topic here.

[borgdrone89]

all I know is, that the employers have their little tricks and questions that let them know if we recieved a university education, or not; and this greatly affects their decision to employ you. a lot of employers will only nab you if you have had experience in the field (emploment history). I've heard google employs a lot of people fresh outta university based on their potential to be a good programmer

[Soulsphere]

all I know is, that the employers have their little tricks and questions that let them know if we recieved a university education, or not; and this greatly affects their decision to employ you. a lot of employers will only nab you if you have had experience in the field (emploment history). I've heard google employs a lot of people fresh outta university based on their potential to be a good programmer

That's all true, although some schools, such as BCIT, give you a lot of extra trainning that you wouldn't get from a normal university. BCIT is a great institution, assuming you can stand the accelerated programs, since ten weeks per semester isn't all that much fun.

[Raveness]

That's all true, although some schools, such as BCIT, give you a lot of extra trainning that you wouldn't get from a normal university. BCIT is a great institution, assuming you can stand the accelerated programs, since ten weeks per semester isn't all that much fun.

My husband thought the place was great. He got a Chemical Sciences diploma there that allowed him to leapfrog to his degree program at SFU.

Are you located in the Lower Mainland area?

[Soulsphere]

My husband thought the place was great. He got a Chemical Sciences diploma there that allowed him to leapfrog to his degree program at SFU.

Are you located in the Lower Mainland area?

Yeah, it definately is a great place. I strongly recommend BCIT to anyone who lives in the area, especially if you want to learn a lot in a short time frame.

Yeah, I was born in Vancouver and I'm currently living in Surrey.

[Soulsphere]

Man not to be mean, or a dick, but those are the most boring and unintertaining questions i have ever seen, this is like somthing my teacher would ask me

I know that you're not trying to be mean, especially since I agree with you. I just wanted to ask some unique questions.

EDIT: Wow, his comment was deleted quick. It's okay, I'm not offended at all.

[willerokiller]

nah i realized i was being a complete ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺ when i was writing the reply (guess boredom got the best of me,) so i took it out my bad man

[Soulsphere]

Ah, all right then. Just say the word and I'll delete that copy of it if you want me to.

[willerokiller]

its all up to u i dont really care

[Soulsphere]

After doing a little studying with other things, I just remembered about something called polling. To be brief, polling software contantly makes a computer's CPU check to see if a device interrupt has been sent. So, if the keyboard buffer has data in it, the CPU will do something with the data once the polling software initiates itself. Maybe this will help solve my programming dilemma.