College Work - Operating Regions

Pre-Game

Pre-game is the state before you are within the game, before the executable file has launched. This can be shown by things like, Loading up Steam and pressing the “Play” button within your library or the Xbox dashboard after you insert the disk into the console.

Game Start

Game start is the period in which you are in the menus, you are able to change button layout and click on the start game buttons, but no interaction with the game is happening. This state can also contain starting cutscenes. Game start can also contain start screens that include a small amount of gameplay within the menu selection, such as in Trine 2.

In-Game

In-game is the period in which you are able to interact with the game even in scenes in which you are immobilized, like on Killzone 3 or Skyrim, and can only look round are still classed as “in-game” as you are able to interact with the game itself. Within the game it can still have cutscenes that break the game play, these are still classed as the “in-game” region.

Post-Game

Post game is the shutting down of the game, from when you click the save and exit button until the executable file has been fully closed and shut down.

Hardware bugs

If the controller starts playing up and not working, this can happen in all regions.

Graphics card/motherboard begins to overheat, this can occur in all stages although mainly happens within the “in-game” region.

Power supply stops working, can occur in all regions.

Software bugs

Pre-game - Starting the game, if your drivers were not updated and as such the game wouldn't start the executable file.

Game start - If menu buttons didn't work and were not clickable. If the game forces you to view a unskippable cutscene and freezes and will not continue onto gameplay.

In-game - If you could see your character, and yet you can't move around the environment when you are supposed to be able to. You are on a linear path and yet you are not able to proceed, due to a door not opening or having a wall in the way.

Post game - The game doesn’t close and stays running.