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Our Unique Production Technology
People in the video game industry will be familiar with the idea that a computer games console can be emulated on a different computer in the trade this is known as an "EMU". By using an EMU it is possible to play old school consoles such as Megadrive, NES, SNES on a PC. However, this is fraught with legal issues as the developers of such Emus do so without the permission of the platforms creators.
Our production pipeline is built upon this concept but instead of emulating an existing console platform we have created one of our own. We call this platform SLAM.
The SLAM machine is a virtual platform and computer operating system. It has a virtual CPU, virtual sound chip and virtual video hardware. It is a complete video game platform that has no hardware but is entirely software driven.
We now have SLAM clients for Windows PC, PS2, PSP, PC, Wii, DS, Xbox, Linux and iPhone.
We use our tool chain to create entire games for any supported platform by developing primarily on the PC client. Only as the development process nears completion will we transfer development to the target system.
Each SLAM client is aware of the Lotcheck/TRC requirements on each particular platform and will deal with the vast majority of those requirements without the SLAM programmer requiring any platform specific knowledge.
Our Custom Developed Tool Chain
The tool comprises of a BESPOKE LANGUAGE, VIRTUAL MACHINE COMPILER and A VISUAL STUDIO PLUG-IN for a familiar seamless integrated development environment.
A screen shot of the custom plug in made to integrate the SLAM production tools into Visual Studio
Example of our Technology In Action
A screen shot of the SlamPC running the DS game Top Trumps
Key features of our Technology
The key features of developing using the SLAM system are:
- 1. The code base has been tested and approved on multiple releases.
- 2. Code has passed TRC for Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony with TRC messages in 5 languages.
- 3. Code can genuinely be developed in isolation from the target platform
- 5. Production code can commissioned from unlicensed off shore teams.
- 4. Equipment costs are reduced as coders do not need exclusive access to target platforms.
- 5. Multi-language editions of applications are naturally coded through our production pipeline.
- 6. Core code is recycled rather than rewritten each time a new time a new developer starts work.
- 7. Learning curve for the system is shallow as the code is very similar to C / C++.
- 8. Reduced development time as developers do not require in depth knowledge of all target platforms.
- 9. One developer really can be responsible for the development of applications that span multiple platforms.
- 10. Casual games can be developed at extremely reasonable cost.
- 11. Development tools all work with Vista
- 12. Tool set is integrated to Visual Studio environment favoured by most developers.
See Also
- Production Overview
- Technology Overview
- Technical Home