Session Name: | In-Game Debugging and Visualization Tools |
Speaker(s): | David "Rez" Graham |
Company Name(s): | Electronic Arts (Sims Division) |
Track / Format: | Programming |
Overview: |
Debugging games is an incredibly difficult task. Often times, setting breakpoints and staring at code is not the most efficient way to troubleshoot complex issues. Debugging tools provide a window into your game data, allowing you to peer through the looking glass and analyze large amounts of data very quickly. In this session, you will learn techniques for presenting this data to allow developers to easily find what they're looking for and quickly solve the problem they're encountering. Other techniques covered include data history and changing game state through tools, both of which are extremely powerful ideas. You will also learn about tool integration and some common pitfalls to integrating tools into your game as well as how to make them modular to stand the test of time. Together, these concepts will enable you to take your tools to the next level! |