APIs
An API (Application programming interface)
is a set of code that applications can access. They act like a base for all applications,
that contains basic universal code, so that the coder of the application does
not have to re-write it all again. There are two main APIs for video games,
OpenGL and DirectX. APIs aren’t only for games though, as they are needed for
all computer applications.
OpenGL
OpenGL is an API
used to run games. It is used in a variety of games, such as the Counter Strike
games and the Need for Speed games. OpenGL stands for Open Graphics Library, as
it is an API for 2D and 3D games. It is multi-lingual and multi-platform, so it
is a popular choice to use.
OpenGL was created
from 1991 and released in 1992 by Silicon Graphics Inc. The API focuses on
interacting with a computer’s GPU (graphics processing unit) to achieve
hardware-accelerated rendering. Although commonly used within video games, it
also has other great uses, such as Computer aided design, and simulators (such
as flight simulators). OpenGL offers some built-in capabilities, which are requestable through the API.
These include hidden surface removal, alpha blending (transparency), anti-aliasing, texture mapping, and atmospheric effects (fog, smoke, and
haze). Anti-aliasing is a feature that can blur the edges in a game, which gives
a more realistic look, opposed to it looking blocky. There are many variations
of these post-processing effects, and it really comes down to user preference
of which to select, for example NVidia’s TXAA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing) can
cause users to dislike it because of the blur that it creates.
DirectX
Microsoft’s DirectX is actually a collection
of assorted multimedia APIs that are directed towards video games and videos on
Microsoft platforms. Originally, all of the separate APIs had separate names,
and were downloaded separately, the names of them were Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay, and DirectSound. Now, all of
these APIs all come under DirectX, the X being a symbol for all of them
together. Later on, this X actually became the ‘X’ in Xbox, Microsoft’s games
console. DirectX is now used in a few different platforms, including that of
the Xbox One and the Sega Dreamcast, and obviously, Microsoft Windows.
Actually, whenever you set up a video game based on DirectX within windows, you
are usually greeted with a DirectX pop up, saying that it is being updated or
configured. DirectX can also be used for computer aided design and other
visualisation graphics software.
Facebook API
The gigantic social
network, Facebook, does also have its own API. This API can be used in other
websites to access features such as the iconic ‘like’ button and sharing, Facebook
login capabilities, payments, and Facebook games. It is a web-based API. The
Facebook API features are becoming more widespread across other
websites, as the ‘like’ and ‘share’ buttons become more popular and well-known.
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