Basic Data Concepts

Data is information used by a video game. The name or hit points of a game object (game character) is data that must be stored and changed during the course of your game.

Computer games can do three things with data : Input data, process data, and output data.

Input

Input is data which goes into your game program. Input can happen in-game, as is the case with player controls. Input can be loaded from a file. It can even exist in your game code before your game starts running.

Output

Output is data which comes out of your game.

Literals

LoadFont "Arial", 1, 20, 0 ;

Print "I'm a String Literal"

Sync
WaitKey

LoadFont "Arial", 1, 20, 0

Print 42
Print 42.24

Sync
WaitKey

LoadFont "Arial", 1, 20, 0

Print %10

Sync
WaitKey

LoadFont "Arial", 1, 20, 0

Print $FF

Sync
WaitKey

Data Types

A data type is a specific kind of data used by a computer language. The reason there are data types is because there are different ways of dealing with different kinds of data.

Common data types include :

• strings
• integers
• real numbers¹

Data Storage

Data Structures

A data structure is like a container that holds data while your game is running.

Common data structures include :

• constants
• variables
• arrays
• types.

Data Functions

Files

Files can be used to store data across multiple game sessions.

Related Pages

• Input
• Memory Bank
• Output
• Stats